<p>I have a kid who chose pharmacy school instead of premed, and is very happily studying pharmacy (although it’s a very tough program). My kid attended a selective summer residential pharmacy camp at the University of Toledo for high school juniors. They did experiments, attended lectures, shadowed pharmacists in different jobs, etc. My kid shadowed a hospital pharmacist who consulted in the hospital ICU. At the end of the week some of the attendees decided to pursue other careers. My kid was absolutely certain that he wanted to earn a PharmD. Based on this experience, I’d say that shadowing and research are very important. </p>
<p>It’s especially important to research possible pharmacy schools and the requirements for programs at the schools you’re considering. Some schools now only accept candidates from their own undergraduate programs. Some schools require B.S. degrees. The list of prerequisites for pharmacy programs can change signficantly from school to school. If you want to apply to several programs, it will require careful course planning to meet their prerequisites. Taking the necessary prerequisites will narrow your options for electives. Some schools waive the PCAT for early admission guaranteed admissions. Many of the pharmacy schools now have 10 applicants for every spot, so it’s definitely competitive. The application committees expect to see interest in pharmacy, such as work as a pharmacy technician or hospital volunteering. Interviews are mandatory to get into a pharmacy program. Not everyone who gets an interview is admitted, like medical school. Once admitted, you’ll be taking 19 credits a semester in a very structured program. This is a program where you can save yourself a lot of aggravation by careful planning.</p>