2 Comments so far

1. Steve on September 24, 2009 1:03 am

   Okay… AFTER high school, there are TWO paths you can choose to take. One can take as little as 6 years. While the other will take at least 8 years. I’ll talk about the 8 year path first… After high school, you will go to a university. There you will choose a degree to major in, that will lead you to a career in pharmacy. This includes pretty much any of the natural sciences (biology, biochemistry, and especially chemistry). When you choose your degree, make sure to tell your course adviser that you want to get into pharmacy school after you get you bachelor’s. The reason you should do this is because in order to get into Pharmacy school (which is only a graduate school deal), you have to complete a certain number of pre-requisite courses before any Pharmacy school willl look at you. So you finish and get your bachelor’s degree after 4 years, and then take your PCAT (which is like the MCAT but for pharmacy), and then you’ll start applying to pharmacy schools. Once you get accepted, you will spend another 4 years in pharmacy school, totaling to 8 years.
   The other process is the 6 year process. In order to do this, it is highly recommended that you find a University that has a college of Pharmacy and make sure they know that you intend on getting your doctorate in pharmacy. This process does not include getting your bachelor’s degree. Instead you will spend 2 years just completing your pre-requisites, and not getting a degree in chem or biochem, etc. Then you take the PCAT, as you would normally do, and then you will go to your University’s college of pharmacy, and study there for 4 years, totaling to 6. The path you choose really doesn’t matter, getting your bachelor’s or not will not determine how much more money you make.
   Now some good schools in NY… SUNY Buffalo, Albany College of Pharmacy, St. John’s… and yeah
   good luck

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2. Gerald on September 24, 2009 1:45 am

   Well if you are in high school in NY I would really recommend that you go into New Visions Allied Health in your Senior year it gives you college credits and classes and lets you explore healthcare careers, not to mention is also gives you a packet of professional experiences you have done which looks great to all pharm. schools that you have already explored the career and that you know what you want to do and are ready to commit. It’s really not that much work either for a senior who doesn’t want to do much it was by far my best decision ever in high school. But besides for that take chemistry AP chemistry if you have the means. Physics is an important prerequisite and AP if possible as well. Biology obviously, and not that many people would think this, but if at all possible take calculus I made the mistake of not taking it and got hosed my first year with a foreign calc teacher that couldn’t speak english. I mean learning science in a different language is feasible math near impossible. Pharmacy schools are more and more looking for well rounded student so sports, leadership positions, community service all is very good to have. As far as SATs I’m not quite sure because I took them before they changed to the new format.
   As far as the schools near NY there is St. John Fisher University of Buffalo, Albany College of Pharmacy, St. Johns, Albany College of Pharmacy in Vermont, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. I’m not quite familiar with any other school then the one I go to ACP but from what I have heard UB is more Research oriented and ACP is more pharmacy practice oriented. I think that alright ACP has changed to the 2-4 this year I still think it will be far easier to get into ACP then any other of the schools. But honestly I highly recommend going anywhere you can get into that has a 0-6 program if anymore exist no p-cats or reapplying to worry about just don’t flunk out. haha Let me know if you have anymore questions.

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