Pharmacy VS Dental School??

[amannnix]

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[Volvoxy]

If you go dental, there's a third school in state: Midwestern in Downers Grove but it is VERY expensive.
Dental school is generally harder to get into than pharmacy.
If money is an issue look at SIU- by far the most economical for Illinois residents.

 

[goffdent]

This is the only reply post that needs to be said.. There's a hundred of this post already on SDN, use the search function. Only you can decided what you want to do, not us. The two professions are like comparing apples to spaghetti and meatballs, I could never see why someone would "Love" both, but then again, i never did consider pharmacy so maybe that's my fault. Your reasoning isn't very sound, and "respectfully" you sound kind of immature in how you said some of your post, specifically the mentioning of your friends etc.. I'm not trying to be mean, just pointing out some things. You need to soul search, and I don't think SDN will really help you in that department.

 

[NDPitch]

From my point of view, I'd weigh in a little more decision making points than the ones you have listed. I'm not trying to sound mean, but I think you're looking at it a little too shallowly. I'd consider things such as...

-Love for the work

-Cost of attendance for the schooling. I don't know what pharm is, but d school is now over 400k for some private institutions

-Job prospective (I hear pharm is really tough these days to find a job)

Don't make a decision based on risk on whether or not you will get in, or whether or not you will be called "doctor". With enough hard work, you can get into either program. Neither will be a cake walk. Also, the whole "doctor" thing shouldn't be that big of a deal. You really need to do what you WANT to do, not do something that gets you CALLED a title that you like.

 

[goffdent]

additionally..... You obviously haven't researched much if you don't know that a PharmD degree IS A DOCTORATE.... meaning you are considered a DOCTOR... of pharmacy

 

[DMDWANNABEE]

between becoming a dentist or become a pharmacist... Both are really great jobs that I know I would enjoy doing ( I shadowed both) and would love becoming either. Currently I am studying at a community college and working on my Biology degree. I feel like I must make my choice now to see which jobs i should consider getting while in undergraduate school (i.e., pharmacist technician or dental assistant) and which schools to transfer to after I am done with my two years at community college. If i decide to take the Pharmacy route i will finish these two years then go to Chicago State University til I finish my degree then apply for Pharmacy school at Chicago State. If I choose to become a dentist I will finish these two years then go to University of Illinois at Chicago finish my degree then apply to UIC's dental school. I am completely unsure of which path to go, I really dont care about the money, but I will list the pros and cons of each.
Dentistry
-I feel much harder to get into; lower acceptance rate
-Only two in the state, so may be difficult to get into.
-Risk because you have to open up your own business
-Dental school more expensive?
-Is considered a doctor though, and that is something i really like

Pharmacy
-Probably easier to get into
-Sure I will get into
-Like the feel
-Its still not considered a doctor though :/
-4 or 5 pharmacy schools in the state

I also have one other factor all my other friends (which arent as nearly as smart, like 20s on their ACT[not trying to be cocky]) are applying for medical school and doctoral degrees, I feel like i should become a dentist and take that risk so i can become a doctor (also my parents want me to become a doctor). Going into dentistry theres a really big risk that I wont get in, but in pharmacy theres more of a secure feeling that I will have a chance of getting in ... but i still want to become a dentist !

Btw currently my GPA is a 3.8
In hs I got a 27 on my ACT if that matters at all....
Im jealous that all my friends that have lower grades have that kind of courage to apply to medical school, but I'm to afraid to lose that kind of security and apply for dental school!
which one in your opinion should i go for ?

Most people I talk to outside of medical professional circles don't typically know that a dentist is a doctor. I don't think the DDS is going to give you the "doctor prestige" any more than the PhamD would.

Pick the one you think you would enjoy more. The two careers don't seem all that similar (I also shadowed both), so you should be able to make a call given enough thought.

If you want to be a doctor for the prestige of being a doctor, then be the only type of doctor that the public gives two craps about... a medical doctor. It's not really more competitive right now anyway.

That would be near the bottom of my personal list of reasons to pick a career though.

 

[Destiny11]

additionally..... You obviously haven't researched much if you don't know that a PharmD degree IS A DOCTORATE.... meaning you are considered a DOCTOR... of pharmacy

But how often do you call your pharmacist Dr. so and so?

 

[tpwelie34]

You are currently not ready for either of these professions. If you are going to base your future on being called a "doctor" or not then you need to mature a bit more before making such a decision.

 

[goffdent]

But how often do you call your pharmacist Dr. so and so?

I didn't say you had to be called doctor... Just the fact that you are a doctor. Btw, how often do you even know your pharmacist by name anyways? If you're worried about whether people are going to call you Dr. Smith instead of Jim, you have your priorities out of order.

 

[sacapuntas]

love when people rep their ACT score on here...make sure to list that at the top of your D-school app!

 

[Predent36]

love when people rep their ACT score on here...make sure to list that at the top of your D-school app!

Especially when they are not even that great.

 

[NDPitch]

In summary, amannnix, don't be discouraged by these posts. We're not trying to punch you in the face virtually, it's more of a reality check. There's a large group of people on this forum who are knowledgable about the field and have been here a long time and know their stuff. So, when someone comes along that seems in need of some more knowledge on the subject, it can be a little frustrating to some. Definitely use SDN as a source of some information - there's a lot of informative threads here. However, I think the collective consensus from us is that you should do some deeper soul searching, find out what it is you actually want to do, and get out there on the front lines to see what it's all about. Most will definitely tell you that it's certainly not all about being called 'doctor'.

 

[KittySquared]

Dentistry
-I feel much harder to get into; lower acceptance rate
-Only two in the state, so may be difficult to get into.
-Risk because you have to open up your own business
-Dental school more expensive?
-Is considered a doctor though, and that is something i really like

Pharmacy
-Probably easier to get into
-Sure I will get into
-Like the feel
-Its still not considered a doctor though :/
-4 or 5 pharmacy schools in the state

Members of SDN community can tear you into pieces for saying things like this. I suppose I could help initiate. If having others validate you as a doctor is what really drives you in life, then I suggest you find a nice shrink and perhaps figure out some childhood issues. But seriously, go shadow around and do some soul searching, as others have mentioned.

love when people rep their ACT score on here...make sure to list that at the top of your D-school app!

I only made 4.0 once in my life, and that was back in 8th grade. I put it in my personal statement. 4500 characters of how it made me feel like such a BOSS.

 

[Volvoxy]

.

 

[goffdent]

Why only 11 days ago did you mention that you are having such a hard time deciding between dentistry and physician assisting school? Now, less than two weeks later, it's dentistry and pharmacy?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=964540

If this is real, you need to do some "real" shadowing and figure it out because you need some personal research to what fits your qualities.

 

[dentalWorks]

if your primary basis of picking dentistry from pharmacy is because you are a "doctor" then you are wrong my friend.

dentists are not "doctors" as according to the social standards of what a doctor is (Aka Physician). sure, dentists are refereed as "Doc" or "Doctor" in your clinic, but outside, you are just [first name], Mr., or "The Dentist". Lets put it this way, when ur hanging out or in a party and someone asks "What do you do for a living"... ur response better not be "I am a doctor"

And this is to all the doctor vs dentist vs pharmacist vs nursing vs hygine vs whatever else profession threads out there. This is a PERSONAL PREFERENCE and should not be based on other's opinion.

 

[Stacker]

Apples and oranges.

 

[doc toothache]

This is almost as good as SNL.

 

[Blue87Fiero]

This is almost as good as SNL.

Well SNL is not as funny as it was back in the day......