I need advice...big time!

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Pharmfan100

Pharmacy Intern
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  1. Pharmacy Student
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I'm a high school senior and I'm trying to weigh my options. I received acceptance into University at Buffalo and St. John's University. Financially, St. John's will probably kill me. But, I want to here from those attending the schools. I don't care about the cold or the snow in Buffalo. I want to know about the value of the programs. Pros vs Cons? If you could do it over, would you choose differently? All advice from knowledgeable people is welcomed. Thank you in advance.
 
*looks to the left and the right*

I don't see a soul, knowledgeable or otherwise.

Oh, you know a congratulations would be nice...just a thought🙂
 
*looks to the left and the right*

I don't see a soul, knowledgeable or otherwise.

Oh, you know a congratulations would be nice...just a thought🙂



Cranky? Just kidding.
Give people a little time to respond. People around here love to give advice.
I know it's been a day. Patience is a virtue! 🙂

OH YEAH - Congratulations on your accomplishment!
 
thank you very much.
patience...yeah, too bad I can't buy that. lol
 
It might be better if you titled it with the school names. Some people just don't check every post. The only thing I know about them is UB is a good, well known school. Fisher is a newer school. I don't know anything else other than that.
 
It might be better if you titled it with the school names. Some people just don't check every post. The only thing I know about them is UB is a good, well known school. Fisher is a newer school. I don't know anything else other than that.


You read all of them though 😉
 
If i had the choice between two 4 year programs i would pick UB (even though st johns would be closer to where i live;hence, more convenient) UB has a better reputation and personally i sort of fell in love with the school. The faculty are nice and their current buildings aint that shabby. Most professors teaching/researching at UB are known around the world for their achievements.
Since UB is going to be cheaper for you i think it would be the better choice. Also, since snow is not an issue (it doesnt really bother me either) you have nothing to lose with UB.
But in the end make sure you listen to ur heart! and not just your wallet :laugh: .
Congrats and goodluck!

P.S guys go easy on the flirting .. haha just kidding
 
There are many factors to consider and I hope that I can help you to the best of my ability. The first and utmost important thing is your financial package. Are you expecting to recieve a lot of federal aid? If you are, going to St. John wont be a problem. In addition to federal aid, SJU is very generous with their scholarships.
Your location to the two is also very important. If you are a NYS resident, going to Buffalo will cost less. However you must also factor in rent, transportation, food, and other expenses. If you live in the city, you do not have to worry about that. Also keep in mind that you will be homesick as hard as it is for you to believe. For example, if you live in the city, you might miss the city's wide variety of food. (Eating campus food over and over again is sickening).
Another thing to keep in mind is the differences between the program. In Buffalo, you have to reapply to pharmacy school after two years. You might not do as well and get in forcing you into another major. In St Johns University, you are almost "guarantee" into the pharmacy program provided that you maintain a good GPA. In Buffalo, you might have to take a lot of classes in your first two years that are not pharmacy specific. In St Johns, most of the classes will be pharmacy oriented. Furthermore, we also have a clinical class during your freshman year where you get to go onto different rotation sites (ie nursing home, hospital, retail) and see what a pharmacist does. This way, you will know right out from the start, if pharmacy is the right career move for you or not.
In terms of quality of life in both school, Buffalo offers you are more campus life. You live the usual college student life. The weather WILL be a big part (waking up early in the morning to find out that your car wont start sucks!!!). In St Johns, it is a religious school. While there are entertainment on campus, you will mostly have to rely on the city to have fun.

Lastly, I feel it is important to bring this up. In Buffalo, you might not be able to get as much pharmacy experience as you want since there are limited amount of hospital/pharmacy tech and intern jobs up there. In the city, you will have more than enough opportunities to get a job. Why is this important? It makes your life A LOT easier once you enter pharmacy school. Remember, it is hard for you to find a place of employment where you can just work for a summer or during your winter break. Very little pharmacies are willing to spend 2 months to train a worker just so he/her can leave them in a week to start school. Also, companies usually offer more benefits if you were with them longer (ie more paid vacation, seniority, etc).

To sum it all up, look at 1. your financial package, 2. your location, and 3. what are you looking for.
 
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