Where do I begin?

[Boris11]

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Hello,

I'm about to sign up for my first year of college and I'm wondering if what I have in mind is the correct way to begin pursuing a career in Pharmacy

Should I sign up for the pre-req classes for pharmacy school? I'm thinking of doing 2 years of the pre-reqs at a community college then transfer into a 4 year pharmacy school, is this how it's usually done?

Also, how are you guys paying for your pharmacy school?

Thanks, I'm sure I'll have more questions to ask

 

[bacillus1]

Hold up, are you a rising senior, or did you just graduate? If you just graduated, it's a bit late to be planning your career...It's the end of July already. IMO you'd be better off getting your prereqs at a 4-year college, just because some schools don't accept CC classes, and oftentimes (please don't kill me people who attend CC) the 4-year-college levels are harder, which means you'll get used to the courseload that'll be required for you in pharmacy school (pharmacy schools know this too so they often give preferential admission to candidates that finished their prereqs at a 4-year college, but yes, getting prereqs done usually takes about 2 years for a non-California school.

If you are going to be a senior this year, consider 0-6 programs. Otherwise, just take your prereqs, then take the PCAT and apply to pharmacy schools once you got the majority of your prereqs done, so you can start once you have all of them done.

 

[ALLNuclear]

On the contrary, I think you should go to a CC first. If you want to get your work done in 4 semesters, there's a chance your semester courseload will end up looking like this:

Chem I with Lab
Bio I with Lab
A&P I with Lab
English Comp

Allowing you to do Physics and Ochem in second year and thus, finish according to your desired schedule.

Yes, universities are harder courseloads. Yes, pharmacy schools know this. If you did well in high school without studying much, however, the transition -- even to a CC -- will be a challenge, because studying DOES have to happen. You have to consider if you want to (a) pay more and (b) take a more difficult lab science when your GPA is currently untouched.

 

[aboveliquidice]

On the contrary, I think you should go to a CC first. If you want to get your work done in 4 semesters, there's a chance your semester courseload will end up looking like this:

Chem I with Lab
Bio I with Lab
A&P I with Lab
English Comp

Allowing you to do Physics and Ochem in second year and thus, finish according to your desired schedule.

Yes, universities are harder courseloads. Yes, pharmacy schools know this. If you did well in high school without studying much, however, the transition -- even to a CC -- will be a challenge, because studying DOES have to happen. You have to consider if you want to (a) pay more and (b) take a more difficult lab science when your GPA is currently untouched.

The only thing I would add - discuss your plans with admissions - at the pharmacy schools you plan on applying to. This gives them the opportunity to look at your progress. Another bonus is that it opens a dialogue with the school, which can make a world of difference when applying.

~above~