To start, I'm just a measly little pre-pharmer who will be attending pharmacy school next year, so my opinion is probably worth nothing, but I'll throw in my 2 cents anyway...
Personally, I feel like this obsession over the new schools is some serious paranoia. The idea of all these new pharmacists coming in seems to be threatening the folks who come from the older schools, and I can understand why. I mean, it was easy-pickins before when dealing with job security. All the sudden, there's some competition and you all feel the need to fight back. I don't think that's the way to go about dealing with the problem.
If your school can stand out, then you shouldn't be worried. Why even bother complaining about these lower-tier schools if you're confident you're so much better? Is it hurting the profession you care so much about? Probably, but I'm sure the real-world will sort these things out quickly. If an unqualified pharmacist from a low-tier school gets a job and fudges it up, I can guarantee you that he won't be working there or anywhere else for long.
Now, I tend to see this new wave of pharmacy schools as a good thing for the education we all obtain. A lot of these new schools, but not all, are stepping up their games because they have something to prove to the other, more established, schools. This competition should push the industry in a forward position. As time goes on, I'm sure reputations will start to be built, but if you're from a new school I don't see why you need to worry. Hiring pharmacists and managers aren't looking at the year your school opened.. They're looking at statistics and possibly previous students coming from that school.
So quit the hatin', quit the drama, and love your fellow pharmacist. When it comes down to it, we all SHOULD care about the same thing, and that's our fellow man's well being.
4 a.m. posts ftl