From Research to Pharmacy

[ems2436]

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I am working as a researcher at the CDC and would really like to go to pharmacy school. Does anyone know how schools look at someone with research experience as opposed to pharmacy experience? My contract is up in October and I would like to become a pharmacy tech until pharmacy school hopefully in the fall of 2007. Is it worth it or should I stay at my job now? Also, if I can't start as a tech until October and I interview shortly afterwards-will they understand that I am trying to gain experience even if I have only been there one month or so? Thank you!

 

[FunnyPHARM]

I am working as a researcher at the CDC and would really like to go to pharmacy school. Does anyone know how schools look at someone with research experience as opposed to pharmacy experience? My contract is up in October and I would like to become a pharmacy tech until pharmacy school hopefully in the fall of 2007. Is it worth it or should I stay at my job now? Also, if I can't start as a tech until October and I interview shortly afterwards-will they understand that I am trying to gain experience even if I have only been there one month or so? Thank you!

Either way you can't go wrong.
Personally, I would continue working as a researcher at the CDC and volunteer at a pharmacy. Working for the CDC will really make you stand out compared to a pharmacy tech.
Good Luck! 👍

 

[DHG]

👍 You can get in without pharmacy (work) experience. Your job at the CDC I am sure pays better than a pharmtech. And it's health related so thats a big plus. Pharm tech jobs are very low paying so consider that when deciding. I didn't have any pharmacy experience and I have several acceptances. You'll be fine. You can shadow, or volunteer, or interview pharmacists instead of actually working in a pharmacy.

 

[lostplato]

Hey, I am in the same boat as you. I'm doing research now at Johns Hopkins and will be applying to pharmacy school. I think you should stick with your job at the CDC and try and find volunteer experience on the side. The pharm tech experience will help out in your application but, as others said, it isnt necessary for admission. Stick with the CDC...but then again I'm a little biased in my opinion.

 

[kwizard]

I agree w/ everyone that says stick w/ the research vs tech training. Pharmacy tech experience is nice, but your previous experience in research certainly outweighs that. If you really want the tech experience, do it as something on the side to supplement your income, but I really wouldn't leave it all together as I'm guessing that it is something you probably enjoy. There are millions of ways you can integrate your research training into your pharmacy degree (PhD, post-doc, internships, industry, pharmacoepidemiology, etc). Even if you are tired of research it can open a lot of doors. Working as a pharmacy tech opens doors as well, but you can satisfy the potential for networking in a pharmacy on a part time basis as the time commitment b/w research and community/hospital pharmacy are different.

This is coming from someone who had lots of tech experience and a little research experience prior to applying to pharmacy school so I think I have a fair appreciation for some of the benefits of both disciplines. Stick w/ the research for now if you enjoy it and then integrate yourself into other aspects of pharmacy at your own pace so you can figure out what setting of pharmacy you want to ultimately go into.

 

[DrugDealer]

Yes, stick with the research! I also come from a research background and did not have any pharmacy experience when I applied, and it did not seem to hinder me too much (I was accepted to 4 of the 6 schools I applied to, including UCSF). While it may not be directly health care-related, research shows you are interested in helping people live better lives. It also demonstrates you are capable of asking "the hard questions" and thinking on a higher, more applied level, which is required in rotations.

 

[Moxxie]

I heartily agree with everyone else here 🙂 Stick with the CDC and try to get some volunteer experience elsewhere. Does the CDC have medical facilities with a pharmacist that you could shadow? I work in a research lab at the VA, and was able to get good pharmacy experience by contacting the head of the clinical pharmacy department (I wouldn't have been able to shadow the pharmacists if I didn't work at the VA already, because of HIPAA).

You're definitely going to stand out as an applicant!

 

[ems2436]

Thank you everyone! I am going to look into volunteering at a pharmacy, instead of switching jobs. I do REALLY love my job because it is a once in a lifetime experience at the CDC. I am on a fellowship in the Influenza Branch 🙂 I am really enjoying the chemistry/biology aspect of the job and the problem solving, just miss contact with people and really think pharmacy could integrate my two passions of a love for people and a love for science. Does anyone know what sorts of things they will let you do at a pharmacy as a volunteer? Can you get some pretty good experience? I am going to stop by the clinic today at my job and see if they have a pharmacy! Thank you for all your help!!!!