UMich Preferred Pharmacy vs. Northeastern University 0-6 PharmD vs. UCONN Pre-Pharmacy & Honors

<p>Hello everyone!</p>

<p>I am a CT high school senior who is planning on studying pharmacy in college. I have been accepted to the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Northeastern University (Boston, MA) and UConn (Storrs). I am having some trouble deciding between the three.</p>

<p>Having not seen UMich yet, I am biased towards Northeastern. It has always been my favorite school since I visited during my junior year. love the campus and the fact that if I attend, I will be studying in a 6 year Pharmacy program which guarantees me a PharmD without having to apply to pharmacy school, take entrance exams, etc. The co-op opportunities and the idea of living in Boston (close to home and family members in MA) is also awesome. I feel that academically and socially, the school would be a perfect fit for me. However, it is $60,000 per year, and it does NOT look like I will be getting any financial aid. So that means it would cost me $360,000 to get my degree. Out of the three schools, NEU is also ranked as the lowest for pharmacy (#39 by U.S. News Report). Since I want to do something with toxicology/pharmacology (graduate degrees) I am worried that the debt will be too much.</p>

<p>At UMich, I am accepted into the College of Literature, Science and Arts as a biochemistry major, but I have also applied for a Preferred Pharmacy program. This would guarantee me a spot in the school's Pharmacy school, but I still have to take the PCAT. The program seems pretty easy to get into so I am ASSUMING that I will get in for now. I am NOT worried about the PCAT, but UMich is $53,000/year, and once again it does not look like I will be getting any aid. Again, I have not visited, so I am not sure if UMich will be a right fit for me. I am worried that it will be too large and I am not sure if I want to go so far away from home.... however, the academics are fantastic and UMich is ranked #7 in the country for pharmacy. I am confident that if I attend I will find my niche one way or another.</p>

<p>At UConn, I will be on the Pre-Pharmacy track as a Neurobiology & Physiology major in the HONORS program. I have been given a $5000 annual scholarship, which means I will have to pay less than $20,000 per year. Should I get my PharmD from UConn, I will have no debt at all. This would leave me room to pursue graduate school and not worry about money. I also know that I want to stay in the Northeast to work. However, I am worried that UConn might not stand up to schools like UMich (it is ranked #26). I am also worried about having to apply for pharmacy school with no guaranteed admission. I love UConn's campus though, and I am sure that I would be able to fit in socially and culturally. Plus it is close to home.</p>

<p>What do you guys think? I have a few months to decide, but the anticipation is killing me. Thank you!</p>

<p>Pharmacy is a licensed profession, which means that it matters little where you get your PharmD degree as long as you pass the licensing board exam. I know of several pharmacists who have graduated from universities that are ranked much lower; they cleared licensing exam in their first attempt.and are now practicing pharmacists (retail).
You need to investigate 2 things:</p>

<ol>
<li>How many of the U Conn pre-Pharmacy track students made it into their pharmacy school, and what was the deciding factor - combination of GPA & PCAT scores or something in addition?</li>
<li>What percentage of U Conn’s pharmacy graduates pass the state licensing exam the first time they take it?</li>
<li>Where do the bulk of the U Conn’s pharmacy graduates end up practicing - retail, hospital, R&D or pursue other?</li>
</ol>

<p>The answers to the above will help you make a good decision. </p>

<p>I agree with Trinity. With careers like Nursing or Pharmacy, it does not matter which program you attend, as long as it accredited. UConn seems like the perfect option for you. It is well regarded in your field (#26 is good), it is by far the most affordable, you love the campus and it is close to home. Saving $150k by attending UConn is worth the risk of having to apply to Pharmacy school if you ask me.</p>