Pharmacy school quality

[Modnar]

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How can you tell a good pharm school from a bad pharm school? Is there any way to determine this before enrolling?

 

[jdpharmd?]

Originally posted by Modnar
How can you tell a good pharm school from a bad pharm school? Is there any way to determine this before enrolling?

Oh course you can tour the campus, talk with students, look at the NAPLEX (or cali) board exam passing rates of grads, look at the facilities, the attrition rates, number of applicants, etc. You could look at the rankings (if you're going to a public school), and I think that common sense plays a part too. The truth is that right now, no potential employer really cares where any pharmacist went to school. It would, of course, be to your advantage to go to the best school that you're accepted to, but as long as you have a license, "you're hired"! There are a few exceptions to this rule, as always.

Also keep in mind that every pharmacy school has to be accredited by the same institution, and that it can last for a maximum of six years. That being said, I would only be a little weary of schools that aren't accredited yet, but I would certainly consider them if they saved me 100k in tuition/living expenses, were the last resort, or were part of a large, well-known institution (i.e. UCSD).

Jd

 

[BMBiology]

and the girl to guy ratio. That is also important!

 

[jdpharmd?]

Originally posted by BMBiology
and the girl to guy ratio. That is also important!

Yea, but remember quality counts too! And if they have a lot of other grad/professional programs you could "mix up your studies" and meet some good ones. The pharm students would be nice to look at in class, but I'm open to other program's students too. 😀

Jd

 

[commymommy]

Here is an interesting site:

http://www.uspharmd.com/rxschoolranking.htm

kris

 

[Modnar]

Originally posted by BMBiology
and the girl to guy ratio. That is also important!

I'll be married by the time I start pharm school, but I wouldn't mind a little eye candy. 😀

 

[jdpharmd?]

Originally posted by mommd2b
Here is an interesting site:

http://www.uspharmd.com/rxschoolranking.htm

kris

Keep in mind that those are from 1998 (before the profession went all PharmD), and that most rankings are done by NIH grant money or similar means. Rarely are any private schools mentioned for that reason and I can tell you just from looking at those that they've changed a bit since 98. Enter UCSD, etc. They are also sometimes based on research, which can be virtually non-existant even at an excellent clinical pharmacy school. A lot of those schools are HUGE too. Only 2 CA schools in the top 37?! I tried to click on their 'methodology' link, but it's broken.

Jd

 

[StevenS]

I guess you'd have to define what you mean by quality . some schools are known to be "easier" than others. some are known to be more demanding academically. average NAPLEX/state board passing scores/percentages give some idea.
i guess it would also depend on what you are planning to do after school. i mean some people know they will work in a rite-aid or walgreens or family store, and they dont really want very challenging clinical courses that they will have little use for.

 

[BMBiology]

Originally posted by mommd2b
Here is an interesting site:

http://www.uspharmd.com/rxschoolranking.htm

kris

This ranking is soley based on perception, nothing else. There was this recent ranking that compares perception ranking to researching funding and publication. Regardless, this type of ranking is not a good indication of the quality of the school.

 

[chunkyb]

Originally posted by jdpharmd?
look at the NAPLEX (or cali) board exam passing rates of grads, look at the facilities, the attrition rates, number of applicants, etc.

Does the NAPLEX website list average test scores for all schools? Other than calling each school to find out their avg. score, is there some place where a comparative list of NAPLEX scores from different instiutions is posted?