How important is name recognition when it comes to schools?

[PharmaFresh]

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Hey all, hoping to get some input from some current pharmacists, especially if you have any experience with hiring.
A friend and I both recently got into USC and Western, both of us are of course very excited but while we wait to hear back from UCSF/UCSD we're struggling to decide which is the best option.

USC of course is extremely well known and has some weight to its name. From what I've heard that USC stamp on a diploma can open a lot of doors/get your foot in the door. Not to mention most ranking sites put USC pretty high (consistently in the top 10). With that said, I've heard some issues about decline of quality and then there's the problem of cost, cost of living and that god awful commute to a school in LA. But the program's reputation, alumni network, benefits are certainly alluring.

Western on the other hand may not have the same prestige as USC but has great naplex pass rates and is still a well known and decently ranked program from what I've seen. Western doesn't seem to have any trouble placing graduates. In addition, there comes the added benefit of it possibly being easier to be top 20% of our class which will help when it comes time for residencies/fellowships. Plus added benefits like cheaper cost and cost of living, less commute etc.

My friend and I are both interested in modalities of pharmacy other than retail, whether its in regulation/industry/hospital inpatient. I guess I'm just curious is if our goal is to land residencies or fellowships, how much will a large name like USC help us, or even in just general hiring does the USC name carry a ton of weight or will class rank supersede that?

 

[BidingMyTime]

I don't remember which forum poster said this, but it is so true.....schools established before 2000, good reputation and no practical difference between them.....schools established after 2000, negative reputation and a big and growing gulf of respect between them and the earlier schools. I'm sure there is an exception somewhere, but that is generally true.

 

[PharMed2016]

Deleted. Posted in wrong thread.

 

[steveysmith54]

I think you go to the best school that accepts you, unless it has something to do with location of the school (like nor cal VS so cal bc you tend to network for jobs based on location). I think going to WesternU will not hurt your odds of landing a residency or being successful, but going to USC will make it easier. A lot of hospital directors and DM's have gone to USC, simply bc it has been around longer. You look at USC's residency matching rates and it's excellent. The general public's name recognition of USC is also an added bonus. Having said all of this, I went to WesternU 🙂 and couldn't have been happier and loved almost everything about the school.

 

[lcow2004]

Yes it matters you should go to USC because they also have a lot of connections with industry and that will help with finding fellowships later

 

[Jbrl]

I will say that if you check RPIF brochures, USC is [much?] more highly represented than Western; take that as you will. I know next to nothing about Western, though. As someone who hails from the east coast, it's pretty clear that USC is more recognizable on a national level. What's the cost difference?

I looked and Western is 47k tuition-only. Wow. Honestly I wouldn't go to either of those schools cause they're so expensive... Crazy

I don't remember which forum poster said this, but it is so true.....schools established before 2000, good reputation and no practical difference between them.....schools established after 2000, negative reputation and a big and growing gulf of respect between them and the earlier schools. I'm sure there is an exception somewhere, but that is generally true.

I think Western's pharm school was established in 1992, so they're both pre-2000 schools anyway

 

[steveysmith54]

I will say that if you check RPIF brochures, USC is [much?] more highly represented than Western; take that as you will. I know next to nothing about Western, though. As someone who hails from the east coast, it's pretty clear that USC is more recognizable on a national level. What's the cost difference?

I looked and Western is 47k tuition-only. Wow. Honestly I wouldn't go to either of those schools cause they're so expensive... Crazy

I think Western's pharm school was established in 1992, so they're both pre-2000 schools anyway

1996 if i am not mistaken.

 

[Lexington2012]

University of South Carolina isn't even ranked in the top 50. If you want name recognition, got to UNC-Chapel Hill.

 

[YungTrapLord]

University of South Carolina isn't even ranked in the top 50. If you want name recognition, got to UNC-Chapel Hill.

I think he was talking about USC University of Southern California.

 

[Lexington2012]

Regardless, the other USC also has horrible name recognition.

 

[vanessalix]

Regardless, the other USC also has horrible name recognition.

What are you talking about? University of Southern California is a brand name.