Need help understanding this pre-pharmacy stuff.

[Aviator97]

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Hey there. So I'm a high school student and am thinking of pharmacy. Searching colleges, it seems they all need pre-reqs. How do I do those pre-reqs? For example, do I get accepted into their pharmacy program and then finish the pre-reqs courtesy of the school, or do I apply to another college (community, etc.) to finish those pre-reqs, and then apply to pharmacy school?

 

[PharmD for Me]

Short answer: Most of the time you do your pre-reqs at a university or college (can be a community college, but some schools don't look as favorably on CCs), then once you're done with the pre-reqs you apply to a pharmD program separately. There are a few programs that are 6 years total that allow you to apply right out of high school and go straight through without reapplying to get into the professional program, but those tend to be very competitive and there aren't many of them.

Long answer plus answers to all of FAQs: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=198059

 

[Aviator97]

Ah okay thank you. How long does pre-req course work generally take?

 

[bw6]

Ah okay thank you. How long does pre-req course work generally take?

2 years minimum. Most of the time ~3 years.

It varies based on the pharmacy school so just go look on their websites. For example, my school requires all pharmacy students to earn a bachelor's degree prior to matriculation. So it would take 4 years for prerequisites. Use the school websites, they are much more informative then random people you don't know who post on forums...

 

[Aviator97]

2 years minimum. Most of the time ~3 years.

It varies based on the pharmacy school so just go look on their websites. For example, my school requires all pharmacy students to earn a bachelor's degree prior to matriculation. So it would take 4 years for prerequisites. Use the school websites, they are much more informative then random people you don't know who post on forums...

Yeah I know i looked up the pre-reqs on school sites, just didn't know how long it may take...first time researching all this college stuff. Do you have a link where I can maybe learn about all of this pharmacy school stuff like the terminology and everything? Kind of confusing at the moment.

 

[universalcynic]

Yeah I know i looked up the pre-reqs on school sites, just didn't know how long it may take...first time researching all this college stuff. Do you have a link where I can maybe learn about all of this pharmacy school stuff like the terminology and everything? Kind of confusing at the moment.

The link someone else already posted would be good for that. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=198059

 

[Aviator97]

Okay cool thanks. One question here. In your opinions, do you guys think I should join a 0-6 year pharmacy program, or should I finish my pre-reqs separately and then join a 4 year Pharm.D program? Im leaning towards the pre-reqs first rather than 0-6 because it looks like the number of 0-6 schools has gone down...

 

[deleted205891]

Okay cool thanks. One question here. In your opinions, do you guys think I should join a 0-6 year pharmacy program, or should I finish my pre-reqs separately and then join a 4 year Pharm.D program? Im leaning towards the pre-reqs first rather than 0-6 because it looks like the number of 0-6 schools has gone down...

If you're relatively sure you want to do pharmacy, do a 0-6. If you go the other route, it's more likely that it'll take you more than 6 years to get the PharmD. The problem with a 0-6 is that unless you go to a big school like Rutgers, most 0-6s don't really provide a "true college experience", so you'll miss out on having a social life. Most of these programs really aren't as competitive as people think, though you are right that they are getting a bit more competitive since there aren't many left (and probably none will exist within the next few years). People got into the program I graduated from with 1250 SATs (reading+math); I really don't find that to be an "excessive" requirement.

 

[bw6]

If you're relatively sure you want to do pharmacy, do a 0-6. If you go the other route, it's more likely that it'll take you more than 6 years to get the PharmD. The problem with a 0-6 is that unless you go to a big school like Rutgers, most 0-6s don't really provide a "true college experience", so you'll miss out on having a social life. Most of these programs really aren't as competitive as people think, though you are right that they are getting a bit more competitive since there aren't many left (and probably none will exist within the next few years). People got into the program I graduated from with 1250 SATs (reading+math); I really don't find that to be an "excessive" requirement.

+1

Most good schools don't offer 0-6 because they have stricter prerequisite requirements. 2-4 or 4-4 schools are generally better because they look at your college career and don't admit you based on high school and allow you to continue if you meet minimums. This doesn't mean 0-6 is bad.

I'm ready for all the 0-6 people to get their panties in a bunch.

 

[Aviator97]

okay cool thanks guys. But about a 2-4...isn't that equal to 6 years total which is technically a 6 year program?

 

[pharm B]

okay cool thanks guys. But about a 2-4...isn't that equal to 6 years total which is technically a 6 year program?

Maybe I'm misunderstanding what he meant. I thought he was referring to 2 years anywhere, followed by 4 years at the pharmacy school. I do agree with the point made above: locking into a six year program is great if you know for sure you want pharmacy as a career, but if you just do your pre-req coursework outside of that contract, then you have the option of branching out in other directions if you develop an interest in another field.

Before I applied to my pharmacy school (right before I finished a bachelors in an unrelated field), it felt like I was briefly sitting at a big crossroads. Pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, vet med, opto, etc, were all laid out before me, and I decided to stay on the pharmacy path.

 

[riggylou]

okay cool thanks guys. But about a 2-4...isn't that equal to 6 years total which is technically a 6 year program?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think 0-6 means you gain admittance after HS and you don't need to compete for your seat again following the completion of your prereqs. For 2 + 4..I think it makes you a 'preferred' candidate for the school's professional program since they know the quality of your undergrad work, but you may be required to compete for your seat.

 

[owlegrad]

okay cool thanks guys. But about a 2-4...isn't that equal to 6 years total which is technically a 6 year program?

2+4 is 6, so you are not wrong about that. 😉

But 2 years undergrad plus 4 years pharmacy school is not equal to a 6 year program. When people say six year program they are referring to a 0+6 program, which is different than a 2+4 situation.

2+4 or 2+3 = two years undergrad (or it could be 4, which would be 4+4 for example), then apply to pharmacy school - some accelerated pharmacy schools are only 3 years long, but most are 4

0+6 = a special type of pharmacy school that accepts students directly into the college of pharmacy without prereqs, but then the program is 6 years long.

 

[Aviator97]

Ahhh okay i get it now. Thanks. Im thinking Im going to do the pre-reqs somewhere else then and then apply for pharmacy if thats still what i like. One think I'm concerned about is how some of you said 4+4...how do you manage to get 4 years of under grad work!?!?!? Thats the only thing that scares me...I really only want to do 2 years undergrad....

 

[owlegrad]

Ahhh okay i get it now. Thanks. Im thinking Im going to do the pre-reqs somewhere else then and then apply for pharmacy if thats still what i like. One think I'm concerned about is how some of you said 4+4...how do you manage to get 4 years of under grad work!?!?!? Thats the only thing that scares me...I really only want to do 2 years undergrad....

Most people call four years of undergrad work a Bachelors. I did the 2 year route myself. 👍

 

[pharm B]

Most people call four years of undergrad work a Bachelors.

I did the 2 year route myself. 👍

👍

 

[Aviator97]

Oh okay thanks. Yeah im aware of bachelors...sorry just didnt know if that meant people were too lazy and it took them 4 years. I understand the bachelors part though. No bachelors for me.

 

[owlegrad]

Oh okay thanks. Yeah im aware of bachelors...sorry just didnt know if that meant people were too lazy and it took them 4 years. I understand the bachelors part though. No bachelors for me.

Happy to help. You might think about reading the FAQs at the top of this forum as well as visiting some open houses or talking to a academic councilor about your goal (verify anything they tell you independently though). I think PharmCAS or some pharmacy school websites have a nice breakdown of what to do as well (grades, PCAT, application, etc.).

 

[Aviator97]

Thanks! Yeah thats probably what I'm going to do. I've got some time to do that anyway...im only a sophomore in HS 😱 Just trying to get some basic research done before the serious stuff right now. 🙂

 

[universalcynic]

Thanks! Yeah thats probably what I'm going to do. I've got some time to do that anyway...im only a sophomore in HS 😱 Just trying to get some basic research done before the serious stuff right now. 🙂

Good for you. I think you're ahead of the curve. I wish I had had an inkling of what I would do career-wise when I was a sophomore in high school... It might have made my life a little easier now. But oh well, you learn as you go.

 

[owlegrad]

Holy ****, shouldn't you be learning to shave or something?! 😱😉

I kid, I kid. I wish I had had some idea of what I wanted to do when I was that young. Let me give you one more piece of patronizing advice: Keep an open mind! You might find something else you want to do.

 

[bw6]

Oh okay thanks. Yeah im aware of bachelors...sorry just didnt know if that meant people were too lazy and it took them 4 years. I understand the bachelors part though. No bachelors for me.

If you are unsure about pharmacy, a bachelor's is a good idea. No jobs for someone who started a pharmd and didn't finish. That's why 0+6 can be a bad idea.. you are stuck in it.

2+4 you can change your mind and get your bachelor's degree in another 2 years.

Or you can go the nice long way like myself and get your bachelor's degree, work for a year, and then begin pharmacy school.

One thing I did notice during my interviews, people with only 2 years of undergrad work were at a real disadvantage. Schools will preferentially take people with more completed college coursework for obvious reasons. I noticed that during my interviews at higher ranked schools, a lot (if not a majority) of people had their bachelor's degree. The school I attend requires one so obviously everyone had a degree, but that is not the only school I saw this at. One school (which only requires 60 credit hours of undergrad - aka 2 years) I interviewed and was accepted to had a current college senior for ~20/25 interviewees. A handful of juniors. Only one sophomore.

This was not a coincidence. It won't be too long until more schools not only prefer but require a degree. Just like APhA is pushing to require any pharmacist with direct patient contact (institutional / clinical / nuclear / etc.) to have a residency. Apparently they want this in place by 2020.

But for now, 2+4 is the way to go. If I had known what I wanted to do with my life at 15 or 16 like you (not sure how anyone knows at that age), I certainly would have gone 2+4. 👍

 

[Aviator97]

Thanks for the replies! Yeah im fairly certain i want to do pharmacy...I mean my two favorite subjects are Chemistry and Biology! Also planning on taking IB Chemistry my junior and senior year.

 

[Aviator97]

I guess this is a general college question here, but I live in PA right now, and I hate the north so much; the climate sucks, I hate snow and cold, and they dont have my favorite type of tree (yeah i know...). So, I would like to go to college in Florida, and then settle down and work in Florida...my favorite state. My question is, when i hopefully go to college in Florida, can I become a resident of Florida? I'm assuming I would still need to pay out of state tuition...

 

[universalcynic]

I guess this is a general college question here, but I live in PA right now, and I hate the north so much; the climate sucks, I hate snow and cold, and they dont have my favorite type of tree (yeah i know...). So, I would like to go to college in Florida, and then settle down and work in Florida...my favorite state. My question is, when i hopefully go to college in Florida, can I become a resident of Florida? I'm assuming I would still need to pay out of state tuition...

It depends on the school. I have heard of some public pharmacy schools allowing out-of-state students to gain residency for tuition purposes after the first year. However, I think this is pretty rare. It may possibly help you if you can do things to show that you're interested in permanent residency in the state (like voting or serving jury duty there, having a driver's license there, paying certain taxes, housing, etc.). But your best bet is to contact schools you're interested in directly and ask them about their policies for this.

Edit: Also I don't think you're ridiculous for being attached to a certain type of tree. I'll miss my favorite tree greatly if I end up moving for school.

 

[max xam]

Most people call four years of undergrad work a Bachelors. I did the 2 year route myself. 👍

How do you do the 2 year route? Lets say i want to go to Ferris State University. I'm a junior in high school right now.

 

[owlegrad]

How do you do the 2 year route? Lets say i want to go to Ferris State University. I'm a junior in high school right now.

Good question. I would say "the 2 year route". That could mean getting an AA, it could mean doing the prereqs, and it can probably mean something else. I think the most reasonable inference to going the 2 year route means going to a CC then applying to pharmacy school, but it doesn't have to mean that.

EDIT: Just so you know, it is becoming less and less common to go from 2 years of study directly into pharmacy school. Which is a shame, IMO.

 

[Pojman]

Good question. I would say "the 2 year route". That could mean getting an AA, it could mean doing the prereqs, and it can probably mean something else. I think the most reasonable inference to going the 2 year route means going to a CC then applying to pharmacy school, but it doesn't have to mean that.

EDIT: Just so you know, it is becoming less and less common to go from 2 years of study directly into pharmacy school. Which is a shame, IMO.

What is more common now? A 4 year degree first? Or - do you mean that more people are getting their prerequisites in 3 years instead of 2?

 

[gtpederson]

What is more common now? A 4 year degree first? Or - do you mean that more people are getting their prerequisites in 3 years instead of 2?

The stats for my class were >85% had a bachelors.