Quick question from a high school student:

[al77]

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Hey Pharmacists/Students,

I have a couple of questions about the career path and education that follows.

1) Is it better to complete an undergraduate, then apply for Pharmacy schools? Or is it better to complete a shorter, 5-6 year blend program?

2) What is the usual undergrad major taken? (If the above answer is yes to undergrad education first.) I understand that it does not matter, but what is the norm?



Thanks!

 

[Passion4Sci]

Hey there.

1. It's hard to answer this because for some people, they do 0-6 programs only to find that they really didn't like pharmacy. If you complete a bachelor's degree en-route to your Pharm.D., then you could have some resiliency for your time IF you decide to leave (or perform poorly and they make you leave). Each program is unique so you'll need to see if your desirable school(s) offer you the completion of a Bachelor's. Personally, I favor the Bachelor's---->Pharmacy approach, primarily because, in my 28 years, I've learned that back-up plans are 110% necessary. Just because you think something is so you now, does not mean in 4 1/2 years that it still will be.

2. Totally doesn't matter. However, with that said, bear in mind that any upper division science classes like A. and P. Chem that you take will help you be that much more prepared for pharmacy school. You'll want to choose a major that lets you complete as many pre-req as possible... usually a biology of some sort (Or at my alma mater, it's an omnibus degree called Biological Sciences degree). I got admitted with two degrees in slightly different humanities disciplines, so it really doesn't matter.

 

[Shimmery]

1. It would make you more competitive in the application process if you do decide to undertake in a major then apply to pharmacy school.

If you can make it to a 6 year program...more power to you, but it's ONLY if your sure you love pharmacy.

2. Science oriented, such as Biology, Chemistry, etc.

EDIT: You beat me by one minute!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[al77]

1. It would make you more competitive in the application process if you do decide to undertake in a major then apply to pharmacy school.

If you can make it to a 6 year program...more power to you, but it's ONLY if your sure you love pharmacy.

2. Science oriented, such as Biology, Chemistry, etc.

EDIT: You beat me by one minute!!!!!!!!!!!

But doesn't a blend program immediately accept you into the pharmacy school program? How would it make you less "competitive"

 

[Passion4Sci]

It's almost like I didn't reply too.

 

[pharm B]

But doesn't a blend program immediately accept you into the pharmacy school program? How would it make you less "competitive"

I don't think they were comparing attending a traditional college program to the 0-6 programs.

I think the accepted consensus is that you're more competitive if you have a bachelors degree. It's not required for the most part, but the percentages are shifting slowly that way. The good part about having a bachelors degree (instead of doing just the two years of pre-reqs) is that if you don't get in, or if you change your mind, you have a fall-back in that degree.

0-6 programs sound interesting, but, like they pointed out above, if you have minimal exposure to pharmacy, how can you be sure you even want to do it as a job, 2 years before beginning the real pharmacy curriculum?

 

[al77]

I don't think they were comparing attending a traditional college program to the 0-6 programs.

I think the accepted consensus is that you're more competitive if you have a bachelors degree. It's not required for the most part, but the percentages are shifting slowly that way. The good part about having a bachelors degree (instead of doing just the two years of pre-reqs) is that if you don't get in, or if you change your mind, you have a fall-back in that degree.

0-6 programs sound interesting, but, like they pointed out above, if you have minimal exposure to pharmacy, how can you be sure you even want to do it as a job, 2 years before beginning the real pharmacy curriculum?

Ah, I understand. I think that a bachelor's degree might be a better idea anyways, since I would be getting a better scientific background and all that.

However, I do like the pharmacy school security involved in these combined programs :/

Hey there.

1. It's hard to answer this because for some people, they do 0-6 programs only to find that they really didn't like pharmacy. If you complete a bachelor's degree en-route to your Pharm.D., then you could have some resiliency for your time IF you decide to leave (or perform poorly and they make you leave). Each program is unique so you'll need to see if your desirable school(s) offer you the completion of a Bachelor's. Personally, I favor the Bachelor's---->Pharmacy approach, primarily because, in my 28 years, I've learned that back-up plans are 110% necessary. Just because you think something is so you now, does not mean in 4 1/2 years that it still will be.

2. Totally doesn't matter. However, with that said, bear in mind that any upper division science classes like A. and P. Chem that you take will help you be that much more prepared for pharmacy school. You'll want to choose a major that lets you complete as many pre-req as possible... usually a biology of some sort (Or at my alma mater, it's an omnibus degree called Biological Sciences degree). I got admitted with two degrees in slightly different humanities disciplines, so it really doesn't matter.

Sorry if it seemed like I didn't regard your post, it was just that your answer was clear enough that I didn't have a question about it 😛