Torn between two pharmacy schools

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So, I have been accepted into two pharmacy schools. One is one of the best-ranked and oldest pharmacy schools in the nation and is 10,000 dollars cheaper in tuition. The other is a new pharmacy school that is part of an older healthcare university system with a decent reputation.

Pros of the first option:
  1. Brand name: it is like an Ivy League among pharmacy schools
  2. Cheaper tuition
Cons of the first option:
  1. massive class size - 150+ students
  2. In the middle of a big city with all the cons that come with city life
  3. Very research-oriented. I am not personally interested in research and usually quality of instruction suffers for the sake of research
Pros of second option:
  1. Small class size: 50-60 students. Everybody knows each other there, even people in completely different programs
  2. None of the stresses of city life and very easy to drive there
  3. Professors here have no set office hours and you an come whenever to ask for help in addition to other academic support available
Personally, I feel I would be a lot more comfortable attending the second option because my learning style is really unusual and the more individualized attention would help me actually learn something. But, I am worried about debt and paying an extra $10,000. Not to mention, since this is a very new pharmacy school, they are still building a reputation in the pharmacy world. I am worried whether I can find a job after graduation from here because the field is getting saturated. However, the top-notch school absolutely scared me when I visited. I know that I would be constantly uneasy in that environment. Also, I when to a top-notch school for undergrad and it was an absolute nightmare despite the great financial aid I got. I really would rather not relive that.

So, good people of CAF, what would you recommend? Is the name of a school really worth it?
 
Are you saying the cost difference is $10,000 per year (out of a six-year program) or until the degree is conferred?
 
I cannot really advise you what to do. It’s your decision.

Let me use my wife as a case… She graduated with her master’s from Vanderbilt. They are basically THE school for medicine to attend. She can get a job anywhere just with those credentials alone. She returned to school - again, Vanderbilt - for her Doctorate of Nursing Practice. She was getting job offers from prestigious universities a year before the graduated. She still gets unsolicited job offers from fantastic schools.

I graduated from a State University of New York school (Albany) with my Ph.D. in educational theory and practice. They have a very solid educational program. I went there instead of Harvard because I was offered an assistantship that paid for my tuition and gave me a yearly stipend. I was unwilling to accrue a huge debt to go to Harvard. It’s a competitive job market out there in education. I didn’t have prestigious universities offering me a job before I graduated. I had to hunt for jobs. Had I gone to Harvard, I would have likely had less difficulty finding a job because I went to Harvard. If I had to do it again, I probably would have chosen Harvard.

So, you have two scenarios presented.

I can say with some reliability that prestige can go a long way when looking for a job.

Take it as you will. The decision is yours to make.
 
One is $35,000 per year tuition and another is $25,000 per year.
 
Take the first option. If for no other reason than to make me feel like I have some kind of awesome influence on your major life decisions!
 
As mentioned above, you are the only one that can make that decision. As far as the school reputation, a lot will depend on where you see yourself in 10 years. If you are envisioning a position in a retail setting, or a staff position in any size hospital, I don’t see it making a difference. The same for entering a general residency program. In advanced residencies, leadership in larger institutions and multi hospital groups it, along with experience, may give a person an advantage. This is just my experience.
 
Honestly, I just want to make a good living at a job I believe suites me best. There are other things I want to do with my life besides my day job, so I don’t see myself being the executive of anything other than my own household.
 
Understandable. But you don’t know where you’ll be in 10 years, so you might want to take that into account. The better the school, the more options you’ll have at making a good living.

EDIT: Plus, take into account how much your tuition will cost. If it’s a six-year program, School #2 will cost $60,000 more to attend. Personally, I’d want less debt because it means less work to pay off the debt which means I could use that money for trips…
 
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I would say go with the second school if money were no object. But if it is, go with the first one.
I realize that is no help. 😬
 
Just to clarify, this isn’t a six year program. I already did my prerequisites, so I have four years of actual professional school left.

Also, I owe nothing from undergrad.

My parents are telling me to just go wherever I feel comfortable and we’ll worry about it later.
 
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Would you like to stay in the same general area, looking to move, or does it matter? The demand in Pharmacy has softened, but being flexible upon licensure may provide more opportunities, especially outside urban areas. The last new grad I hired managed the debt. It wasn’t a piece of cake, but can be managed.

My gut says go with the school where you believe you can learn the best. Also, as someone on the forum says, “Mileage may vary.” 😁 you are the only one who can make the decision. Best wishes.

Edit to add: see if you can find a hospital pharmacist/retail pharmacist or manager to talk about this.
 
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My thoughts are, 50 students is not a small class size. It’s hard to imagine you will get much personal attention in classes of that size unless you are willing to rattle the cage, so to me, 50 or 100 doesn’t really make much of a difference.

$60,000 in debt makes a lot of difference though.

Also, I speculate that this degree includes some form of practicum or internship? If so, it could be an advantage to attend a school in an area you might actually be interested in working in some day, since those arrangements often provide employment opportunities in and of themselves. Of course, if this doesn’t apply, then, well, it doesn’t.
 
I would prefer to stay in Illinois, preferably in the Chicago Area to be close to my family and have access to my ethnic goods. But, I wouldn’t mind seeing other parts of the state.
 
One advantage of the second school is that it is relatively quick and easy to drive there from my home, so, if I wanted, I can choose to do my IPPEs in areas I am already familiar with.
 
Understand. I grew up there, but went to St. Louis for Pharmacy.
 
For school or a job?

Also, happy cake day!
 
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I like all of your thought processes here. You ste obviously putting much thought into it. Also I know several friends who have gone to pharmacy school. It is a really good profession if you can stay out of the commercial corporate pharmacies. That’s the only thing that might give advantage to the more “famous” school. If you want to compete for cushier jobs. But none of that matters because you know in obedience to me you will choose option one.
 
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