Thoughts form a 2007 Graduate

[Its Z]

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Indeed class of 2007 pharmacists are special. They are formed of thoughts.
👍

 

[StevePerry]

I am sure it is more competitive today but it was pretty competitive when I was looking for a position especially since I did not do a residency. I did not accept any of the retail offers and virtually all of the positions were gone by then. It was a gamble. I may have gotten lucky but determination (some say stubborn) was the key.

Yeah, but you are in OC right? Hasn't it been packed there since at least 2007 if not before? I think that was one of the first areas of the country to really get saturated...

 

[PharmDstudent]

lol!

I don't know. I used to push myself to tears with school, work and living on the poverty line, and now that it's all over, I don't really feel like what I'm doing is a challenge. Work can be more of a nuisance than a challenge.

I could always go back and become an accountant, translator or artist...

 

[pfaction]

I just don't WANT to be an MD. I realize they get more respect but they also put in a million more hours and the pressure sounds intense. Just because you *can* do something doesn't mean you should.

I don't give a flying f about respect. I'm used to getting none and I've always made it a point to never try and have an ego and readily admit when I am wrong. Maybe I am confusing this for humility but I tend to think that when a profession has a lot of "respect" ego follows.

I'm doing this for my pathophysio cravings.

 

[PharmaTope]

Indeed class of 2007 pharmacists are special. They are formed of thoughts.
👍

Billionaire pharmacist
Supermodel girlfriends
private jets
300,000 dollar sports cars
Manly good looks
over 6 feet tall
full head of hair
4% bodyfat
150+ IQ

 

[aabdraff57]

Billionaire pharmacist
Supermodel girlfriends
private jets
300,000 dollar sports cars
Manly good looks
over 6 feet tall
full head of hair
4% bodyfat
150+ IQ

sounds like a fictional character from a TV series or a movie depicting a pharmacist as the main character. Wait, there isn't ANY movie or TV series that has that. Go figure.

 

[PharmaTope]

sounds like a fictional character from a TV series or a movie depicting a pharmacist as the main character. Wait, there isn't ANY movie or TV series that has that. Go figure.

that's weird, I thought that was "Its Z" on these forums.

 

[Ackj]

Billionaire pharmacist
Supermodel girlfriends
private jets
300,000 dollar sports cars
Manly good looks
over 6 feet tall
full head of hair
4% bodyfat
150+ IQ

Eh, I'm content with having nearly 4 of those.

 

[Ackj]

I don't know. I used to push myself to tears with school, work and living on the poverty line, and now that it's all over, I don't really feel like what I'm doing is a challenge. Work can be more of a nuisance than a challenge.

I could always go back and become an accountant, translator or artist...

I saw a job ad today, it offered medical/dental insurance, 401k, student loan reimbursement, free CE, and even commission. Job was for Hairstylist/Cosmetologist.

 

[PharmaTope]

I saw a job ad today, it offered medical/dental insurance, 401k, student loan reimbursement, free CE, and even commission. Job was for Hairstylist/Cosmetologist.

you can make more than a pharmacist as a hair stylist (srs)

plus you dont have to deal saturation. you cut good hair, people follow you. you leave your job and go elsewhere, people follow you. no crazy regulations for buying shampoo and storing it either

 

[pharmschooler]

you can make more than a pharmacist as a hair stylist (srs)

plus you dont have to deal saturation. you cut good hair, people follow you. you leave your job and go elsewhere, people follow you. no crazy regulations for buying shampoo and storing it either

Get on that gravy train!

 

[PharmDstudent]

I saw a job ad today, it offered medical/dental insurance, 401k, student loan reimbursement, free CE, and even commission. Job was for Hairstylist/Cosmetologist.

I couldn't do that. Yuck!

 

[CUpharmD2013]

you can make more than a pharmacist as a hair stylist (srs)

plus you dont have to deal saturation. you cut good hair, people follow you. you leave your job and go elsewhere, people follow you. no crazy regulations for buying shampoo and storing it either

Yeah, my friend (who is also my hair stylist) makes almost $200k and this is in a college town, not a large metro area.

 

[PharmaTope]

Yeah, my friend (who is also my hair stylist) makes almost $200k and this is in a college town, not a large metro area.

all my friends who do hair make over 100 a year. they get percentage of product they sell in addiction to haircuts. they rent the chair at the salon and that is it. they bring in their own customers. it is pretty good

 

[lorain]

they are other ways to make money as some have said b4

i mean heck, i have buddies who make 100K+ running a gas/convenience store: they make no profit on the gas, but the markups on the goodies in the store are just ridicolous

but all these anecdotal stories dont really help the average pharmacist in training. its hard to stop and go try something else with all the loans and stuff

 

[Tinkerbell22]

I saw a job ad today, it offered medical/dental insurance, 401k, student loan reimbursement, free CE, and even commission. Job was for Hairstylist/Cosmetologist.

I'm sure they do pay for loan reimbursement considering it is possible to become licensed for free or nearly free. My high school had a cosmetology program (hair, nails or both) for students to take as electives and become fully certified to work. Sure you can go to a state pharmacy school with some kind of a scholarship, but I don't think the cost of education even compares.

I did the nail program in high school and I hated actually doing nails. In regards to hair/nails in general... the smell/fumes are terrible, it is also physically demanding (like retail) to be on your feet and moving around in certain ways (hunching over to do feet, etc)... you have to touch feet!... your work is pretty subjective, and people love to complain about their appearances if it was not what they had envisioned. You may not have to worry about (many) regulations regarding purchasing and storing shampoo, but I would honestly rather deal with DEA and keeping a perpetual inventory than worrying if my implements were properly sanitized after a customer turns out to have had staph, lice, ringworm, nail fungus, etc, and/or spreading it to another person.

Some people are very good at it and seem to love their jobs, but I don't think it's for everyone, just because it might look like a sweet deal on the outside.

I couldn't do that. Yuck!

Exactly.

 

[Passion4Sci]

For every one hair stylist making $100k, there are 5,000 of them at Great Clips, SuperCuts and all the rest making $13/hr.

When I wanted to go into baking/culinary arts seriously, I had everyone telling me how much money I'd make when I opened my own pastry shop. Sure, maybe I would, but I'd be the exception, not the rule. Same deal with all the "friends" that make over $100k a year cutting hair.

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

For every one hair stylist making $100k, there are 5,000 of them at Great Clips, SuperCuts and all the rest making $13/hr.

When I wanted to go into baking/culinary arts seriously, I had everyone telling me how much money I'd make when I opened my own pastry shop. Sure, maybe I would, but I'd be the exception, not the rule. Same deal with all the "friends" that make over $100k a year cutting hair.

Yep

 

[rxlea]

For every one hair stylist making $100k, there are 5,000 of them at Great Clips, SuperCuts and all the rest making $13/hr.

When I wanted to go into baking/culinary arts seriously, I had everyone telling me how much money I'd make when I opened my own pastry shop. Sure, maybe I would, but I'd be the exception, not the rule. Same deal with all the "friends" that make over $100k a year cutting hair.

You could be doing this...

 

[joetrisman]

You could be doing this...

More vaca photos from Switzerland? You are one lucky gal 👍

 

[PharmaTope]

For every one hair stylist making $100k, there are 5,000 of them at Great Clips, SuperCuts and all the rest making $13/hr.

When I wanted to go into baking/culinary arts seriously, I had everyone telling me how much money I'd make when I opened my own pastry shop. Sure, maybe I would, but I'd be the exception, not the rule. Same deal with all the "friends" that make over $100k a year cutting hair.

difference is you can be GOOD at being a hairstylist then charge whatever you want.

you can be GOOD at being a pharmacist and cannot charge whatever you want.

id recommend being a plumber or some other trade over pharmacy. those allow you to build your own business and work hard to produce more. pharmacy does not allow that.

 

[spacecowgirl]

id recommend being a plumber or some other trade over pharmacy. those allow you to build your own business and work hard to produce more. pharmacy does not allow that.

Then you can get your own health insurance, your own retirement fund, your own disability insurance. All factors to consider...

 

[PharmaTope]

Then you can get your own health insurance, your own retirement fund, your own disability insurance. All factors to consider...

lol @ retirement fund

 

[Old Timer]

difference is you can be GOOD at being a hairstylist then charge whatever you want.

you can be GOOD at being a pharmacist and cannot charge whatever you want.

id recommend being a plumber or some other trade over pharmacy. those allow you to build your own business and work hard to produce more. pharmacy does not allow that.

Do you have any semblance of being in touch with reality? What makes you think owning your own pharmacy is any different than owning your own plumbing business? You are the same guy that thinks $1.00 for test of your blood sugar in your home in less than a minute is a complete rip off. Are you 12? You live in alternate universe. I suggest you go to plumbing school.

 

[jasonkido]

difference is you can be GOOD at being a hairstylist then charge whatever you want.

you can be GOOD at being a pharmacist and cannot charge whatever you want.

id recommend being a plumber or some other trade over pharmacy. those allow you to build your own business and work hard to produce more. pharmacy does not allow that.

What is your classification because if you're pre-pharm then I suggest you do as old timer says and go to plumbing school before its too late.

 

[spacecowgirl]

lol @ retirement fund

Ok, I'll LOL at the thousands of dollars my employer contributes to my 403b every year.

 

[rxlea]

 

[gotdrugs]

difference is you can be GOOD at being a hairstylist then charge whatever you want.

you can be GOOD at being a pharmacist and cannot charge whatever you want.

id recommend being a plumber or some other trade over pharmacy. those allow you to build your own business and work hard to produce more. pharmacy does not allow that.

you're funny.

 

[futureMTMspecs]

pardon me, I can't spell too!Instead of complaining about how the Pharmacy Organizations act on trying to save our profession, Why not start the rally from this forum? Heck we can probably do better in a larger scale.

 

[PharmaTope]

Ok, I'll LOL at the thousands of dollars my employer contributes to my 403b every year.

and this investment is yielding you what %?

 

[Old Timer]

and this investment is yielding you what %?

100%. She puts in 5K and her employer puts in 5K. That's 100%. Please go directly to plumbing school, do not pass go, do not collect $200.00

 

[spacecowgirl]

100%. She puts in 5K and her employer puts in 5K. That's 100%. Please go directly to plumbing school, do not pass go, do not collect $200.00

👍 Exactly.

And it's even slightly better than that since it is yielding an additional 5% in this economic depression.

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

👍 Exactly.

And it's even slightly better than that since it is yielding an additional 5% in this economic depression.

Even better when the employer puts in 5% and I do not have to put in anything.👍

 

[rxlea]

More vaca photos from Switzerland? You are one lucky gal 👍

Yep. That photo was taken on Bastille Day at a picnic with live music in Voltaire, France... in front of Voltaire's chateau 🙂

 

[WVUPharm2007]

To further drive home this point. If you don't invest up to the point at which your employer matches, you are an idiot. It is literally free money. Lots of free money. Let's say it's a $6,000 match. Even if the 401k does jack and yields 0% back...over a 30 year career, that's still $180,000 in free money. If fact, even if it loses 49.9999% of its value, you still come out ahead. (Less inflation and taxes in the future, blah blah blah)

 

[spacecowgirl]

^^^That. If you can't learn to live on whatever your pay is minus company match, you have a problem (not just pharmacists but anyone that isn't saving for retirement!).

I also know my employer pays about 2/3 of my health insurance costs, so add that in. Plus they pay for life insurance and short term disability which was quite handy last year when I was ill.

PharmaTope's rich plumbers and stylists better have AFLAC.

 

[PegIntron]

In regards to 401 k, I recently got an offer of matching $4 k for the first $5 k. Has anyone negotiated on the match? How did you do it? I am thinking about asking matching $5 k for the first $5 k.

 

[xiphoid2010]

In regards to 401 k, I recently got an offer of matching $4 k for the first $5 k. Has anyone negotiated on the match? How did you do it? I am thinking about asking matching $5 k for the first $5 k.

You can try, but $4k match on $5k contribution (80% match) doesnt leave much for you to complain about.

If it was me, I wouldn't counter on an item that's pretty decent, due to lack of good reasons and especially just for a measly $1k difference. Rather I would find something else that's subpar compared to the industry standard, or something that you could explain why it would matter a lot to you personally and could potentially benefit the company (eg. Company contribution on the down payment or mortgage/ help you become a more tied down employee).

 

[willrocks]

Pharmacists are cashiers who get paid to sell stuff, that is not going to change. You don't have any respect from anyone else in the healthcare industry.
good luck

You take the time to write an opinion, hoping people you do not know will listen to you, but toss in a line like that. Here is my opinion: you are an idiot.

 

[Doctor M]

did you go to school in Florida too? you're originally from up north right?

I went to school at the University at Buffalo in NY and i lived in NY from age 12 up to when i graduated in 2004.

 

[Trent Steele]

As much as I hate to say it, OP is dead on. Totally agree that you should change majors if going into pharmacy now. Prepharmers need to RUN away from getting a pharmD. APhA has no backbone whatsoever and is doing nothing to stop this bubble from bursting with the recent explosion of pharmD programs.

Price of education is ridiculous, esp with all the new schools opening up and charging insane tuition. With the saturated market, how the heck is a newbie fresh out of school supposed to get work when there are those with much more experience in every given field of pharmacy than them? And a noob from an unaccredited school? Forget about it. The sad thing is that people will pay the redic cost, and likely graduate from a low tier school regardless making it all the more difficult to get a job.

So most say do residency and get clinical experience crammed into one year so you are qualified. Residency will be impossible for these students at start up schools, surely directors will want those from proven programs. I feel like as long as you went to a proven college and have a personality, you should be able to match. The great majority of my former classmates matched and the rest scrambled and got jobs. This would not be the case for the startups.

OP your spelling is definitely horrific you certainly weren't lying about that. Sadly, you spell like a 14 year old writing a twitter post, which is pretty unbecoming considering you have doctorate level education. But I digress, good opinion post. Sad but true.

 

[VCU07]

As much as I hate to say it, OP is dead on. Totally agree that you should change majors if going into pharmacy now. Prepharmers need to RUN away from getting a pharmD. APhA has no backbone whatsoever and is doing nothing to stop this bubble from bursting with the recent explosion of pharmD programs.

Price of education is ridiculous, esp with all the new schools opening up and charging insane tuition. With the saturated market, how the heck is a newbie fresh out of school supposed to get work when there are those with much more experience in every given field of pharmacy than them? And a noob from an unaccredited school? Forget about it. The sad thing is that people will pay the redic cost, and likely graduate from a low tier school regardless making it all the more difficult to get a job.

So most say do residency and get clinical experience crammed into one year so you are qualified. Residency will be impossible for these students at start up schools, surely directors will want those from proven programs. I feel like as long as you went to a proven college and have a personality, you should be able to match. The great majority of my former classmates matched and the rest scrambled and got jobs. This would not be the case for the startups.

OP your spelling is definitely horrific you certainly weren't lying about that. Sadly, you spell like a 14 year old writing a twitter post, which is pretty unbecoming considering you have doctorate level education. But I digress, good opinion post. Sad but true.

I, too, am a 2007 grad. I consistently tell students to stay away from pharmacy, especially with the way things are headed today. I agree with the OPs post and agree that its a sad reality, but one that we are faced with. What benefits pharmacy had back a few years ago are now gone, most likely for good. New schools are going to oversaturate an already poor market and there will come a breaking point where people will have to leave the profession in order to find work. Alright, I've bitched enough.

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

I, too, am a 2007 grad. I consistently tell students to stay away from pharmacy, especially with the way things are headed today. I agree with the OPs post and agree that its a sad reality, but one that we are faced with. What benefits pharmacy had back a few years ago are now gone, most likely for good. New schools are going to oversaturate an already poor market and there will come a breaking point where people will have to leave the profession in order to find work. Alright, I've bitched enough.

I do not strictly tell students to stay away but when I am asked, I make sure students are aware of the saturation, residency requirements for almost everything outside of retail, retail working conditions and the uncertainty of the future for retail folks. But also would let them know how much I love the hospital I work at, the daily clinical challenges, the quality of life and the nice paycheck/benefits.

 

[lorain]

I do not strictly tell students to stay away but when I am asked, I make sure students are aware of the saturation, residency requirements for almost everything outside of retail, retail working conditions and the uncertainty of the future for retail folks. But also would let them know how much I love the hospital I work at, the daily clinical challenges, the quality of life and the nice paycheck/benefits.

yea you need the passion for it and the willingess to work hard

residency imo is becoming very important to do

 

[babybull]

true, the only things americans are willing to pay for are:

lottery tickets
weed
alcohol
clubs/sporting events/clothing
other illegal drugs
cars

thats about it. figure out a way to get into any of those markets and you will be ok

you forgot sex.

 

[YoungEel]

The OP has some valid points. There are definitely more who, more or less, feel the same.

 

[lorain]

if youre willing to move, you should be able to still find work in the next couple years

after that, unless the economy picks up real fast and companies expand faster, its going to get real tough

 

[jinga]

If you love pharmacy...if you enjoy chemistry...if you need to help people (with their health)...if you even enjoy retail...

If you like hospital work as well...play the guitar like a mother****ing riot, sing like a bluebird, shred like a son of a gun, have major...insane...hopes and dreams for your pharmacist career even though so many are naysaying the profession...

If you think you can blaze your own path because you have absolutely NOTHING in common with your pharmacy comrades.

Choose pharmacy.

Otherwise, as Creighton's COP (which I chose not to attend, due to its insane tuition) advised during their interview process "there are much easier ways to make more money in a shorter period of time than pharmacy."

otherwise...go do something else. I don't know what that would be right now, though.

It's not like pharmacy is DEAD. Just don't do it if you don't like it. Why would you? For pete's sake, why would anyone borrow 100+ grand for college for something they weren't passionate about??

Would I borrow 100 grand to study quilting? Heck no, man!!! Quilting is boring and lame and gives people arthritis!

Now, open your soul, listen to this song, and quit whining like pansies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF2ZqlPNuqU

 

[buff100782]

I tried to offer my advice. Those of you who listen will live a happy and long life. For those of you who think I'm crazy, we'll just have to wait and see.

I had a student who just graduated in May and he said whatever advice I gave him was jaded and he thinks that I'm crazy. He floated into my store last week and I asked him how things were going. He said "I kinda hate it. It's nothing like it was when I was a student. When I was a student, I had time to counsel, but now that I'm the only pharmacist, if I take the time to talk to one person, I'm backed up the whole day." In addition to telling me this, my manager told me that she couldn't believe how his attidute towards pharmacy had changed in 2 months. Oh well, I tried to warn him as I did all of you.

I am closing on the pharmacy that I am purchasing in less than a month so I can no longer afford to talk people out of pharmacy. I need as many pharmacists as possible to drive the hourly rate of pharmacists down.

I met personally with the loan officers from the bank last week. They said, "It is a great, great time to be an owner. It's going to be a bad, bad time to be an employee." They told me an owner in Boston had let an older pharmacist go and hired a new grad for $16 less per hour. Where I am located, salaries have already dropped $8 from last years rate and they will continue to drop due the fact that a new pharmacy school just graduated their first class this year.

Therefore, in 5 years I am planning on hireing a pharmacist for around $38 per hour. I'd like to see that price drop to $30. People will work for that because their will be no jobs and you kids are 200K in debt. At least I guarantee a great work environment and happyness for that $30 per hour.

For those of you who listened to me and are changing your major, congrats! I am truely happy for you. For those of who didn't listen to me, you are TRUELY pharmacists, no spine, no backbone, you will be the doormat of the medical profession. The chains and big business take advantage of you because of your clinical knowledge and skills and your willingness to be treated like ****. I am one of the people smart enought to capitolize on this.

From now on, all my posts will be about how great pharmacy is. If you want to shred this post, please do. I'm sorry if this is too truthful. In my opinion, your teachers and preceptors are not truthful to you. I know this isn't surgar coated at all but I want you guys to think! Don't be a sheep! You are a pharmacist, you can go toe to toe with any medical professional regarding medication and ****. Do not let them lock you in a cage and make you babysit medicaid patients all day!

I wish you the best.

 

[StevePerry]

.

I am one of the people smart enought to capitolize on this.

Oh, the irony. The pure irony.