Muslims in Pharmacy

[delight]

hi
i have been here for a while but never needed to ask anything but now somthing came up that no one has asked yet...so i registered
m a muslim and i was advised against "looking"( having a beard, wearing a veil) like a muslim when i go to interviews...cause i will be rejected because of all the stuff going on now days...they will automatically think i am up to no good...
is this true? i think its not fare i would have shave my beard... or if its a woman take her head cover off just to get into pharmacy school...
in my opinion a pharmacy school that cant accept me for what i am isnt worth going to .....
well anyone know any muslims in pharmacy school?? its gona suck if they reject me based on this fact....🙁

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[97obw]

well anyone know any muslims in pharmacy school?? its gona suck if they reject me based on this fact....🙁[/QUOTE]


are you kidding me??? how can a lame topic like this be allowed to be posted, but when i ask about adderall (which studies show 83% of college students have used unprescribed), (keep in mind this is a STUDENT network involving student issues) an admin decides that something at least half of us could contribute to gets blocked...lame....if your good enough to get an interview, your good enough to get into a school, do w.e u think feels right to you...we all deal with stereotypes.....we all have to kiss ass at some point..
-daily rant

 

[RxExpress]

hi
i have been here for a while but never needed to ask anything but now somthing came up that no one has asked yet...so i registered
m a muslim and i was advised against "looking"( having a beard, wearing a veil) like a muslim when i go to interviews...cause i will be rejected because of all the stuff going on now days...they will automatically think i am up to no good...
is this true? i think its not fare i would have shave my beard... or if its a woman take her head cover off just to get into pharmacy school...
in my opinion a pharmacy school that cant accept me for what i am isnt worth going to .....
well anyone know any muslims in pharmacy school?? its gona suck if they reject me based on this fact....🙁

why don't you wear a suit like everyone else? Interviews have certain dress codes and you should abide by it to look professional. No one is going to reject you because you are Muslim but they will reject you if you don't wear professional interview clothing. Please don't make this a race issue.

 

[delight]

i will wear a suit.i will follow the dress code

but in general muslim women wear the head cover with the suit and if its a man he will have a beard.
and many ppl told me that both of these "features" should not be present at the time of interview cause it might lead u to being rejected...hopefully now its better to understand
and it think i have seen worst posts than this here🙂 so relax im asking something
first try to understand it

 

[Seveneighty]

Maybe its your english skills? 😕

 

[fenixtnlfan]

Wow...people are being really evil in this thread. I think this is a perfectly reasonable question.

Legally you can't be discriminated against for race or beliefs in many places of life, but in reality it probably does happen. I believe most people realize the extremist Muslims are rare, and someone applying to pharm school is most likely not a danger.

Now the head cover I think would be fine because it's known to be part of the Muslim culture. The beard on the other hand might be a little different. However, if you keep it neat, which I always see male Muslims doing, I don't think it would be a problem. People get jobs all the time with beards (my dad included).

You will want to get opinions from pre-pharm advisors or other people with more expertise in this process; they might know some real situations pertaining to your question. I know I saw a thread about Muslim pre-meds in the pre-med forum, so you might want to ask them what they did at interviews. IMO, it is unlikely you would be discriminated against but it is possible. Being who you are is really important, so don't make any drastic decisions one way or the other until you really have researched it.

 

[fenixtnlfan]

are you kidding me??? how can a lame topic like this be allowed to be posted, but when i ask about adderall (which studies show 83% of college students have used unprescribed), (keep in mind this is a STUDENT network involving student issues) an admin decides that something at least half of us could contribute to gets blocked...lame....if your good enough to get an interview, your good enough to get into a school, do w.e u think feels right to you...we all deal with stereotypes.....we all have to kiss ass at some point..
-daily rant

You were seeking medical advice though (asking about side effects). That's not allowed on SDN.

 

[steveysmith54]

Yes. This is a legit question.

I have a very very close friend in pharm school, who is a muslim, but he has never had a beard and is always very neat and groomed. WHich is asked in recommendation forms, i am assuming thats important for pharm school.

I am sorry but a lot of people are prejudice. I have seen many friends say "that guy is a terrorist" when they see a tradional muslim.

So, if it were me, i'd wear what ever i wanted for 364 days of the year, but on the day of the interview i will say and do whatever they want. Pharm school is that important to me.

You decide... this is real world and people are biased and prejudice.

thats just my take.

 

[Knickerbocker]

are you kidding me??? how can a lame topic like this be allowed to be posted, but when i ask about adderall (which studies show 83% of college students have used unprescribed)
-daily rant

79% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

What study are you talking about? I didn't believe your BS stat, so I looked around a little. 20% seems to be the number.

I will admit, though, that 20% is higher than I would have guessed.

 

[Knickerbocker]

well anyone know any muslims in pharmacy school?? its gona suck if they reject me based on this fact....🙁

I know of one Muslim that got into a Texas school. She always wore a head scarf when I saw her, but I have no idea if she wore it to her interviews.

 

[Hels2007]

Two of my good friends are Muslim. One wears a headscarf all the time, the other never wore it. Both did very well, one is now doing a specialty residency of her dreams. 🙂

 

[bananaface]

I have worked with a Muslim pharmacist and know a couple of Muslim pharmacy students (all female) who wore scarves. There is nothing unprofessional about wearing a scarf and it can blend into professional attire with no trouble. Interviewers should be culturally competent enough to recognize that scarves are often worn for religious purposes. I would think that a Muslim woman attending an interview would have no chance of being looked upon as unprofessional for wearing a scarf so long as she took care to ensure that the scarf was clean and appropriately styled.

Beards are less recognizable as a religious adornment. If you have a longer beard, your interviewers may catch on to the religious significance. There is nothing inherently unprofessional about having a beard, but some employers have rules stating that men must be cleanshaven at work. I don't know of any pharmacy schools with any such rule.

If you want to point out the religious significance of your beard in an interview so that your interviewers will know where you are coming from, I would suggest bringing it up at the end of an interview when you are asked if you have any questions. Specifically, you could ask is if the school would require that you shave your beard at any point, for classes or rotations. That would give you valuable and hopefully reassuring information about their policies and provide you the chance to say something like "I am so glad, because this is a very important tradition for me to carry on as a Muslim."

 

[no-see-um]

I don't think you should call attention to your beard as anything negative. If they ask you about it (which they probably would not), then you may wish to explain it to them. If they like you, they should like you regardless of whether you have a beard or not. If not, then who needs such a judgemental place anyways?

 

[BrownSound]

Hey delight,

As many have said that legally it shouldn't be a problem. I am lucky enough to live in a very diverse city where people from all faiths, cultures and backgrounds live together (Toronto, Canada). So in my school, there are LOTs of muslim students, some of them wear head scarves and some have beards. So IMO it depends on where you apply as well.

 

[twester]

If your beard is long and it has religious significance, why not wear your mosque-best clothing to your interview as well? After all, us non-Muslims wear our "Sunday best" to interviews. Stand out and be proud of your cultural norms and religious beliefs.

 

[CaliRx]

If your beard is long and it has religious significance, why not wear your mosque-best clothing to your interview as well? After all, us non-Muslims wear our "Sunday best" to interviews. Stand out and be proud of your cultural norms and religious beliefs.

ur kiddin right?

 

[CaliRx]

hi
i have been here for a while but never needed to ask anything but now somthing came up that no one has asked yet...so i registered
m a muslim and i was advised against "looking"( having a beard, wearing a veil) like a muslim when i go to interviews...cause i will be rejected because of all the stuff going on now days...they will automatically think i am up to no good...
is this true? i think its not fare i would have shave my beard... or if its a woman take her head cover off just to get into pharmacy school...
in my opinion a pharmacy school that cant accept me for what i am isnt worth going to .....
well anyone know any muslims in pharmacy school?? its gona suck if they reject me based on this fact....🙁

I completely understand where you are coming from. I have been wearing the hijab (head covering) for years and that is who I am. It has become an identity for me and nothing in this world could possibly make me take it off. However, many people have asked me if I would wear it to an interview. For all those people who think this is not a big issue, you might want to face reality. I have been rejected from many jobs because I am very upfront about my Muslim identity. Delight, the way I see it, if a school doesn't want me for who I am, or if they aren't willing to accept my identity, I have no interest of attending that school. On top of that, what if I do go in there without my scarf and get accepted? Then what? I go to the first day of classes wearing the scarf and end up getting discriminated? My advice to you, go in there and be yourself! Be professional and hopefully everything will turn out well. I know many Muslim pharmacy students and pharmacists so it is possible.

 

[delight]

If your beard is long and it has religious significance, why not wear your mosque-best clothing to your interview as well? After all, us non-Muslims wear our "Sunday best" to interviews. Stand out and be proud of your cultural norms and religious beliefs.

i think that would b too much...but thanx anywys...i wonder what would happen if someone did this...im actually not willing to take that chance..

 

[delight]

thank you everyone( except couple of first ppl..) for the great answers... i will defiantly look more into it and ask around and im sure ppl interviewing are educated enough to know that Muslim men have beards and Muslim women wear scarves..

in the states that have a diverse culture it would b fine but if i apply to school like where there are only majority Christian whites... or a Christan school ..i might have let them know that this is for religion

it could also work out as a positive if i can link my dedication to my religion as a sign tht i will be dedicated to my job as a pharmacist...🙂

 

[delight]

I completely understand where you are coming from. I have been wearing the hijab (head covering) for years and that is who I am. It has become an identity for me and nothing in this world could possibly make me take it off. However, many people have asked me if I would wear it to an interview. For all those people who think this is not a big issue, you might want to face reality. I have been rejected from many jobs because I am very upfront about my Muslim identity. Delight, the way I see it, if a school doesn't want me for who I am, or if they aren't willing to accept my identity, I have no interest of attending that school. On top of that, what if I do go in there without my scarf and get accepted? Then what? I go to the first day of classes wearing the scarf and end up getting discriminated? My advice to you, go in there and be yourself! Be professional and hopefully everything will turn out well. I know many Muslim pharmacy students and pharmacists so it is possible.

hey there...
i actually have never been rejected from any job i applied to....
this is how i think of it .....i pray to God to let me get into a pharmacy school...and then when he grants me a chance i let him down( by not "being" a muslim on the day of the interview)
if a pharamcy school rejects me maybe thats how God wanted it...whatever! i dont need that pharmcy school....🙂

 

[PharmDstudent]

thank you everyone( except couple of first ppl..) for the great answers... i will defiantly look more into it and ask around and im sure ppl interviewing are educated enough to know that Muslim men have beards and Muslim women wear scarves..and there is nothing wrong with having a very small clean beard or even shaving it one day for the interview..

in the states that have a diverse culture it would b fine but if i apply to school like where there are only majority Christian whites... or a Christan school ..i might have to like change up a bit..or let them know that this is for religion

it could also work out as a positive if i can link my dedication to my religion as a sign tht i will be dedicated to my job as a pharmacist...🙂

There is no need to stick out unless you want to. You have control over your appearances. If you feel like you can pull off a more ethnic look, go for it. Diversity is a big issue right now. I'm a female European American who is agnostic(at best), and I go to a predominately African-American Catholic university. I feel a little uncomfortable sometimes, but that's life!

I wish you luck!

 

[magenta1]

i think this is def legit. i would say be yourself.


my mom made a comment about how i should take out my cartilage peircing for my interview. its a very small hoop and i have long hair that would most likely cover it. i was kind of surprised at this comment because its a very very common peircing these days. my dad said i should take it out because either way its not a factor. if i do wear it, then it mayyyy be a factor.

what do you guys think??


sidenote: i think way more people take adderall type drugs to study, especially around exam time, than you think. i personally have never done this, but lots of my friends have. id say its more than 20 but not as much as 83...

 

[Omegadramon]

I'm a muslim male applying to pharmacy school this year. I have what they call a "baby face", so I don't have any facial hair (yet, I do have a few whiskers!). If invited, I'll weart a suit and tie. I do know muslim women who've been accepted and weart the head scar, so I don't think that being muslim will hinder you from getting accepted. Worry more about performing your very best at the interview.

 

[twester]

ur kiddin right?

Why would I joke about that?

 

[twester]

i think that would b too much...but thanx anywys...i wonder what would happen if someone did this...im actually not willing to take that chance..

I hear you. I think that person would definitely stand out. It suppose it could be a distraction, but it could also make a favorable impression - especially if the applicant has outstanding interview skills.

Anyway, I'd leave the beard at the very least.

 

[binghamkid]

i think this is def legit. i would say be yourself.


my mom made a comment about how i should take out my cartilage peircing for my interview. its a very small hoop and i have long hair that would most likely cover it. i was kind of surprised at this comment because its a very very common peircing these days. my dad said i should take it out because either way its not a factor. if i do wear it, then it mayyyy be a factor.

what do you guys think??


sidenote: i think way more people take adderall type drugs to study, especially around exam time, than you think. i personally have never done this, but lots of my friends have. id say its more than 20 but not as much as 83...

Hands down, take it out. Any piercings would get you a black mark on an interview right away. (I'd also get used to not wearing it in school too, because when you're in class, you're expected to be professional too). Piercings are fine and all outside of school, but once you enter pharmacy school, it's a whole different ballgame. You go on your rotations, you can't have piercings anyway because of potential hygiene issues. I know that if you showed up to an interview where I was interviewing, if i were to compare you with an equally qualified candidate who had no piercings, that just might make or break the decision. Don't take that chance.


And of course, your parents are right. =P They've done this type of thing before. Listen to them.

 

[Knickerbocker]

i think this is def legit. i would say be yourself.


my mom made a comment about how i should take out my cartilage peircing for my interview. its a very small hoop and i have long hair that would most likely cover it. i was kind of surprised at this comment because its a very very common peircing these days. my dad said i should take it out because either way its not a factor. if i do wear it, then it mayyyy be a factor.

what do you guys think??

Schools can't discriminate on the basis of religion. They can, however, discriminate on the basis of what they feel to be an unprofessional appearance.

 

[Revatio]

This post stinks of race baiting / trolling.

 

[eelo]

This post stinks of race baiting / trolling.

What? Are you kidding me? It's a legitimate question, asked by someone seeking a legitimate answer. There's no baiting/trolling going on here.

 

[twester]

What? Are you kidding me? It's a legitimate question, asked by someone seeking a legitimate answer. There's no baiting/trolling going on here.

I agree. I think it's important to recognize that the dress and grooming style of Muslims differs from that of Judeo-Christian Americans. I remember the adjustments that took place in America after the Vietnam war, the massive influx of immigrants from Vietnam and the tremendous social upheaval that took place. I expect the same thing to happen in the coming years with respect to immigration from the mid-East. We may as well adjust and prepare ourselves in advance.

Instead of fearing Islam, why not learn adjust to its prescence in the United States? The Islam of the radical Aghani/Saudi/Irani/Iraqi is not mainstream Islam. My experience is that most Muslims show incredible tolerance, love and respect toward non-Muslims and their myriad lifestyles. They deserve the same from non-Muslim Americans.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Personally, I wouldn't give a damn. I don't particularly care what your religion is. I don't really have one, so I definitely don't care. I think people who worship Ra or Zeus are just as good as those that worship Yahweh and Allah. In fact, I always thought Ra worship made the most sense, but I digress. Anyway, I'd judge you no less than I'd judge anybody else.

That said, many people aren't as tolerant as me because they like to play my deity is better than your deity. Nobody can guarantee you that one renegade faculty member who thinks the Crusades were a good idea won't be the one interviewing you...but I'd wager that the chances are you'll be treated equally. If it's one thing I know, most professors do NOT wear their religious or political ideologies on their sleeves...so being able to predict somethign like this is nearly impossible.

 

[Falokis]

I look at it like this.....

If I was told wearing a clown suit to the interview would help me get in, I'd have to say I'd run to the store to buy a red nose and extra big red shoes. That's just me, though.

 

[Lurkerkat]

I look at it like this.....

If I was told wearing a clown suit to the interview would help me get in, I'd have to say I'd run to the store to buy a red nose and extra big red shoes. That's just me, though.

Wearing a clown suit, and practicing your religion by following it's rules on personal appearance are two very, very different things. One is goofy, the other is sacrificing something that is central to your identity and violates your personal beliefs.

 

[Falokis]

Wearing a clown suit, and practicing your religion by following it's rules on personal appearance are two very, very different things. One is goofy, the other is sacrificing something that is central to your identity and violates your personal beliefs.

I think you missed the point...... or maybe you are just trying too hard to be PC. When in Rome?

 

[triumphbr]

in my opinion a pharmacy school that cant accept me for what i am isnt worth going to .....

I think you answered your own question...

I wouldn't expect it to be an issue at all.

 

[@ansari]

I'm a muslim male who's applying to pharmacy school and I have a short beard. I figure as long as I keep it clean and dress sharp, there shouldn't be a problem at interviews.

 

[jspwinter]

hey there...
i actually have never been rejected from any job i applied to....
this is how i think of it .....i pray to God to let me get into a pharmacy school...and then when he grants me a chance i let him down( by not "being" a muslim on the day of the interview)
if a pharamcy school rejects me maybe thats how God wanted it...whatever! i dont need that pharmcy school....🙂

Have you thought that you should be "THANKFUL" to even get an interview? Why don't you get off your high horse. There are tons of people getting rejected but are willing to do anything to get a chance. Give up on pharmacy, they nor I enjoy your ignorance.

 

[Knickerbocker]

Have you thought that you should be "THANKFUL" to even get an interview? Why don't you get off your high horse. There are tons of people getting rejected but are willing to do anything to get a chance. Give up on pharmacy, they nor I enjoy your ignorance.

Wow, that's kind of harsh.

But I will add that I am confused by the selective modernization of various religious groups. I've seen women in full burkas eating at McDonald's. I thought that I heard that polluting your body was against the religion.

Rules like these are so arbitrary. Can't eat with your left hand (Islam)? Can't operate an umbrella on Saturday (Orthodox Judaism) ? Can't dance because it is wicked (Baptist)?

People will cite a deity as the reason for these rules, but how can they not realize that they were made up by other humans?

 

[fenixtnlfan]

Have you thought that you should be "THANKFUL" to even get an interview? Why don't you get off your high horse. There are tons of people getting rejected but are willing to do anything to get a chance. Give up on pharmacy, they nor I enjoy your ignorance.

Cultural/religious sensitivity goes a long way. You might want to try it.

 

[fenixtnlfan]

Wow, that's kind of harsh.

But I will add that I am confused by the selective modernization of various religious groups. I've seen women in full burkas eating at McDonald's. I thought that I heard that polluting your body was against the religion.

Rules like these are so arbitrary. Can't eat with your left hand (Islam)? Can't operate an umbrella on Saturday (Orthodox Judaism) ? Can't dance because it is wicked (Baptist)?

People will cite a deity as the reason for these rules, but how can they not realize that they were made up by other humans?

I would agree that some people seem to act outside what their religious values are (I'm not so sure about the McDonald's example, but I get what you mean). However, IMO religion is a very individual thing. People chose their level of commitment and also interpret things differently. To me that is the beauty of religion, and even life itself. People make their own reality.

 

[redrose0786]

I am a Muslim Pharmacy student. There has never been a problem with the Hijjab or the beard in my school. But of course I go to school in California, the most diverse state in United States. In any case I think you should just be yourself. That's the best way to go.

 

[rxliteguy]

i'm asian and i have short spikey hair. Should I grow it long and comb it, so the interviewers don't think i'm an asian gang member?

 

[think]

Have you thought that you should be "THANKFUL" to even get an interview? Why don't you get off your high horse. There are tons of people getting rejected but are willing to do anything to get a chance. Give up on pharmacy, they nor I enjoy your ignorance.

hahahah
its funny how u are calling him ignorant...when its clear u r being more ignorant 😉🙂 think before u speak( or for net think before u write)

 

[Knickerbocker]

hahahah
its funny how u are calling him ignorant...when its clear u r being more ignorant 😉🙂 think before u speak( or for net think before u write)

I think he's more intolerant than ignorant, but intolerance goes both ways.

 

[jspwinter]

hahahah
its funny how u are calling him ignorant...when its clear u r being more ignorant 😉🙂 think before u speak( or for net think before u write)

how am i being more ignorant? if anything, i'm being more logical. If adcoms told me to come in there buck nekkid to the interview, I would. And mebbe you should learn how to read between the lines. When did I mention or even suggest that he should remove any cultural influence in his attire?