what classes should i take? help!?

[tn2wz]

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Hey! I'm a high school senior now and about to go to college. I'm really looking forward to becoming a pharmacist, but am still kinda unsure about the process. I find that it is too late now to apply to the 0-6 year programs. :[

honestly, i don't know how the college credits thing work and how to apply/transfer to pharmacy school. I heard that you can just take two years undergrad and then apply to pharmacy school. If i really want to do that, should i be taking summer classes in college as well - as long as i have the prerequisites?

my top pharmacy school choice is VCU. (I live in Virginia) What classes should I be taking fall semester? I am planning to attend Virginia Tech, but I also got into William&Mary, GMU, and JMU.

With that said, can someone help me plan my courses in college? I'm taking AP classes right now and believe that i can get credit for some of them, but I plan to retake all my classes to get a better understanding of it.

----
This is VCU Prerequisites for Admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy Program
8 SH General Biology (lecture and laboratory)1
8 SH College Chemistry (lecture and laboratory)1
8 SH Organic Chemistry (lecture and laboratory)1
4 SH Physics (lecture and laboratory)2
3 SH Human Anatomy (also, 1 SH lab is preferred)2
3 SH Physiology2
3 SH Microbiology (also, 1 SH lab is preferred)2
3 SH Biochemistry
6 SH English3
3 SH Calculus
3 SH Statistics
3 SH Public Speaking
35 SH Biomedical Science Foundation and Elective Courses4-5---

Thanks!

 

[phuang06]

I am currently attending Virginia Tech, and plan to apply for pharmacy school this coming Fall, one of which is VCU. First off, no one can really plan your college course schedule but yourself, we can only give you ideas and suggestions.

For VCU, they require you to complete 90 semester hours and AP credit does not count toward the 90 semester hours. However, AP credit can be used to fulfill pre-req requirements for specific non-science courses such as English, but you would still have to take the sciences and math pre-reqs. 90 semester hours equate to 3 years of undergrad (15 credits per semester), unless you take lots of summer courses as well.

What major do you plan to come into Virginia Tech as?

 

[mrblah]

Hey! I'm a high school senior now and about to go to college. I'm really looking forward to becoming a pharmacist, but am still kinda unsure about the process. I find that it is too late now to apply to the 0-6 year programs. :[

honestly, i don't know how the college credits thing work and how to apply/transfer to pharmacy school. I heard that you can just take two years undergrad and then apply to pharmacy school. If i really want to do that, should i be taking summer classes in college as well - as long as i have the prerequisites?

my top pharmacy school choice is VCU. (I live in Virginia) What classes should I be taking fall semester? I am planning to attend Virginia Tech, but I also got into William&Mary, GMU, and JMU.

With that said, can someone help me plan my courses in college? I'm taking AP classes right now and believe that i can get credit for some of them, but I plan to retake all my classes to get a better understanding of it.

----
This is VCU Prerequisites for Admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy Program
8 SH General Biology (lecture and laboratory)1
8 SH College Chemistry (lecture and laboratory)1
8 SH Organic Chemistry (lecture and laboratory)1
4 SH Physics (lecture and laboratory)2
3 SH Human Anatomy (also, 1 SH lab is preferred)2
3 SH Physiology2
3 SH Microbiology (also, 1 SH lab is preferred)2
3 SH Biochemistry
6 SH English3
3 SH Calculus
3 SH Statistics
3 SH Public Speaking
35 SH Biomedical Science Foundation and Elective Courses4-5---

Thanks!

If you really want to go to pharmacy in two years, you may not be to get into the school you really want to go. You will have to shop around for pharmacy schools that require 60 units vs. 90. If you want to go to VCU thats fine, but pick 2 more schools you want to go also (but with easier unit requirements).

So you have 3 choices. Now, see how you listed the classes you need above, do the same for the other 2 schools (write it on the same paper) in parallel columns. Now notice most of your core classes will be the same, just make sure the electives you pick, it can be applied to all 3 schools (so you don't waste your time taking more classes than you need).

Now, make a class schedule for yourself for the next 2 years (fall 2008, spring 2009, fall2009, spring2010). Now plot all your classes in the order you take them. I always leave space for summer, and avoid putting in classes unless you have to (i.e. if you have general prerequ. you have to finish, or if you drop a class).

Advice:
1. Start early, start in summer, because you are on the 2 year plan, that means you apply to pharm. school after 1 year. you have to have pretty much 1/2 of your pre.req done. Most schools require a min. amount of units and science based classes finished before you apply.

2. When you write down your schedule, I'd push yourself don't kill yourself in the first year (unless you can handle it). If you have to space it out, then space it out, and pick up the classes in the summer time. However, you do want to finish as much of the classes before you apply.

3. You want straight A's, and a few B's. If you are only planning to take 60 units/90 units, you won't have alot of room to screw up. Even B's will screw up your GPA because you don't have enough units to buffer your gpa. Also, keep in mind that when you apply, you only have one year under your belt, thats only like 9-12 classes. The school will base your future on those classes, so don't screw up.

4. Learn your material, you will see all this crap on your PCAT, if you have to take it. Since you are busting your butt off for 2 years, you should have a easy time on the PCAT.

5. stick to the schedule you made, if you can't get the classes you want, you pick another class on your pre-made schedule to take instead, and rearrange your schedule accordingly. Don't take classes that aren't pre-requ to your other classes or aren't required at other pharm. schools (ex. zoology may be accepted at one pharm. schools but not another, however, anatomy is accepted at all pharm schools....PICK ANATOMY). Pick electives that all the pharm. schools will accept (such as speech, and not anthro.).

6. Plan ahead in case you don't get into pharm. school. I knew that I wouldn't have enough units done to apply to the majority of the schools, so emphasized pharm. schools that required only 60 units. If i didn't get into those, I planned out a extra year of school to those schools that required 90 units.

I finished my pharmacy requirements in 2 years, with a 3.9 gpa and no bachelors, and will be attending my first choice pharm. school in the fall. If I can do it, so can you.

 

[tn2wz]

to phuang06: thanks! im majoring in Biology. so i would be able to get credit to fufill the prereq for psychology, english, spanish, & chinese , but not biology and calc (since they are core classes) ??

to mrblah: thanks! may i ask what school did u attend for undergrad and what school are u attending for pharmacy? and also, so that means i plan to attend pharm school after 2nd year i apply end of 1st year? Ill take your advice and look around for other schools that offer 60 units for prereqs. if not i might just stay for 3 years.


any other advice i should have before choosing classes and other info i should know before starting fall semester?

 

[tn2wz]

what do you guys think about LECOM, and TEMPLE and SHENADOAH?

 

[phuang06]

to phuang06: thanks! im majoring in Biology. so i would be able to get credit to fufill the prereq for psychology, english, spanish, & chinese , but not biology and calc (since they are core classes) ??

any other advice i should have before choosing classes and other info i should know before starting fall semester?

sure. except, the only specific pre-req is english. As for AP credit for psychology, spanish, etc., it would count for the other electives, but you still need to complete 90 semester hours of NON-AP credit.

Freshman year.. you should be taking Principles of Biology BIOL 1105 + lab 1115. Calculus either 2015 or 1205(6). General Chemistry CHEM 1035 + lab 1045. a biology major seminar orientation class, and possibly another random class of your choosing.

 

[mrblah]

to phuang06: thanks! im majoring in Biology. so i would be able to get credit to fufill the prereq for psychology, english, spanish, & chinese , but not biology and calc (since they are core classes) ??

to mrblah: thanks! may i ask what school did u attend for undergrad and what school are u attending for pharmacy? and also, so that means i plan to attend pharm school after 2nd year i apply end of 1st year? Ill take your advice and look around for other schools that offer 60 units for prereqs. if not i might just stay for 3 years.


any other advice i should have before choosing classes and other info i should know before starting fall semester?

I went to a junior college/community college, so I was able to skip all the useless general ed classes and senseless pre-requ classes such as general bio, etc.. However, don't go to a jc unless you have no choice..lol. I didn't have a choice (I was broke, and sitting on my butt at home, but I knew exactly what i was doing.

Only problem with major 4 year universities, is that they make you take those stupid GE classes...if you have to take those...you are going to have to plan those classes into your already made schedule (or take the bare minimum required or at least the ones that fullfill your pharmacy pre-req also). Getting into pharmacy is still doable in 2 years regardless of where you go. You should talk to your counselor in college and tell her exactly what you want to do. She'll try to talk you out of it, but tell her thats your goal, and have her help you plan the schedule. Show her the pharm schools prerequ., it will save you alot of trouble.

Here is my schedule, shown only as a example:

fall:
Gen. Chem 1 (required by usn/western/usc)
anatomy (required by usn/western/usc: I begged the professor for add)
Writing 1 (required by usn/western/usc)
precalc (not required, because i'm a idiot)

spring:
Gen Chem 2 (required for usn/usc/western)
microbio (required for usn/usc/western)
Writing 2 (required for usn/usc/wester)

Summer:
Speech (required usn/usc/western)
Physiology (required usn/usc/western)
Calculus (required usn/usc/western)
(applied for USC/WESTERN after completion of these classes)

Fall:
Organic chem (required for USN/Western/USC)
Bio chem (required for USN/Western/USC, had to beg professor to add)
Sociology (elective needed for USC/WesternU pharm school)
Economics (elective needed for USC/WesternU pharm school)
(applied to USN after completion of these classes)

Spring (current):
Organic Chem (required by usn/western/usc)
Cell bio (required by USC) DRopped when accepted to usn
Anthropology (required by usc, dropped when i got into usn)
psychology (required by usc, dropped when i got into usn)

Notice that I skipped all the easy bio classes and went straight for classes that I needed for pharm school. Not all schools will let you do it (actually most dont, i had to beg my counselor and professors).

Three pharm schools I based my curriculum on is (but pick whatever 3 schools you want): western University in socal. University of southern Nevada, and USC.

Notice how the curriculum starts out broad (meets all pharm school requirements) then it gets specific as time goes by. I did this, so I can finish as many classes as I can for the different deadlines (pharmcas nov deadline, and USN's jan. deadline). If I had to go one more year (3 years total)..i would have been able to apply to any pharmd. program.

Yea, i'm overcompulsive and don't like to leave things to chance.

good luck.

 

[tn2wz]

I went to a junior college/community college, so I was able to skip all the useless general ed classes and senseless pre-requ classes such as general bio, etc.. However, don't go to a jc unless you have no choice..lol. I didn't have a choice (I was broke, and sitting on my butt at home, but I knew exactly what i was doing.

Only problem with major 4 year universities, is that they make you take those stupid GE classes...if you have to take those...you are going to have to plan those classes into your already made schedule (or take the bare minimum required or at least the ones that fullfill your pharmacy pre-req also). Getting into pharmacy is still doable in 2 years regardless of where you go. You should talk to your counselor in college and tell her exactly what you want to do. She'll try to talk you out of it, but tell her thats your goal, and have her help you plan the schedule. Show her the pharm schools prerequ., it will save you alot of trouble.

Here is my schedule, shown only as a example:

fall:
Gen. Chem 1 (required by usn/western/usc)
anatomy (required by usn/western/usc: I begged the professor for add)
Writing 1 (required by usn/western/usc)
precalc (not required, because i'm a idiot)

spring:
Gen Chem 2 (required for usn/usc/western)
microbio (required for usn/usc/western)
Writing 2 (required for usn/usc/wester)

Summer:
Speech (required usn/usc/western)
Physiology (required usn/usc/western)
Calculus (required usn/usc/western)
(applied for USC/WESTERN after completion of these classes)

Fall:
Organic chem (required for USN/Western/USC)
Bio chem (required for USN/Western/USC, had to beg professor to add)
Sociology (elective needed for USC/WesternU pharm school)
Economics (elective needed for USC/WesternU pharm school)
(applied to USN after completion of these classes)

Spring (current):
Organic Chem (required by usn/western/usc)
Cell bio (required by USC) DRopped when accepted to usn
Anthropology (required by usc, dropped when i got into usn)
psychology (required by usc, dropped when i got into usn)

Notice that I skipped all the easy bio classes and went straight for classes that I needed for pharm school. Not all schools will let you do it (actually most dont, i had to beg my counselor and professors).

Three pharm schools I based my curriculum on is (but pick whatever 3 schools you want): western University in socal. University of southern Nevada, and USC.

Notice how the curriculum starts out broad (meets all pharm school requirements) then it gets specific as time goes by. I did this, so I can finish as many classes as I can for the different deadlines (pharmcas nov deadline, and USN's jan. deadline). If I had to go one more year (3 years total)..i would have been able to apply to any pharmd. program.

Yea, i'm overcompulsive and don't like to leave things to chance.

good luck.

wow! u deserved to get in after all the hard work!

I think I am going to do 3 years just so space things out more for the schools im looking at: Temple, LECOM, and VCU, and maybe UMD

I am probably going to need to talk with my counselor at orientation or something to work out a schedule.

 

[mrblah]

you are on the right track. Btw, check your pm and good luck.

 

[phuang06]

Only problem with major 4 year universities, is that they make you take those stupid GE classes...if you have to take those...you are going to have to plan those classes into your already made schedule (or take the bare minimum required or at least the ones that fullfill your pharmacy pre-req also). Getting into pharmacy is still doable in 2 years regardless of where you go. You should talk to your counselor in college and tell her exactly what you want to do. She'll try to talk you out of it, but tell her thats your goal, and have her help you plan the schedule. Show her the pharm schools prerequ., it will save you alot of trouble.

You can finish everything, including pharmacy pre-reqs and general education courses as well as all the courses required for completion of a BS degree for 4 year universities if you actually took more courses per semester. Here's my schedule.

*EDIT* huh... my schedule came out really weird when I pasted it from Word. I'll post my schedule later. I've only taken 13 credits the my first semester because the school picked out my schedule for me, and that's the lowest amount of credits I've ever taken a semester. I plan on doing 23 credits next semester when I apply to pharmacy school.



The numbers in superscript or the numbers beside the # of credits is the area # for the core requirements for the school. In 3 years, I am able to complete all the pre-reqs, all the core requirements, as well as 95% of the courses requires to obtain a BS in Biochemistry, AND have time to be a leadership position in a club, do undergraduate research, and have time to relax and hang out with friends.

To tn3wz: Planning your classes out is a must, but you have to realize that when course requests come around, there's always a possibility that you won't be able to get into the class you want, cause it has happened to me before and it sucks 😛

Hope this has helped you a bit more.

 

[shaolinRX]

There's a thread below that a bunch of us made on how to do prerequisites right the first time....check that out too!

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=434193