Rutgers Dual PharmD/MD Program...don't have to take MCAT?

[PharmlyDoc]

Rutgers is offering a dual PharmD/MD program so what is the advantage to this?

Apparently applicants apply to the dual degree program at the end of their P2 year, and I'm guessing they graduate with a PharmD in 4 years then go on to another 4 years of medical school. And applicants aren't required to take the mcat.

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[TLAD123]

Please... spare yourself the time and money (and money lost as an attending)... I can attest because I am getting my PharmD this May and want to go back to get MD , because that is where I feel my passion lies... you don't need a PharmD and MD to be a good MD... yes, knowing more drug knowledge from the get go is helpful, but over a few years of practice (and residency training), you'll learn what is appropriate and what is inappropriate drug therapy. Just ASK the PharmD's you work with if you have questions - that's what they're there for and getting paid for... I would say no advantage unless you are a PharmD type, Type A, must know everything, and are willing to sacrifice that time to learning vs. patient care. PharmD/MD isn't like MD/MPH or MD/MBA in that the latter two give you experience that will synergize with your MD training if that another individual most likely will not be able to contribute, if you feel compelled to management or public health... whereas the former will give you knowledge that another person with which you will always be working already has. Your choice on if that is important or not.

As far as the MCAT advantage... again, see above - I'd just take the MCAT and be done with it. If you don't do as well as you had hoped, go to a school with a lower average or a DO that doesn't demand a high MCAT.

 

[TLAD123]

I don't know specifics, but I did look at that program to see what it was about for information sake - and I think it had you do 2-3 years of PharmD courses, 2 years of MD courses, then the 2-3 years of clerkships. I do think it was only 7 years, but check their site for their curriculum.

 

[PharmlyDoc]

But what specialty is this program catered toward? Their website doesn't go into very much detail and doesn't describe the curriculum. And I don't understand why the mcat isn't required...I mean applicants are going to medical school

 

[ashtray81]

Not having to take the MCAT isn't such a big advantage over committing to the Pharm.D. program, which isn't a walk in the park at RU. I'd study for the MCAT's for two months rather than have to take pharmacy classes for 2-4 years, only to realize that medicine is my true calling. Their combined program, while good, is still going to be uber-competitive and I can't imagine spending a total of 10 years on Busch campus (Rutgers student here).

 

[Aerus]

And I don't understand why the mcat isn't required...I mean applicants are going to medical school

Taking MCAT isn't required to be in medical school. I'm sure they're doing this to attract more applicants since not many people want to dedicate that many years of their life.

 

[mik30102]

I remember reading the press release and it seemed to be geared to graduating physicians who would be specialized in crafting drug use policies. With the program you do 2 years pre pharm, then 4 years pharmacy, and then the full 4 years of medical school (seems odd considering its the same institution that they don't cut out some courses in medical school). It would definitively be a little useful to pharm D students like myself who decide MD is their true passion who happen to be rutgers students. I don't see the program attracting applicants who know they want to do both degrees from the start since there really is no reason to do both, so it will probably only effect the 2-3 Pharm D students who decide a MD is more inline with their passions. Personally the lack of a MCAT requirement makes sense to me since I feel if a person can complete pharmacy school with a good gpa, they should also be able to handle the rigors of medical school, which is ultimately what the mcat is trying to measure.

 

[eagles22]

I know this sounds cool to premeds/prepharms/high school students, but this is a 100% complete waste of time and money. I went to pharm school before I went to medical school. These degrees do not complement each other. You cannot function as both a pharmacist and a doctor, legally or practically. Someone with both degrees would be stupid to take time away from being a physician to practice pharmacy as pharmacists earn way less than most doctors. You'll have wasted 4 years on a degree you will never need or use.

The PharmD will give you a background in drugs, but guess what? They teach your pharm plenty well in medical school and as a physician you will have mastery over the drugs that are used in your field of practice. The only reason Rutgers is offering this program is to rake in more money as your costs will essentially double as you pay for 8 years of professional school.

Save yourself the time and money and just spend a month studying for the MCAT. It's cheaper and quicker.

 

[alpinism]

Agreed. OP if you're really interested in pharm and/or pharm related research just do a MS in pharmacology.