From Canada! thinking of moving down to States for Pre-Pharm...need help!

[JL2002]

I'm currently in Canada right now, everything is soooo competitive up here it's crazy. I am in the 2nd year right now in University, and I dun want to waste any time by dreaming that i can get into a Pharmacy School here. Because u gotta have at least 90+% here!.... and you need to spend 4 years in University and get a B. degree to get into anything. If i can get that, why not just think of Med School? I've researched a couple of stuff about Pharmacy in the States, and want to ask a few questions and any other inputs, suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

1. I might move to the Los Angeles area, is there any good colleges around there that's good for Pre-Pharm? or even in Orlando?
2. What's the approximate average of a 3.3gpa?
3. I know it's competitive to get into a Pharm School in the States, but how does it compare with Canada?

If anyone is wondering, I'm actually holding a dual citizen, so i'm qualified to stay in the States, and LA is where most of my relatives are living in right now, so that's why i'm asking if there's any good Colleges around there. Anyone thinks it's worth it for this move?

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[michelle_is_me]

I'm currently in Canada right now, everything is soooo competitive up here it's crazy. I am in the 2nd year right now in University, and I dun want to waste any time by dreaming that i can get into a Pharmacy School here. Because u gotta have at least 90+% here!.... and you need to spend 4 years in University and get a B. degree to get into anything. If i can get that, why not just think of Med School? I've researched a couple of stuff about Pharmacy in the States, and want to ask a few questions and any other inputs, suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

1. I might move to the Los Angeles area, is there any good colleges around there that's good for Pre-Pharm? or even in Orlando?
2. What's the approximate average of a 3.3gpa?
3. I know it's competitive to get into a Pharm School in the States, but how does it compare with Canada?

If anyone is wondering, I'm actually holding a dual citizen, so i'm qualified to stay in the States, and LA is where most of my relatives are living in right now, so that's why i'm asking if there's any good Colleges around there. Anyone thinks it's worth it for this move?

Hey JL

I am a Canadian student who's been trying for BsC in Pharmacy for the last three years. I started applying end of my 2nd yr in univ and I am FINISHING my degree and still haven't gotten into the damn BSc Pharm program! So I am packing my bags and heading down to the states for a better chance. Hopefully I can give you some good advice:

Canadian schools are harder unless u're in one of those prarire or maritime provinces... i believe those r easier but u have to live in the respective province to even apply

There are many many many more schools down in the US, and they have some very excellent schools but due to the numbers, they also have many new, less-known schools that are easier in admission than Canada.

However, it sounds like you haven't even started your college yet so I would suggest you try the 6-yr program where you go straight into pharmacy school after Highschool...it saves a lot of guesswork and since UNIVERSITY IS TOUGH! you might end up screwing up ur pre-req marks and have a hard time getting admission...so I would suggest you to apply to those right away.

try www.pharmcas.org it's got many good info on schools...or try the STICKY on the top of this thread of FAQs about schools...

good luck 👍

 

[seaweed]

hi michelle_is_me,

I'm also a canadian student thinking of applying to pharmacy schools in the states. Do you know any schools there that don't require international applicants to be permanent resident holders in the states? Because I hear that many schools don't accept international applicants (canada included) unless they hold permanent resident/refugee status.

Thanks!

 

[nerv12345]

there are TONS of good colleges in southern california...you won't have to worry about that.

your question about gpa is too broad...

 

[michelle_is_me]

hi michelle_is_me,

I'm also a canadian student thinking of applying to pharmacy schools in the states. Do you know any schools there that don't require international applicants to be permanent resident holders in the states? Because I hear that many schools don't accept international applicants (canada included) unless they hold permanent resident/refugee status.

Thanks!

hi seaweed

please check www.pharmcas.org and go to the Schools page... and then on the left hand column you can speficically see a list of schools that accept international students!

I just started researching on American schools this summer and I've learned a lot from PharmCAS and SDN website... good luck!

 

[seaweed]

hi seaweed

please check www.pharmcas.org and go to the Schools page... and then on the left hand column you can speficically see a list of schools that accept international students!

I just started researching on American schools this summer and I've learned a lot from PharmCAS and SDN website... good luck!

Thanks!! the website is very informative.

 

[positivetension]

U at Buffalo accepts Canadian and international students. They will waive courses if you have a degree as well. The tuition is quite inexpensive compared to private universities. And, there are a number of us from Canada studying here.

If you have any questions about the school, I can try to answer them for ya.

 

[fungikid]

Before you head to the States, give some Canadian Pharmacy schools another look. I'm currently a Pharmacy student at University of Toronto and it's not as hard as you say to get in. I got in after my second year so I didn't finish my first degree before I got in. For most schools, you need a good PCAT score and a GPA of 3.5 (80%), and good extra-curriculars to get in. For U of T, you don't need to write the PCAT, but you need to write the UTPAT, which is not an academic test, but more of a writing/IQ/personality and morality test. So overall, you don't really need a 90% with a four-year Bachelors degree to get into Pharmacy. In fact, I would say it's actually a bit harder to get into Pharmacy in the US. Give the Canadian schools another look and you might be surprised!

 

[michelle_is_me]

Before you head to the States, give some Canadian Pharmacy schools another look. I'm currently a Pharmacy student at University of Toronto and it's not as hard as you say to get in. I got in after my second year so I didn't finish my first degree before I got in. For most schools, you need a good PCAT score and a GPA of 3.5 (80%), and good extra-curriculars to get in. For U of T, you don't need to write the PCAT, but you need to write the UTPAT, which is not an academic test, but more of a writing/IQ/personality and morality test. So overall, you don't really need a 90% with a four-year Bachelors degree to get into Pharmacy. In fact, I would say it's actually a bit harder to get into Pharmacy in the US. Give the Canadian schools another look and you might be surprised!

naw i disagree!

it really depends what the strength of your application is. My marks sucked in my first and 2nd yr of univ..but i really pulled myself up in my 3rd yr. However the school I applied for only look at a set of pre-requisite marks so my good marks from 3rd year was in vain. Most US schools are more flexible in terms of GPA...they'll look at both your recent marks and your science marks and that played to my advantage

Plus, i've got yeeaarrrs of pharmacy and hospital experience under my belt, and I was told that it's worth like a whole whopping 5% or sthing in admission decision😡. The US schools seemed very impressed by my work experience.

i gave up applying to canadian school of my choice after being rejected two years in a row. I started looking into US schools since this summer, right after the 2nd rejection......and I just got accepted to a US school today!

obviously, if you can, stay in Canada. U'll save yourself oodles of money. I'd stay in Canada if I was back in 1st or 2nd yr....I wouldda studied a lot harder and not worked so much b/c apparently extracurricular doesn't mean much.......

But if u're like me and don't have 80%+ GPA and don't want another bachelor degree under your belt (subsequently feeling like u pissed away the last 4 yrs of ur life doing a freaking degree in bio)... give US schools a try.

 

[seaweed]

michelle_is_me:

Congrats on getting into pharmacy!!

If you dont' mind me asking, what US school did you get accepted into? Maybe I can give that a try...

 

[michelle_is_me]

michelle_is_me:

Congrats on getting into pharmacy!!

If you dont' mind me asking, what US school did you get accepted into? Maybe I can give that a try...

hello
i just got accepted into Midwestern University at Glendale (suburb of phoenix, arizona).... i went there for an interview not too long ago and i was VERY impressed by their campus. I can definitely tell you, after two years of dealing w/ the canadian school's admission office.... it was such a refreshing change to talk to ppl at MWU b/c they ACTUALLY want u go there.. the school was really new and they treated us like royalty! unlike the canadian school who has soooooooo many darn applicants already they always act like they're too good to talk to you.

good luck!

 

[fungikid]

Which Canadian schools did you apply to? Alberta? UBC? Dalhouise? U of T? Waterloo?

And congratulations on getting accepted! I'm glad you got in, no matter if you're in Canada or in the States. 🙂

 

[seaweed]

I looked at MWU's site, and one of the pre-requisites was a Speech (public speaking) course. Were you exempt from that? because generally, Canadian schools don't offer this course.

 

[michelle_is_me]

fungikid: i gave ubc two tries and no luck...but thanks! =)

seaweed: well as long as u can find a Communications course that specializes in interpersonal communication it's good to go.

 

[JL2002]

i'm in 2nd year right now, and my marks sucked first year, cuz i kinda underestimated University, it was brutal compared to high school...should i stay and get my marks up or should i just hit the states and go into a college or U and start over?

 

[michelle_is_me]

i'm in 2nd year right now, and my marks sucked first year, cuz i kinda underestimated University, it was brutal compared to high school...should i stay and get my marks up or should i just hit the states and go into a college or U and start over?

r u talking bout undergrad? why would u go there and shell out all these $$ if not for the pharmD program? u can easily retake classes up here in canada if u wanted to.

 

[seaweed]

hi michelle_is_me,

sorry to keep bugging you, but I'm also a student from UBC. I would really like to apply to the two midwestern universities, but simply cannot find any communication courses at UBC that are available to general students. I've found 2, but you have to be in commerce, or enginnering to take them. Do you mind sharing which course you took that satisfied the prequisite? Can the course be from a "continuing education" program?

Thanks!!!

 

[michelle_is_me]

hi michelle_is_me,

sorry to keep bugging you, but I'm also a student from UBC. I would really like to apply to the two midwestern universities, but simply cannot find any communication courses at UBC that are available to general students. I've found 2, but you have to be in commerce, or enginnering to take them. Do you mind sharing which course you took that satisfied the prequisite? Can the course be from a "continuing education" program?

Thanks!!!

ubc doesn't have it

try douglas or langara or pretty much every other school has a communications department 👍

ALSO! just to warn ya... u mite have to retake organic chem else where too b/c some US schools don't like the chem233 that we have (ususally other schools have organic chem spread over 2 semester)...and u mite have to find a human anatomy/physiology class that offers LAB... these are some of the problems that i encountered while trying to fulfill my prereq... i don't remember specifically what MWU required but i just noe some other schools im applying for are very picking about the courses i've finished. THROUGHLY look thru the pre-reqs, including the exact credit hours and labs needed... or else u mite get rejected for not finishing pre-reqs.

ALSO! this goes for everybody else... PLEASE check out the US school tuition before u decide to take all these pre-reqs...US schools is going to be very very expensive... u gotta be prepared for that. I believe Canadian's bachelor pharmacy prog is ~7k-10k a yr in tuition..wheras US pharmD tuition ranges from 10k for state-funded univs (but they don't really take international students anyways) to ~30k for private univs (where us canadians have more of an equal opportunity)!!!!!!!!!!

 

[seaweed]

thanks so much, really appreciate the advice 🙂

 

[homee]

Hey Michelle

Just wondering, when you inputted your grades from UBC into PharmCas how accurate was their GPA calculation? cuz I read that the GPA they calculate is supposedly different from your university's GPA calculation? and given your gpa situation, did u apply to schools that tend to focus more on PCAT than GPA, or did u apply to both types of schools?