PLEASE READ: Need major help on pharmacy path

[mg3]

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Hello all. Recently i have decided that id like to pursue a career in Pharmacy.

I am currently attending a community college, and am in my spring semester of my 2nd year. Ive realized that i will be attending community for another full year, before transferring to a UC or Calstate simply because id rather take classes such as Ochem here. I dont mind the extra year.

I am very confused on what i need to do in order to become a pharmacist. What my major should be, which schools to attend, what PharmD program is, etc. Even terms such as undergrad and exactly how they apply.

If anyone has a link to a FULL discussion, or wouldnt mind typing out the proper steps to becoming a Pharmacist, please post it. I practically know nothing as of right now, and am beginning to worry. Help from others would benefit me greatly. THANKS!

 

[vaughnpereira]

Google which schools have a Pharm D program. Decide which ones you would like to attend. Find out on their website what their pre-requisites are before you can attend the school and take those courses at the school you are currently in...

Finding this info is extremely simple and you may already have finished some of the pre-reqs you need. Keep your GPA up, do well on the PCAT, volunteer/shadow or work as a tech in a pharmacy (for experience, and so you will more understand what you are getting in to...)

Make sure and apply early to the schools you're interested in because competition is pretty fierce in the pharmacy field these days, not to mention super-saturated... It would be in your best interest to apply to more than one, or two, schools because you may not get an interview invite and if not then you will be SOL until the next year when you can apply again.

There are many threads exactly like this on these boards as the same questions get asked every, single day.

Be very sure you want to follow the pharmacy path because, as you know, once you are finished and assuming you get your Pharm. D you will be in massive debt and will need a (rather high-paying) job ASAP, or better yet, have one lined-up before you are even close to being done.

You will read many, many threads on here as to how saturated the pharmacy job market is these days with new schools popping up by the dozens thus leading you to believe that it will, probably, be hard to find a job once completed with Pharm D program. From what I understand a lot of new grads are settling for lower than average pay in order to just get a job...

Basically what I'm saying is be very sure you want to be a pharmacist before making the long and expensive journey. It can be a very rewarding career but with all of the new mail-order pharmacies coming out you never know what may happen within the next 4 years. The best way to do this is to attempt to find a job as a pharmacy tech in your area, work there for a while just so you can get an idea of how the whole thing operates. It can be extremely stressful dealing with angry customers, un-cooperative insurance companies/patients/doctors and a lot of times you will think you are going to lose your mind.

Best of luck my friend!

 

[owlegrad]

Lots of good stuff here:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=198059

 

[xtsukiyox]

1: Research which Pharmacy programs you want to apply to.
2: Check their prereq / degree requirements.
3: Figure out which undergrad you want to go to.
4: Talk to the undergrad to find out what policies they have about majors (ex: some undergrads prioritize science majors in classes in their fields of study - biology for biology majors, etc.; others require certain (higher) levels of math not required for pharmacy). You may also want to get a pre-health advisor's opinion - you provide the list of prereqs you need to get done at their college, though.
5: Pick a major based on a) which one will get you through the prereqs and b) what interests you.
6: Work hard at your prereqs - do the honest best you can. Aim as high as you can on your GPA. Try to make a positive connection with a few faculty members - you will need this network for letters of recommendation later.
7: Try to add some extracurricular activities to your schedule. For example, pre-pharm club, or volunteering at a cause you support. Or working at a pharmacy - try to gain exposure somehow to pharmacy. Continue throughout your undergrad.
7: Apply 1 year prior to graduation. If you're graduating in Spring 2013, you'd be applying to matriculate into pharmacy school in Fall 2013, so you'd apply to pharmacy school in 2012. The schools you're applying to may or may not use PharmCAS - research the application process, requirements, and timelines in advance.
8: If any of your schools require the PCAT, try to plan to take it in July of the year you're applying (in the example above, July 2012), if you can.
9: Get really good at waiting. Interview. Wait some more.
10: Dance like a crazy person when you get the acceptance call / letter.

OK, number 10 is optional.

CAVEAT: I do not have a bachelor degree, nor have I pursued one, although I have done the rest (even the dancing). The information above is to the best of my knowledge.

 

[Indypharm]

Yeah, I am a PRO at waiting....
I started looking here, so you can find schools close to where you are and then expand from there.
http://www.aacp.org/resources/student/pages/schoollocator.aspx

1: Research which Pharmacy programs you want to apply to.
2: Check their prereq / degree requirements.
3: Figure out which undergrad you want to go to.
4: Talk to the undergrad to find out what policies they have about majors (ex: some undergrads prioritize science majors in classes in their fields of study - biology for biology majors, etc.; others require certain (higher) levels of math not required for pharmacy). You may also want to get a pre-health advisor's opinion - you provide the list of prereqs you need to get done at their college, though.
5: Pick a major based on a) which one will get you through the prereqs and b) what interests you.
6: Work hard at your prereqs - do the honest best you can. Aim as high as you can on your GPA. Try to make a positive connection with a few faculty members - you will need this network for letters of recommendation later.
7: Try to add some extracurricular activities to your schedule. For example, pre-pharm club, or volunteering at a cause you support. Or working at a pharmacy - try to gain exposure somehow to pharmacy. Continue throughout your undergrad.
7: Apply 1 year prior to graduation. If you're graduating in Spring 2013, you'd be applying to matriculate into pharmacy school in Fall 2013, so you'd apply to pharmacy school in 2012. The schools you're applying to may or may not use PharmCAS - research the application process, requirements, and timelines in advance.
8: If any of your schools require the PCAT, try to plan to take it in July of the year you're applying (in the example above, July 2012), if you can.
9: Get really good at waiting. Interview. Wait some more.
10: Dance like a crazy person when you get the acceptance call / letter.

OK, number 10 is optional.

CAVEAT: I do not have a bachelor degree, nor have I pursued one, although I have done the rest (even the dancing). The information above is to the best of my knowledge.

 

[mg3]

Many thanks everyone. These links and info help a ton.

Heres another question. How can i become a pharmacists tech, say at a store like Walmart, CVS, and other drug stores? Are there any requirements such as schooling, because several of you stated its a good idea to get into this field with a job to get a feel of what a days work is

 

[xtsukiyox]

Heres another question. How can i become a pharmacists tech, say at a store like Walmart, CVS, and other drug stores? Are there any requirements such as schooling, because several of you stated its a good idea to get into this field with a job to get a feel of what a days work is

First step is to check your state's Board of Pharmacy requirements for pharmacy technicians.

Otherwise, it's just like applying & interviewing for a job in a different field...

AZ: You can be a trainee for up to 2 years and work in a pharmacy (you would register for a trainee license). After that, you have to be a licensed pharmacy technician, which requires certification through the PTCB. No school / training course required here, you just have to pass the certification exam.

 

[mg3]

Heres another question. I hear Loma Linda allows you to enter their Pharmacy School without needing a Bachelor's Degree so long as you fulfill the requirements here with an average GPA of 2.75 and do not need to take the PCAT. This is extremely easy to accomplish.. is there a catch with this school? http://www.llu.edu/pharmacy/spadmissionreq.page

 

[vaughnpereira]

I wouldn't go to a school just for the ease of access. Research the location, (things to do, child-care, crime rate, cost of living, will you need to have a mode of transportation?, tuition costs, talk to people who've attended the school, etc...)

In my state (TN) you do not need to have certification to be a tech. Just go to every pharmacy and ask for the Pharmacy Manager and explain you're a pre-pharm student looking to get experience and you feel (whatever place you go to) would be a great match for you. Either their looking to hire or not. Walgreens offers to pay for you to get certified after working in the pharmacy for so many hours and with the certification comes a slight pay-raise. It couldn't hurt to go ahead and take the test to be certified but at some places, such as Walgreens, they still want you to go through their schooling just so they are positive you know what they need/want you to know (which is understandable).

If I were to work retail when I get licensed I would love to work for Walgreens. They are an excellent company to work for and offer scholarship money if you agree to work for them for so many years after graduation. But if you don't want to to work there after graduating then you have to pay them back. I'm still going to see how working in a hospital setting would be before deciding, however.

 

[mg3]

I simply brought up its easiness of requirements because it seems to good to be true. The area is great, i live about an hour away, and will rent a place there.

Just wondering if anyone knows anything about Loma

Also, is it more beneficial to simply acquire a bachelors in chemistry, then apply to a school for a pharm d program?

 

[Nelcovp]

Many thanks everyone. These links and info help a ton.

Heres another question. How can i become a pharmacists tech, say at a store like Walmart, CVS, and other drug stores? Are there any requirements such as schooling, because several of you stated its a good idea to get into this field with a job to get a feel of what a days work is

There is so much more to pharmacy than the person in the white coat at the drug store. You may find out you hate being a tech and working retail. That doesn't mean pharmacy is not for you. Research and explore all sub fields. You'd be surprised what's out there.

 

[xtsukiyox]

Some helpful stuff.

OT: Congrats on getting an interview to U of A. 👍

 

[mg3]

Can i ask what you guys did to have success in getting these interviews? Such as GPA (if you dont mind sharing), if you did volunteer work, were a technician, etc

 

[Nelcovp]

Can i ask what you guys did to have success in getting these interviews? Such as GPA (if you dont mind sharing), if you did volunteer work, were a technician, etc

GPA 3.94 (got a B in ochem II, grrrrr), 87 composite on PCAT, 250 hours hospital pharmacy volunteer, prepharm club VP, summer internship in analytical chem lab, lab assistant for 3 different biology teachers, countless community service events, sold soul to devil, awesome personal statement, great letters of recommendation.

I knew I was invited to interview at MWU based on grades and PCAT score alone. I was accepted a few hours after my interview. I don't think they looked at any of my extracirricular activities. I was told during the interview that "my passion shows" with regards to why I want to be a pharmacist.

 

[headortail]

Heres another question. I hear Loma Linda allows you to enter their Pharmacy School without needing a Bachelor's Degree so long as you fulfill the requirements here with an average GPA of 2.75 and do not need to take the PCAT. This is extremely easy to accomplish.. is there a catch with this school? http://www.llu.edu/pharmacy/spadmissionreq.page

Loma Linda has been around for quite a long time and I do personally know people who attend the school. But, it's interesting to see how you view the minimum requirement. It is, well, the very bare minimum where they won't cut you off and put your applicationn into a file to review.
If you want to take a look at your realistic shot, the average admitted GPA would be a better bet
http://schoolpages.pharmcas.org/publishedsurvey/426
which is around 3.4-3.5 for Loma Linda.

Most schools have a minimum GPA around there - UCSF has a minimum GPA req. of 2.8 and do not require the PCAT (most pharmacy schools in CA don't require PCAT by the way). Last time I checked, it wasn't extremely easy to get in there.

So no, Loma Linda requirement is very standard (that is to say, it is not at all sub-par or "too good to be true"). But, it is a Christian school, so I assume they'll have to take religion classes and their training will involve religion, somehow. If you can't imagine yourself doing that, consider other CA schools (seem like that's what you're interested in) like University of the Pacific, UCSD, UCSF, USC, Western, etc. None of these require the PCAT.

Getting a bachelor gives you a wider choice as to which schools you can apply to (like USC, which requires applicants to have a bachelor), and in my opinion, as the trend goes getting a bachelor will probably benefit even more by the time you apply. Admission is always changing.

 

[mg3]

headortail thanks for the info. After more research since i posted that comment, i understand the process much much more. Ive come to realize it isnt as easy as meeting the min reqs and getting into the school. I saw that out of 1500 or so applications, 66 or so are admitted to UCSD, and a little over 100 to USC.

Experience as a tech seems to help alot.

Also, any tips on doing great in the interview?