Where to GO???

[Zera]

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I am a high school senior. My options are either to go to UB and get in the EA program, and take out 10K in loans each of the two years to pay for room and board.

OR

I can go to MCC for free, and then apply to Pharm schools regularly after 2 years. I have contacted a couple schools such as SJF and they have told me that MCC's pre pharm program is respected and they have several students come from there each year. If I take this route I will be commuting from home, and already have a job as a tech. in place (at UB I wouldn't work).

So basically I'm asking, if you knew for a FACT (not that I do) that you would get accepted to a Pharm. school after 2 years at either MCC or UB which one would you go to?

I know I posted a similar question a few weeks ago but I am still at a lost. I sent in my deposits to UB already.

 

[arsenalfc11]

I am a high school senior. My options are either to go to UB and get in the EA program, and take out 10K in loans each of the two years to pay for room and board.

OR

I can go to MCC for free, and then apply to Pharm schools regularly after 2 years. I have contacted a couple schools such as SJF and they have told me that MCC's pre pharm program is respected and they have several students come from there each year. If I take this route I will be commuting from home, and already have a job as a tech. in place (at UB I wouldn't work).

So basically I'm asking, if you knew for a FACT (not that I do) that you would get accepted to a Pharm. school after 2 years at either MCC or UB which one would you go to?

I know I posted a similar question a few weeks ago but I am still at a lost. I sent in my deposits to UB already.

As much as MCC would save you money, go to UB. This is due to the opportunity cost. I went to a school in Rochester as well (RIT) and still did not get accepted into UB. Looking back, I would have went right to UB because each school's criteria for admitting transfers into their pharmacy programs are ALL different. Do the Early Assurance, you'll thank me later.

 

[Zera]

As much as MCC would save you money, go to UB. This is due to the opportunity cost. I went to a school in Rochester as well (RIT) and still did not get accepted into UB. Looking back, I would have went right to UB because each school's criteria for admitting transfers into their pharmacy programs are ALL different. Do the Early Assurance, you'll thank me later.

If I went to MCC i would most probably not plan on attending UB. I would go for Fisher's Wegman's School of Pharmacy. I think if I keep my grades up, do well on the PCAT, and have that 2 years of exp as a tech I would have a good chance of getting in..

Basically I'm asking, what's more important, a college experience or experience as a tech.

 

[arsenalfc11]

If I went to MCC i would most probably not plan on attending UB. I would go for Fisher's Wegman's School of Pharmacy. I think if I keep my grades up, do well on the PCAT, and have that 2 years of exp as a tech I would have a good chance of getting in..

Basically I'm asking, what's more important, a college experience or experience as a tech.

Fisher would prefer experience as a tech. The college experience isn't important in applying to them, but programs that factor extracirriculur involvement more like a bigger state university it might be beneficial to be involved in a college experience. In your case, it sounds like you want to go to MCC more. I'd say go with that to get the tech exp.

 

[Zera]

Bump

 

[crazybob]

I would personally recommend going to undergrad as long as you choose until you're ready for pharmacy school. Most people rush into it after two years and they find it difficult, but most of them end up being ok. If you graduate first with a degree, then you'll have more that you carry with you from college, and the transition to pharmacy school might be smoother.

Of those two choices, I'd recommend MCC.

 

[pharm B]

The tech experience wouldn't matter for squat if you got into the EA program. I personally would rather participate in college life at a college like UB than go to a CC just to keep a tech job (unless the job was the bees knees)

If I went to MCC i would most probably not plan on attending UB. I would go for Fisher's Wegman's School of Pharmacy. I think if I keep my grades up, do well on the PCAT, and have that 2 years of exp as a tech I would have a good chance of getting in..

Basically I'm asking, what's more important, a college experience or experience as a tech.

 

[crazybob]

A tech experience will be more valuable when you're looking for jobs with positions as an intern.

 

[ttopping]

A tech experience will be more valuable when you're looking for jobs with positions as an intern.

Not necessarily true. I'd say simply being in pharmacy school / having an intern permit is good enough to land you most intern positions. Also, you mentioned before that you suggested going and getting a degree and not rushing into pharmacy after 2 years, and yet you suggested going to MCC (a 2 year, associates degree college).

Personally I liked going to UB because it gave me an actual college experience, and it was guaranteed that I would be accepted into the program if I met all of the EA requirements. The other thing you have to think about would be the new EA requirements which will make it more of a 3 year program due to the new courses. Do whatever you feel is best. You may be saving money by going to MCC now, but you'll be saving money in the end if you go to UB over Fisher (wayy more expensive).

On a side note, college experience trumps tech experience any day. If you're interested in seeing what the field is like, go shadow a few pharmacists for a couple hours. I wouldn't give up college to work as a tech.

 

[Zera]

Not necessarily true. I'd say simply being in pharmacy school / having an intern permit is good enough to land you most intern positions. Also, you mentioned before that you suggested going and getting a degree and not rushing into pharmacy after 2 years, and yet you suggested going to MCC (a 2 year, associates degree college).

Personally I liked going to UB because it gave me an actual college experience, and it was guaranteed that I would be accepted into the program if I met all of the EA requirements. The other thing you have to think about would be the new EA requirements which will make it more of a 3 year program due to the new courses. Do whatever you feel is best. You may be saving money by going to MCC now, but you'll be saving money in the end if you go to UB over Fisher (wayy more expensive).

On a side note, college experience trumps tech experience any day. If you're interested in seeing what the field is like, go shadow a few pharmacists for a couple hours. I wouldn't give up college to work as a tech.

So you were in the EA program? How did you like UB? Can you give me an idea of exactly how difficult it is to maintain the required gpa? Also, like you said, I know they are pushing towards a 3 year program now, which is turning me off a bit. As much as I want to go to UB, think of the opportunity costs of getting into pharm school 1 year later.

 

[ttopping]

Yes I was in the EA program. I loved UB and still do. It certainly was hard keeping that 3.5gpa and it will be even more difficult with the new courses (previously microbiology and physiology were completed during your first year of pharmacy school).

I don't think you would lose out on anything even getting into pharmacy school 1 year later. The cost of fisher is around 25,000 a year, 4 year program, roughly $100,000 in tuition alone. UB costs around 7,000 for the first year of pharmacy school, around 14,000 for the next 3 years. Like i said, rough estimates but UB will end up costing HALF of what fisher will, not even taking into account the reputation that UB's pharmacy school has over a newer program. The minimal tuition you would be paying for undergrad at UB still wouldn't add up to the total cost of fisher in the end.

Not to mention the amount of people who ACTUALLY get into a pharmacy program after 2 years (not including EA) is not even close to what it used to be. Most people apply after 2 and maybe get in after 4 when they have a degree. That's something you have to think of also. Again, your choice, this is just my point of view, and my position was different when I was in your shoes so it's hard to compare and make suggestions. If you have any other specific questions feel free to PM me, good luck!

 

[ttopping]

Also, keeping that 3.5 GPA is all about time management, effort, and the professors you get. It's a competition with yourself to get those grades, not other people. You get out what you put in. Not that some professors are easier graders than others, just that some are better at teaching and therefore it becomes easier. ratemyprofessor.com was a lifesaver.

 

[phathead]

Bump

No need to bump a post after six hours

 

[Zera]

No need to bump a post after six hours

Ok wiseguy I was looking for a response and ended up getting one. You really felt the need to post that?

 

[phathead]

Ok wiseguy I was looking for a response and ended up getting one. You really felt the need to post that?

Just making sure you are aware that something like that was unneeded. No need to snap at me.

 

[crazybob]

Not necessarily true. I'd say simply being in pharmacy school / having an intern permit is good enough to land you most intern positions. Also, you mentioned before that you suggested going and getting a degree and not rushing into pharmacy after 2 years, and yet you suggested going to MCC (a 2 year, associates degree college).

Personally I liked going to UB because it gave me an actual college experience, and it was guaranteed that I would be accepted into the program if I met all of the EA requirements. The other thing you have to think about would be the new EA requirements which will make it more of a 3 year program due to the new courses. Do whatever you feel is best. You may be saving money by going to MCC now, but you'll be saving money in the end if you go to UB over Fisher (wayy more expensive).

On a side note, college experience trumps tech experience any day. If you're interested in seeing what the field is like, go shadow a few pharmacists for a couple hours. I wouldn't give up college to work as a tech.

Another student at my school was hired instead of me because that student had more experience. I'm 99% sure that the student had tech experience.