I need guidance.

[MrBoba]

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I've never been more certain about anything before; I want to become a pharmacist.

So, I want to do this once, and do this right. Though, I already made a mistake so I'm not really doing it once. 👍

This is every detail I can tell you as of right now... yes, it's a long and daunting post to read, but if you want to help me, PLEASE take the time to look over what I've posted and give me some advice.

So, this fall, I'm going to attend UCSB. It's not one of the best universities, so people outside of California may not recognize the name. That's University of California at Santa Barbara, for all you out-of-staters.

I'm beginning to wonder though, was this the right choice? I mean, in high school, if I had already known about going into pharmacy and done the research, I would have worked my butt off, glued it on, and worked it off again to be admitted to one of those great pharmacy programs they have, such as at UOP and Northeastern.

However, high school is over, I'm going to be taking a couple classes at UCSB in the fall (taking me out of the "first time freshmen" group of students) and there is no way for me to make up for my lackluster high school transcript. That means I have to take the 7 or 8 year route that many of you pre-pharm students are taking, bachelor's degree with professional study to receive the Pharm D.

After reading some of these threads, I've learned that a high GPA is important, as well as experience in a pharmacy atmosphere, whether it be as a Pharm tech, volunteer, or shadowing a pharmacist.

My question to you guys is, then, should I hurry up and opt out of UCSB and attend a JC instead, then transfer to a local CSU? There are many things I like about this idea. They are:
- CSU tend to be less competitive in their classes, allowing me to get better grades, and a better overall GPA.
- I've heard Cal Poly Pomona has a good pre-pharm program from my high school counselor, but those words only tell me so much.
- I'd be able to live at home, and the tuition is cheaper. I could be putting all that extra financial aid refund into buying books.
- There are many retail stores in my location (LA county) so I'd be able to find a pharmacy to work at or volunteer at very quickly and in convenient locations.
- If I continue at UCSB, I assume my GPA is lower than the one I could have obtained at Cal Poly Pomona; also, time will be spent doing workstudy at some random place on campus, instead of working in a pharmacy to gain experience AND money. Work study is a viable option for many as financial aid, but I am looking to not waste any time.

After speaking to my family about it, they suggested that I give UCSB a shot, and if I find that it is too hard to maintain a competitive GPA, then I could come home and enroll at JC. There are some problems with this.
- After JC, I would definitely not go through the UC applications process again. I would apply to CSU, and the classes I'd taken at UCSB my first quarter as a freshman would not transfer over to CSU, meaning I'd have to retake those classes at the JC. It's not lost money, but it is wasted time.

My initial reasons toward helping me decide going to UCSB were
1. "It's a UC" ... That's one of the most common things I hear kids from high school say when choosing which university to attend. Because UC is one of the most highly regarded public institution systems in the United States, many students are choosing to attend it based on it's name. I was also in this band of people, but now I realize that I don't need to attend a research-based university, and I would rather not want to owe money to obtain my bachelor's degree.
2. "I want the college experience." I was under the impression that only UCSB could give me that college experience all my high school counselors were talking about. Living on campus, becoming friends with dorm mates, participating in intramural sports, and junk like that. While I still think it is important, my top priority now is fulfilling anything I could possibly need to do to get into my pharmacy school of choice.

If I choose to cancel my registration at UCSB, there are no consequences, other than owing about 300 dollars for orientation and as a cancellation fee.

I want all of YOUR opinions, as many of you have already begun your journey into the land of pharmacy. What do you guys think I should do? Stick with UCSB? Stick with my "plan" of giving UCSB a chance? Quickly opting out of UCSB and enrolling in JC right away? Are there any other options that I haven't realized yet?

 

[Intrest1]

Are you a freshman in the college and want to change the university?
Personally, I think it is a tough choice.
Ask yourself a following question.

Considering the convenienous and the program offered from the colleges, do you like JC better or UCSB better?

Are you talking about PharmD program based on high school? Otherwise, Pre-pharm you can do anywhere, then it becomes matter of applying to the colleges afterward with better grades and GPA and PCAT scores.

Sometimes, the background helps to take the classes. Which college offers better pre-pham program?

I think meet an advisor at both colleges, and see what they answer and what choices and how your opinions change about colleges after meeting the advisors.

 

[diastole]

I went to a UC in my past and am attending a JC now to update my prereqs. I actually prefer the education I'm getting in the JC to the UC but I'm in a different place than you. My partying days are behind me and I have a family to go home to. If I had to do it all over again, I'd still choose the UC. The college experience is unique and my life would be poorer without having experienced it. You can get that at a CSU if you aren't a commuter but a JC is not the college experience in the traditional sense.

One thing that you didn't mention about a UC is that it will better prepare you for the rigors of pharm school. I'm in a JC and I'm getting straight As with hardly breaking a sweat. UC was much, much tougher. If the JC experience was the only thing I had to go by, I would probably have an inflated ego (well a more inflated one anyway😀) and be in for quite an adjustment once in pharm school. Having experienced UC, I recognize that the JC classes are easy so I won't be in for a shock once I see more challenging coursework.

I do have one question for you: why won't your UC units transfer to CSU? That doesn't sound right to me.

 

[bullsfan1986]

hey I understand your dilemma. Although I understand that transferring from a more competitive school to a less competitive school may seem like the easy thing to do, I think that you should reconsider this school of thought. If you do in fact transfer to a community college (junior college), of course you will be maintain a very high GPA (mostly due to the notorious grade inflation associated with these type of institutions). My point is that although you will take the easy way out, ask your self if you are actually preparing yourself for your ultimate goal? By taking easier, less competitive classes in undergrad, are you really preparing yourself for the rigors of becoming a pharmacy student and ultimately a pharmacist? Also, are JC's and CC's going to successfully prepare you for taking the PCAT (I understand you're from california so maybe this doesn't apply to you). Seriously, think about this long and hard and dont make any half assed decisions. Your future depends on it.

 

[mochiko]

There are many retail stores in my location (LA county) so I'd be able to find a pharmacy to work at or volunteer at very quickly and in convenient locations.

Sorry, but it's not going to be that easy. I live about 15 minutes west of Cal Poly Pomona, so I'm assuming you're somewhere nearby to me. It took me two months to find a pharm tech job, and I was licensed and certified. I had the same thoughts as you before, but I was in for a rude awakening as I started applying for the jobs. None of the big chains around here like to hire people with no experience.

It's definitely a hard decision to make. I am pretty much in the same position as diastole. I'm taking classes at a JC now for a few missing pre-reqs, but went to a UC. There's a vastly different atmosphere going to either. The classes are a lot smaller in a JC, and the teachers also seem to care more about the students. You also see a very different population of students at each campus. I have to admit I did not miss the frat boys and the over-achieving brown nosers of the UC student body.

You might think of the "college experience" at a big university as being superfluous, but for many people including myself, it really is a life defining process. Most people enter college without a real grasp of who they are as a person, and it takes the vulnerability and unknowns of college life to define yourself. The tuition also may be higher at a UC, but you can really see the difference technologically from a UC to a Cal State or JC which can help a lot with the learning process. The classes are admittedly more difficult at a UC; but if you can't cope with that difficulty, I would be skeptical of your chances of success at the professional level.

I don't regret my decision to go to a UC, but you'll have to weigh the pros and cons yourself.

 

[ruth265]

Do as your heart tells you. If being home is easier, your family is here and you are not ready to move out just stay home. You will be happy. A person should always go away from misery towards being happy. If UCSB is not where you want to be/will not make you happy you will be depressed in UCSB b/c I can sense that you already talking yourself into not being happy there. Classes are too hard etc..... Because your brain is already programed to failure at UCSB you will believe in it and this will actually come true. Start taking 1 or 2 classes. Once you feel you can handle take 3-4 classes. Get good grades. Trust me it really doesn't matter what school you attend to as long as you have good grades. BE HAPPY and HEALTHY. There will be doubts ofcourse. But once you get your first A all the doubts will go away and success here it comes. Go into the direction of happiness and how comfortable you feel.

 

[eightonesix]

Well, I don't know how much I can offer you, but I can say I was kinda in your position at some point.

I graduated high school recently, accepted to UC Davis & UCSB and had been sincerely motivated to pursue pharmacy since I was sophomore. I had considered going to a JC instead to offset the costs of education but after taking a few tours and overnighting at the schools made me realize that the price was no comparison to the experience of dorming and meeting new people and being in a completely new environment. Its really what you get out of it. Some people spend their time only on school and others do just more than that. I chose Davis not solely for its "prestige," - which is not as highly ranked compared to that of UCLA/UCSD/Cal - but because of the diversity of the campus, the numerous resources it has, and the fact that if I knew I loved being here, misery and fear of failure wouldn't be a problem.

I personally feel you should experience what university feel is like. I've heard things about JC classes being less challenging thus allowing you to get better grades, and Ive also heard that admissions takes those kinds of factors into account. (how true that rumor is I'm not so sure). My experience with taking prereqs at Davis compared to my friends taking the same classes at a JC were totally different. They told me they didn't really do much and received a B.

I agree with what mostly everyone says here and I think its a personal choice. I also think that as determined as you are to get into pharmacy school, you should also remember that this is the time in your life where you will be able to experience what its like living with a complete dorm stranger, meeting random people, joining clubs and all that other stuff you might not be able to do when you become extremely committed to your profession.

Just a thought.

 

[Sleekdes]

My question to you guys is, then, should I hurry up and opt out of UCSB and attend a JC instead, then transfer to a local CSU? There are many things I like about this idea. They are:
- CSU tend to be less competitive in their classes, allowing me to get better grades, and a better overall GPA.
- I've heard Cal Poly Pomona has a good pre-pharm program from my high school counselor, but those words only tell me so much.
- I'd be able to live at home, and the tuition is cheaper. I could be putting all that extra financial aid refund into buying books.
- There are many retail stores in my location (LA county) so I'd be able to find a pharmacy to work at or volunteer at very quickly and in convenient locations.
- If I continue at UCSB, I assume my GPA is lower than the one I could have obtained at Cal Poly Pomona; also, time will be spent doing workstudy at some random place on campus, instead of working in a pharmacy to gain experience AND money. Work study is a viable option for many as financial aid, but I am looking to not waste any time.

Seems like you already made up your mind somewhat...

 

[MrBoba]

Thank you everyone for your input so far. This type of help is priceless, as I probably couldn't find it anywhere else.

Everyone here seems to lean in the direction of giving UCSB and chance; and that's exactly what I'm going to do. It is a little unfair to not give it a chance, so I'm going to go and do my best.

Now, I have 2 other questions for you all.

- I only have... 3 and a half weeks left before I leave for school. Do you think I'll be able to find a job in a pharmacy that will allow me to work for the little time I have left? What about volunteering?

- What exactly are the perks of joining "pre-pharm" at a university? Do you get priority in choosing classes just as if pre-pharm were offered as a major? I want to know, because I want to apply to pharmacy school as soon as I finish my pre-reqs, and I may be able to do this quickly if I take all the classes I need at UCSB, and any that I didn't get, at the local JC.

 

[mochiko]

If by "joining pre-pharm" you mean joining a pre-pharm club or something, it's just an opportunity to network and maybe get some leadership as an officer. Your schedule to register will usually depend on the number of credits you've finished. Whether you consider yourself pre-pharm, pre-med, etc. will have no bearing on this. In most cases, these are self-given titles and will not affect you in any way academically.

There's no way anybody will hire you for 3 weeks, and volunteering is usually done for longer as well. The only plausible thing I would suggest to fit that time frame is to shadow a pharmacist. Otherwise, just spend the time preparing yourself for college and enjoy the free time while you can. You might be eager to get into pharm school, but don't forget to live it up along the way. This is life, not a race. 👍

 

[MrBoba]

Thanks mochiko, I take your advice to the heart. 😀

Well, during all of this, it just feels like such a scramble trying to figure out what is best for me with such little time left. I decided on the pharmacy thing a little bit before I graduated, and I haven't done any thorough research on it until very recently. My mistake.

I didn't realize that pre-pharmacy was just a self given title that has no academic bearing. So many people answer "pre-med" or "pre-dental" when I ask them what their major is, so I thought it was more than just that. The more you know, huh?

mochiko, can you explain to me in further detail how I may go about shadowing the pharmacist? You can post here or PM me.

 

[MrBoba]

I do have one question for you: why won't your UC units transfer to CSU? That doesn't sound right to me.

The reason is because UC and CSU normally do not take any classes from each other, at all. Because it's all part of the California Master Plan for Higher Education, they want you to either be directly accepted into either UC and CSU, and stick with it, or take JC and then go to UC or CSU afterward. Transferring between UC/CSU is especially difficult because of this. That is why if I knew I would even consider going to CSU later, I might as well do it now.

 

[esrodems]

I think you have to first ask yourself a few questions. What is most important to you that you get into pharmacy school after only two years of pre-reqs and you attend a school in California or that you have a university experience and maybe wait and apply a bit later. If you don't mind not doing pharmacy school in California then I would say that either option would be ok because as long as your grades are competitive and you have pharmacy experience then if you apply to enough schools someone will take you. However, if your goal is to get into a specific school in California then you need to make yourself competitive for that school.
I dont know a lot about pharmacy schools in California but I know that they requrie a lot of pre-reqs, are expensive and competitive to get into. If you want to attend a pharmacy school in California then you'll prob need either a bachelors (while not required its strongly encouraged) or 3 years of pre-reqs. What I would do if you want to go to school in California is take your gen-eds and intro science classes at a JC because it will be easier and you'lll save a ton of money then after 2 years transfer to one of the UCs to get your four year degree that way your GPA will be higher and you'll have a competitive degree from a good school.
If you're goal is to get into pharmacy school ASAP no matter where then take your pre-reqs at a JC where it's easier and apply to schools our of state that are less competitive and make sure to get pharmacy experience and be involved!! Just my two cents!

 

[mochiko]

If you want to find shadowing experience, just call local pharmacies and hospitals. Tell them you're interested in going into pharmacy and see if they'll allow you to shadow. Hospitals and big retail chains tend not to allow this, so your best bet is to go to the yellow pages and find independent pharmacies as they tend to be more lenient about shadowing.

 

[MrBoba]

Thanks mochiko, I'm going to visit all the local walgreens, CVS, Target pharmacies and see if they'll let me shadow for a while. If that doesn't work out, then I'll visit the hospitals in my area (I've actually never seen an independent pharmacy in Covina). 🙂

 

[mochiko]

I've actually never seen an independent pharmacy in Covina.

It's not very likely the big chains will let you shadow. You might never have noticed the independents, but they're there. Click here for yellow page results.

 

[MrBoba]

Aiya, I called the Target pharmacist I asked, and she said it was possible... and went on to ask me how many hours I needed.

I didn't really know... I just said I had two weeks left. And I think she thought I was stupid, she said "...just... you know, how many hours? That's all I need to know."

So I just spat out 15. My sister told me it wasn't enough, I hope it is.