Glendale, Arizona

[stargazzer]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Does anyone have any comments about the pharmacy school in Glendale?....Please let me know if you attend this school or know anything about it!


🙂

 

[shaun009]

Does anyone have any comments about the pharmacy school in Glendale?....Please let me know if you attend this school or know anything about it!


🙂

You basically need a 85+ on the PCAT or know someone that can get you in to the school. Trust that.

 

[DrugDealer]

or know someone that can get you in to the school. Trust that.

LOL, I totally agree. I had a 99 on the PCAT, 3.8 GPA, lots of grad-level science classes, TA experience, I was awesome! But I didn't get in. I got into UCSF, but not this wacky little school in Arizona. Go figure. Someone told me (after the fact, of course) that they really focus on volunteer work.

 

[anfhockey10]

LOL, I totally agree. I had a 99 on the PCAT, 3.8 GPA, lots of grad-level science classes, TA experience, I was awesome! But I didn't get in. I got into UCSF, but not this wacky little school in Arizona. Go figure. Someone told me (after the fact, of course) that they really focus on volunteer work.

Not true...I got a 79 on my pcat, 3.49 GPA and a BS in Mech Eng Degree. I have a years worth of tech experience and I was also coaching hockey on the side too... I think they look at the numbers first to see if you get an interview and then they'll look at your interview to see how well you did. Personally once you are invited to the interview, if you do well then your chances of getting accepted are high. The reason why I got in was because I did really well on my interview and I think my P.S was pretty good too.

As an FYI, you probably want to finish up all your prerequisites by the end of next spring semester because I think the Class of 2011 will start in the summer and the deadline for applying is January

 

[futureRXdealer]

Does anyone have any comments about the pharmacy school in Glendale?....Please let me know if you attend this school or know anything about it!


🙂

Midwestern is hard to get into, but it can be done I suppose. An admissions person came to my undergrad campus and told me that the average PCAT score is about 83. I knew a guy that got a 75 on the PCAT and got an interview. He did not think his interview went well and got waitlisted. I also knew a girl that got an 80 on her PCAT, average stats, killed the interview and got in.

From what I was told the interview questions are in depth. So if you do get an interview and they ask you something like what was the last book you read, dont go in and try to blow smoke up their a** because they will more than likely ask you about it.

Someone told me they require you to do community service while in school. The class of 2011 will start school next summer, so you will start earlier than other people who get accepted for next fall.

I know 4 pharmacists that graduated from the school. Two of them are real good pharmacists....the other two suck huge ones. You can expect that from any school and 4 people is not enough to get a good feel for what the majority of the pharmacists are like.

Last but not least.... alittle over 30k per year for tuition.

 

[textbook]

I got in w/o any tech experience, just shadowed a pharmacist. Science GPA 3.5, Overall GPA 3.3, PCAT Composite 89, B.A. degree, lots of leadership experience and extracurriculars.

 

[howsoonisnow]

87 PCAT
3.8 ish GPA

Interview is weighed HEAVILY. I heard that before and after my interview. They are looking for mature, responsible, intelligent students who are committed to the profession. You don't have to be perfect on paper. Just know more about the career as a whole than just average salaries.

The school is private and, therefore, expensive. I think 33K this year. The increase in tuition has been almost 10% annualy since the school opened its doors. Since demand for a pharmacy degree just keeps increasing I don't expect that trend to change anytime soon.

I know several excellent pharmacists that graduated from Midwestern. I'm excited to be starting in Aug.

 

[azpharmd]

There are several things taken into account at MWU. PCAT score and GPA are very important to get an interview. The interview itself is used to find applicants who best fit in with the school's goals. Candidates are given a letter score (A=accept B=accept with reservations C=deny) and numerical scores in 4 different categories. As far as the questions, there are ~6 standard questions and then the interviewers can ask pretty much whatever they want. Most are fair, but a few panel members will ask off-the-wall stuff.

As for stats: I had some community service, shadowing experience, & no degree, but my PCAT and GPA were good and the interview went well.

 

[pharmaz88]

Having just graduated from MWU-CPG 3 weeks ago, I'll throw in a few comments...

Most of the faculty are awesome, and teaching is their first priority, as opposed to research at other schools. That being said, a lot of the faculty have been leaving and moving on to greener pastures, so who knows how the incoming professors will be.

The administration there pretty much sucks, and likes to change things around on you throughout the program. At any other school, the degree requirements that are in effect when you matriculate are exactly what you need to graduate. At CPG, they will add classes or requirements as they see fit (ie- service learning [ aka: forced community service]), and there's not much you can do about it since you cant transfer out.

The education you'll receive there is what you make of it. There's a very 'snapshot' approach, where you'll see something once, and you better learn it then, because you'll never see it again in your time there. If you're a good memorizer, you'll do great there. If you learn by actually applying material, don't expect much of that until the last few quarters.

During our exit focus groups, there was a lot of talk to indicate that they are seriously considering going to a 4-yr program, since all the new ACPE requirements can't be realistically squeezed into an already-packed 2.75 year program. ...if that is the case, and they don't lower tuition, I wouldn't consider it a good investment.

Lastly, regarding interviews, what they are really looking for is to see how you interact and to judge your people skills. Even if you blow answers, as long as you're personable, confident, and a good communicator, that's what matters most. (...and don't say anything about the great money, of course.)

 

[anfhockey10]

The education you'll receive there is what you make of it. There's a very 'snapshot' approach, where you'll see something once, and you better learn it then, because you'll never see it again in your time there. If you're a good memorizer, you'll do great there. If you learn by actually applying material, don't expect much of that until the last few quarters.

First, Congrats on becoming a pharmacist....For people who are average at memorizing materials do you think they'll still do well? I mean they are probably going work a little harder than those who are good at memorizing right? How did you say you did with your three years there? Were you one of those people who were great at memorizing?

 

[shaun009]

I'm very familiar with the school and the pharmacists that come out of there.

I just know that when a MWU student does his/her rotation in our pharmacy, the pharmacists are pissed off. Just last week a dude allowed ear drops for use in the eyes.. Good move!

On the other hand, my mentor graduated from MWU and is an amazing clinical pharmacist at Banner... It all depends, I've just heard more horror stories than good when it comes to the school. I've interviewed twice with 3.91 GPA, 66 PCAT, killer interview and wailisted two years in a row. I'm not jealous because I got into a better school but it seems MWU focuses far too much on the PCAT. Their loss.

 

[anfhockey10]

I'm very familiar with the school and the pharmacists that come out of there.

I just know that when a MWU student does his/her rotation in our pharmacy, the pharmacists are pissed off. Just last week a dude allowed ear drops for use in the eyes.. Good move!

On the other hand, my mentor graduated from MWU and is an amazing clinical pharmacist at Banner... It all depends, I've just heard more horror stories than good when it comes to the school. I've interviewed twice with 3.91 GPA, 66 PCAT, killer interview and wailisted two years in a row. I'm not jealous because I got into a better school but it seems MWU focuses far too much on the PCAT. Their loss.

Seriously, I understand that its hard to not be mad at a school that rejected you two years in a row but you really dont have to say that one school is better than another. Plus you cant judge a school by your own experience with only a couple of students that you had interactions with. All schools are like that, you have good students who become great pharmacists and great students who are average pharmacists.

 

[stargazzer]

Not true...I got a 79 on my pcat, 3.49 GPA and a BS in Mech Eng Degree. I have a years worth of tech experience and I was also coaching hockey on the side too... I think they look at the numbers first to see if you get an interview and then they'll look at your interview to see how well you did. Personally once you are invited to the interview, if you do well then your chances of getting accepted are high. The reason why I got in was because I did really well on my interview and I think my P.S was pretty good too.

As an FYI, you probably want to finish up all your prerequisites by the end of next spring semester because I think the Class of 2011 will start in the summer and the deadline for applying is January

Hello anfhockey10,

thanks for the advice!....that really gives me some hope of getting into Glendale, after some doubts I had from the previous comment!....do you mind letting me know what university you got your degree from....and maybe what are some aspects that might gain me brownie points during the interview and even on the P.S.?

Thanks so much!

 

[anfhockey10]

Hello anfhockey10,

thanks for the advice!....that really gives me some hope of getting into Glendale, after some doubts I had from the previous comment!....do you mind letting me know what university you got your degree from....and maybe what are some aspects that might gain me brownie points during the interview and even on the P.S.?

Thanks so much!

Penn State University - Main...Just be honest and be yourself at the interview make sure you be prepared for the interview. AGain for the P.S be yourself and be honest...thats all they can really ask for.

 

[stargazzer]

Penn State University - Main...Just be honest and be yourself at the interview make sure you be prepared for the interview. AGain for the P.S be yourself and be honest...thats all they can really ask for.

thanks for the advice =)

 

[JerryPharmD]

I remember when I interviewed there was a guy in just a shirt and tie and bleached, spiked hair. He said they asked him, "name a problem facing pharmacists today." He said drug abuse. They asked how so. He said that he just stared at them. Needless to say, he isn't in our class.

They really try to get under your collar during the interview, just stay calm and you'll do fine.

I hear that having upper division course work also helps when they review your application.

pm me with any questions👍

 

[BadgerFan]

missed you in class today jerry

 

[pharmaz88]

First, Congrats on becoming a pharmacist....For people who are average at memorizing materials do you think they'll still do well? I mean they are probably going work a little harder than those who are good at memorizing right? How did you say you did with your three years there? Were you one of those people who were great at memorizing?

I think you need to be a great memorizer (I'm not one) to get straight A's and be rho-chi. I knocked myself out at first, trying to get down all the minutia (sp?) to do well on tests. If you're not concerned about acing every test, you'll probably wind up much better in the long run. Instead of spending time trying to memorize everything, just focus on the important key concepts and get those down really well. I didn't realize this until the second year there... sure, I didn't get A's on every test, but I actually retained the material a lot better. ...that's just me though.

 

[Madnezz]

Like most people have been saying, they weigh the PCAT scores more heavily than the GPA. However, once you get an interview, they weigh the interview most heavily. This is kind of wierd because the interview is relatively short ~20 minutes, has standard interview questions, and is more laid back than most interviews.

My major was MCDB with a specialization in computer science
My cumulative GPA was 3.2
My science GPA was 3.3

My PCAT score was 98%

I have never worked/volunteered in a pharmacy but I have my Pharm Tech license.

I worked in a hospital straight out of college for 2 years while taking prereqs at a community college then worked as a microbio technician last year.

I interviewed in 2006 and did poorly in my interview because I gave some pretty poor answers to some critical questions. ex: Why should we choose you over the other candidates? my answer: Because I can speak several languages(I had just talked about speaking different languages at the hospital.) I was not wait listed I was simply rejected.

I interviewed again in 2007 and did well in my interview and was accepted pretty fast after my interview. If you read other posts about interviews at CPG they're mostly looking for people who can show a good understanding that pharmacy is more than just selling drugs.

 

[Dr.Hafeza]

Like most people have been saying, they weigh the PCAT scores more heavily than the GPA. However, once you get an interview, they weigh the interview most heavily. This is kind of wierd because the interview is relatively short ~20 minutes, has standard interview questions, and is more laid back than most interviews.

My major was MCDB with a specialization in computer science
My cumulative GPA was 3.2
My science GPA was 3.3

My PCAT score was 98%

I have never worked/volunteered in a pharmacy but I have my Pharm Tech license.

I worked in a hospital straight out of college for 2 years while taking prereqs at a community college then worked as a microbio technician last year.

I interviewed in 2006 and did poorly in my interview because I gave some pretty poor answers to some critical questions. ex: Why should we choose you over the other candidates? my answer: Because I can speak several languages(I had just talked about speaking different languages at the hospital.) I was not wait listed I was simply rejected.

I interviewed again in 2007 and did well in my interview and was accepted pretty fast after my interview. If you read other posts about interviews at CPG they're mostly looking for people who can show a good understanding that pharmacy is more than just selling drugs.

So are you still heading on to CPG? Those are great stats, I'm sure you're considering other schools too...the reason I ask is because I'm in the same dilemma where I don't know whether to choose school A or school B 🙁

 

[stargazzer]

🙂

 

[Madnezz]

I'll be attending Midwestern in August. I did not get any other interviews and I applied to mostly Californian schools. I suspect it was because I applied on Oct 30th and the deadline for most of my schools was Nov. 1. (It was a letter of rec delay) I think my GPA and lack of actual pharmacy experience is what hampered me the most.

 

[Dr.Hafeza]

I'll be attending Midwestern in August. I did not get any other interviews and I applied to mostly Californian schools. I suspect it was because I applied on Oct 30th and the deadline for most of my schools was Nov. 1. (It was a letter of rec delay) I think my GPA and lack of actual pharmacy experience is what hampered me the most.

No I'm sure it's not because of your gpa OR because of your lack of experience.
just because you're filling vials at a pharmacy won't put you a cut above the rest...sure, it helps to show that you know what you're getting yourself into, but as long as you're active in other organizations or what not, I'm sure it's not a big deal.
Also your gpa isn't low at all. I got interviews for every school I applied to, and my gpa and pcat are lower than yours (3.0 and 93).
It could be, as you said, that your application was late. For MWU, October 30th wasn't late, because pharmcas was due Jan. 5 for them.
Hope to see you this Fall!
take care

 

[blueclassring]

It's really easy to get caught up in the midst of the competition here at MWU-CPG but don't let that happen to you. People used to ask about grades all the time here the first two quarters, and now no one cares. The program really takes off your third quarter here, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

Pace yourself and try not to get burned out. I can echo the fact that you will do very well here if you can memorize large volumes of information. In fact, you will have to in order to get As. The margin of error is so small here that one screw-up on one exam can put you out. (imagine only being able to miss 12 questions over 4 exams) If you're focused on learning the material, and not on getting the grade you'll be a better pharmacist.

 

[Dr.Hafeza]

It's really easy to get caught up in the midst of the competition here at MWU-CPG but don't let that happen to you. People used to ask about grades all the time here the first two quarters, and now no one cares. The program really takes off your third quarter here, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

Pace yourself and try not to get burned out. I can echo the fact that you will do very well here if you can memorize large volumes of information. In fact, you will have to in order to get As. The margin of error is so small here that one screw-up on one exam can put you out. (imagine only being able to miss 12 questions over 4 exams) If you're focused on learning the material, and not on getting the grade you'll be a better pharmacist.

scary!!!!!
but it's pharmacy school, and unlike undergrad, it's not about learning the material for the exam then forgetting about it...rather, we'll need to learn as best we can so as to assure we protect our patients and learn skills that we'll apply everyday at work.
i'm nervous already!

 

[JJRAZ]

I just emailed Midwestern today to inform them that I am not going to be attending CPG, so hopefully someone will get a call this week off the waiting list, good luck to all.