Need input: Questions regarding undergrad

[Demure Allure]

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Just to give a little background on myself, I was admitted to a Florida university for this upcoming Fall semester as a first-time-in-college student. My intended major is Biomedical Sciences with a preprofessional concentration. I am coming into college with 40 transferable credits that I earned through taking AP courses in high school, which completely takes care of my GEP courses and technically makes me a sophomore for classification purposes. My issue is that, with all these credits, the only courses left in my major are the science courses. It's been brought to my attention by numerous advisors that it's not normal for an incoming freshman to take more than two sciences her first year, and no more than three from there on. Since I only have sciences classes, it is impossible for me to be a full-time student (12 or more...preferably more credits) and follow this unofficial rule.

I guess my question is if it would be a good idea to take on a minor so that I have a more diversified course selection. My college has a Medical Sociology minor that has a min 18 credits that I'd be interested in perusing in the hopes of making myself a better candidate for a pharmacy program. This would not prolong the length of my undergrad to anything unusual due to the fact that I'm already a year ahead. I originally thought that I wanted to finish my undergrad in three years; however I felt that to do I would need to be cramming many difficult science courses together and would ultimately weaken my resume by losing a yet to prepare and better myself for pharmacy school. Also as a side note, I am receiving an academic scholarship worth $6000 each semester I attend my university, which is an added incentive to not leave after only three years.

Sorry for the length and redundancy of this post but I appreciate your time.

 

[Twentytwelve2]

You can either do a minor or simply take "filler" classes that you have interest in. For me, I took human development just for the heck of it. I just needed the units. So, yes it is possible to be a full time student.. did you think doing a minor was required in your situation?


But to answer your question.. I dont think having a minor is important at all. I think adcoms look more at gpa, pcat, experience, EC's.

 

[kcwang]

AP class was the biggest waste of investment I made during high school. Even though I waived all of my lower division science requirement, I end up retaking those courses anyway. The reason is that, some pharmacy and graduate schools dont accept ap credit. Also, those courses I end up retaking doesnt even count toward my gpa at my university (all that easy "A" courses not count toward my gpa =[)

If you already have a pharmacy school in mind that you want to attend, definitely check with them if you need to retake any science course.

tbh, even though your advisor suggest not to take more than 2 science courses, I would take whatever you can handle. Some advisors do not know what they are talking about.

I am surprised you covered all your non-science general requirements. I had 7 ap courses transfered, I still had loads of general requirement to finish (I guess different university has different amount of requirements?)

Also I agreed with Twentytwelve2, its more about the overall package than just academics. Unless you mentioned you had a minor, they will never know.

 

[xtsukiyox]

The reason is that, some pharmacy and graduate schools dont accept ap credit. <snip> If you already have a pharmacy school in mind that you want to attend, definitely check with them if you need to retake any science course.

👍

tbh, even though your advisor suggest not to take more than 2 science courses, I would take whatever you can handle. Some advisors do not know what they are talking about.

What about econ, stats, etc. that are required for many pharmacy programs? Check your school's prereqs & stick a non hard science in whenever you can.

Rather than loading up with 3 science classes, plus maybe a math, I would suggest doing something EC wise to make your application stronger - part time pharma job, volunteering at a hospital, something like that. This is assuming you really don't have to get out in 3 years. Remember that during your summer between your junior & senior years, you will need to do your pharma school app and take the PCAT.

 

[Demure Allure]

Thanks for the replies! I'm thinking about attending the University of Florida since its relatively close to home, but I realize that this isn't a good thing to base your choice of graduate school on so I have some more research to do.

I took AP Macroeconomics, AP statistics, AP Calculus AB, ect. so many of my transferable credits also double as pharmacy requirements. I took 12 AP courses in high school and passed all but one from my freshman year and scored high enough on some classes like AP English Language and Composition and AP US History to get credit in two classes.

I know having a minor won't make pharmacy schools fall in love with me if I don't have the gpa, test scores, experience, ect. to back it up, but I'd feel a lot better taking unnecessary courses that have no relevance to my major if I was at least working toward something am had something to show for it (like having a minor).

I'm definitely planning on getting experience in a pharmacy; however I haven't had much luck with doing so. I volunteered at a local hospital last summer with the intention of working in the pharmacy, but learned after going through orientation that the pharmacy was not taking volunteers at the time. I'm hoping to job shadow at a retail pharmacy this summer or something but I feel somewhat discouraged by the lukewarm responses I've gotten from the pharmacists I've approached and asked.

 

[kcwang]

I am surprised your university gave you that much credits for your AP classes. You are much more lucky than me.

Here is how my college and graduate school respond to my AP credits:
AP English wasnt transferable where I graduated from. AP History only replaced one history course requirement (I still had to take 3 other history courses). University of Michigan COP doesn't accept my AP statistic course, and my college wants me to take an upper division statistic course including a lab courses on statistic for my general requirement. AP Physics C only replaced two physics lecture courses, but it doesnt replaced all the lab courses. The lab courses have to be taken with the lecture (fml), so I end up re-taking all the physics classes for credits only. AP calculus BC were transferable, but not accepted for some pharmacy schools (I had to retake a calculus course). AP macroeconomics was transferable, but one pharmacy school I applied wants microeconomics instead. AP Biology and Chemistry credits transfered, but I had to retake them due to graduate school not accepting them.

In the end I screwed myself by taking AP tests. The worst part is that I only took 3 AP science courses in high school. Studied on my own for all the other AP subjects. All that hardwork went down to the drain. Guess who encouraged me to take all that AP tests? My highschool advisor...

As for minors, my previous post might sound like I am discouraging you to take it, but definitely take minor if you feel that it will help you in the long run. I took two minors myself, and those experiences helped me decide what my goal is and how I would get there.

As for pharmacy experiences, I would suggest building some connections first. you can look for a pre-pharmacy club. make appointment to talk with pharmacy school, professor, pharmacy students. Some faculties even students might help you find a place to intern.
Good Luck!