Medicine, Pharmacy, Grad School

[lolok]

Hi everyone,

Some context: everyone in my family is involved with pharmacies in some aspect- either as a pharmacist themselves or as a pharmacy manager. As such, entering the field after graduation would be relatively easy and there is no risk stability-wise if I were to pursue this route. However, after volunteering and assisting at some of these pharmacies, I realized that the job itself is very mundane and repetitive. 

 

I went into undergrad with an entirely different focus from what I had planned originally and took courses required for med school. It seemed like a pretty obvious choice at first: it involved the sciences, patient interaction, a rewarding feeling, and job stability. As time went on and as I talked to more med students, I again started doubting my choice. Although I'm a very driven person, i'm also prone to stress and basically letting my studies consume my life. Even throughout first year, whenever a test or exam was coming up, all other aspects of my life would be put on halt (including sleep and food, let alone a social life). I'm slowly getting better at managing this, but I've realized how important a work-life balance is to me despite my initial (and sometimes current) obsession with getting good results. Keeping this in mind, how happy I'd be in a high-stress environment for another 10 or so years is something I'm worried about.

 

Now, going into second year, I'm questioning whether I should continue planning for medical school, go for the safer pharmacy route, or try something new all together. I know for sure that I want to go into something medical related because that's what I'm interested in, but the thought of medical school, although exciting, is also very worrisome to me and pharmacy, although safe, also seems quite tedious. I know that second year is slightly early to be worrying about all this, but I like knowing i have some vague idea of what I'm going to end up doing so that I can plan out my courses/ECs/etc. 

 

Keeping all this in mind, I was hoping that someone in medicine, pharmacy, or grad school could offer their 2 cents on what I should do to decide. Any comments or words of advice on what I should do next would be much appreciated.

 

[freewheeler]

Hi everyone,

Some context: everyone in my family is involved with pharmacies in some aspect- either as a pharmacist themselves or as a pharmacy manager. As such, entering the field after graduation would be relatively easy and there is no risk stability-wise if I were to pursue this route. However, after volunteering and assisting at some of these pharmacies, I realized that the job itself is very mundane and repetitive. 

 

I went into undergrad with an entirely different focus from what I had planned originally and took courses required for med school. It seemed like a pretty obvious choice at first: it involved the sciences, patient interaction, a rewarding feeling, and job stability. As time went on and as I talked to more med students, I again started doubting my choice. Although I'm a very driven person, i'm also prone to stress and basically letting my studies consume my life. Even throughout first year, whenever a test or exam was coming up, all other aspects of my life would be put on halt (including sleep and food, let alone a social life). I'm slowly getting better at managing this, but I've realized how important a work-life balance is to me despite my initial (and sometimes current) obsession with getting good results. Keeping this in mind, how happy I'd be in a high-stress environment for another 10 or so years is something I'm worried about.

 

Now, going into second year, I'm questioning whether I should continue planning for medical school, go for the safer pharmacy route, or try something new all together. I know for sure that I want to go into something medical related because that's what I'm interested in, but the thought of medical school, although exciting, is also very worrisome to me and pharmacy, although safe, also seems quite tedious. I know that second year is slightly early to be worrying about all this, but I like knowing i have some vague idea of what I'm going to end up doing so that I can plan out my courses/ECs/etc. 

 

Keeping all this in mind, I was hoping that someone in medicine, pharmacy, or grad school could offer their 2 cents on what I should do to decide. Any comments or words of advice on what I should do next would be much appreciated.

 

It's great that you have the self-awareness to recognize that but I would not let that dissuade you from pursuing medicine if it is your passion. Trust me when I say that you are not the only one who experiences that--I'd say we pretty much all do to varying extents.

 

Keep improving your organization and time management skills (as well as certainly need to) and continue to gain further life experience through volunteering and working that will further illuminate what is is about certain workplace environments that you enjoy or dislike.

 

I didn't know what I wanted to do exactly until the summer after 3rd year when I decided on medicine. Two years later and here I am. Time is on your side.

 

If you really have no idea, then just aim for medicine (ex. maintain a high GPA and be an active member in your community) and by extension, you would be competitive for pharmacy. Of course this will also require you to look into various prerequisites required by different programs at different schools, but it is a worthwhile investment if you are genuinely undecided.

 

I'd also suggest abolishing the notion of pharmacy being 'safer' almost as if medicine is nearly unattainable as a goal. I understand you are fairly early into your undergraduate degree, but believe me, if you focus on GPA, have a solid MCAT score (or even half-decent in some cases), possess common sense and basic social skills as well as have some half-decent extracurriculars which you can effectively articulate the significance of in your application, you will be ok.

 

There is absolutely a point in the competitiveness of a candidate in terms of their GPA and MCAT score, where it is only a matter of 'when' rather than 'if' they are admitted to medical school.

 

I also get the impression that you have been referencing retail pharmacy in your post, while hospital pharmacy can be quite different. Just another thought.

[lolok]

 

 

It's great that you have the self-awareness to recognize that but I would not let that dissuade you from pursuing medicine if it is your passion. Trust me when I say that you are not the only one who experiences that--I'd say we pretty much all do to varying extents.

 

Keep improving your organization and time management skills (as well as certainly need to) and continue to gain further life experience through volunteering and working that will further illuminate what is is about certain workplace environments that you enjoy or dislike.

 

I didn't know what I wanted to do exactly until the summer after 3rd year when I decided on medicine. Two years later and here I am. Time is on your side.

 

If you really have no idea, then just aim for medicine (ex. maintain a high GPA and be an active member in your community) and by extension, you would be competitive for pharmacy. Of course this will also require you to look into various prerequisites required by different programs at different schools, but it is a worthwhile investment if you are genuinely undecided.

 

I'd also suggest abolishing the notion of pharmacy being 'safer' almost as if medicine is nearly unattainable as a goal. I understand you are fairly early into your undergraduate degree, but believe me, if you focus on GPA, have a solid MCAT score (or even half-decent in some cases), possess common sense and basic social skills as well as have some half-decent extracurriculars which you can effectively articulate the significance of in your application, you will be ok.

 

There is absolutely a point in the competitiveness of a candidate in terms of their GPA and MCAT score, where it is only a matter of 'when' rather than 'if' they are admitted to medical school.

 

I also get the impression that you have been referencing retail pharmacy in your post, while hospital pharmacy can be quite different. Just another thought.

 

 

Sorry, I should've clarified what I meant by safe. Since a lot of my family have their own pharmacies (retail) I have very good chances of getting employed after I graduate if I choose to do so. My GPA's good, and if I put in the effort I can definitely do well on the MCAT, but being realistic about my stress levels and whether or not i'll have a life  outside of medicine during med school and after I graduate is pretty daunting and it's the only thing making me question going through the motions of applying. 

[Click]

I would tend to agree with freewheeler. I would also add that your family owning pharmacies doesn't really make it any "safer" than any other graduate as all graduates have job availability anyway. Hospital pharmacy is a different story and if you would like to know more you may PM me.

 

If you are worried about stress during and after school and residency, then yes it will likely be more stressful. I guess a good question to ask yourself is if you find your current undergraduate degree stressful because medicine and pharmacy will be much harder. However, I think it really depends on how much you understand of each profession and what you will find most fulfilling.