Should I go into Pharmacy?

[miranddv]

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Hi guys ,

I'm in serious need of some guidance about what to do with my life so maybe someone on here who has been in a similar position can help me out 🙁
I finished my Honours B.Sc. a year ago and I spent this past year working to pay off my student loan and doing prereqs I needed for U of T pharm (I was just accepted yesterday). For most of my undergrad I was set on going to medical school but in my third year I started to have major doubts about whether I was cut out for it and because I found pharmacy somewhat intriguing I decided to switch career paths and not even bother applying to med. I was so eager to move onto the next step in my career and I was confident that I could get into Pharmacy so I went for it head-first but now after reading forum after forum about the saturated job market I'm starting to think I wasted a whole year and wish I had chosen something else.

When I first started considering pharmacy school I went and shadowed a clinical pharmacist for a day. I could definitely see myself doing what she did. She seemed to love her job and expressed that she wished her daughter pursued the same career. Afterwards, I got a job at a small pharmacy which is where I've been working for the past year. So far I don't hate it but I also don't love it. I like that it’s not all that stressful (usually) and I enjoy interacting with patients but overall retail pharmacy is not all that intellectually stimulating. I look up to my manager a lot and although she once admitted to me that she doesn't really like pharmacy she also said that she doesn't really like anything else... which I can kind of relate to lol.

After doing a lot more research I now feel like it was just luck that brought me to pharmacists that have it good. From what I've read clinical pharmacy is incredibly competitive and being a pharmacy owner probably even more-so given that pharmacy chains have taken over. Today I spoke to another pharmacist who told me that if she was in my position she would go for dentistry instead because pharmacists go through just as much school for much ****tier pay.

I never considered dentistry or anything else for that matter until now. Recently, I’ve been looking into dentistry, physician assistant programs, optometry, masters programs and even law and it’s just made me realize that I have no idea what I want. I feel like I made such a naive, uninformed decision and because I already feel like I wasted a year the thought of taking another year to apply to something else doesn’t sound too great... But at the same time I don’t want to make a naive decision and go into a career that leaves me with enormous debt and ****ty pay 🙁

I have a 3.91 gpa and plenty of extra-curriculars so I could apply to a number of things but I don’t know what and even if I did, should I? Should I just accept my offer? I haven’t applied anywhere else... please help 🙁

 

[PharmtoCS]

I would look at IT, computer science, or engineering instead. These professions pay as well as pharmacy if not better, offer better job prospects, and do not require you to take out astronomical loans and spend an additional 4 years of your life in school. These also tend to offer 9-5 jobs whereas pharmacists have to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and overnights.

I am primarily speaking about most parts of the US and not familiar about your region of Canada although from what I heard, the job market there is undergoing similar struggles.

 

[BC_89]

LONG POST AHEAD

Hi guys ,

I'm in serious need of some guidance about what to do with my life so maybe someone on here who has been in a similar position can help me out 🙁
I finished my Honours B.Sc. at McMaster a year ago and I spent this past year working to pay off my student loan and doing two of the prereqs I needed for U of T pharm (I was just accepted yesterday). For most of my undergrad I was set on going to medical school but in my third year I started to have major doubts about whether I was cut out for it and because I found pharmacy somewhat intriguing I decided to switch career paths and not even bother applying to med. I was so eager to move onto the next step in my career and I was confident that I could get into Pharmacy so I went for it head-first but now after reading forum after forum about the saturated job market I'm starting to think I wasted a whole year and wish I had chosen something else.

When I first started considering pharmacy school I went and shadowed a clinical pharmacist for a day. I could definitely see myself doing what she did. She seemed to love her job and expressed that she wished her daughter pursued the same career. I talked to her about my initial interest in medical school and she advised me to think about work/life balance, especially if I wanted kids. She said that as a pharmacist she had far more flexibility than the physicians she worked with which allowed her more time for herself and her family. As a woman, I had already worried about this which only reassured me that pharmacy was a more suitable career for me.

Afterwards, I got a job at a small pharmacy which is where I've been working for the past year. So far I don't hate it but I also don't love it. I like that it’s not all that stressful (usually) and I enjoy interacting with patients but overall retail pharmacy is not all that intellectually stimulating. I look up to my manager a lot and although she once admitted to me that she doesn't really like pharmacy she also said that she doesn't really like anything else... which I can kind of relate to lol. Her and her husband each own their own pharmacies so she only works 3 days a week and they're hoping for their daughters to follow the same route which again lead me to believe that pharmacy was a desirable career.

After doing a lot more research I now feel like it was just luck that brought me to pharmacists that have it good. From what I've read clinical pharmacy is incredibly competitive and being a pharmacy owner probably even more-so given that pharmacy chains have taken over. Today I spoke to another pharmacist who told me that if she was in my position she would go for dentistry instead because pharmacists go through just as much school for much ****tier pay.

I never considered dentistry or anything else for that matter until now. Recently, I’ve been looking into dentistry, physician assistant programs, optometry, masters programs and even law and it’s just made me realize that I have no idea what I want. I feel like I made such a naive, uninformed decision and because I already feel like I wasted a year the thought of taking another year to apply to something else doesn’t sound too great... But at the same time I don’t want to make a naive decision and go into a career that leaves me with enormous debt and ****ty pay 🙁

I have a 3.91 gpa and plenty of extra-curriculars so I could apply to a number of things but I don’t know what and even if I did, should I? Should I just accept my offer? I haven’t applied anywhere else... please help 🙁

Retail is the more realistic job for the majority of graduates. Clinical is nice and doable, but even specializing is more of a niche-unicorn-career setting than the norm.

In long term of things, taking a year or 2 to figure out what you really want is nothing. Go shadow multiple health professions and continue working and saving while paying off some debt. It’s more important picking a right career the first time rather than waste years of study and debt to clock in to a job you hate.

That said, turn down pharmacy and explore your options.

 

[VictorOfHungerGames]

Didnt read sorry lol too long of a post BUT i think the question is, “should i go into pharmacy?”. My answer, and im sure most of current pharmacists will agree, simply DO NOT GET INTO PHARMACY. Not now, not ever!

 

[Weirdy]

You have a 3.91 gpa. Sky is the limit.

Take 1-2 years to figure out what you want from life so you don't waste 30 years later.

 

[GypsyHummus]

Go to MD school. Its the king of healthcare for a reason.

 

[DagS132]

"Should I go into pharmacy?"
Nah man. And don't look at those youtube videos telling you all you need is faith in god to get a job

 

[BC_89]

"Should I go into pharmacy?"
Nah man. And don't look at those youtube videos telling you all you need is faith in god to get a job

So I read your comment and thought "what??" I type "Pharmacy Worth It have Faith" on youtube and see some chick putting up a few posts saying just as you said.....

I learned something today

 

[The REAL Doc McStuffins]

LONG POST AHEAD

Hi guys ,

I'm in serious need of some guidance about what to do with my life so maybe someone on here who has been in a similar position can help me out 🙁
I finished my Honours B.Sc. at McMaster a year ago and I spent this past year working to pay off my student loan and doing two of the prereqs I needed for U of T pharm (I was just accepted yesterday). For most of my undergrad I was set on going to medical school but in my third year I started to have major doubts about whether I was cut out for it and because I found pharmacy somewhat intriguing I decided to switch career paths and not even bother applying to med. I was so eager to move onto the next step in my career and I was confident that I could get into Pharmacy so I went for it head-first but now after reading forum after forum about the saturated job market I'm starting to think I wasted a whole year and wish I had chosen something else.

When I first started considering pharmacy school I went and shadowed a clinical pharmacist for a day. I could definitely see myself doing what she did. She seemed to love her job and expressed that she wished her daughter pursued the same career. I talked to her about my initial interest in medical school and she advised me to think about work/life balance, especially if I wanted kids. She said that as a pharmacist she had far more flexibility than the physicians she worked with which allowed her more time for herself and her family. As a woman, I had already worried about this which only reassured me that pharmacy was a more suitable career for me.

Afterwards, I got a job at a small pharmacy which is where I've been working for the past year. So far I don't hate it but I also don't love it. I like that it’s not all that stressful (usually) and I enjoy interacting with patients but overall retail pharmacy is not all that intellectually stimulating. I look up to my manager a lot and although she once admitted to me that she doesn't really like pharmacy she also said that she doesn't really like anything else... which I can kind of relate to lol. Her and her husband each own their own pharmacies so she only works 3 days a week and they're hoping for their daughters to follow the same route which again lead me to believe that pharmacy was a desirable career.

After doing a lot more research I now feel like it was just luck that brought me to pharmacists that have it good. From what I've read clinical pharmacy is incredibly competitive and being a pharmacy owner probably even more-so given that pharmacy chains have taken over. Today I spoke to another pharmacist who told me that if she was in my position she would go for dentistry instead because pharmacists go through just as much school for much ****tier pay.

I never considered dentistry or anything else for that matter until now. Recently, I’ve been looking into dentistry, physician assistant programs, optometry, masters programs and even law and it’s just made me realize that I have no idea what I want. I feel like I made such a naive, uninformed decision and because I already feel like I wasted a year the thought of taking another year to apply to something else doesn’t sound too great... But at the same time I don’t want to make a naive decision and go into a career that leaves me with enormous debt and ****ty pay 🙁

I have a 3.91 gpa and plenty of extra-curriculars so I could apply to a number of things but I don’t know what and even if I did, should I? Should I just accept my offer? I haven’t applied anywhere else... please help 🙁

I don’t recommend pharmacy school. I know so many people who are struggling to find jobs :/ Don’t do it

 

[Xenophylia]

The things you fear the most- huge student loans and no job- will be exactly what you wind up with if you go pharmacy. Honestly I would avoid health care all together. Even the future of the MD isn't certain anymore with hospitals cutting costs and hiring more midlevels to replace them. There simply are no sure bets in healthcare anymore, and pharmacy is probably among the WORST at the moment and it could be decades till it improves, if ever. As of right now, it's pretty much a dead profession, and I wouldn't wish a career in retail on my worst enemy....

 

[DagS132]

So I read your comment and thought "what??" I type "Pharmacy Worth It have Faith" on youtube and see some chick putting up a few posts saying just as you said.....

I learned something today

Unfortunately there are several videos like this. I have even seen ones where the pharmacy students tell you to forget statistics and just go into pharmacy, everyone will get a job. Except I typed in "Pharmacy Saturation" into youtube to get these videos.

 

[King2440]

No

 

[PharmtoCS]

If I have faith that I win the lottery next week does that mean I will win?

 

[El Trombopag]

I advised my nephew to avoid it, for what that’s worth.
I’ve been working in hospital for 8 years now, have a pretty cushy part time clinical job. I lived like a student after graduating and got my loans paid off in 4 years. It’s reasonably fulfilling I’d say, probably about as good of a pharmacy job as I could hope for. Still, I’m looking for my exit strategy.

I don’t know a single pharmacist (coworker or classmate) who truly loves their job.

 

[DagS132]

If I have faith that I win the lottery next week does that mean I will win?

If you ignore the statistics on winning, yes. Anything is possible with just some faith

 

[rx2010]

If I were you, I would not go into pharmacy. Even if you like clinical pharmacy, you aren't guaranteed you would end up as a clinical pharmacist. There are so many pharmacy schools right now, trying to match with a good residency program is very competitive. I personally know a new grad whose passion was to become a clinical pharmacist, but she was not able to match with a residency program she wanted. Now she's got an offer with WAGs for 32 hours a week at a very high turnover store.

I'm not saying you won't be able to become a clinical pharmacist, but just know that you might end up in retail if you can't match with a residency program and if you only like clinical pharmacy, you might end up hating your career if you can't get a residency. Even if you get a residency, you still might not be able to find a job as a clinical pharmacist since the pharmacy profession is already saturated and is only gonna get worse.

 

[mentos]

OP, have you checked the Job Market thread lately? Top two trending topics right now are:

Unable to find any pharmacist job
Driving Uber

 

[miranddv]

Thank you for all your feedback everyone. Everyone seems to agree so I've decided to reject my offer... now time to figure out what to do next 🙁

 

[miranddv]

Go to MD school. Its the king of healthcare for a reason.

I have considered going back to this but I have no clue who I would go to for reference letters... I'm so shy that I never once made myself known to any of my profs. I also have zero research experience.... I really don't think I'm cut out for it

 

[GypsyHummus]

Start working in a clinic. Find out if there is anything in healthcare that you like.

You have a 3.9 GPA. I’m sure there are profs who remember you. I used profs I had from the last semester I had that way I’d be fresh in their mind.

Even if you don’t want to practice with patients, there are still a range of options available to you with the MD degree. You can go into pathology, or radiology.

I have considered going back to this but I have no clue who I would go to for reference letters... I'm so shy that I never once made myself known to any of my profs. I also have zero research experience.... I really don't think I'm cut out for it

 

[TimeZero]

Rejecting the U of T offer was the correct decision. As others have stated, taking time to figure things out now far outweighs wasting another 4-6 years (if you factor in pharmacy residency) in the classroom and a subsequent 30 years of diminishing returns.

My advice would be to get back on the provider track. Whether this be mid-level or as a physician, you'll have to figure that out. Both are and will continue to be the pinnacle of frontline healthcare.

I wouldn't worry about the lack of family flexibility. There are plenty of physicians and mid-levels who have families. Don't underestimate your ability to adapt.