Career switch

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2BnMD

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Am currently in my first year of pharmacy school. While they do their best to teach us about counseling, I just would prefer 'real' patient interaction as part of my everyday job.

I really was excited about pharmacy school, but I realize medicine is just where I want to be. I am thirty one years old and struggling to stay focus in school.

Should I keep accumulating debt or get out after my first year?
 
if you know for sure medicine is where you want to be, cut your losses now and try applying. however, don't quit before you get in. that way all your options are still open.

Be prepared to answer the question, "why the switch?" on interviews, though.
 
You need to have a much better reason than wanting more "real" patient interaction if you want a shot at getting into med school. Patient counseling IS real patient interaction, period. As a community pharmacist, I listen to symptoms and 'diagnose' sick people on a daily basis (but obviously referring more serious cases to their physician). Perhaps you need to do a bit of soul searching on exactly what you like about medicine over pharmacy. Be able to articulate these specific reasons in a manner that shows you've done your homework and are well informed about the role of a doctor versus a pharmacist in patient care. Because at this point, if you've decided that pharmacy isn't right for you after less than a year, it appears that you didn't bother to become informed about what pharmacists do prior to applying to pharm school. If you're equally in the dark about what doctors do (ie: have never shadowed a doctor before), I'd recommend working on that first.

Also, I'm not going to say that finishing pharmacy school is a must prior to switching to med school. The debt incurred after pharm school is huge, and I understand reasons for wanting to leave rather than continue to take out loans. However, as a pharmacist who was accepted into multiple allopathic med schools this cycle, I will say that more than one interviewer has commented on my great performance in pharmacy school, how it took dedication to complete the degree, and how they feel certain I will be able to handle medical courses (and kick butt in pharmacology) based on my pharm school performance. I also feel that the clinical experience and great letters of rec that I was able to get as a P4 were key in gaining acceptance to schools with average stats much higher than mine. Take that for what it's worth.
 
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