Some questions, and asking for advice

[Jhiend]

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Hi all,
I'm an undergraduate student who'll be getting a BA (Biology major) this winter. I'm in the middle of finding out exactly what I want to do next year. Pharmacy school is one of my options, and I'd like to find out a few more things from people here. I've lurked here for a bit and have seen some very useful information coming from not only Prepharms and current PharmD students but also currently practicing pharmacists.

1. What are the classes like? Am I correct that it seems like a lot of memorization of drugs, drug features, and interactions within the body? I'm not worried about memorization by itself, but memorized facts in my brain tend to have a half-life of about a month or less (i.e. I'm one of those people who forget after a test). For example, when I took organic chemistry, I could sit down and memorize each reaction and then during the test, figure out how to synthesize molecule A given molecule B. Now, if you ask me to do that again, I'd probably have to do it all over again.

2. How much of a people person are you? Is pharmacy a job for extroverts?

3. How did you find out pharmacy was for you? When you first tried working in a pharmacy, what expectations about pharmacy were changed, and what did you learn?

4. From reading about pharmacy and pharmacology, pharmacogenomics has interested me the most so far. Is it still being researched, that is, something only the pharmacology PhDs do? Or are there ways that PharmD's are already incorporating into their work?

Some notes:
- I'm aware that experience is good. I know that I should try walking in a retail store with a pharmacy section or a hospital, ask if I can volunteer. I just need to work up the nerve to do it. I've never worked in a retail setting before.

-I'm an international student on a student visa, so I cannot easily take one year off to work/volunteer and gain experience before I start applying. (I suppose it's possible, but it probably needs some dangerous visa juggling).

-I do have about half a year free during Spring 2005, due to my graduating in winter.

-My other plans: MS in microbiology, or work in a research setting. For a while the job of med lab tech seemed attractive, but then I've read that it was monotonous and pays little for the amount work/studying required.

I would be grateful if you can answer any of these questions and say anything else you think might be helpful. Even if you decide that I don't sound cut out to be pharmacist please answer anyway, because I'm curious.

 

[28657]

Welcome Jheind! Here's some answers to a few of your questions.

1. While a lot of pharm school thus far has been memorization, it is key to be able to connect all of the memorized pieces of knowledge together. At MWU-CPG you're exposed to the same topics all of the time, which helps with retention. Don't feel bad that you can't remember O-chem. I'd bet good money you couldn't find 10% of current pharm students that could do organic chemistry reactions. The first week of school we had an O-chem refresher course with a test, and let's just say that not very many people did well on the test.

2. Hmm, it depends on the situation if I'm an introvert or extrovert. Pharmacy isn't necessarily a job for extroverts, it's just necessary that the pharmacist is able to convey information to patients. I'd say it's more important to realize what kind of people you absolutely could not work with - i.e. do you like old people (having to repeat the same information 10 times to Alzheimers patients)? do you like non-English speakers (trying to play charades to explain how to the patient how to take their meds)? do you like rich-snooty folk (A classmate works at a Scottsdale pharmacy that Randy Johnson (AZ Diamondbacks) frequents and says he is the biggest pr**k imaginable)?

4. Pharmacogenomics really interests me too. Unfortunately, it's so new right now that, as a pharmacist, I don't think it's really possible to get a job associated with it. Here's an interesting article and another article.

It's refreshing to get some real questions from pre-pharms. Great job jheind!!!! 👍

 

[jdpharmd?]

My input:

Pharmacogenomics is quite far off. There is really no program even setup to prepare students for the field. A few PhDs might be doing some research, but nothing is mainstream for a while. (I'm a 2nd year pharmD student, my father is a genetics PhD)

A MS in micro is like nothing at all. Expect pay to be pretty lousy until at least a PhD.

There is plenty of room for extroverts in pharmacy. Community pharmacy takes a "people person", and there are several oppertunities in teaching or lecturing to the public or physicians.

The number one thing that I've learned while working in retail is "people DO care about the cost, A LOT". The number two thing is that no matter how easy something sounds, it's not. You will be surprised at the complexity of the public's (and doctor's) questions, DAILY. Think there aren't a lot of different drugs? Think again. 🙂

Bottom line: No regrets about choosing pharmacy. School is interesting, the job is flexable and fun, and it pays quite well. 👍

 

[Jhiend]

Thanks for your replies! They were informative and I appreciate them.

AmandaRxs: Those articles were an interesting read (the author of the second one seems to have a love affair with the word "concomitant", though 😉 )

jhpharmd: I actually am an introvert, and probably was trying to ask "does pharmacy require extroversion?" Sorry for not being clear.