Hello, I am an international student who studies in US.
My grades are not great, and my standardized test scores aren’t that good either.
I have 3.55 GPA and 1990 SAT(570/710/710).
Frankly, I have no clue which school is renowned for Pre-Pharmacy.
I started searching on Google, but I couldn’t find any website that specified about Pre-Pharmacy but Pharmancy.
Can you guys recommend me decent pre-pharm schools that I have a chance to get in???
Rutgers University has the Ernest Mario Pharmacy Program, one of the best pharmacy programs in the country. Check the school’s website on deadlines to apply: I think it is rolling admissions!
The University of Toledo(ohio) has a Pharmacology School and offers a BS in Pharmacology, then you would apply to Pharmacy Schools. Whether or not a pre pharm degree from Toledo would help you be accepted to their Pharmacy Program I have no idea. Toledo is not a difficult school to be accepted to, however, pharmacy is one of their more selective programs.
You have two choices. You can find a 2+4 program that you apply to the PharmD program at the beginning of your second year or you can get a bachelors degree and then apply. Either way you have to take a PCAT entrance exam. You might be able to get into University of South Carolina but you would have to really buckle down to get into the PharmD program. Ohio Northern is also a 2+ 4 program.
^ Or you can apply and hope to be accepted to a 0-6 direct entry program. However, I’m not sure whether international students are eligible for these programs.
I’ve heard that Butler is pretty good. A former classmate of my son’s is in the Pharmacy college there, and I know that he and his family were very pleased. Rutgers’ Pharmacy program is extremely selective, and would be a reach for you.
Three question that you need answers for before you go any farther:
What is your immigration status?
Where do you want to work after you graduate from pharma school?
How much money do you and your family have available to pay for your education?
If you don’ t have a green card by the time you applly to pharma school it will be hard for you to get admitted. If you do manage to get into pharma school without a green card, but you still don’t have one by the time you finish, it will be almost impossible to find a permanent job here.
Most pharma students in the US pay for their education with grad student loans. If you don’t have a green card, you won’t be able to borrow those loans. Your family will have to pay all of it. It might make better sense for you to study pharma in your own country.
The pre-pharma courses are offered just about everywhere - even at a lot of community colleges. What matters most is your GPA. So if you really do want to pursue this in the US, chances are that you have a number of affordable options.
What is your immigration status?
– I am a typical International student who has F-1 Visa.
Where do you want to work after you graduate from pharma school?
I would like to work in the United States, but I have heard that job market is even tighter for foreigners… If I cannot get a job in US, I will prepare for the Korean national examination which is available for individuals who have foreign pharmacist licenses.
How much money do you and your family have available to pay for your education?
–It would be fantastic if I could get some sort of financial aid!! This is a reason why I don’t apply to Rutgers…(I don’t think schools I have few chances to get in will offer me an aid. Moreover, I heard that state schools are not usually lenient for International Students.
What state are you studying right now?
–Now, I am studying in Illinois.
If your parents cannot pay the full cost of your education here (think something in the range of US $300,000 for the undergrad and then pharma program), then you should go back to your home country for that degree. It may be more cost-effective for you to complete the degree there and then take the re-certification exams to work in the US.
I’m not sure about pharmacy but East Carolina University has a really nice medical program. You should defiantly look them up. The tuition at ECU is pretty good for out of state students etc.