questions

[srleslie]

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I was wondering if it is feasable for a person to apply to both medical school and pharmacy school, even at the same college? I have an interest in both fields and would like to keep my options open. Thanks a lot,

Ryan

 

[AshleyCPhT]

I was wondering if it is feasable for a person to apply to both medical school and pharmacy school, even at the same college? I have an interest in both fields and would like to keep my options open. Thanks a lot,

Ryan

If you have met all requirements for both, then I dont see why there would be a problem...

 

[pharmy614]

I was wondering if it is feasable for a person to apply to both medical school and pharmacy school, even at the same college? I have an interest in both fields and would like to keep my options open. Thanks a lot,

Ryan

It shouldn't be a problem, I'll be doing the same thing. But...don't apply to med school and pharmacy school at the same institution. They have access to both applications and It'll look as if you don't know what you want to do and the med adcom won't believe your personal statement when you say "I really want to be a doctor b/c..." and the pharm adcom won't believe you when u say "I really want to be a pharmacist b/c...".
Good luck.

 

[srleslie]

It shouldn't be a problem, I'll be doing the same thing. But...don't apply to med school and pharmacy school at the same institution. They have access to both applications and It'll look as if you don't know what you want to do and the med adcom won't believe your personal statement when you say "I really want to be a doctor b/c..." and the pharm adcom won't believe you when u say "I really want to be a pharmacist b/c...".
Good luck.

Problem is I live in Arkansas and theres only one state institution and both schools are the the same institution.

 

[binghamkid]

I was wondering if it is feasable for a person to apply to both medical school and pharmacy school, even at the same college? I have an interest in both fields and would like to keep my options open. Thanks a lot,

Ryan

In reality, I wouldn't apply for both. I would first sit down and think LONG and HARD about why you want to be a doctor, and why you want to be a pharmacist. An 'interest' in both fields isn't going to cut it because then you're always going to wonder (while you're suffering through classes in one or the other) what the other one would have been like and whether it would be a better fit for you.

There are most definitely pros and cons for both types of degrees. You have to decide what you want out of your career and make a decision. Then, go for it! Nothing is worse than doctor who realizes after he's gotten his degree that he doesn't really like being a doctor but is forced to do it because he's spend $250,000 on his degree and 8 years of his life. Same with a pharmacist (except we don't spend quite so many years). So look at your options, and choose. You and your patients will be much happier 20 years down the road.

 

[srleslie]

In reality, I wouldn't apply for both. I would first sit down and think LONG and HARD about why you want to be a doctor, and why you want to be a pharmacist. An 'interest' in both fields isn't going to cut it because then you're always going to wonder (while you're suffering through classes in one or the other) what the other one would have been like and whether it would be a better fit for you.

There are most definitely pros and cons for both types of degrees. You have to decide what you want out of your career and make a decision. Then, go for it! Nothing is worse than doctor who realizes after he's gotten his degree that he doesn't really like being a doctor but is forced to do it because he's spend $250,000 on his degree and 8 years of his life. Same with a pharmacist (except we don't spend quite so many years). So look at your options, and choose. You and your patients will be much happier 20 years down the road.

I think a lot of it is a quality of life issue and that is one of the PROS when I look at pharmacy. The ability to work 3 12 hour shifts a week, for example, and still have a very comfortable living would be awesome, plus having time to do other things I'm interested in...horses, camping, fishing, hunting, rock climbing etc. And I would imagine that it is fairly easy to get a pharmacy job in a desireable part of the country. Whereas for a doctor, as a generalization, your life tends to be built around your practice. You have far less time to enjoy other pursuits. Not to mention if I went to med school, I wouldn't get out of residency until 34-35 and that is a long time living on bread and macaroni and cheese. I know I want a health-related profession and quality of life is something really important to me. I'm not completely sure yet if I want to go the med school route. That is a major investment in time and money. Pharmacy is too, but not quite on the same scale.

 

[sdn1977]

I think a lot of it is a quality of life issue and that is one of the PROS when I look at pharmacy. The ability to work 3 12 hour shifts a week, for example, and still have a very comfortable living would be awesome, plus having time to do other things I'm interested in...horses, camping, fishing, hunting, rock climbing etc. And I would imagine that it is fairly easy to get a pharmacy job in a desireable part of the country. Whereas for a doctor, as a generalization, your life tends to be built around your practice. You have far less time to enjoy other pursuits. Not to mention if I went to med school, I wouldn't get out of residency until 34-35 and that is a long time living on bread and macaroni and cheese. I know I want a health-related profession and quality of life is something really important to me. I'm not completely sure yet if I want to go the med school route. That is a major investment in time and money. Pharmacy is too, but not quite on the same scale.

Well - you're talking about a whole lot of things here. You're speaking about quality of life - your hobbies. You're also talking about the time it takes to complete school - your debt & time committment. You're also talking about a huge assumption of job possibilities (easy to get a job....but what job & what KIND of job??).

As Bingham said - you need to do some soulsearching. Is medicine right for you? Is pharmacy right for you? My daughter went the medschool route & was counseled very, very strongly to not apply to graduate school at the same institutions - or any other institutions. (Sadly, for me, pharmacy was never an option for her).

You've got to decide - what is your goal?

I've always stated here there really, really is a different mindset between a good physician & a good pharmacist. One is neither better nor worse than the other - I really believe this! I am married to a dentist, have a daughter who is 18 months from becoming a physician & I'm a really good pharmacist p) - and we all see things differently.

You need to look into who you are & what you like. The time & money is indeed a committment. But, honestly, if I had known how much money dentists spend, I'm not sure if I'd committ (just j/k - ). There really are differences in how we look at things & how happy we are with what we decide on doing for a livinig.

Our learning & educations is a journey - not an end. You will always continue to learn & spend money on learning. I don't make light of how much I spend on my daughter's medical school committments, but she does not stop camping, fishing, etc....just because she is a medical student. Nor did I as a pharmacy student or a pharmacist.

Good luck!