Pharmacy Post-Bac..... HELP!!

[Pinky.D.Pig]

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Hi... I graduated college this year and now I think I want to go to pharmacy school, but I need to get some of the hard sciences under my belt. Are there post-bac programs for pharmacy? Do you just apply with the med school students, or are there specific programs that are only for pharm kids? Do you know of any international pharmacy post-bac programs? What are the mandatory classes that I need to have to even begin to apply to pharmacy school?

Any help or advice you could offer would be GREAT! I'm feeling really lost, especially since I didn't plan on pharmacy school while an undergrad.

Thanks,
Pink

 

[djbacklash]

Talk to your school's pre-health advisor and ask if there is a post-bac program. I was in your shoes a few years ago and simply chose to take all the pre-reqs without enrolling in a specific post-bac program at my school (didn't even know one existed until recently lol!). I probably could have saved a semester had I spoken to an advisor first but as long as you know what classes you need, it's not that big a deal. Also check to see if your school has any pre-health post-bac organizations you could join. That way you can talk to other students who are going through the same thing.

Oh and check your pharmacy college admissions page for a list of pre-reqs.

 

[emogrrrrl]

I am also a post bac who decided a couple of years ago to go into pharmacy a semester after I graduated. I don't think there is any need to enroll in a post bac program to complete any prerequisites, it's up to you. Just read up on each school you wish to apply to and figure out each of their prerequisites so that you can plan your classes over the next couple of years. Since you most probably have all the general education requirements out of the way it should only take you a couple of years if you haven't taken any general chem or biology. If you decide to do summers (ie you decide to take gen chem and biology this summer) you could probably finish within the year. I think most people apply after they've finished gen chem 1 and 2, gen bio 1 and 2, and physics 1 and 2. during the fall when you are applying it's probably a good idea for you to be taking orgo 1. I think a lot of the schools I looked at wanted you to be enrolled in orgo 1 while you were applying so that they can have that grade by the end of the fall semester. Again, depends on what schools you wish to apply to.
Best of luck and if you have any questions feel free to post or pm me. I think it was much easier to take the classes as a post bac. There were alot of individuals in the same situation when I went back. They either went back to pursue pharmacy, dentistry, optometry, vet school or med school.

 

[OSURxgirl]

How many of the science pre-req's have you finished? If you've done none, you might be more comfortable in a post-bacc program. Maybe you could check out the post-bacc forum on this site and find out where some of the programs are. Then, you could call some of these programs and enquire about them taking pharmacy students. I only had 4 pre-reqs to finish when I decided to do pharmacy (I was a life science minor in undergrad), so I enrolled in the continuing education division of my undergraduate school. I also took two of the courses at a local community college. You have lots of options, you just need to find out what's available and what's best for you. I wish you luck in pursuing your goals

 

[Pinky.D.Pig]

Thanks for the prompt replies... I have been looking for answers and no one has been able to give me any....

1) I was a psychology major at Davidson College in NC, and I did a lot of pharmacology classes and research, but it was under the "psychology" division. I wrote a thesis on opioid-cocaine interaction, and I've taken classes in Clinical Psychopharmacology, Behavioral Pharmacology, etc.

2) I've never had the "real" chemistries (I took Chemistry and the Society as a joke pre-req),

3) I transferred in 2 AP biologies to college from high school,

4) no physics,

5) and I had 3 years of calculus in high school at a local community college, but retook calc I in college my freshman year.

So, I don't really feel like I'm in very good shape........... Where did you guys apply to pharm school? Since I'm just entering the field, are there schools that are obviously the leaders in producing Grade-A pharmacists? Also, do you think you'll go into retail pharmacy, or hospital pharmacy? I just read a cool article on clincial pharmacy....

What do you think???
thanks, PiNK. 🙂

 

[Pinky.D.Pig]

PS-- Davidson is super small (1700 students) and doesnt' offer anything but undergraduate classes, and continuing education isn't really an option here... that's one reason I keep asking you lots of questions!! Thank you so much for your help...

 

[Glycerin]

3) I transferred in 2 AP biologies to college from high school,

4) no physics,

5) and I had 3 years of calculus in high school at a local community college, but retook calc I in college my freshman year.

So, I don't really feel like I'm in very good shape........... Where did you guys apply to pharm school? Since I'm just entering the field, are there schools that are obviously the leaders in producing Grade-A pharmacists? Also, do you think you'll go into retail pharmacy, or hospital pharmacy? I just read a cool article on clincial pharmacy....

About the AP Biology credit, you'd have to check with each school, but I believe that pharmacy schools will not allow AP credit. I'm almost positive about that, but just double check with each school.

Not all pharmacy schools require physics, but I would take it anyway, because as my physics prof exclaims (on a daily basis): Physics is EVERYTHING! 😛

Calc I may be enough. Some schools require Calc II, but again, check with each school. Statistics is usually required, too.

I think you are in good shape already, being that you have a four-year degree. Some schools even require that now, and more and more will be doing so in the future. It's definitely a plus for you. 🙂 As for me personally, I want to be a clinical pharmacist, preferrably specializing in pediatric hem/onc.

 

[Modnar]

Pinky, I'm also doing a post-bac. I agree with the advice you've been given so far, but I want to add that you should consider going to a state school for your prereqs. I say this because state schools are cheaper, tend to have a lot of resources for non-traditional students, and you're more likely to find other people who are in the same boat as you.

On the subject of what classes you'll need, definitely check with the school(s) you plan to apply to. Generally speaking, most require 4 semesters of chem (2 general, 2 organic), a semester or two of general bio, calc (as Amanda said, Calc I is probably good enough), possibly stats, and some more advanced bio such as anatomy, physiology, or microbiology.

Good luck!