Pre-med option while a pre-pharm major?

[ericbchoe]

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Hi guys,

I am going to be taking pre-pharmacy courses at the Ohio State University and not majoring in anything. However, even though I have been certain for a year now that pharmacy seems to be the right choice for me, what if I wanted to go a step further, and try my luck getting into medical school? What do you guys think?

I love the thought of being either a doctor or pharmacist since both involve helping people, but I was just wondering if staying an extra two years in undergrad, grad, resieny, and fellowship is worth it.

 

[Mike07]

Worth it. Do 4 years and get a degree. With a bachelors and pre-reqs completed for med school and pharmacy school, you have more options. Plus, good grades and a degree will enhance any type of application, and pending on your degree (science related?), I'm sure the upper level courses will prepare you even more for the rigorous course load you will see in pharmacy and medical school.

 

[ooparham]

Hey Eric, Im a pre pharmacy student at the University of Memphis and Im considering the same thing. I may work in the pharmacy field for a year and then go back to become a doctor but which ever is the best way to go, thats the road I'll take. You have a perfect plan to go either way. Just go for it bro.

 

[ericbchoe]

Hey Eric, Im a pre pharmacy student at the University of Memphis and Im considering the same thing. I may work in the pharmacy field for a year and then go back to become a doctor but which ever is the best way to go, thats the road I'll take. You have a perfect plan to go either way. Just go for it bro.

Thanks for your response,
I am just a little worried bcause what if I don't do well in on the MCAT or my gpa gets significantly lower after my first two pre-professional years? I've already been studying for the PCAT using Dr. Collins study guide and the kaplon, so changing to studying for the MCAT will be time cnsuming.

Am I allowed to take the PCAT during the beginning of my second pre - pharmacy year and see what happens? If I get a good composite score, should I just apply to pharmacy school or just go for the M.D?

Thanks.

 

[400292]

In short, your dilemma is like any other ignorant kid who hasn't figured out their life. Pharmacy is entirely opposite to medicine, and so I would have to ask you how in heck did you decide that one would be a good back up to another? I won't even go into the problem of making one field a 'backup' to another.

Pharmacy is a allied health service field. Meaning it contains very small amounts (which vary depending on training) of patient centered care, then mostly retail or advisory work. Not much intellectual hard core problem solving. A pharmacist (even a Pharm.D), aren't really academics or much into adding novel discovery to science...then are more for the paycheck.

The MD degree I need not describe to you. It is tough as nails, requires you to understand and apply basic science to just pass the mcat, and requires you to outshine the other 40,000+ people who want to go to med school too. It is patient oriented, as well as problem solving and science oriented.

You are really asking "Do I want to get a basic college degree, then bust my butt an additional ~10 years to be a practicing physician, or do I want to cop out intellectually (easy way), make the bachelors optional, then get some service degree"?

You choose...but they are vastly different in what they require of you.

 

[ericbchoe]

In short, your dilemma is like any other ignorant kid who hasn't figured out their life. Pharmacy is entirely opposite to medicine, and so I would have to ask you how in heck did you decide that one would be a good back up to another? I won't even go into the problem of making one field a 'backup' to another.

Pharmacy is a allied health service field. Meaning it contains very small amounts (which vary depending on training) of patient centered care, then mostly retail or advisory work. Not much intellectual hard core problem solving. A pharmacist (even a Pharm.D), aren't really academics or much into adding novel discovery to science...then are more for the paycheck.

The MD degree I need not describe to you. It is tough as nails, requires you to understand and apply basic science to just pass the mcat, and requires you to outshine the other 40,000+ people who want to go to med school too. It is patient oriented, as well as problem solving and science oriented.

You are really asking "Do I want to get a basic college degree, then bust my butt an additional ~10 years to be a practicing physician, or do I want to cop out intellectually (easy way), make the bachelors optional, then get some service degree"?

You choose...but they are vastly different in what they require of you.

What would you choose if you were in this "dilema?" Is it even worth going for the M.D?

 

[ooparham]

If you're more comfortable with the PCAT thats what you should stick with and find out what you need to do get your MD after you gaduate or vice versa. But I feel you on the GPA, you definetly want to play it safe with that.

 

[NaOH]

Not going to wade (once again) into the PharmD/MD peen-waggling contest...


But, as a non-traditional student, I would greatly recommend getting an undergrad degree. The extra upper-level classes will prepare you more for the pace and rigor of professional school classes... and, in my own opinion, the extra two years do wonders for your maturity and work ethic. When I look around my class, there are a pretty large number of two-year pre-req'ers... and while many of them still manage to do well, it always strikes me that these are still KIDS. I know there was no way I had the grit to succeed here when I was 20 years old. But, hey, that may just be me.


Ah, what am I saying? This is the part where I'm supposed to get all butthurt over people viewing my chosen profession as a 'backup'.

 

[Rx MPLS]

Pharmacy is a allied health service field. Meaning it contains very small amounts (which vary depending on training) of patient centered care, then mostly retail or advisory work. Not much intellectual hard core problem solving. A pharmacist (even a Pharm.D), aren't really academics or much into adding novel discovery to science...then are more for the paycheck.

The MD degree I need not describe to you. It is tough as nails, requires you to understand and apply basic science to just pass the mcat, and requires you to outshine the other 40,000+ people who want to go to med school too. It is patient oriented, as well as problem solving and science oriented.

You are really asking "Do I want to get a basic college degree, then bust my butt an additional ~10 years to be a practicing physician, or do I want to cop out intellectually (easy way), make the bachelors optional, then get some service degree"?

You choose...but they are vastly different in what they require of you.

...says the pre-health student.

Yes, pharmacy and medicine are different, and you have a bit of an understanding of their differences, but I would not agree that pharmacy is not difficult and that everybody is in it for the paycheck alone. Similarly, I can't agree that all MD work is hardcore, and "tough as nails" or that MDs aren't sometimes in it for a paycheck, too.

To be perfectly honest, most people in the world are "in it for a paycheck" to some extent. Why go to work if you won't get paid? Unless you just happen to be independently wealthy...

 

[Digsbe]

...says the pre-health student.

Yes, pharmacy and medicine are different, and you have a bit of an understanding of their differences, but I would not agree that pharmacy is not difficult and that everybody is in it for the paycheck alone. Similarly, I can't agree that all MD work is hardcore, and "tough as nails" or that MDs aren't sometimes in it for a paycheck, too.

To be perfectly honest, most people in the world are "in it for a paycheck" to some extent. Why go to work if you won't get paid? Unless you just happen to be independently wealthy...

Why? Because money and financial well-being never drives any of my decisions and I'm doing it because I really want to help people!

/personal statement

 

[Doulos]

As others have mentioned. I'd go for the undergraduate degree. That's what I'm doing though not because I want to go to medical school. My hope is that after being established in the pharmacy field for a few years I'll return to school and get a masters in kinesiology. Why? Because I'm interested in strength training and while working as a pharmacist I won't have to worry about paying for the classes. It'll be affordable by default.

With that long-term, life-enriching goal in mind, I'm pursuing a Psychology undergrad degree with a minor in biology. The minor gets all the requirements in for pharm school.

 

[SHC1984]

As others have mentioned. I'd go for the undergraduate degree. That's what I'm doing though not because I want to go to medical school. My hope is that after being established in the pharmacy field for a few years I'll return to school and get a masters in kinesiology. Why? Because I'm interested in strength training and while working as a pharmacist I won't have to worry about paying for the classes. It'll be affordable by default.

With that long-term, life-enriching goal in mind, I'm pursuing a Psychology undergrad degree with a minor in biology. The minor gets all the requirements in for pharm school.

You should forget about pharmacy and just be a personal trainer for a gym.

I have to pay mine $300 a month and I only see him for 30mins 3X a week.

If there was something I was passionate about I would just do that. Doing pharmacy would be a huge waste of time and energy.

 

[SHC1984]

...says the pre-health student.

Yes, pharmacy and medicine are different, and you have a bit of an understanding of their differences, but I would not agree that pharmacy is not difficult and that everybody is in it for the paycheck alone. Similarly, I can't agree that all MD work is hardcore, and "tough as nails" or that MDs aren't sometimes in it for a paycheck, too.

To be perfectly honest, most people in the world are "in it for a paycheck" to some extent. Why go to work if you won't get paid? Unless you just happen to be independently wealthy...

There are maybe 1% of the population OR LESS that is worried about helping people over their money/lifestyle. It's not a bad thing. We as human beings are selfish by nature. We have to first time care of ourselves before we can take care of other people...that' just how it is.

So when someone chooses a job it's for the money and lifestyle (FOR THEMSELVES) if they money and lifestyle is good enough...then they will worry about other things and helping people might be on the list of things.

While most people don't mind helping others, they will only do it if:

1) They are satisfied with their money and lifestyle as that is NUMBER ONE for over 99% of people.

2) If helping someone else doesn't involve them going out of their way or putting themselves at a disadvantage. NO ONE will help anyone if it puts themselves at a disadvantage.

3) It doesn't take much energy on their part to help someone else and the benefit for themselves in helping that person is GREATER than the con for themselves. If this wasn't true than why doesn't a doctor work for free? You like helping someone so much...do it for free then!

If those 3 things are met then sure helping people is fine...but if those three things are NOT met...then you can forget about anyone helpig anyone else.

That's the damn truth right there.

Someone had to be blunt about this. All this I am going to medical school or pharmacy to help people is BS.

It's more like I don't mind helping someone if the above 3 conditions are TRUE for my case! that's more like it!

 

[SHC1984]

In short, your dilemma is like any other ignorant kid who hasn't figured out their life. Pharmacy is entirely opposite to medicine, and so I would have to ask you how in heck did you decide that one would be a good back up to another? I won't even go into the problem of making one field a 'backup' to another.

Pharmacy is a allied health service field. Meaning it contains very small amounts (which vary depending on training) of patient centered care, then mostly retail or advisory work. Not much intellectual hard core problem solving. A pharmacist (even a Pharm.D), aren't really academics or much into adding novel discovery to science...then are more for the paycheck.

The MD degree I need not describe to you. It is tough as nails, requires you to understand and apply basic science to just pass the mcat, and requires you to outshine the other 40,000+ people who want to go to med school too. It is patient oriented, as well as problem solving and science oriented.

You are really asking "Do I want to get a basic college degree, then bust my butt an additional ~10 years to be a practicing physician, or do I want to cop out intellectually (easy way), make the bachelors optional, then get some service degree"?

You choose...but they are vastly different in what they require of you.

Doctors are the same damn way.

If those 3 conditions are NOT the case for the doctor then I can guarantee you he will NOT help anyone period.

Yes, medical school is harder than pharmacy school. That I agree with, but that doesn't mean a doctor isn't HUMAN! LOL....Like I said, those 3 conditions have to be met for anyone to even think about helping anyone else.

If what you said was right then there would not be a shortage of family physicians. If what you said was right than getting into a specialized residency (like Derm) would not be so competitive.

Why is derm and other specialities so competitve? B/c everyone wants MORE MONEY FOR LESS WORK. No ****!

Why don't anyone be a family physician? How come no one wants that job? Too much work and not enough pay! Duh!

 

[All4MyDaughter]

You should forget about pharmacy and just be a personal trainer for a gym.

I have to pay mine $300 a month and I only see him for 30mins 3X a week.

If there was something I was passionate about I would just do that. Doing pharmacy would be a huge waste of time and energy.

Do you think he gets to keep all that money? Doubt it. What do you think his actual hourly pay rate is?

 

[SHC1984]

Do you think he gets to keep all that money? Doubt it. What do you think his actual hourly pay rate is?

I have NO clue. LOL...

I know personal trainers for celebrities and big name people make very good money but personal trainers for regular people I have NO clue.

I just think if you have something you are PASSIONATE about you should go ahead and do it. If I had something I was passionate about I would just do that...but I don't so I do anything that I can tolerate as long as the pay isn't too bad either.

 

[dahwsi]

In short, your dilemma is like any other ignorant kid who hasn't figured out their life. Pharmacy is entirely opposite to medicine, and so I would have to ask you how in heck did you decide that one would be a good back up to another? I won't even go into the problem of making one field a 'backup' to another.

Pharmacy is a allied health service field. Meaning it contains very small amounts (which vary depending on training) of patient centered care, then mostly retail or advisory work. Not much intellectual hard core problem solving. A pharmacist (even a Pharm.D), aren't really academics or much into adding novel discovery to science...then are more for the paycheck.

The MD degree I need not describe to you. It is tough as nails, requires you to understand and apply basic science to just pass the mcat, and requires you to outshine the other 40,000+ people who want to go to med school too. It is patient oriented, as well as problem solving and science oriented.

You are really asking "Do I want to get a basic college degree, then bust my butt an additional ~10 years to be a practicing physician, or do I want to cop out intellectually (easy way), make the bachelors optional, then get some service degree"?

You choose...but they are vastly different in what they require of you.

WOW, seriously? OK, first off there are different specialties in Pharmacy(retail, compounding, nuclear, clincial, research, etc. etc.) as there is with Medicine (E.R., OBGYN, Endocrinology, Dermatology, etc. etc).

As SHC1984 pointed out, who the hell isn't in for any job for the paycheck? On a personal level, I am doing pharmacy simply because its been my passion, and though I do obviously care about how much $ I take home at the end of the day, I'm mostly in it due to the clinical aspect.

Each profession earns their Doctorate degree (medicine vs. pharmacy) and each have their own specific place in the healthcare system. It's not fair for anyone (either a Pharmacist or Physician, who are both doctors) to say that one profession is better than the other. Is one more difficult than the other? Sure, but again that depends on each specialty that one chooses in their respective fields.

Lastly, what is this "service degree" you've come up with? ANY PROFESSION OR JOB HAS SERVICE INVOLVED. From being a truck driver to CEO and anything in between. MD is a service degree as is the PharmD.

You sir, please grow up and please attain a small amount of intellectual knowledge and wisdom before making such profound and offending statements! 😡

/end rant.

 

[dahwsi]

I have NO clue. LOL...

I know personal trainers for celebrities and big name people make very good money but personal trainers for regular people I have NO clue.

I just think if you have something you are PASSIONATE about you should go ahead and do it. If I had something I was passionate about I would just do that...but I don't so I do anything that I can tolerate as long as the pay isn't too bad either.

👍

 

[SHC1984]

Do you think he gets to keep all that money? Doubt it. What do you think his actual hourly pay rate is?

Miley Cyrus pays her physical trainer $200 an hour. Around $3000 a month. Not bad. Heard it on the radio this morning.

I would do it too if I had that kind of money. LOL...