<p>For any current Pitt pharmacy student or anyone who knows one:</p>
<p>Is the pharmacy program incredibly difficult? I know that this question sounds kind of stupid but I have heard that Rutgers pharmacy is really difficult hence the low percentage of students actually graduating... I just want to make sure that I come out of the program in one piece...</p>
<p>Where would it be the most beneficial (in terms of location, students, etc) for a pharmacy student to dorm? Any other pros/cons of the pharmacy program would be greatly appreciated...</p>
<p>I really really love the school and would like to know more!! Thanks</p>
<p>Well, my personal info is dated but I can comment on the experience of the pharmacy interns where I work. The Pitt Pharmacy School is very selective and the program requirements have gotten tougher over the years. BUT, almost everybody graduates (some quit, etc) and almost everybody passes their boards on the first try. I think this speaks pretty well of the prep you get. If you got accepted, you can graduate. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that so much of what you learn comes from your jobs and internships, so be sure to fit those into your schedule. I think that most of the student interns I have seen recently seem happy and informed, although really busy. At Pitt, you have many choices of employment opportunities throughout the city in hospitals, retail, LTC and others. Additionally, there are always job opportunities in the different departments of the pharmacy school (I worked as a lab assistant eons ago). I strongly suggest that you try to get a part-time job in one of the Oakland hospitals if you can, and do NOT wait until you need to get your internship hours at the end.</p>
<p>As far as dorms, you have a lot of choices. Lothrop and the upper campus dorms would be pretty convenient. Still, the Towers and Quad are fairly close too (just get used to the walk up Cardiac Hill). Forbes-Craig would be too far.</p>
<p>well... I have the pre-pharmacy conditional acceptance pamphlet in my hand (( check that out at Pitt if you are definitely interested in pharmacy))--- and 98% of the students there pass the national pharmacy exam-which is WELL over the national/ state admit rate. Also, its ranked in the top 10 pharmacy schools. </p>
<p>So, definitlely consider Pitt for pharmacy---they have an outstanding program with tons of resources. Also, I think pharmacy is difficult at times- but doable. If you really love it, you won't drop out. They won't accept unqualified people to the program. If you are admitted, you ARE qualified to do it... if you WANT to do it in your heart, you definitely will succeed. </p>
<p>:) My advice would be to apply soon for pharmacy. The earlier, the better. And definitely send in the ''optional'' essay and teacher recs. I even sent in a resume to the Office of Admissions.</p>
<p>lrnprcll, i was accepted into the program and I am definetly considering Pitt! However, I was not offered conditional acceptance... How difficult is it for a regular pre-pharmacy student to gain admission to the Pharmacy School? I think I've read that there are only 108 spots or so and half of them are taken up by pre-pharm students who have conditional acceptance...</p>
<p>We went to the "I want to be a Pharmacist Day" at Pitt over the summer. They said it is very hard to get one of the remaining 54 spots. There are hundreds of people applying for them from Pitt alone, also students from other colleges. Many students in pre-pharmacy do not get in, and then have to switch their major. Our tour guide was in the pre-pharmacy program, without a conditional spot. She was saying she hopes she gets in, took the pcats, had a good gpa but who knows. I heard many will say major in biology, and then maybe think about going to medical school if they do not get a spot. What is also difficult is that many other colleges who do have a Pharm D program, do not take any transfers into it. So my advice is if you go to Pitt without a conditional acceptance, you should have a plan B in place in case you do not make it in the program in the 3rd year.</p>
<p>In response to the area of campus most beneficial to dorm for a pharmacy student: it doesnt matter. For pre-pharm you take your classes in the undergraduate school so rarely make a trip to the pharmacy school. </p>
<p>If you dont have conditional when applying to the pharmacy school, start looking at the pre-req's that other pharmacy schools require so you apply to them as well since the pre-req's at pittsburgh will not be the same as say the Univerisity of Michigan.</p>
<p>I'm currently pre-med at Pitt, and I have a lot of friends who are pre-pharm (all were admitted for conditional acceptance). I'm not incredibly knowledgeable about the pharmacy program; however, I can speak on behalf of the science classes that you'll have to take as a pre-pharm student. All of the science classes are manageable--they're not exceptionally easy, but if you're willing to put forth the effort, seek help when you need it, and study, then you'll be able to handle them. If you do decide to come to Pitt, I would recommend talking to other older students who have gone through Pitt's science classes about which professors to take. From my personal experience, I can recommend Golde for Chem 1 and Chem 2, Curto for Bio 1 and Bio 2 or Bledsoe for any Bio class, and Wilcox for O-chem. When I came here, I was a little worried about being able to do exceptionally well in my science classes (because intro classes are huge, Pitt's renowned for science, and these classes tend to be difficult), but I've found that it's definitely possible to take hard sciences and get a decent GPA. In fact, it happens all of the time. I know that it's best to apply early if you're pre-pharm and qualify for the conditional acceptance program.</p>
<p>In terms of location, you can really room just about anywhere. Lothrop seems to be a popular place for pre-pharm/pre-health students, but I know that there's also a plethora of pre-pharm students in the Towers. Really you can room just about anywhere on campus! Hope this helps!</p>
<p>I have a question. Is it like Penn State? Where you can go online and see what classes are offered and the times before you register. So that you can go on rate your professor to read about the teachers?</p>
<p>Also my son is considering Pitt. Are the kids you know in the conditional pharmacy program close? Do they take classes together? Is there any difference in the conditional program vs non conditional in the first two years. For instance are there any specific meetings say that the conditional kids would need to go to. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>Yes, I actually just did my scheduling today. If you decide to go to Pitt as a first-time freshman, you schedule your classes at an event called PittStart. PittStarts begin in May and last until move-in day in August. Students have to submit 10 classes that interest them before their PittStarts and then during the PittStart sessions, students work with their advisors to schedule their classes (ultimately the student decides what he/she wants to take). Then, for all following semesters, students are actually required to go online and make their own (tentative) schedules (students pick what classes they want to take, when they want to take them, and what professors they want). Then, after the student makes his/her schedule, the student meets with his/her advisor and the advisor does the actual scheduling of the classes (basically the advisor just enters the class information i.e. course numbers, etc. into a computer). So yes, in short you can go online and see what classes are offered and the times before you register. You can also view the professors that teach the classes, which means that you can go to ratemyprofessors.com and read about the professors. This site is very useful, and I'd highly recommend it.</p>
<p>The kids that I know in the conditional pharmacy program are close. There are actually a lot of conditional pharm students here (and the vast majority are serious about studying), so it's not hard to find a study group or people to contact if you have questions about homework etc. The conditional pharm students all have to go through the same general requirements, so yes, they're in classes together. However, there are always other students who are also in science-related fields that are in these same classes. Although I'm pre-med and not pre-pharm, I study frequently with pre-pharm students because we have to go through the same science classes. The only difference between the conditional vs. non-conditional program is that non-conditional students have to take the PCAT and have to apply to pharmacy school, whereas the conditional students don't have to take the PCAT and are already accepted into Pitt's pharmacy school (given that they maintain the appropriate GPA). Other than that, there are no distinctions between conditional and non-conditional. There aren't any specific meetings that the conditional kids would need to go to during the first two years. Hope this helped.</p>
<p>Also, conditional students have to have an interview prior to admission. However, from what I'm told, if you maintain the required GPA and were conditionally admitted, then you're basically in unless something goes catastrophically wrong during the interview.</p>
<p>I am actually in the pharmacy program at pitt. there is no difference in meeting for the conditional vs. nonconditional people. Everyone is invited to go to RxPrep which they can become members of which meets every other week or so and goes over such things as the interview process, how to fill out the pharmcas application, admissions process, pcat help. As a conditional student I wouldnt say I was close with other conditional students because there is no list telling you who is conditional and who is not when you are there. You might discover other students in your science classes and study with them for the science tests but other than that...the range of classes to fill some of the pre-reqs is so big that you could never meet another conditional pharmacy student in them.</p>
<p>Is it possible to get accepted to the school, but not pharmacy???
cuz I got accepted for the regular pharmacy (2+4), not the conditional acceptance...I was just wondering if the regular pharmacy is hard to get in, I know it's not as exciting as the condtional ones, but are they like good?? should I be happy that I got in??</p>
<p>Of course you should be happy! You are accepted! Congratulations! :) There are about 100 spots in each pharmacy class about half of them are taken up by conditional acceptances, so yes, it probably is very competitive. But you have as good a chance as anybody else. Keep that in mind when it seems easier to party than to study. ;)</p>
<p>does anyone know how many incoming freshmen are in the pharm program, and how many of them are conditional? and how many students does the pharmacy school take?</p>
<p>I was accepted to their 2+4 pharm, I kinda want to take the SAT again, cuz I was about 100 points away from 1250. If I do take it again, and break a 1250, would they reconsider me for their conditional acceptance??</p>
<p>When we went to the pharmacy day, and also in the conditional acceptance packet, it says that you have to apply early as all the seats are given in the end of Sept/ beg of October. Once the seats are given away there are no more conditional acceptances. You may as well call them and ask them before you retake the sats. They are very nice and helpful in the admissions office.</p>
<p>Besides getting a 1250, you need at least a 650 on math (I believe) and also in the top 10% of your graduating class.</p>