UW or WSU

[OpticDean]

Hey,

I was wondering if anyone knows anything about U of Washington or Washington State U pharmacy schools and what its like applying to those schools. Is it really hard to get into those schools? Has anyone here gotten in to those schools?

Dean

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[Nocsag56]

Hi Dean,

I don't know anything about WSU and a little about UW. I just got into UW for the fall. Admission appears fairly competitive, with preference given to WA residents. I overheard there were roughly 300+ applicants for ~86 seats = less 1/3 chance of matriculation.

PCAT is required. Application is fair, consisting of short questions and one essay. It can be an expensive process, as they require double copies of transcripts and scores. The admissions interview was very thorough.

Hope that was of help to you.

-nocsag56

 

[OpticDean]

What was your GPA like? and What made you stand out from everyone else that applied?

 

[Nocsag56]

Hard to say exactly what my application GPA was -- because most of my prereqs were taken after undergrad. My undergrad GPA was in the low 3.0s and my prereqs were (thankfully) in the high 3.0s. Along the lines of numbers, I had a PCAT score in the high 90%.

They definitely want to see decent numbers, but they're pretty keen on work and volunteer experience, as well as extra curricular activities.

Well, to answer your question -- I think what set me apart from other candidates (who probably had better numbers than me) is that I scheduled phone appts with a couple of their admission coordinators/counselors. I expressed my sincere interest in their program and asked them to spell out what I needed to do to be a competitive applicant. I took note of that in my application (just to remind them of my seriousness and commitment) -- and I think it really helped me.

Hope that's helpful.

 

[phuture pharmer]

I was accepted to both schools and here was my take on the process.

The main application differences:
UW gets nearly double the applications for ~ the same number of openings, the PCAT required at UW but not WSU, and 2 letters of recommendations at UW as opposed to 3 at WSU. Of course they both require the same basics: why pharmacy, why this school, experience, etc. in different formats. As for tips, in my essay I really tried to demonstrate that I had researched the UW program and I had a lot of communication with an advisor concerning my pre-reqs, what they were looking for, etc. I think it definitely helps to do this so that you are not just an anonymous name on paper at both schools.

Here is what I was told concerning their admissions process at the UW: grades alone determine who makes the interview cut (I assume those who have degrees get a better shake). After that, the interview portion (how you present yourself in person) is VERY important in their eyes and that is where experience comes to play just as in any other interview process. Then come the other factors such as recommends and PCAT. As a caveat, I thought my interview didn?t go very well, but they still took me. My grades were ~3.6 and I did really well on the PCAT, but only cause I studied my a*@ off?

UW gave a pretty tough interview in my opinion. Questioned me in-depth about statements from my essay and application, asked a lot of "what would you do" questions to see how I could think on my feet and test my knowledge about the practice of pharmacy. WSU was nearly pressure-free and they followed a standard format of questions that all interviewees received. These questions were more like softball lobs over the plate for me. (see previous post on

From what I could tell via the visits, the atmosphere of the schools differs substantially. UW is located in the middle of Seattle, its a BIG university and the department shares a building in a large health-science complex connected with a major on-campus hospital. WSU is in a rural area where students make up a large part of the population. The department personnel seemed very personable and I?m sure the pace of life in Pullman is much easier on the nerves, but depends on how much stimulation you prefer in a locale.
UW also offers quite a few paying internship opportunities (starting at ~10 of $11/hour at 10-20 hours/week plus full time summers) while a student, while WSU simply can?t because of location. This is a major bonus of UW in my estimation, especially if you are interested in hospital/clinical pharmacy . I can?t compare curriculum or workload, which would be another factor.

I chose UW because of location, internships, and higher perception ranking, but I?m more of a WSU type at heart (I really prefer smaller towns and smaller college environments). You can PM any more specific questions.

P.S. Have you been accepted to both, or are you looking to apply next year?

 

[OpticDean]

Hey,

Thanks pharmer for the good info. I started my pre-reqs a few quarters ago so I got a ways to go. I am not sure if I should cram them all into 2 years or spread them out in 3 years and hopefully do better on them. What do you think?

I live about 40 minutes south of seattle, so UW would be perfect for me, but I will also apply to WSU and go there if I dont get into UW.

I dont have an oppurtunity to work, so I volunteer at Good Samaritan Hospital. They dont want any volunteers near the pharmacy because of liability issues (so they say), so Im just working with patients right now. Where else could I get an exposure to the pharmacy profession?

 

[Nocsag56]

pharmer,

i am relieved my interview session was not unique. i felt that the committee was very thorough with their examination and did not leave anything untouched. initially, i was concerned that the questions were unfairly difficult and were dealt according to my background. glad to know i wasn't the only one put under the hot lamp. 🙂

well, i guess we'll be fellow huskies in a few short months!!

congrats!

 

[Motiv8]

I would like congratulate those who gained acceptance into WSU and UW. I'm still waiting to hear from UW.

I believe that UW is a better program because it is located in the heart of an urban environment that gives access to numerous learning sites for pharmacy students. Access to UW hospital and numerous research clinics and state-of-the art laboratories give UW School of Pharmacy the prestige it deserves.

Lets not forget: UW SOP gives students access to over 600 clinical rotation sites, compared to only about 20 for WSU. When we live in such a complex and dynamically changing society, the more hands on experience one gains from different health care sites, the better pharmacist one will be.

In addition, UW serves as the mecca for research and primary care for the entire nation. Access to doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals is only one step away. The UW SOP is a dynamic institution that is broadening as our healthcare field changes. Graduates are equipped with skills needed to serve and care for the growing populous.

This is not to discredit the WSU program. Both programs are highly respectable. However, the program for which one will gain better experience, in my opinion, is UW.

 

[golddagger]

I was accepted to both schools and here was my take on the process.

The main application differences:
UW gets nearly double the applications for ~ the same number of openings, the PCAT required at UW but not WSU, and 2 letters of recommendations at UW as opposed to 3 at WSU. Of course they both require the same basics: why pharmacy, why this school, experience, etc. in different formats. As for tips, in my essay I really tried to demonstrate that I had researched the UW program and I had a lot of communication with an advisor concerning my pre-reqs, what they were looking for, etc. I think it definitely helps to do this so that you are not just an anonymous name on paper at both schools.

Here is what I was told concerning their admissions process at the UW: grades alone determine who makes the interview cut (I assume those who have degrees get a better shake). After that, the interview portion (how you present yourself in person) is VERY important in their eyes and that is where experience comes to play just as in any other interview process. Then come the other factors such as recommends and PCAT. As a caveat, I thought my interview didn?t go very well, but they still took me. My grades were ~3.6 and I did really well on the PCAT, but only cause I studied my a*@ off?

UW gave a pretty tough interview in my opinion. Questioned me in-depth about statements from my essay and application, asked a lot of "what would you do" questions to see how I could think on my feet and test my knowledge about the practice of pharmacy. WSU was nearly pressure-free and they followed a standard format of questions that all interviewees received. These questions were more like softball lobs over the plate for me. (see previous post on

From what I could tell via the visits, the atmosphere of the schools differs substantially. UW is located in the middle of Seattle, its a BIG university and the department shares a building in a large health-science complex connected with a major on-campus hospital. WSU is in a rural area where students make up a large part of the population. The department personnel seemed very personable and I?m sure the pace of life in Pullman is much easier on the nerves, but depends on how much stimulation you prefer in a locale.
UW also offers quite a few paying internship opportunities (starting at ~10 of $11/hour at 10-20 hours/week plus full time summers) while a student, while WSU simply can?t because of location. This is a major bonus of UW in my estimation, especially if you are interested in hospital/clinical pharmacy . I can?t compare curriculum or workload, which would be another factor.

I chose UW because of location, internships, and higher perception ranking, but I?m more of a WSU type at heart (I really prefer smaller towns and smaller college environments). You can PM any more specific questions.

P.S. Have you been accepted to both, or are you looking to apply next year?

Hello,
Congratulation on your acceptance to both schools.
I have upcoming interview at WSU and I want to get familiar with what type of questions they ask?
Also, how do you see the image and reputation of WSU comparing to UW? I heard from other posts that UW is much better academically than WSU? How do they know? Will there be any difference in salary upon graduation.
Is it hard to get into their pharmacy program? Did they ask you a lot of questions that left you like I don't know the answer.
I am a little nervous so any help? I have a sweaty palms and I don't know how to make it go during that time. Any issue for them