<p>Yeah you have to have a good PCAT score, good gpa, and work experience to get into pharmacy. Also, you have to have good interviewing skills and be good in communication. Should I wait to transfer my major or try to change it now?</p>
<p>Which placement tests do I need to take in order to take the pre-pharmacy required courses my first year? This is what it says on the College of Pharmacy website: The suggested course sequence in the first year depends upon the results of the math placement exam. The prerequisite for CH 301 at UT-Austin is M 305G with a grade of at least C or a score greater than or equal to 560 on the SAT II: Mathematics Level I test . Your math ability will determine if you should begin with M 301 or M 305G and possibly CH 304K prior to CH 301.
Would I need to take the SAT II Math Level 1 if I got a 4 on AP Calculus last year? Also, UT doesn’t have my score so I will have to specify to send my scores when I take more AP exams this May. Should I sign up for a orientation date in July because the AP exam scores get sent in July? I am very confused and somehow the UT administration people I spoke with didn’t know either when I called them yesterday.</p>
<p>I believe to take CH 301 you have to be concurrently enrolled in a calculus course or have credit for one. Since you have AP Calculus (4) you could probably petition for credit and then you wont have to take the placement test. They will explain petitioning at orientation, you don’t want to petition for everything. I dont remember how the scores work and orientation dates. If you took the ap calc last year thats the only one you reallly need for prereqs the first semester. Don’t worry about the orientation date and not getting the classes you want for having a later date. Last year they reserved a certain amount of classes for each orientation. A normal advisor won’t know about this pre-pharmacy stuff, call and ask to speak with an advisor from the Health Professions Office (search for number on website).</p>
<p>Great information guys. Thanks! Keep them coming!</p>
<p>Since I’m going to be a Chem major, do I have to take the Chem Placement test too?</p>
<p>i believe that the Chem placement test is recommended, but not required</p>
<p>But if I score well on the AP Chem Exam, do I still need to take it?</p>
<p>don’t think so. if you can score well on the chem AP test, then you are in a good enough shape</p>
<p>So should I not register for the SAT II Math Level I placement test since I already have credit for M408C by getting a 4 on AP Calculus? Also, I didn’t send the scores to UT but I will this year when I take the AP Exams but the scores will come in July so will this affect me registering for classes? Could I just bring a copy of my AP exam scores and show them to prove that I got a 4 and then hopefully they would let me sign up for CH301 and not make me take the placement exam? Or should I sign up for a later orientation date like perhaps the very last one since AP exam scores should arrive by then?</p>
<p>It is my understanding that you can register for classes based on what you think your AP scores will be.</p>
<p>So, little known fact is that when you take your AP exams, they (College Board) sends your score electronically to your universities, meaning that the university will receive the score several weeks before you will get it in the mail. You can check it online on the UT website under the MEC department.</p>
<p>As per your previous question about the bio/chemistry department, I have about a 3.4 . If you’re really sure you want to be a Pharmacist (I thought I was going to be Pre-Pharm when I started), there are easier majors for you to do while fulfilling the prereqs. Keep in mind that pharmacy schools don’t usually require you to finish a degree to apply, you just need to finish their prereqs, which can be done in about 2 years. However, if you just really love chemistry, I’d say go for it. Also, be wary of claiming all your possible AP credits. Since they don’t offer grades anymore, it will not be factored into your GPA and you will recieve a CR only. If you take the credits from AP chem, the next chemistry class you’d take would be Organic, so weigh that consideration carefully.</p>
<p>Oh, also, the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Natural Sciences at this university are ‘open’ colleges (much to the chagrin of the deans of NS), which means that if you’re accepted to the university, you can enter either. Thus, internal transfers are very simple since they can’t deny you.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info Chiasmus. I was wondering what the “easier majors” are that would also satisfy the prerequisites for pharmacy? Wouldn’t a science major be better because most of the prerequisites would be satisfied through the requirements for the major? I think one would have to take other classes if he or she majored in something besides one of the sciences. For example, if one majored in English then he or she would have to take additional English classes to satisfy the requirements for the major. Does it not matter at all what one majored in to get accepted into pharmacy school? I’m not very passionate about chemistry but I’m willing to do what is necessary to get accepted into pharmacy school.</p>
<p>What are you planning to do exactly when pursuing pharmacy? If you’re wanting to become someone who just receives prescriptions and who dispenses medications, I would just choose biology or something. But if you’re like me and want to have a job at a pharmaceutical company and develop new drugs, then you need a solid foundation in chemistry or biochemistry. </p>
<p>In my case, I will need more time to make sure I really want to go into chemistry. Assuming I will, I will keep my chemistry major, regardless of the difficulty. Take time to think about it and have no doubts about what you want to do for the rest of your life.</p>
<p>Right, when you said you were pursuing pharmacy, I assumed you meant PharmD. If you’re going for a PharmD, it’s a professional degree and many opportunities will be open to you. This guide provides a good overview of that: [Pfizer</a> Pharmacy Career Guide](<a href=“404 Page Not Found”>404 Page Not Found)</p>
<p>As such, if you’re going to go to Pharmacy school, I think a straight bio major would probably be the easiest route – however, if you decide to change your mind about getting a PharmD or don’t make it in, I do not think a straight General biology degree will get you very far. (Unless you want to pursue some other post-secondary education.) If you’re into drug design and all that, what you’d be looking is a PhD or a PharmD/PhD in a field such as Medicinal Chemistry of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. If this really interests you, I think you’d be better off with a strong chemistry background (Hey, the Texas Chemistry Department is Hardcore – Which is why Biochemistry is here, too. For example, I believe they’re ranked #5 in Analytical Chemistry). Also, make sure you do well in organic chemistry.</p>
<p>As such, I’m not trying to actively discourage you from being a Bio/Chemistry major, but just make sure that’s what you want to do since Bio/Chemistry is much harder than Bio or any of its sub specialties.</p>
<p>Right, some links. Texas prereqs for PharmD: <a href=“http://www.utexas.edu/pharmacy/admissions/crit.html[/url]”>http://www.utexas.edu/pharmacy/admissions/crit.html</a>
Requirements for the PhD Program here: <a href=“http://www.utexas.edu/pharmacy/admissions/graduate/[/url]”>http://www.utexas.edu/pharmacy/admissions/graduate/</a>
Pharmacy Requirements (Texas): <a href=“http://cns.utexas.edu/hpo/File/files/PharmacyAidMarch2009.pdf[/url]”>http://cns.utexas.edu/hpo/File/files/PharmacyAidMarch2009.pdf</a>
Sample Timeline (Texas): <a href=“http://www.utexas.edu/pharmacy/admissions/curriculum.html[/url]”>http://www.utexas.edu/pharmacy/admissions/curriculum.html</a>
Admissions Statistics (Texas): <a href=“http://www.utexas.edu/pharmacy/admissions/ad_stats08.html[/url]”>http://www.utexas.edu/pharmacy/admissions/ad_stats08.html</a>
Pfizer Career Guide from Above: [Pfizer</a> Pharmacy Career Guide](<a href=“404 Page Not Found”>404 Page Not Found)</p>
<p>Thanks for the help. My goal is to go into retail pharmacy so I guess PharmD would be the degree. I don’t think I would like to go into research/development of drugs. What would the difference be if I major in biology or if I major in chemistry? Are there additional classes I would have to take if I major in eithier one? For example, if I major in biology then I would have to take more biology classes and if I majored in chemistry then I would have to take more chemistry classes. Also, why would a biology major be easier than a chemistry major? Is it the difficulty of the classes because I think chemistry is harder than biology but I don’t know how it is at the university level?</p>
<p>Nitinkarya,</p>
<p>I thought you said you were doing the two year plan. If in theory you get in two years, you won’t be taking many upperdivision chem or bio classes, so you really don’t need to declare a major right away. Just wait to see what classes you enjoy more.</p>
<p>Oh okay. I am going to try to do the 2 year plan. I know getting into pharmacy school is very difficult so I don’t know for sure if I will be able to get in after 2 years. So should I just go undeclared and take the prerequisites or should I pick a major like biology or chemistry? Does it really matter or is it all just a matter of preference?</p>
<p>Really, choosing a major is basically a fallback plan if you decide to not go into Pharmacy/ don’t get in. It matters more the farther along in your collegiate career, as they start to veer off. It also helps that if you plan your pre-req pharm courses match with your planned degree, so you won’t have to retake some of the classes.</p>
<p>Furthermore, I’d go out on a limb to say that if you’re undeclared/Pre-Pharmacy/Natural Sciences, I don’t think it can hurt you to declare a major. Some classes are restricted to certain majors, or certain majors get priority.</p>
<p>Whether or not you should declare a major is up to you, and you can talk to your advisor or the Health Professions Office about it.</p>
<p>Most people that get accepted into pharmacy school probably have majored in either biology or chemistry so I think it would be best to choose one of these. I heard that majoring in chemistry at UT is very difficult. Is this true? Also, is there such thing as a pre-pharmacy major or is that pretty much the same thing as undeclared but in the college of natural sciences? Do I have to worry about switching my major now (currently in Electrical Engineering) or should I just talk to my advisor during orientation?</p>
<p>Physical chemistry does many students in at many colleges. You need P-chem if you are a chemistry major. You do not need P-chem for Pharmacy.
[Physical</a> Chemistry : Chemfreak’s](<a href=“http://www.cafepress.com/chemfreaks/1605167]Physical”>http://www.cafepress.com/chemfreaks/1605167)
:)</p>
<p>In my opinion, a biology major would be easier for many people at most colleges. This is especially true for those who had to work hard at calculus. (If calculus and general chem came easily to you in high school and you are not good at memorizing, a chemistry major might be easier for you.) </p>
<p>If you did well in high school honors or AP bio, you will probably do fine as a bio major. It is hard to predict who will survive as a chem major. </p>
<p>Remember the major is your fall back plan. If you excel in your first two years of classes and they include the needed classes
[University</a> of Texas - College of Pharmacy - Pharm.D. - Criteria for Required Courses](<a href=“http://www.utexas.edu/pharmacy/admissions/crit.html]University”>http://www.utexas.edu/pharmacy/admissions/crit.html)
you will go straight to the Pharm D program.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. If the major is really a fall back plan then could I major in something else that I would enjoy more than biology or chemistry such as mathematics (actuarial option)? I don’t think I would be able to take the pre-reqs for pharmacy and the required courses for mathematics (actuarial science) and still get all of the pre-reqs completed in 2 years. I think I would probably have to start from ground zero if I were to switch to mathematics (actuarial option). A bachelor of science in biology or chemistry is not very useful unless one wants to go into a teaching position but I absolutely do not want to do that! Hopefully, I will get into pharmacy school after 2 years. So, would it just be better if I go undeclared/pre-pharmacy major right now if such an option exists?</p>