Questions for my future?

[blakburger1]

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Ok im a 2nd year at a high school i go to and i have LOADS of questions regarding Pharmacy, since i want to be a pharmacist (maybe a retail one, im not fully sure on it yet) Yes i know i shouldn't be worried about this,but i want my life straightened out, a plain is much better than running around blindly right?
So yea, a lot of questions.

1. Im only 2 years and i know i shouldn't be worrying i guess but should i look for colleges now? i want one that wont make me have to go through 11 years and such.

2. The money for college is large right? i play in an orchestra and was wondering whether i could play for a scholarship.

3. Exactly how much math/science is needed for this profession? would i be swamped in the math and science? or would i be able to spend every day studying but not killing myself over hard problems?

4. how much do pharmacists make on average? I love the medical field ( my mom was in it too) and i was just wondering whether i'd make enough money to get the things i want AND i need, (such as.. books.. loads and loads of awesome books)

5.I hear theres a lot of stress in this job as well, i think i can handle stress and i have good people skills, and can deal with very very annoying people (like my family for the years i've been with them) But will it exceed my limits?

6.How much would college take up my time? No time for social things or would i have a little window?

7. I prioritize on my math skills at the moment since science at this grade is pretty easy, but math can sometimes annoy me (and it surprises me sometimes how someone can't get an easy math problem right) but do i need to focus on both heavily?

8.I also plan to pay off my college debts and make some money as a pharmacist and move to Canada. Yes. Canada. It rocks. Would i have to take a new test or something? Or would i be able to be a pharmacist in there without a huge hassle.

9.i have 2 years of high school left and im currently learning Spanish, and going to learn french, is it required to learn these things for college?

10. What's the average GPA you would say someone could get into college
with easily or at least without a large hassle.

11.I have read that pharmacists can work 40 hours a week sometimes, would that mean i would probably be working long long hours every week? Would i be able to work over time to get days off? (such as doing a full week and getting the next week off)

12.Could you recommend any good colleges for becoming a pharmacist?

13.Should i work on getting all AP classes? Extra credits and what not? or should i focus on science,math, and perhaps some literature ( I'm amazing at literature tho, so i think im alright in that department)

14. Almost forgot this question. I was wondering, apparently the ordinary years are 4 years of under graduate(?) and 4 years of med(?) but there are these 0-6 programs that take me right out of HS and get a PharmD in only 6 years? I was wondering about that and whether i could get it, but would that mean i don't have a degree for 4 years of undergraduate/med but still be able to be a pharmacist? (im sorry im so vague with "pharmacist" im not fully on the subject yet, but i'd love an explanation of them.)

Thats all the things im worried about as of now. Im sorry you have to read all of this (if you decide to read it) I'd 😍love it if you answered the questions tho, they really worry me!

Thanks, in advance if you at least read this.

 

[deleted205891]

I'll answer what questions I can.

About 40 hour weeks...that's the regular work week, no matter what the profession. It is true, however, that for retail pharmacists this time can consist of 12 or 14-hour days. For other types of pharmacists, you will most likely be working 8-hour days.

Yes, there are 0-6 programs. You might not have a bachelor's degree after the first 4 years but you'll graduate with a PharmD after 6 years. Some schools have started giving bachelors' degrees after 4 years of the program (like USP) so you have a degree just in case you fail out. There are currently 9 strictly 0-6 programs in the country: Rutgers, USP, URI, Northeastern and others.

Canada? Maybe you could research Canadian schools and go there as an international student. I have no idea about the process of becoming a pharmacist in Canada, but I'm pretty sure they only have a 5-year degree. The licensing exams you take in the US would not get you licensed in Canada.

About AP classes: they will most likely not shorten the amount of years you go to school, but they will make your life easier, so might as well do them. I had 30, so I had a very easy first year and picked up a minor (started with Spanish but then switched to statistics after the first semester). I finished my stats minor after 3 years. Not sure if it'll be useful for landing a job or not, but something extra will never hurt I guess. Just know that some schools don't accept all AP credits.

Actually, not much math is needed for pharmacy (though you need to know your basic algebra , but a lot of biology and chemistry is involved. It will get hard in the professional phase, and you will sometimes have to not socialize in order to study. Regardless, it is bearable and you can still go out every once in a while, just not every weekend.

 

[blakburger1]

I love your answer, and im very relieved about the not much math part haha!

Although i would like to know more about AP classes, my school doesn't explain them at all, they just say it gives extra credits.

Im going to research the Canadian schools and i'll check out these 0-6 year schools as well!

I still would like an explanation of AP Classes like 1. how did you have 30 classes in one year? and Stats minor? Mini that was switched to statistics? i know very little about AP classes except they give me more credits which help for getting in college.

I am totally alright with not socializing to study, done it for years, i just wanted to know about the socializing so college would not be very very boring or something, going out and doing somethings once a month or two is alright for me.

 

[deleted205891]

I love your answer, and im very relieved about the not much math part haha!

Although i would like to know more about AP classes, my school doesn't explain them at all, they just say it gives extra credits.

Im going to research the Canadian schools and i'll check out these 0-6 year schools as well!

I still would like an explanation of AP Classes like 1. how did you have 30 classes in one year? and Stats minor? Mini that was switched to statistics? i know very little about AP classes except they give me more credits which help for getting in college.

I am totally alright with not socializing to study, done it for years, i just wanted to know about the socializing so college would not be very very boring or something, going out and doing somethings once a month or two is alright for me.

Sorry, I meant 30 AP/college credits. That was gotten from passing 5 AP tests and getting 1 class transferred from a summer program I did at a college. The 5 tests were taken throughout 3 years (sophomore, junior, senior), as we were allowed to take AP bio sophomore year. Minoring may or may not be available at your school when you're pursuing a pharmacy degree. What it is is just taking a few extra classes in a concentration other than pharmacy. I only had to take 12 credits (4 classes) for the minor, since some of my AP credit covered the rest. In my school you can pick from about 15 different minors (stats, spanish, business, psych, etc...) if you want to pursue one. I used to want to go into research, and therefore stats seemed like a good idea at the time. If you don't want to declare a minor or your school does not allow this (seems like most schools don't), you can just have 12 credits a semester freshman year with lots of easy-A classes.

With how AP classes work: you take the class, you take the test (costs 80 bucks unless your school pays for it, mine didn't). Then your scores get sent over to the college(s) you specified. Each college has a policy of what scores they take. For example, mine doesn't take 3s in any science courses or foreign languages, yet it takes 3s in calc. I know some only take 4s and 5s in everything, while others might only take 5s for classes in your major. If you get the adequate score, you may opt to not take the class in college if you want. The problem is that your freshman year you have to take bio, chem, usually calc and English lit/comp. I had most of these but not all. If you don't have all these AP credits, you can't skip a year. Besides, even if you do, they might not let you skip a year anyway, since there is a one-credit pharmacy orientation course that everyone had to take freshman year.

 

[blakburger1]

my school has no minors and i never got a one credit pharmacy orientation course either. Guess i'll just do the AP classes!

I was also wondering (and some of my answers in the front arent answered yet) whether i could become a pharmacist in the U.S. and then take a test to become one in Canada, but would i have to go through a school or do some kind of long process?

 

[deleted205891]

my school has no minors and i never got a one credit pharmacy orientation course either. Guess i'll just do the AP classes!

I was also wondering (and some of my answers in the front arent answered yet) whether i could become a pharmacist in the U.S. and then take a test to become one in Canada, but would i have to go through a school or do some kind of long process?

I'm not sure, but here's a post in the pharmacy forum discussing job prospects in Canada:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=759551

 

[EMS5]

Ok im a 2nd year at a high school i go to and i have LOADS of questions regarding Pharmacy, since i want to be a pharmacist (maybe a retail one, im not fully sure on it yet) Yes i know i shouldn't be worried about this,but i want my life straightened out, a plain is much better than running around blindly right?
So yea, a lot of questions.

1. Im only 2 years and i know i shouldn't be worrying i guess but should i look for colleges now? i want one that wont make me have to go through 11 years and such.

Start looking midway into your junior year, apply early in your senior year.

2. The money for college is large right? i play in an orchestra and was wondering whether i could play for a scholarship.

In-state is generally much less expensive than out of state schools. Private schools are usually expensive regardess, but give out more financial aid.

3. Exactly how much math/science is needed for this profession? would i be swamped in the math and science? or would i be able to spend every day studying but not killing myself over hard problems?

You should be strong in chemistry to say the least.

4. how much do pharmacists make on average? I love the medical field ( my mom was in it too) and i was just wondering whether i'd make enough money to get the things i want AND i need, (such as.. books.. loads and loads of awesome books)

I believe the last stats I read was something like 90,000 on average. Depends how much and where/what kind of work you do.

5.I hear theres a lot of stress in this job as well, i think i can handle stress and i have good people skills, and can deal with very very annoying people (like my family for the years i've been with them) But will it exceed my limits?

We can't answer this for you. Don't worry about it at this point in time, if you want to do it when your in college stress will be a given.

6.How much would college take up my time? No time for social things or would i have a little window?

If you can't manage your time enough to have a social life, then you need to re-prioritize and look at your study mechanics. Time management is the most important thing you can learn in h.s.

7. I prioritize on my math skills at the moment since science at this grade is pretty easy, but math can sometimes annoy me (and it surprises me sometimes how someone can't get an easy math problem right) but do i need to focus on both heavily?

Do well and get into a good college. 2 B's is better than an A and a D High school science =/= college science (not even close).

8.I also plan to pay off my college debts and make some money as a pharmacist and move to Canada. Yes. Canada. It rocks. Would i have to take a new test or something? Or would i be able to be a pharmacist in there without a huge hassle.

Although there may be reciprocity between the US and Canada (not sure?). Different licensing agency and licensing exams, etc, so yes it will be a bunch of red tape.

9.i have 2 years of high school left and im currently learning Spanish, and going to learn french, is it required to learn these things for college?

No, it isn't required, but knowing a second language makes you a valuable asset anywhere you go in life.

10. What's the average GPA you would say someone could get into college
with easily or at least without a large hassle.

2.5 is the minimum. Above 3.0 and you should be able to get into a decent college. There is always the option of transferring.

11.I have read that pharmacists can work 40 hours a week sometimes, would that mean i would probably be working long long hours every week? Would i be able to work over time to get days off? (such as doing a full week and getting the next week off)

You can work as few or as many hours as you want.

12.Could you recommend any good colleges for becoming a pharmacist?

It's not the college, it's what you make of it.

13.Should i work on getting all AP classes? Extra credits and what not? or should i focus on science,math, and perhaps some literature ( I'm amazing at literature tho, so i think im alright in that department)

Shoot for good grades in regular/honors classes instead of killing yourself with AP's and risking a better GPA.

14. Almost forgot this question. I was wondering, apparently the ordinary years are 4 years of under graduate(?) and 4 years of med(?) but there are these 0-6 programs that take me right out of HS and get a PharmD in only 6 years? I was wondering about that and whether i could get it, but would that mean i don't have a degree for 4 years of undergraduate/med but still be able to be a pharmacist? (im sorry im so vague with "pharmacist" im not fully on the subject yet, but i'd love an explanation of them.)

You would get the B.S. and Pharm.D. but you would be busting your butt and you need to be (quite close to) a 4.0/2400SAT student in high school.

Thats all the things im worried about as of now. Im sorry you have to read all of this (if you decide to read it) I'd 😍love it if you answered the questions tho, they really worry me!

Thanks, in advance if you at least read this.

.

 

[deleted205891]

To above poster (didn't feel like quoting): 0-6 pharmacy programs are actually not as hard to get into as you make it seem (I noticed you're premed, and I know that the 0-7 and 0-8 programs are hard to get into for medicine, pharmacy is different). I believe the average SAT for the admission into the 2008-2009 school year for my school was only a 1250 or so (reading+math). It is true that admissions standards are going up every year, so a 1300 (or 1850 reading+writing+math) would be good. However, the failure rate after 2nd year of the program is 10% (these people don't progress into the professional phase) and probably another 10% choose to leave voluntarily, many because they feel that they will not be able to handle the workload of the professional phase or pull up their GPA (because they were very close to the cutoff point for failing out) and some because they have lost interest in pharmacy.

And as I said before, no, not every 0-6 school gives BS+PharmD (again, different from med school, above poster is premed, not a pharmacy student), but some do. For example, in my program, I will graduate with a PharmD but without a BS, but people 2 years below me will have both a PharmD and a BS because the program is constantly changing. In some schools they still don't give a BS.

 

[EMS5]

OP: take it from the pharm people. my answers are just from interactions with the pre-pharm/pharm people here at my school.