OSU vs UW - pharmacy

[AmbitiousRX]

I applied to OSU and UW for autumn 2012 and summer 2012, respectively. I don't know if it'll get in to either, but if I don't I plan to apply for winter quarter or spring semester for OSU(they're converting to a semester system).

I'm torn. I'm a pre-pharmacy biology major. I am looking at getting a pharmD/MBA OSU has this but UW doesn't. I really like all aspects of UW and I just looked at OSU as a back up transfer school. I currently attend a second tire state university without any pharmacy program. I hate it here and i want out. It was my safety and sadly it came to that. I'm still a freshman. I'll be out of state in both cases.

The 2012 rankings say UW is ranked 10th for pharmacy and OSU is ranked 7th. Both fell from 5th. This is a negligible difference. Everyone knows the number one medical school in the country and pre-health powerhouse UW. However, OSU is also pretty strong. They're known for engineering, business, education, etc etc.

OSU has a higher NAPLEX pass rate, but both are high. Research opportunities are higher at UW and they are ranked higher overall. I think I would be happier at UW. I like seattle, I like the campus, the feel, dorms, etc. BUT OSU has that pharm/MBA program. I know the undergrad makes little difference in your pharmacy school acceptance. Should I go to UW for undergrad and see if UW out does OSU by then or maybe gets a pharmD/MBA program? Should I go to OSU and try to get into their program? Which school would be "easier"?

Help me out here. I'm stuck.

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[ValeRx]

Nobody pays attention to any rankings. They are meaningless.

 

[AmbitiousRX]

That's stupid to say. Rankings do matter- especially with all these new pharmacy schools. US news ranks pharmacy schools based on peer review. If UNC says UCSF's program is better. Don't you think that says something?

NAPLEX passrates and rankings are very much important.

And you didn't answer my question.

 

[ValeRx]

That's stupid to say. Rankings do matter- especially with all these new pharmacy schools. US news ranks pharmacy schools based on peer review. If UNC says UCSF's program is better. Don't you think that says something?

NAPLEX passrates and rankings are very much important.

And you didn't answer my question.

Listen Pre-Pharm, you have no clue what you're talking about. They mean absolutely nothing. Ask any pharmacist if they give a crap about what US News ranking pharmacy schools are. Each school within their own region have well established reputations throughout the country. Take Ohio for example, Cincinnati and Ohio State dominate here. ONU, Toledo, Findlay and NEOUCOM or whatever are considered inferior. It's all about the quality of rotations. Oh and Cincinnati beat Ohio State in NAPLEX pass rates this year, but we are ranked 23 or something? I don't think so.

 

[AmbitiousRX]

Uhh yeah Cincinnati beat OSU.. They had an 87 member student body vs OSU's 125. OSU and Ucin are tied for NAPLEX scores if you compile the past 5 years of data but OSU always has a way bigger body.

Don't discredit what I'm saying just because I'm pre-pharm. I have done too much research on this matter. Yes, it's true that most pharmacists will say rankings don't matter. Pharmacists aren't graduating now. Everything is so much more competitive now. Rankings are a big part of college. I mean I'm not a rankings bigot. I'm trying to go to UW and OSU. UW is ranked 42nd nationally and OSU is even lower. I'm focusing on my programs of study.

I think many pharmacists only care about money. Hence, the retail market saturation. Few pharmacists actually care about medicine and pharmacology and the healthcare industry as a whole. I feel as though I can only network with people who have like interest at prestigious schools. My current school is filled with mediocrity. Everyone get's excited getting into the 65 percentile with their 3.3 gpa and into a second tire pharmacy school from a second tire university. These are not the people I want to share my college days and pharmacy school years with.


I have spoken to a med student at Emory who went to Vandy for his undergrad. He told me your school reputation DOES matter(but for med school). A PCOM(NEW school mind you) admissions member told me that where you did your undergrad is factored into your application when looking at GPA. An A from a state university or community college is not the same thing as an A from a public ivy.

I am planning on pursuing a pharmD/MBA. My undergrad school WILL matter because I want to network very early on and get an edge. I want to lead the field of pharmacy, not flock with the sheep.

This is why I asked this question. Sorry if this comes as a little rude. I'm tired of pharmacists being considered money grubbers..even if it's mostly true.

 

[oktobre21]

I will only be a pharmacy student starting this upcoming fall, but what I can add to this conversation is that rankings of pharmacy schools really do not matter that much at all. Especially if you are talking about a difference between #7 and #10. In pharmacy, it seems like and also from what I have gathered through reading some comments by pharmacy students and pharmacists on this forum (who do have more experience, which is sometimes more valuable than just researching schools), what matters is going to a school that is well-established, one that has been around for a while, and one that provides you with a strong alumni and networking support. In addition, where you attend school matters. Like the previous poster, if you are in Ohio and want to stay around Ohio after graduation to work, well, you might want to go to OSU. This of course does not mean that you won't get a job or a residency if you go to another school; it only means that OSU has been around for a long time, has strong ties to other schools and hospitals around (and of course the quality of rotations and a bunch of other factors which I won't be listing here right now).

I applied this year and got accepted; and yes, it is competitive. And yes, where you go to undergraduate probably does matter when the schools look at your GPA. But even if you do go to a second tier school as you put it, there are many ways you can get involved in activities, volunteer, do research, and (I hate using this phrase, but...) "set yourself apart".

If you really want to transfer, you don't necessarily have to transfer to a school that has a pharmacy school either. I graduated from a school that does not have any professional schools, and the school where I am taking some pre-reqs now have a pharmacy school but it is ranked quite low. If you really do not like where you are right now, transfer, simply because it will make you happy.

In addition, why only OSU or UW? UK and UNC and so does a few pharmacy schools out there offer PharmD/MBA programs, which are becoming quite popular, actually.

Let's not generalize all (or many) pharmacists as money grubbers either... I mean, I don't think one will want to go through such an education that requires so much time and investment and effort, just to make money -well, of course one may and can do that, but if they already have the brains to do it, they might prefer to go to medicine (more money) or the stock market (way more money) or get really good at poker (which is what a friend of mine did, actually).

I respect your desire to be a leader in the field, and most schools will love that attitude, but no matter what school you go to, there are always opportunities to show yourself. If there are not, I am sure you are more than capable of creating such opportunities. I'd say go to a school where you will be happy; you could attend UW or OSU (whichever accepts you) and then apply to the other school for pharmacy. Also, you're only a freshman (meaning you have time), maybe you will change your mind about the PharmD/MBA in the next 2-3 years and decide that an MPH would serve you better. Who knows? Don't try to plan too much ahead... Best of luck.

 

[AmbitiousRX]

Thanks for that. Definitely helpful!

I think I didn't clarify. By "rankings" I did mean accreditation. I think rankings do reflect accreditation though. As I said, I do look at the methodology when i look at these rankings. An older school will of course have a much stronger alumni base. This is VERY important to me. I want to be able to donate and maybe even work at my old university. I want to be at every football game and show team spirit like no other. I want to be like a Jets fan at every superbowl.

UNC is probably out of my league for undergrad. My ACT/SAT scores don't stand on UNC's level. They stand on UW and OSU's level. KU is a good school, my aunt went there actually(for pharmacy). However, they don't have very strong programs outside of pharmacy and it's not really what I'm looking for.

UW's Foster school of business is ranked 19 for executive MBA. However, fisher is also very reputable.

I suppose it boils down to what school is better OSU vs UW.

 

[oktobre21]

Well the methodology of how the pharmacy school rankings are conducted is not the most reliable out there either; especially with its 38% response rate... You might want to look into this if you haven't already. It's not very objective, to say the least.

At any rate, I'd say just wait and see which school accepts you (hopefully at least one of them will); if only one of them does, attend that one. If both of them do, figure out which one will cost you less or which one would be willing to give you a scholarship. If neither of them do, apply again (and to other schools as well), or try to make opportunities at the school you attend. You have time till you start applying to pharmacy schools. Also, did you consider a 6-year program?

 

[Rx MPLS]

Which OSU and which UW? Wisconsin or Washington? Ohio State or Oregon State?

If in reference to Wa vs Or, I pick Oregon. If Ohio vs Wisconsin, Wisconsin! (purely based on my nonscientific study of states I like better than other states).

Truly...go to the place you'll be happiest. Don't sweat those NAPLEX and rankings too hard because these are all well respected schools, not degree mills.

 

[AmbitiousRX]

Well the methodology of how the pharmacy school rankings are conducted is not the most reliable out there either; especially with its 38% response rate... You might want to look into this if you haven't already. It's not very objective, to say the least.

At any rate, I'd say just wait and see which school accepts you (hopefully at least one of them will); if only one of them does, attend that one. If both of them do, figure out which one will cost you less or which one would be willing to give you a scholarship. If neither of them do, apply again (and to other schools as well), or try to make opportunities at the school you attend. You have time till you start applying to pharmacy schools. Also, did you consider a 6-year program?

I did, but it's too late to transfer into a 0-6. Most of those schools are direct admit.

Yes, I did see that. Again, the actual ranks are just a small part of the big picture. As long as I'm top 20 I'm fine.

I will factor costs into it.

 

[AmbitiousRX]

Thanks RX MP,

Ohio State and University of Washington.

Honestly, it boils down to fisher vs foster. The business connections is what I'm looking at.

 

[Rx MPLS]

Thanks RX MP,

Ohio State and University of Washington.

Honestly, it boils down to fisher vs foster. The business connections is what I'm looking at.

Look harder at their business programs than their pharmacy programs, because that will make a bigger difference for you than where you get your PharmD. Look and see what companies and locations their MBA grads work for. These will be the people with the connections you get to know in their programs. These connections are what get you the sweet job, not your PharmD or your MBA alone or combined. If you go to the best MBA school, but it has no connections with alumni, you will not be a happy camper when you finish. I actually think the rankings for MBA programs might be legitimate (though I haven't really checked them out myself).

 

[AmbitiousRX]

Look harder at their business programs than their pharmacy programs, because that will make a bigger difference for you than where you get your PharmD. Look and see what companies and locations their MBA grads work for. These will be the people with the connections you get to know in their programs. These connections are what get you the sweet job, not your PharmD or your MBA alone or combined. If you go to the best MBA school, but it has no connections with alumni, you will not be a happy camper when you finish. I actually think the rankings for MBA programs might be legitimate (though I haven't really checked them out myself).

Because law and business schools rely so much on who you know, rankings are a lot more important than to pre-health majors. Bloomberg, forbes, businessweek, and us news are the rankings I have heard are reliable.

I always compile rankings whenever I look at them.