Help Deciding on Pharmacy School

[cjwachsdon]

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I am torn between applying either to NDSU or the UMN. I am currently doing my undergrad at NDSU and I am on a tuition waiver that would cover pharmacy school as well. I know that the University of Minnesota has a better program however and I am originally from MN and am very tempted to go back. I know that I would need at least another year to beef up my application before being accepted to the U, but I could probably make it into NDSU if I applied this year. Obviously financials are important and I would be crazy to turn down free pharmacy school, but I really love the U and could hope for scholarships perhaps? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[PharmDoReMe]

You'd definitely be crazy to turn down ~free~ pharmacy school. Go to NDSU FOR SURE. Just my opinion. 😉 Do it for those of us that'll be drowning in debt.

 

[RphCat]

You'd definitely be crazy to turn down ~free~ pharmacy school. Go to NDSU FOR SURE. Just my opinion. 😉 Do it for those of us that'll be drowning in debt.

Agreed!!! Go with the free school!!! Doesn't matter so much WHERE you go... it's what you do after! We will all be PharmDs at the end of the day...

 

[radio frequency]

A free PharmD from NDSU is a much better option than a PharmD you pay for, from anywhere.

Honestly though, it's not like NDSU is a bad school, either. There are schools out there that aren't good, but that school at least doesn't carry a negative connotation.

 

[Biochemistry2014]

If you pass up a free pharm school, you will quickly come to regret it. Listen to the above posters.

 

[Nupe4life04]

Hi guys,
I am in a similar situation. I got into the Twin Cities Campus of University of Minnesota and the Chicago Campus of UIC. I am not sure which school to choose. Minnesota is ranked number three in the country and based on their curriculum they seem to prepare their pharmacists very well. I am also interested in the joint PharmD/MPH which is only offered at UMN but that's not a deal breaker. Tuition is about $13000 cheaper/year at UIC as I am in state but I really got a good feeling about Minnesota. UIC is highly ranked as well and they're number 4 in research funding. Both are good programs but not sure which one would give me the best opportunities after graduation. I will probably be moving down south to Florida after school so the school that would give me the best chance opportunities after graduation would be the one I want to choose. Any pros or cons that you guys could provide would help tremendously

 

[BC_89]

Ok...I think this is the third time within todays date I have made this statement that holds true for anyone in pharmacy school : "What do you call a person who graduated from a top accredited pharmacy school and a person who graduated at the lowest ranked accredited pharmacy school?" Answer: A PHARMACIST. Prestige will not land you a job any quicker from another school....If you live in alabama then you better apply to the states pharmacy program for INSTATE TUITION BENEFITS. You live in Nebraska you better apply to Creighton School of pharmacy etc etc etc. To the OP, why in the world is this a problem for you???? Do you live with your parents or havent had the luxury of budgeting just for yourself??? If you get free tuition for a professional doctorate program THEN YOU TAKE IT!!!

Not to try and sound sardonic here, but if you feel you will miss MN and the precious University out there, I promise it will NOT miss you... Take that opportunity of free tuition and i promise you will not regret it....When you make money you get the luxury to be taxed roughly 28-30% of your earnings....I assume you want to max out your 401k? thats another 15% of your annual salary GONE....then another 7% with social security and medicaid and what not (not including state taxes fyi). On top of all this, you do not want to be paying student loans for 10 - 25 years out of your paycheck (which is roughly 800 - 2200 bucks a month depending how fast you want to be out of debt).

Oh...and for you Nupe4life04, i refer you to my quote above lol. You got a good feeling for MN? well, to get the same degree if its not cheaper (52,000 bucks more of schooling for the same degree) then shake off that feeling and bury it deep inside yourself. You guys have great opportunities financially if you make it to the programs that are cheap so dont blow it. You will truly thank yourselves for it