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[kelvin]

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Hello everyone,

I came across this forum and I must say there is alot of helpful information on here for someone like me who is just getting ready to start pre-reqs this summer. I'm kinda nervous because I've been out of high school for about 10 years and I don't know how that will affect me grasping the math and science classes. Any helpful information from anyone that was once in my shoes? I really don't know my skill level in math or science because in high school I goofed off and didn't care much. 🙁

 

[UTCPharm]

Hello everyone,

I came across this forum and I must say there is alot of helpful information on here for someone like me who is just getting ready to start pre-reqs this summer. I'm kinda nervous because I've been out of high school for about 10 years and I don't know how that will affect me grasping the math and science classes. Any helpful information from anyone that was once in my shoes? I really don't know my skill level in math or science because in high school I goofed off and didn't care much. 🙁

Although I'm not in your shoes as far as going back to school after a few years, I definitely know what it's like to be tentative about taking so many science classes. In high school, biology and chemistry were two of my hardest classes by far. When I started college, I was planning to go into business. When I decided to go into pharmacy instead, I was terrified to take all the necessary science courses. But I can tell you from experience that your desire to do well will help you tremendously with these classes.

Also, I found that a big help was the quality of the teachers in college. Personally, I found that my college professors knew their material much better than my high school teachers, and I think in some cases that really helped me pick up concepts more easily in college. I'm sure you'll do well, and good luck.

 

[Julianne]

Hello everyone,

I came across this forum and I must say there is alot of helpful information on here for someone like me who is just getting ready to start pre-reqs this summer. I'm kinda nervous because I've been out of high school for about 10 years and I don't know how that will affect me grasping the math and science classes. Any helpful information from anyone that was once in my shoes? I really don't know my skill level in math or science because in high school I goofed off and didn't care much. 🙁

Welcome to the forum!

You and I have quite a bit in common so I thought I'd share some things that I have learned these past two years (warning - this might turn into a long winded post 🙂 ):

1) Does your school offer a placement test to determine your current level in english, reading, math, etc? If so, I would highly recommend taking it to see if you could exempt out of some lower level classes and devote more time to prereqs... at the very least, it would give you a good idea of how comfortable you are with the basic concepts or give you an idea of what you remember from high school. I was surprised to place in Calculus because I didn't think I had retained so much from my high school years (1990-1993)! I ended up taking precal first anyway just to make sure I was "up to speed" before I took on Calculus.

2) Do you have an idea of where you would like to attend pharmacy school? I'm not sure how others approached mapping out their prereqs, but I narrowed my school choices down to 8 schools - 4 of them had prereqs that I could finish in two years and the other 4 I could finish in one additional year. I planned out how to squeeze the classes needed for the first four schools into 6 semesters, figuring that if I didn't get in the first application cycle I would increase my chances the following year by taking more classes and applying to more places.... I'm not sure if I'm making sense here - if this needs clarification, please tell me (it's been a long week). Anyway, plan A worked well for me - I was offered 3 interviews and so far I have been accepted to 2 schools and waitlisted at the 3rd so no need to move on to plan B.

3) Initially, I was nervous as h*ll about going to school ... I almost backed out twice! I didn't think that I would be able to handle the added stress of studying, tests, etc. in addition to an already hectic life with a full-time job and a three-year-old. Luckily, I had (and still have) a wonderful support system of family, friends, and co-workers in place to help me through those rough patches. My point here is, make a plan and try to stick with it! Things might seem a little overwhelming at first, but you'll get the hang of it...

The past two years have been some of the most rewarding of my life, and I'm looking forward to the next four (stresses and all)!

Good luck to you

 

[kelvin]

Welcome to the forum!

You and I have quite a bit in common so I thought I'd share some things that I have learned these past two years (warning - this might turn into a long winded post 🙂 ):

1) Does your school offer a placement test to determine your current level in english, reading, math, etc? If so, I would highly recommend taking it to see if you could exempt out of some lower level classes and devote more time to prereqs... at the very least, it would give you a good idea of how comfortable you are with the basic concepts or give you an idea of what you remember from high school. I was surprised to place in Calculus because I didn't think I had retained so much from my high school years (1990-1993)! I ended up taking precal first anyway just to make sure I was "up to speed" before I took on Calculus.

2) Do you have an idea of where you would like to attend pharmacy school? I'm not sure how others approached mapping out their prereqs, but I narrowed my school choices down to 8 schools - 4 of them had prereqs that I could finish in two years and the other 4 I could finish in one additional year. I planned out how to squeeze the classes needed for the first four schools into 6 semesters, figuring that if I didn't get in the first application cycle I would increase my chances the following year by taking more classes and applying to more places.... I'm not sure if I'm making sense here - if this needs clarification, please tell me (it's been a long week). Anyway, plan A worked well for me - I was offered 3 interviews and so far I have been accepted to 2 schools and waitlisted at the 3rd so no need to move on to plan B.

3) Initially, I was nervous as h*ll about going to school ... I almost backed out twice! I didn't think that I would be able to handle the added stress of studying, tests, etc. in addition to an already hectic life with a full-time job and a three-year-old. Luckily, I had (and still have) a wonderful support system of family, friends, and co-workers in place to help me through those rough patches. My point here is, make a plan and try to stick with it! Things might seem a little overwhelming at first, but you'll get the hang of it...

The past two years have been some of the most rewarding of my life, and I'm looking forward to the next four (stresses and all)!

Good luck to you

Julianne,

Thanks for the wonderful information. I noticed that you are in Birmingham, I'm also in Birmingham. Where did you do your pre-reqs? I really like the idea of narrowing it down to 8 schools. I know i will be applying to both the Alabama schools for sure. As of right now im leaning to doing my pre-reqs at UAB or moving to auburn to complete them at AU.

 

[Julianne]

Julianne,

Thanks for the wonderful information. I noticed that you are in Birmingham, I'm also in Birmingham. Where did you do your pre-reqs? I really like the idea of narrowing it down to 8 schools. I know i will be applying to both the Alabama schools for sure. As of right now im leaning to doing my pre-reqs at UAB or moving to auburn to complete them at AU.

I'm finishing up my last semester at Bevill State in Jasper right now - I applied and have been waitlisted at Samford (should have a decision from them by May 5th)... Auburn was one of my secondary 4 schools (since they require genetics, micro, etc.). Where will you be going for your prereqs? By the way, I went through all of the pharmacy schools in the SE and made lists of the classes that they require - I'd be glad to send the info to you (via email or PM) if you want it.

 

[kelvin]

I'm finishing up my last semester at Bevill State in Jasper right now - I applied and have been waitlisted at Samford (should have a decision from them by May 5th)... Auburn was one of my secondary 4 schools (since they require genetics, micro, etc.). Where will you be going for your prereqs? By the way, I went through all of the pharmacy schools in the SE and made lists of the classes that they require - I'd be glad to send the info to you (via email or PM) if you want it.

Julianne
I'll either be going to UAB or Auburn for my prereqs. I haven't thought about going to a community college to complete them. How did you like bevill state? Maybe I should do my prereqs at a community college that way i could save some money. I would like to have the pharmacy school requirement list that you were talking about. I don't know what PM is but my email address is [email protected] ( i need to update my email address im 28 now 🙂

 

[Julianne]

Julianne
I'll either be going to UAB or Auburn for my prereqs. I haven't thought about going to a community college to complete them. How did you like bevill state? Maybe I should do my prereqs at a community college that way i could save some money. I would like to have the pharmacy school requirement list that you were talking about. I don't know what PM is but my email address is [email protected] ( i need to update my email address im 28 now 🙂

I'll try to send it to you via private message (PM) first and see if you get it - otherwise, I'll send it to ya via email.

I'll respond more later - let me see if I can get this attachment to you while you're still on line...