Please discuss your school of choice and the pros and cons about it. What is it worth your experience? Did you actually learn anything? Difficulty of admittance. etc..
Thank You
Currently considering:
UCSF (don't think I will get in)
USC
U of Michigan
3.83 GPA
What are you thinking of doing for your career? If you're just going to be like most people doing retail or working in a hospital as a staff pharmacist, then go to a public school in your home state and save your money. Nobody cares how prestigious your school is when you're looking for these jobs. Are you looking at doing a double degree or research or something? Do you want to go into industry?
dude, why go into pharmacy? the people i know went into pharmacy because they didnt have the scores to get into med school but you have a decent gpa. youll spend 4 years more in school anyways, might as well go into an interesting profession. just my thoughts.
and if that isnt the case, what is intriguing about pharmacy?
come on wrote:
dude, why go into pharmacy? the people i know went into pharmacy because they didnt have the scores to get into med school but you have a decent gpa. youll spend 4 years more in school anyways, might as well go into an interesting profession. just my thoughts.
and if that isnt the case, what is intriguing about pharmacy?
Probably the potential of working either 70 hour weeks and having a week off, or only working 40 hour weeks, for 100k a year.
come on wrote:
dude, why go into pharmacy? the people i know went into pharmacy because they didnt have the scores to get into med school but you have a decent gpa. youll spend 4 years more in school anyways, might as well go into an interesting profession. just my thoughts.
and if that isnt the case, what is intriguing about pharmacy?
We should all become doctors. That's the only worthwhile profession these days isn't it?
common sensical wrote:
Probably the potential of working either 70 hour weeks and having a week off, or only working 40 hour weeks, for 100k a year.
It all depends on what kind of doctor you're talking about:
Emergency Medicine docs work 10-12 twelve-hour shifts a month, make ~ $200,000/yr.
Pediatricians and GPs work longer hours, make $125,000/yr.
Orthopedic Surgeons work 60 hrs/wk, make $350,000/yr.
Radiologists work 40 hrs/wk, make $300,000/yr.
Dermatologists work 32 hrs/wk, make $300,000/yr.
Interventional Cardiologists work 50+/wk, make $500,000/yr.
I know people who got into pharmacy school with 4.0 GPA's...I also know others who did not get in with 3.5+ GPA's...Pharmacy is actually the perfect field for someone who wants to continue training and competing after graduation. Think about it: You can earn $100,000+, working 40 hours/week at a relatively low stress job. It's also possible to work part time & get a job anywhere you want with pharmacy. Pharmacists can basically quit their jobs in one state & get a job in another state by that time the next week...that's how big the demand is! Also, one can work 20 hours/week & still make more money ($50,000/year) than many other people will ever make in a year. I think many people go into pharmacy, because they want to be able to have the time (and $$$$) to enjoy what they do outside of their work lives-whether that be running, writing a book, etc...To be a doctor, I think one REALLY has to want to be a doctor....and I know many pharmacists probably would be grossed out by all that stuff!
Oh, and to answer the poster's question, I agree with the person who recommended saving money by attending one's state school. Pharmacy isn't like law or med school, where the school from which one graduates is of utmost importance in obtaining a job...
Exactly. You have to really want to be a doctor and want to have the responsibility and crap that comes with it. Otherwise you'll be miserable and nothing else will matter. I'm 27 and I'm having a good time now. I lived at home for a year to pay off the loans. Next year I'm going to take a year off and travel the world.
I did activities related to both pharmacy and medicine in undergrad. If I had applied to med schools I most likely wouldn't have gotten into my state med school and private schools are pretty expensive. To spend the rest of your 20s and 30s in residency and paying off debts seems like a waste of good years. That'd be depressing for me but whatever.
Thanks for all the feedback,and sorry it took so long for me to reply. I have considered state schools and they are very good choices. UCSD and UCSF are the only two that come to mind, but I'm sure there are more (as you can already guess I live in California). As far as going to med school, I don't necessarily have the passion for it. It takes a lot of dedication to live through the profession of being a doctor, and honestly I don't think I would be able to handle it; 8 years after undergraduate school is not for me. Oh yeah and I'm planning retail pharmacy,(my Ochem professor told me the same thing about how it's a lazy profession). People can say what they like, but i find it intriguing. Sure there's a lot of time that has to be dealt with nagging insurance policies, but I still see the opportunity in helping others being available. I won't lie, it's not the most exciting career, and pharmacists I have spoken to have said the same thing, but it's still a career that I would personally enjoy. If you have the passion for it, dedication, and feel its best for you, why not go for it.
What about Butler or Purdue.....2 of the best pharmacy schools in the nation.......
Pharmacy is an expanding profession and a very lucrative one at the moment and will continue to be.
P.S. Pharmacy school is 6 years (or 8 at some schools)....
IN schools wrote:
P.S. Pharmacy school is 6 years (or 8 at some schools)....
Not if you have a bachelor's degree.
Almost all Pharmacy schools have gone to the 6 year program. (Pharm D degree). Hospital Pharmacy would probably be the most interesting. Hospital Pharm D's are highly respected within the hospital setting.
No, in California most programs are either 4 or 5 year programs. Few exceptions come to mind such as the University of the Pacific which is an accelerated program that I believe can be done in 3 years. Out of state, the only other 3 year program I am aware of is the University of Southern Nevada.
Good GPA. When you graduate give Lance Armstrong a call.
Hey Anon - if you're still looking I'd suggest checking out http://www.pharmacytechniciancertification.com - lots of info about the best schools. Hope that helps! :)
John Beale Davidge wrote:
common sensical wrote:Probably the potential of working either 70 hour weeks and having a week off, or only working 40 hour weeks, for 100k a year.
It all depends on what kind of doctor you're talking about:
Emergency Medicine docs work 10-12 twelve-hour shifts a month, make ~ $200,000/yr.
Pediatricians and GPs work longer hours, make $125,000/yr.
Orthopedic Surgeons work 60 hrs/wk, make $350,000/yr.
Radiologists work 40 hrs/wk, make $300,000/yr.
Dermatologists work 32 hrs/wk, make $300,000/yr.
Interventional Cardiologists work 50+/wk, make $500,000/yr.
Another Maryland med student on the boards?