PRE-PHARMACY STUDENTS: PREPARING FOR THE BIG TIME

Pre-pharmacy students come in all shapes and sizes and are as diverse as the medical profession itself. Many undergraduate students major in other subjects and take their pre-pharm courses in addition to their central field of study. But since most pharmacy schools require at least 60 hours of science classes during your undergrad education, it?s usually most convenient to major in biology, chemistry, or a related field and earn your Bachelor of Science that way.

As you might imagine, pre-pharmacy students have a lot of work on their plate. Even if you?re majoring in one of the sciences and taking courses that will apply toward your admission into pharmacy college, that workload by itself is substantial. Where most college students are avoiding science classes as much as they can, the pre-pharm students are knocking themselves out with advanced math, chemistry, physics, and biology.

It?s all necessary, though. Not only will you need to know this material when you become a pharmacist, but you?ll need to be well versed in the near future, too, when you take the PCAT. The PCAT (or pharmacy college admission test) is required for admission by most pharmacy schools. What?s more, you must not only take it, but your PCAT score must usually be decent, too. It?s not the only thing pharmacy colleges look at, but it?s certainly a heavily weighted factor.

If you?ve done well in your science and math classes in your pre-pharm years, then the PCAT shouldn?t be too much of a strain (although you?ll definitely still need to study and review for it). It covers math, biology, chemistry, reading comprehension, and there is a written portion, too.

Pre-pharmacy students would do well to be involved in other things, too. When the pharmacy college you?ve chosen looks at your application, they?ll want to see extra-curricular activities, community service, and other things that make you a well-rounded individual. Seek guidance from your counselor or from admissions office personnel at your pharmacy college for ideas on what, specifically, you should be focusing on.

During your junior year you?ll need to start preparing for the PCAT and thinking about where you?d like to apply for your post-grad work. If your undergrad university has a pharmacy school, perhaps you?ll stay there to finish up. Or maybe you?d prefer a change of scenery, or a more prestigious institution. Wherever you go, you?ll find that pre-pharmacy students need to be disciplined and well-prepared as they move on to their post-grad pharmacy training.