Emergency - please help!!

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yummymuchies

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I've been accepted to a California pharmacy school already, and now I have this dilemma. I've been reading about D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) programs, and they all seem very interesting.

So, I was wondering if D.O. programs would accept me while I'm enrolled in pharmacy school? For example, Touro have both D.O. and PharmD programs, would their D.O. program accept me while I'm attending their PharmD program?

If you don't have anything nice to say please don't respond. Thank you.
 
I've been accepted to a California pharmacy school already, and now I have this dilemma. I've been reading about D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) programs, and they all seem very interesting.

So, I was wondering if D.O. programs would accept me while I'm enrolled in pharmacy school? For example, Touro have both D.O. and PharmD programs, would their D.O. program accept me while I'm attending their PharmD program?

If you don't have anything nice to say please don't respond. Thank you.

I'm by no means an expert, but to me that sounds like a conflict of interest. It kind of explains why you don't see MD/PharmDs working... I think there was a thread around here about having those two degrees and all the problems it would create when you have the power both to prescribe and dispense. I know you're talking about DO, but that's still a medical doctor, so I imagine that they wouldn't accept you while you're already in the PharmD program.
 
The reason why you don't see many (or any, I guess) MD/PharmD's is because of...time. 4 years undergrad + 4 years MD + X # of years of residency & etc + 4 years of pharmacy school = you'll be freakin' old and practically unable to recoup your investment into these degrees. There's no exceptional advantage to being an MD w/ a PharmD, that MD is better off specializing.

You were more likely to see BSPharm + MD combinations as that timeline was more realistic.

That's not to say you'll never see MD/PharmD's (I think someone on the forum is doing that), it's just that....there are so few that practically no one will know what to do with you. You'll probably be put to work as an MD with a REALLY extensive drug background.

As for the OP...the issue is the time conflict. Not only are your classes going to conflict, you will literally fail out of both programs if you put in the "average" amount of study time.
 
if this is a life threatening emergency please hang up and dial 911
 
if this is a life threatening emergency please hang up and dial 911

lol, i was about to say too...if this is the OP's idea of an "emergency," I wonder what he/she does when they haven't passed a bowel movement in a week. :laugh::laugh::laugh:
 
That's not really my question. I'm debating whether to attend DO or PharmD program. I have an interest in both, but only want to purse one. So, I was wondering if I can be ACCEPTED to a DO program WHILE attending pharmacy school.

Yes, this is an emergency because if I am applying for DO I have to participate in internship and start the process all over NOW.
 
That's not really my question. I'm debating whether to attend DO or PharmD program. I have an interest in both, but only want to purse one. So, I was wondering if I can be ACCEPTED to a DO program WHILE attending pharmacy school.

Yes, this is an emergency because if I am applying for DO I have to participate in internship and start the process all over NOW.

Your first post implied tracking into a DO program while attending the PharmD program.

And your situation isn't an emergency...it's changing career paths, people do it all the time.

It probably won't matter if you are in pharm school or not, if anything, it could give you an edge. You'll have a professional school GPA in addition to your undergrad AND you can BS on the interview stuff about discovering your "true calling" and blah blah blah.

For cost purposes, you're better of saving your $$ and just diving into the DO requirements now vs. pissing away $30-$40k on P-1 tuition.
 
Thats cool and you have some big decisions to deal with I know it just bugs people (me 🙂) when people post thread with dramatic subjects like 'PLEASE HELP MEEEEEEEE!!!!' and 'NEED ADVICE PLEASE EVERYONE READ ME!!!!' and 'I GOT CRABS FROM MY BIOLOGY TUTOR!!!!' ya da ya... But I'm sure someone less sarcastic will have some good advice for you... Good luck with whatever you decide to do. But I'd suggest just calling them and asking.
 
That's not really my question. I'm debating whether to attend DO or PharmD program. I have an interest in both, but only want to purse one. So, I was wondering if I can be ACCEPTED to a DO program WHILE attending pharmacy school.

Yes, this is an emergency because if I am applying for DO I have to participate in internship and start the process all over NOW.

You might be able to get accepted (as in take the tests and complete the interviews), but you would not be able to complete both programs at the same time. I have known for this to occur. If you have been accepted into pharmacy, begin classes and then you are free to pursue a DO route if you choose. A DO school might even look upon your admission into pharmacy school favorable (they might not as well).

Please email me with questions - [email protected]
 
I don't know if the same school would let you double-dip like that (i.e., pharmacy as a backup while waiting on DO admissions) but there ARE people who leave in the middle of P1 Pharmacy to attend MD/DO programs. it does happen, I wouldn't say frequently, but it can and does happen.

Call/e-mail Tuoro and ask... That's your best bet.
 
I don't know if the same school would let you double-dip like that (i.e., pharmacy as a backup while waiting on DO admissions) but there ARE people who leave in the middle of P1 Pharmacy to attend MD/DO programs. it does happen, I wouldn't say frequently, but it can and does happen.

Call/e-mail Tuoro and ask... That's your best bet.

Yeah, what he said.
 
Aim for the sky. Trust me. If you feel you like both, do both if you have the financial support to carry you through. Consider your pharmd as your bachelors even though we know its a doctorate. After trying to work for like one year , Then, apply for your DO program if you dont feel like pharmacy is for you.
 
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Aim for the sky. Trust me. If you feel you like both, do both if you have the financial support to carry you through. Consider your pharmd as your bachelors even though we know its a doctorate. After trying to work for like one year , Then, apply for your DO program if you dont feel like pharmacy is for you.

You think it's a good idea for OP to get a PharmD (Making it sound like s/he can walk down to 7-11 and pick one up off the shelf?) prior to ever working in the field... at all? This sounds like horrible advice.
 
You think it's a good idea for OP to get a PharmD (Making it sound like s/he can walk down to 7-11 and pick one up off the shelf?) prior to ever working in the field... at all? This sounds like horrible advice.

I think he is in a tough spot. He doesnt know whether he likes both. What I recommend is that he keeps on track for his pharmd rather than dropping out and loosing the money. He should go into pharmacy for like 1-2 years for some work experience, then if he thinks he doesnt like it, he can apply to DO school. However, i will never drop out of pharm school if i was him. It will not be good to drop out from pharm school when he has the opportunity to rack up more qualifications. Also, if he has the financial resources, patience, and time to spend on these career path, then why not go for it.
 
Yea, I don't want to lose my spot in pharmacy school right now, and I don't want to do both programs. I guess what I'm trying to get at is if I can get accepted into a DO program while in pharmacy school, then I would attend the DO program and drop out of pharmacy the following year. I'll definitely contact some schools and ask around some more. Thanks all!
 
Yea, I don't want to lose my spot in pharmacy school right now, and I don't want to do both programs. I guess what I'm trying to get at is if I can get accepted into a DO program while in pharmacy school, then I would attend the DO program and drop out of pharmacy the following year. I'll definitely contact some schools and ask around some more. Thanks all!

I don't think there's anything wrong with this plan. It sounds like pharmacy is a profession you would happily work in your entire life, and probably be fulfilled in. As long as you're not using it as a back-up to the DO option, that's fine. I get that you can want to do a few different things, and of course you need to prioritize it. So go to pharm school this year and apply for the DO program... this won't be easy, of course, between taking the MCAT and travelling to interviews, etc., but if you want to, go for it.
 
With all the new schools floating around, that's not as absurd as it sounds. It would just have to be a really expensive 7-11 that requires some college education to enter.

Oh, don't be so silly... It requires some college, it's expensive, and it's long... Pharmacy schools still take years to finish. So, not like a 7/11 at all... Maybe a 7-11 run by the federal gov't?

LOL.
 
Yea, I don't want to lose my spot in pharmacy school right now, and I don't want to do both programs. I guess what I'm trying to get at is if I can get accepted into a DO program while in pharmacy school, then I would attend the DO program and drop out of pharmacy the following year. I'll definitely contact some schools and ask around some more. Thanks all!

Have you thought giving up your spot to someone who really is interested in becoming a pharmacist? I find what you are doing incredibly selfish (and stupid), and a waste of your time and money. Also, you dropping out of pharmacy school after a year will negatively affect your school's retention rate, which does not look good on them.
 
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