Engineer thinking about going back for Pharmacy

[IMAC0714]

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I'm currently an Engineer for a fortune 500 company in southeast WI. I have my BS in Electrical Eng and have been with my company for 4 yrs (1 yr intern, 3 yrs full time). I'm thinking about going back to school for Pharmacy.

There are a couple of pre-req courses that I didn't take as part of my curriculum for engineering. Base off the list of pre-reqs for the school I'm looking at, I still need to take:
organic chem 1 & 2
Biology 1 & 2
statistics
communication/speech

I'll be enrolling back into school this Fall to finish my pre-reqs. Is it possible to apply this Fall and be accepted into Pharmacy school while just starting these courses? The application opens August 1st and closes March 1st. On campus interviews Sept-March. If I wait til after the end of the Fall semester when I've completed half of the courses and then apply, would that reduce my chances of getting accepted?

I also need to take the PCAT. Do we have to include the PCAT score along with the application or can we take it after?

Thanks in advance. I'll definitely do more research but I also appreciate any thoughts you guys have.

 

[Corpseman]

Don't, just don't.

 

[cyna]

You can definitely apply before you have finished those courses.
1. If you get accepted, you will have to provide your official transcript to show proof that you have passed those courses (a minimum of a C).
2. If you finish a few of those courses, but you are still waiting to hear back from schools, just make sure to update your academic transcripts/grades on PharmCAS (when they send you the email update regarding academic updates).

For PCAT, if you haven't taken them but plan on doing so in the future, you can indicate the test date and still e-submit. If your PCAT score arrives after your application has been sent to the schools, PharmCAS will forward your test scores to your pharmacy schools in a separate report. However, for this to happen, you must arrange for Pearson to send your PCAT scores directly to PharmCAS – CODE 104. Your designated schools, however, may not begin to review your application until your PCAT score is received.

 

[PharmtoCS]

Stay in engineering. By switching to pharmacy, you are going into a field that requires you to graduate with around $200k debt, 4 years of lost earning opportunity, and much worse job prospects.

 

[radio frequency]

I just graduated. Can we swap credentials? I think I'd like being an engineer. 😉

Seriously though, engineering is a good, steady path. I'd stick to it, especially with this recently published information: http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/supplydemand/usworkforce/projections/pharmacists.pdf

If you absolutely must go back, cyna's answer is a good one. Good luck, whatever you choose!

 

[IMAC0714]

Thanks for the feedback. I just submitted my application to go back to school.

There are a lot of great things to engineering. I definitely wouldn't bash it. I've gained a lot experiences and knowledge while working. I've been to Shanghai, Mexico on several occasions, and several trips around the US on the company's dime. I've worked with some great people and some not so great people. Compensation is competitive. Opportunities for moving laterally and vertically are there. But I just don't have the passion for it anymore. I see people with 20 yrs, 30 yrs, 35 yrs anniversaries and I just can't see myself doing it for that long.

My ultimate goal is to become a pharmacist and open my own pharmacy. I want to be my own boss.

I'll be enrolling this Fall to complete my pre-reqs and will try and find a 2nd shift position and work full time. I found a posting the other day for a 2nd shift test engineering technician. I know I won't get paid as much but at least I won't be broke.

I'm curious though, once I start Pharmacy School, would it be possible to work full time and still go to school? Anyone ever done something that crazy?

 

[RxStudentatUB]

Thanks for the feedback. I just submitted my application to go back to school.

There are a lot of great things to engineering. I definitely wouldn't bash it. I've gained a lot experiences and knowledge while working. I've been to Shanghai, Mexico on several occasions, and several trips around the US on the company's dime. I've worked with some great people and some not so great people. Compensation is competitive. Opportunities for moving laterally and vertically are there. But I just don't have the passion for it anymore. I see people with 20 yrs, 30 yrs, 35 yrs anniversaries and I just can't see myself doing it for that long.

My ultimate goal is to become a pharmacist and open my own pharmacy. I want to be my own boss.

I'll be enrolling this Fall to complete my pre-reqs and will try and find a 2nd shift position and work full time. I found a posting the other day for a 2nd shift test engineering technician. I know I won't get paid as much but at least I won't be broke.

I'm curious though, once I start Pharmacy School, would it be possible to work full time and still go to school? Anyone ever done something that crazy?

Dentistry, much better chance of being a successful independent owner. Not so much with pharmacy, you're competing with some huge companies.

 

[PharmtoCS]

You can also become a successful business owner as a software developer. Code your own apps, and if venture capitalists like it, you can get millions in funding. You also won't have to take out business loans which lenders will be hesitant to approve if you're graduating with tons of student loans.