Where Did you complete your pre-reqs?

[abdc]

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Hello to all,
I'm thinking of persuing a pharmacy career. I'm just curious to know what kind of school you guys completed your pre-reqs.
Thanks. 🙂

 

[Passion4Sci]

I'm combination - Most of my pre-requisites were from my undergraduate, but I completed several at a CC.

 

[horseraddish]

Good ol' awesome high-powered 4 year university

 

[Ice Queen]

I started at a community college and completed Gen Chem, Calculus, and all of my lower division GE's there. Then I transferred to the university where I took the rest of the pre-reqs and other courses to get my Bachelors.

 

[crazybob]

Good ol' awesome high-powered 4 year university

Did they have bright lights on all night?

I guess I could have done some of my pre-reqs at one of the community colleges in the area, but my summers were usually spent doing other things, so I just did them at my undergrad.

 

[weetzie00]

I said a combination of both, but I only took 1 pre-req at a CC post-grad.

 

[abdc]

I ask because ideally I would like to finish my pre-reqs in 2 years and get into a pharm school. Would you recommend me completing my pre-reqs at a CC to save money? Or at a university? I'm looking to get into UF.

 

[Passion4Sci]

I ask because ideally I would like to finish my pre-reqs in 2 years and get into a pharm school. Would you recommend me completing my pre-reqs at a CC to save money? Or at a university? I'm looking to get into UF.

You can do that, absolutely. What I would do, since I know next to nothing about UF, is e-mail the admissions folk(s) and see how they feel about just-CC with no Bachelor's degree.

It is true that there is a strong upward trend toward schools having more and more matriculants with BA/BS degrees. But since we know causation isn't correlation we also don't know if more matriculants w/ them is because they're only taking more with them, or if just more are applying with them than not. Either way, it is risky business so I'd make triple sure about UF specifically.

 

[abdc]

You can do that, absolutely. What I would do, since I know next to nothing about UF, is e-mail the admissions folk(s) and see how they feel about just-CC with no Bachelor's degree.

Thank you for the good advice. I will e-mail the admissions office.

What's the view on completing pre-reqs at a university but not an actual BS or BA degree? Pharm schools don't look up to it or see it as more rigorous or competitive?

 

[Passion4Sci]

What's the view on completing pre-reqs at a university but not an actual BS or BA degree?

Completely dependent upon school! It is so variable between geographical region and school mentality, and a myriad of other factors.

Generally it's a good idea to finish a Bachelor's degree for a couple of reasons:

1. What if you hate pharmacy, or if pharmacy hates you? Now you've got 2 years of pre-requisites and nothing else. Well, back to school for you I guess? Risky.

2. What if you don't get into UF (Not everyone gets into the school of their choice, after all) and need to apply elsewhere that might be more hostile and less forgiving about CC pre-requisites? Also risky.

Having a Bachelor's degree can show to the school that you've completed upper division coursework, and provided you do it with a good GPA, that you can handle the "hard stuff." It opens up more opportunities for you later, and offers you a more well-rounded education. Also, having Biochemistry, Analytical Chem and such WILL help you in pharmacy school, if for no other reason than exposure to the difficult concepts.

Just my opinion of course. And note, I am not at all biased against CC - If anything, I'm biased toward it, and am a strong proponent of the CC system in America. But I think in this case it'd serve your long term best interests to finish a BS.

 

[Tinkerbell22]

Check out the UF website and the first few pages of the UF 2014 thread (when everyone was still applying basically). Are you a Fl resident?

I completed all of my pre-reqs at universities (for Mercer anyway)... I did take A&P at a 4 year 'college' and I took the lab at a CC, but I did that for UF. I also took microbiology at a CC, but I don't need that for any schools I applied to.

 

[abdc]

@Passion4Sci, Thank you so much! You make so much sense. The university route does seem like the best route. 🙂

Check out the UF website and the first few pages of the UF 2014 thread (when everyone was still applying basically). Are you a Fl resident? .

Thanks. Yes I am a FL resident.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

All of my classes have been done at a University. The only two classes I plan on taking at a CC are Microeconomics and Public Speaking. The former because it's a 300-level course at my school and the later because it's not regulalry offered.

 

[UBCmicrobi]

Technically my pre-reqs were done at College, but I did all of my upper year requirements at University, and completed a BSc before I applied to pharm.

 

[Zera]

I don't see the harm in going to a CC first even if you plan on getting your bs/ba. Worst case is that you don't get accepted and you transfer out and get your degree.

 

[koercive]

completed 5-6 courses at CC, got B.A. at university

 

[PharmGrrlJax]

I ask because ideally I would like to finish my pre-reqs in 2 years and get into a pharm school. Would you recommend me completing my pre-reqs at a CC to save money? Or at a university? I'm looking to get into UF.

This has been discussed at length on the UF page. Many of us did our pre-reqs at a community college. I only know one person who actually asked student affairs and they told him that UF didn't put anymore weight on courses taken at a University versus a CC. As for getting the pre-reqs done in two years, if you have to get your AA in that time period too, I would say that you will be going for 2 years, year round, just based on the fact that the required pre-reqs are 40 credits worth of science, fitting in all the other required classes for AA will take time. I started college in WI with different requirements than, because of that I ended up having enough credits for a bachelor's, I opted not to go to a university for another year to get the bachelors because I am 29 with two kids, so I chose not to spend the extra time. I do strongly agree with other posters about getting a bachelor's based on the what ifs in life. I was very lucky to get into my top (and only) choice, not everyone is that lucky, and I also benefitted from the fact that my top choice doesn't require a bachelor's or even prefer it.

 

[pallywally]

I graduated 7 years ago with a bachelor's in economics from a top ten liberal arts college, and I took math and science courses too, which I received A's in. Unfortunately, the time limit for accepting my courses from the places I'm applying is 5 years (way to go on making career decisions after college, pallywally). I was going to attend UMD's Science in the Evening program, but since I'm going to be living off my savings to complete the remaining 31 credits (my job requires long and unpredictable hours so I can't go to school in the evening), I've decided to go to the community college nearby.

Back when I was a snooty college student, I thought community colleges were for losers and the coursework was easy, etc. But I took some science classes at the cc while working FT every semester for the past four semesters, and I have to say, I definitely had to study hard and work much harder than I ever did during the Chemistry I & II and Calculus I & II at my top ranked liberal arts college. And I remember working hard back then, too and getting A's. So I'm pretty impressed by the community college. I certainly don't think it's all for dunderheads now. My classmates were really motivated. The ones that didn't care or couldn't hack it dropped out.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Pally, I am curious - Where did you go to CC?

I am trying to build a U.S map of anecdotal experience of where the "hardest" or best CCs are, because it's so regional, I find it fascinating.

 

[pallywally]

Pally, I am curious - Where did you go to CC?

I am trying to build a U.S map of anecdotal experience of where the "hardest" or best CCs are, because it's so regional, I find it fascinating.

Montgomery College in MD is where I'm going. I don't know if they rank community colleges the way they do liberal arts colleges and universities (which is all silly when you get around to seeing the criteria and methodology they use to rank liberal arts colleges). I've heard Northern Virginia Community College is also a very good school. It has all kinds of linkage agreements with William and Mary, UVa, and other schools.

A friend applying to Georgetown's ABSN program told me that the woman in the admissions office told her to take her pre-reqs at Montgomery College or NVCC instead of the 4-year university in DC where she was living (University of the District of Columbia). She said the woman in admissions didn't think UDC is a strong enough school, and that the community colleges were better. I was really surprised.

 

[deleted329060]

Even the more prestigious schools do not offer all the prepharmacy classes. I was looking at Northwestern University's curriculum and they tell pre-pharmacy students to go elsewhere for human anatomy

 

[b1234]

I graduated 7 years ago with a bachelor's ... Unfortunately, the time limit for accepting my courses from the places I'm applying is 5 years (way to go on making career decisions after college, pallywally).

Have you contacted the school(s) about this? Many will make exceptions on an individual basis - especially if you can show that you still understand the material.

 

[abdc]

Interesting post. Thanks. 🙂

I'm slightly torn between the two options because I've always wanted to go away for college, but community college seems like a better choice financially, etc.
But also, I have scholarships, but they aren't 100%. If I go to CC, basically all my classes would be paid for.
So I have to decide between what I want to do and what would be a smarter decision money wise.

 

[b1234]

Interesting post. Thanks. 🙂

I'm slightly torn between the two options because I've always wanted to go away for college, but community college seems like a better choice financially, etc.
But also, I have scholarships, but they aren't 100%. If I go to CC, basically all my classes would be paid for.
So I have to decide between what I want to do and what would be a smarter decision money wise.

I have no idea how much this applies to you but based on your posts I'm guessing you're about to graduate high school right now and are trying to decide if you want to go away for school or live at home and go to a CC.

For some people, going away school and/or being immersed in college life is a vital part of the growing up process. Just living away from parents for the first time, having to feed yourself, worry about bills for the first time, etc. can change people. Also for some people the social interactions in college can play major roles. This of course varies with the individual and many different factors come into play. Just something to consider though.

 

[pallywally]

Interesting post. Thanks. 🙂

I'm slightly torn between the two options because I've always wanted to go away for college, but community college seems like a better choice financially, etc.
But also, I have scholarships, but they aren't 100%. If I go to CC, basically all my classes would be paid for.
So I have to decide between what I want to do and what would be a smarter decision money wise.

I attended a four year college, and I would say attend the cc and transfer. I feel sorry for having had my parents spend so much of their hard earned money on my tuition. It was a great school, but money is very important. We just turned down a candidate from Harvard at my company last week, even though he had completely impeccable grades and was a nice guy. We hired a guy who went to a lesser ranked college but had a solid background in a hard science. One of my closest friends actually attended a community college in some boondock place in Iowa before transferring into my highly ranked 4 year college, got her master's at UPenn, and now she's a consultant with a major firm. She actually really liked her community college better than our college.

 

[abdc]

Thanks all of you for your input.
I'll be working very hard on achieving scholarships. I think I'll be going with a 4 year institution. I will have some credits from a CC this semester though.

 

[nicolemsm]

Interesting post. Thanks. 🙂

I'm slightly torn between the two options because I've always wanted to go away for college, but community college seems like a better choice financially, etc.
But also, I have scholarships, but they aren't 100%. If I go to CC, basically all my classes would be paid for.
So I have to decide between what I want to do and what would be a smarter decision money wise.

If you decide to attend CC please join your school's honors program and Phi Theta Kappa (you'll have to wait until after you get 12 credits to join Phi Theta Kappa)... but trust me both are well worth it and will readily prepare and put you at the top of your graduating CC class. Additionally, Phi Theta Kappa offers dozens upon dozens of transfer scholarships and the coveted All USA Academic Team full ride to one of your instate 4 universities contingent upon your stats and extra currics.... TRUST ME, it's well beyond worth it.

 

[busyizzy]

Montgomery College in MD is where I'm going. I don't know if they rank community colleges the way they do liberal arts colleges and universities (which is all silly when you get around to seeing the criteria and methodology they use to rank liberal arts colleges). I've heard Northern Virginia Community College is also a very good school. It has all kinds of linkage agreements with William and Mary, UVa, and other schools.

A friend applying to Georgetown's ABSN program told me that the woman in the admissions office told her to take her pre-reqs at Montgomery College or NVCC instead of the 4-year university in DC where she was living (University of the District of Columbia). She said the woman in admissions didn't think UDC is a strong enough school, and that the community colleges were better. I was really surprised.

That's cool, I didn't know MC was good. I know a friend who is taking a chem class there for medical school. I tried to take a summer class this summer at MC, but the class I needed was not offered there, so I'm forced to go to UMBC for my summer class (UMCP is about $300 more expensive...).

To answer the original question, I took all of mine at university, because I was attending a 4 year university and was a bio major.

 

[abdc]

To answer the original question, I took all of mine at university, because I was attending a 4 year university and was a bio major.

Did you know you wanted to be a pharmacist when you entered the university?

 

[DASicari]

I took A&P at a community college before I started at my four year college

 

[Project2015]

But I took some science classes at the cc while working FT every semester for the past four semesters, and I have to say, I definitely had to study hard and work much harder than I ever did during the Chemistry I & II and Calculus I & II at my top ranked liberal arts college.

That's not a fair comparison. Presumably, you took more difficult courses at the CC and thus are comparing it to courses largely consisting of material taught at the high school level (e.g., AP courses). Working full time also makes it more difficult assuming you didn't do so while at your top ranked liberal arts college.

I certainly don't think it's all for dunderheads now. My classmates were really motivated. The ones that didn't care or couldn't hack it dropped out.

...Or they just take 3-5 years to finish before transferring to a 4-year to complete the BA/BS as I have seen with some people.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

100% community college. Tuition was $700 a semester.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Tuition was $700 a semester.

barf.

 

[pharm B]

barf.

I'm taking one course at a local university this semester, and it alone costs more than a 16-semester hour semester at my local cc.