Any high school teachers?

[teachtopharm?]

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Any high school teachers in/working on getting in to pharmd programs?
I am a high school science and math teacher in my second year of teaching. I got my BS in Biochemistry and MS in math and science education.
I am thinking of pharmacy school, and hoping that my career experience will make me a better pharmacist. (working with people, esp. irrate people, being in charge, multitasking, etc.)
Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[blueclassring]

i think your experience will enhance your application. you may want to volunteer at a retail or hospital pharmacy to see what you're getting yourself into. start studying for the pcat if your schools require it. i don't think you'll have a problem getting into a pharm school if you get everything together.

 

[Caverject]

Any high school teachers in/working on getting in to pharmd programs?
I am a high school science and math teacher in my second year of teaching. I got my BS in Biochemistry and MS in math and science education.
I am thinking of pharmacy school, and hoping that my career experience will make me a better pharmacist. (working with people, esp. irrate people, being in charge, multitasking, etc.)
Any thoughts? Thanks!

I've known someone that went that route and turned out quite well for himself. He was a chemistry teacher. I've also known someone that went from being a pharmacist to a biology teacher. With her personality though, I can see why she didn't make it as a pharmacist, but I can't understand why if you hate answer questions or hate kids in general why you would become a teacher.

 

[WVURxGal]

The woman that sits next to me in Microbiology was a high school English teacher for six years in Elkins, WV before she came back to college. She said she loved the job, but wants to use her "people skills" she gained through teaching in health care (though I should note she's in school for nursing prereqs, not a PharmD.) She's told me before that teaching really helped her with communcation skills, and she doesn't think she'd be able to handle any health science field position before that experience. I think she's essentially got the same thought process as you do!

 

[teachtopharm?]

Thanks for the input! I think working with kids and answering questions are some of the most rewarding aspects of teaching. I just want to get paid more, as well as have the possibility of a more flexible schedule (nights/weekends, etc). Also, I was a premed in undergrad until my senior year, but I decided not to go to med school during the application process. I wanted to try something else for a few years. I am ready for the intensity of deep study again. I miss that a lot. I used to work in a pharmacy as an assistant during school. Also worked as a CNA in an AIDS ward of a nursing home. I think healthcare and education have a lot in common in some ways. (but very different in others.)

 

[off2skl]

It seems to be a fairly popular transition. I know of at least 4 former high school/junior high teachers that are in my pharmacy class. I am also a former teacher, but I came from the elementary level.

One aspect of pharmacy is patient education, so our teaching background should be a benefit.

 

[teachtopharm?]

It seems to be a fairly popular transition. I know of at least 4 former high school/junior high teachers that are in my pharmacy class. I am also a former teacher, but I came from the elementary level.

One aspect of pharmacy is patient education, so our teaching background should be a benefit.

It's good to know that others have done it! BTW, your picture of that dog looks JUST like my dog! 🙂
It is affirming to think that I haven't wasted time as a teacher, and that what I have done will help me with patient education, etc. Thanks!
When you interviewed, do you think that they were responsive if you brought it experience from another profession to the discussion and related it to pharmacy? Teaching is tough, and I am proud to have done it successfully. I just wonder if admissions committees realize that too.
Also, if you don't mind me asking, are you happy with your switch? Do you ever regret it or look back?

 

[off2skl]

It's good to know that others have done it! BTW, your picture of that dog looks JUST like my dog! 🙂
It is affirming to think that I haven't wasted time as a teacher, and that what I have done will help me with patient education, etc. Thanks!
When you interviewed, do you think that they were responsive if you brought it experience from another profession to the discussion and related it to pharmacy? Teaching is tough, and I am proud to have done it successfully. I just wonder if admissions committees realize that too.
Also, if you don't mind me asking, are you happy with your switch? Do you ever regret it or look back?

I was able to tie in my former profession with some of the questions they asked (working in a team, handling a difficult situation) there may have been others.

I am VERY happy with my switch! I work in retail right now as an intern (I'm only a first year) and although it can be stressful at times, it is a completely different type of stress. I am very much able to leave it at work when I go home for the night (no matter how hard I tried that was not always possible when I was teaching). I like not having to bring work home with me. I love the flexibility in both the areas within the field as well as schedules (part time/ 7 on/7 off, etc). And of course the salary will be nice. Of course, having just left the teaching profession, it's too soon for me to "look back." I do feel that my education degree will no go to waste; that knowledge and experience will always be beneficial and I actually may teach Sunday school or something similar once I'm done with school.

Good luck!