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- Apr 6, 2010
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This is my first post, about how I am not sure what I want to do with my life and why I am considering pharmacy among other things. If you want to advise me (harsh criticism welcomed) feel free.
I am 24 and trying to start my "career path". I graduated from college a few years ago (Biology degree, excellent school, high GPA), and unsure of what to do next, decided to take a break and have been a lab technician in a large hospital in NY doing clinical testing since. I feel like if I want to make more out of my career I should start now. My 3 considerations are Pharmacy, PhD, and Masters in Bio (and continue being a lab tech but with more $$).
I have a strong interest in science, biology and chemistry. I really like doing molecular work, but not sure if I want to be a lab tech forever or if I want to move on to something "better". I love learning about science (classes, textbooks) but I generally am bored by reading scientific papers/attending talks about people's research and don't know if I have a strong enough devotion to be a PhD. It is important to me to have a good lifestyle, with a 40 hour/week job, and decent pay. I wouldn't mind working longer if I choose to, but I have the impression that PhDs often MUST work long hours even when they have established careers, in order to publish and stay competitive.
On the other hand, pharmacists can work as many hours as they choose and of course the pay is great. I don't think I'm considering it just for the lifestyle since I really do enjoy chemistry, but do pharmacists really use their science knowledge regularly? And..I don't like working with customers, which makes me nervous about pharmacy.
Having time for a life outside my career is very important to me, and I don't want to be in school forever. Pharmacy has a pretty straightforward and relatively quick career path (for me 1 year of pre-reqs, 4 years of pharm school, pharmacist!), while PhD is less direct (5-6 years PhD, 2 years post doc, ?) where the ? could be basic research, industry, government job. Also I am not interested in basic research, so I am afraid of going this route and then not being able to get a job with a pharmaceutical company or similar.
So no idea if anyone is still sticking with me. I'd like my career to be in the sciences and be able to put my interest in bio/chem to some use. But I definitely don't want to sacrifice too much lifestyle for my career.
I am 24 and trying to start my "career path". I graduated from college a few years ago (Biology degree, excellent school, high GPA), and unsure of what to do next, decided to take a break and have been a lab technician in a large hospital in NY doing clinical testing since. I feel like if I want to make more out of my career I should start now. My 3 considerations are Pharmacy, PhD, and Masters in Bio (and continue being a lab tech but with more $$).
I have a strong interest in science, biology and chemistry. I really like doing molecular work, but not sure if I want to be a lab tech forever or if I want to move on to something "better". I love learning about science (classes, textbooks) but I generally am bored by reading scientific papers/attending talks about people's research and don't know if I have a strong enough devotion to be a PhD. It is important to me to have a good lifestyle, with a 40 hour/week job, and decent pay. I wouldn't mind working longer if I choose to, but I have the impression that PhDs often MUST work long hours even when they have established careers, in order to publish and stay competitive.
On the other hand, pharmacists can work as many hours as they choose and of course the pay is great. I don't think I'm considering it just for the lifestyle since I really do enjoy chemistry, but do pharmacists really use their science knowledge regularly? And..I don't like working with customers, which makes me nervous about pharmacy.
Having time for a life outside my career is very important to me, and I don't want to be in school forever. Pharmacy has a pretty straightforward and relatively quick career path (for me 1 year of pre-reqs, 4 years of pharm school, pharmacist!), while PhD is less direct (5-6 years PhD, 2 years post doc, ?) where the ? could be basic research, industry, government job. Also I am not interested in basic research, so I am afraid of going this route and then not being able to get a job with a pharmaceutical company or similar.
So no idea if anyone is still sticking with me. I'd like my career to be in the sciences and be able to put my interest in bio/chem to some use. But I definitely don't want to sacrifice too much lifestyle for my career.