I have a BA (in a humanities subject) from an Ivy League school, is it a good idea for me to pursue a pharmacy degree. Is anyone in a similar situation? It's almost like I spent money on those four years for no reason.
Ivy League Undergrad
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I think pharmacy schools would really appreciate someone who has a different major than the rest of the pseudo science majors. That's why I decided to pursue another major--in economics as well as having a science degree. As long as you have the pre-req's or at least most of them, I think you would be fine. 🙂
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I am in a very, very similar situation.
Your undergraduate degree really doesn't matter. Granted, the relative prestige may come in handy particularly if your GPA is sterling. That said, I would like to echo indizzle in that the most crucial aspect of your switch to pharmacy is getting those pre-requisites lined up and knocked out.
So, mind taking us through your transcript? maybe we can help you better if we know what you have not taken and what schools you're curious about.
Your undergraduate degree really doesn't matter. Granted, the relative prestige may come in handy particularly if your GPA is sterling. That said, I would like to echo indizzle in that the most crucial aspect of your switch to pharmacy is getting those pre-requisites lined up and knocked out.
So, mind taking us through your transcript? maybe we can help you better if we know what you have not taken and what schools you're curious about.
Well, that's my concern-- the fact that my undergrad doesn't count. I worked for 4 years for the BA and I'm essentially starting over, so I hope you can understand my concern.
I've spent a pretty significant amount of time considering careers and I have work experience in other fields, so my decision to pursue pharmacy is something that I've thought about. I'm just wondering why a lot of people who go to ivy leagues don't tend to pursue pharmacy. Most of the people I know are going into medicine, dentistry, physician assistant, medical policy. Not saying that I have to follow others, I'm just wondering why this is and I want to make sure that I'm making a sound decision.
I'm going to start my science pre-reqs in the spring. Right now I'm planning on applying to the FL schools and UNC, but I have a bit more time to decide about that. I've taken the calc requirement, statistics, humanities, english.... so now I need Biology, Chem, Orgo, Physics and Anantomy. I've visited one school and have talked to a few admissions folks-- aiming to enter school in 2011.
I've spent a pretty significant amount of time considering careers and I have work experience in other fields, so my decision to pursue pharmacy is something that I've thought about. I'm just wondering why a lot of people who go to ivy leagues don't tend to pursue pharmacy. Most of the people I know are going into medicine, dentistry, physician assistant, medical policy. Not saying that I have to follow others, I'm just wondering why this is and I want to make sure that I'm making a sound decision.
I'm going to start my science pre-reqs in the spring. Right now I'm planning on applying to the FL schools and UNC, but I have a bit more time to decide about that. I've taken the calc requirement, statistics, humanities, english.... so now I need Biology, Chem, Orgo, Physics and Anantomy. I've visited one school and have talked to a few admissions folks-- aiming to enter school in 2011.
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I graduated as a history major last year and got accepted to pharmacy schools. The only difference from you was that I was also taking pharmacy pre-reqs at the same time. Non-science majors definitely get into pharmacy schools. Do it if you think it's something you really want to do!
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What do you mean it doesn't count ?
It counts plenty, it enriched you on the subject of your interest and made you a well-rounded individual you are today.
Sure, it's not exactly relevant to a field of pharmacy and you may have to work a bit harder than someone who let's say majored in science to get in, but nevertheless you are unique and bring a lot to the table, so don't sell yourself short.
I went to a top 20 school I have also wondered why students who go to top schools don't look at Pharmacy, and I have come to the conclusion that people just don't know about all of the paths you can take as a Pharmacist. Most of the people I talk to about it, don't even know if requires a Doctorate. People can be pretty ignorant about the field and do not realize that there is more to Pharmacy than retail and even in retail the primary job of the Pharmacist is to counsel. I think over time Pharmacy will become a very popular career choice but only after misperceptions about the career are cleared up.
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There used to be a mod on here who went to Columbia (I think).
I agree with Cheb; your undergrad counts. At the very least, you've taken care of some prereqs already. The humanities are something I wish I had done more of, even though I did not like them when I was taking them!
I agree with Cheb; your undergrad counts. At the very least, you've taken care of some prereqs already. The humanities are something I wish I had done more of, even though I did not like them when I was taking them!
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I definitely didn't go to an Ivy League school but I did go to a really expensive tier 1 private school... I agree with what everyone else said... you should be PROUD of your accomplishment and hopefully you really enjoyed your years in undergrad as well. That in itself is reason to know that it wasn't a waste. I had a merit scholarship from the school so I didn't have to pay for tuition but I DID have a few loans for living expenses (like an idiot, but I don't care because it's done and over now and I don't plan on getting mega rich from pharmacy anyway).
Your BA will make you well rounded.
Your BA will make you well rounded.
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I think they go into medical policy because it's much more romantic sounding, to be honest. 🙄
I feel like pharmacy is a silent career choice in that most people just think of your pharmacist as a person behind a counter in a white coat selling people their meds. I think the public by and large has no idea what a pharmacist can do and what kind of training goes into making a pharmacist.
Considering all the ivy leaguers and too-cool-for-ivy-league 🙂meanie🙂 johns hopkins/MIT schools grads that i know went into medicine except for me, i have to say that the main reason might just be that pharmacy has never really been associated with "status" or ambition, which is what a lot of the students who go to those schools are going for. Most people just associate "pharmacist" with that guy who works at CVS or Walgreens. I think that's changing though considering the increasing roles of pharmacists in clinical and big pharma.
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Same here -- no one at my undergrad school (a top 10 school) talked about pharmacy. It was all medicine or law or business. I think a lot of top students don't think pharmacy has quite the "prestige" factor as some of the other fields. Which is a shame.
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👍
The transition to PharmD is a big reason to take the pharmacy profession very seriously. It's now a profession that wants recognition and an active role in a patients' life. And at the rate of new medications coming out, primary care physicians (except those who perform surgeries) will become replaced by pharmacists...that's becoming more real as we count the years, since the cost of seeing a physician is skyrocketing to some astronomical figures. Everyone is looking for cheap, fast results, quality medicine - instant gratification basically...And if you ask the average person what medicine (and what doctors are there for) is all about, they'll tell you it's in their vials (aka "pill bottles") and diet. Cheers to pharmacy!
And you know what? We're closer than you think. As soon as pharmacists get "prescribing rights," in which they already do at VA hospitals, it'll just be a matter of time before the profession blossoms. It's all up to the people or patients though. Some will go to a pharmacist in a heartbeat; some will prefer seeing a physician. It just depends who they trust more. In fact, pharmacy is ranked as the most trusted profession (look up sources on Google), so...they're obviously doing something right.
Personally, I'm pursuing something in management or entrepreneurship after I get my PharmD. Anything where I can create and institute fresh ideas. I just love to know how drugs work in the body. It's been an interest of mines since I was a caregiver to my grandparents in my childhood. It was my grandpa who really introduced me to pharmacy. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have known too much the pharmacy profession...
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I think that it is so strange that more students at higher ranking universities don't consider pharmacy. I'm not going to lie, when I first started undergrad EVERYONE in my class was and continued to be pre-med. I guess it seemed natural because my school only had a medical and law school, no dental or pharmacy. I didn't fully realize that I couldn't see myself doing anything but pharmacy until the end of my junior year. I'm sort of surprised and regretful that I didn't realize sooner, but I guess it is hard when everyone else is pre-med and your school basically revolves its curriculum around that. I'm so glad I didn't end up doing something else though because I know for sure that this is what I want to do. I think it is natural to worry about job security and loans and getting a job with this economy, but I think if you really can't imagine yourself doing anything else it doesn't matter as much because I feel like things will work out.
I literally did not know one person who was pre-pharmacy at my undergraduate, and I only knew about 10 people who were pre-dental. One guy who went to my high school 2 years behind me started out pharmacy but he switched to law school after his first semester 🙁
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I wonder it has anything to do with the somewhat misunderstood role of the pharmacist by the general public?
When I say, "I'm going into law", the image of what that is comes up immediately. Same with "I am going into medicine." But when I say, "I want to be a pharmacist", people cock their heads to the side, much like a dog does when you say its name, and a quizzical look drips into their eyes... as if to say, "Why? What does a pharmacist do?"
Especially appropriate a problem among young people, folks who may have NEVER even looked at a pharmacist in their ~23 years of life. And their exposure with a pharmacist may be limited to picking up their BC pills or condoms, which might have been a tech anyway, right?
And I guess that can tie into "prestige" - How can working at Rite-Aid be prestigious? Even if you're making $150,000 a year...?
just some thoughts!
When I say, "I'm going into law", the image of what that is comes up immediately. Same with "I am going into medicine." But when I say, "I want to be a pharmacist", people cock their heads to the side, much like a dog does when you say its name, and a quizzical look drips into their eyes... as if to say, "Why? What does a pharmacist do?"
Especially appropriate a problem among young people, folks who may have NEVER even looked at a pharmacist in their ~23 years of life. And their exposure with a pharmacist may be limited to picking up their BC pills or condoms, which might have been a tech anyway, right?
And I guess that can tie into "prestige" - How can working at Rite-Aid be prestigious? Even if you're making $150,000 a year...?
just some thoughts!
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I've always considered pharmacy, but I wanted to try other things first. As you can tell by my "signature" I went to some great schools, but I never wanted to go into law or as a medical physician. Research is #1 in my eyes as well as helping the general public through pharmacy. 👍
In my opinion, people go into law with the wrong intentions. They all want prestige and money. Maybe a select few actually care for seeing justice prevail, but for the rest, it's money money money money money (and having a business card with the letters J.D. after their name). It's a shame really, a lot of my friends came out with huge heads after finishing their 3 yrs program.
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