need some good advice...

[pharmachip]

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Hi. I’m new to these boards and I would like to ask the advice of some Pharmacists or soon-to-be Pharmacists. I’m 29 years old and looking for a change. I’m one of those people who just weren’t ready for college when I graduated high school. I got a 2-year Associate of Science degree and now I sit in an office all day making less money than I would like. A friend of mine (who’s becoming a pharmacist) got me interested in a possible career in Pharmacy, but I have a few concerns…

First, I don’t want to be the old fart in college. How many of you out there are starting your education in this field at a later age? Are there many of you out there? I’m afraid I’m too old to start going back to school for this because I’ll pretty much have to start from scratch and I was told it would take about six years to finish, making me about 36.

Second, what is the starting pay for a Pharmacist fresh out of college? I’ve heard it is about $90,000-$100,000. Is this right? I want to be sure the pay is that high before dishing out all that money (and possibly going bankrupt) for school.

Third, how much of your time does Pharmacy School consume? Is it even possible to go to school and still hold a full time job? I really want to try and maintain my current income while going to school and I’m wondering if that’s even possible. Also, I’m married and planning on having a kid next year. Will school leave me with no time for family? I would love to hear from others on how they were able to manage going to school in a similar situation.

…and finally, can anyone give me a rough estimate on how much the total cost will be for all the schooling?

Sorry for the long post, but these are some serious concerns I have and I thought maybe someone on these boards would be able to provide some insight that may help. Thanks in advance!!!

 

[ZpackSux]

Hi. I’m new to these boards and I would like to ask the advice of some Pharmacists or soon-to-be Pharmacists. I’m 29 years old and looking for a change. I’m one of those people who just weren’t ready for college when I graduated high school. I got a 2-year Associate of Science degree and now I sit in an office all day making less money than I would like. A friend of mine (who’s becoming a pharmacist) got me interested in a possible career in Pharmacy, but I have a few concerns…

First, I don’t want to be the old fart in college. How many of you out there are starting your education in this field at a later age? Are there many of you out there? I’m afraid I’m too old to start going back to school for this because I’ll pretty much have to start from scratch and I was told it would take about six years to finish, making me about 36.

Second, what is the starting pay for a Pharmacist fresh out of college? I’ve heard it is about $90,000-$100,000. Is this right? I want to be sure the pay is that high before dishing out all that money (and possibly going bankrupt) for school.

Third, how much of your time does Pharmacy School consume? Is it even possible to go to school and still hold a full time job? I really want to try and maintain my current income while going to school and I’m wondering if that’s even possible. Also, I’m married and planning on having a kid next year. Will school leave me with no time for family? I would love to hear from others on how they were able to manage going to school in a similar situation.

…and finally, can anyone give me a rough estimate on how much the total cost will be for all the schooling?

Sorry for the long post, but these are some serious concerns I have and I thought maybe someone on these boards would be able to provide some insight that may help. Thanks in advance!!!

1. You'll be one of the older students but I promise you won't be the oldest. So, in 7 years you'll be 36... either you go through pharmacy school or not.. but if you finish, you'll come out making a comfortable living rest of your life.

2. Yes, you'll make that now...with some extra work, you'll make more.

3. You can sacrifice sleep for your family. Just a temporary inconvenience. But you won't be able to hold down your day time job while you're in pharmacy school. No way. Not because of the workload but I don't think there are evening programs...especially the 4th year rotations. Pre-pharm you can do while holding down a full time job.

It can cost anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 or more... but if you suck it up and go through with it, it will be worth it.

 

[pakcw]

Hi. I’m new to these boards and I would like to ask the advice of some Pharmacists or soon-to-be Pharmacists. I’m 29 years old and looking for a change. I’m one of those people who just weren’t ready for college when I graduated high school. I got a 2-year Associate of Science degree and now I sit in an office all day making less money than I would like. A friend of mine (who’s becoming a pharmacist) got me interested in a possible career in Pharmacy, but I have a few concerns…

First, I don’t want to be the old fart in college. How many of you out there are starting your education in this field at a later age? Are there many of you out there? I’m afraid I’m too old to start going back to school for this because I’ll pretty much have to start from scratch and I was told it would take about six years to finish, making me about 36.

Second, what is the starting pay for a Pharmacist fresh out of college? I’ve heard it is about $90,000-$100,000. Is this right? I want to be sure the pay is that high before dishing out all that money (and possibly going bankrupt) for school.

Third, how much of your time does Pharmacy School consume? Is it even possible to go to school and still hold a full time job? I really want to try and maintain my current income while going to school and I’m wondering if that’s even possible. Also, I’m married and planning on having a kid next year. Will school leave me with no time for family? I would love to hear from others on how they were able to manage going to school in a similar situation.

…and finally, can anyone give me a rough estimate on how much the total cost will be for all the schooling?

Sorry for the long post, but these are some serious concerns I have and I thought maybe someone on these boards would be able to provide some insight that may help. Thanks in advance!!!

http://www.aacp.org/Docs/MainNavigation/InstitutionalData/6863_Tab8PSAR.pdf
This is a good data sheet you can visualize a lots of information at once.
You are not that old. Through my exp. it is better to find what you really really like to do instead of depending on what other people said.
It is true pharmacy do make money but if you are good at what you are doing you can also make good money.

 

[NuclearFission]

Yeah, i'd have to agree that you can't do a full time job and pharmacy school at the same time since most pharmacy programs are an eight to five type of job. You will actually be in school from eight am until five pm. However, you probably can do it for your undergraduate classes at a community college.

 

[enlightme]

I found this helpful
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=198059

Good luck and your not old. I heard people go into pharmacy in their late forties.

 

[catloverchic]

Hey, I'm 33 years old and starting off pre-pharm. I estimate that it will take me anywhere from 6 years to 8 years to finish. I am not in a hurry to get there and I don't like to rush. For me, it has been over 10 years since I last had a classroom setting for anything. So, you are not alone.

 

[pharmachip]

Thanks guys for all the advice! Good to hear there are plenty of other people out there my age doing the same thing!!!

 

[Glowwyrm]

Thanks guys for all the advice! Good to hear there are plenty of other people out there my age doing the same thing!!!

I will be 34 when I start pharmacy school if I get accepted for fall 2007. I've never really given much thought to being an older student. My mom graduated from nursing school / got her RN when she was 50. Age is nothing but a number.

 

[PharmMnM]

It's only a matter of whether or not you study well with the younger kids, since a majority of them will be in their 20's. There's this 40 year old in my ochem class who is a loner cuz she didn't fit in. But if your heart's in it, age is really just a number.