Why Pharmacy?

[xuan]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I just want to know what are the reasons you want to be a Pharmacist.
What are good and what are not so good about being a pharmacist?
Please give your opinions. Thanks!

 

[RAMPHARMD]

Please use the forum's search feature. 🙂

 

[sprinkle0420]

Wow, this about the 352nd time I've seen this thread I think my 2+ years surfing this site lol.

 

[stlouis79]

Just tell whoever you want easier access to controlled narcotics....that you're tired of using the black market. We get it!

 

[Spock87]

 

[stlouis79]

Wow, this about the 352nd time I've seen this thread I think my 2+ years surfing this site lol.

and 352? your being sarcastic.......more like 536!

 

[trailrider400]

I just want to know what are the reasons you want to be a Pharmacist.
What are good and what are not so good about being a pharmacist?
Please give your opinions. Thanks!

Since you're the only person who doesn't make it sound like you want an answer to put into your pharmcas essay I'll give you my take on the pluses and minuses.

The Good
Salary
Job security - depending on who you ask
Good Benefits
Many opportunities and options with a PharmD - research, retail, mail order, home infusion, hospital, phamaceutical care/mtm, etc.
Being able to help people and make a difference (cliche but true)
Can actually have a life as a pharmacist
No/optional residency

The Bad
Can be pretty stressful
Insurance bull **** -retail
crabby patients who like to swear at you - retail
insurance bull **** again
8 years of tough school work
Corporate BS
The general lack of knowledge of what a pharmacist does which gets REALLY annoying- "you get paid that much to be a pill counter!?" 😱 "Pharmacists can work in a hospital and actually make decisions about my treatment?"

Overall you have to find your own reasons why pharmacy would be a good fit for you. Besides salary, and benefits obviously. It took me a couple years to commit. Haha can't help but notice that my 'bad' list is longer than the 'good' list. But no pharmacy for me at least is what I want to do. Check out the sticky at the top of the page titled pharmacy FAQs or something like that for more info. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.

 

[thephoenician88]

............this forum has a problem...do we have a SDN etiquette sticky?

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Why? Seemed like a good idea at the time.

 

[FarscapeGirl]

I have a thing for wearing white lab coats, but I don't want to work in a lab (too many smelly chemicals).

It's really too bad sarcasm doesn't work on the intertubes.

 

[aboveliquidice]

............this forum has a problem...do we have a SDN etiquette sticky?

The prepharm forum is historically supportive - but there is a steep learning curve.

To the OP - search for "Why pharmacy" and you will find many responses... They center around patient care, time for family, decent pay, etc.

If, after your research, you are still struggling to find information - feel free to post up.

 

[xuan]

My daughter gets accepted the to UOP 5 year pre-pharmacy & PharmD program. She is leaning to decline the acceptance to go to one of the UCs.
We are aware of some of the good and the bad but like to hear more from you.
Thanks for your replies. Please keep replying.

 

[Passion4Sci]

My daughter gets accepted the to UOP 5 year pre-pharmacy & PharmD program. She is leaning to decline the acceptance to go to one of the UCs.
We are aware of some of the good and the bad but like to hear more from you.
Thanks for your replies. Please keep replying.

Why isn't your daughter registered on SDN and asking these questions for herself?????

That's what I want to know.

 

[FarscapeGirl]

My daughter gets accepted the to UOP 5 year pre-pharmacy & PharmD program. She is leaning to decline the acceptance to go to one of the UCs.
We are aware of some of the good and the bad but like to hear more from you.
Thanks for your replies. Please keep replying.

Now this is a better question. And one I can answer w/out feeling like I'm repeating myself or helping someone with their personal statement (although, maybe your daughter should be asking this??).

I don't know much about the 5 year pre-pharm and pharmD programs. But, I would probably encourage your daughter to go the UC route. The reason for this is after those four years of school, she'll be more inclined to know whether pharmacy is for her or perhaps another career would suit her better.

I went through four years as a biochem major and then decided to go to grad school, because I thought at the time I wanted to do research (and I knew I didn't want to be a medical doctor). I realized pretty quickly research wasn't for me. However, it wasn't until later that I decided pharmacy was the right career for me.

As someone who's gone through a career change, I will always think it's better for someone to get their bachelor's so they have a means of moving fields if they change their mind later on. I know some people choose to just do the pre-reqs for pharm school, and that's fine for them. It'd just make me nervous if my child did that, regardless of how well they thought they'd like pharmacy.

The only caveat I guess is more years of school, possibly more debt, and less years of earning potential. But then, going through a five year PharmD and realizing you want to do something else would also lead to these problems.

 

[xuan]

She thinks she has some of the answers and she is close to decline the acceptance. I just want to make sure we are informed.

 

[Passion4Sci]

She thinks she has some of the answers and she is close to decline the acceptance. I just want to make sure we are informed.

Are you running your daughter's life?

I seriously don't get this attitude when it comes to parents doing things for their presumably adult children.

 

[FarscapeGirl]

Are you running your daughter's life?

I seriously don't get this attitude when it comes to parents doing things for their presumably adult children.

My father would have never done this sort of stuff for me. By the time I was in high school, I was making my own doctor appointments and filling out my own applications. He'd help proof things, and he'd contact friends of his I could talk to about their job situations, but I was the one doing the majority of work.

At the time, I felt grumbly about friends who still had their moms making appointments for them when if anything, on school breaks, I'd be making appointments for stuff around the house. However, it paid off that I'm a lot more independent and know how to get stuff done myself.

To the OP, are you asking this b/c you think it's a good idea for your daughter to do the 5 year program and she would rather do the UC route? If this is the case, make sure you're not pressuring her to do something she doesn't want to do. I understand the desire to have your child quickly in a job that pays well with a minimum of school costs (if that's the case here), but it's not worth it if she doesn't want it. As someone who's had a career they didn't want four almost six years now, hating your job can make you absolutely miserable.

 

[Passion4Sci]

My father would have never done this sort of stuff for me. By the time I was in high school, I was making my own doctor appointments and filling out my own applications. He'd help proof things, and he'd contact friends of his I could talk to about their job situations, but I was the one doing the majority of work.

Same here...

Generation Rx is filled with lazy kids, either by force of their parents (or habituated behavior) or by choice, who can't do anything except tie their shoes without their parents helping in some way. Pretty disgusting.

 

[xuan]

I won't force my daughter one way or another but I want to learn from you.
The advantage of the program is it only takes 2 year of pre-pharmacy and
she will be promoted to School of Pharmacy for another 3 years for the PharmD if she has 3.0 or higher. The disadvantage is if she changes her mind and wants to do something else. One of the poster suggests the UC route and gave the reasons and that is exactly how I feel. It is difficult for a 17 year old girl to make decision about her career.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Undoubtedly a 2+3 feeder program is a commitment, and at 17, I am sure it would be difficult to make such a commitment. That having been said, people change their minds about careers in their mid 20s, 30s, and sometimes now even their 40s! Simply assuming she is not fit to make a decision like that is beyond her due to her age is a folly.

So despite all your best efforts as a parent, in helping her research, may very well be in vain. Ultimately, if she is going to make her own decision, it should be free of your control or persuasion no matter how subtle it is or how you perceive it to be. What seems to you to be "not forcing" could very well be subconsciously affecting your daughter's decision.

Again, why isn't she registered on here and posting?

 

[xuan]

I am not assuming she is not fit to make decision at this time but waiting for 4 years she will be more mature to make better decision. My daughter doesn't
spend time on any forum as far as I know.

 

[Passion4Sci]

I am not assuming she is not fit to make decision at this time but waiting for 4 years she will be more mature to make better decision. My daughter doesn't
spend time on any forum as far as I know.

Not spending time on any forum does not mean she is incapable of registering on this forum and asking questions for herself.

It seems as though you're both leaning toward the UC route (Undergrad then Pharm) and indeed, it may be safer. However, if your daughter does end up really wanting to go into Pharmacy, she'll have a lot harder time getting into a Pharmacy school than if she went with the 2+3 graduated program. I say that not as a derisive remark about her study habits or anything of the sort, but only to say that if she has been accepted to a 2+3, she's as good as gold, whereas going from a 4-year school into a Pharmacy school takes significantly more work (Just read some of the other threads on here...).

 

[xuan]

You are absolutely correct. It is a lot harder to do 4 year undergrad and try to get to Pharm school. As a matter of fact, my wife wants her to go to UOP
but she doesn't want to. I am neutral. Whatever my daughter decides it is ok with me. I get involved in my children school more that a typical parent does. That is my joy. I know what classes my daughter is taking. I know the professors and the rooms, how far she walks from her dorm to each class.
I think about my children and pray for them all the time. But I always let them decide what to do.

 

[Passion4Sci]

You are absolutely correct. It is a lot harder to do 4 year undergrad and try to get to Pharm school. As a matter of fact, my wife wants her to go to UOP
but she doesn't want to. I am neutral. Whatever my daughter decides it is ok with me. I get involved in my children school more that a typical parent does. That is my joy. I know what classes my daughter is taking. I know the professors and the rooms, how far she walks from her dorm to each class.
I think about my children and pray for them all the time. But I always let them decide what to do.

Well, I'm not a parent, so I won't talk about your parenting style any more, but I can say that if she IS expressing an interest in pharmacy and all it entails, then by all means she should meet with someone from UOP, and maybe take this year before she applies (I assume she wouldn't apply until she was 18...) and get some time shadowing a Pharmacist!

I think that, coupled with an already-developed desire for pharmacy, will help solidify the choice one way or the other.

 

[Seb1348]

I just want to know what are the reasons you want to be a Pharmacist.
What are good and what are not so good about being a pharmacist?
Please give your opinions. Thanks!

I'm trying to start a general prepharm blog and I addressed my main reasons for pharmacy in my post

 

[Passion4Sci]

I'm trying to start a general prepharm blog and I addressed my main reasons for pharmacy in my post

Couple of issues with your main blog there;

1. "While there’s no formal ‘Dr’ title involved, pharmacists do hold a doctorate degree and are crucial to health care."

The pharmacists with whom I work are often referred to as "Dr. XYZ" by their colleagues and patients. Not sure where your statement comes from?

and

2. Pharmacy allows you to work in a prestigious field in health care without the long hours and stress (and working with bodily fluids) typically associated with being an actual MD.

You've got me on the fluids, but Pharmacists work plenty of stressful, long hours in certain locations (esp. clinical pharmacists like the ones at the hospital where I work). I think this is a brash overgeneralization.

Aside from those, good blog. =)

 

[Seb1348]

Thanks so much for the input!! As for the first point, I guess it was personal experience and word of mouth. I've been around a wide variety of retail and hospital pharmacies where I live and I haven't yet heard a pharmacist addressed by the title 'Dr'. Neither has anyone I've spoken to. I find that interesting though.

I'm aware for that second point that it was an overgeneralization. I was attempting to look at more of the positives of pharmacy in that there are quite a few options available where you can avoid long/weekend hours. I should have stated it differently 🙂

Thanks again for the corrections though! It's helpful to see what I need to work on in getting this thing running!

 

[Passion4Sci]

Thanks so much for the input!! As for the first point, I guess it was personal experience and word of mouth. I've been around a wide variety of retail and hospital pharmacies where I live and I haven't yet heard a pharmacist addressed by the title 'Dr'. Neither has anyone I've spoken to. I find that interesting though.

I'm aware for that second point that it was an overgeneralization. I was attempting to look at more of the positives of pharmacy in that there are quite a few options available where you can avoid long/weekend hours. I should have stated it differently 🙂

Thanks again for the corrections though! It's helpful to see what I need to work on in getting this thing running!

Perhaps, on the title aspect, it's a regional thing? I'm not sure what else could account for the disparity. Maybe because pharmacists are usually fewer in number than doctors, and therefore are usually referred to as "the pharmacist"? I mean, what can you call a pharmacist besides "doctor namehere"? Mr? What salutation IS appropriate if Dr. is not? Pharmacy guy? Pillpusher? I don't know, LOL. It's just been a given around the hospital; "I'll run to the pharmacy and see if Dr. Malak has the suspension ready." This is natural for me... So what do your colleagues refer to pharmacists as, in terms of salutation?

 

[Seb1348]

That's a good question on what to call them if not 'Dr'. Working at retail stores it usually is 'the pharmacist' or first names if they know the pharmacist well enough in my experience. But in my hospital experience too I've only heard really either first names or Mr/Ms. I'm guessing regional as well then? I've been trying to look up a reason and from what I'm finding, no one can come to a consensus on whether or not a pharmacist can hold the 'Dr' title. It seems like they have the degree to (and therefore are entitled to), but people disagree on whether they actually should use the title or not. Guess it comes down to personal preference then! Someone had mentioned something on individual state legislature determining what degrees entitle you to 'Dr' status but there was no source and I was unable to find anything on that.

 

[FarscapeGirl]

I believe pharmacists should be referred to as doctors, considering dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, those with PhDs in biology, and those with PhDs in English are referred to as doctors.

Heck, if chiropractors are referred to as doctors (even though many of them are just promoting quackery), certainly a pharmacist, with a science-based degree should be referred to as a doctor!!

 

[xuan]

Can we get back to the reasons you want to be a pharmacist?

 

[ByteTheBullitt]

Because CNN money told me to.

 

[Passion4Sci]

I was discussing this question with my wife today, and she noted that in her field, law, attorneys hold the JD, or Juris Doctor, but are not called Dr. However, as Farscape said, DCs are called Doctor.

WVUPharm has said before that he's called "Dr" in official correspondence, so who knows?

Maybe of has to do with length off school and perceived difficulty? Like, had I stayed in Psych grad school, I wouldve finished my PsyD in 6 1/2 years. This is significantly longer than Pharm school... But I don't know how long a DDS goes to school for (maybe SHC1984 can help there) or a ChiroD. I'm on my phone so juggling windows is harder, ill look into it when I am home.

Xuan, have you read through other threads? This topic has been covered ad nauseum. Your specific question about Undergrad---->Pharm or Combined 0-6 Pharm was cogent but this broad question you can find manifold answers from everyone already existing on SDN.

 

[SHC1984]

I just want to know what are the reasons you want to be a Pharmacist.
What are good and what are not so good about being a pharmacist?
Please give your opinions. Thanks!

Reasons for wanting to become a pharmacist, stable career, nice/clean in- door work enviroment, fairly good pay, I am good in science etc.

Bad things about pharmacy is MAINLY the fact that its hard to open your own pharmacy, you have a salary CAP of 120K...🙄, you will most likely work for someone else your entire life, and some of the people you deal with can get on your nerves. OH and pharmacy school is very very expensive is another con of pharmacy. I know a lot of people with nursing degree, dental hyg degree, business degrees, bachelor degrees, etc that came graduated with NO loans. But MOST pharmacist I know have student loans coming out which sucks. I guess I am just jealous of the debt free people lol...

Good luck to your daughter.

 

[SHC1984]

DDS- degree usually takes 4 years of undergrad+ 4 years of Dental school= 8 years.

Dental school is more competitive than pharmacy school so it is almost an unwritten rule that you have to get your BS/BA before applying. There are some dental schools that require BS/BA degree however not all schools require it. UNC- requires 96 hours, Columbia- requires only 90 hours etc. However if you have 90+ hours you might as well get 120 which = a BS/BA degree! So in a sense dental school will take 8 years. Unless you go to UoP then its 4 years undergrad and 3 years dental school...its the ONLY 3 year DDS program in the united states.

However if you want to specialized in orthodontist (what I wanted to do before) then its 8 years + 3 years of ortho residency= 11 years!!! 😱 And thats NOTHING if you want to be an oral surgeon its 8 years + 6 years= 14 YEARS!!!!!! 😱😱😱 But when you graduate you will make a killing AND you will have an DDS AND an MD after your name. 😎

I was discussing this question with my wife today, and she noted that in her field, law, attorneys hold the JD, or Juris Doctor, but are not called Dr. However, as Farscape said, DCs are called Doctor.

WVUPharm has said before that he's called "Dr" in official correspondence, so who knows?

Maybe of has to do with length off school and perceived difficulty? Like, had I stayed in Psych grad school, I wouldve finished my PsyD in 6 1/2 years. This is significantly longer than Pharm school... But I don't know how long a DDS goes to school for (maybe SHC1984 can help there) or a ChiroD. I'm on my phone so juggling windows is harder, ill look into it when I am home.

Xuan, have you read through other threads? This topic has been covered ad nauseum. Your specific question about Undergrad---->Pharm or Combined 0-6 Pharm was cogent but this broad question you can find manifold answers from everyone already existing on SDN.

 

[loveyoursmile]

the bottom line for choosing a career are $$$ and 🙂🙂🙂. I personally think pharmacist is one of the careers can serve this goal very well.

but hold on, let ask yourself this question and answer it if you can. Why do you think people buy house crazy in 2005?

is the same thing happen in pharmacy profession now? pharmacy schools are almost double compare to 10 yrs ago.

bottom line, you make your decision and be prepared to live with it even in the worst case.