Pharmacy programs in New England for a B+ student?

Parents Forum
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<p>

HICP never had pre-candidate status. They wanted to skip pre-candidate status and go straight to candidate status. They were the only school to have ever tried to attempt this move. The HICP affair was a complete mess. The administrators lied to the students and embezzled the money. It was one of the few times ACPE actually did something and did not get scared away from asserting itself.
That is why in 2005/06, ACPE strengthened the accreditation rules. Pre-candidate status is now required along with a few other new things.</p>

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<p>MCP is one of the cheaper ones and often gives money to students. Your friend is almost certain to get in there.</p>

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<p>Please don’t think this is harsh, but a B/B+ student may be in over her head in a PharmD program. </p>

<p>Again, I’m sorry if this is harsh, but I wouldn’t put too much effort into finding the “right” pre-pharm program for a student who could likely change her major after taking the more challenging science classes.</p>

<p>My son’s GF is in a pre-Pharm program, and it is a very HARD program. Many, many kids drop out of the program after taking the harder Chem classes, etc. If she didn’t go to a high school that is strong in sciences and math, she may have some difficulties getting the GPA she’ll need.</p>

<p>*Kids and their parents tend to underestimate the difficulty of organic chem and college calculus, which will be prepharm prequisites. When those classes are filled with focused premed, predentistry, prepharm and engineering students, the curve tends to be brutal. *</p>

<p>Glad to see someone else mention the difficulty. </p>

<p>But, if she’d determined to be pre-Pharm, then be sure to look at the costs for junior year on. There is often a big increase in costs at that point.</p>

<p>OOS publics can’t meet need.</p>

<p>*Unrelated to pharmacy schools, it should be noted that B+ students will be reaching for most any school that meets full need. You’re better off looking for schools with a generous FA track record, not a guarantee. *</p>

<p>Yes, but usually the ones with generous FA, are the top schools. Since the girl has pharm school to also pay for, it would be a BAD idea for her to have significant loans for the undergrad years. She’ll end up with tooooo much debt and may not have enough borrowing power for Pharm school.</p>

<p>**Which of her in-state publics have a pre-pharm program? ** That may be her best bet FA wise and cost wise since she’s a B/B+ student. Her undergrad doesn’t HAVE to have a Pharm program as long as it has some agreement with a Pharm school which might require her to go to 2-3 years in undergrad and then going into the PharmD program.</p>

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<p>*For 2+4 schools, she is not required to do her pre-reqs at a college with a pharmacy school so she could choose to do her first two years at any school that offers the courses she’ll need and then take the PCAT and apply to PharmD programs. *</p>

<p>This is probably the best idea for this student, because it gives her some options. She can save money by going to an in-state public that will better meet her need for her first two years (rather than an OOS public or private that will require big loans).</p>

<p>Then, if after she completes 2 years, she’ll know more likely know if she likes and can do well in all the science and math that is required. If she changes her major at that point, at least she won’t have racked up big debt going to a school only because it has a PharmD program…</p>

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<p>I didn’t read through all of this but check out Husson College in Bangor, ME and also the Univ. of New England in Biddeford, ME. One or both has pharm. programs that were recently established to help meet the need of the pharmacy industry.</p>

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<p>Quinnapiac? I don’t know if they have a pharmacy major, but I do know they offer a PA program.</p>

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<p>western new england started a program last yr</p>

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<p>With so many new schools opening, will there be too many pharmacists? I heard the demand is there now but how about in the next 10, 20 years?</p>

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<p>^^^</p>

<p>good question…</p>

<p>I’m always surprised to see a drug store or grocery store with a pharmacy about ever 200 feet where I live. (plus a vet on every block!)</p>

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<p>There is still a shortage of pharmacists, if one is willing to live where a pharmacist is needed. A PharmD program can be brutal but the payoff is very good. <a href=“http://www.allpharmacyjobs.com/[/url]”>http://www.allpharmacyjobs.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>0-6 programs are very nice for someone who is sure he or she wants to be a pharmacist; less risk of being “weeded out,” or not making the cut after year 2.</p>

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<p>A shortage of pharmacists? No one in the industry discusses such things. Everyone is discussing the surplus. It’ll be very hard to find any job in a major metropolitan area. Of the 2009 grads, 40% did not have a job at graduation.</p>

<p>The 6 year programs have a significantly higher flunk out rates than the 4 year schools.</p>

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<p>Nova10 - I’m not sure where you’re getting the info about a lack of jobs? At S’s white coat ceremony, the school said that they had 100% employment for the last 10 years for students going into the last year of the program. We heard the same thing from other pharmacy programs that we visited during the college selection process. S has already had an offer for a tech job and for a hospital internship after P1 year. A pharmacist friend said he receives numerous calls each year with solicitations for new positions (he believes they get his name from the state registry). Jobs in our local paper are advertising signing bonuses. </p>

<p>I’ll concede that some of the jobs are potentially not as desirable as others. Hospital pharmacies pay less than retail. Some jobs may be in smaller hospitals, or retail establishments that do not appeal to new graduates. Some jobs may be in discount pharmacies or mail order houses without patient contact, or in low income neighborhoods. Some jobs may be in rural areas. Some jobs may be for the night shift. Some jobs may be in animal pharmaceuticals, nursing homes, teaching, research or pharmaceutical company marketing. While not every new graduate will find a position in a teaching hospital in an urban setting that is desirable for young professionals, there is certainly still a need for licensed pharmacists. </p>

<p>I do agree with you that anyone going into pharmacy should inquire about prospective schools’ retention and licensing exam pass-rates. This is a very, very tough program and many students/families underestimate it.</p>

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<p>The most recent survey on new grads in a major pharmacy journal stated only 60% had a job/residency/fellowship at point of graduation. Most colleges will do their surveys at the 6 month mark.
I am a pharmacist, and all the talk is negative. Most areas have stopped giving out signing bonuses. Some areas have stopped hiring.
The schools are lying about the future. Everyone knows that, and they seem unable/unwilling to tell new students the truth.
I haven’t seen a listing for a full-time pharmacist in the local paper for quite a while.
Look at the pharmacist manpower survey, [Aggregate</a> Demand Index - Western University of Health Sciences](<a href=“Loading...”>http://www.pharmacymanpower.com/), and you’ll see, in most areas supply=demand. The general belief that the tipping point into a surplus is only a year or two away.</p>

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<p>Interesting, but I note that this is a subjective report of a particular panel - and that even with the reduction, the numbers actually indicate that demand still exceeds supply in every region. Only in the Northeast does it appear that supply may be approaching a balance. This might be worrisome news for the universities planning new pharmacy schools.</p>

<p>You’d certainly be welcome in our part of the country. Even with two pharmacy schools in Pittsburgh, there are ads for pharmacists in the Sunday paper every week (sometimes identifying a signing bonus).</p>

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<p>There is a lot of concern about the surplus of pharmacists, lack of job opportunities and new pharmacy school openings on the Student Doctor Network boards.
[Yet</a> another new pharmacy school… | Pharmacy | Student Doctor Network](<a href=“Yet another new pharmacy school... | Student Doctor Network”>Yet another new pharmacy school... | Student Doctor Network)</p>

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<p>Not a surprise, I suppose. Look at the glut of teachers, engineers, accountants, lawyers, business majors, chiropractors, etc. Everyone wants to be a “professional” and have a good paying job. </p>

<p>What we probably really need are plumbers, carpenters, auto mechanics and electricians… It will be interesting to see if those careers receive more respect as the traditional professions become saturated. Of course, we also need entrepreneaurs to start new industries.</p>

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<p>My sister is a pharmacist and has never had a problem securing a well paying job. Of course some positions are better than others but it really depends what you want. She has worked in retail, pharm industry, research, management, mail order… She even took some time off to raise her family. Her least favorite was retail.
As others have said - the classes can be very difficult.</p>

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<p>I believe the university of buffalo has a good 6 year pharmacy program.</p>

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<p>

Um, well, yes, the four year schools enroll students who did very well in high school and their first two years of college. The six year schools enroll students who did very well in high school. People who are not great “college” students won’t be part of the denominator in the “percentage of people who drop out” calculation for the four year schools, so the four year colleges would be expected to have a significantly lower failure rate - the students who are accepted into four year schools have done well in college weed out classes not seen in high school, classes like organic chemistry. I would not compare these two rates head-to-head.</p>

<p>The rural and small-town areas I am most familiar with have a shortage of pharmacists.</p>

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<p>Had forgotten about this thread. But an update - my friends’ D does have admission to four different pharmacy schools with $$ from each of them. Northeastern is her favorite so far and she does have the Dean’s scholarship + some loans there. She’s still waiting to hear back from 3 other schools before deciding.</p>