If I could go back, I would not choose pre-pharmacy (rant)

[Passion4Sci]

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👍👍


There's dental school, optometry school, med school, nursing school, vet school, psychology ... PhD programs ... etc. There are plenty of options out there to try out if you want to stay in the medical/healthcare field.

I said the same thing, and you didn't thumbs up for me.

You're biased because she's a girl, arentcha?

 

[phathead]

Nurses do plenty of important tasks, and sometimes save lives. There are also a few nursing specialties which pay extremely well. Are you sure you're not just looking down on someone "lower on the totem pole"... as an M.D. would do to us? All these professions are "integral" and maybe your run of the mill nurse isn't very important, but I'm sure many ignorant people would say the same of a pharmacist.

I wasn't saying they're not important, we all know they are, but I'm talking about the level of training involved.

 

[UES Girl]

I said the same thing, and you didn't thumbs up for me.

You're biased because she's a girl, arentcha?

She just likes me, passion because we are both cool 😳. I'm trying to find a way to hang out with her when she is going to be in the city, because she is so awesome. I might take her out for a drink after her interview to celebrate. 😍

 

[kmoogs]

I said the same thing, and you didn't thumbs up for me.

You're biased because she's a girl, arentcha?

Sorry I might have missed that 🙁 I'll go back and thumbs up your post too haha. I press End to go to the end of the page and read the most recent posts, I might have accidentally passed by yours >_<

 

[kmoogs]

Luckily the pre-pharmacy coursework is very flexible... you can fold Physics, Orgo, Calculus and its pre-reqs,, A&P, deep Bio, etc all very nicely into just about anything related to the sciences...

👍👍👍 There, you get the three thumbed alien 😀

 

[kmoogs]

She just likes me, passion because we are both cool 😳. I'm trying to find a way to hang out with her when she is going to be in the city, because she is so awesome. I might take her out for a drink after her interview to celebrate. 😍

lol, I'm not a 'she'. Do I seem like a girl? 😕 I guess my shopping and cooking habits tend to indicate that haha

 

[Tinkerbell22]

lol, I'm not a 'she'. Do I seem like a girl? 😕 I guess my shopping and cooking habits tend to indicate that haha

Honestly I can't remember reading any posts where you explicitly said you were a guy v. girl BUT I kinda guessed you were a guy based on your fierce computer knowledge, your male roommate with the McLaren, and your rant about getting caught up in girl drama. I'm very observant. LOL

 

[Passion4Sci]

My shopping/cooking habits tend to run to the domestic female side also.

 

[UES Girl]

lol, I'm not a 'she'. Do I seem like a girl? 😕 I guess my shopping and cooking habits tend to indicate that haha

Hahahahahahahaha, this is soooooo awesome, I almost fell of my chair I right now. No wonder you didn't know what a chanel logo is. 🤣🤣


Don't get mad at me, I'm just a big goofy goof.

 

[Passion4Sci]

I know what the Chanel logo is even, FFS!

Rhinestones "Cs" baby yeah.

 

[UES Girl]

your rant about getting caught up in girl drama.

That's exactly why I thought kmoogs was a girl. Initially, I thought kmoogs was a guy, but when he started talking about girl drama, I figured he was a girl, because most guys don't really get involved in any serious girl drama.

 

[kmoogs]

Honestly I can't remember reading any posts where you explicitly said you were a guy v. girl BUT I kinda guessed you were a guy based on your fierce computer knowledge, your male roommate with the McLaren, and your rant about getting caught up in girl drama. I'm very observant. LOL

Very observant!

My shopping/cooking habits tend to run to the domestic female side also.

That's a good thing, never think otherwise.

That's exactly why I thought kmoogs was a girl. Initially, I thought kmoogs was a guy, but when he started talking about girl drama, I figured he was a girl, because most guys don't really get involved in any serious girl drama.

I was an unwilling and unknowing participant in their little tug of war.

I know what the Chanel logo is even, FFS!

Rhinestones "Cs" baby yeah.

I'm more of an LV person. 😉

Hahahahahahahaha, this is soooooo awesome, I almost fell of my chair I right now. No wonder you didn't know what a chanel logo is. 🤣🤣


Don't get mad at me, I'm just a big goofy goof.

lol. Another dead giveaway

 

[Passion4Sci]

Vuitton? Blech.

 

[UES Girl]

Vuitton? Blech.

I'm a am a big fan of this ultra luxury brand known as Orion.

 

[jackal head]

Honestly, it's borderline between amusing and almost insulting to read and it also essentially comepletely belittles and undermines your entire rant about spending THE BETTER HALF OF YOUR TWENTIES IN SCHOOL for a career you claim won't be fulfifilling, when you,yourself, said you are going to be turning 21 in march. 😕 😕 😕

Grow up kid, you are AN EMBRYO, you can esentially do anything at this point and switch the direction completely if none of the careers in medical/health or science related fields that will let you utilize your pre-req education appeal to you.

I don't recall making such a claim. I was just saying I wouldn't want to go back to school after spending so much time in it. Pharmacy is still not a bad choice, just maybe not the best possible one, either way, I passed the point of no return a while ago.

Many times I have thought about switching careers but I never do. Partly because I know I will never be this motivated to do anything else. This is also why I don't have a backup (unless a biology degree counts), perhaps not the best idea but I see no point in planning for failure.

However, I did lol at embryo 🤣

 

[PonderingChoice]

i just want to point out that "run of the mill" nurses are extremely important. We couldn't do it without nurses. In fact, it was the nurses who ran the mayo brothers hospital when the mayo clinic was first established. Nurses also do a lot for the red cross and the military. Don't diss 'em.

ok. 🙂

 

[kmoogs]

I don't recall making such a claim. I was just saying I wouldn't want to go back to school after spending so much time in it. Pharmacy is still not a bad choice, just maybe not the best possible one, either way, I passed the point of no return a while ago.

Many times I have thought about switching careers but I never do. Partly because I know I will never be this motivated to do anything else. This is also why I don't have a backup (unless a biology degree counts), perhaps not the best idea but I see no point in planning for failure.

However, I did lol at embryo 🤣

Hmm ... You might have to re-think your options if you aren't comfortable with going back to school for another 4 years or so. Either way, you will always continue to learn and continue to be challenged wherever you go. School is only one of the mediums for people to learn through ... maybe school just isn't your calling and you need some industry experience to help you develop an alternate perspective on pharmaceuticals.

 

[Tinkerbell22]

If pharmacy isn't the "best" choice, then how do you define "best" choice? A degree where you will have 10 job offers handed to you six months before graduation, 20k sign on bonus, and 6 figure salary plus tuition reimbursement? Not going to to happen.

Job competition should not affect the "best" choice portion of your reasons for going into pharmacy. It should be the best choice because it is the type of career you desire, you are good at it, etc. The money is a plus, but there are other things that make money like everyone else said. Oh yeah... I have a biology degree and that is not one of those things... you can always be a zookeeper though. Actually don't... that's my backup plan.

 

[MB41]

Wow , jackal head, if you are just doing pharmacy because you have 'passed the point of no return' or whatever, you are going to wake up in 10 years and really hate your life. Find something you love. I don't think anyone here is going to agree with your rant because for the majority of them, it is what they (we) love

 

[rxlea]

Omg chebs LMAO @ the embryo comment hahahaha

 

[goatmeal]

If pharmacy isn't the "best" choice, then how do you define "best" choice? A degree where you will have 10 job offers handed to you six months before graduation, 20k sign on bonus, and 6 figure salary plus tuition reimbursement? Not going to to happen.

Good point, but every time i look at the pharmacy (not pre-pharm) forum theirs a thread of someone complaining about their job and how their stuck in a ****ty position, because no jobs are available. Is this just people b****in for the sake of it, or is their really a problem of saturation in the job market?
Does anyone have some job experience or know if this is true.

 

[jackal head]

Wow , jackal head, if you are just doing pharmacy because you have 'passed the point of no return' or whatever, you are going to wake up in 10 years and really hate your life. Find something you love. I don't think anyone here is going to agree with your rant because for the majority of them, it is what they (we) love

I think I may have given the wrong impression, I don't feel I'm doing pharmacy because I have no other choice. I actually have developed a sincere interest in the profession. Which is part of the reason why I can't just switch to something else.

Achieving the long term goal of becoming a pharmacists in itself would be incredibly rewarding. Finding a different career, even a better one, just wouldn't feel the same. That's kind of why I feel I can't go back now.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Achieving the long term goal of becoming a pharmacists in itself would be incredibly rewarding. Finding a different career, even a better one, just wouldn't feel the same. That's kind of why I feel I can't go back now.

Then put your nose to the grindstone and you will be rewarded.

There will ALWAYS be jobs for people with talent and credentials... always.

 

[McPharmd]

I'm worried about the same things. I love the profession but the way things are going it doesn't look so great. I wish our organization was stronger like dentistry is. Dentistry still has great autonomy, hasn't gone crazy commercialized, limited amount of schools, and doesn't allow foreigners to come in to take our jobs without going to school all over again. I would have gone into dentistry but too bad I don't have any interest in teeth. I wish our profession was as strong as dentistry is. I am going in blind into pharmacy with lots uncertainty. I don't know if that is foolish or not. I love the profession that much so the risk is worth it. I just hope the salary stays the way it does when I graduate. I'm not going in it for the money but I think the salary now is reasonable for the time/debt we incur and the responsibilities our job has. So I don't think it deserves to be dropped. The future is a mystery. I just hope things don't go into the crapper.

 

[Passion4Sci]

The reason why dentistry is the way it is, is because it's a lot harder to be interested in teeth than it is drugs.

Quote me on that.

And BTW, everything's going into the crapper.

 

[dreezy10]

the truth is no one can predict the future job market for pharmacist, you can all speculate, but it is IMPOSSIBLE to predict, who know what can happen, so when you are in a situation of uncertainty, all you can do is rely on yourself

work hard, learn as much as you can, make your self an asset, and a valueble member of whatever profession you are in. I am looking to go into nuclear pharm, and Im going to bust my but and get under some successful pharmacist wing and soak it all up like a sponge.

Don;t expect anything to be handed to you, you have to work for stability in any area.

I'm not saying I agree that the job market will suck for pharmacist, I'm saying I DONT KNOW, and neither do any of you, so work on controlling what you can, which is yourself and your own accomplishments. and everything will work itself out and you will get what you deserve.

thats my two cents heehee!

 

[IrishHammer]

The reason why dentistry is the way it is, is because it's a lot harder to be interested in teeth than it is drugs.

Quote me on that.

And BTW, everything's going into the crapper.

Not that many odontophiliacs out there, eh?

 

[Taurus1971]

Oh yea he is dead on.....might want to apply at McDonald's


Common people haha🙄

I work at McDonalds:cry:

But not for long

 

[JVket04]

Job Outlook About this section

Employment is expected to increase faster than the average. As a result of job growth, the need to replace workers who leave the occupation, and the limited capacity of training programs, job prospects should be excellent.
Employment change. Employment of pharmacists is expected to grow by 17 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is faster than the average for all occupations. The increasing numbers of middle-aged and elderly people—who use more prescription drugs than younger people—will continue to spur demand for pharmacists throughout the projection period. In addition, as scientific advances lead to new drug products, and as an increasing number of people obtain prescription drug coverage, the need for these workers will continue to expand.
Pharmacists also are becoming more involved in patient care. As prescription drugs become more complex, and as the number of people taking multiple medications increases, the potential for dangerous drug interactions will grow. Pharmacists will be needed to counsel patients on the proper use of medication, assist in drug selection and dosage, and monitor complex drug regimens. This need will lead to rapid growth for pharmacists in medical care establishments, such as doctors’ offices, outpatient care centers, and nursing care facilities.
Demand also will increase in mail-order pharmacies, which often are more efficient than pharmacies in other practice settings. Employment also will continue to grow in hospitals, drugstores, grocery stores, and mass retailers, because pharmacies in these settings will continue to process the majority of all prescriptions and increasingly will offer patient care services, such as the administration of vaccines.
Job prospects. Job prospects are expected to be excellent over the 2008–18 period. Employers in many parts of the country report difficulty in attracting and retaining adequate numbers of pharmacists—primarily the result of the limited training capacity of Pharm.D. programs. In addition, as a larger percentage of pharmacists elects to work part time, more individuals will be needed to fill the same number of prescriptions. Job openings also will result from faster than average employment growth and from the need to replace workers who retire or leave the occupation for other reasons.
Projections Data About this section


Projections data from the National Employment Matrix

Occupational Title​

SOC Code​

Employment, 2008​

Projected
Employment, 2018​

Change,
2008-18​

Detailed Statistics​

Number​

Percent​

Pharmacists

29-1051​

269,900
315,800
45,900
17

[PDF]​

[XLS]​

NOTE: Data in this table are rounded. See the discussion of the employment projections table in the Handbook introductory chapter on Occupational Information Included in the Handbook.

Earnings About this section

Median annual wages of wage and salary pharmacists in May 2008 were $106,410. The middle 50 percent earned between $92,670 and $121,310 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $77,390, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $131,440 a year.







This is from the Gov. Occupational handbook



What do you mean you won't be able to find a job

send the link for this source!!! Damn i'm a sucker for numbers!!!

 

[mintleif]

ROFL, the mental INFLEXIBILITY? I am far more mentally flexible now at 27 than I ever was at 18.

Puh-lease.

EVERY job sector has this problem, except a few, perhaps Petroleum Engineering is more your speed.

i wish i had a little alarm that went off everytime you posted something. your posts are all the entertainment i need. god, i wish i knew someone like you who was my age!

 

[MrMeowphers]

The OP would have been OWNED in graduate school at Harvard or Stanford.

I would have laughed at you for the past many years of my life as you whine.

Wahhh Wahhh my experiments arn't going well.

 

[joh0472]

Uhhh.... go graduate with a degree and try to find another job. I completed all but the humanities pre-pharm requirements without even considering Pharmacy as a career when I was completing my degree requirements as an undergrad

It's not too late and 21 is freaking young. Mental inflexibility my butt. If that were the case, many on this forum would be mentally as stiff as a rock (see age poll for 27+ users)... which clearly is NOT the case...

That's what she said.

 

[kmoogs]

The OP would have been OWNED in graduate school at Harvard or Stanford.

I would have laughed at you for the past many years of my life as you whine.

Wahhh Wahhh my experiments arn't going well.

Heh. Life doesn't always go as planned. It's really stop and go traffic all the way ... just got to learn to deal with everything as you encounter it 😛

There's no pothole-free highway to your life goals unless you got $$$ and you build and own the freaking highway

 

[EddieL]

send the link for this source!!! Damn i'm a sucker for numbers!!!

It's bls.gov

 

[UES Girl]

The OP would have been OWNED in graduate school at Harvard or Stanford.

I would have laughed at you for the past many years of my life as you whine.

Wahhh Wahhh my experiments arn't going well.

Seriously, you bring Harvard up in some way or another in almost every post now. 😉

 

[kmoogs]

Seriously, you bring Harvard up in some way or another in almost every post now. 😉

Because he got his MS and PhD at Stanford and Harvard ... 😕

 

[ChulRx]

Admittedly, I didn't read the entire thread, but my question is this:

As pharmacy students, instead of complaining about jobs and shortages why don't we just....oh, you know...put as much effort as possible into setting ourselves apart from the other graduating students?

I guess it's not as "easy" as it used to be, but I think it's worth the effort. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gone to pharmacy school. If it's not worth the effort to you, and you don't love pharmacy for reasons other than job security, then why are you still pursuing it?

 

[UES Girl]

Because he got his MS and PhD at Stanford and Harvard ... 😕

I know but he reminds me of my former coworker who also had a degree from Harvard and managed to introduce it into almost every conversation regarless of what the topic actually was.

It would be like this:

- Have you read any good books lately ?


- Not not lately, but when I was at Harvard .......


- How do you like the weather these past few days ?


- Well, it's nothing compared to this one time when I was at Harvard ....


I gotta go study for my exam though. No more slacking off.

 

[UES Girl]

Admittedly, I didn't read the entire thread, but my question is this:

As pharmacy students, instead of complaining about jobs and shortages why don't we just....oh, you know...put as much effort as possible into setting ourselves apart from the other graduating students?

I guess it's not as "easy" as it used to be, but I think it's worth the effort. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gone to pharmacy school. If it's not worth the effort to you, and you don't love pharmacy for reasons other than job security, then why are you still pursuing it?

Because you'll soon find as a pharmacy student when you are in the class with 120 bright cream of the crop individuals - there really isn't much you can do to set yourself apart. 😕

Everyone is smart, everyone has great grades and everyone participates in a million EC activities - at least at my school, how do you set yourself apart in that case ?

 

[kmoogs]

I know but he reminds me of my former coworker who also had a degree from Harvard and managed to introduce it into almost every conversation regarless of what the topic actually was.

It would be like this:

- Have you read any good books lately ?


- Not not lately, but when I was at Harvard .......


- How do you like the weather these past few days ?


- Well, it's nothing compared to this one time when I was at Harvard ....


I gotta go study for my exam though. No more slacking off.

G'luck!


I once interviewed with a guy who went on and on about Harvard like that ... "Back when I lived at the Quincy house..." Of course, I went to visit all the spots he talked about @Harvard later that weekend but I had no idea what he was talking about for half the interview.... naming off all these random places at Harvard when he was there for med school.

 

[exsomnis]

to the OP

If you feel like you've 'invested too much' and are only in your 3rd year of pre-pharm. Like most everyone said, these courses are part of a requirement for a lot of science majors, other pre-health routes etc. Why don't you look over your options while you're still young and make sure it's right for you before investing another 4+ years only to regret it later. And if you're feeling more mentally inflexible maybe you shouldn't be going into pharmacy since the career pretty much causes you to continually learn new medications, regulations, etc throughout your career. If you're already feeling mentally inflexible however will you do your CEs?

Suck it up. Like chebs said, at 21 you're just an embryo, don't try to break out of the womb before you're ready.

 

[phathead]

Because you'll soon find as a pharmacy student when you are in the class with 120 bright cream of the crop individuals - there really isn't much you can do to set yourself apart. 😕

Everyone is smart, everyone has great grades and everyone participates in a million EC activities - at least at my school, how do you set yourself apart in that case ?

I plan on shaving my hair into a mohawk, wearing neon colored mesh shirts and wearing short shorts.

That'll set me apart

 

[UES Girl]

I plan on shaving my hair into a mohawk, wearing neon colored mesh shirts and wearing short shorts.

That'll set me apart

Already done, dude,

Our class president shaved his hair in mohawk and I'm wearing shortie short stuff in neon colors.

 

[phathead]

Already done, dude,

Our class president shaved his hair in mohawk and I'm wearing shortie short stuff in neon colors.

but is your ball sack hanging out? That's the clincher right there

 

[kmoogs]

but is your ball sack hanging out? That's the clincher right there

re:

that's what you think. 😉 🙄 I'm a man and so far no one picked up on it. 🙄

 

[phathead]

re:

oh I know what Cheb is. and I still think he's dead sexy

 

[sashagrl259]

Although I do agree with the majority here and I too am not loosing sleep over the thought of not being able to find a job after pharm school, I must say that what stands out to me the most is how the OP (and a few others) maturely responds to some of the not-so-nice replies! But come on, I am 21yrs old too and titling your post "If I could go back..." is a little bit drastic, don't you think? I mean as a 21 yr old I really haven't gone anywhere... lol

This is a pretty interesting discussion, but I'm wondering if that's how some of you would discuss things in person? Or is it just the anonymity of internet blogging at work? 😛

 

[phathead]

Although I do agree with the majority here and I too am not loosing sleep over the thought of not being able to find a job after pharm school, I must say that what stands out to me the most is how the OP (and a few others) maturely responds to some of the not-so-nice replies! But come on, I am 21yrs old too and titling your post "If I could go back..." is a little bit drastic, don't you think? I mean as a 21 yr old I really haven't gone anywhere... lol

This is a pretty interesting discussion, but I'm wondering if that's how some of you would discuss things in person? Or is it just the anonymity of internet blogging at work? 😛

I am exactly the same offline as I am online. Whether that is a good thing, I do not know.

 

[mintleif]

Already done, dude,

Our class president shaved his hair in mohawk and I'm wearing shortie short stuff in neon colors.

lol

 

[Sparda29]

Bleh, I had some sympathy until I read international student. Why don't you go back to your own country?