MCPHS 4 year program or 6 year program entering into year 2?

[BlueHens66]

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Hello all! I am a recent graduate of a 4 year Medical Technology program, and I am applying to pharmD programs. I have a pretty solid GPA (3.44), lots of extras, currently interning at a pharmacy, working for a pharmaceutical contracting agency, and am taking the PCAT in October. I need to satisfy a few pre-req classes though. For MCPHS-Worcester I need to take Physics with lab, economics, physc, sociology, and statistics (all of which I am planning on taking this year at a CC while applying to programs).

My question is, would it make more sense to apply to MCPHS-Worcester 4 year program or the MCPHS-Boston 6 year program and possibly enter into year 2 or year 3 based on what pre-reqs I can finish. Does anyone know what program will regard me highlly for having a B.S. and having almost all the pre-reqs finished? Anyone ever enter into Boston's program at year 2 or 3? I just want to get into a program asap and then bust my butt to complete the last of the pre-reqs.

 

[DrugDealer]

Just to clarify, the Worcester and Manchester campuses are 3 year programs, not 4. That's what makes them unique.

 

[M0df]

Boston - 4 year program. They can make it 5 if you dont have enough pre-reqs. They will tell you that the reqs are less demanding than Worcester. They might be more lenient on what you are missing and let you complete them during summer or school year (only 14-15 credits in the fall of the first semester in their pharmacy program, so you can take 1 class at that time). The least you'll do is 4 years. They want all their professional courses taken at MCPHS.

Worcester - All transfers. Obviously more spots for transfers but more competitive. All reqs have to be done before you enroll as far as I know. It is a 3 year program, and you dont get summers off. Someone from Worcester can tell you more or just look up their schedule.

 

[chemalr8]

I would suggest contacting admissions from both schools. I considered both, but decided on worcester because I would get out much earlier and cramming in a few prereq's at a cc was better then staying an extra yr or two. Worcester has been really good about letting me complete my prereq's. You don't need them to be finished before you apply, just before you actually start classes. So you can be working on them up through the summer before you start if you really need to. They will not wave any requirements...no matter what your background is you have to do all of the prereq's.

 

[BlueHens66]

Thanks all for your replies! The pre-reqs I need to do for MCPHS-Worcester by the end of the summer are: Physics with lab, Physcology, Statistics, Sociology, and Economics. I figure I can knock out 1 this fall, 2 in the spring, and take Physics during the summer session along with 1 other. I can't take many classes in the fall and spring because i am working full time and need to pay rent. I plan on quitting my job in may to begin the summer session classes, which will finish at the end of july just in time for admission into the program. The pre-reqs won't be a problem at all. I was just wondering what campus would like my stats better (Boston or Worcester). It would be great to finish pharmD in 3 years at Worcester but I really wouldn't mind entering into year 2 or 3 of the program in Boston. All I care is that I get accepted since the competition is intense.

 

[astevens]

For Worcester- all of the prereqs don't have to be completed before applying, but you have to be close and be able to have all completed before entry ( I think they want them all completed by spring semester before entry, but will allow you to take a class in the summer if need- but you have to give them advance notice)

Hope this helps
astevens

 

[BlueHens66]

Well I will defainetly have to take physics with lab in the summer because I need to work full time until May to pay rent. I will most likely have to take another class in the summer as well because I don't have the time to take 2 classes this fall or three in the spring. So it looks like 1 class this fall, 2 in the spring, and 2 in the summer. Do you think that MCPHS-Worcester will be ok with that? I hope I don't have to have every class completed by the spring because I just don't have the time.

 

[chemalr8]

No no...don't worry about finishing things in the spring. I am starting at MCPHS worcester this year and just finished my last class over the first summer session. I didn't even decide for sure I wanted to go to pharm school until a little after christmas so really the best thing to do is to contact admissions and if you're in the area actually go out and talk to them face to face. They were really helpful helping me get everything in order and finished. I was in a chemistry Ph.D. program that I decided to leave and just didn't have all of my prereq's completed (I needed 18 credits which were super easy but they still were required). They actually interviewed and accepted me before I had finished any of these 18 credits. I was teaching, working in lab, and trying to finish my thesis for my masters so was quite busy but was still able to finish everything. I took econ and statistics in the spring, took the clep for bio 1 & 2 in the spring, and then took microbio with lab in the fall.

You said you needed physics, and I don't know how comfortable you are with the material, but you may want to look into taking a clep exam for it. You can study for it on your own for a few weeks, take the exam for about $100, and have credit (I did this for bio 1&2 and MCPHS gave me credit for lecture and lab and it saved SOOO much time and money).

 

[BlueHens66]

I will def. have to look into taking the CLEP for physics. Thank you for your advice!

 

[greatdeals225]

if you have lots of pharmacy experience and get good grades on your pre-reqs, i'd say you're better than a lot of people already. I did not have my bachelors, but I had 3 yrs of pharmacy experience + National certification for pharm techs, I got in no problem with a 3.6 pre-pharm/overall GPA.

Good luck~