School decision

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neumega

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  1. Pre-Pharmacy
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Hey everyone, long-time lurker, first-time poster.
I'm kind of in a tough spot. I thought I had chosen a pharmacy school to start at this fall and now I'm kind of rethinking my decision. I know, I know, waaayyy late in the game to be doing that. 😳 I'm wondering if anyone else is in or has been in the same spot, and wondering what they did.

School A: Public, in-state tuition, ranked top 5. In a large city, lots of extracurricular opportunities, and what I think is a pretty progressive program. Good rotation sites, and I know a handful of people that went here - all of them loved it. I have to take physics II for this school though, which I am taking currently. First test is 8/2, drop deadine is 8/4, class ends 8/24. It's been 4 years since I've taken physics I (I thought for some reason I didn't need physics II). I read up on all the physics I stuff the last couple of weeks (velocity, vectors, etc.) and feel reasonably comfortable.

School B: Private, private tuition, unranked. Small city, not a lot in the way of jobs/internships, but I didn't do a ton of searching so I could be wrong here. One Walgreens within 25 miles though if that helps you put it in perspective. Good rotations though. I don't have to take physics for this school so all my pre-reqs are done and I would be able to just go. Everyone is really supportive and I felt really comfortable going here. Orientation is 8/16.

I was originally planning to go to school B and got off the waitlist for school A in June. School A was my top choice and so I switched my plans to go there. Now, I'm wondering if I should go to school B instead. I haven't cancelled my acceptance for either school. This physics thing is making me really nervous. If for some reason I don't pass (C- or lower) it would be too late to go to school B and clearly I could not go to school A. My GPA is pretty strong and I've only had a problem pulling a B or higher for one class - OChem II over summer at a public U right before submitting my PharmCAS, I was studying day and night, pulling D's on tests even with the curve. Went to the instructor for help, he said I wasn't trying hard enough 😱 despite me doing every problem in the book. Realized I missed the drop deadline, and I was screwed if I didn't do something, so I had my advisor write a letter of support and petitioned the academic committee for an appeal b/c I was a special non-degree seeking student. It worked, I took a W at the public U, took OChem II at my primary private school that same summer - 98% in the class. I've had nightmares about that class at the public U ever since.

About me: I would like to do a PGY-1 hospital residency, possibly PGY-2 in critical care (if I can get it). I went to a private university for undergrad so no matter where I go my total loans will be over $200K. Look past the cost of the school because I'm screwed either way in terms of debt but I truly love pharmacy and couldn't imagine myself doing anything else. The pharmacist that wrote my LOR let me do a new warfarin consult yesterday (don't worry, he was in the room to make sure I didn't say anything stupid) and I was on cloud nine - and still am 😀, sitting here right now with a smile on my face just thinking about it. I'm hoping to figure out something soon, I'm sure that at either school there is someone hoping to get off the waitlist. Also, I don't really feel comfortable signing a lease for an apartment at school A until I know, for sure, I will pass (and the dorms are full).

I was just thinking about seeing how the first physics test goes. If it goes well (A) and I feel comfortable with the material, I'll stay and go to school A. If the tests sucks (C or lower), I'll go to school B. BTW, 3 tests are 60% of the grade, with the other 40% being quizzes, labs, and homework.

Alright, end of really long post, any one have any suggestions?
 
State school all the way. Don't let a class dictate which school you go to.
It's simple, school A is your first choice.
It has instate tuition.
It is a more established school.
 
I guess maybe I was just thinking about it in terms of, if I fail I won't be able to go anywhere for an entire year (possibly longer with a failing grade on my transcript). But it really seems that clear-cut?
 
To us yes.
You just need to apply yourself. Don't be afraid you have done this all before. It's just 1 class. You will be fine😀.
 
I guess maybe I was just thinking about it in terms of, if I fail I won't be able to go anywhere for an entire year (possibly longer with a failing grade on my transcript). But it really seems that clear-cut?

Failure's not an option...

You can't plan to fail. Unless you've gotten sub-par grades in all of your courses up until now, I would not worry about it.

feel reasonably comfortable.

Sounds like at LEAST "C" material, so take Physics II, and go to the cheaper school with more to do and more opportunities to get intern hours so you can sit for NAPLEX.

Your "bail out" option at the end of your post is a good one, provided that you don't muss up the timelines!
 
I would certainly choose school A. Especially because I'm sure you will be paying much less in tuition and graduating with less much debt. You will be thanking yourself you endured that physics II summer class after you graduate pharmacy school (if you even remember).
 
A!!

You don't exactly have to bust your ass to get a C in Physics II

<<<Even Spock thinks that!
 
School A! It's your first choice. Do all you can to shoot for the moon.

You got this! 👍
 
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So, I failed the first homework assignment, then hired a tutor. Instructor decided the first homework assignment was too hard so he gave back points. Kept the tutor, bombed the first quiz but not because I didn't know the information but because they were long questions and I ran out of time. Just got the first test back, average was 60%, I got 80% with the curve. Test was hard but the questions I got wrong were things I didn't think I needed to know. Poor choice on my part. So here's the breakdown:

Homework: 102%😀 so far (15% of grade)
First test: 80% (17.5% of grade)
First quiz: 50%😡 (Between 1.67-2.5% of grade depending on the number of quizzes)
Lab assignments: 85% so far (15% of grade)
Reading quizzes: 81% so far (5% of grade)

Next test is next week (8/16) and final the week after. I'm feeling pretty good right now (or at least as good as I can feel after getting a job rejection for an internship I REALLY wanted) so I think I'll stay. Thanks again for the advice.
 
School B: Private, private tuition, unranked. Small city, not a lot in the way of jobs/internships, but I didn't do a ton of searching so I could be wrong here. One Walgreens within 25 miles though if that helps you put it in perspective. Good rotations though. I don't have to take physics for this school so all my pre-reqs are done and I would be able to just go. Everyone is really supportive and I felt really comfortable going here. Orientation is 8/16.

Where on God's green Earth is school B- did Alaska finally get a pharmacy school too?
 
Just thought I'd post my last update on the class:
After checking my final grade yesterday night and seeing an A-, there was some serious partying and my physics book may have gotten burned in the process. That was the most work I've ever done for an A- but I'm glad it's done and over and I can move on. Thanks again everyone!
 
Just thought I'd post my last update on the class:
After checking my final grade yesterday night and seeing an A-, there was some serious partying and my physics book may have gotten burned in the process. That was the most work I've ever done for an A- but I'm glad it's done and over and I can move on. Thanks again everyone!

Congrats! Isn't that a FABULOUS feeling to know that your hard work really paid off??!?!!?
 
Just thought I'd post my last update on the class:
After checking my final grade yesterday night and seeing an A-, there was some serious partying and my physics book may have gotten burned in the process. That was the most work I've ever done for an A- but I'm glad it's done and over and I can move on. Thanks again everyone!
See everything worked out. Good job.👍
 
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