How competitive will I look to 0-6 programs

[LaxGoaliePharm]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi guys, sorry if this in the wrong section or anything like that, its my first post🙂

Im currently a sophmore in high school and I think I want to pursue a career in pharmacy. Maybe it's a little early to be worrying about this, but I want to make sure I'm on the right track to get accepted into a 6 year pharmD program in a few years. Here's my academic stats

weighted gpa: 4.26

currently taking AP bio (got an A in it first semester and on track for an A this semester too)

I plan on taking AP chemistry as a junior and AP physics as a senior
I would also like to take anatomy junior or senior year if it will fit my schedule
Based on my scores on the plan (practice ACT) my estimated ACT range is 27-32 (If I remember correctly).

Besides AP bio, I'm in all honors classes except for regular english

Extracurriculars:
soccer: 2 years, won't be trying out next year though
Hockey: currently 2 years, hopefully 4 by the time I graduate. This year I made varsity and won the coaches award as only a sophmore
Lacrosse: entering my 2nd season, might make varsity this year, and I will hopefully play all 4 years of high school

I don't have any significant community service yet, but I plan to start volunteering at a hospital this summer.

I haven't joined any clubs yet, but I hope to fix this next year since I won't be playing soccer in the fall, so hopefully I will have more free time for clubs.

Would 0-6 pharmD programs view me as competitive? What should I do to improve my chances?

Another random question: Should I take 4 years of spanish for the best chance of getting into one of these pharmacy programs, or would I be better off dropping it junior or senior year and taking more science classes?


Thanks in advance for helping🙂

Edit: Also, I live in Massachusetts, so I probably apply mostly to schools in the northeast. I think Northeastern has a 6 year pharmD. How hard would it be to get in there?

 

[stlcop]

I would definately say yes you are worrying too much.
I applied as soon as i was allowed to with a 3.7 GPA and a 29 ACT (no extracurrics) and i got in. not sure how it is for the schools your applying to but with mine the essay is important too.

 

[LaxGoaliePharm]

thanks. I really had no idea how competitive admissions are. So if I still want to do pharmacy school next year when I apply to colleges I should be fine as long as I maintain my grades?

 

[WhiteSnows]

I would not recommend doing 6 years program because of the cost of extra two years on the top of the 4 years tuition. It is also too early to commit your career to pharmacy. Take some times to learn more about it before you set your goal on it.

 

[bacillus1]

I would not recommend doing 6 years program because of the cost of extra two years on the top of the 4 years tuition. It is also too early to commit your career to pharmacy. Take some times to learn more about it before you set your goal on it.

Well, if you get into a program with conditional acceptance (e.g. Pitt) that's not too expensive, might as well go there. If you change your mind, there are lots of other options for you, and the program's not too expensive. If you're thinking of purely 0-6 places like MCPHS/USP, I honestly think these places are too expensive and may not be worth it (and I go to one of them).

Problem is that nowadays you need a bachelor's to get to some pharmacy schools, and that's an opportunity cost of 2 years x your salary as a pharmacist. If it would be guaranteed that you got in after 2 years somewhere, I wouldn't do the 0-6 route.

 

[doublea0508]

If you really truly know that you want to do pharmacy for the rest of your life, I would highly recommend a 0-6 program. I know I wanted to do pharmacy since junior year and I got into a 0-6 program and absolutely love it. However, it is not for anyone but you are still very early with the college journey. Best of luck you.

 

[LaxGoaliePharm]

Thanks for the replies guys. Im actually not sure if I want to be a pharmacist; I know I want to do something in the healthcare industry and pharmacy seems like it would be something enjoyable to me since Im fascinated by pharmacology and how different drugs effect the body.

Another career Im kind of interested in is anesthesiology. Is there any way I could get my bachelors degree with prereqs for both pharmacy and med school and then decide whether I want to go to pharmacy school or Med school?

 

[bacillus1]

Thanks for the replies guys. Im actually not sure if I want to be a pharmacist; I know I want to do something in the healthcare industry and pharmacy seems like it would be something enjoyable to me since Im fascinated by pharmacology and how different drugs effect the body.

Another career Im kind of interested in is anesthesiology. Is there any way I could get my bachelors degree with prereqs for both pharmacy and med school and then decide whether I want to go to pharmacy school or Med school?

Sure, you could do that. It'll take about 8 years for you to get either degree then, but at least you'll be sure about what you want to do.

 

[LaxGoaliePharm]

Ok thanks for the replies everyone!! I should probably stop worrying about this stuff until I start applying to colleges next year🙂

 

[LaxGoaliePharm]

And would my grades be good enough to get into Northeastern's 0-6 assuming that my gpa stays around the same area?

 

[pharmschooler]

And would my grades be good enough to get into Northeastern's 0-6 assuming that my gpa stays around the same area?

You're doing fine. Relax. Remember...quality over quantity. One more thing: schools don't admit based on grades and numbers alone. A good or bad attitude can go a long way.

 

[bacillus1]

There was a thread a while back about a guy at Northeastern who's gonna have $300k in debt. Hopefully you won't end up like him.

 

[LaxGoaliePharm]

There was a thread a while back about a guy at Northeastern who's gonna have $300k in debt. Hopefully you won't end up like him.

Ouch. Debt will definitely be something I will have to consider. That would take forever to pay off.

 

[klap16]

Hi! I'm currently a senior and I have pretty much the same grades,and slightly higher test scores than you do and I definitely would not worry at all. I applied early action to URI, St. John's, MCPHS, and UCONN (not 0-6 but i'm in state) and I was accepted into all of the programs. However I was waitlisted at Northeastern. I was initially deferred, they lost my first quarter grades. I don't know if being in the regular admission pool put me at a disadvantage but regardless I took myself off the waitlist.

Also, I only took three years of spanish and instead I'm taking ap calc and ap stat this year.

Try not to worry too much, it will all work out! Good Luck!