Alternatives to pharmacy

[tymbark13]

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So reading a lot of these posts about the job market has started to get me thinking about a alternatives in case pharmacy does not work out. I work as a tech at CVS, have a decent GPA (>3.0), and have yet to take the PCAT. I originally thought that completing my BS in Biochemistry could serve as a alternative in that it could allow me to get a job at a biotech company and then maybe I would go on to get a PhD in pharmacology but now I am not so sure that this is a great idea. Many members of these forums have mentioned other career fields that do not require the 200 K in student debt and all the schooling so I was wondering where they got the information from and what these other career fields are. Engineering and accounting have been mentioned but I can't even build a basic Lego Tower and I'm not very good at Math. Any suggestions on alternatives would be welcome. I have also posted this question on a few threads in order to get a wider set of responses.

Thanks in advance.

 

[PharmtoCS]

Computer programming does not require much math (depending on the area and the level), and it is a skill that is in VERY high demand and pays well, even if you don't have a degree. Many areas of finance (i.e. corporate finance, marketing, etc.) are less math heavy than others (i.e. quantitative finance, accounting, actuary, etc.). There is also physician assistant if you're adamant about going into healthcare.

 

[tymbark13]

Computer programming does not require much math (depending on the area and the level), and it is a skill that is in VERY high demand and pays well, even if you don't have a degree. Many areas of finance (i.e. corporate finance, marketing, etc.) are less math heavy than others (i.e. quantitative finance, accounting, actuary, etc.). There is also physician assistant if you're adamant about going into healthcare.

Thank you for your reply. I know there is another post in the forum relating to PhDs but do you have an opinion on whether or not getting a PhD or MS in pharmacology has any sort of potential for a career in possibly the pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields? Like I mentioned before I am about to complete my BS in Biochemistry and before I decide to switch to something totally different and perhaps go back for another four years, I want to see if I can make use of the knowledge and skills I have acquired in an actual workplace setting. Searching Indeed gave me a couple of responses but most required some experience in the field and an advanced degree such as a PhD or MS. Any ideas?

Thanks again in advance.

 

[RxStudentatUB]

PhD in pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences might be a scary idea. Why? If there is a drug recall or the FDA goes Jackie Chan on a drug, the scientists are axed. These corporations are so unpredictable!

 

[Thestrugglez]

PhD and MS degrees are literally a dime a dozen. A lot of people on this board (rightly) think that pharmacy is saturated, but PhDs are much worse.

Honestly, if you're about to come out of school with a BS in biochem, PA and medicine are good (but extremely competitive) choices. Pharmacy, while not the best, is also a decent choice.

 

[PharmtoCS]

Thank you for your reply. I know there is another post in the forum relating to PhDs but do you have an opinion on whether or not getting a PhD or MS in pharmacology has any sort of potential for a career in possibly the pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields? Like I mentioned before I am about to complete my BS in Biochemistry and before I decide to switch to something totally different and perhaps go back for another four years, I want to see if I can make use of the knowledge and skills I have acquired in an actual workplace setting. Searching Indeed gave me a couple of responses but most required some experience in the field and an advanced degree such as a PhD or MS. Any ideas?

Thanks again in advance.

I would avoid worrying too much about putting your Biochemistry degree to use and rather focus on what you want to do in the future, even if it is something completely different from your original major. Your degree is a sunk cost, and you should not choose a profession because you absolutely want to apply your degree. Most professions that require a great deal of biochemistry, short maybe medicine and physician assistant, are not doing well. The "golden ticket" is no longer in the biological sciences like it was before 2009; it is now in the computer and finance fields.

As many people on this board have said, the job market for PhDs is even more saturated. Pharmacy is catching up quickly since schools continue to open and flood the job market with no end in sight, and worst of all the profession requires most students to graduate with $150k+ debt.

 

[tymbark13]

I would avoid worrying too much about putting your Biochemistry degree to use and rather focus on what you want to do in the future, even if it is something completely different from your original major. Your degree is a sunk cost, and you should not choose a profession because you absolutely want to apply your degree. Most professions that require a great deal of biochemistry, short maybe medicine and physician assistant, are not doing well. The "golden ticket" is no longer in the biological sciences like it was before 2009; it is now in the computer and finance fields.

As many people on this board have said, the job market for PhDs is even more saturated. Pharmacy is catching up quickly since schools continue to open and flood the job market with no end in sight, and worst of all the profession requires most students to graduate with $150k+ debt.

My school offers a degree called a Master of Science in Finance and has a similar one for accounting. I don't know if other schools have this or not but it seems that other people seem to have picked up on the trend you have mentioned. Do you think that this would be a good opportunity to pursue or that this is simply a "golden ticket" promise that may fall flat?

Sorry for turning you into a school counselor of sorts but I'm trying to get a wide spread of opinions before I decide my next move. My main goal going into college was to pursue a career in drug design and development of new therapeutics but I see that that seems to be very difficult to get into and my GPA and motivation are not what I thought they were. Ironically, my friends are all in the business field and advised me that it would interest me back during my freshman year. Seems like that seems to be the way to go.

Thanks again. Anyone else feel free to chime in as well.

 

[Thestrugglez]

Business master's are all bull**** unless you're in a good MBA program. What you really need is extensive internship experience, networking skills, and connections to succeed. Masters is a great source of revenue for most schools, so they will generally take anybody since it's low risk high return.

 

[Kavina]

The job market is constantly in flux. What might be a hot, in-demand industry today, might be over saturated or irrelevant tomorrow. I would not choose a career solely based on either current or future job trends, as there is so much uncertainty to what the future holds. There is no degree that's a "golden ticket" to having a successful career.

1. Find something you enjoy. Obviously you still should be somewhat realistic with your career choices; I love acting and performing, but I am nowhere near talented or attractive enough where I'd want to hedge all my bets on becoming a Hollywood star. You'll be spending half (or even more) of your waking hours working, you might as well be doing something that you like. No amount of money is worth being miserable or bored. I think if you enjoy biochemistry, you should stick with it. While a bachelor's in biochemistry by itself isn't going to do you much good (but most bachelors degrees are like that), it provides a good foundation for a number of career options. In addition to the pharmaceutical industry, other areas you could apply your degree include the agricultural/food science, forensics, scientific writing, plus many more. Does your school offer any electives for your major to give you a better idea of areas you could eventually specialize in?

2. Don't expect be handed a job upon graduation. Since so many of the blue-collar manufacturing jobs which provided a good income have since been shipped overseas or eliminated due to automation, more Americans are looking to a college education as a means to escape from the poverty wages of the service industry. Over-saturation is a significant issue in pretty much every industry, not just pharmacy. Landing a job today is more about who you know than what you know. Networking is key and it's important to start early. Applying for internships and attending professional conferences while in school can go a long way to making connections in your field and help you find a job upon graduation. Internships also can help give you an idea if you like a particular industry. A bachelor's degree provides you with the necessary education to be a generalist, and while I don't think you necessarily need a PhD, I think ultimately you will want to get a masters degree.

3. Figure out what your priorities are. Do you really need the big house and fancy car? Are you attached to a particular geographic region, or can you relocate to another part of the country? Being flexible and learning to live frugally can be a big help when launching your career.

4. Enjoy the ebb and flow of life. While I think it's important to have goals and be able to make long term plans, sometimes it's best to just let life take it's course and see where it leads you. A job that you may have not initially been enthusiastic about might turn out to be a great fit for you, or you may discover that you're really interested in a specialization you had never really considered before. Life is a journey, not a destination. Set goals, but don't be afraid to alter or abandon them along the way.