Is this a good plan?

[bottlecap1990]

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I am 19 year old college freshmen at a local community college. I am curently taking prerequisites for pharmacy school hoping to apply straight to pharmacy school after just completing all the required prerequisites (maybe 2-3 years) without having to go to a 4 year school and get a bachelor's degree. Do you think it is a good idea to do this?. I will try to apply to some pharmacy schools and if I don't get accepted, then I will just transfer to a 4 year university and keep applying the following years while working on my BA. On the other hand, I am also torn between doing pharmacy and medical. I would like to become an internal medicine doctor also. I heard they both have the same requirement. Can anyone give me advice on what I should do?

 

[pharm B]

There's nothing wrong with completing your pre-reqs at a CC. You're only taking lower level courses, and it's lighter on the wallet.

Regarding your dilemma of medicine vs. pharmacy: Start shadowing and volunteering. Both look good on your professional school app, regardless of whether you're applying to pharmacy or medical schools. But you need that experience to help you decide which way to go.

 

[yappy]

Sounds like a good plan. What ever you decide DO WELL in your studies. If you do; you'll have many options.

 

[Ackj]

I'm a P1 now, and one of my classmates sounds like took the same course as you. He's now 21 and a P1 after completing 2 years of pre-req at a CC. Worked for him, don't see why you can't do it as well.

 

[ASUmicro]

Im a P2 right now and I dont think it is an issue to take your prereqs at a community college ( I did), however I think it is a huge advantage to get some upper level courses too. I ended up getting a bachelors and am glad I did. The upper division courses will better prepare you for pharmacy school. I look back to when I had just finished my first 2 years at a community college and am pretty sure I would have struggled my P1 year if I applied right away. Plus, any upper division courses give you an advantage in the admissions process. If you do stick with the 2 year CC plan, make sure you bust ass to get good grades - any student with the same stats as you who went to a 4 yr school will probably have a slight advantage.

Dont get me wrong - it is entirely possible to be successful in pharm school with a 2 year degree from a CC, but you may have to work harder during your P1 year. If you do decide to go to a 4 year school for a year or two, I would recommend taking: genetics, biochem, immunology, and some kind of infectious diseases course (e.g. bacteriology). These classes will give you a huge leg up during your P1 year. Lastly, get some pharmacy experience, either by working or volunteering. Most interviews involve a fair amount of pharmacy questions, so knowing about the profession will also give you an advantage.

Again, I know students who had a 2 year CC degree and no experience, and they are successful student pharmacists - so whatever you choose, just make sure you work as hard as you can now, it will pay off in the future.

Good luck.

 

[SmKN808]

i agree with EVERYONE previously...👍😀👍 and best of luck! to YOU also...

 

[IrishHammer]

I'm a P1 now, and one of my classmates sounds like took the same course as you. He's now 21 and a P1 after completing 2 years of pre-req at a CC. Worked for him, don't see why you can't do it as well.

I'm not 21, *******. 🙄

But yes, OP, it's doable.

 

[azwethinkweizm]

There's nothing wrong with completing your pre-reqs at a CC. You're only taking lower level courses, and it's lighter on the wallet.

I wouldn't recommend that, I've been told specifically by admission counselors at certain schools that I'm more than welcome to apply to their pharmacy school but I won't get in with a CC pre-profession transcript. Even with a 4.0, they flat out told me not to waste my application fee.

 

[UES Girl]

I wouldn't recommend that, I've been told specifically by admission counselors at certain schools that I'm more than welcome to apply to their pharmacy school but I won't get in with a CC pre-profession transcript. Even with a 4.0, they flat out told me not to waste my application fee.

Not be skeptical, but they actually told you: " Do not apply to our school with a CC transcript " or is this how you are interepreting it ?


I have never heard admissions staff making statements like this, so I'm a little puzzled.

 

[azwethinkweizm]

He told me this:

You can go ahead and go to a CC but you would be wasting your time applying to our pharmacy school. Even with a 4.0 you would have no chance, you need to do our curicculum.

 

[roziak]

Was the CC in a different state? Some schools are very picky

 

[UES Girl]

you need to do our curicculum.

What does that mean ? Was he implying that with a CC education you would be incapable to handle their curriculum ?

 

[Passion4Sci]

Until that's in writing (Like USC has it, and even they just "strongly discourage" CC classes), I don't believe it.

 

[pharm B]

He told me this:

You can go ahead and go to a CC but you would be wasting your time applying to our pharmacy school. Even with a 4.0 you would have no chance, you need to do our curicculum.

I'd apply to a different school of pharmacy. And send the first school a rejection letter.

 

[SmKN808]

He told me this:

You can go ahead and go to a CC but you would be wasting your time applying to our pharmacy school. Even with a 4.0 you would have no chance, you need to do our curicculum.

oh well... life goes on and like b[pharm b], said? just apply to a different school or several! to be exact. besides! atleast your saving money in that sense right? considering most schools are always in favor of taking it and like cheba[cheburashka], asked previously... are they implying that you can't handle THEIR curriculum? oh and what school IS this by the way?

 

[docss26]

I dont agree with the previous comment that pharmacy schools dont like students with pre-requisites taken at a CC. I applied to about 12 schools, all of which I asked a similar question. All of them responded, "Taking pre-requisites at a community college will not affect your chances of admissions." That said, you should not worry about where you take your pre-requisites. I will say this, the grades are relative. Generally CC are less challenging than university level work, so make sure to get good grades at a CC otherwise it will look bad.

Also, I have noticed majority of pharmacy applicants have their Bachelors, which is why I think preference may be given to students with degrees. I know plenty of people who have gotten in without a bachelors, but this is just a trend I am noticing since pharmacy has become a popular field and more and more schools are opening up around the US.

 

[Ackj]

I'm not 21, *******. 🙄

But yes, OP, it's doable.

You are now, comrade.

 

[IrishHammer]

You are now, comrade.

I owe it all to my strict plate diet as well as my wheelbarrow stealing skills.

...something about hookah. *sits back and waits for another crazy ass hookah story from Sparda*