Pharmacist - good career?

[KaiineTN]

So I'm finally getting around to finishing my Associate's degree and still pretty much have no idea about what I want to do. I was talking to my uncle not long ago, and he mentioned that he thinks I'd make a good pharmacist. I've never really put much thought into becoming a Doctor, but after he said that, I began looking into in a bit. It honestly does seem interesting, but I will need to do quite a few more classes in order to fulfill the requirements for admission to a school of Pharmacy.

Prior to considering this, my general plan was to get my Bachelor's in Philosophy, and after that, I had no idea what to do. I figured that a Philosophy degree was general enough to open up a wide range of opportunities, whether they be in the workforce or in graduate school. If I decide to go for Pharmacy, at least it gives me some direction and a solid goal to work towards.

The work seems interesting, and the compensation and employment outlook for a Pharmacist looks great, but I don't know how much trust I should put into that sort of thing. What do you guys think the future of Pharmacy will be like? Is it a good field to get into? I'm guessing it will take me at least another 1 or 2 years to get the pre-reqs done, and then 4 years in a Pharmacy school.

I'd rack up a lot of debt in the process, and probably be 28, if not older, by the time I'd be ready for the workforce. Is it worthwhile?

[Tikker]

guy I grew up with is a pharmacist, and my best friends dad is a pharmacist

just like medicine, it depends on how much you like to be around sick people, and how you deal with people who want drugs~

you're not going to get rich, but it's a good living

[Maeya]

My best friend from high school completed pharmacy school a couple years ago and loves it, but it's what she's wanted to do since 8th grade. I think the job market will be pretty good - most of the Health Industry seems to be a stable area to work. The schools are highly competitive though, and the first year is designed to weed out the people who don't really want it. The classes are heavy math and science, including upper levels of calculus and chemistry - so be prepared for that. I think a pharmacist's salary ranges from 70,000 - 120,000ish. Not exact, just going by what I think I remember my friend saying - so yeah, even though you have a Doctorate, you're not earning a Surgeon's pay, but it's not a bad living.

[Ouchyfish]

Pharmacists are doctors that dropped out.

[Naethyn]

My brother's wife is one. It's a really good career.

[Kramer]

Pharmacists are doctors that dropped out.

that's a really ignorant statement.

anyway. pharmacist is a great career, they are apparently in very high demand with the influx of retirees from the baby-boom generation.... oh and don't forget the whole 6 figure salary thing that is available if you are in a sizeable market (aka city center or suburb)

the pharmacy school at University of Houston is very competitive and difficult to get into, though there are quite a few pharmacy schools in Houston b/c of the Texas Medical Center, it's the largest med center in the world.

[Tikker]

maybe ignorant, but it's pretty true

a lot of pharmacists started out intending to be doctors

[KaiineTN]

Do some Pharmacists do research work primarily? Drug synthesizing and that sort of thing? Or is that done by another field of study? In other words, if I am to become a Pharmacist, is sitting in a Pharmacy the only job option?

[Narrock]

You should check out Radiology if you're interested in the medical profession. Radiologists (formerly, "X-ray techs") make bank, and it seems like it would be a hell of a lot more interesting than filling prescriptions all day long.

[Tossica]

Do some Pharmacists do research work primarily? Drug synthesizing and that sort of thing? Or is that done by another field of study? In other words, if I am to become a Pharmacist, is sitting in a Pharmacy the only job option?

Biochem is where you want to be to work for a pharm company.

[Kramer]

how in the world would anyone know that most pharmacists had started in med schoo land dropped out....

[Tikker]

how in the world would anyone know that most pharmacists had started in med schoo land dropped out....

I know a bunch of pharmacists?

they ALL started out in pre-med intending to be doctors

pharmacists talk to other pharmacists

lots of them say the same thing

/shrug

[Dylan]

If being a Pharmacist is what you want to do, then do it.

You've never struck me as the type that would do the whole "Find something you love and get paid for it" as you more seem like the type that wants to get paid a lot for doing whatever you can.

[KaiineTN]

That was the logic my uncle threw at me when he mentioned being a Pharmacist. He was basically saying that it's better to go for the money in something you know you're capable of rather than going for trying to make a career out of a passion. Even if I did want to do the latter, I don't really know what sort of passions I have that I could make a career out of. Though, one of the problems with doing things this way that I see is, well, how good of a Pharmacist can you really be if the passion for it isn't there? What's the point in making a career out of something if you're bound to be, more than likely, just "average" at it?

Personally, money isn't all that important to me (as long as I can afford to live on my own in the suburbs). What is important to me is a feeling of significance/importance in the role/job I perform. I also want some variety (who wants to get stuck into a boring and predictable routine day after day where you practically don't even have to think anymore?). A decent challenge in my work is a good thing too, because I want to keep myself sharp.

Any jobs come to mind?

[Yamori]

rodeo clown

[Ouchyfish]

rodeo clown

[Tikker]

What's the point in making a career out of something if you're bound to be, more than likely, just "average" at it?
Any jobs come to mind?

jobs are for making money, hobbies are for entertainment/fun

[Harrison]

That's a recipe for self-loathing.

[Tikker]

That's a recipe for self-loathing.

uh no?

it's a recipe for not living with mommy and daddy

[Harrison]

You work a job you fucking hate. Day in, day out...

Random_dude_001 does what he loves. Day in, day out...

Who wins?

Advising someone to spend half of their day doing something they don't enjoy is the most ridiculous thing I've ever fucking heard. I'm not very surprised, because it seems most retards think this is the way life is. Life is what YOU make of it. If you make half of your day or more suck fucking ass purposely, you have no one to blame but yourself.

[Maeya]

I'm all for making a job out of a passion if you're able to - but don't interpret not doing what you love as doing what you hate.

You can do something you don't have strong feelings for one way or another and make a living. I'm an office manager. I don't mind the work, but it's definitely not my *passion*. I'm not always happy at the end of the day, but it's not like I loathe my job.

It just makes your hobbies all that more special when you have time to relax and enjoy them.

[Tikker]

You work a job you fucking hate. Day in, day out...

Random_dude_001 does what he loves. Day in, day out...

Who wins?

Advising someone to spend half of their day doing something they don't enjoy is the most ridiculous thing I've ever fucking heard. I'm not very surprised, because it seems most retards think this is the way life is. Life is what YOU make of it. If you make half of your day or more suck fucking ass purposely, you have no one to blame but yourself.

there' a big difference between just working a job, and working a job you hate you dipshit

[Kramer]

i get both sides of it...

there are plenty of people who don't need their jobs to be what they absolutely love to do...

i luckily have found something i ifnd lots of meaning in doing, though certainly life is not so romantic that it always turns out that way.

[Mop]

Out of the many innane conversations I have had with you, you have over and over again stated you disliked dealing with people - You do understand this job would be 100% dealing with people. especially as the market gets more and more into big box stores and retail outlets - You will be working for target, walmart, cvs -doing customer service.

[Kramer]

true dat.