University of the Pacific Preview Day

It's time I make a real first post, so details are still fresh in my mind.

I went to the UoP Preview Day last Saturday, in Stockton, California. (The next is on October 24th for those who want to go.) I have to say that it's a very well run event. Here's a run down of what the schedule was like:

10:00-10:30 - Check-in

10:30-12:00 - Welcome Session, Admission Session, and Financial Aid (Half hour segments)

12:00-12:30 - Lunch

12:30-04:30 - Faculty Presentations, Student Panel, Campus Tour, Admissions (Hour long segments)

Note: The first sessions were presented to two large groups, with the presenters traveling to each room. We split to even smaller groups for the hour long sessions. The first Admission Session was a presentation to a giant group of us with some Q&A. The hour long session was a short presentation to a smaller group of us followed by a sit down, one-on-one, with the admissions person.

For the most part, everything was on time and on schedule, and pretty much everything was informative.

In general, they accept about 200 students into their program, with about half coming from their own undergrad population.

They presented a break-down of the cost as compared to other California schools (which ranged from 90k to 151k), with UoP costing 141k, not counting housing. Then of course the follow up to that is the average salary of a pharmacist in California is 110k a year, and UoP's program is only three years long, as opposed to the four years of the other schools.

Then they address the obvious question of how cramming a four year program into three years affects the quality of education. Their answer? It doesn't. The program fits into three years because they teach year round, and do not have a break for summer.  The information isn't crammed into fewer school sessions, the vacation time is just shorter.

Another important topic discussed was the recent changes to their program. A big change includes gaining actual experience in a pharmacy setting, and switching up the setting each semester (from a hospital, to community pharmacy, to long-term care, etc.)

Then of course they had to present some statistics and awards they've received. In the past four years, they've received 1st, 2nd (x2), and 3rd place for the APhA Student Chapter Awards out of 100 schools. (I don't really have a good understanding of what that award entails, but it does sound impressive. Something I'll have to look up later.)  And last year, they had 99.3% of their students pass the NAPLEX* board exam, and 86.9% pass the CPJE** board exam. (With the average being 97.6% and 81.6% respectively.)

Overall, the campus was nice, the people were great, and their presentation was convincing. The only hiccups were easily finding the right place to park, because the graduate side of the campus is separated from the undergraduate side by a river, with no obvious way to get around, and the lightning storm that shut off electricity for a few minutes. UoP is certainly a school that I would love to get into. Where I actually end up remains to be seen.

Next Stop: UCSF on October 2nd

UoP website - Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
* North American Pharmacist License Exam
** California Practice Standards and Jurisprudence Examination for Pharmacists