PCATs: better to avoid?

<p>I've been accepted to Rutgers Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, which is a 0 -6 year program that would allow me to skip taking the PCATs all together. However, I'm trying to decide between Rutgers and UVA. At UVA, I would probably be either pre-pharmacy or pre-med, so I would have to take either the PCATs or the MCATs eventually. Would it be better to just go to Rutgers and avoid the test(s) completely? (Rutgers is also starting a dual degree program in which, if I was accepted, I could also avoid taking MCATs) Or is it better to go for the better ranked school (UVA) where I will have more of a struggle, but has more prestige?</p>

<p>Is the UVA also a direct admit to Pharma? Is it 6 years or longer?</p>

<p>Are the two programs equally affordable?</p>

<p>If all is truly equal, you can choose the one you like best.</p>

<p>However, if cost/time is a factor, guess what? Your job title will be exactly the same, and your starting salary will be the same whether you are a Pharm.D. from Rutgers or from UVA. And if the UVA program is eight years, you will be earning that salary two years sooner from Rutgers. Think about that.</p>

<p>As for the oh-gee-I-said-I-wanted-Pharma-but-I’m-really-pre-Med business: pre-Pharma and pre-Med coursework is essentially the same. You can change your mind about Pharma at any point, major in whatever you feel like, and complete the pre-Med courses. What will be much more difficult is if you wake up one day and say, oh gee I really do want Pharma and find out that it’s too late for that quickie 6 year program.</p>

<p>Med (and Pharma) admissions is primarily numbers based. What will matter is your GPA and the MCAT/PCAT. The relative “prestige” of X as opposed to Y isn’t going to help much, if at all.</p>

<p>UVA would not be direct, I would have to take the PCATs and apply to pharm school, and it would take anywhere from 6 to 8 years. I have a full scholarship to Rutgers and have not yet heard back from UVA financial aid yet. My mom has really been pushing other schools simply because she doesn’t believe Rutgers is a good school.</p>

<p>What is her criteria for determining the worth of Rutgers?</p>

<p>Probably a NJ resident who has been infected with the “anywhere but Rutgers” attitude.</p>

<p>To the OP: Is your mother willing to put her money where her mouth is and fully fund you going to the other schools without you going into any debt (and if she was going to contribute to your pharmacy school costs, not deducting any of the extra undergraduate costs from her contribution to your pharmacy school costs)?</p>

<p>I always thought pharmacy school admissions was more numbers-based than med school admissions…</p>

<p>Personlly I think you should wait until UVA financial aid responds but I’d lean towards Rutgers.</p>