I hope this doesn't sound like a brochure for Jefferson, but I have visited there a few times, I'm from the area, and I am intrigued about what they have to offer versus the other schools where I interviewed (Temple, Touro, Rutgers, LIU, Creighton).
One big draw for me: Jefferson sets up your IPPE's (Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences) during your fall and spring P1 to P3 semesters, and they set up the sites for you and they've already built the IPPE's into the curriculum. At most other schools with older curriculums, you have to do your IPPE's on your own time (during summer breaks or on weekends), set them up yourself, and provide your own transportation (which sucks because you don't get paid for these). Ask about this at other schools.
Another big draw for me: "Integrated healthcare" is a hot topic, especially in pharmacy. Basically, we want to make sure that all healthcare professionals (pharmacists, physicians, nurses, etc.) communicate well with and respect each other. Every semester, Jefferson sets you up on a health mentor team. Every team is made up of a pharmacy student and other healthcare students from Jefferson's other schools (med student, nursing student, OT student, etc.). Each team is assigned a health mentor, who is a patient living with a chronic illness. You meet with your team for a few hours a week to speak with and learn from the patient, and each other, about patient care, integrated healthcare, etc. This is another very innovative aspect of Jefferson's curriculum that at any other school where I interviewed.
Also, it's part of the Jefferson Healthcare System, which is one of the top-ranked hospital/healthcare education systems in the country. As an example of that, they've built the new Hamilton Building. It's essentially a simulated hospital wing with a simulated hospital pharmacy, patient rooms, etc. Oh, and the patient rooms have actors who pose as patients, as well as robotic dummies that look, feel, and sound like real people. Beginning in your first semester, you take a class where you do hospital rounds with the other Jefferson students (med/nursing/OT/etc.) and you all try to diagnose the simulated patients!
Besides the great experience you get in hospital healthcare, Jefferson is located in the heart of the nation's pharmaceutical industry. Plus, Philadelphia is a great, fun city with some of the best restaurants and clubs.
