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@shea04
0 answers, 2 votes
 • 3 years ago •
Admissions Advice

Is it a better choice to get a bachelor's degree first or go straight into a 5 year pharmacy school?
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I am interested in going into pharmacy but unsure about which path I should take. Some of the schools I plan on applying to do not require me to get a bachelor's degree before applying into their pharmacy program but I don't know if I should major in something else first. What do you think is the better option?

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@CameronBameron
2,281 answers, 8,539 votes
 • 3 years ago

Can you provide me with some context of where the college is located and where you are located. What are the 2 different options? a.) Four-year bachelor's + 3 to 4 Grad school Pharma.D vs. b.) Five-year Pharma.D? (never heard of such a thing in the US)

In the United States, I thought the shortest path to being a Pharmacist was to enroll from HS into a 6 year Pharma.D program. So what school are you talking about? I heard of accelerated Pharma.D schools that let you do it in 3 years after earning a Bachelors's degree.

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[🎤 AUTHOR]@shea043 years ago [edited]

Two of the schools I am looking at is Chapman University and Pacific University, both of with allow enrollment into their pharmacy program after your freshman year, allowing students to finish getting their PharmD within 5 years.

@CameronBameron3 years ago [edited]

If your motivation is to get through college ASAP to earn a living as a Pharmacist then, that makes sense. However, I would recommend that you weigh the opportunity cost of not attending a good 4 college and getting a solid liberal arts education, and attend a better Pharmacy program against attending #79 and #99 Pharmacy programs in the US. If academic reputation means anything in the Pharmacy industry you may get a better jobs and teaching opportunities attending a better school.

@CameronBameron3 years ago

If you attend a 5 year accelerated program and change your mind, then your Pharma credits really wouldn't be transferable to a non-Pharma degree correct? Although Chapman is lower ranked, I think the Campus life would be better than Pacific U.here in Oregon where I live. There is nothing to do at Pacific U. it's a food and cultural desert.

[🎤 AUTHOR]@shea043 years ago

Thank you for your advice! I will keep in mind everything said, as it is all very informational!

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