Other Health PRofession to Med dilemma

[jumboolia]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello,
I'm currently a Pharm D student at UF and want to attend med school after graduating. I know that many people will think that I'm wasting my time and should have chosen one or the other but I really do love both. I'm also assuming that the extense background I know in drugs coudlnt possibly be a negative while practicing medicaine. (not saying it will necessarily be much of an advantage either) Anyhow, Just wondering if there were any other pharm D students that are or intend on applying to Med schools.
Thanks,
Julia.

 

[njbmd]

Hello,
I'm currently a Pharm D student at UF and want to attend med school after graduating. I know that many people will think that I'm wasting my time and should have chosen one or the other but I really do love both. I'm also assuming that the extense background I know in drugs coudlnt possibly be a negative while practicing medicaine. (not saying it will necessarily be much of an advantage either) Anyhow, Just wondering if there were any other pharm D students that are or intend on applying to Med schools.
Thanks,
Julia.

Hi there,
I had a couple of pharmacists in my medical school class. The interesting thing is that both of them went into Pediatrics. They were handy to study with when we were taking Pharmacology but other than that, they were pretty much like the rest of us, stuggling along and jumping through the hoops.

You probably could work a bit during holiday breaks and vacations so the Pharm.D is not a bad idea. It's just a bit of overkill for pre-med but most people thought my Ph.D was overkill too. Enjoy your studies!

njbmd 🙂

 

[J ROD]

Hello,
I'm currently a Pharm D student at UF and want to attend med school after graduating. I know that many people will think that I'm wasting my time and should have chosen one or the other but I really do love both. I'm also assuming that the extense background I know in drugs coudlnt possibly be a negative while practicing medicaine. (not saying it will necessarily be much of an advantage either) Anyhow, Just wondering if there were any other pharm D students that are or intend on applying to Med schools.
Thanks,
Julia.

I could not decide which one to do and got into pharmacy school first and did not want to give up an opportunity. So, I have decided to just do both. I love learning all of the science and think they go well together. Especially since I am interested in Anesthesia, the extra pharmacology knowledge will help. Plus, I am a non-traditional and need a stronger foundation in the sciences and by the time I will be ready to apply to med school I will be half way through the pharmacy program. I know I am giving up income but I rather be safe and have a back up in case if something happens in med school. I know I can cover my expenses with the pharmacy so I can enjoy med school knowing I am safe financially. Some people will think you are crazy for doing both and some will be impressed and others will not care either way. As long as you are happy with yourself and your choices, I say do whatever you wish. It is your life. Enjoy!

 

[jumboolia]

It's good to hear another person with a similar view. My close friend kept rubbing in my face that I will be 30 something but I see everything for long term benefits. I have a question about applying while in Pharmacy school though, an advisor at my school stated that some schools may not let students in the pharmacy program or any other (nursing,PT, OT,etc) apply without already graduating in respect to the other profession...but that some schools may let you apply...have you encountered this at all?
thanks and best of luck,
Julia.

I could not decide which one to do and got into pharmacy school first and did not want to give up an opportunity. So, I have decided to just do both. I love learning all of the science and think they go well together. Especially since I am interested in Anesthesia, the extra pharmacology knowledge will help. Plus, I am a non-traditional and need a stronger foundation in the sciences and by the time I will be ready to apply to med school I will be half way through the pharmacy program. I know I am giving up income but I rather be safe and have a back up in case if something happens in med school. I know I can cover my expenses with the pharmacy so I can enjoy med school knowing I am safe financially. Some people will think you are crazy for doing both and some will be impressed and others will not care either way. As long as you are happy with yourself and your choices, I say do whatever you wish. It is your life. Enjoy!

 

[jumboolia]

Hello,
I am currently a student in the Pharm D program at UF (class of 2010) and wanted to apply to med school for matriculation in fall of 2010. I went and spoke to an under grad health advisor who basicaly told me that I would have to have good grades (naturally) a competitive MCAT score (mid 30's) and one hell of a compelling personal statement. basically he told me that doing pharmacy before med school would hinder me, and that I was in a tough position ethically. He went on to inform me about the national shortage of pharmacists (and various other health professionals) and how I had wasted the school's resources by recieving training and education with no intention to practice pharmacy.
I had hastily chosen pharmacy as my major when i was 18 years old. WOrked towards taht goal and at 20 yrs. am in the Pharm. D. program at UF. I thought pharmacy was for me becuase it suited what I wanted out of a career when I was 18. However, as I've gotten a little older my views on everything (including my career) is changing. I intially wasn't in need of patient interaction and just wanted a job in the healthfield where I would make decent money and constantly be challeneged and growing with teh profession. However, as I'm going further into schooling and interning more, I'm realizing that pharmacy doesn't provide the growth and challenges I anticipated.
The counselor suggested I drop pharmacy school and pursue medicine then..however, I'm on the 6 year track, so it's not like I even have a bachelors to fall back on...I only have an AA. Furthermore, I don't know how a comittee would view someone who dropped out of a professional school. I figure no knowledge is wasted knowledge and the indepth info I gain can only make me a better doctor in the end.
I'm just discouraged because now i feel like I have to be super student and that no admisions comittee will want me because I obtained a pharmacy degree without any real intention of practicing it because I want to go to med school right after graduation.
Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about this? I know that the advisor has valid points but don't know how much I should take them to heart.
Thanks,
JULIA>

 

[njbmd]

basically he told me that doing pharmacy before med school would hinder me, and that I was in a tough position ethically. He went on to inform me about the national shortage of pharmacists (and various other health professionals) and how I had wasted the school's resources by recieving training and education with no intention to practice pharmacy.

You paid tuition so you DIDN'T "waste" anything. What you do with your pharmacy degree is your own business. I had several pharmacists in my medical school class who decided to pursue medicine after working in the3ir field.

Who is to say that you won't make a bigger contribution to the world of pharmaceutical science by combining the two degrees? Who is to say that any education is wasted in any manner by a student who learns the body of knowledge and uses it in any manner?

Ignore what that person is spreading and pursue the career that YOU want. You do not have to justify anything to anyone. I certainly supported the admission of two pharmacists into the present medical school class at the school that I serve on the admissions committee. They were well-qualified and will be excellent physicians as they have been excellent pharmacists.

As long as you are able to articulate your interest in medicine (same as any medical school applicant); are able to keep your grades up and score competitively on the MCAT, you will likely get into medical school. It's YOUR career so pursue it however YOU choose and leave the naysayers behind.

njbmd👍

 

[jumboolia]

did you notice that the comittee had big concerns about the pharmacist's interest in pursuing med and not pharmacy?
Furthermore, I want to apply so that I will graduate that spring of 2010 and matriculate that fall of 2010 to med school...is this going to be viewed down upson since I didn't practice the profession at all after earning my degree?
Apparently, my application will have red flags all over it.
thanks,
Julia.

 

[njbmd]

did you notice that the comittee had big concerns about the pharmacist's interest in pursuing med and not pharmacy?
Furthermore, I want to apply so that I will graduate that spring of 2010 and matriculate that fall of 2010 to med school...is this going to be viewed down upson since I didn't practice the profession at all after earning my degree?
Apparently, my application will have red flags all over it.
thanks,
Julia.

No, that was not a topic of discussion in the committee meeting. We stick to grades and accomplishments. We also discuss our opinions as to how the student would fit with the rest of the class and the school in general.

njbmd🙂

 

[lakeshow]

Hi Jumboolia,
I graduated from pharmacy school in 2000 and now I am trying to apply to med school. I suggest that you apply to med school as soon as you finish pharmacy school b/c it's so hard to get back to all the application process and prepare for the MCAT if you get so used to working. I really feel that our background in pharmacy will help in med school and it's not crazy to do both if that's truly what you want to do. The income from working as a pharmacist is nice but ultimately going for what you love should matter more. Good luck with your plans. BTW I am now 32 and will be 33 when I start med school.

 

[J ROD]

It's good to hear another person with a similar view. My close friend kept rubbing in my face that I will be 30 something but I see everything for long term benefits. I have a question about applying while in Pharmacy school though, an advisor at my school stated that some schools may not let students in the pharmacy program or any other (nursing,PT, OT,etc) apply without already graduating in respect to the other profession...but that some schools may let you apply...have you encountered this at all?
thanks and best of luck,
Julia.

I have only spoke with the Med school I am interesting in attending at the same school as my pharmacy program. From what information they have given me, I think my biggest problem will be why I am not already applying to med school. In fact, the admissions lady thought my idea of having pharmacy as a backup was a good idea. I have been debating on when to take the MCAT because I am not a very good standardized test taker. Since they shorten the MCAT, I can now finish the verbal section without my score dropping. I seemed to have a focus problem when the test was longer. I think I can score high enough now so I will try this summer after my first pham year. I rather do this than work! However, I will suggest you finish the pharm degree. I have friends that dropped their degrees and now wish they had completed them. Personally, I love reading all the hardcore science stuff. I will love to be the first person at my school to do a MD/PharmD combo. Plus 30, is the new 20 right!

 

[jumboolia]

Hey,
Yes I definately plan on finishing my degree. I would like to have this knowledge and the idea of quitting something I started isn't an option. However, speaking to an advisor I encountered a lot of criticism as to why I ever went to pharmacy school in the first place. I guess pharmacy was what I ultimately wanted when I was 18, did the first 2 years of pre reqs and now I'm in pharmacy school 2 years later...and increasingly want to be a doctor. It never really was a back up for me because it's what I thought I wanted. The pre med advisor just made it seem like I'd have to have better scores, better gpa, better everything basically to make up for the fact that I pursued a Pharm. D. degree. Then he proceeded to go on about how I stole someone's seat and I'm in pharmacy school with no intention of practicing it and the ethical dilemma that presents. Very sobering to say the least...but anyways just curious about your progession into applying for Med school. So are you a first year pharmacy student?
Thanks,
jUlia.

 

[jumboolia]

Hello "lakeshow"
Thanks for the insight, it's encouraging. I do have intentions of applying my senior year of pharmacy school that I can matriculate immediately that fall. I have some concerns though after speaking to a premed advisor...he said that the admissions comittee would look down upon my decision to go to pharmacy school and not practice it. That there's this national shortage of pharmacists for the next 30 years and I stole the seat from someone who trully wanted to practice pharmacy. I'm sure there's validitiy in his statements...but am I really going to be looked down upon by admissions comittees? You hear about people that go to law school and go to med school afterwards but he made it sound like going to med school directly after pharmacy school was going to be much more difficult. Then proceeded to tell me that if med is what I want then maybe dropping out and pursuing it would be a better option. I know that the ad com may question my decision of going to pharmacy school before med if med is what I wanted. I am realizing I want more intimate patient interaction and the ability to do diagnosis as I'm getting older. The stipulations I had when I was 18 in terms of what I wante dto do for the rest of my life have changed as I've grown and matured. Just wondering if you recieved any questions from ad coms about your decision to switch careers and if they appeared to view it negatively.
Thanks,
Julia.

 

[njbmd]

Hi there,
I have merged two threads (the Pharm.D to MD thread) and this one into one single thead as replies have essentially applied to both.

njbmd🙂