What do you like to study in college?

[boast]

Oh I asked my friends what advice they would give to someone coming into west lafayette, and the general consensus was: go to the den (cheap stuff), the library, greyhouse (they have jenga!), and random stuff in the village. Also, buy yourself a 9mm, just in case of the boredom.

lol, I'll keep that in mind. I am kinda worried about going to a small town, though. (I'm from Miami- so its a huge scenery shift).

[F-22]

I'll be going out to university in about a year but I have no idea what to take..I'm interested in tech/engineering/physics but I have no idea. I also took accounting and economics..my options are fairly open. My parents told me there's not much money in tech/engineering if I was to be realistic, but I really have no idea T.T

azilius,

tech dont make that much money but engineers can make a lot. once you have enough experience you can get to 70k+ easily and sometimes 100k+.

[SM-Count]

It's actually quite difficult to find a job in engineering right now (unless you're female). Plus starting salary isn't close to 6 digits + the fact no one likes to hire starting engineers you're a bit screwed unless you went to a good school. (btw, Purdue? really? aim higher)

[Jstar1]

It's actually quite difficult to find a job in engineering right now (unless you're female). Plus starting salary isn't close to 6 digits + the fact no one likes to hire starting engineers you're a bit screwed unless you went to a good school. (btw, Purdue? really? aim higher)

only for the auto industry. Theres engineering opportunities elsewhere, especially in the government or defense industry. Unless your GPA is horrible there are a lot of jobs out there.

And purdue is one of the best engineering schools in the country even though west lafayette is crappy. My dad once went there for his work and he said it was really boring

[Goobronicus]

(btw, Purdue? really? aim higher)

Aim higher? LOL. Purdue is one of the best engineering schools in the US. Sure, there are better, I will concede that, but did you even happen to read the location of the person I posted that to?

In state tuition + great engineering school = win. Even YOU can do the "word" math (giggles).

Sucks for boast though, no in state ;( (goes to search for engineering schools near Miami)

EDIT: It also depends what rankings you look at. But usually Purdue falls between 7-10. Now, I don't know how many engineering schools are located in the US, but being in the top ten every year counts for something. Top school in FL actually is the University of Florida. Ranked 25th.

[SM-Count]

What exactly is the definition of 'one of the best' to you?

I mean, for pre-med -> med (with guaranteed acceptance, what I'm doing), there's the best, Harvard, and then there's one of the best, Hopkins and WASHU (where I am). Then there are great med schools. One of the best needs to be able to actually compete with the best, Hopkins and WASHU have both over taken Harvard overall. For engineering, there's MIT, then the three CA schools (Cal tech, Stanf, UC berk) that ranks in 'one of the best'. Purdue's ok, I mean... for chem eng or one of it's specialties (I think they're pretty good at mat and elec too), but even then it's beat out by a good number of other schools. Sure, its hella easy to get into, but I'm just saying apply to Purdue but also apply to a real 'one of the best' schools for engineering, you never know. /shrug

I'm saying this cause a friend of mine applied for UMKC art school cause he was satisficing on that school, and I made him apply to RISD and UMaryland, and he got in both with scholarships from Maryland and he went there, never looked back. Don't close a door to a univ until they reject you, a good undergrad could make the difference. (though not so much for some engineering like BME where a doctorate is pretty much required to get a job...)

[XemnasXD]

pretty sure purdue is up there...thats like getting into any of the top 50 schools in the country and going "Eh, well since its not number 1 its a waste of time"...

[Element112]

(btw, Purdue? really? aim higher)

It really depends on what engineering specialization you're interested in:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... 9907190382
Also, look at the specialization rankings. Maybe you'll be surprised.

(unless you're female).

I'm sooo grateful that I'm a female who happens to like science. <3 Sucks for you mens.

west lafayette is crappy. My dad once went there for his work and he said it was really boring

Try living here. Almost everyone I know from elementary school is an alcoholic. Boarding school ftwww.

[Doron]

How about Leisure??

Well, at least in Holland we've got studies for Tourism, Restaurant working, Aviation services and stuff like that...

[/Pi]

Depends what pharm schools. Some are two years + one year full of rotations (there are not a whole lot of these, however the one I am attending is one of these; no breaks though for a three year), others are three years + one full of rotations. As for residency. Look ahead early. They are not easy to get into. Depending on where you go, you'll have between (including residency) four years (min. residency = no specialization; and three year pharm school) - seven years (max residency usually is two, but you can go three I suppose). Make sure you get a Pharm D... and make sure the school is keeping up with accreditation. Also, you won't need the Pharm Tech License. As soon as you start pharmacy school you will get a Intern License (or at least I did) which will basically let you do anything a pharmacist does.

For example, I never did tech, just shadowed and volunteered at a local hospital pharmacy. Now I am counseling new scripts + medication management.

May I ask who you are sending your apps to? If it's personal but wouldn't mind me knowing, send em via PM.

Oh, and I'm also assuming you took the PCAT. If you haven't taken it, it's not difficult at all. I went in w/o studying for it since I had studied for the DAT's already, and I got a 96th percentile. Reading, Science, Math is the level of "Calc" although I didn't even need to use Calculus to solve any of them, and a Written portion (I think that's it).

The school I'm attending/applying to has the two years + one year rotation program. I got into the program when applying for college after high school, so all I have to do is meet the undergrad requirements and then some to get in. I already have a spot in the pharm school but if I don't meet all my requirements, they're going to give my spot to someone applying from outside the university. That said, University of the Pacific, the school I'm attending and planning to apply to does not require PCAT - just math-sci GPA, required undergrad courses, interview, personal statement, and a pharm req letter. I'm currently working on the latter by volunteering. I should get in a month.

As for the Pharm Tech license, I still have a year before pharm school *if* I get in. I might as well get it for a job/experience. It also looks good for my application, as most people say. Not having the license wud still look good, just have to pass the PTCB. I heard a lot of ppl say it's easy. Hopefully it will be.

As for residency, the pharmacist I'm working with told me they look for a minimum GPA of 3.8 in pharm school. I'll see how that goes. When should I apply for a residency? During my year of rotations?

[Goobronicus]

The school I'm attending/applying to has the two years + one year rotation program. I got into the program when applying for college after high school, so all I have to do is meet the undergrad requirements and then some to get in. I already have a spot in the pharm school but if I don't meet all my requirements, they're going to give my spot to someone applying from outside the university. That said, University of the Pacific, the school I'm attending and planning to apply to does not require PCAT - just math-sci GPA, required undergrad courses, interview, personal statement, and a pharm req letter. I'm currently working on the latter by volunteering. I should get in a month.

As for the Pharm Tech license, I still have a year before pharm school *if* I get in. I might as well get it for a job/experience. It also looks good for my application, as most people say. Not having the license wud still look good, just have to pass the PTCB. I heard a lot of ppl say it's easy. Hopefully it will be.

As for residency, the pharmacist I'm working with told me they look for a minimum GPA of 3.8 in pharm school. I'll see how that goes. When should I apply for a residency? During my year of rotations?

First off, congrats! That's a great school. Yes I do agree that having the tech license would most certainly benefit you for job experience, and I have also heard that the PTCB is fairly easy (as is the other test you can take, through ExCPT).

As for the residency, I have actually heard that while GPA is important, they are more interested in finding "Good Fits", meaning someone who's personality fits that of the staff that the student will be working with as well as a student that has a desire to be there and to be learning.

You should go here (http://www.natmatch.com/ashprmp/) to look up the schools that currently are part of "The Match". I would most certainly start looking into what residencies interest you most, and then getting in contact with them as soon as possible. You would apply the final year of pharmacy school.


For reference, on that website, when they state PGY1 - means PostGraduate, Year 1; PG2 - Post Grad, Year 2, etc. The specialized programs are PGY2. You aren't locked into doing a PGY2 after you start the PGY1, but consider what you want to specialize in if you do this.

[XemnasXD]

why on earth is pharmacy school so competitive. Most of you guys end up behind a counter not in a lab if im mistaken, and i might be, i abhor the industry.

[F-22]

for engineering students,

if you are getting your 1st undergraduate degree, it doesnt matter where you get it from. the undergraduate courses are very similar from one university to another . but for graduate studies you want to go to the big name school. last week i was in a staff meeting talking my project engineering manager, he told us that a lot of old engineers are retired so the company are looking for young experience engineer. But the problem is that most company wont hire right now because of the economy. so i recommend, junior or senior engineering students get a internship at a engineering company.

[F-22]

why on earth is pharmacy school so competitive. Most of you guys end up behind a counter not in a lab if im mistaken, and i might be, i abhor the industry.

xemna,

what are you studying or what did you study?

[XemnasXD]

Chemistry right now and still in undergrad debating which sub-branch i should invest most of my future...

[Blurred]

Haven't decided yet. I still have a few months to decide.

:l

If you go straight out of high school they will make you stay a cadet until you turn 21, and when you do turn 21 your salary will be very low, or you will get a desk job. Go to college, and get a criminal justice degree. (even if it's 2 years)

EDIT: I never saw your post until now lol

[SM-Count]

Chemistry right now and still in undergrad debating which sub-branch i should invest most of my future...

If you were graduating right now: biochem's very hot. In the near future: nuclear chem's where I'd put my money, they're gonna have to get energy from somewhere.

[dom]

http://www.uwaterloo.ca

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Waterloo

We have RIM (Blackberry) next door, and who hire students with no questions asked.

Stephen Hawkings now has a research chair at our University.

Bill Gates loves us, has given us millions, and has said:

“…There are many years where Waterloo is the university we hired the most people from of any university in the world, and Waterloo has always been in the top five every year.”

Rankings and reputation

More Canadian high-tech and knowledge-based spin-off companies trace their roots to the University of Waterloo than to any other school, and as such, the University of Waterloo and the Waterloo region has been called the "Silicon Valley of the North".

Great emphasis is placed on furthering the growth of research by quick and steady expansion of resources. The Institute for Quantum Computing, established in 2002, is one of a number of institutes and centres for research established, and has already begun to attract international scientists and a Nobel laureate to the university.

Computer science and mathematics

The international reputation of Waterloo in mathematics and computer science is reflected in the performance of its students in academic competitions such as the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition and the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest.

In the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest, Waterloo students have won gold medals in 2000,2001, 2002 and 2005. Since the ACM contest began in 1977, Waterloo teams have accumulated the second most ACM first-place finishes (tied with six other schools). Waterloo's programs are gaining international recognition in industry and companies recruiting undergraduates on campus at Waterloo presently or formerly include Apple, Amazon, Barclays Capital, Electronic Arts, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Pixar, RIM, and Yahoo, among others.

Since the inaugural Putnam competition in 1938, Waterloo teams have accumulated the sixth most top-five finishes ahead of Duke, Chicago, WUSL, Yale, Berkeley, Cornell, Stanford, Columbia and Carnegie Mellon among others.[citation needed] The Business Administration (WLU) and Mathematics (UW) Double Degree program is considered by many as having the best students from business programs across Canada.

Engineering

As one of the most competitive engineering schools in the country, and with students and alumni consistently placing in the top tier of international competitions such as ChallengeX, the University of Waterloo Faculty of Engineering is widely considered by industry and academics to be the foremost engineering school in Canada. The school also holds the world record for the longest distance travelled by a solar car. Out of 24 participants in the 2008 North American Solar Car Challenge from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Germany, the University of Waterloo finished 4th overall and was the top Canadian team in the competition.

Students can choose to study in the following disciplines: Architecture, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geological Engineering, Management Engineering, Management Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Nanotechnology Engineering, Software Engineering and Systems Design Engineering.

School of Accounting and Finance

The University of Waterloo School of Accounting and Finance offers undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs. Its Masters of Accounting graduates are well prepared for the UFE exam for Chartered Accountants. Its Honours Mathematics/Chartered Accountancy, Accounting and Financial Management (Public Accounting and Financial Management) and Biotechnology/Chartered Accountancy are one of the most competitive programs in Canada

Maclean's rankings

Waterloo prides itself on its high performance in Maclean's magazine's Canadian university rankings - the Canadian counterpart to the American US News annual ranking of universities. The university routinely places in the top three in the numerical Comprehensive ranking,and in the reputation survey it placed first as best overall 13 out of 15 times that the ranking was published. Maclean's describes the university as "strong in math, engineering and computer science," as well as being "internationally recognized for the unparalleled success of its more than 100 undergraduate and graduate co-op programs."

http://communications.uwaterloo.ca/macleans.php

[Azilius]

Engineering

As one of the most competitive engineering schools in the country, and with students and alumni consistently placing in the top tier of international competitions such as ChallengeX, the University of Waterloo Faculty of Engineering is widely considered by industry and academics to be the foremost engineering school in Canada. The school also holds the world record for the longest distance travelled by a solar car. Out of 24 participants in the 2008 North American Solar Car Challenge from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Germany, the University of Waterloo finished 4th overall and was the top Canadian team in the competition.

Students can choose to study in the following disciplines: Architecture, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geological Engineering, Management Engineering, Management Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Nanotechnology Engineering, Software Engineering and Systems Design Engineering.

Works out well for me, I'll probably end up there in a little over a years time. Was looking into the bolded ones..not entirely sure at the moment.

[Blindfire]

If I can pull off a 90%+ average next year I am going to apply to Laurier/Waterloo for a business administration(at Laurier) and mathematics(at Waterloo) degree (they are together).

[crazyskwrls]

im gonna major in civil engineering, but i also want to major in something else but cant decide, was thinking either computer science or some kind of business/entrepreneur

[dom]

My frosh year @ UWaterloo

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[XemnasXD]

lol....canada...

[Nantosh]

Four years Uni for BHSc, specializing in neurology.

Four years Med School.

Seven years of residency to become a neurosurgeon.



Nothing is set in stone though concerning the final seven years; might simply get a job after Med School.

So pre-med ^ ^

EDIT - @dom - You realize of course, that those stats are null? Many, many highly respectable Canadian universities denied Maclean's of surveying and critiquing their university as they were absurdly partial and biased. Now for all these they just reiterate what they said in their first
critiquing (w/ the same failed methodology). UBC for example is only on there because anyone worth two f//cks knows it's an amazing university.

Ah, I should provide some backing.
http://umanitoba.ca/news/images/letter_to_macleans.pdf
It's 11 Universities to be precise.

[Goobronicus]

why on earth is pharmacy school so competitive. Most of you guys end up behind a counter not in a lab if im mistaken, and i might be, i abhor the industry.

Pharmacy is competitive due to the current lack of persons in the field as well as the upcoming baby boomers. There are only about 120-150 schools each of which contain 30-150ish spots. They don't have more because of the expenses.

As far as most of us being behind a counter, behold a wall of text.
(please note, I was drunk while I was typing most of this so please forgive misspellings and shit like that. The information is correct tho).

WARNING: I added colors cause it was too "wall-of-textish" and I think I might puke. Good thing is that it's separated nicely now :/

Spoiler!

Career Options:

Academia:

Administration
Biological Sciences
Clinical
Continuing Education
Experimental Education
Medicinal Chemistry
Pharmaceutics
Pharmacognosy
Pharmacology
Pharmacy Administration
Pharmacy Practice

Community:

Clinical -
Franchise
Home Health Care
Long-Term Care
Corporate Management

Group/HMO -
Clinical

Independent -
Clinical
Franchise
Home Health Care
Long-Term Care
Medical Group Affiliate
Office Based Practice

Consulting:

Clinical
Home Health Care
Hospice
Hospital
Long Term Care
Medicaid Pharmacy Consultant
Managed Care

Industry:

Administration -
Continuing Ed.
Professional Relations
Project Management

Business -
Management
Marketing
Sales

R and D -
Administration
Basic Research
Biological Sciences
Clinical
Clinical Research
Medicinal Chem.
Pharmaceuticals
Pharmacognosy
Pharmacology
Pharmacy Admin
Pharmacy Practice

Technical/Scientific:

Drug Information
Manufacturing
Medical Science Liaison
Postmarketing Survey
Product Control Quality
Regulatory Affairs

Institution:

Hospital(Government, Uni, Community)
Admin/Clinical/Distribution/Nuclear/Outpatient or Ambulatory
Long Term Care
Medical/Dental

Regulatory:

Fed -
Bureau of Prisons
Centers of Medicare and Medicaid
Department of Defense
Dept. of Health and Human Services
Dept. of Veteran Affairs
Drug Enforcement Administration
FDA
Health Resources and Services Administration
Indian Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Admin
US Coast Guard
US Public Health Service

State -
Board of Pharmacy
Clinical
Dept. of Consumer Affairs
Dept. of Health
Medicaid Services

Other -
Computer Tech.
Accreditation Surveyors
Legal
Mail Order
Pharmacy Associations (ASHP, NCPA etc)
Specialty Pharmacy
Third Party Insurance
Benefits Management
Professional Publications
US Pharmacopeia
Veterinary
Wholesale Services


When I say Clinical it includes -
Adult Medicine
Ambulatory
Critical Care
Drug Info
Emergency Room
Geriatrics
Immunization
Infectious Diseases
Internal Med.
Intravenous Drug Therapy
Med. Oncology
Nutrition Support
Pain Management
Pediatrics
Pharmacokinetics
Poison Control
Psychiatric

Personally, I'm liking Clinical (which would require residency), Chain, or Nuclear[this is a specialty area requiring a sixish month course to become authorized] (which is like Immunoflourescense).

[crazyskwrls]

My frosh year @ UWaterloo
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[.Banshee]

Columbia Med school FTW!!!!

[Priam]

Where's the option for languages? I wanna major in English language and culture.

languages and culture are part of liberal arts.

I see. Thanks.