Just Curious

[evilolive]

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I think a lot of people feel a strange sense of entitlement when it comes to applying to pharmacy schools because they've been in the field longer and grasp a certain level of understanding pertaining to the profession. It might be that when they see competition, it plays to peoples' notions of fairness and dedication (don't get me started on bachelors vs nonbachelor degree controversies for pharmacy school applicants). While experience is undoubtedly important, I don't think that you always have to pay your dues through pharmacy work to get into pharmacy school; if you do a lot of research, it's possible to make a life decision after doing a bit of soul searching, seeing the magic of life saving, and even benefiting from the profession in ordinary life - it can be just as awe inspiring as it is being behind the counter. People make career changes all the time. If the admissions committees see a valid reason with intellectual curiosity attached, they'd be willing to take a chance. Not all of us started out wanting to be pharmacists 🙂 I wanted to be a psychologist/therapist, but I can only choose one...

Also, let us point out the pink elephant in the room. Many of us would find pharmacy less attractive if it wasn't properly compensated. It's part of why we do such important work to begin with, as trust as health care providers factors into our ability to heal and do what most people cannot. It's big stuff. I don't think that empathy and monetary concerns are two mutually exclusive ideas. We have families to feed or men to woo too.

 

[koercive]

To the OP,

I am actually pursuing a pharmacy career in sales/marketing/business. I have some real estate experience, and I would enjoy a sales type job more so than working retail. With a PharmD, these pharmaceutical companies see you as a prime candidate as you have the science background in addition to whatever business background you have. For example, this could lead to management type jobs where you train and teach non-PharmD sales reps.

If this doesn't work out, I wouldn't mind working retail for a while to get some experience before pursuing another career in pharmacy.

A PharmD opens up a lot of career pathways which ranges from sales, marketing, research, government (ex: FDA), etc.

 

[FireyDragon]

Now I am left with nothing to do. I have always considered pharmacy but never actually shadowed one b/c I always thought dental was what I "should" do. I also have an interest in social work or counseling, but the money isn't good there and I will be lying if I say that the money didn't matter at all. (I know thats bad but money does matter to me) So I think Pharmacy is where I will be...

I only feel I wasted time b/c most of my classmates will be graduating from Dental/Med/Pharm school on 2011 (4 years after our graduation from Undergrad) while I am here STILL debating on what I want to do. If I apply now and get in I will be in the class of 2013 (two years behind my friends) and if I apply next year and start in fall 2010 I will be graduating in 2014 (THREE years behind my friends and I will be 30 years old when I graduate!! That really scares me b/c I have always planned my life to be starting a great career at 27-28 and having kids at around 30! ) But I guess you never know what will happend in life! hahaha.... but sometimes I am kinda disappointed in myself....🙁

What I am going to say may sound harsh but it will still be good advice...you need to get over the fact that you went to a professional school and left it. Get over the fact that people you know will be finished first. Take the time to really figure out what you want to do before jumping into another situation that is strangely similar to the first.

As someone who went to medical school for 2.5 years and left it, getting over the fact your friends are moving forward without you is hard. It doesn't make you less of a person and it IS better that you found out dentistry was not for you before getting deeper into debt.

Just don't rush! Get some pharmacy experience and see if that's would you could do for 30-40 years. If you don't figure out who you are and what you want to do, you'll keep making the same mistake again.

I wish you luck on your future endeavors but remember that no one else cares when or how you finish. It isn't a race.

 

[dovebar]

I am only applying to UCSF b/c they don't require PCATs. My state school is UNC and I prefer them b/c the tuition is much cheaper, but they REQUIRE the PCATs and I haven't even started studying for the PCATs yet (b/c I just dropped out of dental school and didn't even know I was needing to take the PCATs! ) I have a bachelors degree in Chemistry and I pretty much have all the preq for Pharmacy school. I graduated college in May 2007 took a year off, work at a dental lab and apply to dental school. Got into dental school, decided dentistry wasn't for me and left. Now I am left with nothing to do. I have always considered pharmacy but never actually shadowed one b/c I always thought dental was what I "should" do. I also have an interest in social work or counseling, but the money isn't good there and I will be lying if I say that the money didn't matter at all. (I know thats bad but money does matter to me) So I think Pharmacy is where I will be...

I only feel I wasted time b/c most of my classmates will be graduating from Dental/Med/Pharm school on 2011 (4 years after our graduation from Undergrad) while I am here STILL debating on what I want to do. If I apply now and get in I will be in the class of 2013 (two years behind my friends) and if I apply next year and start in fall 2010 I will be graduating in 2014 (THREE years behind my friends and I will be 30 years old when I graduate!! That really scares me b/c I have always planned my life to be starting a great career at 27-28 and having kids at around 30! ) But I guess you never know what will happend in life! hahaha.... but sometimes I am kinda disappointed in myself....🙁

get over it!🙂i'm 24 almost 25 myself. Finished college( dec. 06) with a pretty good degree and average gpa. I used to think like you...so anal. Relax. Life isn't about who finishes what first...who can get what first, or who has kids first( I had experience with this myself). The time I took off has given me so many experiences( simple things like family, having some fun, developing some hobbies...things I needed after undergrad) that I might not have had if I had gone straight to grad school, and I'm so sure about who I am now. I think life is about getting where you want to be and being happy along the way as well as being happy when you get there. I think you did an amazing thing...giving up on dental school after all that work and acceptance. 👍 Now you have the chance to figure out what you really want( as far as your career). Don't rush into anything. Follow your own path in life...not anyone elses. Sorry I've preached, but I used to think just like you did.

 

[Sparda29]

Thank you for your help. 😀 I have no shadowing or volunteer hours at a pharmacy yet...however I look up the deadline for UCSF and its Nov 3 so I still have time. My question is... is it too late to apply to pharmacy school now?? Should I apply NOW or wait till next year?? If I apply to pharmacy school now what are my chances of getting in? (I know its near impossible to get into dental school unless you apply SUPER EARLY, but I am not sure how pharmacy school application process works....) Are pharmacy schools still interviewing for Fall 2009? Sorry for all these questions but I really need help.

Lastly I really want UNC b/c its my state school and its super cheap, HOWEVER if working at CVS or Walgreens pays back all my loans then I don't care where I go. 😀 But I guess I will have to look into that more.

oh and I will never want to do dentistry or MD or any kind of career that involves blood or touching patients or anything gross. haha...I have a weak stomach.

Thanks!

So you're telling me if a patient who came to your pharmacy went into anaphalytic shock, you wouldn't start emergency care by sticking them with an epi-pen?

 

[evilolive]

So you're telling me if a patient who came to your pharmacy went into anaphalytic shock, you wouldn't start emergency care by sticking them with an epi-pen?

I've asked myself that question a number of times, and I guess depending on the circumstances, I'd be tempted to stick them with a pen but hold out. I'm not a physician and the law is pretty gray on this issue. If it came down to it, I'd probably call 911 and ask to be connected to a hospital ER physician if I really thought the patient was about to die or wait till the last possible second before my conscience eats away at me.

 

[SHC1984]

I think a lot of people feel a strange sense of entitlement when it comes to applying to pharmacy schools because they've been in the field longer and grasp a certain level of understanding pertaining to the profession. It might be that when they see competition, it plays to peoples' notions of fairness and dedication (don't get me started on bachelors vs nonbachelor degree controversies for pharmacy school applicants). While experience is undoubtedly important, I don't think that you always have to pay your dues through pharmacy work to get into pharmacy school; if you do a lot of research, it's possible to make a life decision after doing a bit of soul searching, seeing the magic of life saving, and even benefiting from the profession in ordinary life - it can be just as awe inspiring as it is being behind the counter. People make career changes all the time. If the admissions committees see a valid reason with intellectual curiosity attached, they'd be willing to take a chance. Not all of us started out wanting to be pharmacists 🙂 I wanted to be a psychologist/therapist, but I can only choose one...

Also, let us point out the pink elephant in the room. Many of us would find pharmacy less attractive if it wasn't properly compensated. It's part of why we do such important work to begin with, as trust as health care providers factors into our ability to heal and do what most people cannot. It's big stuff. I don't think that empathy and monetary concerns are two mutually exclusive ideas. We have families to feed or men to woo too.

How come you decided to become a pharmacist instead of a psychologist/therapist? Is your undergrad degree in chemistry or psychology? (assuming you didn't do a six year program for pharmacy🙂)

 

[SHC1984]

So you're telling me if a patient who came to your pharmacy went into anaphalytic shock, you wouldn't start emergency care by sticking them with an epi-pen?

WOW...would not know what I would do...most likely call 911 like the above poster would do. 🙂

 

[SHC1984]

Thanks dovebar and fireydragon for your replies. Yes I am very anal! I have a very A-TYPE personality....but I am going to follow most people's advise on here and take a year off and see if I like pharmacy and in the meantime look into becoming a psychologist/therapist. Not sure which career I like better...but both careers sounds interesting. 🙂

 

[91946]

You have excellent grades and I'm sure that will open many doors when you choose your profession. I see nothing wrong with applying with limited exposure to pharmacy; there's no harm in it. To be honest, I dont think anyone can say 100% for sure that a profession is definitely right for them just from volunteering experience. What really annoys me is people who complains because they have low grades yet because they are so passionate about the profession that they should get in anyways. Well, if they're so passionate in the first place then they would have put in some extra time to get that good grades.

 

[SHC1984]

To the OP,

I am actually pursuing a pharmacy career in sales/marketing/business. I have some real estate experience, and I would enjoy a sales type job more so than working retail. With a PharmD, these pharmaceutical companies see you as a prime candidate as you have the science background in addition to whatever business background you have. For example, this could lead to management type jobs where you train and teach non-PharmD sales reps.

If this doesn't work out, I wouldn't mind working retail for a while to get some experience before pursuing another career in pharmacy.

A PharmD opens up a lot of career pathways which ranges from sales, marketing, research, government (ex: FDA), etc.

That sounds like a great plan! 👍 Have you try appling for non-PharmD sales rep positions right now? I applied to johnson and johnson and pfzier. however I don't think I want those jobs anymore...I prefer working as a pharmacy tech to see how well I do in that first.

 

[SHC1984]

You have excellent grades and I'm sure that will open many doors when you choose your profession. I see nothing wrong with applying with limited exposure to pharmacy; there's no harm in it. To be honest, I dont think anyone can say 100% for sure that a profession is definitely right for them just from volunteering experience. What really annoys me is people who complains because they have low grades yet because they are so passionate about the profession that they should get in anyways. Well, if they're so passionate in the first place then they would have put in some extra time to get that good grades.

Thanks for the reply. I do not think I can apply right now b/c 1) I don't have my PS written yet. 2) I want to narrow down btw pharmacy or therapy before I fully commit to one career. 3) UCSF (the school I want) has a deadline on Nov 1st! (I don't think I can make that) 4) UNC (another school I want) requires the PCATs and I haven't taken it yet.
Therefore there is no way I can apply right now. 🙂

 

[thephoenician88]

obviously, the medical field is not for you. be a rep.

 

[FarscapeGirl]

I'd be ready when you apply to pharmacy school to explain why you got into a dental school program and left so early. And I mean really explain. If I were on the admissions committee, I'd be worried that you had worked in a dental office for a year and still didn't realize that putting your hands in people's mouths would gross you out so much (by the way, they use gloves; eventually you realize the gloves protect you and touch all sorts of gross and dangerous stuff with not much of a care in the world, except making sure there are no holes in your gloves). I'd also be worried that you'd leave after a month or two of pharmacy school as well.

Also, I don't think you realize this yet, but as a pharmacist, you're most likely going to have to deal with blood and touching people. Especially if you go to pharmacy school on the West coast, from what I understand. Pharmacists these days give immunizations, do blood pressure, and prick people's fingers for lipid assays.

I think it's a good idea that you're taking a year off to figure out what you want. And really, try not to be so concerned about the money. Go to law school if you're that worried about money and a time line. Law school's shorter than pharmacy school. Plus, there's always patent law, and your undergrad degree in chemistry would be useful for that.

 

[jyw003]

Also, I don't think you realize this yet, but as a pharmacist, you're most likely going to have to deal with blood and touching people. Especially if you go to pharmacy school on the West coast, from what I understand. Pharmacists these days give immunizations, do blood pressure, and prick people's fingers for lipid assays.

true dattt =] most pharmDs on west coast have license to give immunization. when i went to UOPs open house, they told us about this.

 

[evilolive]

How come you decided to become a pharmacist instead of a psychologist/therapist? Is your undergrad degree in chemistry or psychology? (assuming you didn't do a six year program for pharmacy🙂)

I got my BS in biology from a good institution on the east coast.

To answer your question as to how I picked? It was a tossup. Pharmacy was the main plan, and if that didn't work out, I would have gone for a PhD in psychology. I like people, and I like studying social behavior. It actually excited me to study it. Pharmacy doesn't exactly excite me when I read the material, but I still find it interesting because knowledge about physiology is empowering to me. That's all pharmacy is really, not so much chemistry (there is still a heavy required understanding of chemical/organic principles, but it's tailored to application). And to answer the question about squeamishness, pharmacists are NOT required to be immunization certified; that's an option you can choose to take if you wish to work in a clinic. There are armchair clinical pharmacy positions that can be done from a computer as well as walking with physicians on rounds - 5 feet away from the patient.

 

[SHC1984]

I got my BS in biology from a good institution on the east coast.

To answer your question as to how I picked? It was a tossup. Pharmacy was the main plan, and if that didn't work out, I would have gone for a PhD in psychology. I like people, and I like studying social behavior. It actually excited me to study it. Pharmacy doesn't exactly excite me when I read the material, but I still find it interesting because knowledge about physiology is empowering to me. That's all pharmacy is really, not so much chemistry (there is still a heavy required understanding of chemical/organic principles, but it's tailored to application). And to answer the question about squeamishness, pharmacists are NOT required to be immunization certified; that's an option you can choose to take if you wish to work in a clinic. There are armchair clinical pharmacy positions that can be done from a computer as well as walking with physicians on rounds - 5 feet away from the patient.

I am looking into doing retail pharmacy. 🙂

 

[SHC1984]

trust me, dont waste your money on kaplan. my first time taking PCATs i got 83%, and i had no test prep classes. just some practice tests and flash cards

I took the Kaplan class for the DAT and found the materials they give me to be very helpful. But the class suck though! What do you recommend I use to study for the PCAT? Do you know anyone that has taken the kaplan class and is selling their book?

 

[FireyDragon]

I would check out the PCAT forum. There are lots of suggestions there and a few posts as to whether to bother with Kaplan or not.

 

[evilolive]

If you did fine on the DAT, the PCAT will be a joke. It's the easiest of the (scientific) professional school exams.

 

[SHC1984]

If you did fine on the DAT, the PCAT will be a joke. It's the easiest of the (scientific) professional school exams.

Just spend an hour reading all the PCAT information on here....I am going to study the Kaplan (harder then the real exam), the barron (easier then the real exam) and I also read a lot of recommendations for the pcatprofessor so I might try that too if I have time after reading the Kaplan and barrons book. (I am super slow reader therefore I might not have time! 🙁)

I have been told the math and the reading sections of the PCAT is harder...but I guess I won't know until after Jan. 🙂 Oh and the DAT is easier in a sense that there is NO verbal! 😉

 

[evilolive]

I wouldn't recommend the PCAT prof, that was an awful little program and it basically copies questions used from other sources.

 

[Sparda29]

I can't understand how I scored low in the Reading and Verbal sections(percentages) when I got a 96 in Biology.

 

[fenixtnlfan]

So you're telling me if a patient who came to your pharmacy went into anaphalytic shock, you wouldn't start emergency care by sticking them with an epi-pen?

This is the exact scenario I'm working on for my case study that I should be doing right now.

 

[FarscapeGirl]

SHC1984, you DO realize that pharmacy students have to learn anatomy and physiology, right? In some schools, it's similar to med school anatomy (complete with the preserved bodies and organs). In one school, I heard you do rabbit surgery.

It's just you seem to hate blood and guts and anything gross... you might want to look at the classes required for the PharmD programs you're looking at.

 

[AngelaCL]

I would absolutely hate to be a sales rep. First of all, I am just not a good salesperson. I hated even selling girl scout cookies - if someone said No I'd be like "So sorry for asking bye!" and run away and get discouraged.

Secondly, I'm not hot enough 🙂

Third, I really just think that sales is what is wrong with the pharm industry - I want to actually help people, not push meds on them because I have a direct financial incentive. I want to have the background to know what medicines I'd recommend, not just push whatever I am being paid to push. How can someone who knows squat about medications or even biology sell drugs?

 

[SHC1984]

SHC1984, you DO realize that pharmacy students have to learn anatomy and physiology, right? In some schools, it's similar to med school anatomy (complete with the preserved bodies and organs). In one school, I heard you do rabbit surgery.

It's just you seem to hate blood and guts and anything gross... you might want to look at the classes required for the PharmD programs you're looking at.

You are absolutely right, I WILL look into all the PharmD programs. I went to Columbia Medical school and it was a big mistake....My top choices for pharmacy school would be UCSF and UNC...I will be looking those up soon. 🙂

 

[SHC1984]

I would absolutely hate to be a sales rep. First of all, I am just not a good salesperson. I hated even selling girl scout cookies - if someone said No I'd be like "So sorry for asking bye!" and run away and get discouraged.

Secondly, I'm not hot enough 🙂

Third, I really just think that sales is what is wrong with the pharm industry - I want to actually help people, not push meds on them because I have a direct financial incentive. I want to have the background to know what medicines I'd recommend, not just push whatever I am being paid to push. How can someone who knows squat about medications or even biology sell drugs?

I prefer being a pharmacist as well...The only advantage of being a sales person is NO educational loans. LOL...

 

[PrepharmKID]

i'm slightly baffled by this OP. Pharmacy school is what we have all been striving for while battling crappy jobs, late nights, etc. Being a rep is not necessarily a career. Being a pharmacist is what we know we were meant to do. There is no questioning it. It just feels right. 🙂

 

[UNMorBUST]

i'm slightly baffled by this OP. Pharmacy school is what we have all been striving for while battling crappy jobs, late nights, etc. Being a rep is not necessarily a career. Being a pharmacist is what we know we were meant to do. There is no questioning it. It just feels right. 🙂

Lol as much as i admire your feeling about pharmacy, i dont believe it is entirely true. You dont come out of the womb knowing you are going to be a pharmacist. And to be honest i think everyone else has something else they would also like to do. ( I would also not being a engineer). I believe the OP could have the desire to be a pharmacist just as anyone, just like all of us it is something that is of interest that was triggered by something.

 

[SHC1984]

Lol as much as i admire your feeling about pharmacy, i dont believe it is entirely true. You dont come out of the womb knowing you are going to be a pharmacist. And to be honest i think everyone else has something else they would also like to do. ( I would also not being a engineer). I believe the OP could have the desire to be a pharmacist just as anyone, just like all of us it is something that is of interest that was triggered by something.

Very true. Most people would be movie stars if they had a chance...(Myself included🙂) But back to reality...I think being a pharmacist is a job that I would be good at and I am pretty sure its a job that I won't hate, so I am going to try it. However, I am not going to say that pharmacy is the perfect job for me b/c I don't know enough about it.

 

[transzincIIB]

Wow, your posts really melts me away. I've been trying to get into dental school for 3 times and not an inch of school recognizes my passion for it. But I would have to say that I am considering pharmacy because they are similar in a way I still have the option to help people!!! I do not care whether they have nasty mouth or not but I do care that I will make them happy or healthy.

As an advice to know what kind of career you want is...YOU should ask this to yourself::: WANT kind of job am I capable of doing even if there is no money involve? (something that I won't get sick of doing it?? Look into a long term rather than short term) Ask yourself if you are 50 years old or 60 years old would you still like doing this kind of career???

Hope this helps you.

Also, Pharmaceutical Sales is more on the business side...what kind of job you like anyway since Pharmacy is divided into various section like Clinical, Community Pharmacy, Industrial etc...you might wanna check or volunteer so you'll know pharmacy better.

 

[SHC1984]

Wow, your posts really melts me away. I've been trying to get into dental school for 3 times and not an inch of school recognizes my passion for it. But I would have to say that I am considering pharmacy because they are similar in a way I still have the option to help people!!! I do not care whether they have nasty mouth or not but I do care that I will make them happy or healthy.

As an advice to know what kind of career you want is...YOU should ask this to yourself::: WANT kind of job am I capable of doing even if there is no money involve? (something that I won't get sick of doing it?? Look into a long term rather than short term) Ask yourself if you are 50 years old or 60 years old would you still like doing this kind of career???

Hope this helps you.

Also, Pharmaceutical Sales is more on the business side...what kind of job you like anyway since Pharmacy is divided into various section like Clinical, Community Pharmacy, Industrial etc...you might wanna check or volunteer so you'll know pharmacy better.

Honestly I have NEVER met anyone going into dentistry b/c they just love looking in someone else's mouth and smelling it etc etc.. I mean how can they???? Sure they say they have a passion for it, but thats only to get their foot in the door. If dentists didn't make over 100K a year then NO ONE WILL DO IT PERIOD! Pharmacists and Medical doctors however, are different, I have met some that are TRUELY passionate about their jobs...however dentistry, I have not. I am not saying that you are lying, but I have yet to meet someone that loves bad breath and rotting teeth. Saying that someone wants to do dentistry b/c they have a passion for it, is like saying that a garbage man LOVE trash and will continue his job even if he wins the lottery...its just REALLY HARD for people to believe this...how can they???? I mean yeah, of course the dentist will work on you and not complain, but do they really like it? I don't think so....Seriously the ONLY benefit of becoming a dentist is the MONEY and the luxury of owning your own practice.
I know people (predents) are going to hate me or think I am just jealous...🙄 for saying this, but its the truth and I am not a shy person so I will tell it like it is.

But if dentistry is what you really want then applied to Nova and NYU...those schools are the easier to get into schools! I wish you the best of luck and I hope that I didn't offend you by my post. I just want you to really think about WHY you really want dentistry. Are you SURE its isn't for the money???? (you don't have to answer this personal question on a public forum, but you get my point???)

What career would I do for free? counseling. I love listening to people's problems and helping them solve it. 🙂

 

[transzincIIB]

From the things you have said, it really comes out that Dentistry is not for you. I do appreciate your honesty. But then, not all people want MONEY. I just think it's very immature to say that. Yes, at some point money is part of your life for paying your bills and buying your wants...but remember as you've heard before ...Money can't buy happiness.

Well, it all comes back to what is your "philosophy". But then again I will not argue about whether what you think is right or wrong because it's better to see for yourself.


Anyway, I hope you find what your heart desires. May you find the right career you are looking for where you will have a peace of mind.

 

[SHC1984]

take this from someone who has been looking for a pharmacy job for the past 3 years, just because a pharmacy is hiring, and you applied, doesnt mean you're going to get hired. worse if you are not certified.

Nope, just got hired!!! 😍😍😍

 

[UNMorBUST]

Congrats. Now concentrate on getting into school.

 

[SHC1984]

Congrats. Now concentrate on getting into school.

THANK YOU! 😀

You mean PCAT...I have to take it on Jan 24th. Are you in pharmacy school now? How did you think of the PCAT?

 

[UNMorBUST]

THANK YOU! 😀

You mean PCAT...I have to take it on Jan 24th. Are you in pharmacy school now? How did you think of the PCAT?

🙂 No im a un decided pre health student. I have not taken the PCAT. I am a non traditional student so i basically just started, im considered a freshmen credit wise. So ill be a few more years.

 

[SHC1984]

🙂 No im a un decided pre health student. I have not taken the PCAT. I am a non traditional student so i basically just started, im considered a freshmen credit wise. So ill be a few more years.

Wow, what made you decided on a healthcare profession?

Here are my opinions on some of them.....(Disclaimer: I hate blood and I do not like touching people, so my opinions are going to be biased)

MD- pros A LOT of prestige and respect. cons- high mal practice insurance, lawsuits from patients at all times, high stress, NO life on-call 24/7, will see lots of nasty stuff, will be touching patients (gross!), 4 years plus a 3 year residency...NOT FUN, lots of stress in medical school, high opportunity cost, and does NOT even make that much money after you take into account the cost of your education, the opportunity cost, and the lawsuits/mal practice insurance.
(***thats why I say people going into medical school are crazy in the other thread...in case you want to know!***) Sorry but the only pro is the prestige and thats NOT worth it to me.

DDS- pros A LOT of money if you get into Ortho residency. A LOT of money in general dentistry (***provided that you have rich parents paying for your education OR if you have parents that are dentists that will "give" you their practice when you get out of school...) You get to make your own schedule since most dentists own their own practice! Most dentist do not work very long hours.
Cons- looking into someone's mouth is proberly the NASTIEST thing to do. Your job is nastier than cleaning a toliet, but you get MORE money😉, bad breath, blood, rotten tooth...need I say more? Also if you don't have any relatives that are dentists...then you will be paying about 1-5 million dollars to open up your own practice (not cheap!), and don't forget your 300K in student loans that 3000 dollars a month that will be coming out of your paycheck, and I haven't even gotten to your 60-70% in cost of your OVERHEAD of opening up your own practice. thats at LEAST 60% of the money you will be making going back to YOUR PRACTICE NOT YOU! Lastly, its impossible to get into Ortho, unless you are a perfect dental student top 5% in your class, 90+ on your boards, research publications, tons of ex activites...if you are not a perfect dental student then you will be stuck doing general dentistry and thats the nastiest of all nasty. 😉

PharmD
Pros- A good stable career, money is good (depends on who you ask but its good in my opinion), clean work, no blood, no touching of patients, nothing nasty at all, very interesting material, learning about new drugs, learning about drugs that effect your body. MANY career opportunties!!! Overall very interesting profession.
Cons- stand up all day long, little prestige if you work in retail, annoying consumers that rush you, answering the telephone, HARD to open your own practice (if thats what you are wanting...I don't want it).

***Dentistry's pro seems excellent b/c MONEY is great....but like I mention before unless you know a dentist that will give you a practice when he retires...or unless your parents are paying for your tuition....MOST of your money will be going towards paying back student loans and private practice...so I really do not think a dentist will be making anymore then a pharmacist. And if you are a dental associate (working for someone else) then I KNOW you will not be making anymore then a pharmacist!***

Overall in my opinion pharmacy looks a lot more appealing to me. So I decided to do pharmacy. I hope my list help you narrow your decisions!!! Keep us posted on your final decision! GOOD LUCK! 🙂

 

[UNMorBUST]

Thats not biased at all😉. Well my main reason for choosing health care is, wait for it, wait for it. I want to actually make a difference😱.

I decided to not go to college because i was not sure what i wanted to do in life. Than unfortunatly i recieved a job with the Post Office when i graduated highschool. Hell, i was making damn good money at the age of 18 plus i could retire from it; I thought i had it made.

Fast forward 3 year to now; I hate my job with a passion. Did you realize every last person in this country hates the Post Office?? All i do all day is deliver Victoria Secret Catalogs and bills. I get yelled at everyday by people who are waiting on their SSI checks. I go home in a bad mood; I wake up not wanting to go to work.

I decided i could not do this for the next 34 years. ( Yes because of my age and other things it would take me a total of 37 years to retire.) On top of that the P.O is the worst run organization i have ever worked for. From incompetent supervisors to employees benefiting from their laziness, the P.O is digging their own grave.

So basically, i decided rather than being a servant to somthing i did not believe in, I wanted to make a actual difference in someones life. I want to go home and feel like i accomplished something meaningful during my day. I just want to be happy.

Sorry for the rant. That is basically why i choose to work in the health-care field.😀 Oh yea good luck on the PCAT; have you started studing?

 

[SHC1984]

Thats not biased at all😉. Well my main reason for choosing health care is, wait for it, wait for it. I want to actually make a difference😱.

I decided to not go to college because i was not sure what i wanted to do in life. Than unfortunatly i recieved a job with the Post Office when i graduated highschool. Hell, i was making damn good money at the age of 18 plus i could retire from it; I thought i had it made.

Fast forward 3 year to now; I hate my job with a passion. Did you realize every last person in this country hates the Post Office?? All i do all day is deliver Victoria Secret Catalogs and bills. I get yelled at everyday by people who are waiting on their SSI checks. I go home in a bad mood; I wake up not wanting to go to work.

I decided i could not do this for the next 34 years. ( Yes because of my age and other things it would take me a total of 37 years to retire.) On top of that the P.O is the worst run organization i have ever worked for. From incompetent supervisors to employees benefiting from their laziness, the P.O is digging their own grave.

So basically, i decided rather than being a servant to somthing i did not believe in, I wanted to make a actual difference in someones life. I want to go home and feel like i accomplished something meaningful during my day. I just want to be happy.

Sorry for the rant. That is basically why i choose to work in the health-care field.😀 Oh yea good luck on the PCAT; have you started studing?

I know I am never biased!😛 haha...
My uncle is a mail man in Taiwan and I think he likes it...but thats taiwan not USA...could be different.

I am Asian and Asian parents are very strict...so I pretty much had to go to college!! I had NO idea what I wanted to do when I was in college. Since I had NO idea what I wanted or what my interests or passions are in life...I had no other choice but to listen to people's opinions and choose what people think are the "best". A lot of people think dentists have a very easy life and make money doing "nothing" so I went into that field soley for that purpose....🙄 I got into dental school (then dropped out as I mentioned before)...

Now I have to decide on what I really want to do with my life....If I can go back in time I would be a business or a marketing major thats for sure. I think a business degree is a lot more useful then a chemistry degree.

I am leaning towards getting a PharmD/MBA degree. I think that will really work well for me.

I also thought about Pharm Sales or Dental sales rep but those careers are not very stable...plus I don't like driving that much...so I will only do those careers if I do not get into pharmacy school. The companies I have looked into are Johnson/Johnson, Pfzier, Dentsply and Patterson Dental. NONE of them are hiring sales reps in my area! 🙁

Have you thought about doing sales?

I started studying for the PCAT on Nov 1st. I finish reading all the biology chapters in the Kaplan book...but thats about it...What I really need to do is sit down and memorize all those vocabulary words for the verbal...b/c I think I will bomb that section!!!!

What do you think you will do? DDS? MD? PharmD? Sales Rep?

 

[PharmPrincess]

It's quite apparent that your main factor is money. With that, you'll have a hard time getting in to any pharmacy school. They will see right through it.

You need to take time to find out what YOU want to do. Money doesn't make a person TRULY happy.

I don't know, after seeing how this thread developed, it kind of irks me.

If you've never worked in a pharmacy before, never had any experience with anything related to pharmacy, why would you want to apply? If you're only going in it for the money, I just don't think you'd be a good pharmacist. If you're not passionate about helping people, why would you want to be in any part of medicine? Get an MBA or something, there is plenty of money in that. Or go to Law School.

These things really bother me. Because on paper, candidates like this seem like they would be excellent pharmacists, just because of high GPAs and high PCAT scores. And it seems like it's so easy for them to get in. And don't get me wrong, there are plenty who do well in school and are passionate about the field, and I can respect that. But those of us whose GPA's are not 3.9, and have experience in the field, and who really want to do pharmacy, and help people, are put at a disadvantage.

Anyways, sorry to rant. I just think that you should find out that this is REALLY what you want to do. Or else you would waste all that time and money applying, get in, and hate pharmacy school. Then you'd be back to square one.
That's just my opinion. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

I agree with you guys. The poster just sounds like douche because $$$ is the only factor in his decision

 

[xiphoid2010]

I agree with you guys. The poster just sounds like douche because $$$ is the only factor in his decision

^. Well, to play the devil's advocate -- We are a capitalist nation and as such the entire economy work entirely on one basic principle -- $. Greed is human nature, by accepting that human nature is why capitalistic economy work while communistic economies fail.

Maslows (sp?) hierachy of needs states that every human seek to fulfill their needs from low to high. Having money is critical for satisfying the basic and safety needs, and will contribute towards 3 higher levels as well.

Not that I'm saying that money is everything, but it probably should be one of the first things you look at going into any career, not last. Money doesn't make happiness, but lack of money certainly makes unhappiness.

 

[Texas PharmDoc]

yea this thread is so old and pointless now.

 

[krystal2812]

SHC1984, So finally, did you get in any pharm school this year and what is your final decision? Just curious.

 

[thephoenician88]

So you're telling me if a patient who came to your pharmacy went into anaphalytic shock, you wouldn't start emergency care by sticking them with an epi-pen?

psh, hell yea i would

 

[SHC1984]

SHC1984, So finally, did you get in any pharm school this year and what is your final decision? Just curious.

Yep got accepted into a 3 year program! I guess I will be graduating on time after all. 😉

 

[SHC1984]

^. Well, to play the devil's advocate -- We are a capitalist nation and as such the entire economy work entirely on one basic principle -- $. Greed is human nature, by accepting that human nature is why capitalistic economy work while communistic economies fail.

Maslows (sp?) hierachy of needs states that every human seek to fulfill their needs from low to high. Having money is critical for satisfying the basic and safety needs, and will contribute towards 3 higher levels as well.

Not that I'm saying that money is everything, but it probably should be one of the first things you look at going into any career, not last. Money doesn't make happiness, but lack of money certainly makes unhappiness.

Very true. Money isn't the ONLY thing, but its the MOST IMPORTANT thing in life. And money does bring happiness...how else am I suppose to buy Louis Vuitton and Chanel?

 

[Texas PharmDoc]

Very true. Money isn't the ONLY thing, but its the MOST IMPORTANT thing in life. And money does bring happiness...how else am I suppose to buy Louis Vuitton and Chanel?

Your patients are going to be at a disadvantage.

 

[SHC1984]

Your patients are going to be at a disadvantage.

I am going into mail order.