Is it even worth it?

[sdn24]

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So I'm currently within a PhD program but I was thinking about applying to pharmacy school. While I could always do pharmD after I finish my PhD im wondering which would be better. Most dual or do PharmD first and then go on to do PhD. I have been following up on the pharmacy saturation and it can be scary for those who are graduating.., I know with both I will have options but is it even worth it to do both or do one over the other??

 

[68quebec]

it is better to ask at pharmacy forum, not pre-pharmacy.

 

[rederza]

You could do a pharmd in concurrent with a phD. That would have been less time. Is this what you are asking?Otherwise you having a phd won't make you any different from a student applying to pharm school without a phd.
And no, i wouldnt do pharmd after. I would just take my phd and teach.

 

[sdn24]

You could do a pharmd in concurrent with a phD. That would have been less time. Is this what you are asking?Otherwise you having a phd won't make you any different from a student applying to pharm school without a phd.
And no, i wouldnt do pharmd after. I would just take my phd and teach.

Well in order to do a dual degree ( PharmD and PhD) you must start the PharmD first. In my case I started the PhD first. Are you a pharmacy student? WHy would it not be a good decision to do PharmD after the phD?

 

[PharmDCandidate2014]

Well in order to do a dual degree ( PharmD and PhD) you must start the PharmD first. In my case I started the PhD first. Are you a pharmacy student? WHy would it not be a good decision to do PharmD after the phD?

If you wanted to work for a pharma, I would apply to an MD program. If you look at the job postings, many job descriptions have an MD preference over the PharmD. Tuition for these two degrees are very similar too, so the MD to that end gives you more bang for your buck. Furthermore, many MDs in big pharma have NO need to do a residency.

 

[oldstock]

Well in order to do a dual degree ( PharmD and PhD) you must start the PharmD first. In my case I started the PhD first. Are you a pharmacy student? WHy would it not be a good decision to do PharmD after the phD?

why ?? bc any logical and sane people would wanna to do things to enhance what they already have to move up to be on top of the food chain... a MD would help you to do that after you got your PhD... a PharmD ?? not so much... you obviously need to do more research my friend 😉

 

[rederza]

Well in order to do a dual degree ( PharmD and PhD) you must start the PharmD first. In my case I started the PhD first. Are you a pharmacy student? WHy would it not be a good decision to do PharmD after the phD?

Yes I am, and I honestly am considering that pharmd/phd just so I can use my PhD. PharmD is something I ended up in without any real passion for and now I am trying to cut my losses. Honestly because I think a PhD alone already allows for good opportunities. Like, if you wanted to do pharmaceutical research you could do that with a PhD, and not a PharmD. But you couldn't really do that with aPharmD...PharmD is more geared for clinical/retail imo

 

[Thestrugglez]

Yes I am, and I honestly am considering that pharmd/phd just so I can use my PhD. PharmD is something I ended up in without any real passion for and now I am trying to cut my losses. Honestly because I think a PhD alone already allows for good opportunities. Like, if you wanted to do pharmaceutical research you could do that with a PhD, and not a PharmD. But you couldn't really do that with aPharmD...PharmD is more geared for clinical/retail imo

What happened to switching to medicine? And I too think op should go for a MD after PhD instead of a PharmD.

 

[rederza]

What happened to switching to medicine? And I too think op should go for a MD after PhD instead of a PharmD.

waiting on that mcat score. 🙁

 

[Thestrugglez]

waiting on that mcat score. 🙁

Gl! Also, I think PhDs nowadays have very low value by itself (much worse than pharmacy, unless they are from top programs like Harvard or Stanford). The disadvantage of getting a MD after a PhD is that your MD isn't paid for. With PharmD/PhD, many programs don't even pay for the PharmD part, which shows how highly valued it is and makes me wonder why anyone would do it in the first place.

 

[rederza]

Gl! Also, I think PhDs nowadays have very low value by itself (much worse than pharmacy, unless they are from top programs like Harvard or Stanford). The disadvantage of getting a MD after a PhD is that your MD isn't paid for. With PharmD/PhD, many programs don't even pay for the PharmD part, which shows how highly valued it is and makes me wonder why anyone would do it in the first place.

At my school the PhD is paid for, the PharmD isn't. At med schools, the MD and the PhD is paid for...if my understanding is correct. For PharmD/Phd You get like a 20k stipend at my school after your 5th year presuming you are teaching classes as well. I'm just saying that if OP was interested in pharmaceutical research he would be better off just getting the phd in that instead of trying to supplement it with the PharmD. I don't think it's because the PharmD is valued so much as it isn't paid for by any organization like the MD/PhD is. (I forgot which org it is exactly that sponsors MD/PhD)

 

[oldstock]

At my school the PhD is paid for, the PharmD isn't. At med schools, the MD and the PhD is paid for...if my understanding is correct. For PharmD/Phd You get like a 20k stipend at my school after your 5th year presuming you are teaching classes as well. I'm just saying that if OP was interested in pharmaceutical research he would be better off just getting the phd in that instead of trying to supplement it with the PharmD. I don't think it's because the PharmD is valued so much as it isn't paid for by any organization like the MD/PhD is. (I forgot which org it is exactly that sponsors MD/PhD)

NIH ??

 

[rederza]

NIH ??

Yes! Haha. Them.