<p>I know the college process is difficult, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have? I'm a second year pharmacy major, from California, in the honors program, etc so any of those areas I can share my experiences. Good luck!</p>
<p>Glad to know another California resident is in the NYC area. What drew you to St. Johns and how was the transition from west coast to east coast living. How is the rigor of the academic classes. I hear constantly on these forums that St. Johns is not high level. Thoughts on these and maybe I can get my S to reach out to you on level from a student.</p>
<p>Definitely tell us everything 
How intense are the classes, is it reasonable that a good student will stay in the program?
How is the non-pharm atmosphere? Do you have time to have extracurriculars? Is honors worth it? Does the campus empty on weekends? more more more…</p>
<p>@illusiondestiny, did you get full tuition for all 6 years OR only 4 years at STJ? Did you turn down Northeastern since they did not match to the full tuition or increase your merit scholarship?</p>
<p>How does the whole Catholic thing fit in with the study of science (pharmacy?) Is it even an issue as far as open discussion of medication for all uses?</p>
<p>What is the honors program like? Do all students in the honors program get full tuition? I noticed the attrition rate is huge for the pharmacy program. Can you tell me why?</p>
<p>May I ask “what is the honors program” like for PharmD at STJ if any one knows?
I agree with mrcne4 that “STJ is not a high level”, but when my D applied to the Rutgers, R.I and Northeastern, only STJ accepts her. She is put on waitlist for the other schools? Well, it means you have no choice when you must decide before May 1st. Unless the other school accepts you and give you good package after June …
However, all my friends’ children graduate PharmD at STJ got jobs offered during Spring, before June graduation. So what do we expect?
@kidstubborn: my D gets scholarship only for 4 years, but just enough to cover housing, and you will pay fully on your own pocket for the last 2 years.
However, I was told that those students got a good package of financial aid are most from Catholic HS, or from Prep-St. John.</p>
<p>I’m SO sorry, I’ve been pretty busy and I just forget to check CC! Wish I could get notifications or something. Anyways, I hope this can still help people considering St. John’s. </p>
<p>@mrcne4: What drew me to St. John’s was the merit-based scholarship I got. I got a full tuition scholarship for 4 years, and not a lot of pharmacy schools offer that, ESPECIALLY for its 6 year program so I decided to leave CA for NY. STJ is very generous with its money; I actually don’t know anyone who goes to st john’s without a scholarship; even though the tuition is high, there’s always some help, it just depends on the quantity. The transition during my first year was very tough, I’m not going to lie. The culture of the people, the environment (it was so crowded, I was not used to it after living in such a spread out community in CA), and overall culture shock was exciting, but it got lonely after a while. But I’m in my third year, and I still miss home all the time, it’s just a matter of learning to deal with it, and enjoying what’s over here. Also the weather was a major shock for me as well; I didn’t know how to dress in the cold! But I got help from my friends here to help me shop for winter clothes, so I wouldn’t worry about buying winter gear in Cali when it’s much easier over here in NY. As for the rigor, I say that it’s definitely on the easier side, compared to other 6 year programs (aka Rutgers). The curriculum, especially the first two years, are simplified just so they go over the important things. Especiallly in my first year, I found that my senior year of high school was harder than my first year, so it was a nice break. But it won’t be like that for long, by third year, it definitely gets tougher. Regarding the reputation, I know compared to the other 6 year programs, St. John’s is not really “high level”. but at the end of the day, it’s still a school that offers an accredited 6 year PharmD program, and what matters is that you get a PharmD degree and are able to practice. That’s what employers will be looking at. Also, I’m surprised to hear that many of the pharmacies and companies around the NYC area respect the St. John’s pharmacy program. So there’s no problem with name recognition here in NY, even though in CA, it’s a little bit harder as some people don’t know what St. John’s is. But if you’re talking to pharmacies in CA, most likely they’ve also heard of the St. John’s pharmacy program.</p>
<p>From kidstubborn: @illusiondestiny, did you get full tuition for all 6 years OR only 4 years at STJ? Did you turn down Northeastern since they did not match to the full tuition or increase your merit scholarship?</p>
<p>I got full tuition for 4 years. I wish it was all 6 years!! but it isn’t, but I’ll definitely take the money I’m given 
I turned down NEU because it was more pricey in the end. I did send an email to NEU asking them to reconsider giving me more money, because I really wanted to go to NEU at the time, but they wouldn’t do it. It made me so sad for a while, but it all worked out in the end.</p>
<p>From AL34: Definitely tell us everything
How intense are the classes, is it reasonable that a good student will stay in the program?
How is the non-pharm atmosphere? Do you have time to have extracurriculars? Is honors worth it? Does the campus empty on weekends? more more more…</p>
<p>Message me if you want specifics! Classes are easy, at least for the first two years. But you honestly can’t expect to go into pharmacy if you wanted easy classes all 6 years, it is tough but St. John’s makes it more simple and straightforward. It is reasonable to for a good student to stay in, if you study and just know your stuff. The non-pharm atmosphere is kind of divided as it is a commuter campus. You will get to know everyone in your pharmacy class soon enough as you’ll be taking classes with the same people semester after semester. I would recommmend getting involved in clubs if you want to meet non-pharm people because a lot of pharm classes only contain pharm students. You definitely will have time to do ECs, i remember my first and second half of second year, I had so much free time to go to the gym, hang out, party, etc. The only perks of honors is for the free tickets they give to shows/concerts/etc, access to the Honors Common (it’s 24 hours!), and the Honors badge you get at your graduation. It’s up to you how much you want those free tickets. But honors classes are not that hard compared to regular classes so I didn’t think it was a big deal. I was done with all my honors classes by end of second year. The campus does get pretty empty on the weekends, as a majority of people who go to St. John’s are commuters…also a lot of dormers go home on the weekends because they live so close. </p>
<p>From AL34: How does the whole Catholic thing fit in with the study of science (pharmacy?) Is it even an issue as far as open discussion of medication for all uses?</p>
<p>The only time I felt like I really noticed I was going to a Catholic school was during one of my Theology classes I had to take for pharmacy: Health Care Ethics. Even though St. John’s is a Catholic school, it didn’t bother me too much (I’m not Catholic btw) and didn’t change the curriculum. They taught their material like they’re supposed to teach it. They would mention how a Catholic would go about when faced with an ethical dilemma, but they would not force it upon us to learn it that way. A majority of the pharmacy professors are not even Catholic themselves (or I don’t think so, at least).</p>
<p>Do you think I will get in with a 94 average… no AP classes. Great community service and extracurricular activities. my essay is really good but my sat wasnt so great. I got a 1600 bc i didnt study like i should. I am taking again and aiming for at least above a 1750… do u think i have a chance? Do u know anyone in the program who has similar stats as me?</p>