NY Pharmacy school

[HappilyEverAfte]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

So heres my information:

I graduated 2 years ago from NYU in communications (with a not so great average- 2.97) and since then I have decided that I want a career change. I am really interested in Pharmacy school, but there are a few problems:

A) I want to go to school in NY
B) I basically took no science classes in college, or math for that matter
C) Low GPA
C) I am starting late (Im turning 24 in two weeks)

I am just curious what the best way to go about this is. Should I take all of the pre-req's now? I know St. Johns/LIU have 6 year programs, but will they admit me since I am considered a transfer? Are they any other alternatives?

Or does it even make sense for me to go into this because my chances are slim? Any feedback (however cruel) will be appreciated.

Thanks,
C

 

[naseuy]

So heres my information:

I graduated 2 years ago from NYU in communications (with a not so great average- 2.97) and since then I have decided that I want a career change. I am really interested in Pharmacy school, but there are a few problems:

A) I want to go to school in NY
B) I basically took no science classes in college, or math for that matter
C) Low GPA
C) I am starting late (Im turning 24 in two weeks)

I am just curious what the best way to go about this is. Should I take all of the pre-req's now? I know St. Johns/LIU have 6 year programs, but will they admit me since I am considered a transfer? Are they any other alternatives?

Or does it even make sense for me to go into this because my chances are slim? Any feedback (however cruel) will be appreciated.

Thanks,
C

As far as I know, St John's does not consider transfer students. For LIU, the minimum GPA for transfer students seem to be 3.7. Touro NY which just got their pre-candidate status has a minimum gpa of 2.75 for consideration.

 

[Farcus]

minm mean you need way above that to get be considered. Schools always put minm but the actual average is always a good bit above.

 

[ADN1226]

Since you haven't taken any pre-reqs, you have a good chance. If you can go back to school full time, you can finish the pre-reqs in 2-3yrs and by making A's, you'll increase your current GPA (which matters little since it was in communications). They'll focus on your math/science GPA so do well on the pre-reqs and you have a good chance of getting into a NY school. The 6yr programs are very hard to transfer into... but they do take some transfers every year. Theres also buffalo and touro will be a new program. Don't worry about that yet, you still have 2years of pre-reqs to work on first.

Also, besides GPA you need to make your application shine elsewhere too ie ECs, start doing them now so you'll show long-term commitments.

 

[Sparda29]

Well, if you are planning on staying in the NYC area, you have 3 options.

#1 - Go to a CUNY School and do your pre-requisites and the apply for the pharmacy programs at Touro NY and LIU. If you start school in Fall 2009, you're looking at entering pharmacy school in Fall 2011.

#2 - Apply to St. John's Pharmacy School as a high school student. (You are basically applying for a new degree, so you are starting off fresh.) I think you can start in Fall 2010 as a Pre-Pharm over there since it's pretty late right now for applying.

#3 - Apply to LIU as a Pre-Pharmacy student. There is no guarantee of getting in here, but as a Pre-Pharmacy student, a 2.9 GPA grants you an interview.

 

[bklyngirl]

So heres my information:

I graduated 2 years ago from NYU in communications (with a not so great average- 2.97) and since then I have decided that I want a career change. I am really interested in Pharmacy school, but there are a few problems:

A) I want to go to school in NY
B) I basically took no science classes in college, or math for that matter
C) Low GPA
C) I am starting late (Im turning 24 in two weeks)

I am just curious what the best way to go about this is. Should I take all of the pre-req's now? I know St. Johns/LIU have 6 year programs, but will they admit me since I am considered a transfer? Are they any other
alternatives?

Or does it even make sense for me to go into this because my chances are slim? Any feedback (however cruel) will be appreciated.

Thanks,
C

If I were you I'd take all necessary prerequisites at one of the CUNY schools (if you do well in the sciences at Brooklyn College, for instance, you can raise GPA quite significantly - General Chem, Organic Chem and Physics courses are worth 5 credits each.) Then - you may want to consider applying to a three year accelerated program such as LECOM Erie in PA - this way it would take you 5 years to get pharmD degree (2 at CUNY - 3 at LECOM.) Approximate overall cost - $100,000.

If you plan on considering Touro in NY tack on another year of school and at least an additional $30,000. Touro also requires more advanced science courses, such as Biochem, which may result in you needing an additional year to complete prerequisites.

I'd only consider St. John's and LIU if money and time are not an issue. Since you already have a bachelor's degree, you are not entitled to undergraduate aid, so you're looking at at least $170,000 in tuition for six years of study. If you are serious about going this route, I'd go with St. John's over LIU, as you would be guaranteed progression into professional program with successful completion of prerequisites - whereas at LIU you are not guaranteed (although you'd have a much higher chance of getting into professional phase as a pre-pharm student, there is still no guarantee - you'd have to reapply during second year of study.)

 

[Sparda29]

Yeah. From what I have heard, the best CUNY schools are City College, Hunter College, and Queens College.

 

[HappilyEverAfte]

Avoid this school at all costs, especially if you are a minority. This school is not diverse and the clinical preceptors don't know how to teach, but like to intimidate students with their "experiences". Watch out for Shannon Miller and Marciniak and Cerulli!

Watch out for Shannon Miller? What?

 

[Sparda29]

Watch out for Shannon Miller? What?

Yeah, I've been seeing the same name posted in every post about Albany College of Pharmacy. Apparently, she is the professor from hell.

 

[bklyngirl]

Yeah. From what I have heard, the best CUNY schools are City College, Hunter College, and Queens College.

The BEST for some people might not be the BEST for others.
I've learned the hard way that you shouldn't attend a school based on rankings. My freshman year at a top ten (1st tier) liberal arts school was a horrible academic experience for me. I've found my professors at CUNY to be much more engaging and compassionate - and many adjunct professors within the CUNY system teach at multiple CUNY schools.
When applying to pharmacy school, it doesn't seem to matter where you filled your prerequisites, as long as you have completed them successfully. It would make much more sense to attend the CUNY school nearest to home - saving traveling time/expense = extra spending money to use with the extra play time you'll have!😉

 

[temper]

I was in the same situation just a couple of years ago. I started taking classes full-time at Hunter this Spring, and am going for a second degree in Biochem to make things simpler. There seem to be a lot of NYU graduates there. You shouldn't feel too alone. 🙂

By the way, what would be considered average GPA?

 

[huyqng]

Avoid Albany!

 

[FruitFly]

Take negative, and unsubstantiated opinions with a grain of salt. Albany is a good school and many a good pharmacist has come out of there. I know some students there and they're pretty active in leadership opportunities and good all-around folks.

You can report trolling or questionable posts to us by clicking the following icon besides such a post:


Thanks

 

[HappilyEverAfte]

Yeah, I've been seeing the same name posted in every post about Albany College of Pharmacy. Apparently, she is the professor from hell.

hahaha oooh i thought u meant the Olympic gymnast....I was confused
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shannon_Miller