All of a sudden having second thoughts..

[evilolive]

I was so sure I wanted to go to pharmacy school, but just recently I've been thinking about all those things I've always wanted to try but never gave myself the chance to do - opening up an ice cream shop, working at a starbucks, volunteering in the peace corps, or maybe even being a physician or a psychiatrist always seemed fascinating. I guess I'm having last minute jitters. How did a lot of you deal with this? How did you really know? I know this will take a lot of work, and I'm naturally a lazy person; I ask myself all the time if I'll make it if I don't sustain my interests to develop my professional skills. Four years is a long time unless I know for sure that I'm ready... I have so many things I want to do. Hell, I even want to teach in high school to reach beyond those little brats and culture the genuinely interested to do great things. There just doesn't seem to be enough time to do this all, and I just don't want to make a decision I'll regret..

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[nextgenpharm]

well, hello there...

I want to say a couple of things..

#1.... we have one life to live..
#2.... we must keep our feet firmly planted on the ground (i.e. have a substantial income so that then you can go out and do other things in life)
#3.... idealism vs. reality... always remember to keep things in check ... life goes by faster than we think sometimes

i tell you the above from experience...

lots of luck!

 

[omnione]

You sound like a bride or groom having second thoughts on the night before the wedding!😀

Anyway, you have to remember that we have a limited life in which to make our mark. There are many things we want to do but do not have the time to accomplish it. Instead, we choose a direction we feel satisfies us while keeping us happy.

I would revisit your desire to go into pharmacy and find that drive. Hopefully, you can find that desire to pull you through........

 

[cystapharm]

yea you better rethink about it because its 4 years of your life that you will never get back. After that 4 years its work work work in order to pay off that huge debt. You have to make sure you really want to do this ..once you start pharm school you can't really turn back. I have thoughts about this too because sometimes I tend to think pharmacy might be a little on the boring side for me. my freinds also think so and even volunteering at pharmacies is a drain of energy. the only sound i hear at night before bed is the sound of pills shaking in a bottle.

 

[pharmagrl]

I am having similar thoughts too- Four years is a big deal for me. I am ready to work hard but at the same time the clock is ticking and I want to have kids...Its high time...Any advice, please

 

[binghamkid]

I am having similar thoughts too- Four years is a big deal for me. I am ready to work hard but at the same time the clock is ticking and I want to have kids...Its high time...Any advice, please

It's all about balancing your priorities. Pharmacy school is a path which will require a lot of dedication, but it will be rewarding in the end. Four years of schooling is a serious commitment, but there are many pharmacy students who already are married/have families. Others have to work part-time to make ends meet. It's really what you make of it. That being said, once you start, there's really no easy way for you to take a break in between for maternity leave. I don't know how old you are, but if you're planning to have kids, you will want to make sure you can dedicate the needed amount of time to both your family and schooling. It is doable though; many graduate students in different fields do it all the time.

 

[twester]

Donald Rumsfeld, in an unintended moment of eloquence, said:

"As we know,
There are known knowns.
There are things we know we know.
We also know
There are known unknowns.
That is to say
We know there are some things
We do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns,
The ones we don't know
We don't know. "

I'd say pharmacy falls into the "known unknown" category. Those of you who will start in the Fall worked really hard to get there. The one question I would ask myself is, "If I don't follow through with this will I regret it? And how will I know if I don't at least try it?".

Just because a person has a PharmD doesn't mean they have to be a pharmacist forever. Starbucks isn't going anywhere (maybe you could open an independent pharmacy and put one of Earth's gazillion Starbucks in it). People are still popping out brats, so you could always get a teacher's certification with a professional doctorate. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the PharmD will open many opportunities and exclude almost none.

That said, pharmacy school will change your life in very unexpected ways. I think it's been a blast, myself.

 

[fmbzp5]

Donald Rumsfeld, in an unintended moment of eloquence, said:

"As we know,
There are known knowns.
There are things we know we know.
We also know
There are known unknowns.
That is to say
We know there are some things
We do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns,
The ones we don't know
We don't know. "

I'd say pharmacy falls into the "known unknown" category. Those of you who will start in the Fall worked really hard to get there. The one question I would ask myself is, "If I don't follow through with this will I regret it? And how will I know if I don't at least try it?".

Just because a person has a PharmD doesn't mean they have to be a pharmacist forever. Starbucks isn't going anywhere (maybe you could open an independent pharmacy and put one of Earth's gazillion Starbucks in it). People are still popping out brats, so you could always get a teacher's certification with a professional doctorate. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the PharmD will open many opportunities and exclude almost none.

That said, pharmacy school will change your life in very unexpected ways. I think it's been a blast, myself.

Not to turn it more political but it is kind of relevant. Don Rumsfeld also said

'As you know, you go to war with the Army you have. They're not the Army you might want or wish to have at a later time."

-- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld

 

[UCIGUY]

I feel the same way, all of a sudden I am having second thoughts about going to pharm school for the next four years. I looked at my loans, debt, classes, and I wonder if it is going to be worth it. Feels like I am burning the bridges behind kinda......kinda hard to describe

 

[sdn1977]

Yeah - an unfortunate quote from Donald Rumsfeld about crazy reasons for a crazy war.......

But, the rest of what twester said was very true. Not much of anything you mentioned you said you might want to do is going to go away...you can still teach high school, join the peace corps, become a physician or open a Starbucks.

Life is short - grab onto what you think is best at the time. Try to not have too many regrets, but if you have them...don't dwell on them too long.

And....ultimately - it really is only a job. My life, when it is over, won't be the sum of what I did in pharmacy. I've helped a lot of people - but those who will remember me will be my family & their families.....not my employers, my patients or my students.

 

[lomikhay]

Hey, i'm going through the same thing here, I got into an amazing program but I'm 19 and my parents are really pushing this pharmacy thing - i keep on thinking how only two years of undergrad is not enough - and the thing is that i'm not even confused about what i am good at (bio and physics) and what I would be doing if i was not doing pharmacy - it seems so dry and a little bit unambitious

BUT that was two years of really really hard work with close to no sleep, a bunch of time consuming extracurriculars - research , volunteering, pulling two pharmacy jobs (STUPID STUPID!!) - and the profession has so much potential and there is so much you can do, and its a clean job.

4 years of school is a long time, and before you start, i know you need to be dedicated to your course work - i know you have to be in it 100% or you will fail - so I have until the end of this summer to shake those nerves off and get rid of all the doubts.

the only sound i hear at night before bed is the sound of pills shaking in a bottle.

-cystapharm - same with me - except i started dreaming about my pharmacy (more like nightmares) - i think i'm going crazy

thanks for listening to me vent guys

 

[mr. rx]

Wow, this is an interesting thread. Recently, I have also been having thoughts about making a change in my career path. I have set my sights on pharmacy since high school but I have had other career interests. Since I was a kid, I wanted to go into police academy and become an officer. After watching some cops get shot on t.v., I decided not to. 🙂 Also, I have flat feet which makes it hard for me to run. I've even thought about just being a nutritionist, counseling others on making right decisions with what they eat. Another career I was thinking of is a math teacher, since I am very good at math and love to solve equations. We all know pharmacy is the hot career right now, and becoming a pharmacist will provide a VERY comfortable life after graduation but yet I still try to convince myself that there is something else that may satisfy me. These thoughts get pretty annoying because I've spent countless hours studying, and it just does not suit me to have any ambitions lower than becoming a pharmacist.

 

[evilolive]

My parents think I'm crazy for possibly turning down my pharmacy acceptance in order to take a year off. I don't think they'll allow a deferral of my admission. My mom says that if I apply again I won't get in because "I didn't show maturity to accept the offer the first time around; there are plenty of people who want those spots and the school will be hesitant to give it to you a second time around if you didn't show sincere interest the first time around." She says that it's because I'm spoiled and that I didn't suffer any hardships in my life that I'm not taking things seriously. Maybe she's right, but isn't the luxury of having choices reason enough to explore them all? My parents think that if I want to switch that I should complete one year of pharmacy school to see if it works out anyways. It's only 40k compared to the total 160k and so it should be a less costly investment.

I guess I have a lot to think about this summer. I always did want to learn how to make myself a cappucino...

 

[fmbzp5]

Wow, this is an interesting thread. Recently, I have also been having thoughts about making a change in my career path. I have set my sights on pharmacy since high school but I have had other career interests. Since I was a kid, I wanted to go into police academy and become an officer. After watching some cops get shot on t.v., I decided not to. 🙂 Also, I have flat feet which makes it hard for me to run. I've even thought about just being a nutritionist, counseling others on making right decisions with what they eat. Another career I was thinking of is a math teacher, since I am very good at math and love to solve equations. We all know pharmacy is the hot career right now, and becoming a pharmacist will provide a VERY comfortable life after graduation but yet I still try to convince myself that there is something else that may satisfy me. These thoughts get pretty annoying because I've spent countless hours studying, and it just does not suit me to have any ambitions lower than becoming a pharmacist.

Worrying about putting some effort in already should never make someone not choose to change their career. I had a teacher that told a story of a friend that was an engineer. After awhile he hated it so much he became a park ranger. Obviously a HUGE cut in pay but the stress and enjoyment of life was more important than the monetary funds.

 

[sdn1977]

My parents think I'm crazy for possibly turning down my pharmacy acceptance in order to take a year off. I don't think they'll allow a deferral of my admission. My mom says that if I apply again I won't get in because "I didn't show maturity to accept the offer the first time around; there are plenty of people who want those spots and the school will be hesitant to give it to you a second time around if you didn't show sincere interest the first time around." She says that it's because I'm spoiled and that I didn't suffer any hardships in my life that I'm not taking things seriously. Maybe she's right, but isn't the luxury of having choices reason enough to explore them all? My parents think that if I want to switch that I should complete one year of pharmacy school to see if it works out anyways. It's only 40k compared to the total 160k and so it should be a less costly investment.

I guess I have a lot to think about this summer. I always did want to learn how to make myself a cappucino...

I don't know what I should call you..... Evil or Olive???

Well, whomever....don't make a career decision based on your parents!!! Trust me (or not.....!) I'm a parent & was also a child. Some decisions must be made all by yourself - your career, your SO, deciding to become a spouse/parent/buying a house, etc... All those things will last your lifetime - long beyond theirs.

For my kids...it was hard to keep my mouth shut. I knew, absolutely KNEW my daughter would make a great physician. But, I never, ever spoke a word about it (truly - I never said a word!). She went off to college & pursued all sorts of things - molecular biology (got her degree in this & thought she wanted a PhD), dentistry, teaching, etc... Finally, all by herself, she came to medicine. She was very, very reluctant because she had seen what I had to do over my life & I'm not a physician. She was worried about her life, how to have a family, how to balance.

But...the decision came down to hers & hers alone. I'll be gone long, long after & she'll still be working. She is soooooo very happy now as MSIII & I think she'll have a very happy life ahead.

But...you see...it was her choice alone. Her happiness is all due to her decisions & her regrets will be all her own. I'd agree with your parents...you'll probably have a harder time with an acceptance after you've declined to go. But - do you really, really want this for yourself? I think you're taking things very seriously.....just not on your mom's schedule.

For myself, I've loved being a pharmacist - for my daughter,, she'd go crazy! Neither one is better nor worse, nor is pulling espressos or teaching or the many other things you've wanted to try.

It really is your life & one of the hardest things about growing up (& as a parent, letting your kids grow up) is letting them go to do what they want & need to do - all by themselves.

I really do wish you all the very best! Pm me if you need more info. Don't go into this for anyone other than yourself!

 

[evilolive]

Thanks - and by the way, my name is a palindrome 🙂

 

[fmbzp5]

Thanks - and by the way, my name is a palindrome 🙂

Give up the starbucks idea for long term. I just talked to one of the girls working there and she's been at starbucks for 9 years and is going ot school to get out of that joint.

if you go to ann arbor for school you can always get a parttime job at one of the several thousand coffee stores between starbucks, beaners, expresso royale, caribou coffee, etc

 

[howsoonisnow]

I have been a pharmacy technician for eighteen years. I am 34 now, and starting pharmacy school this fall. I am going into a three year program, so
I will graduate in 2010.

I had the opportunity to go to pharmacy school fifteen years ago but didn't want to "waste" four years of my life.
Instead, I graduated culinary school and worked in a french bistro and for a hotel as a pastry chef all the while working part time at pharmacy jobs. I worked retail, I learned how to make a mean cappuccino, I worked odd jobs including working as a stage actor all the while working a part time job in pharmacy.

I watched people much younger than I graduate pharmacy school and take amazing positions working for great corporations or hospitals, forging careers and successful stable lives for themselves. And now I am still a pharmacy technician entering pharmacy school and wishing I had "wasted" those four years 15 years ago.

It's not that I regret my choices or that I didn't enjoy my adventures along the way. You bet I did!!

It's just that given the chance, I would have reversed the order. When I am a pharmacist, I still may open a coffee shop or volunteer with habitat for humanity, or work part time in a bakery. I will have those options AND the capital to back them.

It isn't about money. I don't care that much about money. But money is necessary to a comfortable secure retirement, and none of my fun jobs along the way were conducive to that kind of saving.

The point is, there will always be greener grass, but every job has its boring or tedious days. I will never work in a restaurant again. I will never work retail again. But one thing I can say is that pharmacy has ALWAYS been worth returning to.