Chances for Pre Pharmacy?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello. I’m currently a junior in high school right now (I live in Pennsylvania), and am completely stressing out over college applications. I would like to get anyone’s advice on whether you think I could or could not get into several schools for pre pharmacy and eventually obtain my PharmD. These schools include: Ohio State University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Kentucky, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Purdue University, University of Maryland, and the University of Michigan. My “stats” are below:

GPA: 3.8 unweighted, 4.2 weighted
Class Rank: School does not give out class rank, I’m in a very large, competitive school
ACT: 32, writing score is a 10

Classes over the years:
-Freshmen Year: Honors Biology, Honors US History/European History, Honors German 1, Honors English 1, Honors Geometry
-Sophomore Year: Honors Chemistry, Honors World Cultures, Honors German 2, Honors English 2, Honors Algebra 2, Psychology, Economics, Robotics 1 and 2
-Junior Year: Honors Anatomy, AP US History (5), AP Chemistry, Honors German 3, Honors English 3, Honors Pre Calc
-Senior Year: AP Calc AB, AP Psychology, AP German, AP Biology, Honors Organic Chemistry, Honors English 4

Extracurriculars:
-Member of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) for 4 years
-Member, secretary, and president of German Club for 4 years
-NJHS member in 9th and 10th
-NHS member in 11th and 12th
-Varsity Inline Hockey player for 3 years, I’ve played a total of 8 years
-Founded an ACS (American Chemical Society) club at my school
-Have volunteered at a local hospital since the summer of 8th grade
-Volunteered at the Carnegie Science Center in the summer of 10th grade
-Had a golf-related charity event for Make-A-Wish in the summer of 8th grade
-Worked at a golf driving range in the summer of 10th grade
-Working at a kids play facility this summer
-Shadowed several pharmacists (local hospital and Walgreens)
-Worked at a Bible Camp for kids since 8th grade over the summer
-Went to a medical camp at the University of Pittsburgh in the summer of 10th grade
-Am going to a pharmacy camp at the University of Toledo this summer

I am currently writing one of my Common Application essays, and it turned out very well. I don’t want to sound too cocky, but I’m very good at writing essays, so that’s one of my least concerns. Also, my recommendations from my teachers should also be pretty solid.

Sorry for making this too long, but I need some input from people more experienced than I am. My major concerns are my somewhat lack of leadership and if my GPA and ACT score are high enough to be accepted into these high level of schools for pharmacy.

Thanks, Ben.

2

Hey! If you’re applying to Pharmacy, go for University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (where I’m attending right now). They have a 2 + 4 pharmacy program and based on what you have right now, you are definitely in for a nice scholarship.

Now, I’m going to be honest, I don’t know the “good” pharmacy schools since I’m a physical therapy major right now, but I’ll give you my opinion. You’ll probably get into at least one of these schools, but I can’t tell you which one for sure. I’ll leave that for others to decide for you. You definitely have strong academics and extracurriculars that show that you’re serious about being a pharmacist. However, I have to warn you: pharmacy school is tough. For USciences, a lot of the pharmacy students in my year had to leave because of how difficult the classes were. Additionally, some of them just couldn’t afford to pay the tuition. So, I’m cautioning you that pharmacy is tough, but from what you’ve shown, you shouldn’t have a hard time getting through.

I suggest you put down some safety schools (e.g. University of the Sciences and Temple since they’re both in PA) that you know you can get into and maybe also get a nice scholarship from them.

I hope this helped and sorry if I couldn’t give a better analysis. Best of luck!

3

@JMS357 Thank you for your input! I’ve never really consider the University of Sciences in Philadelphia, and I’ll certainly look into it. Also, I am aware of the rigor of pharmacy school, but ever since a kid that’s what I’ve wanted to do, so I think my motivation will definitely push through. I forgot to mention that I’m also applying to Duquesne University as a safety school, since I live in Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia is around 5 hours away. Once again, thanks for your input!

4

Looks like you just picked the schools from some ranking list.

UNC-CH has very low acceptance OOS since they are required to accept about 80% instate students.

Ohio State requires a bachelor’s degree for pharmacy school admission. So that would be 8 years total then.

I think you have a good chance for pharmacy school conditional admission at Pitt. Apply early in July because once the 50 or so spots are given out, that’s it. You will have to maintain at least a 3.25 gpa in prerequisite courses.
https://oafa.pitt.edu/explore/guaranteed-admissions-programs/pharmacy/

UKy used to limit the number of OOS students accepted to their pharmacy school I believe. Also they have a much higher number of prerequisites compared to Pitt, like 70+ versus 63.

You also need to look at costs. OOS pharmacy tuition can be very expensive, especially Michigan’s.
http://www.aacp.org/resources/research/institutionalresearch/Pages/TuitionData.aspx
The less you have to borrow, the better. So find a good program instate, or where your costs are similar to instate.

I know that there are ratings for pharmacy school, but more important is the NAPLEX pass rate.
You will want a program where the majority of their students pass on the first try.
https://nabp.pharmacy/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2016-NAPLEX-Pass-Rates.pdf

If your parents can’t pay the $30,000 a year for prepharmacy at Pitt or $30,000 pharmacy school tuition and living costs in addition, then you might have to go to a local school and get your prerequisites and then apply to Pitt, Temple, Lecom, USciences and so on.

Also look at Ohio Northern, U Toledo, and Wilkes University, you might be able to get merit there.
Duquesne is also a good school, and their merit scholarship is for all 6 years.

5

@mommdc Thank you for helpful input! Pitt is definitely one of my major options. I have heard a lot about Ohio Northern recently too. I’m also going to a pharmacy camp at U Toledo, so I’ll get a look at the campus then. I also forgot to mention Duquesne as one of my schools that I’m applying to.

I also agree with your thought about tuition. I’m definitely looking for some scholarships, since my parents can’t pay for all of my college, ESPECIALLY pharmacy school.

I’m also a little nervous about applying to pharmacy school after 2 years of undergraduate. I know that Pitt has the pharmacy guarantee (that you mentioned), but do any other schools do that?

6

Duquesne has early assurance
http://www.duq.edu/academics/schools/pharmacy/become-a-student/early-assurance

I think Toledo has a similar program. You might want to get some information about that and scholarships.

Ohio Northern has a 6 year program.

7

Academically exceptional high school graduates may be offered contingent admission to the professional program. Automatic admission to the first professional year will be dependent upon successful completion of the pre-professional years, while maintaining at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA and a 3.5 science GPA. To be eligible for contingent admission, students must submit a UT application and transcripts by December 1st of their senior year, and have earned at least a 3.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale, as well as a 29 ACT or 1300 SAT composite score. Upon receipt of a student’s completed admission application, additional materials will be requested. After interviews are conducted, final notification of contingent admit status will occur mid-March. Additionally, academically exceptional first-year, direct from high school UT students may be eligible to apply for early admission. Please see the following link for detailed descriptions of all admission pathways:

http://www.utoledo.edu/pharmacy/academic_programs/pharmdprogram/pdfs/Pathways%20PharmD%20FINAL%205%201%2017.pdf">http://www.utoledo.edu/pharmacy/academic_programs/pharmdprogram/pdfs/Pathways%20PharmD%20FINAL%205%201%2017.pdf

^Found this about Toledo

8

I would focus on the schools where you have merit chances at.

OOS tuition for U Michigan, UNC, Purdue, UKY, UMD according to the above link is well over $40,000. Add to that the cost of the 2 pre-pharmacy years.

When you might be able to go to U Toledo, Ohio Northern, Duquesne, Pitt for $30,000 or under

9

@mommdc I agree, lots of the schools I want to apply to out of state are very expensive. I’m mostly interested in schools that I would be able to acquire some scholarships from. Also, U Toledo sounds like a very competitive school judging from the requirements for the contingent admission…

10

Yes, from what I hear U Toledo has a solid pharmacy program. Hopefully you can get some more information when you go to pharmacy camp.

11

Have you taken the ACT only once? You might want to prep some more this summer and take it again in the fall to increase merit chances.

12

@mommdc I’ve taken it twice already and am taking it for a third time this Saturday. Also, I plan on applying early to a few schools, so this is going to be my last test. Hopefully I do well!