What Do YOU think?

[Fill your Rx 26]

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Hello everyone!
So I was thinking to myself the other day. Does it REALLLLLY matter where you attend pharmacy school? I mean, of course, one would like to attend a school that is accredited (obviously). However, in the long run, once you receive your PharmD degree, I would assume the only thing left...is the prestige of where you go when asked where you graduated from?
Some people say yes, you will obtain a better education at some institutions. However, I see it as....it depends on the individual, and what they make out of their education at the facility. So what do you guys think?

 

[sdn1977]

Hello everyone!
So I was thinking to myself the other day. Does it REALLLLLY matter where you attend pharmacy school? I mean, of course, one would like to attend a school that is accredited (obviously). However, in the long run, once you receive your PharmD degree, I would assume the only thing left...is the prestige of where you go when asked where you graduated from?
Some people say yes, you will obtain a better education at some institutions. However, I see it as....it depends on the individual, and what they make out of their education at the facility. So what do you guys think?

I think accreditation is a really big thing - in my state you cannot sit for the state board exam unless you've graduated from an accredited school which pretty much makes your degree useless to actually practice pharmacy. However, you could be a pharmaceutical writer, academician (nonclinical) or any number of other positions with a nonaccredited degree.

After many years in practice, I would say it makes no difference. When I first got out of school, I felt differently, partly because I graduated from a well known institution with a tremendous reputation. After years of working, doing post graduate programs, attending conferences across the country, I've realized there are soooo many well trained pharmacists who come from programs I've never even heard of. I have no idea what the rigors of their educational programs were. I just know when I worked with them, they were as knowledgeable or moreso than I am. The absolute worst thing that can happen to any pharmacist I feel is to believe your education ends when you graduate....it really only begins! The first four years were determined for you - the rest is up to you......

 

[patmcd]

I'd say that after your first or second job it doesn't really matter where you went to school. Getting your first job, or into post graduate programs where you went can make a difference. Without any real workplace experience the only thing a prospective employer has to go on is where you went to school and how you come off during your interview.

 

[freshbeatschris]

Hello everyone!
So I was thinking to myself the other day. Does it REALLLLLY matter where you attend pharmacy school? I mean, of course, one would like to attend a school that is accredited (obviously). However, in the long run, once you receive your PharmD degree...

If the school you attend does not earn accreditation, than you are NOT a pharmacist. You can't get licensed. You can't practice. You basically threw away 4 years of your life and a lot of money. Accreditation isn't an option, it's a necessity.

Chris

 

[Fill your Rx 26]

If the school you attend does not earn accreditation, than you are NOT a pharmacist. You can't get licensed. You can't practice. You basically threw away 4 years of your life and a lot of money. Accreditation isn't an option, it's a necessity.

Chris

No way....I didnt know that. Wow thank you!!

 

[eddavatar]

Hello everyone!
So I was thinking to myself the other day. Does it REALLLLLY matter where you attend pharmacy school? I mean, of course, one would like to attend a school that is accredited (obviously). However, in the long run, once you receive your PharmD degree, I would assume the only thing left...is the prestige of where you go when asked where you graduated from?
Some people say yes, you will obtain a better education at some institutions. However, I see it as....it depends on the individual, and what they make out of their education at the facility. So what do you guys think?

Other than the accredidation issue, I think schools like USC, which has been established, would have better networking in terms of job hunt (even though it's not really tough these days with the shortage of pharmacists).

And for me, who wants to do research, an established school which is known for research and have ample funding would have a much bigger draw than a school not known for research.

But then again, it's all personal choices and perceptions.

 

[LittleMissB]

Hello everyone!
So I was thinking to myself the other day. Does it REALLLLLY matter where you attend pharmacy school? I mean, of course, one would like to attend a school that is accredited (obviously). However, in the long run, once you receive your PharmD degree, I would assume the only thing left...is the prestige of where you go when asked where you graduated from?
Some people say yes, you will obtain a better education at some institutions. However, I see it as....it depends on the individual, and what they make out of their education at the facility. So what do you guys think?

Based on what I've heard from friends who are currently in pharmacy school, I say that it really does matter where you attend. The quality of education varies from school to school. I don't want to say where one of my friends attends, but she recently said: "I'm stuck w/ this useless pharmacy education I am getting here. I don't know jack and I don't know how I'm going to function as a pharmacist. I'll be on rotations soon and enough, and I feel so unprepared and so incompetent. ____ does NOT prepare you worth anything. There is alot of internal chaos w/in administration and faculty at this school, thus it affects its student body. So, as you can see, I am stuck in this unfortunate situation."

 

[freshbeatschris]

Based on what I've heard from friends who are currently in pharmacy school, I say that it really does matter where you attend. The quality of education varies from school to school. I don't want to say where one of my friends attends, but she recently said: "I'm stuck w/ this useless pharmacy education I am getting here. I don't know jack and I don't know how I'm going to function as a pharmacist. I'll be on rotations soon and enough, and I feel so unprepared and so incompetent. ____ does NOT prepare you worth anything. There is alot of internal chaos w/in administration and faculty at this school, thus it affects its student body. So, as you can see, I am stuck in this unfortunate situation."

Couldn't you just mention the schools name and not the friend so that we can be better educated about what school's have a quality education and which ones don't?

Chris

 

[Fill your Rx 26]

Couldn't you just mention the schools name and not the friend so that we can be better educated about what school's have a quality education and which ones don't?

Chris

Yeah!!! Please??? I mean its good to know these things in advance....Pleaaaaaassssseeeee?

 

[Fill your Rx 26]

Couldn't you just mention the schools name and not the friend so that we can be better educated about what school's have a quality education and which ones don't?

Chris

Yeah.....Do you think that would be possible. It would realllly help if someone knows before hand.....Is it in California?

 

[ultracet]

Couldn't you just mention the schools name and not the friend so that we can be better educated about what school's have a quality education and which ones don't?

Chris

I think you'll hear this attitude from at least one student at every school...

don't worry about it

 

[calrx]

I think you'll hear this attitude from at least one student at every school...

don't worry about it

I agree... everyone has different expectations.
However, I'm nosey and still want to know what school is being talked about!

 

[LittleMissB]

I feel horrible because some people are really gung-ho about going to that particular school it seems. Actually, I was interested in attending one of the campuses but my friend warned me that they're all the same in terms of how well (or not-so-well) they do in preparing you. No, to answer one of your questions, the school is not in California. I will tell you this though... it was one of the six schools I was invited to interviewed at.

 

[Tarutaru]

Yeah.....Do you think that would be possible. It would realllly help if someone knows before hand.....Is it in California?

I hear bad things about UOP and Western. I would look into it.

 

[LiliaKT]

I hear bad things about UOP and Western. I would look into it.

yea, the pharmacists I work w/ all give each other looks when Western is brought up. they seem to think little of the students that come out. though like they clarified, it depends on a lot on the individual. they do have a recent western graduate there, they seem to like her a lot. overall, they are amazed that after so many years of education/training they can come out to rotation and know NOTHING.

 

[ghabpharm]

I dont think it really matters so much, i spoke to a student who went to WVU and i havent heard great stuff about them...but he said he's gotten plenty of job offers.

 

[starsweet]

I feel horrible because some people are really gung-ho about going to that particular school it seems. Actually, I was interested in attending one of the campuses but my friend warned me that they're all the same in terms of how well (or not-so-well) they do in preparing you. No, to answer one of your questions, the school is not in California. I will tell you this though... it was one of the six schools I was invited to interviewed at.

I think I know which one it is.