New CA pharmacy school announcement

[confettiflyer]

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it doesn't exist as a school yet. It does not have regional accreditation nor does it have ACPE accreditation.

As of right now, it's an "entity" accepting applications for a program that is not in existence for a school that is not yet a school. Savvy?

 

[shikamaru]

Okay so I finished reading all the previous posts and will try to address some questions and share my input now.

Firstly, I have already been accepted to a fully accredited, accelerated pharmacy program at MCPHS-Worcester for the entering class of Fall 2008. It was originally my #3 choice out of the 10 schools I applied to, but now is my top choice because I got rejected from my first 2 (UCSF and UCSD). I consider myself a weak applicant mainly because of my cumulative GPA (3.21), so needless to say I felt like the happiest and luckiest person in the world when I got accepted into pharmacy school.

With that said, I also applied to CNCP, and to be more precise with the timeline for those of you who are/were curious, I completed and mailed out all the application requirements one month after CNCP's admission cycle opened. I received an interview invite via postal mail which was dated December 14, 2007, and the interview dates CNCP provided me on the letter are as follows:

Jan 14, 2008 (12:30-3:00pm), Monday
Jan 18, 2008 (9:00-11:30am), Friday
Jan 18, 2008 (12:30-3:00pm), Friday
Jan 25, 2008 (9:00-11:30am), Friday
Jan 25, 2008 (12:30-3:00pm), Friday
Jan 28, 2008 (12:30-3:00pm), Monday
Feb 1, 2008 (9:00-11:30am), Friday
Feb 1, 2008 (12:30-3:00pm), Friday

My invitation letter was signed by Dr. Susan L. Ravnan, who is also one of the members on the CA Board of Pharmacy as sdn1977 mentioned earlier. Also, to address some previous posts on whether there really is an advantage to applying early, I believe that CNCP is indeed a true rolling admissions school as you can see from the interview dates they provided for me. The ACPE will not announce the status of CNCP's pre-candidacy until Feb 2008 (http://calnorthstate.org/admissions.aspx).

So a lot of you are probably wondering why I am going to follow up with CNCP even though I already got in an accredited pharmacy school. Well the reason is to just keep my options open I suppose. More importantly though, I think it is because I am just curious, very curious. I have not called in to schedule an interview day yet since honestly all the days listed are horrible for me due to school. I do expect to attend the interview though and will get back here with any new things I find.

Finally, there was an article published on CNCP for those who don't know. You can find it at http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2007/11/12/story3.html if you're interested. In the article, it mentions the class size, school building/campus, among many other things. I definitely found this to be an interesting read as it makes CNCP seem very positive along with some very, VERY big words/goals, such as: "The California Northstate College of Pharmacy has a broader goal to become a top research and development institute on the cutting edge of new drug therapies, backed by its own manufacturing plant" and "The science goes to a goal of becoming a top-tier research and development school within 10 years, rivaling schools such as UCSF in research funding from the National Institutes of Health."

Personally, I think that CNCP will become either a really great school or a shame to California pharmacy education. However, after the whole HICP disaster, not to mention that Sacramento is the home of the CA Board of Pharmacy and that this is CALIFORNIA we are talking about, what is the likelihood that CNCP will be a flop? To me, I honestly am curious, and this new school is definitely very, very risky and mysterious. Then again, we've all heard of the saying "curiosity killed the cat." Plus, maybe the purpose of my life is to serve as a warning to others like you .

 

[pharmacia07]

as long as the school gets accredited by ACPE, this will cast out all doubts.... also with regional accreditation, that's another issue....so whatever said or will happen, it doesn't matter until ACPE said so....one other thing to consider is the high tuition and length of program
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[confettiflyer]

This sounds like they're trying to become a Genentech with a pharmacy school in the outhouse next door.

 

[typharm]

Shikamaru...Thanks a lot for posting the links.

 

[moolman]

I was reading a previous post stating that the guy starting this new school was a big jerk who failed lots of people and UOP fired him. Not true at all. My sister had this guy at UOP and she said that he was a type-A but that he was awesome. She said he was teacher of the year like 3 times in a row and is now one of the professors working to build a new school. She said he is very tough and does give students F's if they don't cut it but that he teaches more and better than anyone else there. It is also correct that he is married to someone on the board of pharmacy and she is also an awesome professor who left UOP. The program looks very tough but my sister who is now a pharmacist said that that is what pharmacy needs. There is the straight scoop.👍

Another validation of what pharmermike said, I've heard people who had Ravnan at UOP and they think both of them were great teachers and maybe even one of the best at UOP before they left. I think there are some people who are saying bad things about this school because they want people not to apply and better their chances. I would be applying too if I wasn't accepted at UOP.

Let's face it, this school is new and not not much known but for those from California that want to stay in this state, this is a good choice. It's hard for non-Californians to realize this but people from Cali don't like to leave the state, we prefer warmer weather. 😀 If you can't get into any other school in California this would be your choice and I really don't think it's that bad of a choice. So apply, don't let the liars hold you back.

 

[confettiflyer]

I agree...most people who live in California want to stay here, and the rest who do leave to test the waters quickly want to return.

I think people who leave quickly miss the diversity, the laid back atmosphere, and the fact that one can wear shorts and flip flops in january.

 

[confettiflyer]

I got a fat envelope from them the other day... apparently they bought the names from Harcourt of those with certain PCAT scores and sent them a brochure/invitation to apply. Anyone else get one?

 

[yazzman]

Another validation of what pharmermike said, I've heard people who had Ravnan at UOP and they think both of them were great teachers and maybe even one of the best at UOP before they left. I think there are some people who are saying bad things about this school because they want people not to apply and better their chances. I would be applying too if I wasn't accepted at UOP.

Let's face it, this school is new and not not much known but for those from California that want to stay in this state, this is a good choice. It's hard for non-Californians to realize this but people from Cali don't like to leave the state, we prefer warmer weather. 😀 If you can't get into any other school in California this would be your choice and I really don't think it's that bad of a choice. So apply, don't let the liars hold you back.

i heard opposite...about the Ravnans...However, I spoke with Mrs Ravanan on the phone and she was very kind and polite person....I think people are mean...I would apply at this school if my options were limited.

 

[BMBiology]

"The California Northstate College of Pharmacy has a broader goal to become a top research and development institute on the cutting edge of new drug therapies, backed by its own manufacturing plant" and "The science goes to a goal of becoming a top-tier research and development school within 10 years, rivaling schools such as UCSF in research funding from the National Institutes of Health."

I will admit I dont know much about this school but are you kidding me? Unlike all of the pharmacy schools in California, this new school is not only a stand-alone school (no med, dental school, etc) but it also does not own and operate a hospital. However, it is expecting to rival UCSF within 10 years? Ask them how much they are planning to spend on a state of the art facility so they can recruit top researchers!! Wake up and smell the vicoden!

 

[MsLovely]

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