Post Bacc Program for PHARMACY???

[Superflyjsc]

Has anyone gone through any post-bacc pre-health program in preparation for a pharmacy career rather than a med career?
If so, is it worth paying the money for a postbacc program for pharmacy or is it better to just take indiviual classes?

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[Monkeyguts]

I know at the pharmacy school I applied to it had pretty specific requirements, and there is not a post bacc set up to specifically address the particular coursework. Just see what the pre-reqs are for each of the individual schools you wish to apply to and work on that. Fortunately, I only applied to one Pharmacy school and was accepted (although I didn't attend).

 

[LoneCoyote]

Most of the stuff you would need for med school is the same as pharmacy, ie the basic sciences. You also need to take 1 semester of speech, 1 semester of economics, and for some schools microbiology. Some also want some social sciences like psychology, others want physiology. So like the previous poster said, check on the requirements of the schools. I think either taking the classes on your own or supplementing a structured post-bac program with the speech and econ would probably be fine.

 

[r_salis]

I'm in optometry school now, and I did a-la-carte post-bacc at a state university. I agree with the other posters -- pharmacy school (and optometry school) have additional requirements outside of what med schools require, so you'd be on your own for those few classes beyond what you'd get in a structured post-bacc program. A big benefit to doing it on your own is that it's much less expensive than a structured program, especially if you go the state school route.

 

[Superflyjsc]

I think theres alot of misunderstanding as to a structured post bacc program being more expensive than taking classes individually.
More or less for those students who need to fullful ALL their science classes, you would most likely go fulltime for a year or 2 under a structed post bacc program. Tuition-wise, a post bacc student will pay the same as an undergrad student. Even if i did go try to take classes seperatly, i would still pay the same amount even if i did enroll in the post bacc program. Sure I can take classes cheaper at locat community schools but most of the time, pharmacy schools dont want anyone to take their hardcore science classes at a community school, thus u will eventually have to take classes at some university anyways and pay the same price for classes as students in postbacc program are paying.
Also, I found out that alot of the post bacc premedical programs can tailor you're schedule so that u can take additional pharmacy required classes and omit any uncessary classes that were more relevant for medical students than pharmacy students.
All in all, i believe if anyone is looking for a career change into a medical or any other healthcare field and want some strong guidance and structure on how to progress towards that career, i feel that a postbacc program is very vital. The faculty, and pre-medical advisors that are available for their students can help qualm any doubts or concerns or questions they may be facing throughout their postbacc years. However, on the other hand, there are always stronger students who know exactly what they are doing and how to achieve their goals thus they dont really need a postbacc structured program to assist them. However, when it comes to money, i dont think theres really a difference as far as which direction is cheaper or expensive.

 

[Monkeyguts]

Originally posted by Superflyjsc
. Sure I can take classes cheaper at locat community schools but most of the time, pharmacy schools dont want anyone to take their hardcore science classes at a community school, thus u will eventually have to take classes at some university anyways and pay the same price for classes as students in postbacc program are paying.

This is completely untrue and misleading. Community college is a fine place to take most of the pre-reqs for Pharm School. Hell, I knew some people who applied to Pharm.D. directly out of CC and got in.

 

[Superflyjsc]

Hum.. I wouldnt discount it as untrue. I guess it depends on the school. For example, i know that Rutgers School of Pharmacy wont accept any of the hard or core science classes from community schools.

 

[Monkeyguts]

In specific situations I could see how your assumption would definately hold up. I just didn't think it should be generalized as it was in your previous statement.