<p>I am a high school senior who just got accepted into both St Johns and Buffalo for both their pharmacy programs. I'm confused on which college to go to. I want to enjoy the full college experience of dorming and living on campus but St Johns is already expensive and since I live in NY I wouldn't want to dorm there.
I heard that Buffalo's pharmacy program is a 2+4 program changing onto a 3+4. The first 2-3 years I have to maintain a 3.5 gpa which I think would be very difficult to do. If I do maintain a 3.5 gpa and I go to an interview I am accepted into their pharmacy college. I don't have to take PCATs either. But if I don't maintain that gpa then I am not guaranteed a spot and I would need to take PCATs. The pros going here would be that I get to dorm, meet new people, and go away but it would be hard to maintain that gpa and I am not guaranteed a spot in pharmacy.
In St Johns they have a 0-6 program that I am guaranteed to stay in as long as I maintain a certain gpa I am not sure about the gpa. I don't get to dorm though since I already live about a 15 min drive away or 45 mins away by public transportation. I am guaranteed a spot in this program but then I won't be able to enjoy the dorming experience.
Also financially, St Johns would be more expensive in the long run while Buffalo is cheaper. I would come out of Buffalo with less debt.
Any input on which college I should attend? And how is the campus life at buffalo? Would you prefer to go to Buffalo or St johns?</p>
<p>I think it depends on how sure you are about going for a PharmD. UB has a very good pharmacy school but it’s much more competitive to stay in the program there than St John’s. It’s hard to advise a HS senior to take more debt and give up the “college experience” for a guaranteed spot as so many pre-pharm kids change their minds, and their majors. Otoh, if you’re absolutely sure about pharmacy, it would be very hard to pass on the guaranteed spot and know that you’ll be done in 6 years. </p>
<p>Campus life seems very good at UB (my kid is a sophomore) although it’s not NYC! There is a lot going on there and a very diverse student population. The students I’ve met seem very happy there. My daughter was accepted to both SJU and UB for pharmacy and chose UB (though subsequently changed her major)…it wasn’t an easy choice but she has not regretted it! Good luck!</p>