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Originally Posted by particle
Just if there's any confusion.. you can still get into Waterloo completing undergraduate courses and meeting their prerequisites and successfully completing an interview. It's just that Waterloo has an option where you can get accepted while you are still in high school (includes interview), but this DOES NOT mean you go into their pharmacy school right away. To my knowledge you will still have to complete the prerequisite courses, but you will not have to apply again, so technically you will have to do undergrad anyway.
Also note that at Waterloo, it is specifically a co-op pharmacy program. So it will take you 5 years to get your degree instead of 4 like at UofT. This also makes Waterloo consider one additional aspect of your profile which is experience. They want students who are employable, such as people who've had a full-time job before and things like that. I also remember the UofT needs physics but Waterloo doesn't, well this was the last time I checked anyway.
Finishing this degree doesn't let you work at a pharmacy right away, I'm pretty sure you have to get licensed to practice, like any medical profession.
One more thing I find striking, but probably is the case for many professional school applications is that they are expensive. Even the PCAT itself is at least $100, and the last time I checked applications to UofT pharmacy were $300, plus they've now extended the amount of undergraduate prerequisites (used to be only 1 year of study).
Tell your friend good luck, planning early is key. He/She can also talk to guidance counsellors. There are tons of information on the schools' websites, its the best place to look since its up to date and it's laid out step by step.
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Waterloo Pharmacy is not 5 years, it's 4. It is a co-op program, but that co-op is completed in your 4th year. So length wise, all programs are the same length.
I am currently applying and had an interview at UofT just a few weeks ago, and have one at Waterloo in 2 weeks. Applications are expensive, this partially deters people who are using Pharmacy as a back up for medicine from applying, but is obviously not fool proof. Waterloo's application is also $300, and is much much more extensive than UofT.
Pharmacy is competitive, but not as competitive as medicine. Once you reach the interview stage, which in and of itself is a hurdle, you have about 50% chance of getting in. Currently the degree is a BSc Pharmacy, but within the next few years it is VERY likely to become a PharmD (Doctorate of Pharmacy), which is currently offered in all of the U.S.
Both UofT and Waterloo have very similar pre-reqs:
Waterloo
Introductory Cell Biology† (BIOL 130/130L) = Bio 2B03 at Mac
Genetics (BIOL 139) = Bio 2C03
Fundamentals of Microbiology (BIOL 140) = Bio 2EE3
Chemistry
Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter† (CHEM 120/120L) = Chem 1A03
Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics† (CHEM 123/123L) = Chem 1AA3
Introductory Biochemistry† (CHEM 237/237L) or Fundamentals of Biochemistry (CHEM 233) = Biochem 2EE3
Introductory Chemical Thermodynamics (CHEM 254) = Chem Bio 2P03
Basic Organic Chemistry 1† (CHEM 266/266L) or Organic Chemistry 1 (CHEM 264) = Chem 2OA3
Basic Organic Chemistry 2† (CHEM 267/267L) or Organic Chemistry 2† (CHEM 265/265L) = Chem 2OB3
Calculus 1 for the Life Sciences (MATH 127) or Calculus 1 for Honours Mathematics (MATH 137) or Calculus 1 Advanced (MATH 147) = Math 1A03
Calculus 2 for the Life Sciences (MATH 128) or Calculus 2 for Honours Mathematics (MATH 138) or Calculus 2 Advanced (MATH 148) = Math 1AA3
Introductory Statistics for Scientists (STAT 202) = Stats 2B03
Humanities or Social Sciences
2.0 full credits (four terms) in Humanities or Social Sciences at the university level. No more than 1.0 credit in any one subject area.
UofT
ENG4U** or former OAC
SPH4U** or former OAC or University
BIOLOGY- minimum of two terms/semesters
CHEMISTRY
Introductory Chemistry – minimum of one to two terms/semesters plus labs
PLUS
Organic Chemistry – minimum of two terms/semesters plus labs
PLUS
Physical Chemistry (Thermodynamics/Kinetics)
BIOCHEMISTRY – minimum of one term/semester
CALCULUS – minimum of two terms/semesters
Statistics – minimum of one term/semester
HUMANITIES or SOCIAL SCIENCE – minimum of two terms/semesters
These requirements can be met by any program - life sci, bio, biochem etc. it doesn't matter. I would recommend life sci because it allows you to take the pre-reqs but also take GPA boosting courses.
To be competitive you need at least a 3.0/4.0 GPA, and above 60th percentile on the PCAT, although typically people's averages are more like 3.3-4.0 and PCATs are more like 80s.
I can tell you that the PCAT is a joke, I spent maybe 3 days studying for it and managed to do very very well. As long as you know your basic sciences (includes 2nd year science courses), it's not difficult but requires you to work FAST...i.e. answer 48 calculus questions in 30 minutes.
While GPA, and ECs are important, the interview is a huge deciding factor. UofT currently does the MMI style interviews, and Waterloo a panel style interview.
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