why not med?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

PharmMnM

Member
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2006
Messages
200
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
CA
  1. Pre-Pharmacy
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
I'm sure everyone knows this is one of the most asked questions at interviews. So why wouldn't you guys with the higher GPA's like 3.8+ want to go into medical school?
 
Preference. Personally, I feel that doing medicine is much more stressful. Pharmacists are not on call, so they can enjoy their time off.
 
I don't want an MD. Believe it or not, pharmacy is a first-choice for many of us.
 
I'm sure everyone knows this is one of the most asked questions at interviews. So why wouldn't you guys with the higher GPA's like 3.8+ want to go into medical school?

you're going on the assumption that everyone originally wants to be doctors, and didn't have the grades, so decided to do pharmacy. If they ask you this question in an interview, you gotta tell show them a sincere and genuine desire to be a pharmacist, and not b/c your grades weren't high enough to be a doctor.

to be honest, people have different reasons to be a pharmacist, so that might be your reason.
 
I know what you mean. getting a MD has never crossed my mind - i already knew from the beginning that that profession doesnt fit me very well. (plus i had bad experiences with doctors when i was a kid) 😛
 
I'm sure everyone knows this is one of the most asked questions at interviews. So why wouldn't you guys with the higher GPA's like 3.8+ want to go into medical school?

I don't think that is a common question at pharmacy school interviews, honestly.
 
Myself, I want to get into drug research and development.
Also, I truely want to help patients feel relief, and in some cases a MD doctor can offer nothing. For example, in some end stage diseases releif may only come in form of pain management medication.
 
Because I have no interest in being an MD and am extremely excited about the prospect of being a pharmacist. Also I have very, very little desire to have to follow up four years of medical school with 3-7 years of residency. At least with pharmacy I can decide whether or not I want to persue a residency or if I want to go straight to practicing pharmacy.
 
Why Pharmacy is a great profession...

1. You can get a job anywhere in the country.
2. It pays well.
3. It's a doctorate degree.
4. You can work part time.
5. Malpractice insurance is $150 per year.
6. Rare on call.
7. Options are plentiful.
8. You can own your own business and have someone else run it.
9. You can own a chain.
10. There are more female students...good for the guys.
11. You get to wear that nifty little white coat. And it stays white.
12. You get to make your old professors squirm when they have come to your pharmacy to pick up their medicine.
13. You get to meet all sorts of interesting people from other states and countries (at least in the two downtown pharmacies where I work).
14. You get to meet a few famous people too. (I got to meet a very rich man recently who's recognizable if you're into sports).
15. Pharmacists can keep a track of all the hot single women who take morning after pills on sundays
16. Pharmacists are the second most trusted professionals in the US (after nurses)
17. Pharmacy has many different career paths with flexibility to change.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=195558&page=3
 
I was asked this at an interview and I answered it honestly.

At my age, my body could not handle the stress. When I was in my 20's, I could stay up for several days without sleep. I can't do that anymore. I also don't want to get woken up at 3am because I'm on call. If I'm at a football game, I don't want to have to leave because I got paged.

I always meant to go to medical school, but things happen in life. I got married, quit school to work and it took quite a while to get back to the point where I could focus on school work. When I returned to school I was 43, premed and in the top percent of my class. I started looking into pharmacy as an option because one of my classmates mentioned that he was thinking of pharmacy. It just seemed a good fit for my lifestyle.
 
Top Bottom