Pharmacy School Majors

[stargazzer]

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Does anyone know if there are particular pharmacy schools that require a specific major (ie. biology/chemistry/biochem)? Does it really matter what you major in while being an undergraduate student?


THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!
🙂

 

[patmcd]

As long as you complete all the pre-reqs you can major in whatever you feel like. It just happens that biology, chem, etc get your pre-reqs done at the same time your taking classes for your degree.

 

[oldguardisdead]

i dont think degree matters that much, but if you're gonna take the PCAT, it will obviously help if you are majoring in the sciences, cause that's what the PCAT tests, along with verbal and reading, of course. i majored in biochem, a great mix between the two, i feel. you still need to take advanced biology while taking a lot more advanced chemistry.

 

[Farmercyst]

Does anyone know if there are particular pharmacy schools that require a specific major (ie. biology/chemistry/biochem)? Does it really matter what you major in while being an undergraduate student?


THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!
🙂

I've never seen a school specify a required major. I think it's like the US actually coming out with an official language. Everyone knows the predominate language so there's no real need to make it official. I doubt they would specify since as long as you meet the prereq's what difference does it make? As far as meeting the prereqs is concerned, some majors accomplish that better (more efficiently?) than others, but there's no specific one. (Typically Chemistry, Biology and their variants biochemistry, biomedical sciences, premed, etc.)

 

[acetyl]

I think the B.S. degree in Chemistry is one of the best degrees you can earn as an undergraduate in college. It's hard, but if you like chemistry, it will certainly prepare you for what's to come.

 

[chem123]

umm do u have to get a major...caz i wasnt even planning on it...i was just gonna do my pre reqs at a community college....will that ruin my chances of getting in anywhere!!!!!

 

[sle3pyguii]

umm do u have to get a major...caz i wasnt even planning on it...i was just gonna do my pre reqs at a community college....will that ruin my chances of getting in anywhere!!!!!

you dont HAVE to. if you do a joint program like MBA/PharmD or MPH/PharmD, then yes you need a degree. It's wont competely ruin your chances, but you'll be less competitive than those who get bachelors, which I think is around 90+% of the applicants.

 

[senzabee]

I don't believe major will matter a lot, just as long as you finish the prereqs. But I mean, why not be efficient and major in biology/chemistry since those majors cover most, if not all, of the prereqs anyways? There are even those who had non-science majors and applied to pharmacy school, but the prereqs are just more things to worry about in addition to your major classes. And you may be questioned about why you chose a different major or changed your interests to pharmacy. Maybe what you majored in is related to your interests in pharmacy and you can portray that if you chose not to major in biology or chemistry. But as for biology vs chemistry vs biochemistry, I don't think one major has a large advantage over another (although if you do well as a chemistry major, that could help you since chemistry is harder).

 

[CarrollR]

You really don't necessarily need one. I'm only a sophomore at the moment (I've spent my first two years at UNC Chapel Hill)..and I applied to pharmacy school, and was accepted here at UNC's Pharmacy School. You don't *need* a degree, but if you don't have one, you should be exceptional in other areas..as in..do things for your community, volunteer, have work experience, etc. Stuff like that. I don't know how other colleges do it, but at UNC Chapel Hill, I just declared myself a pharmacy major, which basically means that I'm just doing the prereqs for pharmacy school.