For the Pharm D students and practitioners

[wildcat5206]

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I just graduated as a business major and have the aspiration to be a pharmacist. Can you Pharm D students or practitioners tell me why did you decided to become a pharmacist (cuz of $?) and is it something you decided before attending college? Do you think you have worked really hard to get to where you are? how much do you STUDY? what school you go to and what was your GPA and pcat score? any advice for me? i will begin to take the pre reqs for pharm at a local community college. Thanks in advance.. i would really appreciate hearing about your journey!

 

[firefighter9015]

I decided to become a pharmacist, because I wanted to have a job that was flexible for me to have a family. I decided before I went to college and I feel that I did work really hard for it and still am. I go to Univ. of Kentucky.
I got in with a 3.9 and a 89 on my PCAT. My advice is to just keep your head up and work hard. Keep your drams in sight 🙂
Good luck with applying and getting in 🙂

 

[ageldred]

I earned a finance degree before I decided to do pharmacy, so I know where you are coming from. I worked for a year at Walgreens as an assistant manager so I saw the ins and outs of retail pharmacy and decided to go for it. I quit my job and moved back in with my mom to take the prereqs and now I'm in my first year at UF, which was my number one choice. I am very excited to be where I am today. It is tough though because I wish I had decided to do pharmacy while in college or earlier, however I think I learned some valuable management skills while I was working. Right now I'm leaning more towards retail pharmacy because I think it would combine both of my degress, business and pharmacy. But ask me again in 2011 I may have changed my mind by then. My undergrad GPA was about a 3.1 or so and I got an 88 on the PCAT.

 

[Lunchbox]

Wildcat, I started pharmacy school at 29, with a degree in chemical engineering, and several years working sales / technical support for a chemical distributor.

I'm working harder now than I ever did when I was getting a paycheck, but the rewards are great. I study at least 10-15 hours for every test we have, and haven't gotten a test score below 85 yet. The material comes at you at a different pace than undergrad, so you absolutely need a more dedicated, organized mindset.

I decided to do this after my boss got cancer, and I learned there was such a thing as an oncology pharmacist. I want to do some sort of clinical specialist position, interacting with MDs, patients and nurses to help provide healthcare. It's not what brought everyone to school, but I think the goal makes it easier to dedicate the time to studying. Good luck with your decision and applications.

(as for undergrad: PCAT, 99. GPA 3.0)