Pharmacy tech to pharmacist:)

[scaredtogoback]

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hey everyone I'm 27 years pharmacy tech wanting to go back to school to finish my pre reqs. I'm pretty much starting over because had 2 semesters of remedial a before I had started working full time. I still need all the classes like biology and chemistry but is it possible to work full time and still be able to take in 13hours a semester? Has anyone been in my shoes or close? I'm trying to work out a good schedule but idk what to expect. What did you do so I can get an idea of how it's going to go. I want to take some classes this August but in so nervous 🙁 thank you
Ps: loans are what freak me out the most

 

[escanoke]

Hey you should be okay with a full schedule for the first 2 semesters if you're doing the gen Chem/bios but once you get to micro/Orgo I'd cut down on work hours or classes per semester. It's do able but you're gonna have slim margins for time some management is key. Expect to work and going straight to the lib right after and being back to work the next morning for the next few semesters. It's do able and if you think you can hack it as long as you keep to your schedule and not dilly dally you'll be ok. But if you think you'll need more than just time mgmt, don't ruin your GPA because you want to get done ASAP and cut back on something


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[Kelp103]

Is it possible... Yes. But it entirely depends on the person. If you've been out of school for a while (or didn't do as well the first time), I wouldn't depend on it, even with intro bio/chem classes. It might be better to try the general non-science requirements (speech, English, history or whatever) first (assuming you still need those) and try to add in the science requirements later after you know what to expect. You don't want to fail because you're working too much. Plus, you always have to remember that science classes almost always have a lab which is 3 actual hours, but only 1 credit hour (so that is a lot of additional time).

Plus, if you have kids, a spouse, social life, whatever, you will probably be cutting out a lot of "fun" going to school and working. You can do it, you just have to be realistic and know where you are (how much study time you will need, how fast you can complete assignments/readings, etc).

 

[scaredtogoback]

I am married with 2 kids. I didn't have a problem with school when I went before but I wasn't working at all. Now I have bills and can't afford to not work. My mindset is pretty much if it takes me longer then the average student to finish pre reqs who cares you know? At least one day I will get there.

 

[NCW2401]

Choose the route that will assume the least debt. Max out the classes that you can take per semester. Get A's

 

[Nic24]

If you have to work full-time I wouldn't load up on really hard classes. Maybe 1 or 2. The problem is finding a good school schedule to allow you to work, then you have to remember that studying/hw is a job itself and requires hours as well. I would start with less than 13 credits if you're working full-time, just so you can get used to how you study and determine how good you are with time management. I'll be honest, I had to get help from my parents when I took O-chem, Cell bio, Genetics, and Calc in one semester. I was so stressed out when I tried to work 32 hours/wk. I found myself having to work the day before I had a test, and it was hard. I realized my limitations with work and school when my grade suffered. If you're going to pharm. school its too important to take that chance of repeating a class. I would start off slow, if you're just getting back into school again.

 

[Cefuroxilimes]

Has anyone been in my shoes or close?

It's very possible to do, but will take some discipline. I was taking 12-14 cr a semester starting out. I buckled down and started taking 16 cr a semester because I wanted to get into an undergraduate major/program at my school that only accepted a handful of students per class.

This past year I started the 1st year of the program and was taking 19 cr a semester (all classes 300+ level), with a full-time job (sometimes OT), 2-3 tests per week, and I had outside duties as a secretary, ambassador, and president of 3 different organizations. I'm also an independent student (hence the full-time job), married but no children. I got very little sleep, hated myself some weeks, and know this is still going to be my life for a little while, but gosh darnit, it can be done.

I had poor to average time management skills before entering my new program, but after orientation week when we started our classes, I realized it was time to shape up or ship out. I started planning things way ahead of time, studying whenever I could slip some time in (lunch breaks, work breaks, etc), and I cut off most of my social life time down (started hanging out with people not once a week, but once a month). Ended up getting 9 As and 1 B.

I know this other guy who is Pre-Med who's amazing. He's in his late 30s and went back to school after he and his wife became financially stable. They have 6 kids, both work full-time, and he just graduated with a 4.0 and was involved in several organizations and internships, etc. But he had a hell of a lot of sleepless nights, missed his oldest kid's graduation, and had to forgo many family vacations. That was his decision, though.

But, everyone so far has given you pretty sound advice: Take it slow, know your limits, build up if needed, and if taking more classes actually helps financially (at some places you get discounts after taking X credits in the semester, etc) then fully consider that. Your experience is different from anyone else's, so you just need to keep in mind how much time you want and/or need to dedicate to each of the responsibilities present in your life.

Good Luck! If you give it your all, you will do great 🙂