Pharmacy Programs...

[Kyra]

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I am a high school senior who is pretty sure I want to attend pharmacy school. I have been accepted to all of the colleges that I have applied to.

I was recently accepted into Dubusque in their 0-6 pharmacy program. I have also applied to Butler, Loyota (Chicago), Philidelphia, Ferris, Hampton.

I need some advise. Should I go to a regular college, major in Chemistry and apply after two years or go to a 0-6 school right away.

Any advise would be helpful. 🙂

Thank you...

 

[usi]

I think having a Bachelors is a useful completion point from which you could branch out if by any chance you change your mind.
I am saying this because I am changing careers from chemistry into pharmacy (hopefully) and I am glad I have that BS. Is required if you want to go to other graduate schools.
You are still very young, and you don't know what your life will bring your way. Nowdays people switch carreers and jobs more often than they did in the past, and the workplace requires a bit more flexibility in backgrounds.
I think is worth the extra year or so.

 

[ButlerPharm.D.]

GO TO BUTLER, IT'S AN AWESOME SCHOOL. E-mail me at jegel at butler dot edu and we can chat about Butler.

 

[pinkyrx]

Have you worked in a pharmacy before? How sure are you that you want to be a pharmacist? If you're 99% sure that you want to be a pharmacist then I would definitely do the 0-6 program where you start immediately. However, if you think there is a chance you might change your mind, I would just start out at a regular college and that way you won't have to worry about whether or not credits transfer etc if you decide to go down a different path.

 

[b*rizzle]

Have you worked in a pharmacy before? How sure are you that you want to be a pharmacist? If you're 99% sure that you want to be a pharmacist then I would definitely do the 0-6 program where you start immediately. However, if you think there is a chance you might change your mind, I would just start out at a regular college and that way you won't have to worry about whether or not credits transfer etc if you decide to go down a different path.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I would STRONGLY recommend experience before committing to a decision. You've got time. I waited, and I'm happy that I did. 🙂

 

[Novasaurus]

GO TO BUTLER, IT'S AN AWESOME SCHOOL. E-mail me at jegel at butler dot edu and we can chat about Butler.

Hey ButlerPharm.D,

Does Butler accept many transfer students into the first professional year? I applied to Butler this year and was just wondering. I have a BS in Nutritional science w/ minor in chemistry from UF.

 

[spacecowgirl]

Ugh. I think these 0-6 year programs are a recipe for disaster and just a way to pump out pharmacists faster.

Get some experience at a pharmacy to make sure this is what you want. I think the college years are such an important formative time, I am so glad I did not go straight through. I am also happy that I was involved in all the activities I was, that I got to live and study in Italy, participate in a NSF summer research program, get involved in research at my school, and have lots of fun too...maybe that's possible in a 0-6 program, but I don't see how you could fit it all in. Those four years were fantastic and so much less stressful than pharmacy school, I would hate to have missed them.

My point is that in my opinion, it would be better to take a few years now to make sure this is what you want than spend 40+ years doing something you hate. I am older than most of my classmates, but I wouldn't have had it any other way. And I think the extra few years I have shows positively in my work.

Life is too long to be unhappy.

Good luck in your decision.

 

[vicinihil]

Here's my 2 cents.

I have friends at VCU in the 6 year pharmacy program. The pharmacy school here is a great school and the students in the 6 year program, for the most part, are very astute and keen. If you know you want to do pharmacy, then I would definitely attend one of these programs that you have been accepted to. Also, I know that at VCU Pharmacy school, over 96% of all pharmacy students have completed a BS, therefore if you plan on applying to pharmacy school before completion of a BS...good luck. This is not saying that you can't get in if you have EXTENSIVE experience. 6 yr pharmacy program is just a sure bet.

 

[ilovepharmacy]

I agree - if you are sure you want to do pharmacy, do the 0-6 program. Even if you are 75% sure, I still think you should do it. If you discover you hate the sciences during your first year of college you can switch out and start a major within the college, no? Of course, don't decide that you don't want to do it when you're in the pharmacy curriculum itself. However, make sure you gain some form of exposure to pharmacy between now and the next year so that you are 100% sure. The 0-6 programs will save you time, money, stress, etc. - if that is what you're into. USC has a 7 year thing that I did and all of my friends and I are very happy with it. We loved the fact that we did not have to worry about getting that A or keeping a pre-med mentality and maintaining a scary high GPA because the requirements to stay in our program were VERY modest. USC even allowed us to defer admission to pharm school for a year so that we can complete our BS. I don't know whether other schools offer that option. The program may force you to grow up faster but you will not be any less mature - I have friends who went through 0-6 and 0-7 programs and ended up performing in the top 20% of their class and were student presidents and leaders of many of the organizations in pharmacy school - and they are still sane individuals. 😉

Good lucks and congrats on getting into all those schools! 👍