Debating getting out

[Member 5149]

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I just finished my first year of pharmacy school, and although I'm not too thrilled with the program so far, I have a really good set up. I live at home and I don't have any extra costs besides tuition. Since I'm in state my total loans will be about 75k. I keep reading posts about ppl telling P1/P2's to get out, and it has me thinking if I should pursue something different. With talks of "tiering" pharmacy schools, it makes me ponder if I will regret turning down a top ten school(i turned it down b/c tuition alone would have been 160k). I can't see myself working retail either and I hate the idea that I could be passed up just b/c I chose to go to a school that wasn't ranked as high. Should I stick with the program, or try something different; I'm already somewhat of a millennial living at home, I'd prefer not to be unemployed too.

 

[mustang sally]

It kind of depends on where you are willing to move and what you want to do when you finish. I think if you are willing to do retail, there are still options available. Maybe not many good ones in the metro areas, but there still seem to be jobs out there. However, it sounds like you want to do hospital/other, which may require relocation to a less than desirable area and/or residency (if you are able to get one). This is based on my observations in 2012, who knows what pharmacy will be like in three years but it will probably be even more ridiculously saturated by then.

I do think 75k is awesome for a PharmD. That's not too bad debt-wise at all. Keep in mind tuition usually increases every year. IMO, any amount of debt is too much for new grads who are unemployed, though.

 

[358265]

I just finished my first year of pharmacy school, and although I'm not too thrilled with the program so far, I have a really good set up. I live at home and I don't have any extra costs besides tuition. Since I'm in state my total loans will be about 75k. I keep reading posts about ppl telling P1/P2's to get out, and it has me thinking if I should pursue something different. With talks of "tiering" pharmacy schools, it makes me ponder if I will regret turning down a top ten school(i turned it down b/c tuition alone would have been 160k). I can't see myself working retail either and I hate the idea that I could be passed up just b/c I chose to go to a school that wasn't ranked as high. Should I stick with the program, or try something different; I'm already somewhat of a millennial living at home, I'd prefer not to be unemployed too.

If you don't mind the debt and possibility of a job prospects (availability and working conditions), then still stay... if not, it's best to leave early before you get further in. 👍

 

[workinhard]

Your concerns are warranted. I made a thread on here. If I can offer advice I would say a backup plan in an unrelated field. By the time you finish pharmacy will be Ina very different state of change. The trend is not for the better.

 

[chicagoboy1984]

yea i would advise u to get out. i don't think the situation will get any better.

 

[awval999]

I just finished my first year of pharmacy school, and although I'm not too thrilled with the program so far, I have a really good set up. I live at home and I don't have any extra costs besides tuition. Since I'm in state my total loans will be about 75k. I keep reading posts about ppl telling P1/P2's to get out, and it has me thinking if I should pursue something different. With talks of "tiering" pharmacy schools, it makes me ponder if I will regret turning down a top ten school(i turned it down b/c tuition alone would have been 160k). I can't see myself working retail either and I hate the idea that I could be passed up just b/c I chose to go to a school that wasn't ranked as high. Should I stick with the program, or try something different; I'm already somewhat of a millennial living at home, I'd prefer not to be unemployed too.

If you can get out owing <$75K and it's a school that's been around since > year 2000 then I say good job and continue to go at it.

 

[Member 5149]

If you can get out owing <$75K and it's a school that's been around since > year 2000 then I say good job and continue to go at it.

I think the school opened sometime in the 1920's, yet its ranking is not great, not even in the top 40. I felt like I was making the right decision at the time, but now I'm second guessing myself.

 

[clockwork247]

If you can get out owing <$75K and it's a school that's been around since > year 2000 then I say good job and continue to go at it.

that sure sounds good, most kids come out with more loans than that 🙂... for 75k that's a great deal IMO.

 

[Its Z]

This is like quitting a job. Don't quit until you have another job lined up.

 

[hye345]

If you can get out owing <$75K and it's a school that's been around since > year 2000 then I say good job and continue to go at it.

My situation qualifies for the 2nd part, so I guess I'm semi-screwed...

 

[124bbb]

Sorry if I missed it, but are you only reconsidering your program and school or are you contemplating not pursuing your PharmD altogether?

 

[amicable7]

How about transferring to another pharmacy school. I know if your school's curriculum is similar to another school you can continue as P2 in the new school. I know it's a tough process though and not guaranteed.

 

[Member 5149]

Sorry if I missed it, but are you only reconsidering your program and school or are you contemplating not pursuing your PharmD altogether?

Some of the more recent threads on here reminded me I started this thread and I felt I should discuss the last few months I've had. Back in May I was pretty upset with my program, I thought residency was the only way to go and that the in state school I was going to would render me uncompetitive for a residency match. So yes I was reconsidering my program....

However last Summer I found out very late that I was a summer intern for one of the "desirable" chains; 65 interviewed, 5 spots were offered. I relocated for the Summer and what I saw blew my mind. The other interns, were each taking 45 k a year for tuition and paying monthly interest while going to an unaccredited private school...

I accounted for the 10% increase each year, and my tuition is 73k for 4 years. I could do a 15 year plan and pay 650 a month and take care of it. I needed perspective and I no longer regret staying in-state.

As for residency, to be honest, some "clinical pharmacists" are just straight up d!7ks when they moonlight, coming in w/ an attitude that is superior to the retail pharmacist. Ya you did a residency, but don't come in saying a tech can do the pharmacist's job. Don't come in saying you were willing to take a pay cut when you graduated to sound noble...b/c you will most likely moonlight to cover your student loans. In the end, hospital pharmacists should thank retail b/c hospitals had to spike their pharmacist's salaries to stay competitive.

I'm in for the 4 years, and I've hopefully networked my way into 2 retail spots. There's too many ego complexes as far as residencies go IMO

 

[fauxden]

I'm graduating this May. I have a job lined up. I'm graduating with 40k in debt (hell yeah)- and I would probably say bail. I mean- I had such tunnel vision when I was starting- now I see there are about 1 million ways to skin a cat (ie make money, provide.... etc).

 

[kwakster928]

I just finished my first year of pharmacy school, and although I'm not too thrilled with the program so far, I have a really good set up. I live at home and I don't have any extra costs besides tuition. Since I'm in state my total loans will be about 75k. I keep reading posts about ppl telling P1/P2's to get out, and it has me thinking if I should pursue something different. With talks of "tiering" pharmacy schools, it makes me ponder if I will regret turning down a top ten school(i turned it down b/c tuition alone would have been 160k). I can't see myself working retail either and I hate the idea that I could be passed up just b/c I chose to go to a school that wasn't ranked as high. Should I stick with the program, or try something different; I'm already somewhat of a millennial living at home, I'd prefer not to be unemployed too.

What is this crazy talk about "tiering" pharmacy schools? Is this something new or by products of competition of finding residencies?

 

[Silvermist]

I just finished my first year of pharmacy school, and although I'm not too thrilled with the program so far, I have a really good set up. I live at home and I don't have any extra costs besides tuition. Since I'm in state my total loans will be about 75k. I keep reading posts about ppl telling P1/P2's to get out, and it has me thinking if I should pursue something different. With talks of "tiering" pharmacy schools, it makes me ponder if I will regret turning down a top ten school(i turned it down b/c tuition alone would have been 160k). I can't see myself working retail either and I hate the idea that I could be passed up just b/c I chose to go to a school that wasn't ranked as high. Should I stick with the program, or try something different; I'm already somewhat of a millennial living at home, I'd prefer not to be unemployed too.

Eh, don't necessarily regret not going to the top school. I go to a school that is pretty highly ranked. (Not a fan btw. Suffice it to say that they're highly ranked, they ACT like they're highly ranked, and they strut around like they're doing us a favor by deigning to let us study under their highly-rated-and-strutting selves). Alternatively, several people I know who decided to go to a much, much lower-ranked school love it because the administration actually ... cares about them. Honestly, I'm the jealous one lol.

Anywho. One of my deans was saying that he feels that the new schools in our state will initially have an advantage when they start graduating students in the upcoming years. Like we're the old known quantity, they know our shortcomings, and ooh-look-there's-someone-new-and-shiny-from-a-new-shiny-school,-let's-try-them-out!

So it could go either way. A new school might not be a bad thing, who knows.

 

[mustang sally]

Some of the more recent threads on here reminded me I started this thread and I felt I should discuss the last few months I've had. Back in May I was pretty upset with my program, I thought residency was the only way to go and that the in state school I was going to would render me uncompetitive for a residency match. So yes I was reconsidering my program....

However last Summer I found out very late that I was a summer intern for one of the "desirable" chains; 65 interviewed, 5 spots were offered. I relocated for the Summer and what I saw blew my mind. The other interns, were each taking 45 k a year for tuition and paying monthly interest while going to an unaccredited private school...

I accounted for the 10% increase each year, and my tuition is 73k for 4 years. I could do a 15 year plan and pay 650 a month and take care of it. I needed perspective and I no longer regret staying in-state.

As for residency, to be honest, some "clinical pharmacists" are just straight up d!7ks when they moonlight, coming in w/ an attitude that is superior to the retail pharmacist. Ya you did a residency, but don't come in saying a tech can do the pharmacist's job. Don't come in saying you were willing to take a pay cut when you graduated to sound noble...b/c you will most likely moonlight to cover your student loans. In the end, hospital pharmacists should thank retail b/c hospitals had to spike their pharmacist's salaries to stay competitive.

I'm in for the 4 years, and I've hopefully networked my way into 2 retail spots. There's too many ego complexes as far as residencies go IMO

Glad to hear that you are happier with your program but don't discount residency just because you feel like it has some association with ego complexes. After all, you don't have to personally become an ego maniac just because you do a residency, right? I've met plenty of clinical pharmacists who seemed perfectly reasonable.