Guest guest Posted November 10, 2003 Report Share Posted November 10, 2003 Hi Shama- Welcome to the group. First off, pay depends on your experience and the region you live in. Because we lack a national standard for our profession, you'll find huge diffences in pay. It all depends on your state's requirements for tech training. Working as a tech is a great idea---sort of testing the waters. You might try getting on at one of the retail chains. I know Walgreens, Albertson's/Osco and CVS have training programs for their techs and also assist with National certification preparation. Some stores will also help with tuition, but be sure to read the fine print...they'll usually require that you work for their company for a specified period once you receive your degree. Best of luck. Sincerely, Dora Group Mod > I am very interested in going to Pharmacy school and just recently > started my search. I apologize if this isn't the right place to be > posting this but I didn't know where else to go. I just graduated > with a BS in bio and know that the competition is very tough for > Pharmacy schools. I'm sure it will help being a pharmacy technician > so I've been looking into becoming one and that is how I came across > this group. Do you guys have any advice for me? I would be applying > next fall to start school in fall of 2005. If that is too soon to be > applying considering I am just starting the process, then I am > willing to wait until the next year to apply. Also, do you guys mind > me asking what the average salary is for certified pharmacy techs? > > Thank you so much for any information you can provide. I really > appreciate it. > > Shama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 10, 2003 Report Share Posted November 10, 2003 Dear hmm - Shama, I teach a very aggressive technician program in California. We just got back from a field trip from Western University in hopes that our very own grads will go on to pharm school. The thing I learned is you must use PHARM CAST which is on the net. It will ask you to sumitt information in the application form Then you pay a certain amount for each school that you want it sent to. Then the service sends the app to the school for you. The universities are NO LONGER accepting applications like they use to they are all using Pharm CAST. IF the university wants to seek more information they will then contact you directly. Things such as letters of rec are not being sought in the beginning any more. That comes oly after they get an app from Pharm cast from someone that they are interested in. Ironically I did not learn this on our field trip but the day of. Ilearned it from a student who had done the apps in time who overheard another student asking me for a letter of rec. The conversation was enlightening. I wish you well. Please keep us informed on your decisions and progress. If I were you you may also want to join some pharmacist groups to get their points of view for interviewing etc. But I can tellyou that they are looking for " involvment " at the comunity level. I hope this helps. Respectfully, Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chem Pharm Tech Educator Founder/Owner > I am very interested in going to Pharmacy school and just recently > started my search. I apologize if this isn't the right place to be > posting this but I didn't know where else to go. I just graduated > with a BS in bio and know that the competition is very tough for > Pharmacy schools. I'm sure it will help being a pharmacy technician > so I've been looking into becoming one and that is how I came across > this group. Do you guys have any advice for me? I would be applying > next fall to start school in fall of 2005. If that is too soon to be > applying considering I am just starting the process, then I am > willing to wait until the next year to apply. Also, do you guys mind > me asking what the average salary is for certified pharmacy techs? > > Thank you so much for any information you can provide. I really > appreciate it. > > Shama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 A couple of insights. I teach techs and had 12 techs apply to pharmacy school in CA--the schools weren''t impressed that they were techs. One good bit of news if UC San Diego just started their program with 26 students--requires a lower GPA than most--this year was 3.2--they like SPanish speaking students to apply and females. Creighton I hear is excellent in their on-line program but they demand the highest GPA at 3.75 this year and last year it was 3.8--because they need to know the student can handle this type of program. I hear Phila College of Science is good and fair as far as admissions goes. Just wanted to share. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 I'm not sure where this topic started but here is my 2 cents about pharmacy schools in the NJ - DE - PA area. Philadelphia College of the Sciences (formerly Philadelphia College of Pharmacy) is the oldest pharmacy school in the country. They also hold themselves in very high regards when comparing their program to others. You cannot transfer in to the school. You can apply. But they work their system this way, say they accept 100 students as freshman. The second year 20 of those students don't return. Now they have 20 seats available in the second year class. As a transfer student, they assume that an A from the school you came from is equal to a B at their school. They also do not allow studentst to enter as a different major with the expectation that they can enter the pharmacy program when a seat opens. To say the least, it is HIGHLY competitive. Rutgers School of Pharmacy in NJ is equally competitive though not as " snobbish " in their admissions. You may be able to transfer into the pharmacy program from another program at Rutgers. Transfers from schools which reciprocate credits in NJ are also accepted but the criteria is much more stringent. Temple University School of Pharmacy in PA offers a 3 year program. So all students are essentially " transfer " students when they start their first professional year. Of course, students who complete their first two years of undergraduate work at Temple University are given an " edge " admission to the program is basically fair to anyone who applies. Lynch-Brunozzi, CPhT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 Dear Shana, While I am not Dora, I will address your quesitions....I know my moderator will address them also. She does a fantastic job of doing so. To begin with you are most welcome to any information or service that I can provide. I feel privileged to assist you. I had been a Quality control inorganic chemist for 10 years with ulcers from rejecting manufactured goods, with upper management and owners always sending them out to customrers for the all mighty dollar no matter what. I gave up on QC in production, except I kept searching for a job where truth and quality mattered. I found that ONLY to be in the health related field. Then I knew that I could not be a nurse or doctor or any other healthcare worker who would have hands on with the pt because I could not stomach blood, guts and seeing someone in pain. Yet I wanted to help. So in wanting and searching for truth, quality and helping others I found pharmacy. Perfect fit with my chemistry too. I had also minored (incomplete) in education) . Five years after teching I entered the field of pharmacy education. I Never looked back and always ahead. I love it, love it, love it! The one word that I can use describe Pharmacy Teching is REWARDING!!!! The one word that I can use to describe Teaching Pharmacy Technicians is REWARDING! WHEN YOU TECH YOU HELP A PHARMACIST, NURSE AND THE ATIENT, BUT WHEN YOU TEACH TECHING YOU NOT ONLY HELP THE PATIENT, NURSE AND PHARMACIST, BUT THE STUDENT OR INDIVIDUAL PERSON. AND ALL OF THIS ULITMATELY HELPS THE COMMUNITY. That leadese to satisfaction, pride, a feeling of accomplishement and purose which leads to REWARING. The rewards range from a smile from a patient, a thank you from a doctor ro nurse, an expression of trust from a pharmacist: an overall feeling of warmth in your heart. You CAN " T beat that!!! I hope this helps... Respectfully, Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BSChemistry Pharm Tech Educator F/O > Dora, > > Thank you for that information. I'm so happy I joined > this group. Out of those stores, only CVS is in the > washington dc area and I think that will be my best > option. So now I want to know more about pharmacy > techs. What made you decide to become one and have any > considered moving on to pharmacy school? What would be > one word to describe the job? > > Thanks again everyone, > Shama > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 Hello, I just had two of my tech students admitted to UC San Diego. The pharm class last year was its first. Loma and Western University in California, are the shorter courses in terms of time. They accept transfer and espcially BS students of hard science. But since they are shoreter on time, they are more condensed: you study morein a shorter amount of time. I mentioned that they state that they accept about 25 % Rx techs, this does not mean without pre-reqs. Each studnet must get pre-reqs. BS is not required bu helps. So if you add 3 years at a fast pace pharm school + the 2 yrs undergrad pre - req work you will have putin about 5+ yrs. Hope this helps. Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chem Founder/Owner > A couple of insights. I teach techs and had 12 techs apply to pharmacy school > in CA--the schools weren''t impressed that they were techs. > > One good bit of news if UC San Diego just started their program with 26 > students--requires a lower GPA than most--this year was 3.2--they like SPanish > speaking students to apply and females. > > Creighton I hear is excellent in their on-line program but they demand the > highest GPA at 3.75 this year and last year it was 3.8--because they need to > know the student can handle this type of program. > I hear Phila College of Science is good and fair as far as admissions goes. > Just wanted to share. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 Hello Shama: The website for the online application for pharmacy schools using PharmCAS is http://www.pharmcas.org On it you will find prereqs for the schools you might be interested in applying to. Good luck! Lori " I am very interested in going to Pharmacy school and just recently > started my search. I apologize if this isn't the right place to be > posting this but I didn't know where else to go. I just graduated > with a BS in bio and know that the competition is very tough for > Pharmacy schools. I'm sure it will help being a pharmacy technician > so I've been looking into becoming one and that is how I came across > this group. Do you guys have any advice for me? I would be applying > next fall to start school in fall of 2005. If that is too soon to be > applying considering I am just starting the process, then I am > willing to wait until the next year to apply. Also, do you guys mind > me asking what the average salary is for certified pharmacy techs? > > Thank you so much for any information you can provide. I really > appreciate it. > > Shama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 Sorry I typed the wrong address. It is http://www.pharmcas.com Lori Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2003 Report Share Posted November 12, 2003 Dear Lori, Thank you so much for posting this web site. When I get a chance I will place it in the 'link' section. Also in addiiton I found BOTH .com and .org to work!!! Thanks again, Jeanetta Mastron > Sorry I typed the wrong address. It is http://www.pharmcas.com > > Lori Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2003 Report Share Posted November 12, 2003 I just finished visiting the Pharmcas.com site. It is VERY helpful. It has so much information, even a brief outline of each participating school's requirements and general information. Any other helpful sites that offer advice to pharmacy students? I don't know if I asked this before or not, do you guys know about pcat- test.com and pcatprofessor.com? Both claim to help you study for the pcats. > > Sorry I typed the wrong address. It is http://www.pharmcas.com > > > > Lori Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2003 Report Share Posted November 12, 2003 Dear Shama, I haveno idea but I am sure someone else in your shoes is here trying to get into pharm school may also have that info. Glad you likev pharm cast and happy that Lori shared the site addy. For those of you taking the test this Saturday or Sunday Please feel free to ask you last minute questions., even while this other conversation is going on. Respectfully, Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS F/O > > > Sorry I typed the wrong address. It is http://www.pharmcas.com > > > > > > Lori Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2003 Report Share Posted November 12, 2003 PharmD programs are 4 years. NOT including your pre-pharm classes. Della Cat Haven, Inc A No-Kill Cat Rescue Houston, Tx www.cat-haven.org Re: Re: Pharmacy school How long are most pharm d programs? Everyone says , " you're never too old " , but I want to be realistic. Thank you.( I have a degree in science) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.