<p>Just want to make sure we are covering all our bases....</p>
<p>Niece (4.0 GPA, good SATs tho I do not know exact scores, demanding AP courseload,) is hellbent on being a pharmacist. </p>
<p>First choice is the 7 year TAP (Trojan Admission Program, I think it stands for) course of study at USC, available only to highly qualified incoming freshman. The 7 year program culminates in a PharmD (no BS, though). The attractive aspect of this route is that admission is guaranteed into pharmacy school and it cuts one year off the usual 8 year prigram. Of course, USC may be a reach.</p>
<p>Second choice: Obtain a BS at UCI or UCR and then transfer to UCF, UOP, or USC. UCR and UCI should be match schools.</p>
<p>Safety school- Cal Poly Pomona for a BS. Then transfer.</p>
<p>Does anybody think it would be detrimental to attend a CSU over a UC for admission into a Pharmacy school?</p>
<p>Niece's parents have never attended college, have never been thru an application process, they are pretty overwhelmed with everything. Niece does not want to live on campus for her undergrad work (she will commute from home in Riverside County or from my house in LA County) which limits her choices. </p>
<p>Anybody have any further ideas, do you think this is being approached methodically?</p>
<p>This seems like a situation where finding her a mentor--either by connecting to the alum association at USC and/or other schools, might be a good idea.--Someone who knows the ropes of the profession and the admissions factors at different levels. I don't really know anything about this field--but think that a kid like this deserves some help (she obviously has a great aunt!) from someone already inside the profession. You might find out whether there is a professional association as well that wants to encourage students....You're asking all the right questions and I hope she will find some wise advice through your outreach</p>
<p>You might want to PM the poster LAmom. She is a pharmacist in California and graduated from USC. She is probably the best person to answer your questions. </p>
<p>The other option I would suggest as a safety is the accelerated pharm. program at the University of the Pacific in Stockton. It has a very good reputation.</p>
<p>is the 4.0 unweighted? With her ap schedule, did your niece make UC elc, i.e., top 4% in her HS class? If so, then admission to Irvine and Riverside is guaranteed -- she would've received a letter or ask the HS counselor. Otherwise, Irvine and Riverside would both be safeties, IMO. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, I cannot recommend a commute to Irvine from Riverside -- traffic is awful now, and will only get worse over the next few years. In general, professional schools prefer a Univ degree over a Cal State degree, all other things being equal, so I'd have her visit Riverside at one of their open houses. </p>
<p>fwiw: I know you said she wants to live at home undergrad, but UoP is rather generous with merit money for high stat kids, so the cost of attendance on campus may be competitive. She can always apply to UoP, and decide in April if the money is not there.</p>
<p>Just checked UOP's pharmacy school site (<a href="http://www.pacific.edu/admission/PharmD/%5B/url%5D">http://www.pacific.edu/admission/PharmD/</a>) I see that they have atriculation agreements with many schools in California, including almost all of the Cal States and all of the UCs. They very clearly spell out on the site what the exact courses she needs to take at each school in order to be eligible for admission to the UOP program. You might check USC's site to see if they have similar atriculation agreements with various schools.</p>
<p>It's a shame she won't consider living on campus. If she would, UOP would be worth a very close look now instead of later. Certainly, it would be the best back up to USC. They have a FIVE year accelerated Pharm D program, and her stats would make her a very good match for it. The time and money she'd save in the long run going that route, versus doing 4 years at a Cal State then another 3 years in a PharmD program might be worth overcoming her discomfort with living on campus. Additionally, even if she decides pharm isn't for her, UOP also guarantees that all students will get their BS in 4 years or the fifth year is free. I don't think any Cal State or UC will make that promise. With the time (and money) she'd save with the UOP accelerated program, she'd come out ahead. However, the downside is applications for the accelerated program are due November 15. Here is the link: <a href="http://www.pacific.edu/admission/academics/accel_programs/pharmacy/index.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.pacific.edu/admission/academics/accel_programs/pharmacy/index.asp</a></p>
<p>Dear Eloise,
How does niece know she wants to be a pharmacist? My understanding of the TAP application is that it requires the student to demonstrate they know what they are getting into. I am a USC pharmacy grad. We just celebrated our 100th year. UOP also has a program that is fast track PharmD for the few that are accepted. Loma Linda is just down the block and they have a pharmacy school. Western Medical is Pomona does also. UCSD isn't that far off either. All pharmacy schools are outrageously competitive. The application forms I have seen really stress community service and pharmacy involvement but stellar grades.
Obviously the limited # of new pharmacists I meet is limited but the CA one's I know seem to be coming from UC's and privates. I would search the websites of the pharmacy schools and try to figure out where the applicants came from. We have a LLMC intern at work-I don't think he works till later in the week-I will ask him what the make up is in his class. If I recall, the TAP program encourages the 4th yr/BS before entering the school of pharmacy. I have found the pharmacy schools to be very friendly whenever I have called. I would try calling around. Good luck. What yr is niece?</p>
<p>We just finished JCAHO-the brain is slow.<em>passed</em> It took so long to type that I see you have lots of new messages. Do PM/ask questions and we can chat. </p>
<p>Although not in CA, I can say that admission to pharmacy school is very competitive elsewhere, too. I know students who had excellent high school and college grades that couldn't gain admission. If you could get into a program directly from high school, I'd go for that option. </p>
<p>Many students show interest in the pharmacy profession by actually working before application. Some are fortunate to get paying jobs as pharmacy technicians and others volunteer in a pharmacy. It's also a good idea to actually see what the job is like, although hospital is very different from retail, and both are very different from long term care.</p>
<p>There is a new pharmacy school at Loma Linda University just over the hill from Riverside. I think that it is the graduate division only, but it wouldn't hurt to check.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the helpful responses. She has an interview for the USC TAP today. </p>
<p>I agree that living on campus is a good idea (we shipped out own kids thousands of miles away) but alas, this seems to be non-negotiable for the moment, though I may suggest that she apply for housing now in case she has a change of heart. Yes, I have suggested looking into UOP. They are aware of Loma Linda, will mention Western Medical and the emerging UCSD program. And yes, commuting from Riverside to UCI would be onerous! I will ask about ELC, it is possible she did not qualify in that 4% group (in which case Cal Poly Pomona could be a safety plan for emergency use only, LOL.) </p>
<p>I am not sure how she got bit by this pharmacy bug, she is a hospital volunteer and has spent time in the hospital pharmacy. She was considering the long haul thru vet school (also extremely rigorous and competitive) but pharmacy seems to have superceded that. I am trying not to be a total buttinsky, just trying to offer some suggestions, makes sure nothing has been overlooked, delicately remind her that USC is a long shot so she is sure she has a back-up plan.</p>
<p>Also, it is entirely possible, even probable that a college student may change majors when the reality of their program, the debt, and the heavy courseloads hit them!</p>
<p>wow...at TAP interview in November? Im a freshman at usc right now and i believe my interview was in late march or even april haha</p>
<p>well...i know this thread is kind of old but i thought i could still be of some help because this is the kind of situation i was going through last year.</p>
<p>in the end, my choice was essentially between a better college experience at usc or a quick route to working at university of the pacific's five year program. both are roads that lead to a PharmD.</p>
<p>UoP was more affordable because they offered me a regents scholarship of $10,000/year, but i chose usc because i knew it would give me a better college experience which is something that i think high schoolers neglect when theyre choosing a college.</p>
<p>I too was really focused on getting my PharmD and thought that I would be going to UoP becuase it provided me with the quickest path to a degree, but then i realized that im going to be at the college for more than 5 years. dont let the degree be your only criterium for chosing a university and unless its for financial reasons, seriously consider living on campus while youre attending college. you'll have so much fun i guarantee it.</p>
<p>Dear ek1000-seems like that was a good choice for you. I understand. I would expect some might question your decision to turn down a 100K salary in just 5 yrs. You will be happy doing what you want to do. You won't be young and feel trapped in a high paying job.</p>
<p>well...im in the pharmacy program at usc so i guess i just postponed the 100K salary another two years in exchange for what i thought would be a better college experience</p>
<p>and so far its been awesome!</p>
<p>and lamom...not that it makes a difference now but im just curious. does a PharmD from USCs pharmacy school have more weight in southern california than a degree from UoPs?</p>
<p>Dear ek1000-none that I have seen. My first director of pharmacy was a UOP grad, the others have all been from USC. We seem to have many UOP grads in So. California and it is a respected school. SC grads do seem to have the SC pride thing going on. I haven't run into enough grads from the other So. Calif schools to have an opinion about them. Most people know how difficult it is to get into UCSF, so they also have good reputations. I honestly believe that the applicant with the best to offer for the position will be hired. Right now just about anyone with a license can find several jobs.</p>