Taking hard classes that aren't a pre-req for the sake of preparation?

[c1ozapine]

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Sake of preparation = heavy course load with lots of studying involved, something that will happen in pharmacy school.

I'm currently a biology major with a year left until I get my BA. I have seven classes left, the only important one being microbiology.

I don't know if I'd make it in pharmacy school if I did the bare-minimum pre-reqs, which is the path I'm on right now. I see getting my degree earlier and getting more work experience as a pharmacy tech. I have been debating a change in major, however.

A BS in chemistry is looking good because it has a year long sequence in biochemistry, as well as many upper division and lab classes (I need to improve my labs the most). Not only that, but it helps me stay in touch with the professor who said he'd write me a LoR.

I realize most schools only ask for the minimum amount of classes. But I've heard a lot of the P1 year consists of biochemistry. Are there any pharm students that could inform me? It probably varies by school, but I would imagine there is more chemistry than biology involved?

Would it be worth it to take an extra semester to feel confident enough for pharm school, or should I just finish my BA?

Thank you for your time.

 

[tashka]

You should concentrate on the prerequisites and doing good on PCAT. I just finished the 1st year of pharmacy school, and we had a lot of biochemistry, but some biology too-there were physiology and pharmacotherapy classes. I don't think it is necessary to take biochem to be prepared-why to take this class if you are going to take it again in pharmacy school? I would highly recommend brushing up on organic chemistry-it is very useful for several subjects in pharmacy school, and it is also on the PCAT. But your main goal is to get accepted, and for this good grades in the prerequisites, PCAT and work experience are the most important things.

 

[medicalCPA]

This belongs in the pre-pharm forum, not here.