Entering Pharmacy School without AA or BA

[aaronthegreat34]

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I am graduating high school this year and majoring in Pharmacy. I live in Florida and was accepted into Palm Beach Atlantic but it was too much money for me to handle. My question is if I entered a school that does not give the AA for the pre pharmacy requirements do I have to get the Bachlor degree to apply to pharmacy school? Or do I just have to get the pre-reqs before entering? I plan on going to University of Florida if I do well enough in school.

 

[aaronthegreat34]

Can anyone help me?

 

[afterschool]

Pre-reqs are the minimum.

 

[luckyphooey]

Yeah fulfill your pre-reqs and do well in them. I am going to UMD withouth an AA or BA or BS.

 

[IrishHammer]

I am graduating high school this year and majoring in Pharmacy. I live in Florida and was accepted into Palm Beach Atlantic but it was too much money for me to handle. My question is if I entered a school that does not give the AA for the pre pharmacy requirements do I have to get the Bachlor degree to apply to pharmacy school? Or do I just have to get the pre-reqs before entering? I plan on going to University of Florida if I do well enough in school.

I don't think pharmacy schools care much about an AA, to be honest. And yes, Bachelors degrees help strengthen an application, but they're not necessary. If your stats catch the school's eye enough for them to invite you for an interview, and you do well in your interview, it is not impossible to get in solely with the Pre-reqs.

 

[ceelove]

UF requires an AA or Bachelor's degree.

 

[HolyLights]

Most school does not require an AA or Bachelor. Schools that does will say it on their website if they give preference to people with a degree. Maryland state on their website that they do not give preference to people with a degree, so as long as everyone is done with their pre-reqs, they will be evaluated.

Check with your schools, but i'm sure that most does not require a Bachelor as of yet.

 

[aaronthegreat34]

Thanks for everyones help! UF says they only require the pre-reqs.

 

[PharmApp2008]

UF does require an AA but I think it is pretty easy to get with the prereqs. Plenty of students in my class (UF/Apopka) don't have a bachelors, probably more than half.

 

[IrishRxMan]

Do your pre-reqs, take the PCAT and start applying. If you get in, that's great. But, if you don't get in, keep working towards your bachelor's (and keep applying) because most pharmacy schools will give you more points in the admissions process for it. Most schools distill everything you send them in your app into some sort of point value to be added up for a specific cut-off score for acceptance, wait list and rejection.

 

[aaronthegreat34]

When reading the UF requirements they say an AA or if the school you are attending does not offer an AA than to fulfill all of the pre-reqs and gen ed courses.

 

[ceelove]

My mistake, I was going off of the admissions pdf where the first bullet says AA or higher required. I then found the FAQ located at http://www.cop.ufl.edu/studaff/faq-p.htm and it does say you need the 60 credits with prereqs and gen. eds. if your college doesn't offer AA's

 

[jasonbourne]

When a school says AA, they are refering to 60 credits or more. I declined PBA due to the costs associated. You gotta pay $ 28900/year. That amount is too high and i knew i couldnt handle it. Considering that when i graduate, I would be make $65000 after taxes as a pharmacist. I knew that racking up such huge debt would probably make the next 10 years of my life as tough as the last five. I wasnt willing to take such a chance lol

 

[chrisraymundo]

get your AA from a community college! lol then ace the pcat!

 

[pearljam5a1]

Seriously. Save yourself some money and do all your general ed classes at a community college then your 300+ levels at a 4 year.

 

[RealUnreaL]

I don't agree with him, go right in to pharmacy program.