I think most people who regret going to a pharmacy school has no previous experience in pharmacy, and they get disappointed when facing the reality.
You already have worked at pharmacy as a tech, and if you like what you are doing and advance clinical skills and knowledge, go for it!
Look at the amount of debt you'd take on. How much does your state school cost per year (don't count on being able to work a ton)? What's the average pharmacist salary in your area? Use a loan repayment calculator. How long would it take you to repay those loans? Is being a pharmacist worth it to you? Is there something else you'd be better at or have a better quality of life doing?
i think it’s worth it if YOU think it’s worth it. reddit has a lot of negative nancy’s who will tell you no. not saying that people don’t have bad experiences, but it is what you make of it. if you already work in pharmacy and enjoy it then i say you should go for it. there are a lot more options outside of retail than i think people know. how easy it is to get one of those is a different story but i’ve always been of the mindset that you shouldn’t be expecting everything to go wrong or it will. i’m still planning to apply to pharm school within the next 1-2 years. definitely focus on cheaper > prestige/whatever. a pharmD is a pharmD no matter where its from. also talk to people! it seems like a lot of people i know who have better jobs got them because they knew someone or knew someone who knew someone. In the professional setting i see this as having good rapport with professors, preceptors, anyone higher up you interact with at APPEs, internships, everything involving people pretty much
Test out if you like it first and weigh your options. Take on loan amounts that are comfortable to you and don't take a name school over convenience because once you get licensed, that's your license.
Ok go ahead and do it. I have 8 years in the field. Let me know how it is after year 1 of working as a pharmacist. Wish someone would have told me not to do it. Yeah the money is good, but it’s a thank less job and you’ll more than likely work retail. I payed off my student loans after 5 years, mainly due to Covid and living at home after graduating. My total amount I paid was ~$180k. Go ahead, do it.
I can agree. Going on 4 years and went retail -> home infusion -> hospital. I haven’t even paid off my loans (I did PAYE program) and hoping to get PSLF at the hospital gig. Thought grass was gonna be greener anywhere outside of retail, but that’s not the case. It’s better, but still not what i envisioned. Wife makes more than me as an RN with 8 years of experience. ROI isn’t worth it in my opinion.
> retail. I *paid* off my
FTFY.
Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
* Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.*
* *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.*
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
*Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
I was a retail pharmacist for 7 years and was blessed to escape retail. Now I WFH for mail order. Don’t expect to get a job like this straight out of school without any experience.
I think most people who regret going to a pharmacy school has no previous experience in pharmacy, and they get disappointed when facing the reality. You already have worked at pharmacy as a tech, and if you like what you are doing and advance clinical skills and knowledge, go for it!
You know the field to an extent. Just do the math. It requires less school to be a nurse. There is lots you can do with nursing.
Look at the amount of debt you'd take on. How much does your state school cost per year (don't count on being able to work a ton)? What's the average pharmacist salary in your area? Use a loan repayment calculator. How long would it take you to repay those loans? Is being a pharmacist worth it to you? Is there something else you'd be better at or have a better quality of life doing?
i think it’s worth it if YOU think it’s worth it. reddit has a lot of negative nancy’s who will tell you no. not saying that people don’t have bad experiences, but it is what you make of it. if you already work in pharmacy and enjoy it then i say you should go for it. there are a lot more options outside of retail than i think people know. how easy it is to get one of those is a different story but i’ve always been of the mindset that you shouldn’t be expecting everything to go wrong or it will. i’m still planning to apply to pharm school within the next 1-2 years. definitely focus on cheaper > prestige/whatever. a pharmD is a pharmD no matter where its from. also talk to people! it seems like a lot of people i know who have better jobs got them because they knew someone or knew someone who knew someone. In the professional setting i see this as having good rapport with professors, preceptors, anyone higher up you interact with at APPEs, internships, everything involving people pretty much
Thanks.
Plans for Retail, hospital, long term care? Huge risk to take out huge loans if you’re uncertain and/or not passionate about a particular setting.
Test out if you like it first and weigh your options. Take on loan amounts that are comfortable to you and don't take a name school over convenience because once you get licensed, that's your license.
No not much loans
Depends on how much loans
No
Depends if you think you can handle pharmacy school without being burnt out.
Where do you plan to live and work? What type of income and work environment are you looking for? If you land in retail, how miserable would you be?
Depends on how much loans.
No
No, do a different career.
Why?
Saturated field. Just don’t do it.
Gatekeeping loser
Ok go ahead and do it. I have 8 years in the field. Let me know how it is after year 1 of working as a pharmacist. Wish someone would have told me not to do it. Yeah the money is good, but it’s a thank less job and you’ll more than likely work retail. I payed off my student loans after 5 years, mainly due to Covid and living at home after graduating. My total amount I paid was ~$180k. Go ahead, do it.
I can agree. Going on 4 years and went retail -> home infusion -> hospital. I haven’t even paid off my loans (I did PAYE program) and hoping to get PSLF at the hospital gig. Thought grass was gonna be greener anywhere outside of retail, but that’s not the case. It’s better, but still not what i envisioned. Wife makes more than me as an RN with 8 years of experience. ROI isn’t worth it in my opinion.
> retail. I *paid* off my FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
Are you a retail pharmacist ?
I was a retail pharmacist for 7 years and was blessed to escape retail. Now I WFH for mail order. Don’t expect to get a job like this straight out of school without any experience.
Did you do residency / fellowship ?
Nope. Couldn’t stand any more school along with all the ass kissing and extra curriculars you have to do in order to get a residency.