Becoming a Pharmacist

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Michael Lounsbury - 25 Jan 2004 21:05 GMT

For a while I've wanted to be a pharmacist. I made sure to do well in
High School, took the Sat, and applied for the colleges. I was
accepted to most of them with most of my college paid through grants
and scholarships. Then an event happened that changed my life, and my
plans. My longtime girlfriend became pregrant with my child, making
traditional college impossible. I've done all I can to support her and
the child, even joining the Army Reserves in an effort to save some
money up. My child was born Jan 4th and he's the most beautiful thing
I've ever seen.
Now I'm back from the reserves and currently holding a security
guard job at a chiropratic college. I make 11.75 an hour. Not much,
but better then most jobs starting out in my area. And now that I've
stabablized more financially, I want to again examine the possibility
of a college education, and the possibility of becoming a pharmacist.
I know traditional college would be impossible at this point, but
there has to be other options. I know the course is very rigirous, and
demanding, but I was hoping to be able to take classes that would at
least count towards a degree in pharmacy online. I haven't be able to
find a full degree program for this proffession, but at least this way
I would be able to take a step in the right direction, and in a few
years take classes in a tradional universaty to finish my education.
I would appreciate any help/suggestions in the classes I should
take, and anything else you can tell me that can help me on my path to
become a Pharmacist. I want to make a better life for my family.
Please help.

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Don W. McCollough - 28 Jan 2004 09:29 GMT

> For a while I've wanted to be a pharmacist. I made sure to do well in
> High School, took the Sat, and applied for the colleges. I was
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> become a Pharmacist. I want to make a better life for my family.
> Please help.

Anyone? :)

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Me - 30 Jan 2004 00:30 GMT

>> I know traditional college would be impossible at this point, but
>> there has to be other options. I know the course is very rigirous, and
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Anyone? :)

Creighton University (Jesuit private college == pretty expensive) in
Omaha, NE offers a web-based PharmD program. Of course it can't all be
completed online, but a good portion can. (IMO, you need exceptional
self-discipline to do something like this).

I don't know much about it personally as I am doing the pharmd program at
the other college of pharmacy in Omaha, and I don't know if any other
schools offer online programs. You can read a little about it here:

http://pharmacy.creighton.edu/spahp/non_traditional/rx/async_overview.asp

Other than that, you need more details. If you have a preference for a
pharmacy school, you'll need to know if they have any prerequisites. If
its a four-year program, you'll likely need a good 60 semester hours of
credit before applying for the program in courses such as general and
organic chemistry with labs, statistics, biology, some social sciences and
or psychology, etc. If it is a 6-year program, there probably won't be any
course prerequisites.

Once you kind of have an idea of what college of pharmacy you might like
to attend, contact them and find out exactly what the prerequisites are,
and ask them if something like phoenix university's online courses (like
those in their associate of arts in general studies program, or any other
school's online courses for that matter) are acceptable.

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SteveC - 10 Feb 2004 17:47 GMT

The Univ. of Florida has an off-campus PharmD program. They have set up
satellite campuses in Jacksonville, Orlando, and St. Petersburg. They
take about 50 students per campus.

Most of the learning is by watching streaming video lectures from the
main campus in Gainesville. Quizzes, Case studies, and exams you
actually have to be present at the satellite campus.

Check it out:
http://www.ufcopoffcampus.com/ufcop_harriett_meyer.html

Here is a link to the actual UF College of Pharmacy website:

http://www.cop.ufl.edu/studaff/index.htm

As far as finances and cost, tuition for in-state runs about $7000/year.

Have you looked into the GI bill? I thought that the Army Reserves
had some type of tuition assitance program.

There has to be a local community college or university that offers
web-based/online courses. The community colleges down here
in Florida offer them. I think a logical first step is going to your
local community college/junior college and speak to a counselor.
In my experience, most of the students in community college are working
and going to school part-time. So, you are not alone.

Good luck,

> > For a while I've wanted to be a pharmacist. I made sure to do well in
> > High School, took the Sat, and applied for the colleges. I was
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> Anyone? :)

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