Is that an insult?

[shoppe]

I met two new pharmacists at my store last week. I told them I am preparing to take the PCAt and asking them for advices. I asked them why they want to be a pharmacist. The first one said "because i'm not smart enough to go into med school." He went on and on saying he begged and knocked on every medical schools but they don't accept him. He even applied at one school for a second time and still didn't get in. Then he got confuse and decided to take the PCAT, aced it, and then applied to Pharmacy school within a week and got accepted right away. The other guy said because he's not smart enough in anything else and he's lazy. hum.. They were serious about this too. To top it off, my bf who is a student in medical school now, said all pharmacists and dentists are medical rejects. I don't know about you guys but i'm offended. Pharmacists, as I found out, are not as respected as I thought afterall. If i bombed the PCAT, man.. I would look really stupid then?!?!!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[adventurer]

My first thought is: Get a grip. There are always lazy people in any profession, as well as people who choose a profession for "the wrong reasons". There are also brilliant people, hardworking people, nice people, funny people, wierd people, etc. Do not let two bad apples spoil the barrell for you. Also realize that this is reality. You do not get to choose every member you work with or that shares the same title as you. What you do get to do, is make an impression on the people you work with and for every day. You will be "the pharmacist" that people know, and it will be you that is the representative of your profession-so make sure its a good one!

 

[ndearwater]

I have a feeling that pharmacy may be a more competitive field now than it was when those two were entering the field.
Also, it's true that there will be lazy people with negative outlooks in every field. Someone who chooses pharmacy as a "back up" will probably not gain the same job satisfaction as someone who was passionate about pharmacy when they chose that path.
Don't be disheartened. Working as a technician, I feel that the majority of patients and citizens in general respect pharmacists (as well as competent techs) very much.

 

[freshbeatschris]

My first thought is: Get a grip. There are always lazy people in any profession, as well as people who choose a profession for "the wrong reasons". There are also brilliant people, hardworking people, nice people, funny people, wierd people, etc. Do not let two bad apples spoil the barrell for you. Also realize that this is reality. You do not get to choose every member you work with or that shares the same title as you. What you do get to do, is make an impression on the people you work with and for every day. You will be "the pharmacist" that people know, and it will be you that is the representative of your profession-so make sure its a good one!

Very well said and quite introspective.

I feel so fortunate, at my pharmacy I have the most dedicated, compassionate, intelligent, hard-working, fun group of people that you could ever hope to work with. I wish I could bring them with me to any job that I might get in the future.

Chris

 

[KUMoose]

Or you could just realize that Med Students are Pharmacists that could tell between phenol and phenyl!

In reality there are more reasons they were being funny/nonsensical or devisive, then being serious. In all the shadowing and talking with pharmacists, it's the males that have the biggest problem putting into cogent thought why they became a pharmacist.

 

[dpari]

I agree, you totally need a grip...

Look, if you have researched into Pharmacy and have determined that this profession fits you, then do not be discouraged, take heart and go for it!

Forget about Medicine, etc...blah...blah...blah

Humility has a way of finding every human being, it is just a matter of time.

Good Luck

-Tavit

I met two new pharmacists at my store last week. I told them I am preparing to take the PCAt and asking them for advices. I asked them why they want to be a pharmacist. The first one said "because i'm not smart enough to go into med school." He went on and on saying he begged and knocked on every medical schools but they don't accept him. He even applied at one school for a second time and still didn't get in. Then he got confuse and decided to take the PCAT, aced it, and then applied to Pharmacy school within a week and got accepted right away. The other guy said because he's not smart enough in anything else and he's lazy. hum.. They were serious about this too. To top it off, my bf who is a student in medical school now, said all pharmacists and dentists are medical rejects. I don't know about you guys but i'm offended. Pharmacists, as I found out, are not as respected as I thought afterall. If i bombed the PCAT, man.. I would look really stupid then?!?!!

 

[gablet]

I met two new pharmacists at my store last week. I told them I am preparing to take the PCAt and asking them for advices. I asked them why they want to be a pharmacist. The first one said "because i'm not smart enough to go into med school." He went on and on saying he begged and knocked on every medical schools but they don't accept him. He even applied at one school for a second time and still didn't get in. Then he got confuse and decided to take the PCAT, aced it, and then applied to Pharmacy school within a week and got accepted right away. The other guy said because he's not smart enough in anything else and he's lazy. hum.. They were serious about this too. To top it off, my bf who is a student in medical school now, said all pharmacists and dentists are medical rejects. I don't know about you guys but i'm offended. Pharmacists, as I found out, are not as respected as I thought afterall. If i bombed the PCAT, man.. I would look really stupid then?!?!!

You sound a little like a troll. If not, then you need to dump your boyfriend, he is a jerk.

 

[shoppe]

Oh, my bf paid for what he said already. I'm just saying this because so far, most of the pharmacists I've worked with said the same thing. Maybe it's me but I find that all the pharmacists I've met so far HATE their jobs. Maybe it's retail but they act like this is a dead end job or something, that they can't do anything else with their lives. Most of them are old lazy worn out pharmacists who still hung up on their divorces, which I don't blame them. A few months ago, there was this relief pharmacist that I worked with. He went to the back and watched porns. The other girl caught him and told us the next day. I know I probably should find another pharmacy to work in. This is way too unprofessional.
Anyway, back to the topic of the post, this idea (that pharmacists are medical rejects) is also found in my pre-health advisor. I asked her for some preparatory advices for the PCAt and was thinking of the Kaplan and she was like, "honey, Kaplan is for medical student; PCAT is easy." I forget her exact words but she said something along the line that pharmacy is easy and any idiot could get into.

For those of you who told me to get a grip on it, I am. I'm not discouraged about trying to get into pharmacy school. It's just pms and i need to vent it somewhere. hehe jk... Don't you hate it that all the pre-med students got all the attention from pre-health advisors?

 

[Shovingit]

Your pharmacy needs to hire some new RPh's. I've worked retail for about 5 yrs at a few different stores, and almost every pharmacist I've worked with has been very enthuised about their careers. Freshly graduated pharmacists and 60-70 yr old ones alike enjoy what they do. I might have been exposed to the better attitudes, but you've definately been exposed to the worst.

 

[adventurer]

I didn't mean to sound harsh. I definitely know what its like to need to vent.
Oh-I did Kaplan for my PCAT and I was very happy with the results. I don't know if it would have improved my score but I scored well enough to not take it again.
I am a P1 now, and I have to say the students in my school come from all walks of life. The application process seems random-my friend and I both had stellar stats, but got rejected the first time around. My other friend had mediocre stats and got accepted first time around. There are definitely no guarantees and anyone who tells you pharmacy school is for med school rejects is just bitter. At my school last year there were about 1300-1500 applicants for 120 spots. Now I know I am "only a pharmacy student..." but that doesnt' seem like a sure thing in my book!

 

[PHARMDhope2b]

Very well said and quite introspective.

I feel so fortunate, at my pharmacy I have the most dedicated, compassionate, intelligent, hard-working, fun group of people that you could ever hope to work with. I wish I could bring them with me to any job that I might get in the future.

Chris

I totally feel the same way that you do, fresh.
I really like working with the staff at my pharmacy. Everyone is kind and loves helping one another. The only thing that I dislike are the rude customers/patients.
Customers=buying doritos,etc.
Patients= getting prescriptions or otc's

I differentiate between the two types of people. lol

 

[PHARMDhope2b]

That was not the case at my school!!!
There are so many health profession tracts available at UNC, that my advisor was great and was happy to help guide me in any profession that I wanted to venture into. Maybe you just had a bad pre health advisor.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

You'll occasionally run into the pretentious dingus med student. Some solutions:

1) Talk about medicinal chemistry. They will be so lost and confused.
2) Talk about pharmacokinetics. They will be so lost and confused.
3) Punch them. <----Also the most fun. Sadly it gets you reprimanded/arrested. Only recommended if they slept with your girlfriend or something, too.
4) Make fun of their profession. Some examples of things I've said: "You have to wait until you're 30 to get paid? Jesus, I'm 23 and rolling around in an Audi A4!" or "Wow, it must be hard letting the drug reps make pharmacotherapeutic decisions for you." or "Xopenex?!?! No, it isn't covered because the insurance company is smarter than you. Don't you *****s know anything about medicinal chemistry?"

But remember, it's only waranted if they start it. Try to be nice to the ones that are respectful. Be ruthless to the a-holes.

I'm sure the "professionalism police" will come by to tell me I'm a bad, bad man.

 

[Serenity Now!!!]

You'll occasionally run into the pretentious dingus med student. Some solutions:

1) Talk about medicinal chemistry. They will be so lost and confused.
2) Talk about pharmacokinetics. They will be so lost and confused.
3) Punch them. <----Also the most fun. Sadly it gets you reprimanded/arrested. Only recommended if they slept with your girlfriend or something, too.
4) Make fun of their profession. Some examples of things I've said: "You have to wait until you're 30 to get paid? Jesus, I'm 23 and rolling around in an Audi A4!" or "Wow, it must be hard letting the drug reps make pharmacotherapeutic decisions for you." or "Xopenex?!?! No, it isn't covered because the insurance company is smarter than you. Don't you *****s know anything about medicinal chemistry?"

But remember, it's only waranted if they start it. Try to be nice to the ones that are respectful. Be ruthless to the a-holes.

I'm sure the "professionalism police" will come by to tell me I'm a bad, bad man.

Other than the part about punching them in the grill...I totally agree You cant be passive in a field of mostly type A-personalities. I think the demographics of pharm-school entrants is changing; where before there was a significant% of med-school rejects who just settled for this field and now hate everything about it and actively discourage anyone interested in it... but I think a lot of people are finally seeing the light. The rush is already starting. Yes it'll take time for people to stop their 'pre-judgement' of a profession based on hearsay and anecdotal evidence (Look how much crap goes on between MD and DO forums!!). Besides just like the poster talking about being 23 and pushing a hot whip (Thats an expensive car if you dont know what I mean )...Give it back to 'em. (politely of course )