pharmacy = med school backup?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

surgeon_hopeful

New Member
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Is it possible that pharmacy could serve as a medical school backup?

I'm thinking about majoring possibly in neuroscience or pharmacy if my schools have it, so will that take care of any of the prereqs for pharmacy school if I take pre-med classes on the side as well?
 
Is it possible that pharmacy could serve as a medical school backup?

I'm thinking about majoring possibly in neuroscience or pharmacy if my schools have it, so will that take care of any of the prereqs for pharmacy school if I take pre-med classes on the side as well?

:corny:

Why do you need pharmacy school as a backup? Can't get into med school??? 😕
 
yeah. I'm still in high school, but if I can't get into medical school, then is pharm school a good backup plan?
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
I dont see why that would be a problem. I however, did the opposite. I used med school as my back up plan. I got into 4 med schools (U of A, hopkins, USC, and CU) before I got accpeted into rx school.
 
With pharmacy school, you could cut the years of school in half when you compare it to medical school. Most medical school students must have a bachelor's before starting so: 4 for undergrad plus 4 for medical school plus 3 or 4 years for residencies/internships = ~12 years. PharmDs can graduate in as little as 6 years 😀. I think you've chosen a good back-up plan.
 
You can try pharmacy, but your chances of getting in are only slightly better, if at all, than medicine. In some cases, like the above post, it is easier for a candidate to get into medicine.

I did not really get into 4 med schools. The down side of the internet is its hard to pick up on sarcasm. It seems every other week this kid posts something about pharmacy vs. medicine.
 
I did not really get into 4 med schools. The down side of the internet is its hard to pick up on sarcasm. It seems every other week this kid posts something about pharmacy vs. medicine.
<3

Kid, you don't really want to go into pharmacy. From what I gather, you only consider it because you still get to wear half a white coat. You want to be an MD. Now go watch some Grey's and live the cookie cutter dream. Better yet, go make some threads up in the DO forum.
 
No, seriously, I promise that I am legitimately interested in clinical pharmacy.

It is true, however, that I'm probably a bit more inclined towards medicine just because its been a dream (I'm seriously worried that I won't get in though), but pharmacy seems like another very good, clean, lower stress field. Thats why I'd seriously like to know whether I can use pharmacy as a backup. I'm not sure the ones that say it can are being serious or sarcastic, but I'd REALLY like to know truthfully what you think.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Well, you are still in high school correct? So you have no clue as to how competitive you'll be just yet. So don't look at the negatives, like not getting in, because you haven't even taken one college-level pre-req yet. Take it easy.

Speaking of pre-reqs, medicine and pharmacy both require, as a minimum, one year of bio, chem, ochem, physics, and for some schools calculus. Pharmacy requires a few non-science reqs as well, but you can do those as part of your GEs, because they're things like econ and speech. Even dentistry requires the classes I named above, so in essence, you can have a back-up of many health professions just by doing that block.
 
I was a premed. My MCAT was horrible first time, so I didn't get in. So I thought I try for Ph.D., I did not like it (various reasons). So I took PCAT scored 99% and got in a state school.

My advice: find out what you want to do! pharmacy is boring but it pays well. Most difficult part of retail pharmacy is customers and techs who don't know how to do their jobs.
 
There's not much similarity between practicing medicine and practicing pharmacy. The angle of approach is completely different since pharmacists don't diagnose. A pharmacist's job is to advise both patient and physician in the proper use of drugs. The degree of patient interaction is extremely different (pharmacists rarely-to-never touch their patients in any way, let alone insert instruments into orifices - unless immunizations or finger-sticks count). The responsibility and possible impact on patient care are similar, but for different reasons.

There are some interesting movements toward disease state management by pharmacists (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, HIV, and other chronic diseases). But that's still not independent medical practice. The pharmacist advises the patient mostly with the goal of improving medication regimen adherence and reducing overall cost through increased contact with the medical community. The physician still has the final say in diagnosis and treatment changes.

I don't get how people put the two professions into the same category. They're both healthcare professions, but you could throw nursing into the mix just as easily if we're going to talk one instead of the other.
 
Depends on how good the football team, and to a lesser extent, the basketball team is that year. If WVU beats Louisville on the first Thursday in November, expect numerous furniture casualties.


Forget Louisville, I'd consider lighting up a couch or two if WVU beats South Florida. Now that would be impressive.
 
Forget Louisville, I'd consider lighting up a couch or two if WVU beats South Florida. Now that would be impressive.

It will be a tough game. USF's defense has given WVU fits because of where they place speed and how their defense handles the spread. In fact, they are the ONLY team to ever hold WVU to under 30 points since White took over the reigns at QB. In fact, they did it TWICE in back-to-back years. WVU put up 300+ yards rushing on several ranked teams such as UL(BE champs), Georgia(SEC Champs), Rutgers..I think Georgia Tech, too....but USF...they just match up SO well with WVU, it's unreal.

I know your post is dripping with snug, bull**** sarcasm. I chose to just ignore the fact that you are too nescient to realize that USF has been a decent team for a few years now and complement them for their great play and fast proliferation into BCS play. I encourage you to actually watch them play this season, the high level at which they play will impress you. Check out their young Sophomore QB, he is going to be a player.

But, hey, win or lose, we still booze...and such and such. You can have one of the top pharmacy schools in the nation, we're the top party school in the nation, baby! It's what you get when you put a college in a state where everybody is ****ing crazy....
 
If you watch the video real closely.....they actually did throw in a couch or two.

I think it was a recliner and a loveseat.
I'm totally buying this **** for football season.
couch2.jpg

I've been on ESPN six times in the last 2 seasons because I get in line 6 hours early to get front row seats....but me AND this shirt...that's ESPN camera magnet material there...
 
I worked with a Walgreens tech last week that is leaving for Med School. He tried for UF pharmacy but didn't get accepted because he was missing Anatomy & Physiology I & II. So, he fell back on his med school acceptance instead.😛
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Is it possible that pharmacy could serve as a medical school backup?

I'm thinking about majoring possibly in neuroscience or pharmacy if my schools have it, so will that take care of any of the prereqs for pharmacy school if I take pre-med classes on the side as well?

If this is a legitimate question, and you are not trolling, yes. . . pharmacy can serve as your medical school backup. The majority of your pre med classes can serve as your pre req for pharmacy school. However, I as most people here are sterotyping you as a guy who just watches too much greys anatomy or ER.

Here are my suggestions to you. First, (depending on your HS grades), look for an accelerated medical program. There are a lot of 7 year MD programs out there. As a back up, you should look into osteopathic medicine. They too are physcians but most of their schools have lower requirements to get in. If plan B doesnt work, you can apply to a medicine school in the caribbeans Those schools accept everybody and you can play go swimming right after class. There are also other fields that you can look into. Depending on where you live, nurse practioners (really competitive) and physcian assistants can also practice medicine (sometimes without being under a doctor).

PS. Pharmacy and Medical schools are two different things!!!
 
but pharmacy seems like another very good, clean, lower stress field.
hah lower stress my you know what. and yes pharmacy is a boring/humdrum job. but in all seriousness...go do what you really want to do and do it well, whether it be a garbage man or a dentist, life will be more enjoyable that way.
 
I know your post is dripping with snug, bull**** sarcasm. I chose to just ignore the fact that you are too nescient to realize that USF has been a decent team for a few years now and complement them for their great play and fast proliferation into BCS play.

But, hey, win or lose, we still booze...and such and such. You can have one of the top pharmacy schools in the nation, we're the top party school in the nation, baby!

I guess it must be all of these Southeastern Conference and National Championships holding me back from paying attention to a small scale Big East school who lost games to the University of Kansas in 2006 and UCONN in 2005. But hey, I'm the ignorant one, and they match up well with WVU.

The only time that stupid cliche that you threw in is ever necessary is when one is at a school that has a propensity to lose. I bet they also throw that around at a lot during football season at Connecticut, Syracuse, East Carolina, etc.
 
I guess it must be all of these Southeastern Conference and National Championships holding me back from paying attention to a small scale Big East school who lost games to the University of Kansas in 2006 and UCONN in 2005. But hey, I'm the ignorant one, and they match up well with WVU.

The only time that stupid cliche that you threw in is ever necessary is when one is at a school that has a propensity to lose. I bet they also throw that around at a lot during football season at Connecticut, Syracuse, East Carolina, etc.

Florida was a crappy special teams blocking effort away from losing to South Carolina, too. South Carolina has quality coaching and matches up well with Florida, that's why they made it a game. Same goes with South Florida and WVU. That same team that lost to UCONN in 2005 was barely beaten by a WVU team that manhandled the SEC champion's defense in the Sugar Bowl that year. The teams in D-1 football aren't as clearly separated as SEC fans think. I have no idea why SEC fans are all the same, too. They use the exact same weak ass arguments on every forum I visit. It's like they have a conference and go onto the internet with said agenda or something.

I'm just a crazy dude that calls it like he sees it....
 
No, seriously, I promise that I am legitimately interested in clinical pharmacy.

It is true, however, that I'm probably a bit more inclined towards medicine just because its been a dream (I'm seriously worried that I won't get in though), but pharmacy seems like another very good, clean, lower stress field. Thats why I'd seriously like to know whether I can use pharmacy as a backup. I'm not sure the ones that say it can are being serious or sarcastic, but I'd REALLY like to know truthfully what you think.

Most kids out of High school or starting college that want to become doctors will not become doctors, there is a the truth for you.

And by the way you can't use pharmacy as your backup it is against the rules in college. If you get caught doing this, the repercussions will be terrible.
 
WVU, you're teaching me more about football in a pharmacy forum than I'd learn sitting front row at the Superbowl 😛
 
WVU, you're teaching me more about football in a pharmacy forum than I'd learn sitting front row at the Superbowl 😛

I'd say you're learning as much about football from WVU as you would learn about rosiglitazone from a Glaxo rep.
 
I'd say you're learning as much about football from WVU as you would learn about rosiglitazone from a Glaxo rep.

Haha....the funny thing is that the Glaxo dinguses are actually right...that Nissen study had no business pretending to be an accurate measure of cardiovascular outcomes. In 2009 the real study is set to be complete and we'll see what's what with Avandia.

Glad to know that you see me as a guy that sees through idiotic status quo ideas and waits to see what happens when all the info is in.

I know, I know, you're upset I'm not smiling under the jock of your team's fraudulent "championship". If it bugs you that much, just ignore me...jeez...
 
Haha....the funny thing is that the Glaxo dinguses are actually right...that Nissen study had no business pretending to be an accurate measure of cardiovascular outcomes. In 2009 the real study is set to be complete and we'll see what's what with Avandia.

Glad to know that you see me as a guy that sees through idiotic status quo ideas and waits to see what happens when all the info is in.

I know, I know, you're upset I'm not smiling under the jock of your team's fraudulent "championship". If it bugs you that much, just ignore me...jeez...

Perhaps you are correct about the Nissen study, although two more meta-analyses have been published since then, and both indicate similar results.

Oh, and the company did threaten the Chief of Endocrinology at UNC with a $4 billion dollar lawsuit for expressing concerns about rosiglitazone's cardiovascular adverse event profile as far back as the year 2000. Sounds like an ethical, rational bunch over there at Glaxo.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Perhaps you are correct about the Nissen study, although two more meta-analyses have been published since then, and both indicate similar results.

None of the metaanalyses used studies whose primary outcomes were cardiovascularly related...that's why the power of freakin' all of them are so weak. When the RECORD study comes out in '09, we'll know for sure. And I'm sure all we'll find out is that the increases in LDL due to Avandia causes more heart attacks (no...really...). I think it's ******ed, personally. We've known about the LDL thing for years...connect the freakin' dots..
 
None of the metaanalyses used studies whose primary outcomes were cardiovascularly related...that's why the power of freakin' all of them are so weak. When the RECORD study comes out in '09, we'll know for sure. And I'm sure all we'll find out is that the increases in LDL due to Avandia causes more heart attacks (no...really...). I think it's ******ed, personally. We've known about the LDL thing for years...connect the freakin' dots..

Well thank goodness the company sponsored study is going to tell us the real truth; I was under the impression this didn't happen too often. I am sure they are not busy over there manipulating that data as it is ghost written by someone who is trained in pharmaceutical spin. I agree with the rest of your statement though.
 
Who do you think helped pay for the Nissen study that showed there were increased risks involved? Takeda....

You have to go with the study that is the best designed...the only study whose specific primary outcome is cardiovascular events. And it isn't out yet....

If you want to ignore "spin" just don't read the "discussion" part of the article...or read it with a grain of salt.
 
Who do you think helped pay for the Nissen study that showed there were increased risks involved? Takeda....

You have to go with the study that is the best designed...the only study whose specific primary outcome is cardiovascular events. And it isn't out yet....

If you want to ignore "spin" just don't read the "discussion" part of the article...or read it with a grain of salt.

Where do you read in the Nissen study in question that it was funded in any way by Takeda? I see that he has received financial support from them in the past, and it may be a little suspect that he does not report doing any work for Glaxo. I don't think one requires much financial backing to do a meta-analysis, all of the work is essentially done. Now, did Takeda encourage Dr. Nissen to perform this investigation? I am not sure if one can determine that by looking at the manuscript.
 
There's a paragraph in there, you are probably right about him just getting funds in the past, I'm going off of memory from reading it 2 months ago...either way, he has no relationship listed with Glaxo...not that it matters, anyway....
 
And by the way you can't use pharmacy as your backup it is against the rules in college.

What's against the rules? Having a second option or a "backup plan" for pre-med students is extremely common and usually recommended by professors.

I'm already thinking about what I'm going to do after pharmacy school, dental school being one plan. Is that against the "rules" too?
 
What's against the rules? Having a second option or a "backup plan" for pre-med students is extremely common and usually recommended by professors.

I'm already thinking about what I'm going to do after pharmacy school, dental school being one plan. Is that against the "rules" too?

I believe you may have taken what was originally intended to be a sarcastic remark as a statmement of fact.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Is it possible that pharmacy could serve as a medical school backup?

I'm thinking about majoring possibly in neuroscience or pharmacy if my schools have it, so will that take care of any of the prereqs for pharmacy school if I take pre-med classes on the side as well?

A certain pharmacy school had its representatives give a seminar at my school. The woman said that they don't want people who are treating this as a backup for medical school.

It's obvious that you want to be a doctor (or that you think you do), so you should focus on that for a while. I'd recommend volunteering at a hospital so that you can see doctors in action.

Personally, I was not impressed with the doctors I saw. To me, MDs are horrible, horrible people. The ones I saw did stuff like parking in handicapped spaces because they felt entitled, conducting personal business on the phone when they are 15 minutes late for surgery, and treating everyone in general in a crappy way. One obviously cared more about looking at prices of airplanes on the web than he did his job.

The worst part is that the nurses practically worship these prima donnas!