Choosing a pharmacy school can be a difficult choice for many students. For myself this was not an issue. I was fairly set on attending either Washington State University or University of Washington School of Pharmacy. Back then I wanted to stay close to home with family and friends. Another reason for choosing these schools was to start networking in the area that I wanted to practice in as a pharmacist. The other factor people consider is the ranking of the pharmacy program. Many people have asked me if it matters if they attend a Top 10 Pharmacy School.
The U.S. News Report releases pharmacy school rankings every few years. The rankings methodology are based entirely on peer assessment surveys. The surveys were sent to other pharmacy programs around the nation which involved the deans, faculty members, and other administrators.
Top 10 Pharmacy Schools
The top 10 pharmacy schools U.S. News Report rankings should not be the deciding factor for which schools to consider. It is a reasonable tool for your checklist in where you want to attend. Keep in mind the methodology of how these rankings are achieved. It is based on peer assessment reviews from other schools around the nation.
If we were to go back to the early 2000s I would say pharmacy school rankings were meaningless for you to find a job. In today’s market it is something to consider going forward as the market has become increasingly competitive. This does not mean you will not find work if you do not attend a top 10 pharmacy school.
The best way to get a job is networking. However, I do believe attending a top 10 pharmacy school in this job market will be beneficial. Employers will say they do not discriminate but let me give you an example:
- Candidate 1: New Graduate coming from a brand new pharmacy school nobody has ever heard of.
- Candidate 2: New Graduate coming from the #1 Pharmacy School University of San Francisco.
Keep in mind the methodology of the school rankings were peer assessment surveys. This means most people in the field of pharmacy know that University of San Francisco is the best pharmacy school in the nation. Lets say both candidates interviewed well. The subconscious of the hiring manager will believe that Candidate 2 is a more well-rounded and more intelligent candidate.
What do you think? Will hiring managers care about top 10 pharmacy schools?
There are many variables to consider when deciding on what pharmacy school to attend. This is just one piece to the overall picture. Other things to consider:
- Location and Networking: Where do you want to practice as a pharmacist when you graduate? Pharmacy school can last between 3-4 years. This is where you will build a pharmacy network. This network will help you find a job when you graduate.
- Private versus Public: Consider cost of pharmacy school and the student loan debt you may accrue.
- Out of State Tuition: Consider the cost and the student loan debt.
- Pharmacy School Curriculum: does this match your future ambitions? Will this program help you reach your goals?
- Pharmacy School dual programs and certificate programs: does this match your future ambitions? Will this program help you reach your goals?
- Internships: Does the pharmacy school surrounding area have many internship opportunities for students?
- Pharmacy School Ranking: Top 10 Pharmacy Schools. Does this matter?
Overall pharmacy school rankings are only one piece of the puzzle for deciding which school to attend. In my opinion it is worth at least taking a look at the U.S. News Report Rankings to get an idea of how each school is perceived by their peers.
I hope the recommendations above will help guide, motivate, and inspire you to achieve your goals. Follow my blog for more tips and advice on how to become a pharmacist. What are your experiences? Please comment below and share your thoughts.