what to do???

[finalsay]

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Im really second guessing whether to stay in p-school. Although I made the decision earlier to stay and finish out pharmacy school, I know I am not going to become a pharmacist. What is the point of staying? I am only 60K in debt right now. If I stay, I will be in 120K in debt. Im also not so sure there will be a job for me once I graduate (2014). Some people in my school before me are floaters and/or working only 30hrs a week at ~$50/hr. I dont even know if this will be the case for me once I graduate.

Im thinking if I continue, I will be 120K in debt. Say if I get into medschool (BIG BIG BIG IF), that would mean ~200K for all 4 years. Total of 320K (plus interest). If I quit, how will it look to adcoms...

If I stick with pharmacy and dont even apply to med school, I will be very unhappy...I entered pharmacy school thinking one thing about the profession and honestly thinking I would be happy in it (i.e. good backup plan since I wasnt going to medicine). Now, I dont think it will be enough.

Anyway, if I stay in pharmacy, I will not have a meaningful job (for me) once I graduate. However, I would not accrue more debt. If I decide to try for med school, I really feel that I will feel that I am doing something much more meaningful for OTHERS and ME. It just took awhile (and $60K) for me to realize this (I dont think being a PA would cut it for me; see above about limitations).

So, how will I pay all this back? This is my biggest concern. I see myself entering primary care as a family physician. After numerous volunteering and shadowing, Ive realized I enjoy observing this type of patient care and would like to do this myself.


I know this post is all over the place, but I really welcome and appreciate any contructive feedback/comments.

Thanks

 

[LifeTake2]

Im really second guessing whether to stay in p-school. Although I made the decision earlier to stay and finish out pharmacy school, I know I am not going to become a pharmacist. What is the point of staying? I am only 60K in debt right now. If I stay, I will be in 120K in debt. Im also not so sure there will be a job for me once I graduate (2014). Some people in my school before me are floaters and/or working only 30hrs a week at ~$50/hr. I dont even know if this will be the case for me once I graduate.

Im thinking if I continue, I will be 120K in debt. Say if I get into medschool (BIG BIG BIG IF), that would mean ~200K for all 4 years. Total of 320K (plus interest). If I quit, how will it look to adcoms...

If I stick with pharmacy and dont even apply to med school, I will be very unhappy...I entered pharmacy school thinking one thing about the profession and honestly thinking I would be happy in it (i.e. good backup plan since I wasnt going to medicine). Now, I dont think it will be enough.

Anyway, if I stay in pharmacy, I will not have a meaningful job (for me) once I graduate. However, I would not accrue more debt. If I decide to try for med school, I really feel that I will feel that I am doing something much more meaningful for OTHERS and ME. It just took awhile (and $60K) for me to realize this (I dont think being a PA would cut it for me; see above about limitations).

So, how will I pay all this back? This is my biggest concern. I see myself entering primary care as a family physician. After numerous volunteering and shadowing, Ive realized I enjoy observing this type of patient care and would like to do this myself.


I know this post is all over the place, but I really welcome and appreciate any contructive feedback/comments.

Thanks

Yes you did wander but let me see if I can help:

1) Why are you so sure you won't be a pharmacist? It is a viable career, and you are already half done.
2) Can you get a job as a pharmacist in a few years....I don't world may end in December and this won't matter. Quit stressing over things you can't control.
3) Yes, it will look bad to adcoms that you dropped out of professional school 1/2 way. It shows a lack of commitment and will make them wonder if you will finish medical school. In addition, if you use the excuse you didn't know what it meant to be a pharmacist (from your post) you then have to convince them you do about being a physician.
4) As for finances if you finish either you will find a way to pay it off. Will it be easy, depends on economy, future of insurance in the US, are you any good at what you decide to become, where you work, and the list goes on. But you need to be realistic that if you switch fields, you are another 8 years from a decent paycheck (vs 2).

 

[jsp132]

Yes you did wander but let me see if I can help:

1) Why are you so sure you won't be a pharmacist? It is a viable career, and you are already half done.
2) Can you get a job as a pharmacist in a few years....I don't world may end in December and this won't matter. Quit stressing over things you can't control.
3) Yes, it will look bad to adcoms that you dropped out of professional school 1/2 way. It shows a lack of commitment and will make them wonder if you will finish medical school. In addition, if you use the excuse you didn't know what it meant to be a pharmacist (from your post) you then have to convince them you do about being a physician.
4) As for finances if you finish either you will find a way to pay it off. Will it be easy, depends on economy, future of insurance in the US, are you any good at what you decide to become, where you work, and the list goes on. But you need to be realistic that if you switch fields, you are another 8 years from a decent paycheck (vs 2).

totally agree

just finish it out see what happens, move if you have to but guaranteed you'll be able to find something, granted probably not your dream area or location but at least you'll be stable financially and can pay off your loans

if I were in you're shoes that's what i'd do

 

[finalsay]

thanks for your replies. Perhaps I should clarify that if I do finish the PharmD, yes, I would be a pharmacist...but when I graduate, there will be many others competing for the same job. There are not enough jobs to go around, so I fear I will be unemployed once I graduate. (the market in my state is very bad).

Like I said, I came to p-school with honorable intentions...I sincerely thought this would be a great field for me. My feelings have changed and I want to learn more than what this field will allow. I realize that I may love patient dx and care more than I thought I would. I wish I could have predicted this.

But once again, I will do some more thinking.

 

[LifeTake2]

thanks for your replies. Perhaps I should clarify that if I do finish the PharmD, yes, I would be a pharmacist...but when I graduate, there will be many others competing for the same job. There are not enough jobs to go around, so I fear I will be unemployed once I graduate. (the market in my state is very bad).

Like I said, I came to p-school with honorable intentions...I sincerely thought this would be a great field for me. My feelings have changed and I want to learn more than what this field will allow. I realize that I may love patient dx and care more than I thought I would. I wish I could have predicted this.

But once again, I will do some more thinking.

If your concern is unemployment, stop listening to your classmates.

The last federal study on pharmacist employment estimated that 9% of openings would remain unfilled in all the way thru 2016 and growing to 10% then. You may not be working at CVS next to your mom's house but you have no reason to not have a job with a PharmD.

If it is because you don't like the work, that is a totally different beast.

Take some time and decide what is driving your decision; but if it is fear of unemployment you need to put that behind you. There isn't a job out there where you won't have to compete and/or move. I get 3-4x as many applicants as I have openings for $10/hr forklift drivers; if you want a job that pays $100K assume you will have to go where the work is regardless of medicine or pharm.

 

[jissho]

You don't have to become a retail pharmacist. There are other things that you can do with a PharmD. What is it that you dont like about pharmacy? Is it that you want to career more focused on direct patient care?

 

[Kj615]

I will re-echo what others have said, you should continue to stick your face in the mud. Allow me to rephrase my idiomatic expression, stay put! You can do retail p/t, earn an income, while pursuing an MD career & still be able to pay off your cc debt...my bad, your stud loan rather. my 0.02c.

 

[Kj615]

Im really second guessing whether to stay in p-school. Although I made the decision earlier to stay and finish out pharmacy school, I know I am not going to become a pharmacist. What is the point of staying? I am only 60K in debt right now. If I stay, I will be in 120K in debt. Im also not so sure there will be a job for me once I graduate (2014). Some people in my school before me are floaters and/or working only 30hrs a week at ~$50/hr. I dont even know if this will be the case for me once I graduate.

Im thinking if I continue, I will be 120K in debt. Say if I get into medschool (BIG BIG BIG IF), that would mean ~200K for all 4 years. Total of 320K (plus interest). If I quit, how will it look to adcoms...

If I stick with pharmacy and dont even apply to med school, I will be very unhappy...I entered pharmacy school thinking one thing about the profession and honestly thinking I would be happy in it (i.e. good backup plan since I wasnt going to medicine). Now, I dont think it will be enough.

Anyway, if I stay in pharmacy, I will not have a meaningful job (for me) once I graduate. However, I would not accrue more debt. If I decide to try for med school, I really feel that I will feel that I am doing something much more meaningful for OTHERS and ME. It just took awhile (and $60K) for me to realize this (I dont think being a PA would cut it for me; see above about limitations).

So, how will I pay all this back? This is my biggest concern. I see myself entering primary care as a family physician. After numerous volunteering and shadowing, Ive realized I enjoy observing this type of patient care and would like to do this myself.


I know this post is all over the place, but I really welcome and appreciate any contructive feedback/comments.

Thanks

You need some tough affection. Too far away. If I was close by, could have slap you at the back of your head . Need to cool off. Here It's time you do you and stop listening to others/particularly friends.

Yes you did wander but let me see if I can help:

1) Why are you so sure you won't be a pharmacist? It is a viable career, and you are already half done.
2) Can you get a job as a pharmacist in a few years....I don't world may end in December and this won't matter. Quit stressing over things you can't control.
3) Yes, it will look bad to adcoms that you dropped out of professional school 1/2 way. It shows a lack of commitment and will make them wonder if you will finish medical school. In addition, if you use the excuse you didn't know what it meant to be a pharmacist (from your post) you then have to convince them you do about being a physician.
4) As for finances if you finish either you will find a way to pay it off. Will it be easy, depends on economy, future of insurance in the US, are you any good at what you decide to become, where you work, and the list goes on. But you need to be realistic that if you switch fields, you are another 8 years from a decent paycheck (vs 2).

Well done LifeTake2. 👍

thanks for your replies. Perhaps I should clarify that if I do finish the PharmD, yes, I would be a pharmacist...but when I graduate, there will be many others competing for the same job. There are not enough jobs to go around, so I fear I will be unemployed once I graduate. (the market in my state is very bad).

Like I said, I came to p-school with honorable intentions...I sincerely thought this would be a great field for me. My feelings have changed and I want to learn more than what this field will allow. I realize that I may love patient dx and care more than I thought I would. I wish I could have predicted this.

But once again, I will do some more thinking.

Further thinking? Absolutely contraindicated. An attempt to predict the future, bad strategies. Someone is setting you up! You're been brain washed. Stay clear of your friends/classmate/family members and just do you. There's plenty of work to go around if you're willing to burst your behind. Y'all complain too much.