<p>I recently got accepted to the pharmacy program at Northeastern (early action) (haven't heard from University of the Pacific, but I might hear in the next few months). I didn't get any scholarships or anything from Northeastern, but I was offered a $12,000 grant by the university as well as various government loans that amounted to $21,000. This, however, is a tentative offer, so the actual financial aid offer may change when I apply for FAFSA (they used the information from my CSS Profile to make the tentative offer).</p>
<p>I have heard great things about the Northeastern Pharmacy program, especially how students get to do their coops in renowned hospitals such as Boston Medical Center, etc. I have also heard that the coops helped students get good jobs after graduation (not that being a pharmacist is a bad job!). I am not too sure how validated this claim is, but I have also heard that the curriculum is manageable, rigorous but not unbearable (this might be a good thing for me, since I don't consider myself highly intelligent). And most of all, it's located in Boston! Lots of things to do and since activity is quite a priority for me, I know I won't get bored in NU!</p>
<p>However, it would also be fair for me to say that I am a shy person (not too shy, but just a little shy,). Though I'm thinking the positive possibilities definitely outweigh the negatives, I don't know if NU will be the fit for me. I am from a town/city with a total population of 1 million people and the only hub of activity in the city is the local mall. I am wondering how difficult it would be for me to adjust to Boston (though I know I would love the city life since I used to live in a city) and the type of people that go to NU. From what I've read (didn't visit yet), NU has a reputation of having 'wealthy' students in the school, and since I'm from a middle class background (in the lower side), I don't know if I'll be able to find people who I can identify with. I am really introspective and I desire to be with people who share the same values of work ethic (I'm a hard worker) as well as compassion (I'm really nice) I embody. I guess this might be one reason why I got into NU. But I was wondering, for all you NU students, do you encounter people like this regularly?</p>
<p>The only disadvantage I can see about NU (from what I've read) is my ability to fit in with the university, and the location (I think Boston's great, its just that all my relatives are in California).</p>
<p>University of the Pacific IS in California (though the nearest relative is roughly 2 hours away), so that is its advantage over Northeastern. However, I have heard some negative reviews about the school itself. Some people have mentioned that their pharmD degree from UOP was 'laughed at by employers' and that only 1/3 of the entering class made it to pharmacy school. This makes me pretty scared of applying there, because I don't know if I would have an advantage in the intellectual realm (for me at least, I have gained most of my academic prestige through hard work--there may be a bit of intelligence to it, but its mostly hard work). In addition to this, I want to get a GOOD pharmacist job after graduating. I know I won't be satisfied with working at a rural pharmacy store, I would like to acquire a job as an ambulatory pharmacist or something of the like in a renown hospital in California (my ultimate destination). I have also heard that UOP doesn't really guarantee a spot in their pharmacy school.</p>
<p>However, despite the disadvantages, I think I am appealed to the small campus feel of UOP. Stockton is a big setback for me, I believe, but I think that I can make good friends in UOP, especially with a smaller campus (please correct me if I'm wrong! but I've been in small schools all my life).</p>
<p>So, if you were me, would you choose University of the Pacific or Northeastern University?</p>