Hi I’m a current Penn State student doing LEAP this summer to get ahead a little in the college world. Initially I came here for the vast amount of options and opportunity, because I was having such a hard time deciding on a major. However, after committing, I realized I wanted to go into pharmacy. As I’m sure plenty of you are aware, Penn State does not have a pharmacy program, so I figured the next best thing is to major in chemistry and then go to Pitt for my PharmD after getting my undergrad in chem. I’ve come to realize that this is expensive- very expensive, especially after I saw that I could possible just get my pre-reqs out of the way and transfer to an actual pharmacy school. So this is where I need some help. Is it best to just get my undergrad and then my PharmD, stay for two years and then transfer, or just transfer as fast as possible? This has been a confusing time for me and any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
http://www.pharmacy.pitt.edu/Programs/PharmD/index.php
Looks like the Pitt PharmD program is not a direct entry (0-6) school. No one transfers into it, you have to apply for admission when you’re on track to complete the 64 credits of prerequisites, and have taken the PCAT.
If you read pre-pharmacy and pharmacy forums on the Student Doctor Network website, you will see opinions that there is a glut of pharmacists and that new PharmD grads have trouble finding employment.
I think you misunderstood my intentions. I don’t mean to transfer directly to the pharmacy program- I know you can’t do that. I’m trying to decide if I should transfer to the school and then apply to the pharmacy program there as opposed to getting my undergrad at PSU first. I understand there are employment problems currently, but it’s not like every intended pharmacist out there is homeless because they can’t find a job
Ah upon re-reading I think I used the word transfer when I meant apply. My apologies
If student loan debt is a concern, plan to get the prerequisites done at the cheapest school (your current school?).
Take the PCAT and apply to pharmacy school about 1 year before the fall you plan to start your PharmD program.
If you can apply and get in and start your PharmD after 2 years - do it. I would call Pitt Pharmacy school and see what the difference in acceptance rate is between students who are currently at Pitt vs those that take their first two years elsewhere. You can do it either way. If you stay at PSU it may be difficult to leave all you friends after two years vs establishing friendships at Pitt.
There is a huge advantage to being a Pitt undergrad and gaining admission into the Pitt Pharmacy school, regardless of having Conditional Acceptance status.
Here’s some numbers from the Pitt Pharmacy Annual Report (http://www.pages.pharmacy.pitt.edu/publications/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2014/10/1CompressedAnnualReport_20132014.pdf):
Admission Year Conditional Pitt Undergrad Other Schools
2010 - 109 Students - Conditional=47 Pitt undergrad=51 Other schools=11
2011 - 107 Students - Conditional=49 Pitt undergrad=44 Other schools=14
2012 - 112 Students - Conditional=54 Pitt undergrad=46 Other schools=12
2013 - 112 Students - Conditional=45 Pitt undergrad=50 Other schools=17
2014 - 113 Students - Conditional=43 Pitt undergrad=46 Other schools=24
Although the number of PharmD students coming from outside of the Pitt program is steadily increasing, it’s still very heavily weighted in favor of Pitt undergrads.
By the way, the Pitt PharmD program is outstanding in the opportunities it provides its students. D1, a 2014 graduate, had a world (literally) of opportunities and experiences in her academic career.
She was able to conduct research projects that were published in peer-reviewed professional journals, work as a pharmacy intern in a world-class hospital, apply for and receive grants for community service projects, become a named Fellow in two national programs, participate in professional rotations literally around the world (she had APPE rotations in Australia, Honduras, was offered a rotation in Italy, as well as programs in several states in the USA), attend multiple professional conferences with subsidies and stipends from Pitt and ultimately receive eleven interview requests out of twelve applications for post-graduate residency programs.
Pitt Pharmacy has an outstanding reputation and world-wide renown. (Her preceptor in Australia was a Pitt grad!)
Thanks for the info QuietType! I don’t think making friends and whatnot would be hard, I have some close friends at Pitt, but that is of significantly less concern to me than my career. So my best bet seems to get to Pitt ASAP? The hardest part will be explaining this whole thing to my parents (especially my dad, a Penn Stater), seeing as I really need their help and I haven’t been home to tell them about my plans. Thank you everyone for your input