Medical vs Dental vs Pharmacy Schools

[HRNYC]

So I'm about to become a Senior this Fall and had the intention of becoming a Pharmacist. Until I got a job at walgreens as a Pharm tech I realized that Pharmacists in the retail environment have it boring and aren't much different than techs besides the obvious of having the knowledge of each Drugs and what they do. Pharmacists deal with obnoxious patients that don't give them the same respect as compared to a Doctor or Dentist. Owning a private pharmacy is impossible, due to the competition the big retailers provide unlike Dentistry or Medicine where you can open your own practice. Also its easier becoming a Pharmacist, exceptional High school students can get into an accelerated program. So me having a 4 year degree in Biochemistry and 4 years worth of loans, make me assume that I should look for something better. Dental schools however is really expensive but not as competitive as MD school. MD school is like the in between where you get more for debt you will have to pay and get a better salary than a Pharmacist. I live near copious Pharmacy schools as well as MD and Dental schools (I live in the NYC area). Everyone says the Pharmacy market is tanking, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to find a decent job. I mean i know a person from Columbia Medical school that had a hard time finding residency. My GPA to be honest isn't super competitive. I'm not planning on going to grad school for more loans or really looking to go over seas either due to lack of credibility. Please leave some personal opinions that are related to the topic or someone who is/was in a similar situation. Don't tell me that I have to switch to something like Finance or Accounting because NYC provides more for those majors, besides that would be a waste of my Biochem degree.

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[efle]

Pharmacists deal with obnoxious patients that don't give them the same respect as compared to a Doctor or Dentist.

Docs and dentists have problematic patients all the time

Also its easier becoming a Pharmacist, exceptional High school students can get into an accelerated program.

Exceptional high school students can get into accelerated BS/MD programs too

me having a 4 year degree in Biochemistry and 4 years worth of loans, make me assume that I should look for something better.

Pharmacists make a lot more money than most 4-year college grads do

My GPA to be honest isn't super competitive.

How low are we talking?

 

[insaiyanpredent]

Docs and dentists have problematic patients all the time
again they don't have the same respect as other doctor

Exceptional high school students can get into accelerated BS/MD programs too
Tougher than Pharmacy

Pharmacists make a lot more money than most 4-year college grads do
I'm talking about the long run, since more high school students get into pharmacy programs, me as a College grad should be looking for somthing better

 

[insaiyanpredent]

@efle My GPA is around a 3.3, That's due to one Biology class sophmore year which screwed me due to it being a team based class on plants and cladograms.

 

[pms_testosterone]

You should go shadow some dentists and doctors to make sure you actually like these jobs more than pharmacy...

 

[insaiyanpredent]

You should go shadow some dentists and doctors to make sure you actually like these jobs more than pharmacy...

To be honest that's exactly what I was thinking. I read some posts especially one big one stating "Stay away from Dentistry" due to it becoming more saturated and heading in the same direction as Pharmacy. The other problem is the average dental student comes out with a fresh 400k in debt to pay off. I'm coming to a free summer where I want to prepare for either the PCAT, MCAT, or DAT that's why I kind of want as much feedback as the forum can provide.

 

[blackbirdfly21]

I think you should really determine which field you are most interested in and pursue that career. I would personally put money/patients/other factors aside for a moment and figure out what will be the most fulfilling in the long run. Do you enjoy research? Clinical settings? Have you had any experience shadowing physicians/dentists/pharmacists? Which career is most appealing to you? Additionally, have you considered a PhD program?

 

[DoctorCakes]

If you are really worried about market saturation then go dental or medical route. If you want to work in the mouth all day, become a dentist. Dental school is still competitive and you will need a stellar DAT to get in. You will also need mid 500's MCAT to be competitive for DO route. You will be in debt either way so choose the route you want a career in. Both routes will not be easy but DO route is a bit more commitment to schooling/residency. It is also difficult to open your own medical practice in this day and age. Most people buy into one. Comparing the pharmacy market to a Columbia grad not finding a residency is irrelevant.

 

[jm192]

I would consider shadowing a clinical pharmacist in a hospital.

That's a much more complicated job, and I'm sure it pays a lot better.

You monitor cultures and politely point out to the doctors that they haven't cut down their antibiotic coverage despite it being sensitive to everything.
You monitor INR's/PTT/Vanc troughs
You educate patients on medicines before going home.
Some contingency of them make up TPN, and yell at you if you order it incorrectly.

I was an aspiring young pharmacist when I was in high school and shadowed Wal-Greens, and it went the same way.
If I'd known about the hospital pharmacist gig tho...

 

[Doctor Dream]

I would consider shadowing a clinical pharmacist in a hospital.

That's a much more complicated job, and I'm sure it pays a lot better.

You monitor cultures and politely point out to the doctors that they haven't cut down their antibiotic coverage despite it being sensitive to everything.
You monitor INR's/PTT/Vanc troughs
You educate patients on medicines before going home.
Some contingency of them make up TPN, and yell at you if you order it incorrectly.

I was an aspiring young pharmacist when I was in high school and shadowed Wal-Greens, and it went the same way.
If I'd known about the hospital pharmacist gig tho...

I was a pre-pharm kid working with hospital pharmacists for a few years, and I still made the switch to medicine. The hospital jobs (although cool) are ridiculously hard to land, especially as a new PharmD. It will likely take some years working out-patient before a hospital hires you (if at all). Even then, many of these positions are only part-time, and you may have to keep working out-patient if you want to make 6 figures.

Not saying your advice is bad, just wanted to share my view on the profession. I totally agree with everyone saying OP should shadow.