Which school would you choose?

[Ivana Snoday]

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I am a high school senior who would appreciate your thoughts. If you had it to do all over again and had the following 3 choices, which would you choose and why?

Choice #1:
· Well respected 0-6 Pharm D program.
· Great faculty/student rapport
· Small private school; safe campus.
· Total cost approaching $50K yr. but with generous merit scholarships
· Avg. graduate debt STB $60-70K (but can’t be sure.)
· No PCAT required; 100% pass rate on licensing test.

Choice #2:
· Highly respected and competitive public university; top ranked pharmacy program.
· Must earn BS before admission to Pharm D program.
· Tremendous school spirit- great campus life
· Honors/research opps for undergrads
· Good location; lots of opportunities.
· $20K year, some scholarships offered
· Avg. graduate debt for BS degree STB $20K; expect to double that.

Choice #3:
· 4th Tier public university; unranked pharmacy program has been around a long time.
· Pharm D Contingent Direct admission 0-6 program.
· In middle of changing curriculum, but not providing any details.
· Recently merged with Medical Center which will become the new medical/pharmacy campus.
· Beautiful campus, nice dorms, but located in high crime area. Told not to go out at night! Significant number of thefts reported in dorms, and worse.
· Thanks to scholarships, could possibly graduate debt free.

 

[renetto]

Choice number 3.


Let me tell you something, at the end of the day my title as John Doe Pharm.D is no different from your title of Ivana Snoday Pharm.D.

 

[nicolemsm]

Choice number 3.


Let me tell you something, at the end of the day my title as John Doe Pharm.D is no different from your title of Ivana Snoday Pharm.D.

 

[rx2010]

I would choose #1 over #3 only because I'm a female and I wouldn't feel safe living in a high crime area; you mentioned that there's a lot theft and sometimes worse... If the latter part didn't exist, then I would choose 3.

 

[IshDiandra]

Basically if all you cared about was being debt-free then I'd go with #3. Also if you don't care about going out to parties, since you shouldn't be going out at night ;P

But it seems like you care more than just about the financial aspect since you also included other things like prestige and school spirit. And it's funny because the way you laid it out, it looks like you're leaning towards #2. Also #2 looks like it's the best of both worlds between #1 and #3. And the only downside is that it's not a 0-6 program (if you're considering that a downside anyway)

 

[bacillus1]

If you NEED a BS degree, I think of that as 2 extra years in which you could be earning money, so it's not exactly cheaper. If you could somehow do #2 in 6 years without too much stress, I'd pick #2. Otherwise, I voted for #1 (it may matter where you went by the time graduation comes around and jobs won't be too abundant, esp. if you want to practice in a large city), though 50k/yr is insane. Many 0-6s give scholarships of 5-10k per year to just about everyone. How do they calculate total cost? You could live on about 8-9k/yr (room+food+personal expenses) if you don't have a car and if you don't live at the school but get your own place.

Ohio Northern/Ohio State/Wayne State? (I could be way off, just a guess).

 

[crazybob]

If you NEED a BS degree, I think of that as 2 extra years in which you could be earning money, so it's not exactly cheaper. If you could somehow do #2 in 6 years without too much stress, I'd pick #2. Otherwise, I voted for #1 (it may matter where you went by the time graduation comes around and jobs won't be too abundant, esp. if you want to practice in a large city), though 50k/yr is insane. Many 0-6s give scholarships of 5-10k per year to just about everyone. How do they calculate total cost? You could live on about 8-9k/yr (room+food+personal expenses) if you don't have a car and if you don't live at the school but get your own place.

Ohio Northern/Ohio State/Wayne State? (I could be way off, just a guess).

I see that as more time to prepare yourself and experience college the way you want to. Once you get into pharmacy school, it's a completely different experience.

I would certainly avoid high-crime areas and places where you can't go out at night. I would want to be able to sleep at night.

 

[CUninja]

I am a high school senior who would appreciate your thoughts. If you had it to do all over again and had the following 3 choices, which would you choose and why?

Choice #1:
· Well respected 0-6 Pharm D program.
· Great faculty/student rapport
· Small private school; safe campus.
· Total cost approaching $50K yr. but with generous merit scholarships
· Avg. graduate debt STB $60-70K (but can't be sure.)
· No PCAT required; 100% pass rate on licensing test.

Choice #2:
· Highly respected and competitive public university; top ranked pharmacy program.
· Must earn BS before admission to Pharm D program.
· Tremendous school spirit- great campus life
· Honors/research opps for undergrads
· Good location; lots of opportunities.
· $20K year, some scholarships offered
· Avg. graduate debt for BS degree STB $20K; expect to double that.

Choice #3:
· 4th Tier public university; unranked pharmacy program has been around a long time.
· Pharm D Contingent Direct admission 0-6 program.
· In middle of changing curriculum, but not providing any details.
· Recently merged with Medical Center which will become the new medical/pharmacy campus.
· Beautiful campus, nice dorms, but located in high crime area. Told not to go out at night! Significant number of thefts reported in dorms, and worse.
· Thanks to scholarships, could possibly graduate debt free.

As much as a ton of people on this board think that earning potential is the be all - end all... I say choose option #2.

A) You will get a job when you graduate...it may not be the job you want where you want...but you will have a job and you will be paid well.

B) After you finish college...you will look back on it as the time of your life. I am only halfway through pharm school and already view undergrad this way. Choose a few extracurriculars that you have a lot of fun with (Go to a public school for undergrad IMO), do well in your classes, and learn more about yourself by being there.

C) You will pay your loans off in a decent amount of time.

When you are 60, you will want the quality of experiences over quantity of money. Sacrificing your experience for the sake of money is a bad decision IMO.

Hope this helps. 😎

 

[naseuy]

3>1>2 would be my order of preference.

I am not paying tens of thousands of dollars to be in school so that I can make memories or enjoy "School Spirit", I am there there to prepare for my future. I do not want to stay in school for any longer than I need to.

 

[Carboxide]

IF you can get into a 0-6 school, I would do that, in the order of 1 first, then 3. I don't think you could get out debt free from school 3 because almost no schools offer scholarships to pharmacy students. (Maybe pre-pharm...rarely if ever in the program students.) I don't think school 2 is the best option because it is an extra two years PLUS a bachelor's with no guaranteed admission into the program. Go for school 1. 60k is a SMALL amount of debt to graduate from pharmacy school with, and will be easily paid off.

 

[bacillus1]

IF you can get into a 0-6 school, I would do that, in the order of 1 first, then 3. I don't think you could get out debt free from school 3 because almost no schools offer scholarships to pharmacy students. (Maybe pre-pharm...rarely if ever in the program students.) I don't think school 2 is the best option because it is an extra two years PLUS a bachelor's with no guaranteed admission into the program. Go for school 1. 60k is a SMALL amount of debt to graduate from pharmacy school with, and will be easily paid off.

Notice that 60k is avg amount (probably of only 1 type of loan, either fed. or private). There's no way the true avg is 60k if the cost of attendance is 50k (even if through aid it's down to 30-35k, I doubt less). And there are scholarships. I got into a program that was 2+4 and gave me scholarships for 4 years (so 2 of undergrad and 2 of pharm school). But I guess if you get your bachelor's elsewhere, carboxide is right). I am not arguing anything in this post, just putting out some stuff.

 

[Carboxide]

Notice that 60k is avg amount (probably of only 1 type of loan, either fed. or private). There's no way the true avg is 60k if the cost of attendance is 50k (even if through aid it's down to 30-35k, I doubt less). And there are scholarships. I got into a program that was 2+4 and gave me scholarships for 4 years (so 2 of undergrad and 2 of pharm school). But I guess if you get your bachelor's elsewhere, carboxide is right). I am not arguing anything in this post, just putting out some stuff.

Yeah, I know they count you as an undergrad for P1 and P2 if you haven't gotten a bachelor's, so you probably get undergrad scholarships...but those last two years were on you, right?

I never looked into 0-6 schools because I was a junior by the time I decided to go pharmacy, so I'm not as familiar.

 

[IshDiandra]

Actually I go to Northeastern which is a 0-6 school and my merit scholarship is granted to me for my full 6 years, as long as I stay in good academic standing, of course.

 

[bacillus1]

Actually I go to Northeastern which is a 0-6 school and my merit scholarship is granted to me for my full 6 years, as long as I stay in good academic standing, of course.

Wow, really? They only offered me 4 years there, I believe 🙁 But the 0-6 program I go to offers aid for 6 years as well.

 

[calrx]

As much as a ton of people on this board think that earning potential is the be all - end all... I say choose option #2.

A) You will get a job when you graduate...it may not be the job you want where you want...but you will have a job and you will be paid well.

B) After you finish college...you will look back on it as the time of your life. I am only halfway through pharm school and already view undergrad this way. Choose a few extracurriculars that you have a lot of fun with (Go to a public school for undergrad IMO), do well in your classes, and learn more about yourself by being there.

C) You will pay your loans off in a decent amount of time.

When you are 60, you will want the quality of experiences over quantity of money. Sacrificing your experience for the sake of money is a bad decision IMO.

Hope this helps. 😎

I agree. I wouldn't trade my undergrad experience for the world! I grew up a lot during those 4 years, learned a lot about myself, and had an amazing time. I think most people (not everyone!) who get a BS degree first are a little more mature and better prepared for pharmacy school too. <--only my opinion!

 

[IshDiandra]

Wow, really? They only offered me 4 years there, I believe 🙁 But the 0-6 program I go to offers aid for 6 years as well.

Yeah, I thought that it would only cover me for my first 4 years as well until I read the whole Scholarship guideline thing, and it says

"Your scholarship will cover up to the equivalent eight (8) academic semesters, with the exception of students in the PharmD and Physical Therapy programs, who will receive the scholarship for the approved length of the program."

So unless I'm not comprehending correctly, I'm pretty sure that means I'm covered all 6 years ;P

 

[rx2010]

If you plan on doing a residency, maybe choice 2 would be the best option since you will have earned a BS and most importantly, the school offers research opportunities, which is a plus if you plan on applying for a residency after pharmacy school.

 

[Ayemageyene]

If you plan on doing a residency, maybe choice 2 would be the best option since you will have earned a BS and most importantly, the school offers research opportunities, which is a plus if you plan on applying for a residency after pharmacy school.

👍

 

[fuCl]

My opinion:

choose the fastest, least expensive path to a PharmD.

Period.

 

[Sparda29]

If you're going to be in a high crime area, make sure the state is not strict when it comes to concealed carry pistol laws.

Hmm, although, do most schools have rules that you cannot carry firearms on campus even if you have a concealed carry permit from the state?

 

[bacillus1]

Yeah, I thought that it would only cover me for my first 4 years as well until I read the whole Scholarship guideline thing, and it says

"Your scholarship will cover up to the equivalent eight (8) academic semesters, with the exception of students in the PharmD and Physical Therapy programs, who will receive the scholarship for the approved length of the program."

So unless I'm not comprehending correctly, I'm pretty sure that means I'm covered all 6 years ;P

Oh OK. I believe they just gave me a number that was the total scholarship, not really divided. It really doesn't matter at that point if it's over 8 semesters or 6 years. But you're right, technically then it covers all 6 years. Would be bad if I found out that it actually was per year and I misread my letter and would be getting 30k more 🙂

 

[naseuy]

If you're going to be in a high crime area, make sure the state is not strict when it comes to concealed carry pistol laws.

Hmm, although, do most schools have rules that you cannot carry firearms on campus even if you have a concealed carry permit from the state?

You frighten me.

 

[crazybob]

If you're going to be in a high crime area, make sure the state is not strict when it comes to concealed carry pistol laws.

Hmm, although, do most schools have rules that you cannot carry firearms on campus even if you have a concealed carry permit from the state?

I've heard that some schools can override that if they set up rules about weapons as long as it doesn't go against state laws. Sometimes the state won't do anything, but the school is going to take action.

 

[spacecowgirl]

I voted 3, but I recant my vote.

It depends on what you want. If you know 100% that you want to be a pharmacist, I would choose the least expensive route. However, if you want the college experience, go with #2. I did the extended route plan and have an a**load of debt now. And that sucks. But OTOH, I have friends from undergrad that will be friends for life. I have so many awesome memories of undergrad and I had a ton of great experiences that I truly don't think can happen in a 0-6 program because you simply don't have the time. I was involved in lots of activities, got to do research and go to conferences for it, I studied abroad for a semester and backpacked for the summer. I had a lot of friends and did a lot of social stuff. In pharmacy school, I just wanted out. I didn't socialize, I didn't join groups. I only had time for school and work to help pay for school. I had other personal crap going on that majorly influenced that but all the same, I wouldn't have been able to live abroad for a semester if I was in the straight pharmacy track.

So, it's up to you. Think about what you want in 10 years. If you want to be working with little to no debt, go cheap. If you want college memories choose #2. I'm not at all saying one is better than another, different strokes and all that. Just know you never get those (relatively) carefree college days back.