Pre-Requisites for pharm school

[AlexanderV]

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These are the courses I plan on taking in the next two years at my university (UW-Whitewater) (I am currently a senior in HS), and I wanted to know if I should add any classes to this list, and how I should break these down into semesters 1-4 so that I don't overwhelm myself. All classes with X in front I have AP credit to but I am not sure if I should retake as an GPA raiser.



(General Chem) Chem 102
(General Chem) Chem 104
(Organic Chem) Chem 251
(Organic chem) Chem 252
(Organic Chem) Chem 261
(Calculus based Physics) Physcs 180
(Microbiology) Biology 311
(General Biology) Biology 142
(Adv Biology) Biochemistry
(Human Anatomy) Biology 361
(Human Physiology) Biology 362
(Calc) Math 253
X (plan to have AP credit) (Stats) Math 342
(Adv Comp) English 102
(Adv Comp II) English 370-372
X (have AP credit) (Psychology) Psychology
(Economics) Econ 201
Ethics
(Public Speaking) Speech 110

Semester 1:
(General Chem) Chem 102
(Calc) Math 253
(Adv Comp) English 102
Semester 2:
(General Chem) Chem 104
(Human Anatomy) Biology 361
(Adv Comp II) English 370-372
(Calculus based Physics) Physcs 180
Semester 3:
(Human Physiology) Biology 362
(Organic Chem) Chem 251
(Microbiology) Biology 311
Semester 4:
(Organic chem) Chem 252
(Organic Chem) Chem 261
(Adv Biology) Biochemistry




Top colleges I am looking at:
1. Minnesota (twin cities)
2. California Northstate college of Pharmacy
3. Drake University

 

[DrDrugs2012]

Its great that you are in high school and planning for your future already! Unfortunately, there is no commonly accepted set of courses for pharmacy school. What you need to do is identify all the schools to whom you want to apply, look at their prerequisite course lists and list out all the courses you need to take. You don't need to take anything in excess of that.

Second, you need to decide whether you are completing a bachelors degree or not. If you are planning on taking two or three years of prerequisites and matriculating in pharmacy school prior to earning your degree, then the order in which you take classes matters (as preparation for PCAT) and you need to load up on classes each semester. If you are completing your degree, you can space out courses better.

Third, when choosing the timing of coursework, remember that chemistry tends to have the longest, inflexible order - you take gen chem 1 followed by gen chem 2 followed by organic 1 followed by organic 2. Thats four consecutive semesters, so its important to start that sequence early. Biology tends to be the same - bio 1, bio 2, and then you can take microbiology, anatomy, physiology. If you are taking calculus based physics and you aren't already proficient in calculus, then you need to take calculus I & II before you take physics. And depending on the school you are at, you need to choose which biochem class you want: biochem-bio or biochem-chem. Biochemistry is not simply a "combination of chemistry and biology" and therefore biologists emphasize different things than the chemists do which is why there is a difference between the classes.

 

[veyep]

These are the courses I plan on taking in the next two years at my university (UW-Whitewater), and I wanted to know if I should add any classes to this list, and how I should break these down into semesters 1-4 so that I don't overwhelm myself. All classes with X in front I have AP credit to but I am not sure if I should retake as an GPA raiser.



(General Chem) Chem 102
(General Chem) Chem 104
(Organic Chem) Chem 251
(Organic chem) Chem 252
(Organic Chem) Chem 261
(Calculus based Physics) Physcs 180
(Microbiology) Biology 311
(General Biology) Biology 142
(Adv Biology) Biochemistry
(Human Anatomy) Biology 361
(Human Physiology) Biology 362
(Calc) Math 253
X (plan to have AP credit) (Stats) Math 342
(Adv Comp) English 102
(Adv Comp II) English 370-372
X (have AP credit) (Psychology) Psychology
(Economics) Econ 201
Ethics
(Public Speaking) Speech 110



Top colleges I am looking at:
1. Minnesota (twin cities)
2. California Northstate college of Pharmacy
3. Drake University

I have a non profit org and that's what we do help ppl get accepted to their school but before that can I ask you why California north state is your top choice?

 

[AlexanderV]

I have a non profit org and that's what we do help ppl get accepted to their school but before that can I ask you why California north state is your top choice?

I have a lot of attachments to Minnesota I have visited the college many times and loved the campus and community there, however I also have family in California and when I was looking at campuses there California North State caught my eye right away especially since it is a newer college. Honestly if not for the attachments I already have towards Minnesota it would be my first choice.

As to the other comment, I plan on going to college for 2 years and take that entire load during those two. I have looked at the prerequisites to all three of the colleges and those are the REQUIRED courses I take to even get in. I am currently working 30 hours a week and maintaining a 3.4 High school senior GPA but when I go into college I plan on quitting my job an devoting myself 100% to my studies and without the distraction of work I can see myself getting about a 3.5-3.8.

Also since English is my weakest subject (I'm a math and science guy) I am wondering if I should not try to get into Drake which requires ADV Comp II even though it will probably help me on my PCat

I have the lists of pre reqs posted below here:

Minnesota:General Biology (with lab)
1 course BIOLOGY 142
Microbiology (with lab)
1 course BIOLOGY 311
Advanced Biology
1 course SEE NOTE ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ > Recommended courses: biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, or
molecular biology. Any other advanced biology course must
focus on the human body to be considered.
‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ > Recommended courses: biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, or
molecular biology. Any other advanced biology course must
focus on the human body to be considered.
Human Anatomy
1 course* BIOLOGY 361 & 362
Human Physiology
1 course* BIOLOGY 361 & 362
Calculus
1 course MATH 253
Statistics
1 course MATH 342 Another acceptable course: MATH 230
General Chemistry (with labs)
CHEM 102
CHEM 104
Organic Chemistry (with labs)
2 courses (O Chem I & II) CHEM 252/261
CHEM 251
Physics
1 course, calculus‐based PHYSCS 180
‐based PHYSCS 180
Social & Behavioral Sciences
2 courses SEE NOTE ‐ ‐ ‐ > Recommended courses: psychology, sociology, economics,
human development, epidemiology, global issues, education,
and anthropology.
‐ ‐ ‐ > Recommended courses: psychology, sociology, economics,
human development, epidemiology, global issues, education,
and anthropology.
English Composition
1 advanced course ** ENGLISH 102
Ethics or Philosophy
1 course SEE NOTE ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ > A course focusing on ethics, philosophy, or moral reasoning.
‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ > A course focusing on ethics, philosophy, or moral reasoning.
Public Speaking or
Interpersonal Communication
1 course SPEECH 110 Another acceptable course

 

[AlexanderV]

I have a non profit org and that's what we do help ppl get accepted to their school but before that can I ask you why California north state is your top choice?

By the way if you have any additional information about California North State (or if you are a student) I would be glad to hear about it I have a lot of family and friends in Minnesota so I already have a good idea of what to expect there.

 

[AlexanderV]

California North State:

Academic Prerequisites Semesters/Quarters
General Chemistry* 2 / 3
Organic Chemistry* 2 / 3
Biochemistry, or Cell & Molecular Biology 1 / 1
General Biology* 2 / 3
Microbiology 1 / 1
Physiology 1 / 1
Physics* 1 / 1
Calculus (1 year of high school Calculus is acceptable**) 1 / 1
Statistics 1 / 1
Economics (Micro or Macro) 1 / 1
Psychology 1 / 1
Public Speaking 1 / 1

Drake University:

Inorganic Chemistry 8 credits
A complete year course sequence of general or inorganic chemistry and laboratories that fulfill the prerequisite requirements for Organic Chemistry. Other titles: Fundamentals of Chemistry I, II; General Chemistry, I II.
Spring Prior to Enrollment

Organic Chemistry 8 credits
A complete year course sequence of organic chemistry including laboratories.
Spring Prior to Enrollment

Biological Sciences 8 credits
A complete year course sequence in the principles of biology which include ecology, evolution, anatomy/physiology of animals, cell biology, heredity, biological diversity, and the structure of plants and animals. Follow the recommended biology course sequence for pre-medicine.
Spring Prior to Enrollment

Microbiology 3 credits
A one-semester course (minimum of 3 credits), lab is not required. STructure and function of microorganisms with emphasis on human pathogens. Should be a course intended for healthcare majors.
Spring Prior to Enrollment

Statistics 3 credits
A general one semester course that includes discussion of distributions, relationships between variables, design of samples and experiments, probabilities and uses probability distributions, significance tests associated with means and proportions, two way tables, and one-way ANOVA. Business and Psychology statistics courses accepted.
Spring Prior to Enrollment

Calculus 4 credits
Functions; continuity; limits; differentiation; applications of derivatives; definite integrals; techniques of integration; applications of definite integrals; infinite series; plane curves; limits, continuity and differentiation for functions of several variables; multiple integrals. Calculus for the social sciences is not equivalent, nor is Business Calculus.
Spring Prior to Enrollment

English Composition 6 credits
One semester composition course plus one semester of an intensive writing course. Other common course titles: Composition I/II.
Admitted students will need to contact the CPHS Office for approval if any of these courses were not completed by the Spring term

Public Speaking 3 credits
One semester course that focuses on public speaking. Other common course titles: Fundamentals of Speaking. Interpersonal speaking courses are not accepted for this requirement
Admitted students will need to contact the CPHS Office for approval if any of these courses were not completed by the Spring term

 

[BabyBelle]

For CA Northstate:
- A bachelors degree is required
- PCAT is not required
- This is a stand alone pharmacy school and is not fully accredited yet. I don't know if this will affect your decision to apply here or not but it should be considered. But the accreditation status may change by the time you apply.