Sooooo Confused right now

[Gstead]

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Well before I was sure that I wanted to be a dentist, but then I realized the amount of work, dedication, and sacrifice that it involves. Plus i've been hearing about how stressful dentistry is and thought about the career of being a pharmacist. Can you tell me pros and cons of pharmacist and their lifestyle?

 

[themulya]

...

Read your post before you start a thread. I don't know if you were trying to be rude or not, but you don't think becoming a pharmacist requires work, dedication, and sacrifice? You haven't even started college yet, how are you already scared by dentistry?

I read in your dental post that you're just starting college. Use the resources that your college will provide. It's time to get proactive. Do some research into both fields. Look into joining the pre pharm or pre dent groups, make use of the career center, maybe talk to your advisor. Spend time shadowing a dentist or pharmacist.

Lucky for you, you have the big advantage of time. In your first year, you will be taking basic science courses that both programs require. Use this time to really find out what you want to do with your life and then schedule the rest of your college career to the path you desire.

What you shouldn't be doing is deciding your career by posting on these forums. Find the answer yourself. If later you do decide to do pharmacy as your career, and you have a question along the way come back and ask, but right now, I cant give you an answer.

Just some basic info on pharmacy, but you should try and find more info for yourself.
FAQ
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=198059

 

[crazybob]

Pros

• You are well respected in the community (usually) for being a pharmacist
• You are a drug expert and people will ask you all kinds of questions about medications instead of asking their doctors
• You work regular hours and have a good income, and don't have to come in for emergencies (usually)

Cons

• You have to deal with problems that come up with insurance companies when patients have co-pays for their medications
• You have to call the doctors offices for any mistakes in prescriptions and sometimes no one answers
• You have to constantly watch out for any mistakes that your interns and technicians make. If you don't, then any mistake that goes through is the pharmacist's fault, and they can go to jail.
• You have to pretty much stand on your feet all day working in a relatively small space for eight hours
• You have to constantly keep up with medications and watch out for people using fake prescriptions because they are drug addicts
• Some patients will get frustrated because they think you're taking too long filling a prescription

 

[delano2000]

...

Read your post before you start a thread. I don't know if you were trying to be rude or not, but you don't think becoming a pharmacist requires work, dedication, and sacrifice? You haven't even started college yet, how are you already scared by dentistry?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=198059

That was the same thing I was thinking when I was reading this. Nothing within the health care field will be easy and/or require less effort especially since you will be dealing with people's lives unless you are working as the assistants (i.e dentist assistant, medical assistant, pharmacy techs) and even then you are still required to do your job well to limit errors.

 

[BugsNDrugs]

Well before I was sure that I wanted to be a dentist, but then I realized the amount of work, dedication, and sacrifice that it involves. Plus i've been hearing about how stressful dentistry is and thought about the career of being a pharmacist. Can you tell me pros and cons of pharmacist and their lifestyle?

Like others have already said, pharmacy is not an "easy out" alternative to med school. It requires a lifelong commitment to education and your practice. I am in my last week of finals of pharmacy school and it has been a long, hard ride. I really enjoy pharmacy and the profession interests me a lot. Go shadow a pharmacist and see what it like first hand. Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[Passion4Sci]

What is it with these high school/frosh college people lately...

 

[busyizzy]

What is it with these high school/frosh college people lately...

They said it themselves ... they want to work minimally, dedicate themselves to nothing, and sacrifice nothing. Adds up to ... too lazy to search on google.

 

[delano2000]

They said it themselves ... they don't want to work minimally, dedicate themselves to nothing, and sacrifice nothing. Adds up to ... too lazy to search on google.

 

[fenderbiz]

Unfortunately, this how most people are: "What job has the lowest school:salary ratio?" It's logical from a monetary standpoint, but obviously it means that there will be tons of people doing jobs that they really don't care about. I've had plenty of nurses tell me NOT to become a nurse and plenty of pharmacists tell me NOT to become a pharmacist. You get disgruntled people in every profession. Do what you like.

 

[Sparda29]

Unfortunately, this how most people are: "What job has the lowest school:salary ratio?" It's logical from a monetary standpoint, but obviously it means that there will be tons of people doing jobs that they really don't care about. I've had plenty of nurses tell me NOT to become a nurse and plenty of pharmacists tell me NOT to become a pharmacist. You get disgruntled people in every profession. Do what you like.

Yep, my boss told me I'd be better off in medical school because I have a tendency of doing things my own way rather than following orders.

 

[jmcfa002]

Fall is starting, thats why
I was the same way when I started college, why phrase was "What degree can I get in 4 years and make $100K our the door" ...lol, that is very difficult to do

 

[Passion4Sci]

Fall is starting, thats why
I was the same way when I started college, why phrase was "What degree can I get in 4 years and make $100K our the door" ...lol, that is very difficult to do

Biotech is pretty good for that, but you gotta work your balls off for the six fig.

 

[Tinkerbell22]

I can understand why it is offensive when other people seem to imply that the path to pharmacy school and beyond is somehow "easier" than medical or dental school. I don't really mind it because a lot of new college students are just that way, they're not really experienced, and they haven't figured out what they want to do yet. I hate using the word "immature" but I will say that I believe most students gain A LOT of maturity during their 4 years of undergrad. Not that I disagree with going to pharmacy school after 2 years of college, but I think we have a lot to gain and learn by each year we are out of the high school world.

As far as deciding what you want to do... you just need to research and get involved. Shadow a dentist, volunteer in a pharmacy, join a pre-dental or pre-pharmacy club, research schools, and talk to people in both professions. The more you know the better decision you can make. I thought I wanted to go to dental school at one point too, but once I learned more and more about pharmacy I knew it was what I wanted to do and I was much, much happier. You will know once you find the right thing for you. If you are unsure, or skeptical, or anxious, then maybe you should consider learning about another career. Once I figured out that I wanted to go to pharmacy school I became so much more excited about my classes, studying for the PCAT, volunteering, everything. Just remember that it shouldn't be about what's easier or what pays more. I know that sounds obvious and cliche, but it's true. If you're not doing something you enjoy it will be torture and never worth it.

 

[dn298890]

Pros: they just count pills
Cons: they have whole lot more of knowledge, amount of work, dedication and sacrifice than u think

so guess what..if you are up for easy life and big money, go for lottery

 

[Lo|a]

some people think pharmacy is a easy job that brings in good money. i work in a very busy pharmacy in the center of a busy metro area and boy I can honestly say that people don't give pharmacists the credit that they deserve.