2 answers
Sophie
Student
Hot Springs, Arkansas
1
Question
Updated
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What is a good pre-pharmacy major?
I am currently a senior in high school and am looking to get advice on the best majors for pre-pharmacy. I'm interested in Biology but would like to explore the other options available.
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2 answers
Julia Balakleenko
Student Pharmacist
15
Answers
Bradenton, Florida
Updated
Julia’s Answer
Hi Sophie,
Biology and chemistry are usually the degrees that people choose for pre-pharmacy because a lot of the prerequisites for pharmacy school fall under these. I completed my bachelors degree in biology, but some of my classmates have different degrees and they needed to take specific prerequisites to meet the admission requirements of our pharmacy school.
My best advice for you is to look into which pharmacy schools you may be interested in attending and looking at their required prerequisites. I know you mentioned that you are a senior in high school, but I would start looking at those now. Some vary in the kinds of classes they ask for admission to their school. It’s even possible to complete your prerequisites in the time frame of an associate’s degree, (2 years) which will save you time and money. Or, you could take some classes in a community college and transfer them to a university to complete your degree; this is a common route as well. Get in touch with pharmacy school admissions and ask for a tour or more information to help with your decision, this will also help you get your foot in the door. Some pharmacy schools have a 0-6 program where you complete two years of requirements with them, which is basically a conditional acceptance to their pharmacy school as long as you meet the grades from those two years.
I also recommend getting pharmacy experience if you do not have any; a pharmacy technician position has a lot of transferrable skills that also will help with your PharmCAS application when you get to that step. Hospital pharmacy experience is a little more difficult to get into than retail, so I would recommend it if you can — even if you decide you don’t want to be a hospital pharmacist later — but a lot of the math and knowledge that you learn there will help you tremendously in pharmacy school and make it a little easier when you get to those topics. It will also give you a chance to experience some of the different worlds of pharmacy and give you a feel to see if this is truly a career that you want to commit to.
Grades are important but pharmacy experience is a boost as well.
I hope this helps guide you in a good direction — best of luck!
Biology and chemistry are usually the degrees that people choose for pre-pharmacy because a lot of the prerequisites for pharmacy school fall under these. I completed my bachelors degree in biology, but some of my classmates have different degrees and they needed to take specific prerequisites to meet the admission requirements of our pharmacy school.
My best advice for you is to look into which pharmacy schools you may be interested in attending and looking at their required prerequisites. I know you mentioned that you are a senior in high school, but I would start looking at those now. Some vary in the kinds of classes they ask for admission to their school. It’s even possible to complete your prerequisites in the time frame of an associate’s degree, (2 years) which will save you time and money. Or, you could take some classes in a community college and transfer them to a university to complete your degree; this is a common route as well. Get in touch with pharmacy school admissions and ask for a tour or more information to help with your decision, this will also help you get your foot in the door. Some pharmacy schools have a 0-6 program where you complete two years of requirements with them, which is basically a conditional acceptance to their pharmacy school as long as you meet the grades from those two years.
I also recommend getting pharmacy experience if you do not have any; a pharmacy technician position has a lot of transferrable skills that also will help with your PharmCAS application when you get to that step. Hospital pharmacy experience is a little more difficult to get into than retail, so I would recommend it if you can — even if you decide you don’t want to be a hospital pharmacist later — but a lot of the math and knowledge that you learn there will help you tremendously in pharmacy school and make it a little easier when you get to those topics. It will also give you a chance to experience some of the different worlds of pharmacy and give you a feel to see if this is truly a career that you want to commit to.
Grades are important but pharmacy experience is a boost as well.
I hope this helps guide you in a good direction — best of luck!
Alexis Gerth
10
Answers
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Updated
Alexis’s Answer
Hey Sophie!
I am not pre-pharmacy but I took a lot of classes with people who were. Biology is a great option, but so is chemistry or biochemistry! I would really recommend biochemistry because it mixed both biology and chemistry. It takes chemistry and makes it more relatable to the field of medicine. I am a pre-medical student, and I really enjoyed biochemistry because of that connection. It is difficult, but so is chemistry. I am a biology major, and I will say most of my classmates are not a pre-professional program. Maybe look into biomedical as well! But if you do biomedical or biology, I would highly recommend a minor in chemistry.
I am not pre-pharmacy but I took a lot of classes with people who were. Biology is a great option, but so is chemistry or biochemistry! I would really recommend biochemistry because it mixed both biology and chemistry. It takes chemistry and makes it more relatable to the field of medicine. I am a pre-medical student, and I really enjoyed biochemistry because of that connection. It is difficult, but so is chemistry. I am a biology major, and I will say most of my classmates are not a pre-professional program. Maybe look into biomedical as well! But if you do biomedical or biology, I would highly recommend a minor in chemistry.