UM vs. Wayne State

[Spartan86]

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Hey guys, so I just got my acceptance letter in the mail today from The University of Michigan. They had deferred me about a month ago, so I was happy to be accepted especially because I was just about to send my deposit to Wayne State for my spot. Anyways, I have always grew up a UM fan but was unable to go there for undergrad so I went to MSU. Obviously this isn't the best reason to choose a PharmD program so I just wanted to get some insight into each program. Any comments from people at either University would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[BleedsInBlue]

Sadly I didn't take the PCAT till January, so I missed U of M's and Wayne's deadlines, otherwise I would have done more research on them and be better able to help you! Curious, why didn't you go to U of M for undergrad?

 

[MissCPharmD]

no offense, but you would be crrrrrrazy if you choose Wayne State over the UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN! I'm assuming you are from Michigan because you went to State, so from one Michigander to another, I say get your PharmD from Michigan. It is one of the TOP schools in the country, especially if you like research (they HATE HATE HATE retail pharmacy). I applied there this year but it's a no go for me, most students have/will have a bachelor's before starting in the fall which I won't, so it hurt me. Maybe I'm just biased because I love the school too, and every single time I've had to deal with Wayne it is nothing but problems (I'm taking a class there now as a guest student, and have taken placement exams so I have actually had to deal with them. They are horrible at record keeping, staying organized, losing files, etc.). I've been on both campuses and Ann Arbor is far FAR more beautiful that Detroit. If you want to live on campus Wayne is not the choice for you. Sorry if I come off all over the place, I just can't fathom having to actually think about this decision 😛


hmmmm....funny you say that you're a UM fan but went to MSU? that's almost a sin in Michigan! 😛 lol

 

[Spartan86]

heh, yeah thanks for your advice guys. I actually didn't get accepted to U of M for undergrad so I decided to go to MSU. I'm fully converted to a Spartan but still a wolverine at heart - hey I can just root for MSU Basketball and U of M football. I am also very familiar with the area, I live in Troy, MI and my father graduated from Wayne State as a pharmacist while my brother graduated from U of M. To be honest, I like Wayne's Pharmacy building better and I think it would be interesting doing clinicals at the DMC. However if I went to Wayne I would probably move back home for a year or two and I don't think that I want to do that especially when I could be living in Ann Arbor. I guess my main concerns are quality of education, difficulty of the classes, and also the type of people that I will be going to school with.

 

[Spartan86]

MissCPharmD, I didn't have an undergrad degree either and still got accepted. If your serious about getting into U of M's Pharm school then I suggest that you get to know Assistant Dean Perry, she is extremely helpful and knowing her personally will put a face on your application instead of just being a piece of paper.

 

[Marenda87]

Without a doubt go to U of M. Like the other person said, you would be crazy to choose Wayne State over U of M.

 

[MissCPharmD]

MissCPharmD, I didn't have an undergrad degree either and still got accepted. If your serious about getting into U of M's Pharm school then I suggest that you get to know Assistant Dean Perry, she is extremely helpful and knowing her personally will put a face on your application instead of just being a piece of paper.

Ohhh trust me I know her. I've talked to her through email for about 2 years and I've visited the pharm school to have a meeting with her AND invited her to my school for a pharmacy school discussion along with reps from Wayne and Ferris...she knows exactly who I am 🙂 still didn't prevent that rejection tho 🙁 I tried to avoid it, but Kaplan here I come! PCAT for the 3rd time...She told me exactly what I need to do in case I don't get in when I met with her so that's what I'm doing and hopefully I'll be there next year.


For what you wanted to know about the schools, I can tell you as much as I know from friends that go to both Wayne and UM. Quality of education I assume are about the same. I can say that I've worked with pharmacists that went to both schools, and in my opinion it seemed that the pharmacist that went to Michigan was a little more educated.
As for difficulty of classes, I've heard from students that classes are not necessarily hard, but it's just a lot of work with a short amount of time to complete it.
Michigan is extremely competitive and many students -not all- are snobby (as I've heard). Wayne students are a little more friendly because they realized they're all in professional school together and they help each other out, but Michigan has always had a stigma about competition. DMC would be cool, but in Ann Arbor you have the UM Hospital. The pharmacy school is in the heart of Ann Arbor, right across from the Dental School, and soon to be next to the Med School when it moves so you'll be surrounded by all professional students but still have great campus life.

Good luck with your decision, hope I helped! 🙂

 

[evilolive]

Michigan is extremely competitive and many students -not all- are snobby (as I've heard).

I'm the most humble person I know, let me show you!

 

[MissCPharmD]

I'm the most humble person I know, let me show you!

oh I'm sure you are! That's why I said not *all* students are snobby and competitive. 🙂 This is just what I was told from students who go there and from the pharmacist I used to work with. She would tell me some pretty horrible things that people would do to stop others from doing well 🙁 But I know not all students do that, I'm sure most are very nice.🙂

 

[QHL]

yeah

U of Michigan is top 5, while Wayne state is ranked 30.
I even choose Ohio State over Wayne State.

 

[sbrin]

I have lived in michigan all my life, and for some reason, u of m never appealed to me. i was accepted there for undergrad, but i chose msu over michigan....and no, it was not a family thing...most of my family graduated from wayne and michigan...i just did not want to be in a high stress competitive environment...i understand that going to michigan can get you ahead of the game...but you have to know yourself and what you are willing to compromise...you will not get as much help from fellow students at michigan..i have heard of people studying in the library and ripping pages out of each other texts when some1 would leave there books so that they could not study all the material....crazy....i guess my advice would be to go w yur gut...its not worth it to be unhappy for 4 years (at either school) either to go to what is considered a better school that will always look good on your resume, or to go to what is considered not as good a school that will not do u as good...

here is my philosophy...no matter where you go, as long as u make the most out of your education, you will succeed...you dont need a fancy school for that...but if you think you want to go to uofm...i say do it!