<p>Why? I'm not sure.</p>
<p>Because they're my parents? >_></p>
<p>Live21, </p>
<p>Sk8rmom has offered you some very valuable advice. DS is finishing his 3rd year of a 6-yr PharmD program. He had a 3.2 HS GPA and was very interested in majoring in pharmacy. We researched programs in CA and found them to be extremely competitive. UOP and USC have 5-6 yr programs, but did not guarantee all of pre-pharm students continued matriculation into the professional years (3rd year +). Entering classes at UCSF, UCSD, UCLA, were primarily filled with students who already had BA degrees. DS felt that he would not be as competitive for entry into those programs so he decided to go to a university that offers guaranteed matriculation for the entire 6-yr program as long as he meets the required 2.7 GPA and course requirements each year. (In 4 of the 5 past years, 100% of its graduates passed the Naplex exam on first testing.) I guess the point Id like to make is that above average students can mature and do much better in college than they did in high school.</p>
<p>Although the costs are higher, students are “seeded” in classes even in the first two years to get the pre-requisites completed with a manageable schedule, unlike the overcrowded CCs where registration is “free-for-all” and it may take you over 3 years to get seats in classes you need to complete the necessary requirements. (A friend of his spent 3 years at a state college and still was not able to get enrolled in all of the classes she needed for pre-nursing.)</p>
<p>The internships for students currently enrolled in PharmD programs are plentiful. This really helps tie the academics with real world experience which in turn makes the students more successful. DS has already completed two 4-month internships in hospital in-patient and out-patient pharmacy and has continued part-time employment at $13/hr during the academic semesters. (He hopes to do his final internship somewhere in the pharmaceutical industry.) To help defray costs, some scholarships are available through CVS, Walgreens and other prospective employers, if you are willing to commit your first few post graduate years working for those companies.</p>
<p>You do have to like the sciences to do well in the program. The basic pre-pharm classes are followed by course work in medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, toxicology, etc. As Sk8rmom stated, the first two years of prerequisites are transferrable to a number of other bachelors degree programs should you find that pharmacy is not your calling. </p>
<p>Good luck with your decision-making!</p>