Simple question: Is UoP “worth it” for a Bio major?
I got into UoP with a 3.0W, 1770 SAT for Bio.
I plan on heading to medical school after college, and I’ve heard good things about UoP’s Pharmacy and Dental program. However, is their Biology program worth attending? As in, do they have a good matriculation percentage to med school?
Another question: Can I transfer into one of the Pre-Pharmacy accelerated programs?
My cost of attendance should be around $40k a year. Not UC or CSU cheap, but I’m willing to pay it if the program’s really worth it.
I don’t know the matriculation percentage to med school, but I do know that you cannot transfer into the pre-pharmacy accelerated program. I am sure if you contact the bio department they might be able to give you more insight. You can complete your UG bachelor’s in bio and apply to the PharmD program, but will need to complete your bachelor’s degree first and the necessary pre-requisites for pharmacy school. If you maintain a high GPA and you have a good MCAT score, you can be competitive at a med school. You are going to get more individual attention from staff and professors at UOP vs. a UC/CSU - specifically because of the school size and professor to student ratio.
JMHO, but I would think a bio degree from any of the top UCs or CSUs with good recommendations would get you in just as easily as a bio degree from UoP and you wouldn’t be $230K in debt for a 4-year degree (tuition 42K, room & board 17K per year).
Also, the UOP Accelerated Pre-Pharm Advantage program does not “guarantee” admission into the actual pharmacy college even if you meet the GPA requirements. After your second year of pre-pharm, you are screened through a writing sample, 3 recommendations and an interview. Not all pre-pharm applicants are accepted. Also the tuition without room & board for the two undergraduate years $40,822 per year and the pharmacy years is $65,721 (not including some additional pharmacy incidental fees for technology, etc.) because there are 3 semesters in each pharmacy year. Room and board is estimated at approximately $17,000 per year. (See http://www.pacific.edu/Documents/finance/student-accounts/14-15%20Annual%20Cost%20Sheet.pdf). Also, the UOP Accelerated program does not include a bachelor’s degree which may be important later if you decide to get an MBA or other non-pharmacy graduate degree.
I would recommend saving your money for med-school by going to a good UC or CSU. UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, etc. all have medical schools and recommendations, experiential research or any other endorsements you receive from your undergraduate education would certainly be recognized from those institutions.
@NCalRent I’d live at home if I went to CSUN, which would be like $6k total.
UoP will run around $40k, including room and board.
I like both schools, but I guess UoP’s a more prestigious school and better for pre-med/bio.
Unless you have really deep pockets, your choice is a simple one. On the academic front, UoP isn’t really better than CSUN - they do have the 4 year graduation guarantee but, it isn’t a good value at that price.
I don’t know what circles you run around in. The student body at UoP is probably more affluent than Northridge but, i don’t see how that equates to prestige. Their admission standards set their prestige academically. UoP is a godd school but, it’s not Stanford, or even USD or Santa Clara. It is perhaps akin to St Mary’s, Chico Fullerton and Northridge.
Go to Northridge, take some of your savings and but a Mercedes. Put a Northridge Alumni license plate frame on it and you’ll have all the prestige you need.
As a guy who works for a living, UoP simply isn’t worth the premium.
I think Pacific’s got good research opportunities and hopefully sends a lot of kids to med school, not too sure about CSUN. Cost wise, CSUN’s bang-for-your-buck is super enticing.
UoP will give you better contact with your professors. I don’t know how much pure research goes on there - probably not too much.
Med schools want GPA and a high MCAT. I think Northridge will put you in a good spot.
CC can be a good path but, for many, has a few bumps along the way. STEM majors are really competitive for transfers at UCs and CSUs. Also, some med schools want your science classes completed at a 4 yr school.
The choice is yours but, I’d go to Northridge and save my money for med-school.