Looking for some opinions

[smsc2009]

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Hi,
I will be applying to college (undergraduate) sometime next year. (2008) I have posted here before so some of you may remember me. I know there is still plenty of time for me to think about this, but that is not really the answer I am coming here for.

Up until a few months ago I thought I would go to college and eventually medical school. My mom would always tell me about what a great time it is to go into Pharmacy and at the time I did not know much about the career. To be honest, I did not know so much training and how important Pharmacists are. I decided to go talk with my Pharmacist and he only encouraged me to go to Pharmacy school and get my PharmD. I got really excited reading about six-year programs directly out of high school.

Since then I have started to volunter at a hospital. I really enjoy it and it makes me think that I would love to be working in a hospital as a physician.

Then I will go to the Pharmacy and I think to myself man I would like to do that too.

So I think that I am going to apply to six-year programs. Long Island University is somewhere that I could see myself my six years. I do want to be in NYC, however I can not really find to much information about the program. (the requirments) If anyone has any information about this please provide it.

One thing that is important to me is lifestyle. I know with both professions I will be comfortable financially. This is why I am led towards Pharmacy because it provdies family time.

I know you guys do not like these types of threads but I would like to hear your opinions about this.

Also, any information you may have that would help me when applying I would really like to know.

Thanks

 

[omnione]

Try to get the book from Pfizer called The Pfizer Guide to Careers in Pharmacy. This career guide describes the life of nearly thirty people in thirty different specialties. Combined with volunteering in pharmacy settings, that should give you at least some idea about the profession.

I don't have exact details about Long Island U, but if its anything like other 0+6 programs, the first two years will involve courses that can cross over to pre-med will if you decide that pharmacy isn't for you and opt out of the program as a result.

 

[andrewattheU]

If you think you want to be a pharmacist I really recommend applying to the 6 year programs... I wish I had done that when I was in highschool. You can always change your mind during the first 2 years and use those prereqs towards medical school.

 

[CaliCPhT]

I think it's awesome that you want to go to pharmacy school and you know it from high school. A 6 year program is great, but it takes a LOT of hard work, dedication and doesn't allow much time for "playing around", which is also a big part of college and growing up. If you do it this way, then you'll be turning 21 somewhere around your first or second year of Pharmacy school, and it can be really tough to balance the rigors and demands of pharmacy school with the desire to get out and have a good time.

Best of luck to you!! 🙂

 

[UMichFinn]

I have very mixed opinions on medical school. I once thought that was my dream profession and most of my friends are currently in medical school, so I think I probably know too much on the subject.

First of all, the first two years of college will decide whether you will do either one. At my college (private, competitive), 90% of the people who were pre-med freshman year changed their minds at some point over the course of four years, most during the first semester when they failed freshman bio. Early classes are often meant to be "weeder" classes. While it seems harsh, it's great because it teaches you early on whether or not you're good enough to get into graduate/professional programs in the sciences. If you're still considering either profession after the first two years, great.

Also, at some point during those first two years I strongly recommend working at the crappiest hospital you can find. Seriously. Seeing how bad medical/pharmacy practice can be will either inspire you to change it or make you decide you want no part of it. (I also knew a couple of pre-med people who discovered they couldn't handle blood and guts.)

After that comes the challenge of med school applications and tests. There are a million hoops to jump through, you will be incredibly stressed, and if you are accepted your life will be miserable for many, many years. Anyway, the point of all of this is to say that if you are really set on being a physician, you will endure the multiple years of suffering and brain overload to reach your goal.

In the end it was way too much for me. I decided to become a pharmacist after seeing what my roommates went through, studying abroad, doing research, and working for a pharmaceutical company...lots of factors played into it. For me it was a good compromise between doing hardcore research (PhD) and medicine. Lifestyle is always a plus too. If I knew then what I know now I would have done a 6 year program, but I wasn't ready 6 years ago.

You'll eventually figure out which one (or neither one) is right for you, and you have all kinds of time 🙂