Alternative career

[ruth265]

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I was wondering what do people do if they they don't get into pharmacy school. any alternative career ? eg: waitlisted people. Do you apply each year until you get in; in the worst case what if you don't get in?
thanks

 

[mrblah]

Work on improving my application, apply to other pharmacy schools, and apply again until i get in.

If i couldn't get in after the 3rd try, i'd probably look into PA school or dentistry.

 

[YapYap6]

Work on improving my application, apply to other pharmacy schools, and apply again until i get in.

If i couldn't get in after the 3rd try, i'd probably look into PA school or dentistry.

Getting into Dental school is probably harder than getting into Pharm school. Dental hygientist school, on the other hand, is pretty easy to get into. It also pays pretty well! I believe the average is $37 an hour, according to the labor department statistics.

 

[mrblah]

Getting into Dental school is probably harder than getting into Pharm school. Dental hygientist school, on the other hand, is pretty easy to get into. It also pays pretty well! I believe the average is $37 an hour, according to the labor department statistics.

The OP asked a "what if" question. I wasn't implying dentistry or PA school was easier or harder to get into.

I would say dental school and pharmacy school is both fairly competitive, and wouldn't actually go as far to rank which is harder to get into.

 

[RxWildcat]

I probably would have gone to business school.

 

[IrishRxMan]

I wouldn't give up. I have a classmate that tried for five years to get into pharmacy school before she got in my class. She's super smart and will make a great pharmacist, so I don't see what it was that kept her out the four previous years.

 

[mustang sally]

It seems like a lot of people work full time as pharm techs. But assuming you have a B.S. in biology or chemistry, you could probably make more money as a research assistant.

 

[ffpickle]

If not Pharm, then Law school or a Phd program. I'm hoping to get into a PharmD/JD program or PharmD/PhD program in this application cycle.

 

[Sparda29]

The max that I'd apply is 4 times. Just keep on improving the application every time. If not, then I'll go for a PhD in Biology or I'd become a pig. Around here, pigs get paid like $60,000 starting, and $100,000 after 5 years not including benefits.

 

[DoctorRx1986]

The max that I'd apply is 4 times. Just keep on improving the application every time. If not, then I'll go for a PhD in Biology or I'd become a pig. Around here, pigs get paid like $60,000 starting, and $100,000 after 5 years not including benefits.

Oh yea? I thought I read somewhere that they start off with around $32k. Guess I misread.

 

[bchbum0]

or I'd become a pig. Around here, pigs get paid like $60,000 starting, and $100,000 after 5 years not including benefits.

Ummm, what is a pig? Is it like a butfur?

 

[Hiper]

Ummm, what is a pig? Is it like a butfur?

I'm pretty sure they're talking about popo or 5-0 aka cops.

 

[ttopping]

my back up was PT or maybe a PA but that was only if i knew pharmacy wasn't for me. if it's something you really want to do though I say just stick with it until you get in, passion is key. when you do get in you'll be that much more motivated to learn and do well.

 

[IrishRxMan]

my back up was PT or maybe a PA but that was only if i knew pharmacy wasn't for me. if it's something you really want to do though I say just stick with it until you get in, passion is key. when you do get in you'll be that much more motivated to learn and do well.

Ditto.👍

 

[Sparda29]

Ummm, what is a pig? Is it like a butfur?

The fuzz, cops, the police.

NYPD gets paid $32K starting. And they do a lot of dangerous work. Nassau County gets paid $45 starting and $80K after 5 years, Suffolk County gets paid $60 starting and $100K after 5 years.

Here's something else. NYPD requires that you have 60 credits from an accredited university with at least a 2.0 GPA.

Suffolk requires a high school diploma. However, it is pretty darn competitive to get into Suffolk PD. Suffolk PD pretty much sits on their asses all day with a radar gun and watches for speeding, or responds to some geriatric breaking their hip. Occasionally, they'll get to respond to a bank robber who is fleeing across counties going 120+ mph on the highway.

 

[bklyngirl]

The max that I'd apply is 4 times. Just keep on improving the application every time. If not, then I'll go for a PhD in Biology or I'd become a pig. Around here, pigs get paid like $60,000 starting, and $100,000 after 5 years not including benefits.

Your odds of getting into pharmacy school are probably much higher than becoming a Suffolk/Nassau county pig. Unless you have some previous law enforcement experience. There are many NYPD officers residing on Long Island with 5+ years experience waitlisted for an opening spot on Suffolk/Nassau list. Most don't get called and keep retaking test with hopes of eventually getting called.
New York City Department of Sanitation is a much better bet. Less risk than police/fire departments - same benefits/job security. Top pay after 5-1/2 years is near 70,000 - not including health benefits, pension, etc. If you don't mind getting your hands dirty, you receive $60.00 additional per day for working on truck picking up trash. Plenty of opportunities for advancement and retirement benefits after 20 years.😳

 

[YapYap6]

The OP asked a "what if" question. I wasn't implying dentistry or PA school was easier or harder to get into.

I would say dental school and pharmacy school is both fairly competitive, and wouldn't actually go as far to rank which is harder to get into.

That's on you. Given that there is 1 dental school and 4 pharmacy schools in my state, this is my experience. So fairly competitive? HAH!

 

[mrblah]

That's on you. Given that there is 1 dental school and 4 pharmacy schools in my state, this is my experience. So fairly competitive? HAH!

right, and that proves what? So you experienced what, that you are able to jump to some conclusion based on the number of pharmacy school vs. dental schools in your state? What if your state has no pharmacy school and no dental school? What could you tell me from your experience? What if a state has one pharmacy school and one dental school, what does that tell you from your "experience"?

I looked into both dentistry and pharmacy prior to choosing pharmacy, and many of my friends did also. Some of them are dentists now, others are pharmacists, and they all have similar academic stats. Then again, in my state there are 8 pharmacy schools to 2 dental schools...OH MY GOD, look at those odds, I can just walk into any pharmacy school I want......... lame...

 

[TTUMike]

I only have one opportunity to get into pharmacy school due to finances so if I don't get in I will probably go back into management and get my MBA.

 

[YapYap6]

right, and that proves what? So you experienced what, that you are able to jump to some conclusion based on the number of pharmacy school vs. dental schools in your state? What if your state has no pharmacy school and no dental school? What could you tell me from your experience? What if a state has one pharmacy school and one dental school, what does that tell you from your "experience"?

I looked into both dentistry and pharmacy prior to choosing pharmacy, and many of my friends did also. Some of them are dentists now, others are pharmacists, and they all have similar academic stats. Then again, in my state there are 8 pharmacy schools to 2 dental schools...OH MY GOD, look at those odds, I can just walk into any pharmacy school I want......... lame...

8 pharmacy schools and 2 dental schools? Which do you think is going to be more selective in order to fill their seats? ARE YOU ******ED?!?!? SERIOUSLY!!?!??!

So your "experience" that some of your friends are dentists with similar academic stats proves what? Proves dick, exactly. How do I know your friends don't have perfect GPA's and DAT's? People get into pharmacy schools with 2.9's as long as they're well rounded, do you think this is the case for the severely limited number of dental schools out there? So, how is your "experience" any better than mine? You prove dick to me other than floating your beliefs.

LOL boyo please, have you ever looked at the statistics regarding the number of dental schools opening up every year versus pharmacy schools? Do you really think that dental schools are opening up at the same rate as pharmacy schools? What do you think this does for the number of dentists available per thousand patients? Why do you think dentists can pull in almost 200k right out of school? I'm about to put you to shame, WITH FACTS.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos072.htm

That's right, 56 dental schools in the CONUS.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos079.htm

92 colleges of pharmacy in the CONUS in 2007 alone, NOT COUNTING the number that are opening up in the coming years.

PLUS the fact that some pharmacy schools accept up to 200 students. So, which do you think will be more selective? Which do you think will be harder to get into? The dental school at my university accepts 42 students per year, whereas the pharmacy school accepts 120. Keep in mind that this is only 1 of 4 pharmacy schools, the largest of which accepts 200 students. Put it together, 560 pharmacy students per year versus 42 students. Hmm, which is more selective? Do you really think the bottom 5% of those pharmacy students would get into dental school?

Well then, I wonder which will be more competitive? 42 seats versus 120 for my university. HARD DECISION? I THINK NOT.

Also, by your logic, there should be an increasingly large number of students applying to dental school since it's equally as hard getting into pharmacy school. If this were the case, given the large number of students applying to pharmacy school, we should see a large number of students also applying to dental school. Not as large as pharmacy school, but still quite large. Given that there are almost no new dental schools opening up, this would increase the pool of applicants to said dental schools, MAKING THEM MORE COMPETITIVE. Especially compared to pharmacy schools that are opening up left and right with huge class sizes.

Just man up and admit you're wrong. Or, you can keep bashing the donkeys nuts to death with me. I'll just have to pull up more figures. If you want more, I can always go pull up average entry GPA's for all 56 dental schools versus all 92 pharmacy schools, average applicant test scores, and the number of students accepted at each university.It's pretty obvious that the student body in pharmacy school is huge compared to dental school, meaning dental schools have fewer seats and are thus harder to get into. It's a matter of filling seats with the best possible candidates that you have. Your argument thus far has consisted of "My friends all have similar stats. Some are dentists and some are pharmacists now." So, is this any better argument than my original "There are 4 pharmacy schools and 1 dental school in my state."? I didn't think so, so don't bash my experience when you don't have any either.

 

[IrishRxMan]

Instead of getting into a pissing contest, why not ask what the need for dentists is versus the need for pharmacists. One dentist can run a single office with many hygenists servicing a large number of patients. How many pharmacists do you see at one time in a pharmacy? Usually two to three, and in Texas there is a law that you can have only three techs working for every pharmacist. This is part of the reason why there are so many pharmacy schools and so few dental schools. I'm not saying it's a breeze to get into dental school. I'm sure it's just as difficult if not a little more difficult for dental school admission. Lets just be more civil and not get into name calling or swearing to get one's point across. Let's not be internet tough guys 😉

 

[Sparda29]

Don't forget that dental requires the DAT, more standardized tests, ugh.

 

[winter32842]

8 pharmacy schools and 2 dental schools? Which do you think is going to be more selective in order to fill their seats? ARE YOU ******ED?!?!? SERIOUSLY!!?!??!

So your "experience" that some of your friends are dentists with similar academic stats proves what? Proves dick, exactly. How do I know your friends don't have perfect GPA's and DAT's? People get into pharmacy schools with 2.9's as long as they're well rounded, do you think this is the case for the severely limited number of dental schools out there? So, how is your "experience" any better than mine? You prove dick to me other than floating your beliefs.

LOL boyo please, have you ever looked at the statistics regarding the number of dental schools opening up every year versus pharmacy schools? Do you really think that dental schools are opening up at the same rate as pharmacy schools? What do you think this does for the number of dentists available per thousand patients? Why do you think dentists can pull in almost 200k right out of school? I'm about to put you to shame, WITH FACTS.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos072.htm

That's right, 56 dental schools in the CONUS.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos079.htm

92 colleges of pharmacy in the CONUS in 2007 alone, NOT COUNTING the number that are opening up in the coming years.

PLUS the fact that some pharmacy schools accept up to 200 students. So, which do you think will be more selective? Which do you think will be harder to get into? The dental school at my university accepts 42 students per year, whereas the pharmacy school accepts 120. Keep in mind that this is only 1 of 4 pharmacy schools, the largest of which accepts 200 students. Put it together, 560 pharmacy students per year versus 42 students. Hmm, which is more selective? Do you really think the bottom 5% of those pharmacy students would get into dental school?

Well then, I wonder which will be more competitive? 42 seats versus 120 for my university. HARD DECISION? I THINK NOT.

Also, by your logic, there should be an increasingly large number of students applying to dental school since it's equally as hard getting into pharmacy school. If this were the case, given the large number of students applying to pharmacy school, we should see a large number of students also applying to dental school. Not as large as pharmacy school, but still quite large. Given that there are almost no new dental schools opening up, this would increase the pool of applicants to said dental schools, MAKING THEM MORE COMPETITIVE. Especially compared to pharmacy schools that are opening up left and right with huge class sizes.

Just man up and admit you're wrong. Or, you can keep bashing the donkeys nuts to death with me. I'll just have to pull up more figures. If you want more, I can always go pull up average entry GPA's for all 56 dental schools versus all 92 pharmacy schools, average applicant test scores, and the number of students accepted at each university.It's pretty obvious that the student body in pharmacy school is huge compared to dental school, meaning dental schools have fewer seats and are thus harder to get into. It's a matter of filling seats with the best possible candidates that you have. Your argument thus far has consisted of "My friends all have similar stats. Some are dentists and some are pharmacists now." So, is this any better argument than my original "There are 4 pharmacy schools and 1 dental school in my state."? I didn't think so, so don't bash my experience when you don't have any either.

You are pure wrong. Pharmacy schools and Dentist schools are almost similar in selectiveness. I looked deeply into those two programs before I made my decision to become a pharmacist. Yes, there are less dental school than pharmacy school but pharmacy has more jobs to fill thus more demand. According to your sites, "Employment of dentists is projected to grow nine percent through 2016, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations" but "employment of pharmacists is expected to grow by 22 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations". I don't how you got the information that Dentist start up 200K. Can you please cite your source? Average dentist working less than a year make $96,322, which is somewhat similar starting pharmacist. Average dentist working 20 years or more makes $126,301.
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Dentist/Salary



PHARMACY School:

Average GPA for applicants that got into one pharmacy school= 3.48

http://www.aacp.org/Docs/MainNavigation/ForDeans/7730_GPA0506.pdf



Dentist School:

Average GPA = 3.5

http://www.dentalstudentbooks.com/dental_school_statistics.html

 

[DoctorRx1986]

Some of you guys just have to CALM DOWN. Yapyap, you are being too aggressive in trying to prove your points. Why do you have to say "proving dick..."? These forums prohibit that kind of vulgarity, be aware of that. Simply try to be a more civil person and express yourself tactfully without anger.

And if you're so frustrated by mrblah's comments concerning dentistry and pharmacy, just forget the level of competition involved in the two fields and simply become a street pharmacist. You'll rake in more dough per week than you ever will as a legal pharmacist per month and considering you enjoy using the term "d***", you'll probably have better and more ample opportunities to get some "d" for your own personal pleasure. 🙂

 

[mrblah]

Which reminds me, I met a girl at a bar in which she asked me if i was working on becoming a "street pharmacist"? My only response to that question was to buy her another round of shots😉

Sweet, someone thinks I have internet donkey nuts that I use to bash to death other people's internet personas in order to prove that my internet manhood is larger than the average internet size. I'm truly honored, lol.