HELP! Narrowing down to three option. (Pre-Pharmacy College)

[SoulZero]

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I'm a high school senior and looking forward to becoming a pharmacist.
Location: Boise, ID
Acceptance list: University of Wisconsin-madison, University of washington, washington state university, college of idaho, Idaho state university, Bulter university, North Nazera university, Albany College of Pharmacy, University of science Philadelphia, purdue university, university of missouri - kansas.
Rejection list... quite bit.

So here's the spill I am determine to enter a 6 year program. I narrow down my choice to these 3. Albany College of Pharmacy , University of Science Philadelphia, & Purdue university.

financial: I'm taking out loans to pay for college, I don't really care how much I need to take out. I have a EFC of 0 on my FSFSA. NOTE: I didn't include any scholarship.

Albany College of pharmacy:
Pros: 6 Year pharmacist program. Keep a 3.0GPA and a 300 on PCAT to stay as a student.
Cons: Albany seems like a cold place. Relatively expensive $20,000 yr + board.

University of Science - Philadelphia
Pros: 6 year pharmacist program. In Philadelphia. (First pharmacist college in north america?)
Cons: I got accept into the 6 year pre-profressional program, not the direct program. I have the opportunity to transfer into pharmacist program during my second year. Most expensive $26,000 yr + board.

Purdue University:
Pros: I have a aunt that lives in Indiana I can get in state tuition second year. 6 year pharmacy program. Cheap after second year $7000. + board
Cons: It's not known for the pharmacy program... More for their aero/engineering. More guy > girl ratio. West Laya? Never heard of that place.

Please help me narrow down my choices. 😀
PS: should I post this in the pre-pharmacy section or high school?

 

[jvanewportnews]

First I have a couple questions for you. I'm only two years behind you so I'm wondering:

1)What are your stats? (High school GPA, SAT scores, extracurrics, volunteering, etc..

2)How many schools rejected you? If you don't mind saying lol

3)Did you have to take the PCAT?

4)Do you plan on working in a pharmacy or eventually owning one? If owning, would you plan on getting an MBA?

5)Where in the U.S. would you choose to practice pharmacy?
_________________

Albany might be cold, but it's a good school. U. of S.-Philly and Purdue are great to me also. Personally, I'd choose Albany because it's good and it's close to NYC! Second choice would be U. of S.-Philadelphia.

In my opinion the bset choice school would be the one that gives you the most scholarship money because they all give the same degree that allows you to practice pharmacy.

And oh yea, I don't blame you for not worrying about the loans-you should be able to pay that off after graduation anyways.

 

[Bacchus]

If you have specific questions about USP you can PM me. I'm not in the PharmD program but have friends in it. The pre-professional track is a new idea this year that admissions is doing. For specifics, you would have to talk to them. However, overall the school is good. The only problem is cost. By the time you graduate I can forecast your tuition will be well over 35,000 dollars. Rotations will probably be closer to 50,000. Tuition for me this year was about 27,000 and on-campus residents are facing 11,000 in room and board. It is a huge financial committment to come here. Merit awards range from 1,000 - 9,000 a year, but after that, funding is on your own. Your merit award will never be increased, also, unless you can successfully appeal to the financial aid office; however, more than likely they'll find another way to possibly get you money (loans).

The campus is growing for the better and the pharmacy curriculum is being revamped. There is a transitional year coming up for the curriculum revamp but as a professional student, I believe your 4th and 5th years will be pharmacotherapeutics, plus other classes, whereas the old curriculum has "PnT" all in 5th year. This is brutal, and if you do poorly, it is hard to recover.

Philadelphia is a nice city, but there is crime. On-campus is safe, but we are in W. Philly so its a bit sketchy at places.

The nice thing here is that everyone has a common goal (science) and everyone has the same expectations placed on them. As a pharmD, you must maintain a 3.0 through third year. After that, I'm not sure of the requirements.

Any questions, PM me and I'll try to help you or give you contact information for someone that can.

 

[SoulZero]

First I have a couple questions for you. I'm only two years behind you so I'm wondering:

1)What are your stats? (High school GPA, SAT scores, extracurrics, volunteering, etc..

2)How many schools rejected you? If you don't mind saying lol

3)Did you have to take the PCAT?

4)Do you plan on working in a pharmacy or eventually owning one? If owning, would you plan on getting an MBA?

5)Where in the U.S. would you choose to practice pharmacy?
_________________

Albany might be cold, but it's a good school. U. of S.-Philly and Purdue are great to me also. Personally, I'd choose Albany because it's good and it's close to NYC! Second choice would be U. of S.-Philadelphia.

In my opinion the bset choice school would be the one that gives you the most scholarship money because they all give the same degree that allows you to practice pharmacy.

And oh yea, I don't blame you for not worrying about the loans-you should be able to pay that off after graduation anyways.

Two years behind me huh, your mind is set pretty early. I PERSONALLY didn't know I wanted to be a pharmacist 2 years ago... Just like recently (more like 6 months ago?)

1) 3.8/3.6 GPA W/U, ACT: 22 , 7 AP classes, family business, volunteering? Absolutely none... now the complex part.
I go to three schools public school. My home high school (regular) , profressional (Profressional classes) , & Science/Math (Smartest kid ever in this school...).
I'm top 15% @ my home, Top 10% @ the profressional, and top 15% at math.
NOTE: I did get a 22 on my ACT, I took it once sophomore year. Plus I thought it was irrelevant. When I realize it was important, It was December and my application were due.

2) Rejection ouch. My school has the TRIO program (I'm first gen Chinese student) so I had a college waiver fee and I could apply to as many college as I wanted! Here's a quick list of rejections... - rutgers, university of florida, university of texas, austin (they send me to another campus), university of Pittsburgh (send me to another campus), Duquesne University, University of Tennessee, University of Michigan (they put me on a wait list, I took that as a rejection.)

3) No, I believe you take that during college the 2nd year of college? (Please clarify me if I'm wrong). I brought a PCAT book & I start studying. Lots of Chemistry... I'm a lil pissed not taking AP CHEM.

4) That's a huge foresight on me mate. I plan on graduating in 6 years & pay off my debt owe to parents/federal/government.

5.) NYC (Took my virgin step in US here.)
CA-LA (Girls? Girls? ),
Texas-Austin (I'm a gun fan as well)
Florida (Surfing baby)
Anywhere in the big cities, I want to find my bliss. My parents been keeping me out of trouble by sticking me in idaho... I need to get out and explore the world.

 

[jvanewportnews]

Thanx for the info. So do you think that you would have gotten into those colleges had you scored higher on the ACT?

 

[SoulZero]

If you have specific questions about USP you can PM me. I'm not in the PharmD program but have friends in it. The pre-professional track is a new idea this year that admissions is doing. For specifics, you would have to talk to them. However, overall the school is good. The only problem is cost. By the time you graduate I can forecast your tuition will be well over 35,000 dollars. Rotations will probably be closer to 50,000. Tuition for me this year was about 27,000 and on-campus residents are facing 11,000 in room and board. It is a huge financial committment to come here. Merit awards range from 1,000 - 9,000 a year, but after that, funding is on your own. Your merit award will never be increased, also, unless you can successfully appeal to the financial aid office; however, more than likely they'll find another way to possibly get you money (loans).

The campus is growing for the better and the pharmacy curriculum is being revamped. There is a transitional year coming up for the curriculum revamp but as a professional student, I believe your 4th and 5th years will be pharmacotherapeutics, plus other classes, whereas the old curriculum has "PnT" all in 5th year. This is brutal, and if you do poorly, it is hard to recover.

Philadelphia is a nice city, but there is crime. On-campus is safe, but we are in W. Philly so its a bit sketchy at places.

The nice thing here is that everyone has a common goal (science) and everyone has the same expectations placed on them. As a pharmD, you must maintain a 3.0 through third year. After that, I'm not sure of the requirements.

Any questions, PM me and I'll try to help you or give you contact information for someone that can.

Bacchus Thanks for your input. I kept USP mainly because of it's alumni of graduates and reputation.

I really like the school, but cost is the only factor that's putting me away. I can't imagine doing a rotation for 50G... I could get a EVO.. + YARIS.

But I'm definitely not weeding it out as an option. I'm trying to find Purdue/Albany college students.

 

[Bacchus]

Our networking is phenomenal. You won't find much better anywhere. 6th year rotations this year were just under $43,000. It will only go up. That said, grads from here get great jobs and are able to pay back debt.