Practicing PA-C---->to PharmD questions

[ErikPA78]

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Pre-apologies if I was not able to locate all answers to the questions that I might ask in prior postings. (I did look for a short while, not sure it this belongs more in the PRE-Pharm side, but hopefully it finds itself well here.....)

I am a practicing PA-C (masters degree), who enjoys my job very much. However in roughly 3-4 years after I test the waters as a Physician Assistant, I can see an above average chance I do pursue a PharmD.

Half way through PA school, specifically during our Pharm training, I noticed how strongly I would likely enjoy it. To top it off, working with them now as a provider enforces it even more. I would love it.

I digress....at any rate....

I am all about options, having as many open as possible all the time.
So when the time comes, I have choices. So my bottom line is, I want to be fully prepared to apply to most any PharmD program and get accepted, so IF I do decide to go, I have completed the prior needed leg work already.

I have already signed up to take the practice PCAT ($60.00 for tests 1+2)
-just to see where I stand, and get a feel for the test. I plan to take the actual PCAT sometime in the first part of 2010. (I am practicing in South Korea, so I will have to wait till I return to the states for leave in June/July and schedule it for then). Being that I just completed my MPAS, I should do very well on the exam. However I am going to still take the practice exam, as well as use that to guide what to brush up on before I take the actual PCAT. Then at least I have this out of the way.

 

[ErikPA78]

My questions are:

1) Is there a list or recent url that has all the 3 year programs listed?
(has to be a 3yr program, I am active duty Army as well, if I go to do my PharmD, I need to get back to work soon to retire from the military, 9 more years left, and mortgage payments don’t stop when I go to school)

2) Is there a specific course list everyone MUST take as pre-reqs?
(It's been quite a few years, but I have taken Chem 1+2, Organic 1+2, College Algebra, Pre-Cal............However I never did take Calc 1 or 2, as didn't have too for my PA-C)

3) Do I need the GRE as well? (or is the PCAT the only thing....)

4) I have 3 years of time that I "MUST" work as an Army PA here before I can even be eligible to go do any further schooling. As I have to payback my obligation for them sending me to get this degree. Is there anything in my situation else that I can also do to prepare (PCAT, grades, classes, anything else I am missing here????

THANK YOU for any/all insight and feedback. Not your "typical" student. I started late by converting into the medical field.



ICU-LPN 2005-2009
PA-C 2009-present

PANCE: 684 (2009)
MPAS GPA: 3.6 (2009)
Undergrad Science GPA: 3.8 (2008)
BS business GPA 3.4 (2006)
AS business GPA 3.6 (2005)
PCAT: TBD
???????????

 

[ErikPA78]

didn't mean to quadruple post there.

Nothing was happening (...well so I thought), when I was clicking Post New Thread.

Happy holidays..................

 

[BavarianMWE46]

Don't do it. Do not waste anymore of your life, time, and money in academia. You already have a great career with flexibility to work in almost any area of medicine. There are diploma mill pharmd programs opening up everywhere, and jobs will not be easy to find in the future. Go enjoy being a pa and get experience and try to land a nice job with a dermatologist or something. The grass is not greener. Real salaries will like drip off for pharmd because of the abundance of new grads cheapening the market and giving companies selection among rphs.

 

[Priapism321]

Don't do it. Do not waste anymore of your life, time, and money in academia. You already have a great career with flexibility to work in almost any area of medicine. There are diploma mill pharmd programs opening up everywhere, and jobs will not be easy to find in the future. Go enjoy being a pa and get experience and try to land a nice job with a dermatologist or something. The grass is not greener. Real salaries will like drip off for pharmd because of the abundance of new grads cheapening the market and giving companies selection among rphs.

Did you answer any of the actual questions? When are you dropping out and going to PA school?

 

[ErikPA78]

BavarianMWE46,


Perhaps I should of included my larger picture view on Career, Acedemics and Salary when posting my questions hoping for productive feedback.

1) I love school. I love formal schooling. Perhaps It is mostly due to that I was a HS dropout and enlisted in the Army with 0 college credits, then 9 years later during my off hours from work I accumulated a Nursing License, AS, BS, a 2nd BS, MPAS in that order. It's not a matter of IF I will pursue higher education, and the when is only slighly variable, it is a matter or WHICH i will select. The consideration to go become an MD and possibly add even 8 years of school is not foregone. (School at 40yrs of age, yes It dose not phase me a bit, I look forward to it. I love growing and evolving professionally and learning medicine and hate being stagnant)

2) Money also along with that is not even close to highest on the priority list.
My standard of living would barely budge if i was making 50k
or 800k. When I mention mortage/army in question 1 it's because I would love to be a pharmacist in the Army. (I have been active duty for the past 10 years already, and as far as I know there is not a PharmD program the Army has that you can STAY serving while you obtain it, like there was for my MPAS). This would be the most ideal if there was however. Basically every degree or program I have ever done has been accelerated pace. I would much prefer training at an accelerated pace for 3 years versus a slower pace for more years. I like the intensity of challenging education, and since the Army is a 20 year retirement I do complete those 20 years prior to being 45. (im already at 41 y/o pace if i did NOT have to take a break)

Hence I am not the "typical" student. Perhaps even the inverse of typical. Please Consider the "why" section as already accounted for. I am looking for input and experience and advice on the how and some of the when sectors from this forum of subject matter experts. Thanks

 

[atticus27]

My questions are:

1) Is there a list or recent url that has all the 3 year programs listed?
(has to be a 3yr program, I am active duty Army as well, if I go to do my PharmD, I need to get back to work soon to retire from the military, 9 more years left, and mortgage payments don't stop when I go to school)

2) Is there a specific course list everyone MUST take as pre-reqs?
(It's been quite a few years, but I have taken Chem 1+2, Organic 1+2, College Algebra, Pre-Cal............However I never did take Calc 1 or 2, as didn't have too for my PA-C)

3) Do I need the GRE as well? (or is the PCAT the only thing....)

4) I have 3 years of time that I "MUST" work as an Army PA here before I can even be eligible to go do any further schooling. As I have to payback my obligation for them sending me to get this degree. Is there anything in my situation else that I can also do to prepare (PCAT, grades, classes, anything else I am missing here????

1) It may be hard to find an up-to-date list. Here's what I'm familiar with:

LECOM-Erie, PA campus

University of Southern Nevada-Las Vegas, NV and South Jordan, UT campuses

Midwestern University-Glendale campus

MCPHS-Worcester, MA and Manchester, NH campuses

South University-Savannah, GA and Columbia, SC campuses

Pacific University-Portland, OR

Appalacian College of Pharmacy-Oakwood, VA

University of the Pacific-Stockton, CA

University of Maryland Eastern Shore- Princess Anne, MD

Sullivan University School of Pharmacy-Louisville, KY

2) Check PhamCAS or the schools website for specific courses. It can slightly vary from school to school. Generally all require 1 semester of Calc which will also be tested on the PCAT along with Statistics. Only a few schools require Calc II. You may also need 1 or 2 semesters of Physics, 1 year bio, genchm, and orgo which I'm sure you already have.

3) No need for the GRE, just the PCAT. Again check the university website to double check all requirements.

4) You have competitive stats, solid work and military experience which sets you up great. If you have three years to kill just work on prepping a little for the PCAT, if you don't do great the first time you can always retake it. Also, you will probably need a letter of reference or two from a pharmacist. So, you could maybe volunteer a few hours here and there or just get to know one of the RPhs on base. Pharmacy experience is a plus too, but not necessary.

Hope that helps.👍

 

[deleted129840]

Don't do it. Do not waste anymore of your life, time, and money in academia. You already have a great career with flexibility to work in almost any area of medicine. There are diploma mill pharmd programs opening up everywhere, and jobs will not be easy to find in the future. Go enjoy being a pa and get experience and try to land a nice job with a dermatologist or something. The grass is not greener. Real salaries will like drip off for pharmd because of the abundance of new grads cheapening the market and giving companies selection among rphs.

I can see BavarianMWE46's point for the average newly-minted pre-pharm candidate, but the OP would be in a much stronger position with the dual degree, prescribing powers, etc. I don't know that the dual degree would add to a PA's resume but it would certainly give you a leg up as a pharmacist.

 

[ErikPA78]

Thanks for the feedback there atticus27

I just took the practice PCAT online......rough. lol 😱
It's very true, if you don't use it......you lose it.

It appears that my composite "range" was between 60-80% overall. (actually looks about 61-81% looking at that colored bar line). However, I likely violated the time limit on a couple sections, as I was more interested in seeing WHAT they ask than my predicted score.
They don't give you a specific number, it just has that bar w/ the colors. This by the way is identicle to how it is for the PANCE pre-test for PA's, in the way they give you that "range".

VA: 24 of 40 (i overthink analogy questions big time, not to mention my vocab is not the greatest)
Biology: 24 of 40 (if you don't use it, you sure do lose it)
Chem: 24 of 40 (some if it looked vaguely familar, must be harder for others too, since my score range % was higher than it was in Biology)
Reading: 32 of 40
Quan: 36 of 40

I am going to buy the Dr. Collins book + PCAT destroyer + GRE vocab cards, and have those 3 to rotate between as a reading rotation a few nights a week.

Reading on the PCAT thread, sounds like GRE vocab might be an overkill for taking the PCAT, however that is my weakest area by far, and if I choose to go into another area of higher education besides PharmD (like specialize as a PA with another masters or a Phd program), then the GRE will be the exam I will need to take if I did. So I will use it for the vocab, since I need to most help in it.
The biology and the chemistry, I can "remember" seeing most of those things before, (as prereqs and into classes in PA school) it was just so long ago there were not retrievable.

I assume that most as Pharmacists can relate to once you are completing your final months of school, or better yet when doing a residency and/or actually practicing you rarely are actually when working having to think about "valence electrons!" lol The only questions i "knew" i was getting correct on chem or biology on that practice test were the ones that I answered b/c of clinical knowledge. Which was one in a blue moon

I think that with some work, and using PCAT destroyer and Dr. Collins the chem and bio can come back closer to the surface of retrievable memory better.

That's an awefully short list of 3yr programs. I "might" very well have to extend myself to the possibility of a 4yr program, although I prefer not to unless I must.

Found this link, breaking down the lengths of various PharmD programs: http://www.aacp.org/resources/student/pharmacyforyou/admissions/Documents/PSAR1011_Table1.pdf

I also do have to knock out Calc and Physics as well. I will probably end up taking the GRE after the PCAT if i increase my vocab with cards, might as well. To me, it's all about having options, and not being limited.

At any rate, Thank you for the feedback. I now have a good reference of what I need, and an idea of what it will take. Which helps tremendously. 👍