how hard is it to get in schools in california ?

[noone]

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Hi everyone,
I have been reading this forum for a while. Thanks for all the helpful information. I noticed that there are lots of you guys are from California, and lots of this forum about California schools. Well, UCSF and USC are my dream schools. That was why I did not think I could make the cut. So I did not apply for them and want to wait until the year 2005 when I am fully prepared. Is it worth to waste a year? How hard is it to get in those schools? My pharmacy GPA for science is 3.34 same as overall GPA. I volunteer in hospital, work part time as a pharm tech. And I have a B.S. All my science classes are from a community college.
This year I only apply a couple schools from North East since I met all their requirements. I got interview with MCPHS a couple days ago. But it is not my first choice of school and expensive. And I don't hear much about this school on this forum. is it worth to go there and have $100k in student loan if I got accepted? ( i felt good after the interview)? Pharmacy is hot now. just like the technology (computer science) 5 years ago. Everyone went for computer science. and now...so many people lost their jobs or have no jobs after graduation. would it happen to pharmacy field ?

 

[Spyris]

Everyone went for computer science. and now...so many people lost their jobs or have no jobs after graduation. would it happen to pharmacy field ?

No because people will always need medicine regardless. The health profession will always be there because people will always need drugs, unless we're super humans.

 

[biophiliac1]

hmmm...i dono...i was thinkin the same thing with the computer science deal considering that when jobs are hot they are hot and people "flood" the field or should i say become more "interested" in the field partially for job security...you can't blame people for that. but yes people will continue to need drugs that is true. people also use computers now with more reliance on them then before and with the new schools of pharmacy opening up that means more people will be receiving degrees. equibrium must be reached . there will always be a NEED for people in both fields(pharmacy and computers) but the question is will the pay be the same for pharmacy as now with more competition/people out there to fill the position as interest in pharmacy grows and the field is being hyped up in the media with the SHORTAGE thing. it's an economical thing!!! see why they make you take it as a pre-req!

 

[Trancelucent1]

I believe that the two can't even be compared. Most computer science degrees are 4 years and pharmacy at the shortest is a 5/6 year degree. I honestly believe that the competitiveness will push pharmacy schools to start preferring 4 year degrees. I believe that this might be what prevents a lot of people from "flooding" the market. Sure there are plenty of people who want to go to pharmacy school, but not everyone gets in. Computer science, however, is a field that anyone can get a degree in, that's a big difference. Afterall, look at all the doctors out there, and every year more and more people go to med school, but they still make a good living. Also, the shortage is expected to go through 2008...and that's just speculation, I'm thinking that it will go longer. Afterall, there are CVS's, Walgreens, and Eckerds showing up on every corner!


~Pam

 

[biophiliac1]

in a capitalistic system...financial outlook of salary is important for many people. and for some that is what makes the continuous interest in medicine occur (not to mention the PRESTIGE) this is a contributing factor for the increased interest in pharmacy. people want a job that has decent pay and when the demand is high for a position that has a positive future outlook as far as jobs being available with the added bonus of pay a growing interest in a given field often occurs. also i think it is an overstatement to say anyone can get a degree in computer science because not everyone has strengths that are needed to succeed in that field.

by the way if you REALLYYY want to go to school in cali. and that's your dream maybe it is worth waiting that extra year. you can get some volunteer experience in at a pharmacy or work experience. however if you want to plunge ahead and get a PharmD maybe you should just go to the school you've been accepted to already because competition is high.

 

[biophiliac1]

EDIT: you should go to the school you got an interview at if you get accepted

 

[jetskigirl]

Don't worry about there not being pharmacist positions open when you finish. I talked to a pharmacist a couple of weeks ago who said there is an expected shortage of pharmacists until 2020. Even if you're just starting your undergrad now, you'll still be out of school by then.

 

[ucdbiochem]

i dunno if the shortage will last that long. in fact, some areas in LA, cali are saturated i heard.

 

[dgroulx]

i dunno if the shortage will last that long. in fact, some areas in LA, cali are saturated i heard.

Yeah, I think the shortages are in rural areas and small towns. Here in Florida, they have shortages in places that are big retirement areas. Lots of seniors who need their meds, but not many young people wanting to live there and fill them.

 

[ultracet]

With the shortage issue: there will always be a job out there. my class is 70% female, none of whom are planning on working full time for the rest of their lives.

 

[Longhorn23]

I agree with bbmuffin. I haven't started yet but I know what I'm gonna do once I graduate- have kids! Hence definitely not planning on working fulltime for the rest of my life!

 

[LVPharm]

This is much discussed in our class. My class is almost 2/3 female, most of which are getting married or are married, and plan on having children and working part time/per diem after a few years following graduation. Most of the people retiring (the "old timers") from pharmacy are men...not too many decades ago pharmacy was a male dominated profession. That means that there will be a lot of full time positions that will go unfilled.