pharmacy school

<p>Ok so i am having a really hard time deciding where to apply/go to college, because i am positive that i want to get my pharm D. I know UNC has a pharmacy school (i am oos btw), and i was just wondering if i happen to get in would it be worth it to go to unc just for the pharmacy school? I mean they don't have any early assurance program, so i would have to reapply in two years for the pharmacy school anyways i think. So i guess what im asking is how hard is it to transfer into UNC's pharm D. program after two years of pre reqs...and does it really help your chances if you are already at UNC? Please give me some advice on this...im really confused as to what to do...thanks</p>

<p>unc has an amazing pharmacy school. its ranked as 7 nationally. i'm pretty sure it would be easier for you to gain admission into their school of pharmacy after completing their pre-pharm. they might favor you against other candidates. so i guessing that if you do well your first two years as pre-pharm, then unc is worth it because then you'll most likely be admitted to their school of pharmacy.</p>

<p>i'd say that you should apply because you have nothing to lose, but it's up to you. good luck!</p>

<p>Here's my take on it:</p>

<p>I'm a student at UNC, and it seems most of my prepharm friends are going to graduate with a bachelors degree before they go on to pharmacy. The reason is it is very hard to fit in all the pre-reqs for pharmacy and do real studying for the PCAT while doing the rest of your school work, all in 2 years. While they could apply their third year, most decide to just wait the extra year and graduate. On top of that, I know very few people that actually say they want to do something and stick with it from freshman year. Two of my prepharm friends are premeds now. Another one changed to a BS in Chemistry and wants to be a chemist. And one of my friends who swore he was going to get his PhD in chemistry is now going to pharmacy school after he graduates.</p>

<p>I guess my point is you should go in to college with an open mind, try a lot of different subjects, and investigate all your options before you set yourself down the road of a PharmD. It really takes 2-3 years of school for most people to mature and figure out what it is they do and don't like. I find it very unlikely that people know these things coming out of high school. It's very possible you may get into it and decide it's not for you, and have to go back to school to get a bachelors degree that you never really started on.</p>

<p>From a cost/benefit analysis:</p>

<p>Option 1: You go to your best in state school, graduate school with a degree in something you like, with little to no debt. You decide (or decide not to) apply to pharmacy school at any school you wish. When you graduate you're only paying off the debt from pharmacy school, which again may have a discounted tuition if it's an in state public.</p>

<p>Option 2: You go to UNC, end up with much more debt, go to pharmacy school. You may like it, graduate, and end up getting out 2 years ahead. But those 2 years are going to be spent paying off the debt you incurred by going to school out of state. If you don't like pharmacy, you have to go back to school for an extra year to graduate. And you will still have a monstrous debt to pay off when you get out.</p>