Out of the schools I applied to, rank them from best to worst and why.

[SeekerofTruth]

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USP pharmacy

Albany pharmacy - didn't hear from them yet

st. john's pharmacy - just sent them all my information for feb 1 deadline(they lost my stuff the first time)

rutgers pharmacy

 

[Jabberwocky12]

USP pharmacy

Albany pharmacy - didn't hear from them yet

st. john's pharmacy - just sent them all my information for feb 1 deadline(they lost my stuff the first time)

rutgers pharmacy

That's a very subjective ranking you're asking people for. Honestly I'd rank on the top your in-state public school first and then whatever afterwards. Do you care about dual-degree programs? So you like the campuses? There is a lot more to think about than asking some people with a 2 min google search why one place is better than another.

I've heard of Rutgers only so I'd say they are good on that basis. The rest are 2 and 3 and 4

 

[SeekerofTruth]

academically speaking.

 

[pharm B]

I'd recommend searching through the threads about each school. If you can't find anything about what you're wanting to know there, you can always post in the thread for each of the schools, or PM students attending there. You're not likely to get too many valid reviews of the programs by posting this way.

 

[IndustryPharmD]

USP - their graduates say they just learn the clinical stuff by way of explanation why they are completely clueless about the real world and the ways to actually use/apply their knowledge.
St. John's - not bad, but not great, and outrageously expensive.
Albany -don't know anything about them aside from curious fact that their Kappa Epsilon chapter is almost all men while it's usually the other way around
Rutgers - out of your list, that's the best one based on my experience with graduates of different schools.

 

[Sparda29]

USP - their graduates say they just learn the clinical stuff by way of explanation why they are completely clueless about the real world and the ways to actually use/apply their knowledge.
St. John's - not bad, but not great, and outrageously expensive.
Albany -don't know anything about them aside from curious fact that their Kappa Epsilon chapter is almost all men while it's usually the other way around
Rutgers - out of your list, that's the best one based on my experience with graduates of different schools.

If I was you, I'd pick Rutgers. But that's just because they have a football team.

 

[SeekerofTruth]

too bad for me i have virtually no chance for rutgers

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Questions about picking a school, or which school is better or "which schools should I apply to?" or "where should I go for college?" etc belong in pre-pharmacy. Moving.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Easy- whichever is cheaper.

 

[pharmagirlie]

I didnt graduate from any of the schools that you listed above... But I have a friend that goes to Albany college of pharmacy... and I DO know that they are on academic probation from the National Board...

My friend that attends that schools always prays for a 2.5 GPA.. honestly I dont think that is a good sign (for the school or for the individual that attends there)..

But I do know that st john has a stronger program and that most students that do attend that school, end up graduating.

 

[futureopt31]

Questions about picking a school, or which school is better or "which schools should I apply to?" or "where should I go for college?" etc belong in pre-pharmacy. Moving.

Ole Miss ;0)

 

[Farmacist2011]

I didnt graduate from any of the schools that you listed above... But I have a friend that goes to Albany college of pharmacy... and I DO know that they are on academic probation from the National Board...

My friend that attends that schools always prays for a 2.5 GPA.. honestly I dont think that is a good sign (for the school or for the individual that attends there)..

But I do know that st john has a stronger program and that most students that do attend that school, end up graduating.

I also know a student who goes to Albany and had to repeat his 1st professional year. Students struggle alot there to break a 3.0 and the school has kicked out a ton of students for bad grades. When I asked about their 0-6 program they said they lose 10-15 percent of their class 1st year pre pharm. I hear the teachers arent great and the student's are unfriendly towards transfers. They're called GDTs. "God damn transfers" mainly because the school has always been mainly 0-6- it's VERY highschool there. Transfers get the worst class schedules. The atmosphere at that school just fels miserable. Only party I ever went to there everyone was talking about school. Odd.

If you graduate there you'll be as good as pharmacist as anyone else, but Albany can put you through hell. It's regarded as a good school, but doesn't seem to be a happy place if that makes sense. And they LOVE to say they're the oldest COP in NY. Oh and don't buy the meal plan, worst cafeteria ever- ask anyone lol.

 

[Passion4Sci]

easy- whichever is cheaper.

this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Sine Cura]

Easy- whichever is cheaper.

this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

FTMFT

Also, Rutgers more selective (meaning fewer asshats), (likely) not (as) high-school like, better reputation.

 

[Jabberwocky12]

FTMFT

Also, Rutgers more selective (meaning fewer asshats), (likely) not (as) high-school like, better reputation.

I agree maybe not as "high-school like" in terms of "Benny and Jenny are dating, zomg" but fewer asshats? A lot of people who go to "prestigious" schools and I use that term loosely for pharmacy schools, typically have a little bit of arrogance to them, although I only have anecdotal evidence for that (but I think you are using the same so it balances out?) Still, don't worry about the students once you are there. 😛

Cheaper schools are more important in the long run like I and several others have mentioned. Money talks and it tells you where to graduate 😛

 

[Sine Cura]

You are right. (For example, I hear a little about very hostile attitudes of Harvard med students toward pharmacy students on rotation, probably exacerbated when the pharmacy student is only 21-22 and from a non-selective PharmD program who dares offer treatment recommendations when asked.)

For some clarification, among the 0-6 programs, Rutgers is most selective, meaning they are very likely to screen out the socially stunted AND minimal-achieving asshats that populate the PharmD programs at ACPHS (see an earlier post) and MCPHS (to the extent that high school background matters and has any predictive value for performance in a PharmD program).

 

[acphs1881]

Hi. I work at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. I want to make clear to SDN users that the school is NOT on probation. Any such implication is completely false.

 

[Jabberwocky12]

Hi. I work at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. I want to make clear to SDN users that the school is NOT on probation. Any such implication is completely false.

Would you mind providing information backing that up? A link to an article or database or anything that isn't the school website? What is your position at the college?

Not that we doubt you but sources are necessary when 2 people say conflicting things that are important like this.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Would you mind providing information backing that up? A link to an article or database or anything that isn't the school website? What is your position at the college?

Not that we doubt you but sources are necessary when 2 people say conflicting things that are important like this.

I found it easily online: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/shared_info/accredHistory.asp?degreeid=35&entity=56

 

[Farmacist2011]

I live somewhat in the area and there has been constant stuff about being ACP being on probation last couple of years. I know there is a lot of politics when it comes to this type of stuff and with what probation actually means, but it has such a sigma the school wont even address what the sitation really was- that's the scary part.

Would it be so difficult to say the school was "asked" to make some changes (which they probably did) or given a timeframe to work on something? I know schools don't ever want to say anything remotely negative about thier own school so why is it surprising there is so much speculation on sdn... And by that "I work at ACP" these schools are obviously all over this site.

 

[Farmacist2011]

So why can't ACP just say we had something we had to fix in 2008 and we did so we're all good. Instead they say the school right now is not on probation. That is correct, but an obvious ignoring of the 2008 issue which is what everybody is talking about!!!

 

[acphs1881]

Would you mind providing information backing that up? A link to an article or database or anything that isn't the school website? What is your position at the college?

Not that we doubt you but sources are necessary when 2 people say conflicting things that are important like this.

The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredits all programs of pharmacy in the U.S. If you go to this page of their web site (http://www.acpe-accredit.org/deans/schools.asp) and enter the captcha code, you can review the accreditation status of any school.

 

[SeekerofTruth]

What does socially stunted mean, being terrible at speaking to others but on what level? Some people are total jerks when they speak, some are really shy around others in general, some are only shy when in class, etc..

If I get accepted, I'll go to Rutgers ernest mario.

I only heard back from USP/Usciences so far.

St. John's lost half my information so I had it sent again for the february 1st deadline.

 

[Sine Cura]

What does socially stunted mean, being terrible at speaking to others but on what level? Some people are total jerks when they speak, some are really shy around others in general, some are only shy when in class, etc..

Example: first day of "professional curriculum," as a transfer, you introduce yourself to a person sitting near you, yet you get absolutely no response, maybe a slight change in facial expression. Maybe "kids these days" can't even handle face-to-face small talk. Maybe the larger the class size, the more insular students tend to be.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Rutgers! for football!

 

[SeekerofTruth]

rutgers is my first choice but it is also my reach.

at this point, it looks like i'll be going to usp

 

[PharmStudent07]

.Hey SeekerofTruth!

Congratulations on getting into USciences! It's an awesome school 🙂

.The coursework is challenging and requires you to work hard, but all the students here know that it will all pay off once you graduate.....The level of education is unparalleled and the campus is constantly growing and improving...they just added a new Starbucks!

.....On top of all that, USciences students are in the top of the nation for receiving the highest salaries during their careers.....check out this link! It's in the news!

Good luck in making your college choice! Hopefully I'll see you on campus 🙂
.

 

[PharmStudent07]

rutgers is my first choice but it is also my reach.

at this point, it looks like i'll be going to usp

.Hey SeekerofTruth!

Congratulations on getting into USciences! It's an awesome school 🙂

.The coursework is challenging and requires you to work hard, but all the students here know that it will all pay off once you graduate...The level of education is unparalleled and the campus is constantly growing and improving...they just added a new Starbucks!

...On top of all that, USciences students are in the top of the nation for receiving the highest salaries during their careers.....check out this link! It's in the news!

Good luck in making your college choice! Hopefully I'll see you on campus 🙂.

 

[Farmacist2011]

That link has nothing to do with Pharmacists from Usciences making more than Pharmacists who graduated from other pharmacy schools. Any school that hands out pharmacy degrees (and other medical related degress) will have higher average mid career salaries than schools handing out a B.S in Psychology, Sociology, etc... LOL

And if you consider a new starbucks as "constantly growing and improving" then LOLx2

 

[R2pharmD2]

.Hey SeekerofTruth!

Congratulations on getting into USciences! It's an awesome school 🙂

.The coursework is challenging and requires you to work hard, but all the students here know that it will all pay off once you graduate.....The level of education is unparalleled and the campus is constantly growing and improving...they just added a new Starbucks!

.....On top of all that, USciences students are in the top of the nation for receiving the highest salaries during their careers.....check out this link! It's in the news!

Good luck in making your college choice! Hopefully I'll see you on campus 🙂
.

.Hey SeekerofTruth!

Congratulations on getting into USciences! It's an awesome school 🙂

.The coursework is challenging and requires you to work hard, but all the students here know that it will all pay off once you graduate...The level of education is unparalleled and the campus is constantly growing and improving...they just added a new Starbucks!

...On top of all that, USciences students are in the top of the nation for receiving the highest salaries during their careers.....check out this link! It's in the news!

Good luck in making your college choice! Hopefully I'll see you on campus 🙂.

Hey! I'm really interesting in attending USciences! Do you think they'll cover my tuition if I ***** myself out and spam message boards promoting the school? Or maybe I could skip pharmacy school entirely and just work for their PR department? Please respond ASAP!

 

[PharmStudent07]

Hey! I'm really interesting in attending USciences! Do you think they'll cover my tuition if I ***** myself out and spam message boards promoting the school? Or maybe I could skip pharmacy school entirely and just work for their PR department? Please respond ASAP!

Hey,

I'm not doing PR for the school, just wanted to provide the future incoming students with a positive opinion from a student that goes to USciences.

I really do believe this is a good University, and any student that attends the school will benefit from it's reputation and coursework.

 

[R2pharmD2]

Hey,

I'm not doing PR for the school, just wanted to provide the future incoming students with a positive opinion from a student that goes to USciences.

I really do believe this is a good University, and any student that attends the school will benefit from it's reputation and coursework.

 

[Farmacist2011]

 

[bacillus1]

Regardless of what this poster says, let's be professional here. We don't have anything to prove that he/she's a paid blogger, though I strongly believe so. Anyway, this poster asked me what bothered me about the school and I answered here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=787654

In USP's defense, our students are very collaborative and work together to deal with all the BS here (unlike other schools I've read about on here where students don't talk to at alll), and our professional organization chapters are very active. Also we have a wide rotation selection (I think the widest in the state), but of course this comes at a cost of an extra 13 grand for the year, which I find immoral. I don't want people to think this is the worst program ever, because it's not, but there are still serious issues here.

BTW USP has advertisements all over Philly, even on the regional rail trains. I hear our enrollment is down because no one wants to do pharmacy anymore because of saturation in this city.

 

[PharmStudent07]

Regardless of what this poster says, let's be professional here. We don't have anything to prove that he/she's a paid blogger, though I strongly believe so. Anyway, this poster asked me what bothered me about the school and I answered here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=787654

In USP's defense, our students are very collaborative and work together to deal with all the BS here (unlike other schools I've read about on here where students don't talk to at alll), and our professional organization chapters are very active. Also we have a wide rotation selection (I think the widest in the state), but of course this comes at a cost of an extra 13 grand for the year, which I find immoral. I don't want people to think this is the worst program ever, because it's not, but there are still serious issues here.

BTW USP has advertisements all over Philly, even on the regional rail trains. I hear our enrollment is down because no one wants to do pharmacy anymore because of saturation in this city.

Thanks for the defense (somewhat), bacillus1.

I never said USciences is the most amazing school, with no flaws, etc.

I just want the students that are considering doing Pharmacy, PT, OT, etc. to know that USciences is a good University that will leave them with many options for the future. The education is hard, but that's because we're doing things in the healthcare profession. People's lives will be at stake because of the decisions we make when we graduate. With that said, USciences gives it's students the knowledge and expertise to be confident in making those decisions.

And if comparing to other schools, the grass is always greener on the other side...

 

[Sine Cura]

Why the emphasis on coursework? It's not like you're doing a med school curriculum.

 

[R2pharmD2]

Regardless of what this poster says, let's be professional here. We don't have anything to prove that he/she's a paid blogger, though I strongly believe so. Anyway, this poster asked me what bothered me about the school and I answered here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=787654

In USP's defense, our students are very collaborative and work together to deal with all the BS here (unlike other schools I've read about on here where students don't talk to at alll), and our professional organization chapters are very active. Also we have a wide rotation selection (I think the widest in the state), but of course this comes at a cost of an extra 13 grand for the year, which I find immoral. I don't want people to think this is the worst program ever, because it's not, but there are still serious issues here.

BTW USP has advertisements all over Philly, even on the regional rail trains. I hear our enrollment is down because no one wants to do pharmacy anymore because of saturation in this city.

To be clear, I don't want anyone to think I'm suggesting USP is a bad school. I don't know if it is or isn't, but I do think that paying students to come online and tell everyone how awesome the school is reeks of shadiness.

Whether or not this individual is paid by the school to do this, they clearly have an agenda of some sort and his or her "opinions" are misleading to those who may be researching the school. Weighing the pros and cons of the school as you did is helpful to potential students. Blindly advocating is not.

 

[PharmStudent07]

To be clear, I don't want anyone to think I'm suggesting USP is a bad school. I don't know if it is or isn't, but I do think that paying students to come online and tell everyone how awesome the school is reeks of shadiness.

Whether or not this individual is paid by the school to do this, they clearly have an agenda of some sort and his or her "opinions" are misleading to those who may be researching the school. Weighing the pros and cons of the school as you did is helpful to potential students. Blindly advocating is not.

Let me repeat myself for the 3rd time: I am NOT paid by the school to advocate it.

I am simply stating that out of the MANY job interviews that I have had, MANY employers were impressed by the fact that I attend USciences and spoke very highly of the institution.

Also, at those places where I was employed, my knowledge from the classes I had at USciences came in handy numerous times.

 

[R2pharmD2]

Let me repeat myself for the 3rd time: I am NOT paid by the school to advocate it.

I am simply stating that out of the MANY job interviews that I have had, MANY employers were impressed by the fact that I attend USciences and spoke very highly of the institution.

Also, at those places where I was employed, my knowledge from the classes I had at USciences came in handy numerous times.

Oh golly.

 

[confettiflyer]

Let me repeat myself for the 3rd time: I am NOT paid by the school to advocate it.

I am simply stating that out of the MANY job interviews that I have had, MANY employers were impressed by the fact that I attend USciences and spoke very highly of the institution.

Also, at those places where I was employed, my knowledge from the classes I had at USciences came in handy numerous times.

USciences? USP? PCP? wtf name are they coming up with now?? USci? i swear it's changed 3x and i've only lived here 3 years.

 

[rxlea]

Is there still a point to this thread? Hmmm... I think not.

 

[Farmacist2011]

People's lives will be at stake because of the decisions we make when we graduate. With that said, USciences gives it's students the knowledge and expertise to be confident in making those decisions.

QUOTE]

I'm tired of diploma mill schools such as USciences using tuition to fund their propaganda. Maybe the classes are hard because the teachers suck. My school didn't build a starbucks on campus so maybe I'm just jealous I can't over pay for tuition AND coffee. I know a pharmacist who lives in Philly. He's unemployed!

 

[bacillus1]

I'm tired of diploma mill schools such as USciences using tuition to fund their propaganda. Maybe the classes are hard because the teachers suck. My school didn't build a starbucks on campus so maybe I'm just jealous I can't over pay for tuition AND coffee. I know a pharmacist who lives in Philly. He's unemployed!

I don't think you should call us a "diploma mill". I'm pretty sure the people that hire don't call us a diploma mill. But I agree. Someone should request an audit of this place, have a strike, whatever. Tuition is increasing and it's not going to the right places.

And to confettiflyer: yes, these name changes are ridiculous. I will never call it USciences. Again, the name change was for marketing purposes, to somehow magically get people to want to go to pharmacy school again. People aren't dumb and see that Philly is crazy saturated.

 

[Sine Cura]

USP's marketing is wholly deserving of ridicule when the school website has statements like "Why go Ivy when graduates from USciences can earn as much?" (referring to the salary claims cited earlier).

It wouldn't be much of a leap to assert that the intersection of USP students who actually received admission to an Ivy (much less HYP) out of HS is the null set, and if not and some got into the PharmD program (a reason not to go to an Ivy if you want to be a pharmacist... or MAYBE you wanted to do D-II athletics and go to pharmacy school at the same time), they most likely could've gone to Rutgers instead and saved a bit of money.

As far as "diploma mill" accusations go, don't worry, there will always be another 0-6 school more deserving of that epithet (even if they don't advertise as much as USP or even at all).

 

[confettiflyer]

I'm tired of diploma mill schools such as USciences using tuition to fund their propaganda. Maybe the classes are hard because the teachers suck. My school didn't build a starbucks on campus so maybe I'm just jealous I can't over pay for tuition AND coffee. I know a pharmacist who lives in Philly. He's unemployed!

rofl, you just called the oldest pharmacy school in the country a diploma mill....hahahhaa fail

 

[Farmacist2011]

I was kidding about USciences being a diploma mill. Just seemed like a new hot word on sdn like "saturation". I'm sure it's as good as any other school, but paid bloggers just makes it seem shady.