How important is the Chemistry element?

[pharmofhope]

Hi all,

I am thinking of studying pharmacy but have no chemistry qualifications at any level. My results in other subjects were amongst the highest in the school but just NO chemistry.

I will need to do a chemistry crash course.

I was wondering, since I want to be good at the degree and this career, just how important is the chemistry learning you do before university?

[bleepholder]

considering most universities request chemistry at A Level for entry to the course, i would say it is quite important. A lot of the stuff covered in A Level chemistry is taken for granted and it moves on at quite a pace (well it did for me in my degree)

So in answer to your question..its important! jay be worth getting an Alevel in chemistry before even applying?!?

[pharmofhope]

Thanks bleepholder. Yes, I have no chance without the A Level CHemistry. I will do it this year I think.

Also, how hard is the pharmacy course?

[bleepholder]

depends which university you go to? its as hard as you want to make it, but it is no media studies degree...lectures and labs for most of the week!!

it is a step above from a level, and they will assume you know it already from alevel. if you want to spend the next 4years of your life chained to a desk or lab bench then pharmacy can provide that environment for you, but i guess it is kind of worth it in the end!

i personally don't think i would want to do ti again, and certainly wouldn't be in a rush to recommend it to someone...

[johnep]

Subjects required at A level in my day were Chemistry, physics, Biology.
I had never taken Biology before the 6th form but had no problems. You can do a one year crash course and we can always help. My speciality is inorganic which I used to teach to 6th form. Basically, the course was based on the periodic table. Know this and general properties of each group and you are half way there.
I found organic chemistry more difficult, but bought a good text book at the time Fieser and Fieser and just knuckled down. At uni was lectures in the mornings and practical every afternoon except Wednesday when you were expected to do sport. I chose sailing.
johnep

[Nik]

Chemistry is generally a pre-requisite to get on a pharmacy degree. Once your in, the only importance it holds is in passing exams. I was once told by a community pharmacist that the med chem you learn in the degree is relevant in day to day practice. He is now a cluster lead for a multiple. Analytical chem may have some importance in the pharm industry but I have yet to hear of pharmacists having to interpret NMR spectrums on a ward or log orbital interactions as CPD.