Online Pharmacist

Until 2004, there were two degree programs that were eligible for accreditation by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE): the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Pharmacy and the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). Both of these degrees meet the requirements of State boards of pharmacy allowing graduates to be examined for licensure. The first of these, the BS degree, is phased out throughout the U.S. and the ACPE will only accredit PharmD programs after 2003. The Doctor of Pharmacy program requires at least eight semesters of professional-level course work, usually over a four-year period, including at least two semesters of supervised practice experience. Eligibility for entry into the Doctor of Pharmacy program requires successful completion of a series of college-level prepharmacy requirements that generally take at least two years to complete. Therefore, the Doctor of Pharmacy is frequently described as a six-year program although many candidates entering PharmD programs already hold Bachelors degrees with majors such as biology and chemistry. It is also possible to pursue the Doctor of Pharmacy degree after completing a Bachelors degree in pharmacy. This option is often called a post-BS PharmD degree or non traditional PharmD. The pharmacy curriculum includes required and elective coursework in these areas:

1. Normal and pathologic human biology including the study of human anatomy and physiology, pathologic disease processes, and the study of immunology and other defense mechanisms against disease.
2. Chemistry including biochemistry particularly as it applies to the structure and function of medications.
3. Pharmacology which is the study of the biological actions of medications with emphasis on the mechanism of drug action.
4. Pharmaceutics which includes the study of the various dosage forms for medications, the processes of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, the preparation of medications and the requirements for handling, storing, preparing and dispensing prescription medications in the United States.
5. Social and administrative courses that address health care systems in the United States, communications, biomedical ethics, legal issues surrounding the practice of pharmacy and the economics of medication use.
6. The therapeutics of medication use including medication selection, dosing, monitoring and determining whether a desired therapeutic outcome has been achieved for both prescription and non-prescription (overthe-counter) medications.
7. Experiential courses that engage the student in actual pharmacy practice experiences under the guidance of a preceptor. The experiential component is distributed throughout the curriculum with a full-time concentration during the last semesters. The clerkship lasts at least two semesters and consists of a series of rotations of four or more weeks in length in various practice settings including community and institutional sites. This portion of the curriculum is particularly labor-intensive requiring skilled practitioners and a high faculty-student ratio

 

Pharmacy school application process is a monumental project for most students.  Applicants must be very articulated and present the application in well formatted "typed" version.  Many pharmacy schools offer online application process, especially if school require application through pharmcas.  Online application is convenient but ensure to review application before submitting.  Write each and every questions and answers on paper to review your applications.  Do not finish this application in 30 minutes, although some of applicants may have abilities and capable, most of applicants should carefully review their application.  When obtaining letter of recommendation select someone who knows you and who will highly recommend you versus someone who may hold a prestigious position in your academy world realm and barely knows you.  Letter of recommendation is one factor that you don't have much impact on its outcome.  Again, you should be selective but show act of kindness to your recommendator, like you realized that he has been wearing that old tie and you happened to work at Men's department.  If pharmacy school application does not utilize pharmcas, most of the applications can be downloaded via pharmacy school web sites.  Most of these downloadable applications are in Adobe Acrobat application.  You could actually print these applications and use typewriter but you could upgrade your software or simply ask your technical savy friend to format the adobe acrobat online application so you may write, print and save for future use.  If you have issues in regards to adobe acrobat you may contact me and I may be able to help.

It is difficult to decide about your future career.  Following questions may arise:  what if I don't like my career, is there diffierent options, does it pay well, what is opportunity cost like tuition and time. The decision to pursue a career in pharmacy is an excellent choice.  There's no need for alchemy when it comes to conjuring up golden employment opportunities in pharmacy. Pharmacy offers attractive salaries, a comfortable work environment, flexible hours, benefits society, and diverse career options. Obtaining a doctorate in pharmacy requires at least two years of pre-pharmacy and four years of pharmacy school. Because pharmacists are such a crucial component of health care, obtaining a pharmacy degree today is on par with attending medical school. Students interested in career in pharmacy should begin in high school by taking required or introductory courses such as physics, chemistry and biology, and calculus.  In fact, there are several pharmacy schools that admit students directly from high school and not requiring any college level preparatory courses.  Browse college websites to get a glimpse at what is required for entry.

 

 

While attending UC Irvine, I was a member of Marine Corps Reserve, a weekend warrior.  I worked at UC Irvine library as a security and also worked briefly (4-6 months) at TGI Fridays, and Robinsons.  Upon graduation from UC Irvine, I got a job as a QC Chemistry Laboratory Technician.  However, three months into the job, Uncle Sam called.  "Desert Storm".  Desert Storm was a life learning experience for me.  My MOS, military occupation speciality was Artillery.  I wanted to speak to my recruter...  Anyways, due to my natural charmisma, I attended many different school and training.  The last title I held was safety NCO.  It was a perfect job,  I just have to make sure we are safe to fire.  I was one of the few college students in my company.  After 7 months of duty, I returned home and I returned to work 1 week after coming back.  I moved through the ranks swiftly and I received few promotions, but I was not completely satisfied I realized that for me to earn enough money to lead a comfortable life I had to become at least a vice president of company.  I just didn't have patience and I wanted a concrete guarantee of earning potential.  I knew that eventually I have to return school to further myself in life.  But I wanted a degree with an entrepreneurship possibilities.  4 years at USC was probably the fastest 4 years period that I could remember.  I thought that pharmacist just counted some pills and school would be a walk in the park.  I was proven wrong because I had to repeat Biochemistry class in summer session.  I didn't see any summer session in school brochure.  It was a remedial class. I still graduated in 4 years and my first job offer or contract was for $120,000 a year.    Pharmacist career has been glowing in media and to public along with pharmacist salary. Becoming a pharmacist was my best life choice I have managed to achieve.  I have met 2 other pharmacist who are former US Marine.  Marine Pharmacist would be title that we should name because once a marine always a marine and can't change my career now.  How many pharmacist(s) do you know who is a US Marine or was a US Marine?

Pharmacy school admission committee strive to attain students who will perform well in school and then someone  who could contribute to pharmacy profession.  Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) scores and undergraduate grade point averages predict academic success in pharmacy school but nontraditional or  noncognitive variables, such as oral communication skills, maturity, integrity, compassion, and leadership are essential traits for good professional practice.  Those factors can only be assessed by interviewing potential
students.  However, the assessment of students' noncognitive factors can be subjective. In order to effectively interview applicants effectively to elicit the most information in a fair and consistent manner, pharmacy school admission committe utilizes predefined questions.  Thus  applicants are asked similar questions to ensure  airness and minimize bias (ie, some applicants may be asked easier questions than others, depending on the interviewer). Most schools of pharmacy utilize predefined questions as admission interview criteria.  Of course, one infamous question is "why pharmacy?"  That question is actually fair and justified question.  I was asked that same question during my pharmacy school interview.  Ask a friend who has interviewed at specific school you desire to attend.  If you lack those worthy friends, seek those questions via internet.  There are many forums in regards to school interview procedures and comments of students after interview.

Pharmacy SchoolGPA
Auburn3.4
Samford3.55
Midwestern-Glendale3.32
Arizona3.64
Arkansas 3.64
Loma	Linda3.30
Touro3.11
California-San Diego3.67
California-San Francisco3.49
Pacific3.44
Southern California3.44
	
Western3.22
	
Colorado3.46
Connecticut3.3
Howard3.28
Florida A&MNR
Nova Southeastern3.4
Palm Beach Atlantic3.46
Florida3.56
Mercer3.38
South3.51
Georgia3.7
Idaho State3.61
Midwestern-Chicago3.41
Southern Illinois3.60
Illinois-Chicago3.31
ButlerNR

Purdue3.67

Drake3.41

Iowa3.52

Kansas3.57
 
Kentucky3.63

Louisiana-Monroe3.71

Xavier3.1

Maryland3.4

Massachusetts-Boston3.53

Massachusetts-Worcester3.38

Northeastern3.8

Ferris State3.6

Michigan3.4
 
Wayne State3.62

Minnesota3.53

Mississippi3.68

St. Louis3.82

Missouri-Kansas City3.54

Montana 3.58

Creighton 3.43

Nebraska3.715

Southern Nevada3.7

RutgersNA

New Mexico3.35

A&M SchwartzNR

St. John's3.7

Buffalo3.56

Albany3.60

Campbell3.41
 
North Carolina3.5 

Wingate3.39

North Dakota State3.86

Ohio Northern3.78

Ohio State3.5

Cincinnati 3.606

Toledo3.78

SW Oklahoma 3.65

Oklahoma 3.58

Oregon State 3.54

Duquesne  3.8

Lake Erie 3.56

Philadelphia  NR

Temple  3.5

Pittsburgh  3.7

Wilkes3.2

Puerto Rico3.53
 
Rhode IslandNR

South Carolina3.68
 
South Dakota State3.8

Tennessee3.5

Texas Southern3.29

Texas Tech3.72

Houston3.5

Texas-Austin3.61

Utah 3.5

Hampton 3.2

Shenandoah3.4

Appalachia3.11

Virginia Commonwealth3.5

Washington3.6

Washington State3.0

West Virginia3.67

Wisconsin3.7
 
Wyoming3.6

Some pharmacy school applicant may have some extraordinary experiences or achievements that would indicate their dedication to pharmacy field.  However, if you are average student, how can you show or prove that you do have dedication to pharmacy field besides your studying credentials.  Prospective pharmacists should have a desire to help others since the main focus most pharmacy setting is to help people.  One could retain some pharmacy experience by working or volunteering at local pharmacy.  Additionally, by having hands on experience, one would make a informed career choice.  In order to optimize this opportunity,  volunteer at the local community clinic. Most of community clinics provide free or low cost health care for the needy or poor.  Most of the community clinics are affiliated with medical and pharmacy schools and may get exposure to pharmacy school.  It would be safe to state that volunteering at community clinic would show and prove one’s desire to help people.

If you were invited to pharmacy school interviews, you should believe that you could convince interviewers that they are your "role model" and that you want to become them. Simply put it, the truth, in English, "Brown Nose". But the fact is that you do want to become them and you would be an addition to school, not only because you are intelligent, but you are dedicated to pharmacy field and your unique attributes are definitely wanted and needed. Overall, the interview assesses the applicant's communication skills, confidence, and maturity, commitment to the field of pharmacy, motivation, character and ability to interact with others. Prior to school interview, study about the school of your interview to indicate that you have researched about the school and that particular school is number one choice, regardless your subjective opinion, or why go to interview. There is no question that interview is a stressful event of admission process for applicants. You should glow at the interview by talking about your volunteer experience at local community clinic helping the needy. Your experience at pharmacy given to certain aspect of your possible pharmacist career choice. Most interviewers ask the infamous question, "why pharmacy?" Be prepare to answer that because you wanted to be a pharmacist since you are five years old. I will write more scenarios or typical questions asked by pharmacy school admissions.

I believe that every pharmacy schools admission require personal statement. The guidelines for personal statement should be a part of school application package. Pharmacy School admission score personal statement as part of admission. The weight of personal statement in pharmacy school admission process is 5 - 10%. Thus do not take this lightly, especially if your GPA does not meet average GPA of typical admitted applicant.
As you already know followings: do not have spelling or grammer error.
Also, try not to be average joe pharmacy student, be courageous and do not bear boredom to school admission. In fact, hire a professional writer to write your personal statement. You have waited and studied too long not to use every resources to your advantage. Include your experience that influence your interest in pharmacy. Every student met joe pharmacist that work at corner neighborhood pharmacy. Ok you met then what? What gave you positive feedback that strength your goal. Indicate your achievements and your experiences that would prove positive to pharmacy field. Number one indication of your interest is GPA, which shows your dedication. Have you volunteer at local community clinic? If you haven't volunteered to help the needy, why do you want to be a pharmacist? Have you worked at pharmacy? If you haven't worked at pharmacy, how would you know that you want to be a pharmacist? If you have worked at pharmacy, obtain pharmacy technician license by taking a PTCB test. It shouldn't be overly difficult for perspective pharmacy students.

Why did I become a pharmacist? The idea of becoming pharmacist did not occur to me as an adolescent. I started undergraduate school with intention of becoming a dentist, although my interest and hobby was computers. After few years as college student, the idea of becoming a dentist did not appealed to me. I graduated from University of California, Irvine with B.S. in Biological Science with B+ average without much future prospects. While searching for future career option, I took a job in pharmaceutical manufacturing company that specialized in intravenous solutions. Within a year of the job, I realized that I needed to advance myself by education. I decided to attend business school and did not study more than 10 minutes for GMAT score a little above average, however I was accepted to 2 MBA schools. After finishing a year of business of school, however, my interest changed to pharmacy because of money and naturally concurred with my undergraduate degree and current position in pharmaceutical industry. The determining factor was in starting salary of pharmacist. After a little research (those days without internet), I found out that California had 3 pharmacy schools: UCSF, USC, UOP. USC was my school of choice but I lacked few course requirements.  In order to meet usc pharmacy school prerequisites, I went to city college to take speech class and upper level English (at university I took upper division writing as pass/no pass). I have already completed other two schools' prerequisites. UCSF did not extend a invite for interview, UOP application was on hold due to letter of recommendation issue, but USC offered me an interview. I always felt confident about interview because I will sell me (but not too cheap). Additionally, I had a strong foundation of pharmacy by working at pharmaceutical manufacturing company in manufacturing quality process control. I was interviewed by a professor and a student.  I also felt confident about the essay school wanted to me compose about some topic.  I received a letter of acceptance in march. Hello USC Trojans!