Pharmacy School Pre-Reqs

[J00kie33]

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Hey Im going to be applying to pharmacy schools this coming year and have begun researching info about applying. Something I have noticed when looking at the pre requisites for pharm schools is that theyre all relatively different! Some schools require only ochem/bio/econ/speech/elective stuff and thats it, while some schools require a quarter of biochem and microbio and some anatomy WITHOUT lab, some anatomy WITH lab, some physiology, some a year of biochem, some NO biochem, etc.
Sooo how do you decide which requirements to fulfill and which not to fulfill if you dont know of specific schools you want to attend. Does anyone know how flexible are the schools for the requirements fulfilled?? For example if there are a few schools that require Physiology but if I dont take it, is there no point to apply?
It seems all the pharmacy schools are relatively unorganized when it comes to a standardization of pre-reqs. 😕
Also, does anyone know if you can take some requirements pass/no pass (like econ) or do they all need to be for a letter grade.
take them pass/no pass?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[LVPharm]

That's a common complaint...the variety of prereqs can make prepharm curriculum planning difficult. It's hard to plan if you don't know where you want to go. The advice given to prepharms at a JC I took some classes in prior to pharmacy school was to list out the programs you might like to apply to and find the one with the most prereqs, and take those. In the end, it won't hurt you any if you end up applying to programs that didn't require those courses. As far as flexibility is concerned, I know my school isn't quite that flexible...all prereqs have to be met (if you didn't have microbio, you can't matriculate). It might be worth your time to check with the individual programs to make sure that the classes you are about to take fulfills their requirements...that they are equivalent. At the JC I was at, the advising office had a list of all the pharmacy schools in CA with the courses (with course numbers) that can be taken at the school to fulfill the prereqs. Whether the individual schools are stringent about "equivalencies" probably depends on the program. USC COP maintains a list of equivalencies here: http://www.usc.edu/schools/pharmacy/pharmd/admission/equivalencies.html

My school says this:"have received a grade of “C” (or its equivalent) or better in all prerequisite courses."
This is USC's policy: "All courses must be completed with grades of C- or higher. Grades of Pass/No Pass will not be accepted (unless a course is offered only on a Pass/No Pass basis)." I'd just as soon take all prereqs for grade...what if you apply to a program that prohibits P/NP grading on prereqs?


Lots of luck to you!

 

[J00kie33]

Thanks that helps.

So can you still apply to a school that you dont have the pre reqs fulfilled and will they just make you fulfill them? I think I read some people still needing to take prereqs to matriculate. I just dont know how hopeless or how much less likely it is to apply if you dont have everything finished.

Also has anybody been accepted or is attending a school that they did not have all the pre-reqs fulfilled when they applied?

Thanks

 

[tmbbmt]

Most schools will give you until the summer before you start classes to finish pre-reqs (though some require they be completed that spring). When you apply, you are able to indicate which courses you are planning to take in the future. This isn't set in stone, so list all the pre-reqs you plan on taking. As time goes on, and you get a better feel for where you will be going, take the according pre-req classes until you satisfy the requirements.

SO, you can apply before you have pre-reqs completed.

 

[BTB]

Thanks that helps.

So can you still apply to a school that you dont have the pre reqs fulfilled and will they just make you fulfill them? I think I read some people still needing to take prereqs to matriculate. I just dont know how hopeless or how much less likely it is to apply if you dont have everything finished.

Also has anybody been accepted or is attending a school that they did not have all the pre-reqs fulfilled when they applied?

Thanks

Read the school's website, and/or call or visit and speak with a counselor, about the timeline for completion of prerequisites. SOME schools give you till the end of the summer before classes to complete prerequisites; others require that all prereqs be completed by the end of the spring semester.