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Gordon pre-pharmacy grads building reputation

Earlier this month, six graduates of Gordon College’s Pre-Pharmacy Program received their pharmacy degrees from Mercer University’s Southern School of Pharmacy.

The six joined several other graduates of Gordon’s program who have gone on to successfully complete pharmacy studies at Mercer over the past four years. Gordon graduates have also completed pharmacy studies at the two other schools in the state that offer pharmacy programs, but most go on to Mercer each year.

Over the past four years, 19 Gordon graduates have successfully completed Mercer’s program. Another nine are currently enrolled and scheduled to graduate in the next two years, according to Daniel Jackson, head of Gordon’s pre-pharmacy program.

“This is a continuation of the success that our graduates have had, first in getting accepted into the highly competitive pharmacy school program and then successfully completing the demanding pharmacy school curriculum,” Jackson said, adding that the process involved in getting admitted to a pharmacy school is very competitive.

Last year, for example, Mercer accepted 142 students from more than 1,800 applicants, according to James Bartling, associate dean for student affairs and admissions at Southern School of Pharmacy.

And of the class that graduated this year, 130 were admitted out of 1,000 who applied. That was four years ago and the pool is getting a little larger each year, Bartling said.

He said Gordon’s pre-pharmacy program is highly respected both among academicians and professionals. The number of graduates who completed training at Gordon (for example, the six this year) ranks with any other Georgia college or university regardless of size, according to Bartling.

Mercer and the two-year school in Barnesville have a good working relationship, the Mercer official said. “Students can start at Gordon and then pursue their pharmacy degree here at Mercer. Students from Gordon do well in the program, and we encourage people to enroll at Gordon. They certainly have a good reputation with us.”

As if to confirm that Gordon students do well, Mary Beth Yu of Henry County graduated with honors - cum laude - from the Mercer program this spring. She finished with a 3.69 GPA and said the Gordon program prepared her well for pharmacy school.

“Gordon is an awesome school for pre-pharmacy,” said Yu, who graduated from Lovejoy High School with a 4.0 GPA. “There are wonderful professors there who make sure they take care of your needs. They also advise you well.”

Yu said Jackson was with her “every step of the way.” Since graduating earlier this month, Yu said she has been studying for the board examinations she must pass to become a registered pharmacist while working part-time at a local Kroger pharmacy.

It is a job she has held for four years. Yu attended Gordon from January 2000 to May 2001. After graduating from high school, she first attended Clayton State University but then transferred to Gordon because she decided she wanted to go into pharmacy and had heard “great things about Gordon.”

Gordon prepares students for entry to any of the Georgia pharmacy programs, said Jackson, a Fayetteville resident. Other state programs are those at the University of Georgia’s College of Pharmacy in Athens, which is a four-year program as is Mercer’s, and South University School of Pharmacy in Savannah, which has a year-round program over three years.

Gordon graduates have also attended pharmacy schools in Alabama, Florida and Arizona, Jackson said.

Entry into pharmacy includes completing a core curriculum of college level courses heavy in sciences and math while maintaining a competitive GPA in those courses, usually a B-plus average, he said. Also, entrance is based on successfully completing the nationwide competitive Pharmacy College Admissions Test and an interview with the respective schools. Although not required, some previous work experience as pharmacy technicians is also preferred by the schools, according to Jackson.

“For many of the pharmacy schools, the mandatory course requirements can be accomplished in two years, while obtaining an associate of science degree. However, due to the competitive nature of entry into pharmacy school and the necessity of a high grade on the pharmacy college admission test, I now advise students to plan on three years of study prior to entry into the school,” Jackson said.

“Good grades and a thorough understanding of the material are essential to doing well on the PCAT and ultimately admission into pharmacy school.”