A Career in Pharmacy: UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy

[katheryncruz24]

Nice motivation.; )

[cottoncandychic]

Cant you just go into the 6year Pharm. D program straight out of highschool or would I have to go to a normal 4 year college first.

[dehjavoo]

@cottoncandychic i did it straight out of high school into a 6 year program

[WorldOfBoomCraft]

Will it matter if you go to college before university or can we go from college straight into pharmacy school?

[UNCpharmacy]

@WorldOfBoomCraft Educational systems and terminology varies from country to country. In the United States, college and university are used almost interchangeable to describe the same thing, and two years of university-level coursework is required before you can be admitted to pharmacy school. You will not be admitted to pharmacy school directly out of high school, although some colleges and universities offer prepharmacy programs to get you started in the needed classes.

[yukipham18]

@VENUEATHENS For me, as a Pharmacy student, I first got interested because of the job outlook and the high income. But as I get more involved by working at a retail pharmacy, I actually enjoy helping people out, particularly the nice ones. The crazy ones are always hard to deal with (watch some if the "crazy pharmacist" cartoon videos and u know what I mean)

[VENUEATHENS]

HEy guys, I'm thinking about a career in pharmacy... Mostly becuase of pay, and job security... I'm 25 and im looking for a solid career by 30; for those who are pharmacists of in school, what was the reason you persued this career... Is it money, stability, or passion... For some reason I have the impression that it is pretty boring to be an pharmacist... Though I'm willing to sacrafice passion for stability and good income... Time is my greatest enemy here... Any suggestions will be great...

[esca8652]

lol start early, fuck i'm 22 now, i just can't fucking get into college, well actually i am enrolled but it's taking forever to get my financial aid situated, and so now i probably won't be starting until late may as opposed to january, go figure, maybe i can try and graduate early, that'd be a miracle from God, graduate in a year, i know there'd be something going on then, ehh whatever though if it takes two years it don't bother me, hell it's progress.

[UNCpharmacy]

At the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy last year, nearly 75 percent of those admitted already had a bachelor's degree. Now that's higher than in previous years, but it follows the trend of more and more students coming in with four-year degrees. However, as with most accredited pharmacy schools in the U.S., UNC requires only two years of prereqs.

[chelseafan4life09]

two years of prereqs doesnt sound to bad.

i have a question i read somewhere that if you come in with a 4 year bachelors degree you only take two years of Pharmacy school in order to get your PharmD???

or would taking two years of Prereq be a better and smarter move????

[UNCpharmacy]

@chelseafan4life09 There may still be some smaller programs out there that will allow you to earn a four-year BS in pharmacy and then take two more years to earn your PharmD. That's the way most schools did it during the '80s and '90s when the change to the PharmD was being made. Can't think of anyone that still does that, though. Whether you come in with a four-year degree or two year's prereqs, you're going to spend four years in pharmacy school for your PharmD.

[chelseafan4life09]

so does it matter where you get the 2 years of prerequisite classes done?

[UNCpharmacy]

It varies by the School to which you apply. The rigor of the institution you attend, the quality of the program to which you are applying, and the grades you get in your prereq classes are the variables. Prereqs completed at most accredited institutions (be they four-year universities or community colleges) would be accepted. However, the major pharmacy schools are choosing from applicants who have top grades from excellent four-year programs. Smaller programs may be less selective.

[chelseafan4life09]

Hey everybody!

I've been very confused throughout High School I have been very confused with what I want to pursue as a career due to my broad spectrum of interests from sports, science, Spanish and Human Anatomy. Not to mention so many other sub-careers out there that get you thinking. Im an average student, my math skills aren't that strong but i know i can strengthen them. i would like to look further into pursuing pharmacy as a career and would like to know some basic requisites. please!!!

[Alansr10]

To be a pharmacist you have to take a B.S. (Bachelor in Science) thats 4 years of college. Then go to pharmacy school which will take about another 2 years. Around that time you will earn your PharmD. (Doctorate of Pharmacy) Youll be making from 80,000 to 100,000 $ a year.

[chelseafan4life09]

so what would your major be??

and would your minor matter??

also i heard that pharmacy school was very expensive is this true?

[Alansr10]

You have to ask for the prerequisites of the pharmacy school you want to attend. Then take those prerequisites classes in college or the university you attending. It all depends on the pharm school. And yes its not cheap. But once you get your B.S. you can pay your way through pharm school. Its what im going to do and what my friend did.

[chelseafan4life09]

yea i understand the prerequiste course thing. but quick question does the school you attend really matter? i read somewhere it didnt cuz as soon as you get your PharmD your pretty muched hired.

and also what do you mean regarding once your get your B.S. do you mean like get a job or what?? also how was your friends experience in pharmacy school?

[Alansr10]

Schools you choose are always important. its the credibility of the school that counts. And there are lots of jobs for B.S. Not for A.S. that i know of. The experience is fun to her.

[chelseafan4life09]

i see the closest schools to me are in Stockton California

and one in Arizona. thats great that she is having a great experience is it alot of work?

[Alansr10]

Yes its alot of work. A lot of people quit half way through. But when i finish PharmD school i know its gonna be soooooo worth it.

[chelseafan4life09]

hells yea its WAYYYYY worth it. ive take most of the science courses offered like physics, human anatomy, biologoy etc. but i havent taken chemistry which is a huge part of this career and i think i might struggle with the advanced math like Calculus and but other than thats its mainly normal classes like english, public speaking, economics and Biology classes

im planning to start out at a junior college then transfering to a University do you think it will matter?

[UNCpharmacy]

@chelseafan4life09 Even in this tough economy, you're right: having a PharmD usually equals having a job. The quality of the school, however, can give you more opportunities to choose where you work and open doors to more specialized areas of pharmacy in hospitals and industry. Fortunately, there are a lot of great schools all across the U.S. In California specifically, UCSF is regarded as having one of the very best.

[trevorbaseball05]

Its not required to complete a major in college in order to get into a pharmacy school. Majority of the people complete all of the pre-reqs in two years then apply for a pharmacy school. So really I would say 80% of the pharmacist today only completed two years of undergrad and 4 years of pharmacy school.

[Alansr10]

I know but different states have different laws. Like I was gonna get my certificate for a pharmacists tech but i found out that in our state is not required. But i didnt know that tho. ima look into it

[collieh1]

not really. its probably more like 40% have only two years of college. i get jealous cause all my friends in pharm school can go to bars because they are over 21, and they pity me. but oh well, i'll graduate a month after my 24 birthday instead of being like 26

[esca8652]

hell 26 sounds good i probably won't graduate until i'm 28, i'm 22 now

[darkomzn]

yeah it's a great option and you can make alot of mony I'm Pharmacist

[mileyfan8787]

I want to be a pharmacist and I'm 13. Is it true that-----1. You need to take AP classes in high school? 2. It takes 6 years in all?

[UTbby]

yea it's 6 years.

but 6 years is going to pass even if your in school or not, so, why not learn something !..and come out making a lot of money !

[animedorkfletcher]

AP classes are not required, but I assume the advanced material would be helpful

it should take about 6 years, 2 years undergraduate, 4 years in a PharmD program

[mattdogg65]

My aunt went to UNC pharmacy school she made BANK trust me think she was making $45-50 an hour crazy money!

[ClogUrHeartOut]

It seems hard....haha

[Iw4tchvidz]

everything in life is hard

dont let that stop you

[Alansr10]

AMEN to that

[jeffrx]

I'm a Pharmacist and my life has been good so far!

[UNCpharmacy]

The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy does accept prerequisite courses taken at a community college for transfer credit. Courses, including math and science courses, do not have to be retaken at UNC.

[lenihan69]

According to the UNC Pharmacy School website under FAQ for PharmD and for previous experience, it says that as of 1999 Math, Science, Foreign Language and PE are exceptions. If this is not the case then it needs to be clarified on your site because when a call was placed to the school they said this was true.

[UNCpharmacy]

Because you deleted your earlier comment, other readers should know that we are discussing whether you can take prerequiste courses at a community college. You can. The information you are citing in part is talking about people who hold two-year degrees (AA or AS) and what they must do to meet the University's general education requirements (approximately 80 hours of coursework). Anyone entering the University without at least a four-year must meet these requirements. (continued next post)

[UNCpharmacy]

If you have an AA or AS, the University credits you for 27 hours that cover English, history, art, etc. That leaves one hour of PE, 9 hours of a foreign language, and about 40 hours of math or science. There is not usually enough time in a two-year program to include all of these classes, but you will get credit from the University for any courses you have taken. Any courses that you have not yet taken will have to be taken at UNC or somewhere else, which includes community colleges.

[lenihan69]

You still have not answered the question as to why it states very clearly that the Math, Science, Foreign Language and PE courses are exceptions. The way it reads, it sounds like as of 1999 the AS/AA degree is fine with exception of these types of courses. If this is not true then the rhetoric on the website needs to be changed to reflect that.

[UNCpharmacy]

If you have an two-year degree, the University will automatically credit you for classes such as English, art, and philosophy whether you actually took them or not. Science, math, PE, and foreign languages are exceptions because the University will actually look to see if you took those classes. if you did, you will receive University credit. If you didn't, the classes you didn't take will have to be taken at the University or somewhere else.

[agg22m]

I didn't know that.