Pharmacy Plan

[Maximum404]

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I have been doing research and reading up on the threads here and have compiled my plan of attack for pharmacy school entrance. I was hoping to have a few of the more senior/experienced member sanity check this for me, but if anyone has useful comments please feel free. Plan follows:

Summer Session I 2010
Orgo I w/Lab
Bio I w/Lab

Summer Session II 2010
Orgo II w/Lab
Bio II w/Lab

Fall Session 2010
Microbiology
Bioinformatics
A&P I
PCAT (1st time in AUG)
PCAT (2nd time in OCT)

Spring Session 2011
BioChem I
A&P II

Summer Session I 2011
Immunology
Pharmacology

Summer Session II 2011
OFF/Pharmacy work

Fall 2011 Matriculate

Mostly I am worried about the PCAT timing and if it will be in time for my applications for the Fall 2011 term. Please let me know if I am missing anything.

 

[pharm B]

Are you active duty and planning on attending two summer session classes? You must have a very flexible command.

Other than your military obligation posing a potential hazard, the schedule seems doable. It might be hard to squeeze in both Bio and O-Chem classes in the same summer period due to the scheduling of labs, but if you can do it, go for it.

 

[diastole]

You are going to be taking Organic at the same time as bio during the summer? How long is the summer session and how long are the classes? I seem to remember that my summer school classes were pretty long in terms of the number of hours spent in class and required a decent number of hours outside of class and I didn't take a class as demanding as organic. If you take two classes, you may end up spending up to ten hours a day in class and have loads of homework and studying on top of that. If you have outside obligations as well, I'm not sure how you will manage to get it all done. I suppose it is possible but I'd do some research so you don't take on more than you can handle.

 

[crazybob]

I would strongly recommend paying attention as much as possible during that summer with organic chemistry.

 

[takethecannoli3]

if i had that schedule when i was taking those classes i would have shot myself. lol 😉 there are a few things that would concern me, but idk maybe you're different.
taking organic 1&2 in summer short sessions? 😱
and with bio at the same time?? and then microbiology and biochem with a&p? eeek...
i hope you don't work and/or have a life. just kidding, but seriously, if those type of classes come really easy to you with no studying, go for it. idk, this is just my opinion though, but it seems like an extremely heavy course load, on TOP of preparing for your PCATs. just sayin...😛

 

[Maximum404]

Thank you for all the responses and I will try to respond to most of the concerns brought up.

1. At the time of my school start I will be off of active duty and a full-time student.
2. As to the intensity of the schedule, when I did my undergrad I had 3-4 classes in 7 week blocks with each class meeting 5-8 times a week so I think that this schedule would be within my capability.
3. The scheduling of the classes is one of my main worries. I will not be able to schedule classes until April. I may be able to knock some of these classes out while on my deployment prior to getting out, but I can only do those which do not require a lab (A&P?)
4. As to the last comment, I think it is fairly relative. With a whole semester available I should have plenty of time. My hardest course load to date was Differential Equations, Chemistry II, Naval Officer Training, Chem Lab, Humanities Major Capstone, and Naval Leadership (again in a 7week term). Although very difficult it was manageable. I think that if I can get through three semesters of very difficult work it will not only prepare me for the rigors of Pharmacy school, but get what I need to accomplish completed within my restrictive timeframe.

It all really depends on what is available at the school and those nearby (12 schools in the city) and since they are consortium it makes things easier. I have been through the Kaplan’s study guide a couple of times for the PCAT and without taking any of the classes I didn’t do horrendous on the exams. Please try to poke more holes in my plan and continue the feedback as it helps me get my thoughts straight.

 

[pearljam5a1]

As previous posters have said, the summer with Orgo I and II is going to be a beast. Biology is a cinch and should cause you no problem. I think it's entirely doable and if you can get through that with A's/B's then that's great. If you've got no job and school is your only obligation over the summer then I think you'll do fine.

 

[takethecannoli3]

Thank you for all the responses and I will try to respond to most of the concerns brought up.

1. At the time of my school start I will be off of active duty and a full-time student.
2. As to the intensity of the schedule, when I did my undergrad I had 3-4 classes in 7 week blocks with each class meeting 5-8 times a week so I think that this schedule would be within my capability.
3. The scheduling of the classes is one of my main worries. I will not be able to schedule classes until April. I may be able to knock some of these classes out while on my deployment prior to getting out, but I can only do those which do not require a lab (A&P?)
4. As to the last comment, I think it is fairly relative. With a whole semester available I should have plenty of time. My hardest course load to date was Differential Equations, Chemistry II, Naval Officer Training, Chem Lab, Humanities Major Capstone, and Naval Leadership (again in a 7week term). Although very difficult it was manageable. I think that if I can get through three semesters of very difficult work it will not only prepare me for the rigors of Pharmacy school, but get what I need to accomplish completed within my restrictive timeframe.

It all really depends on what is available at the school and those nearby (12 schools in the city) and since they are consortium it makes things easier. I have been through the Kaplan’s study guide a couple of times for the PCAT and without taking any of the classes I didn’t do horrendous on the exams. Please try to poke more holes in my plan and continue the feedback as it helps me get my thoughts straight.

i have no idea how hard or what those naval classes entail, i do know that taking 2 or more upper level science classes together is just suicide. lol not to say you couldn't do it, but just remember that you obviously want to get the best grade you can, an A, and with some of those science courses, you really need to put ALOT of extra time and studying in to each one. just keep that in mind...but it sounds like you've got your head on straight and that you've really thought about it. good luck!

 

[crazybob]

i have no idea how hard or what those naval classes entail, i do know that taking 2 or more upper level science classes together is just suicide. lol not to say you couldn't do it, but just remember that you obviously want to get the best grade you can, an A, and with some of those science courses, you really need to put ALOT of extra time and studying in to each one. just keep that in mind...but it sounds like you've got your head on straight and that you've really thought about it. good luck!

lol. last year, in the fall, I had

• BIOL 250 Genetics (for bio majors) with 3 hr lab
• CHEM 310 Physical Chemistry (for chem majors) with 6 hr lab - 3 hrs twice a week
• ECON 200 Microeconomics (for econ and busi majors)
• CHEM 330 Biochemistry (for bio, biochem, and chem majors) with 3 hr lab
• And also finishing up writing a research article for independent undergraduate research I had done the year before.

I actually liked my schedule, so I went through with it. My academic advisor, who was my professor for p chem, said that my schedule was just suicide and when I told the associate dean at my school about this schedule, she said that it sounded like I had been through tough schedules before, so I should be fine in getting adjusted to crazy schedules in pharmacy school.

 

[takethecannoli3]

lol. last year, in the fall, I had

• BIOL 250 Genetics (for bio majors) with 3 hr lab
• CHEM 310 Physical Chemistry (for chem majors) with 6 hr lab - 3 hrs twice a week
• ECON 200 Microeconomics (for econ and busi majors)
• CHEM 330 Biochemistry (for bio, biochem, and chem majors) with 3 hr lab
• And also finishing up writing a research article for independent undergraduate research I had done the year before.

I actually liked my schedule, so I went through with it. My academic advisor, who was my professor for p chem, said that my schedule was just suicide and when I told the associate dean at my school about this schedule, she said that it sounded like I had been through tough schedules before, so I should be fine in getting adjusted to crazy schedules in pharmacy school.

hats off to you my friend bc that's a ridiculous schedule! but like you said, sounds like you'll be ready for pharmacy school!!!