<p>Hello.. I am a junior in hs and I'm interested in studying pharmacy. I was wondering.. would it be better to attend college where there are pre-med and pre-pharmacy courses? Or, would it be better to attend just any college and go to graduate school that concentrates in pharmacy? For instance, vcu.. I heard has a good medical program for undergraduates.. in which one could take pre-med and other professional study courses. However, College of William and Mary does not have any of those courses.. would it be better to go to vcu or william and mary? If I attend vcu would it be difficult for me to attend graduate school at an Ivy League university? What if I go to william and mary.. would it be difficult for me to attend an Ivy League school as a grad?</p>
<p>alyssa715, I don't know too much about Pharmacy but believe that most programs are located as distinct schools, such as The Massachusetts School of Pharmacy in Boston, The Worcester School of Pharmacy (associated with UMass Med, I believe) and the School of Pharmacy at Bouve College/Northeastern. It is a professional school and most Pharmacists are now getting PharmDs so there is a pathway established for these degrees. You should talk with your guidance counselor or search a bit on the web. BTW, a recent grad I know is making a phenomenal salary for someone just out of school!</p>
<p>I don't know anybody who has done postgraduate studies in pharmacy who has any degree other than PharmD. </p>
<p>If you are talking about prepharmacy courses, I think you need like two years of basic math, science, humanities, etc and then gain admittance to pharm school for the remaining 4 years to earn a PharmD. I don't think anybody offers a BSPharm anymore. </p>
<p>What would you attend your ivy league graduate school for? I know several pharmacists who later attended medical school, but ivy's are not schools that have graduate studies in pharmacy topics, as far as I know.</p>
<p>then what schools should I attend after college? First.. I'm not even sure if I should go to a college with prepharmacy and pre-medical courses.. Would it be better if I attend a college with those courses? Or, would it be better to attend just a decent college without those courses..?</p>
<p>Pharmacy is not graduate school per se. You are admitted after two years of preparatory classes, and continue for a total of 6 or 7 years. I don't think it matters where you do your first two years, as they are just basic chem, bio, math, etc.</p>
<p>Two years of preparatory classes... preparatory classes meaning.. professional study courses such as pre-pharmacy, pre-med, and etc.? Do you think it is necessary to take pre-pharmacy and pre-med courses (in college) before continuing for 6-7 years?</p>
<p>alyssa,
Look at the website for the school you are interested in. You probably will have to take two years of general courses such as chem, organic, bio, math, stats, english, social science, etc:
<a href="http://www.pharmacy.pitt.edu/programs/PharmD/application/PreReqForm2005.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.pharmacy.pitt.edu/programs/PharmD/application/PreReqForm2005.pdf</a></p>
<p>Then if you have satisfactory academics, you can take your four years of professional courses that are directly related to pharmacy, such as anatomy and physiology, drug development, biochem, cardiology, oncology, and internships (experiential learning), etc:
<a href="http://www.pharmacy.pitt.edu/programs/PharmD/Curriculum/ParmD_Cur.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.pharmacy.pitt.edu/programs/PharmD/Curriculum/ParmD_Cur.pdf</a></p>
<p>Hope this helps...good luck with your search!</p>