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i am currently in high school, and i have a pharmacy background. My family has had success in the independent pharmacy business. They have promised to support me if i ever wish to obtain stores.

The quickest way to finish pharmacy is though a 6 year program directly from high school. Will students in these programs have the ability (from a financial and motivational) perspective to invest in buying stores while still in college, and act as sleeping partners, while another pharmacist takes over? The money need not come from them, it could come from their family. Or will kids in these programs be "nerds", who do not have the ability to move forward?

Are there any programs with a distinct affluent group of students?
Is it common to pursue business ventures while still in college?
Is it possible to pursue ventures given the stress of studying?
Will people have the ability to invest?
Is it the goal of most studying students to become a chain pharmacist?

You see i am motivated. I have a passion. I am left with a few doubts.

wtf!?!?!?
 
I know that many people here on this forum have very little to no experience in attaining success. Many of you work in chains.

That being said, many of you are also motivated. Many of you are students, or have recently graduated. Many of you should be able to answer the questions.

I would consider getting into and graduating from pharmacy school "attaining success." There is nothing wrong with working for a chain. How are you going to acquire the capital to make a business investment while in school? I didn't have any money while I was in school. And I'm about $120K in the hole right now. Are you some prodigy that has a full ride or some ****? Unless Mommy and Daddy are paying for school, and giving you about $200,000 to start an independent pharmacy right out of PharmD school, you'll be working for a chain for a while like the rest of us if you get in and make it through pharmacy school.
 
I don't think I'm any less of a man when I say this but Yes GamecockPharmD. The parents will pay for school, and my dad is already well established in the business and will supply the money to buy stores while in college. What remains is finding pharmacists who will get a percentage of the sales along with any salary a chain may offer and will work, and obviously partner(s).

I really feel bad for you man. Back when my dad graduated he was in debt as well. He worked for Wallgreens for 12 years before finally having the ability to venture into independents.

Please answer my questions though. Any response will be highly appreciated.


Are there any programs (6 year pharmd) with a distinct affluent group of students?
Is it common to pursue business ventures while still in college?
Is it possible to pursue ventures given the stress of studying?
Will people have the ability to invest?
Is it the goal of most studying students to become a chain pharmacist? (even with the offer of a 100k+ plus base salary and 10% of the sales that an independent pharmacy can offer? )

Hey man, I was just giving you a hard time about the mommy and daddy thing. Nothing personal. That's great though, if they can afford to help you out. By affluent, I'm assuming you mean these students have a lot of money, so you can have a potential pool of business partners. I would assume that those who go to more expensive colleges would have more money. However, the school you get the degree from really hasn't mattered much in pharmacy the past several years. I would get it as cheaply as possible. If you had a license, you could find a job. It's not that easy anymore. You would have to research particular schools and their demographics. I can't give you a straight answer to that. I would say that pursuing business ventures in college is uncommon. Most students would focus on studying and getting their required intern hours to become licensed. Yes the studying is stressful, more stressful for some, less for others. Most students would probably be spending their money on living expenses versus investing it. Most students do go into retail pharmacy, but given the global economy, there may be pharmacists out of work in the near future. It would be best to focus on school. If you want to work part-time during school, and save the money toward a business, that seems feasible. But operating a business does not.
 
go to a big(ger) school

call schools student associations to find out which ones have most active chapters of NCPA .. if you go to a big school with a very active ncpa , you will be able to meet plenty of people with similar goals and form business strategies or find partners.

think of it this way . you will have your whole life with $$$ and time to invest ahead of you . in the next 6 years you will have an unprecedented networking opportunity that won't come again.

so i'd take advantage of the time to do some serious networking and forming relationships . , which means you want to look for a school with more students, perhaps in a decent size metro area (more independents, more # of students).
 
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