Pharmacy schools you should avoid

[iceman132]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am new to understanding pharmacy schools so please bare with me 😀

Are there certain schools that are "Lower tier" that you should avoid? (Like certain law schools) Or are they all good as long as you work hard?

 

[owlegrad]

If it is not a top ten, it is garbage. Honestly don't even think of going to a school that is not top ten.

 

[iceman132]

If it is not a top ten, it is garbage. Honestly don't even think of going to a school that is not top ten.

I'll take that as sarcasm Makes my life easier though! I don't have to worry about rankings 🙂

 

[Twentytwelve2]

The best school is the one that is local and cheap. Who wants to have a PharmD with hundred thousands in debt?

 

[ShindyK2]

Are there certain schools that are "Lower tier" that you should avoid? (Like certain law schools) Or are they all good as long as you work hard?

You should avoid any Pharmacy schools in Florida



















Because all the girls will be pregnant

Who wants to have a PharmD with hundred thousands in debt?

Military Pharmacists would be fine with that.

 

[confettiflyer]

If it is not a top ten, it is garbage. Honestly don't even think of going to a school that is not top ten.

pshaw, TOP 3 or go home. Even if you're at #3 you gotta do some extra sucking up to get a good job.

 

[gh0lee]

You guys are so negative! hahahahaha


If you are so serious about not going to worst tier schools, attend the school that is accredited and fully functional.

 

[Nelcovp]

If it is not a top ten, it is garbage. Honestly don't even think of going to a school that is not top ten.

Are you being serious are sarcastic? I was going to post about this at some point. It might as well be now.

I was accepted to both Midwestern University (rank 78) and the University of Arizona (rank 9). I know these ranks are based solely on the amount of money they get for research (I was told this at UA).

Anyway, while UA is my top choice, I don't think I can go there. I'm a nontraditional student working on a new career. I bought my house in Phoenix in 2002 for $400k. I have 7 years left on my mortgage and currently owe $112k. For me to go to school in Tuscon (2.5 hour drive) I'd have to relocate. Relocation means one of two things: 1) selling my house or 2) renting it out.

I had my house appraised recently at a pathetic $240 - $250k. Selling my house now would mean taking that $150k loss. I cannot rent the house out a price that will cover the mortgage either. While not taking the astronomical loss if renting, I will have to pay out of pocket the difference plus my living expenses in Tucson. And lets not forget moving sucks and can be costly too.

On the opposite side, I can stay where I am and attend Midwestern which is literally 10 minutes from my house. Going here allows me to stay in my house, and when I finish school only have a few years left on my mortgage.

UA is $22k per year for 4 years.
MWU is $43k per year for 3 years.

Going out 5 years from now...
UA
-88k tuition 4 years
-150k house loss
+100k first year salary
-138k total
MWU
-129k tutiton 3 years
+100k first year salary
+100k second year salary.
+71 total

The salaries are arbitrary because I keep them the same in both scenarios.

Basically, going to the better ranked school is going to cost me $209k more than going to the lesser ranked school. I'm having a VERY hard time justifying the cost different based on these rankings. Do they matter enough to justify getting financially destroyed?

It's probably important to know that I am NOT interested in getting into research. However, I am interested in getting into compounding and MWU has a functional compounding pharmacy on campus.

Thoughts?? I currently change my mind about 20 times a days as to which school I will attend.

 

[owlegrad]

Are you being serious are sarcastic? I was going to post about this at some point. It might as well be now.

I was accepted to both Midwestern University (rank 78) and the University of Arizona (rank 9). I know these ranks are based solely on the amount of money they get for research (I was told this at UA).

That is not how the rankings about made, period. False False False.

Choosing a school is tough. In your shoes, I would pick whichever is cheapest. I would not use the rankings at all. You can make the most of your education just about anywhere, but you cannot control how much tuition you pay, except by picking the cheapest option. That is my advice, take it for what it is worth.

When I posted not to go to a school less then top 10, I are being sarcastic.

EDIT: Go to MWU! You would be a fool not to!

 

[gh0lee]

That is not how the rankings about made, period. False False False.

Choosing a school is tough. In your shoes, I would pick whichever is cheapest. I would not use the rankings at all. You can make the most of your education just about anywhere, but you cannot control how much tuition you pay, except by picking the cheapest option. That is my advice, take it for what it is worth.

When I posted not to go to a school less then top 10, I are being sarcastic.

EDIT: Go to MWU! You would be a fool not to!

Totally agreed!! A LOT of institutions does not participate in the ranking system, therefore it is hard to decide which school is better (BUT since you are earning a DOCTORATE level, I assume all the schools offer decent, if not a good education).

Choose what ever is convenient for you, and also don't forget about rotations!

 

[bw6]

Go to the school you like the most. If you cant decide, go for the higher ranked one.

Rank does mean something so don't ignore it, but it doesn't mean everything.

 

[DelawareStudent]

Are you being serious are sarcastic? I was going to post about this at some point. It might as well be now.

I was accepted to both Midwestern University (rank 78) and the University of Arizona (rank 9). I know these ranks are based solely on the amount of money they get for research (I was told this at UA).

Anyway, while UA is my top choice, I don't think I can go there. I'm a nontraditional student working on a new career. I bought my house in Phoenix in 2002 for $400k. I have 7 years left on my mortgage and currently owe $112k. For me to go to school in Tuscon (2.5 hour drive) I'd have to relocate. Relocation means one of two things: 1) selling my house or 2) renting it out.

I had my house appraised recently at a pathetic $240 - $250k. Selling my house now would mean taking that $150k loss. I cannot rent the house out a price that will cover the mortgage either. While not taking the astronomical loss if renting, I will have to pay out of pocket the difference plus my living expenses in Tucson. And lets not forget moving sucks and can be costly too.

On the opposite side, I can stay where I am and attend Midwestern which is literally 10 minutes from my house. Going here allows me to stay in my house, and when I finish school only have a few years left on my mortgage.

Going out 5 years from now...
UA
-88k tuition 4 years
-150k house loss
+100k first year salary
-138k total
MWU
-129k tutiton 3 years
+100k first year salary
+100k second year salary.
+71 total

:

Whatever loss you take on this house, you make up for on the next house. i.e. your house is not the only one that lost value 😉

If you don't plan on buying a new house, it still looks like you're right side up on your mortgage to the tune of $130,000. Which mean's there is no real cost (aside from ego) to you selling your home now.

If you want to rent, the question will be whether or not you want to deal with the distraction while you're in school (will you drive 2.5 hours to repair a faucet if you need to? as a landlord you have many legal responsibilities to your tenant)

Finally, your numbers are unrealistically oversimplified. I'd recommend paying an account ~$200 to walk you through the full implications of your decision.

 

[Kansas Pharmer]

Whatever loss you take on this house, you make up for on the next house. i.e. your house is not the only one that lost value 😉

If you don't plan on buying a new house, it still looks like you're right side up on your mortgage to the tune of $130,000. Which mean's there is no real cost (aside from ego) to you selling your home now.

If you want to rent, the question will be whether or not you want to deal with the distraction while you're in school (will you drive 2.5 hours to repair a faucet if you need to? as a landlord you have many legal responsibilities to your tenant)

Finally, your numbers are unrealistically oversimplified. I'd recommend paying an account ~$200 to walk you through the full implications of your decision.

This!! 👍 A small fee spent now to avoid a possible financial problem that can drag on for years...

 

[Nelcovp]

Finally, your numbers are unrealistically oversimplified. I'd recommend paying an account ~$200 to walk you through the full implications of your decision.

Thanks for all the input. 🙂

My info was oversimplfied to keep it from being a total bore. 😴

 

[Nelcovp]

That is not how the rankings about made, period. False False False.

Choosing a school is tough. In your shoes, I would pick whichever is cheapest. I would not use the rankings at all. You can make the most of your education just about anywhere, but you cannot control how much tuition you pay, except by picking the cheapest option. That is my advice, take it for what it is worth.

When I posted not to go to a school less then top 10, I are being sarcastic.

EDIT: Go to MWU! You would be a fool not to!

lmao at "are"

 

[owlegrad]

lmao at "are"

I try REALLY hard to keep the sarcasm to a minimum. That was my minimum. 😆

 

[ws2016]

Honesty, rankings do matter. Pharmacy as a career is getting saturated, its not as easy to find a job so schools matter. Its your choice ultimately, a school can equal a difference in starting salary, its way complicated.

 

[DelawareStudent]

Thanks for all the input. 🙂

My info was oversimplfied to keep it from being a total bore. 😴

Appreciated. Good luck with your decision!

 

[DrDrugs2012]

Hope I am not too late to weigh in here.

I say go to the school that will get you to your end goal - not necessarily which one leaves you in the best financial position, unless of course, the best financial position is your only goal.

While ranks are largely trivial in the grand scheme of things, they are not trivial in a relative sense. They do serve the function as helping students find a starting point for how to decide where to apply and where to matriculate (note, it is not the end all be all by ANY stretch of the imagination). And certain, there are several prestigious post-graduate fellowships which require their applicants to have attended a top 25 school. Its quite literally plainly stated on their application.

So I say make the decision based on which school has the ability to offer you the co-curricular and extra-curricular, networking, and professional development opportunities which will get you to your end goal. If you want to get into clinical pharmacy and residencies, go to the school with a better clinical curriculum and opportunities to work in am care, etc. If you want to work in community, maybe open your own independent, go to the school with a better track record in developing community pharmacists, learning business etc.

 

[Nelcovp]

Not too late to weigh in.

I think I could let the real estate gods make the choice for me. MWU starts in the beginning of June. I would realistically have to sell my house by the end of April at the latest. I don't want to bail out of any school with less than a 30 day notice. If my house doesn't sell in the next 60 days, I stay. If it sells, I go. =)

Hope I am not too late to weigh in here.

I say go to the school that will get you to your end goal - not necessarily which one leaves you in the best financial position, unless of course, the best financial position is your only goal.

While ranks are largely trivial in the grand scheme of things, they are not trivial in a relative sense. They do serve the function as helping students find a starting point for how to decide where to apply and where to matriculate (note, it is not the end all be all by ANY stretch of the imagination). And certain, there are several prestigious post-graduate fellowships which require their applicants to have attended a top 25 school. Its quite literally plainly stated on their application.

So I say make the decision based on which school has the ability to offer you the co-curricular and extra-curricular, networking, and professional development opportunities which will get you to your end goal. If you want to get into clinical pharmacy and residencies, go to the school with a better clinical curriculum and opportunities to work in am care, etc. If you want to work in community, maybe open your own independent, go to the school with a better track record in developing community pharmacists, learning business etc.

 

[kacelynn]

Does anyone have any helpful information on which school to choose between MWU in Chicago, and SIUE in Edwardsville. I am accepted to both and having trouble deciding.

 

[CareDD]

Hope I am not too late to weigh in here.

I say go to the school that will get you to your end goal - not necessarily which one leaves you in the best financial position, unless of course, the best financial position is your only goal.

While ranks are largely trivial in the grand scheme of things, they are not trivial in a relative sense. They do serve the function as helping students find a starting point for how to decide where to apply and where to matriculate (note, it is not the end all be all by ANY stretch of the imagination). And certain, there are several prestigious post-graduate fellowships which require their applicants to have attended a top 25 school. Its quite literally plainly stated on their application.

So I say make the decision based on which school has the ability to offer you the co-curricular and extra-curricular, networking, and professional development opportunities which will get you to your end goal. If you want to get into clinical pharmacy and residencies, go to the school with a better clinical curriculum and opportunities to work in am care, etc. If you want to work in community, maybe open your own independent, go to the school with a better track record in developing community pharmacists, learning business etc.

How do you find these info? I browsed through many pharmacy school webpages and they all seem to have the same stuff.

 

[Squeakapotomus]

You would be wise to avoid unaccredited schools. I was accepted to the Midway college school of pharmacy and the whole experience has been very difficult.

 

[AmbitiousRX]

Since a lot of pharmacists are unsure about the validity of rankings, make sure your school is at least top 50. Look at the NAPLEX score. I would stay away from schools that don't have a total of 96% or higher pass rate(complied for the past 5 years)

 

[confettiflyer]

Since a lot of pharmacists are unsure about the validity of rankings, make sure your school is at least top 50. Look at the NAPLEX score. I would stay away from schools that don't have a total of 96% or higher pass rate(complied for the past 5 years)

not a valid measure of quality for what i set out to do, but whatever makes you feel better

 

[ValeRx]

Since a lot of pharmacists are unsure about the validity of rankings, make sure your school is at least top 50. Look at the NAPLEX score. I would stay away from schools that don't have a total of 96% or higher pass rate(complied for the past 5 years)

Give it up with the school rankings. Let me rephrase your post for you: NO PHARMACIST GIVES A **** ABOUT THE US NEWS RANKINGS. ITS A JOKE.

 

[Kwiz]

Rankings can be somewhat useful for research and what not. Get a PharmD, do some something reputable while you're there, get a good residency, and pass those licensure exams, and you could probably write that you're a graduate of Antarctica SOP and they wouldn't notice. Not really but you know what I mean.

 

[rxlea]

Can we make a "pharmacy ranking and new school" Sticky? Please ????

 

[owlegrad]

Can we make a "pharmacy ranking and new school" Sticky? Please ????

 

[Rx MPLS]

I'm sure some of the new schools are great, but one plus to longer-established schools is the support you get from alumni. Our school brings in funding for extracurriculars through auctions, mostly attended by alumni. You don't get as much of this at the newly opened schools where the alumni network is young and still paying off their student loans. You also have a built in network of pharmacy contacts if the school has strong alumni relations.

I don't know if there are any schools to avoid, but if you have the option to attend an established school, it could be worth it for the above reasons.

 

[Rx MPLS]

Does anyone have any helpful information on which school to choose between MWU in Chicago, and SIUE in Edwardsville. I am accepted to both and having trouble deciding.

Look at costs and job possibilities in school and afterward. I always hear "Chicago is saturated!". I don't know if it's true, but it might factor in your decision-making.

 

[xxone2trixx]

Are you being serious are sarcastic? I was going to post about this at some point. It might as well be now.

I was accepted to both Midwestern University (rank 78) and the University of Arizona (rank 9). I know these ranks are based solely on the amount of money they get for research (I was told this at UA).

Anyway, while UA is my top choice, I don't think I can go there. I'm a nontraditional student working on a new career. I bought my house in Phoenix in 2002 for $400k. I have 7 years left on my mortgage and currently owe $112k. For me to go to school in Tuscon (2.5 hour drive) I'd have to relocate. Relocation means one of two things: 1) selling my house or 2) renting it out.

I had my house appraised recently at a pathetic $240 - $250k. Selling my house now would mean taking that $150k loss. I cannot rent the house out a price that will cover the mortgage either. While not taking the astronomical loss if renting, I will have to pay out of pocket the difference plus my living expenses in Tucson. And lets not forget moving sucks and can be costly too.

On the opposite side, I can stay where I am and attend Midwestern which is literally 10 minutes from my house. Going here allows me to stay in my house, and when I finish school only have a few years left on my mortgage.

UA is $22k per year for 4 years.
MWU is $43k per year for 3 years.

Going out 5 years from now...
UA
-88k tuition 4 years
-150k house loss
+100k first year salary
-138k total
MWU
-129k tutiton 3 years
+100k first year salary
+100k second year salary.
+71 total

The salaries are arbitrary because I keep them the same in both scenarios.

Basically, going to the better ranked school is going to cost me $209k more than going to the lesser ranked school. I'm having a VERY hard time justifying the cost different based on these rankings. Do they matter enough to justify getting financially destroyed?

It's probably important to know that I am NOT interested in getting into research. However, I am interested in getting into compounding and MWU has a functional compounding pharmacy on campus.

Thoughts?? I currently change my mind about 20 times a days as to which school I will attend.

You actually probably made your decision already but coming from MWU, it is a great school. The faculty are more then willing to help you in whatever you decide to do with your career whether its clinical or retail they are all open to help. And again choose based on what you think is right for you and not rankings. It may be a a bit harder to get a residency compared to those from a top tiered school but never think it is impossible.

You make the experience of your school and you get what you put into it.

Good luck with everything.

 

[trailrunner75]

I will be applying to pharmacy schools in the next 1-2 months. I am having a difficult time choosing schools to apply to and am at a complete loss. My criteria are as follows:

1. I want to attend a school that is known for having great professors and courses.
2. I would prefer the school to not be more than 30 minutes from a national reserve, mountains, ocean, etc. (any place I can get out and away from town for recreation).

I know I am not interested in doing retail pharmacy. I think I want to do clinical or other institutional pharmacy...possibly nuclear pharmacy. I am considering the PharmD/MBA option because I think I may want to own my own pharmacy one day.

Can anyone give me school suggestions? I was thinking of the University of Minnesota, Chapel Hill, and University of Kentucky. Any thoughts on these schools or other suggestions?? I would greatly appreciate some advice!

 

[smercer]

I will be applying to pharmacy schools in the next 1-2 months. I am having a difficult time choosing schools to apply to and am at a complete loss. My criteria are as follows:

1. I want to attend a school that is known for having great professors and courses.
2. I would prefer the school to not be more than 30 minutes from a national reserve, mountains, ocean, etc. (any place I can get out and away from town for recreation).

I know I am not interested in doing retail pharmacy. I think I want to do clinical or other institutional pharmacy...possibly nuclear pharmacy. I am considering the PharmD/MBA option because I think I may want to own my own pharmacy one day.

Can anyone give me school suggestions? I was thinking of the University of Minnesota, Chapel Hill, and University of Kentucky. Any thoughts on these schools or other suggestions?? I would greatly appreciate some advice!

Well schools that are close to parks/recreation areas....I think with that one google can answer that for ya.

I would look at saturation, residency matching #s, NAPLEX passing rates. These are areas that will be of high value for you. Clearly going to school in an area that is over saturated will make finding jobs at any companies you intern with quite hard. On top of that the more schools in the area the more students you will competing with for residencies/jobs/internships/etc.

A lot of times what you get out of a professor has more to do with what you put into the relationship. If you never talk to the professor outside of class, then it does not matter if they are the best or worst professor. They will not really know you and cannot give you much guidance beyond what they taught you in class. Also most people's opinion on a professor is subjective. People love the easy professors and hate the hard ones. True some professors probably should not be teaching, as their teaching skills are terrible, but all you can do there is just avoid those profs like the plague.

One of my professors once told me, the best thing people can do while in college is to find a mentor. At least by finding a mentor you can figure out what the roads that lie ahead of you could possibly offer and help you to find the best way to get to where you want to be. How many people come to college with no idea what they want to do with their life? Then they just pick something that someone else tells them to or that they think could be cool/fun. Really getting to know a professor can open up a lot of doors for you, as most will have some connections or can help you to see what really goes on in different fields. Maybe they help you to realize your goals or maybe they help you to realize that you really did not want what you thought you wanted.

Also seems kind of odd you are 0% interested in retail, yet want to open a pharmacy. Seems like getting into retail would help you to learn some of the in's and out's that could help you when opening a pharmacy.

Either way good luck

 

[tydt]

If it is not a top ten, it is garbage. Honestly don't even think of going to a school that is not top ten.

lol, I'll take this as sarcasm or a joke. I would say avoid *new* schools, they have very little network/connections.

 

[owlegrad]

When I posted not to go to a school less then top 10, I are being sarcastic.

lol, I'll take this as sarcasm or a joke. I would say avoid *new* schools, they have very little network/connections.

Your powers of observation are formidable. 😉

 

[pharm B]

lol, I'll take this as sarcasm or a joke. I would say avoid *new* schools, they have very little network/connections.

I'm attending what used to be one of those *new* schools. We're one of two schools under 40 years old that are in the top 50. We got ranked the first time before being fully accredited, too, if I remember right.

I would say avoid *bad* schools, they have very little network/connections.

 

[The Recoverer]

"Owlegrad = Uncontrollable Sarcasm Machine"

 

[owlegrad]

"Owlegrad = Uncontrollable Sarcasm Machine"

That custom user title was a gift you know (no joke!). 🙂

 

[The Recoverer]

That custom user title was a gift you know (no joke!). 🙂

 

[tydt]

I'm attending what used to be one of those *new* schools. We're one of two schools under 40 years old that are in the top 50. We got ranked the first time before being fully accredited, too, if I remember right.

I would say avoid *bad* schools, they have very little network/connections.

New school starts out with little/connection nevertheless and it takes time for them to build connections and reputations. so once again...until they build their connection/ reputation i would say avoid them if possible. Pharmacy is too competitive these days, anyone who's willing to takes chances then it's up to them.

 

[Krnluve24]

Hey op, which school did you end up choosing to go?

 

[Corpseman]

Rankings may not matter, but the name definitely does.

 

[WhiteSnows]

The answer really depends on what do you want to do in the future:

A) Retail pharmacist: does not matter where you go. You to the cheapest one
B) Industrial pharmacist: yes it is matter. Need to go to school that has strong research.
C) Clinical pharmacist: yes it is matter but not a whole lot

Lastly, avoid any school without accreditation. Avoid school that is too expensive.