Wingate vs. Maryland

[voskoboy]

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Hello all,
I received acceptances from both schools and am stuck in a problem of deciding...they are quite opposites in location(small town rural vs. downtown Baltimore) and cirricular wise as well (more presentations and skills vs. sciences). Does anyone have more information on which one is better? Passing rates? Difficulty? Opportunities?
Thanks for the help...

 

[shirlee24]

Hello all,
I received acceptances from both schools and am stuck in a problem of deciding...they are quite opposites in location(small town rural vs. downtown Baltimore) and cirricular wise as well (more presentations and skills vs. sciences). Does anyone have more information on which one is better? Passing rates? Difficulty? Opportunities?
Thanks for the help...

i'm sorry to be off-topic, but you already heard from maryland? i thought they were going to make all their decisions after they finished all their interviews

btw, congratulations!!!

 

[marylandpharm]

id pick maryland hands down.

just my humble unbiased opinion. 🙂

 

[poppopfizzfizz]

I know that Maryland has a larger reputation right now, and Wingate is not technically accredited yet (hard to get accredited if you haven't graduated a class yet) so that might make your decision right there. However, I applied to both places and after interviewing at Wingate I turned down an interview at Maryland. I was very impressed with thier program when I interviewed there and would be going there had UNC not accepted me a couple days ago. They have, in my opinion, a very clinical-focused program, so if you're dead set on retail, Maryland may be the way to go. The classes are very small so discussion and faculty attention are very focused. They also seem to be much more technologically advanced than some of their contempories, but that may simply be because they're so new. All in all I'd give a big thumbs up to Wingate, but again, only if you're interested in something other than retail.

 

[Robinbird]

I know that Maryland has a larger reputation right now, and Wingate is not technically accredited yet (hard to get accredited if you haven't graduated a class yet) so that might make your decision right there. However, I applied to both places and after interviewing at Wingate I turned down an interview at Maryland. I was very impressed with thier program when I interviewed there and would be going there had UNC not accepted me a couple days ago. They have, in my opinion, a very clinical-focused program, so if you're dead set on retail, Maryland may be the way to go. The classes are very small so discussion and faculty attention are very focused. They also seem to be much more technologically advanced than some of their contempories, but that may simply be because they're so new. All in all I'd give a big thumbs up to Wingate, but again, only if you're interested in something other than retail.

I also got accepted to Wingate. At the interview they pretty much told us that as long as they graduate a class they will be accredited. I do agree that they seem very clinical oreinted, but do you think that would hurt me to go there if I wanted to do retail? I'm not dead set on anything at the moment, but I am mostly interested in retail. I haven't gotten any other acceptances (I applied to 5 others and I have another interview coming up), but if I get accepted anywhere else I'll have a really hard decision. I loved Wingate. I like the location- it's a small town, but it's really close to Charlotte. I thought the facilities were great, and I really like their program. I can't think of much that I don't like about it, but now you have me all worried about the retail thing.

 

[voskoboy]

Well if you look at their cirriculum, it is not mainly institutional. The rotations start with community for the 1st year. Then, hospital are 2nd year. In the 4th year, you have 2 community and 1 hospital rotation. Yes, they prepare for clinical skills because that's where pharmacy is headed, not retail as in selling product. Wingate is preparing community for selling health care (services). Also, they have you communicate with a retail pharmacist your 1st semester as well. I don't see where they are not good for retail. Furthermore, I didn't see any hospitals around the area but I am not from there so I wouldn't know.

Uof Maryland is located within 1 block from 2 hospitals and I felt that they are more science oriented, just as most schools are except Wingate. They are also lots of opportunities/electives. On the site and from faculty, 50% of UMB graduates enter into retail. 36% do Post-Graduate Education, 11% enter hospital. Not sure what the figures for wingate are....

 

[dcr2d2]

Congrats on getting both acceptances! I definitely felt that Wingate had a more personal feeling to it and was impressed by the enthusiasm and new facilities. The student tour guide was really passionate about her school and noted that the faculty did everything they could to help you succeed and pass. As for UMB, I thought it had its already built upon reputation and history, was more traditional, and offered more electives to take, as well as a chance to obtain a dual degree if interested. I hope I end up with your dilemma. =)

I thought both schools were great, even if in their different ways, so whichever one you choose, I don't think you can go wrong. Good luck!

Hello all,
I received acceptances from both schools and am stuck in a problem of deciding...they are quite opposites in location(small town rural vs. downtown Baltimore) and cirricular wise as well (more presentations and skills vs. sciences). Does anyone have more information on which one is better? Passing rates? Difficulty? Opportunities?
Thanks for the help...

 

[poppopfizzfizz]

now you have me all worried about the retail thing.

ehh, maybe I oversold it a little, if you really like the school, don't let my opinon of it sway you that much. As some of the other posters have mentioned, it would be a strong school even for someone interested in retail. They really do seem to have a much different approach to teaching pharmacy and I'm convinced that they know what they're doing. They're preparing students to be pharmacists in the future as opposed to preparing them to be what pharmacists have traditionally been.

 

[Gizmo]

Furthermore, I didn't see any hospitals around the area but I am not from there so I wouldn't know.

Just wanted to clarify that there is a hospital in Monroe as well as some in Charlotte.

http://www.carolinashealthcare.org/facilities/hospitals/

 

[adventurer]

Just wanted to point out the MD has a huge reputation for being clinically focused. The joke around here is how much they "sell" residencies and hardly ever mention retail settings.