Am I right for pharmacy?

[Pharmergirl28]

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Hello everyone. I've been reading a lot of posts, but this is my first time to enter one of my own.

I just wanted to see what your thoughts are about my situation. I graduated from high school in 95 as an average student. I am now 28 about to be 29, and am in my first semester of pre-pharmacy courses. This is my 4th semester of college, but I just decided to do pre-pharm last semester. I feel like I am behind on education because of being out of high school for almost 10 years before going to college. I currently have a 4.0 gpa after having completed 35 hours, but I haven't taken any chemistry yet. I am going to take general chem I either this summer or in the fall of this year, and I am afraid that I will not be able to grasp the concepts. I am also afraid that I am not pharmacy school material because I have a feeling that everyone in pharm school is super smart. I am very dedicated and willing to do as much as it takes to get there, but I'm still not sure I will get it. I have always known that I wanted to do something in the science field, hopefully related to anatomy and physiology, and I love helping people.

I guess my question is...does anyone think that I have a chance at this, or should I do something that doesn't require as much advanced education? Am I too behind in the game to catch up with students fresh out of high school that have always made straight A's? I also know that the pcat has a lot of just general knowledge questions that one should have because they are well rounded, like the verbal section. I just don't want to be one of those people that try for something that is way out of their league, but I just can't imagine doing anything else for the rest of my life.

Any advice or comments will be apreciated.

Thanks

 

[theraball]

...does anyone think that I have a chance at this, or should I do something that doesn't require as much advanced education? Am I too behind in the game to catch up with students fresh out of high school that have always made straight A's? I also know that the pcat has a lot of just general knowledge questions that one should have because they are well rounded, like the verbal section. I just don't want to be one of those people that try for something that is way out of their league, but I just can't imagine doing anything else for the rest of my life.

Any advice or comments will be apreciated.

Thanks

Hi PharmerGirl,

You have a great chance at this, and don't be intimidated by those "fresh out of high school" folks. Age is really less of a factor anymore and in fact being a bit older and having some life experience can be an advantage when chit chatting with admissions committees so don't play down the asset of your age. People can and do go back to school at all ages. I know a musician who's now in pharmacy school at age 39 and doing just fine. Another friend who is 51 is in nursing school! People are doing it. Just keep your eye on the ball, study hard, and you'll achieve your dream.

You might want to try shadowing a pharmacist or two or doing some hospital volunteering to get a taste of the clinical environment. I can tell you that my once-a-week hospital shift reenergizes me and reminds me why I'm going through all this sometimes maddening course work! 😉

Good luck,
Theraball

 

[Pharmergirl28]

You might want to try shadowing a pharmacist or two or doing some hospital volunteering to get a taste of the clinical environment. I can tell you that my once-a-week hospital shift reenergizes me and reminds me why I'm going through all this sometimes maddening course work! 😉

Good luck,
Theraball[/QUOTE]


Hi Theraball,

Thanks for your advice. This sounds like a great idea. Should I just go to some pharmacies and ask to shadow a pharmacist, or is there some kind of
formal approach? From your experience, are pharmacists put out by this, or
are they happy to help?

Thanks,
Pharmergirl28

 

[NCRxgal]

You might want to try shadowing a pharmacist or two or doing some hospital volunteering to get a taste of the clinical environment. I can tell you that my once-a-week hospital shift reenergizes me and reminds me why I'm going through all this sometimes maddening course work! 😉

Good luck,
Theraball

Hi Theraball,

Thanks for your advice. This sounds like a great idea. Should I just go to some pharmacies and ask to shadow a pharmacist, or is there some kind of
formal approach? From your experience, are pharmacists put out by this, or
are they happy to help?

Thanks,
Pharmergirl28[/QUOTE]

I initially started going to random retail pharmacists asking them to take me on and allow me to shadow them. What I found much more helpful was actually applying for a pharmacy tech position. I also volunteer in a hospital pharmacy once a week too and they eventually took me on as a tech as well. Usually pharmacies want to do background checks and what not before they let you in so if u're gonna do all that, u may as well work there. I hope this helps.

 

[Shakeitfast]

I was in a similar situation! Graduated in 98, average student as well. A couple years ago I decided pharmacy was for me (had 4 F's & a 0.00 GPA at the time), so needless to say it was a tough decision. I remember sitting in Gen Chem & Physiology the first day thinking "what am I doing here". Anyways, motivation and determination account for ALOT when going through these courses. if you have it, you will find yourself outperforming others who might be "smarter". Have faith, you can def do it with the right attitude! I had my interview at Pacific, & have one at Western this Sat 👍

 

[Tarutaru]

Go for it! You could be old and doing NOTHING, or old and GOING SOMEWHERE.

 

[marylandpharm]

i forgot where i heard this from but i heard that interviewers like seeing older people apply. generally because older people have 'life experiences' that make them more mature, implying that they've seriously thought out why they want to go into a certain career path.

if you're really serious about it, i say stick to it before you waste any more time or regret later on in the future

 

[dgroulx]

I took an introductory chemistry course first before plunging into Gen Chem I. It was recommended to do that if it had been several years since high school chemistry. It helped tons. I was way ahead of the curve once I got into Gen Chem. This would be a great summer class for you.

 

[fidelio]

Actually I always thought the older crowd was smarter than the "fresh out of high school" because they have more experience. Not to mention, everyone I know who returned to school are getting the As.

And I don't think students in Pharmacy school are super smart because Pharmacy school is hard for anyone in general. So I think you may have the upper hand.

 

[calrx]

Go for it! You could be old and doing NOTHING, or old and GOING SOMEWHERE.

Great advice... I like it.

 

[rougemarie]

Hi there,
My big 30 is coming up this summer. With one son on the tow, I'm applying to pharmacy school and hope to start this Fall. I believe it's never too old to do anything and there's no such thing as "pharmacy school material."

I too have been out of school for quite sometime before deciding to go back to school for a "real" degree and I used to people talking down on me that I'm not "... school material" because I've been out of school for so long, and I've been working in the industry that is totally unrelated to healthcare/pharmacy whatsoever. One day, I decided to test the water and started volunteering at a local Emergency Department. At first, I thought I'd like to go to nursing school, or even medical school. I really love the patient interaction, but cannot stand the physically demanding tasks (like wheeling in patients, helping them in/out of bed, etc.) I also started taking classes part-time at a local college, and to my surprise, I *love* chemistry. In fact, I like chemistry more than biology. I know it sounds bragging/geeky, but I really do develop a new appreciation to the things that I learn in school, much more so when I was in college.. oh.. almost 10 years ago or so. That prompts me to make a decision that pharmacy school is it. My reasoning is this: if I'm going to spend another 4 years to go to school for a "real" degree, I may as well enjoy the learning experience so I won't regret it later on. I can honestly say I love learning almost everything about pharmacy/pharmacology. Right now at work as a tech, I engulf practically every single drug information sheet I came across. I just learned that Acetylcysteine is the antidote to acetaminophen and read up the whole mechanism on it. I thought it's awsome! 😍 I know that I'm not that strong in terms of memorization; I tote around a pocket-size Pharmacy technician handbook which has a list of generic-brand name and look it up everytime I see a drug I'm not familiar with. It's still a work in progress, I know, but I'm working on it.

The moral of the story is, when there's a will, there's a way. What's true today may not be true tomorrow. Just try to open yourself up to the possibilities. I know it sounds corny, but as long as you enjoy the process, it doesn't matter. Hopefully at this stage of my life, I can trully enjoy what I learn and not just another 4 years of making ends meet. I really look forward to my years of pharmacy school and I hope you are too. My best wishes to you!!