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What is "pre-pharm"?
"Pre-pharm" is a term used to describe students who plan to enter a College of Pharmacy and obtain their Pharm.D. degree.
There is rarely if ever a "pre-pharm" major available at a university, but all the courses needed to gain admission to a college
of pharmacy are available at BGSU. Pre-pharm students at BGSU have two options prior to entering a college of pharmacy: 1)
They may complete a four year experience at BGSU and obtain a Bachelor's degree in ANY major (so long as they complete the
prerequisites to gain admission to a college of pharmacy), or 2) They may complete roughly three years of coursework at BGSU
and apply to be admitted to a college of pharmacy after only three years of undergraduate classes; with this option, students
will not earn a Bachelor's degree prior to entering a college of pharmacy.
What courses are required for admission to a college of pharmacy?
College of Pharmacy Admissions Committees expect the following courses to be completed prior to admission into a Pharm.D.
program. The specific courses available at BGSU are listed in parentheses.
- One year of English (ENG 111-112)
- Introduction to Biology with a laboratory component (BIOL 205)
- One year of General Chemistry with a laboratory component (CHEM 125, CHEM 127-128)
- One semester of Analytical Chemistry (CHEM 201)
- One year of Organic Chemistry with a laboratory component (CHEM 341, 344 and 345 or 346)
- One year of Physics with a laboratory component (PHYS 201 and 202)
- One year of Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL 331 and 332)
- One semester of Microbiology (BIOL 313 or BIOL 314 and 315)
- One year of Calculus I and II (MATH 131 or 134 and 135 AND MATH 232)
Are all of these required courses available at BGSU?
Yes, all the courses required for pharmacy school admission are available at BGSU. Further, many other useful (but not required)
courses for pharmacy school, such as Biochemistry and Immunobiology, are offered at BGSU.
What majors are most popular among pre-pharm students?
Pre-pharm students often choose science majors, as these majors usually include some of the courses required for pharmacy
school admission. However, remember that a student can choose ANY major and still go to pharmacy school, so long as he or
she has 1) completed the courses required for pharmacy school admission, 2) has a strong college GPA, and 3) has demonstrated
a true interest in pharmaceutical science.
How high should my GPA be in order to go to a College of Pharmacy?
Typically, a student's overall college GPA should be a 3.3 or better in order to be a strong candidate for admission to a
college of pharmacy.
When should I begin my pre-pharmacy course work?
Whether or not you major in a science, you should begin your basic pre-pharmacy course work as early as possible in your college
career. Whether you want to go to pharmacy school immediately after finishing the required coursework at BGSU (and not obtain
your Bachelor's degree) or if you wish to earn your Bachelor's degree before entering pharmacy school, you will apply to your
desired pharmacy schools the year before you wish to start. (For example, if you want to begin pharmacy school in the Fall
of 2008, you need to apply in August of 2007.) The application process for most pharmacy schools is done online; the web site
to access the basic application is http://www.pharmcas.org.
Are there any organizations at BGSU that are designed for pre-pharmacy students?
Yes. The Biological Sciences Honorary, Beta Beta Beta, and the American Chemical Society Student Affiliate are available to
dedicated science students. Further, the Pre-Vet Med Association (PVMA) is open to all students interested in health science.
These organizations not only provide opportunities to attend lectures given by health care and other professionals but also
give students a chance to more deeply explore their intended professions.
Over the past few years, what pharmacy schools have BGSU graduates attended?
BGSU graduates have attended a wide range of pharmacy schools, including The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy in
Columbus.
How long does it take to get through pharmacy school?
Pharmacy School is traditionally a four-year commitment AFTER completing the prerequisite coursework at BGSU.
What types of careers are available to people with Pharm.D. degrees?
In addition to providing pharmaceutical care to patients in both hospital and outpatient settings, pharmacists also have numerous
opportunities in research, sales, and government agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration. Pharmacists can also
earn teaching positions in colleges of pharmacy.
What resources are available at BGSU to help me learn more about pharmacy school?
BGSU offers students two advisors in the science departments, Lee Meserve, Ph.D. (Biological Sciences) and William Scovell,
Ph.D. (Chemistry), who have many years of experience in pre-pharmacy advising. Dr. Meserve has been advising pre-health professions
students since 1980, and Dr. Scovell has been performing a similar function for over a decade. Additionally, Chris Schaefer,
an academic advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences, educates pre-pharmacy students throughout the process of preparing
for pharmacy school.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Lee Meserve, Ph.D.
Distinguished Teaching Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Pre-Health Professions Advisor
419-372-8361
lmeserv@bgnet.bgsu.edu
William Scovell, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Chemistry
Pre-Health Professions Advisor
419-372-8293
wscovel@bgnet.bgsu.edu
Chris Schaefer
College of Arts and Sciences
Academic Advisor for Bachelor of Science Degree Majors
419-372-2015
cschaef@bgnet.bgsu.edu
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