Need Help/Advice!!

[RickyRicardoFC]

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Greetings!

I am new to this forum, so please be nice! Anyways I've been doing some research/emailing admissions of some schools with pharmacy programs, but want more information from another source.

So here's my situation. I will be completing my undergrad degree in economics in the fall (I only need 3 half credits, so I have lots of room to do any prereqs). I am totally willing to do another year or two of undergrad to get any science prereqs... (I was in science first year, my marks were meh and complete crap in calculus....) This is where I am confused about the route to pharmacy for me.

I am Canadian, trying to go to pharmacy school and eventually live in the US. I was considering "starting fresh" and doing a year or two of undergrad science there (some school's there are a certain in state quota, so maybe I could classify as an in state after a couple years?) Regardless... I am not looking for the easiest route. I am smart despite my horrid GPA (had a lot of stuff happen to me past couple years... one of which being swine flu.. greatly affected my GPA... and I also don't want to use that as an excuse to try and gain admissions... so starting over appeals greatly to me). Does anyone know if starting fresh is the best route to take? Or should I try to transfer some of my credits and get the pre reqs in the states?

I am also beginning to contemplate taking the UK pharmacy route. (US 2 years of starting fresh, 2-3 years pharmacy, would end up being same amount of time as the 4 years it takes in UK). I have my heart set on the states, but UK takes people out of high school... and my high school marks were amazing... so perhaps I could get in there off those? Please help, apologies for the long message... any constructive advice people have to offer are welcomed.

 

[Jabberwocky12]

Greetings!

I am new to this forum, so please be nice! Anyways I've been doing some research/emailing admissions of some schools with pharmacy programs, but want more information from another source.

So here's my situation. I will be completing my undergrad degree in economics in the fall (I only need 3 half credits, so I have lots of room to do any prereqs). I am totally willing to do another year or two of undergrad to get any science prereqs... (I was in science first year, my marks were meh and complete crap in calculus....) This is where I am confused about the route to pharmacy for me.

I am Canadian, trying to go to pharmacy school and eventually live in the US. I was considering "starting fresh" and doing a year or two of undergrad science there (some school's there are a certain in state quota, so maybe I could classify as an in state after a couple years?) Regardless... I am not looking for the easiest route. I am smart despite my horrid GPA (had a lot of stuff happen to me past couple years... one of which being swine flu.. greatly affected my GPA... and I also don't want to use that as an excuse to try and gain admissions... so starting over appeals greatly to me). Does anyone know if starting fresh is the best route to take? Or should I try to transfer some of my credits and get the pre reqs in the states?

I am also beginning to contemplate taking the UK pharmacy route. (US 2 years of starting fresh, 2-3 years pharmacy, would end up being same amount of time as the 4 years it takes in UK). I have my heart set on the states, but UK takes people out of high school... and my high school marks were amazing... so perhaps I could get in there off those? Please help, apologies for the long message... any constructive advice people have to offer are welcomed.

I don't believe there is a way to start "fresh" in that your grades won't transfer. I believe you have to report all of your grades from all institutions, regardless of the country of origin.

However, I say do what you think is best in terms of time and where you want to live. If the UK is willing to use HS only and that is better for you, then by all means go for it. But in the US if you come here and do 1-2 years of science and maths and do well, as well as have a degree in economics/business, I think you could be successful in getting into pharmacy school.

I'm not certain but I believe in order to become a state resident you have to be a US citizen first, so during your 1-2 years in America doing undergrad make sure to become a citizen. Then you will start the process of becoming a resident because most, if not all, states use time after getting a green card to start back for time requirements.

I don't know anything about the UK, I think someone else might be more proficient with that. It's possible that UK institutions might also require you to show all of your prior institutional work as well, in which case it's a moot point to apply since you no longer have that HS-only benefit that the US lacks.

 

[RickyRicardoFC]

Thank you for your response!🙂

I know I won't be starting entirely fresh with a clean slate... but to me being able to have my latest marks (last couple years) weighed significantly heavier just as good as starting over. I have also been reading on these forums people going to pharmacy from community colleges and applying when they're 30 ish and so that gives me hope. (Not to be rude... but aren't community colleges a joke?/or just really easy?) I went to one of Canada's best Universities, and so it wasn't exactly a joke, although there are some joke courses that people take to boost their averages. I haven't taken any "joke" courses in university, though I wish I had sometimes.. Regardless, I'm not looking for the easiest possible route... What would you suggest if I choose the US route? I want to get into a decent pharmacy school in the US in a couple years (middle rank, maybe apply to a few of the top ones too)... do you suggest I get my pre reqs at a community college? Or a university? (Again... in Canada, colleges are highly frowned upon and I don't know if its the same thing in US)

 

[Jabberwocky12]

Thank you for your response!🙂

I know I won't be starting entirely fresh with a clean slate... but to me being able to have my latest marks (last couple years) weighed significantly heavier just as good as starting over. I have also been reading on these forums people going to pharmacy from community colleges and applying when they're 30 ish and so that gives me hope. (Not to be rude... but aren't community colleges a joke?/or just really easy?) I went to one of Canada's best Universities, and so it wasn't exactly a joke, although there are some joke courses that people take to boost their averages. I haven't taken any "joke" courses in university, though I wish I had sometimes.. Regardless, I'm not looking for the easiest possible route... What would you suggest if I choose the US route? I want to get into a decent pharmacy school in the US in a couple years (middle rank, maybe apply to a few of the top ones too)... do you suggest I get my pre reqs at a community college? Or a university? (Again... in Canada, colleges are highly frowned upon and I don't know if its the same thing in US)

In the US it CCs are viewed differently depending on where you go. Community colleges have less resources in terms of research and staffing facilities, diversity in courses, and the like. However, there are curriculums that have to be followed and people have to pass them. Some CC courses my friend took were harder than the university courses that I took. Don't make one school sound better or worse than another because a lot of people will take offense; it's like saying one pharmacy school is better than another but you will go to the lesser one anyway.

Take the pre-reqs where things are cheaper. Honestly if a CC is the better option financially and logistically, then do it. Since you went to a university then a lot of places will see that you just need some grades with the intent of pharmacy school but could handle a university.

I have no real opinion on the rankings of pharmacy school honestly, and I think that people who give you a list of the top 10 or top 20 or something are pretty foolish. Compare 2 schools and see what curriculums are better for you, pricing, location, rotations, and etc.

 

[Indypharm]

Greetings!

I am new to this forum, so please be nice! Anyways I've been doing some research/emailing admissions of some schools with pharmacy programs, but want more information from another source.

So here's my situation. I will be completing my undergrad degree in economics in the fall (I only need 3 half credits, so I have lots of room to do any prereqs). I am totally willing to do another year or two of undergrad to get any science prereqs... (I was in science first year, my marks were meh and complete crap in calculus....) This is where I am confused about the route to pharmacy for me.

I am Canadian, trying to go to pharmacy school and eventually live in the US. I was considering "starting fresh" and doing a year or two of undergrad science there (some school's there are a certain in state quota, so maybe I could classify as an in state after a couple years?) Regardless... I am not looking for the easiest route. I am smart despite my horrid GPA (had a lot of stuff happen to me past couple years... one of which being swine flu.. greatly affected my GPA... and I also don't want to use that as an excuse to try and gain admissions... so starting over appeals greatly to me). Does anyone know if starting fresh is the best route to take? Or should I try to transfer some of my credits and get the pre reqs in the states?

I am also beginning to contemplate taking the UK pharmacy route. (US 2 years of starting fresh, 2-3 years pharmacy, would end up being same amount of time as the 4 years it takes in UK). I have my heart set on the states, but UK takes people out of high school... and my high school marks were amazing... so perhaps I could get in there off those? Please help, apologies for the long message... any constructive advice people have to offer are welcomed.

I wanted to let you know that Purdue University (in Indiana) has what is known as a Clean Slate program. I will be applying to Purdue with a Journalism degree with an ok GPA. Any work that I did in my Journalism degree will not count towards Purdue's calculation of my GPA. They will only count the course work I have completed since (ie my prerequisites). I would contact the school regarding this. I can't remember if the courses had to have been so old or if it was just because I already had a degree. Now this does not apply to any required science and math courses. A good contact at Purdue is Pat George. Come to the states and do your pre-reqs. In this economy, any school that frowns on students completing coursework at cheaper schools (Community College) is probably not where you want to end up anyway, because they are going to be SUPER expensive.

 

[RickyRicardoFC]

I just wanna start off by saying, I love this site, everyone has been so helpful and supportive. Thank you two for responding with such helpful advice.
@Jabber,
Thanks for clearing up that on CC. I have a friend in College in Canada, and in his second year there, he was taking stuff we did in high school chemistry/physics, and one of his electives he had to watch a hockey game and write a 500 word essay on it for 10 percent of his final mark.... so I was just concerned that colleges in the states would be a joke like it is here😛 Didn't mean to offend anyone.

@indypharm,
Are you in the pre-pharm program now and applying to pharmacy currently? Their pre-pharm program seems like something I can get into (as it seems like they take your high school stuff into consideration)... and I would be completely fine with crushing the pre pharm courses for 2 years. I sent Pat George an email just now, hopefully he is as helpful in his reply as you have been! 🙂

 

[Passion4Sci]

Thanks for clearing up that on CC. I have a friend in College in Canada, and in his second year there, he was taking stuff we did in high school chemistry/physics, and one of his electives he had to watch a hockey game and write a 500 word essay on it for 10 percent of his final mark.... so I was just concerned that colleges in the states would be a joke like it is here😛 Didn't mean to offend anyone.

At my "West Coast Ivy League" undergrad, we had similarly fluffy classes (Video Games in Society, anyone????) so I don't think that's limited to community colleges.