Going back to college for Pharmacy??

[MC Paul Barman]

Any pharmacists here?

I'm thinking about going back to school for a pharmacy program that recently started at a college near where I live.

Are there many non-traditional students in pharmacy programs?

 

[satchmo]

Are there many non-traditional students in pharmacy programs?

There were quite a few in my class of ~65, probably 10 or so.

If you have any specific questions, just let me know. I am a recent graduate (c/o 2010).

 

[mister who]

I hope you love chemistry.

 

[satchmo]

I hope you love chemistry.

Not necessarily. You need a fair bit for your pre-reqs but next to nothing once you're in pharmacy school. I personally hated chemistry, but it was a necessary evil.

 

[Yardener]

I'm a clinical pharmacist and a professor. At the school I teach for, I'd say >10% or so of the students are older, non-traditional. I just had a 40 year old on rotation with me.

Are you doing your pre-Pharm course work now? It can make things easier if you do that at the same school as the graduate program. That way you can transfer directly in.

@Satchmo - what do you do??

 

[mister who]

Not necessarily. You need a fair bit for your pre-reqs but next to nothing once you're in pharmacy school. I personally hated chemistry, but it was a necessary evil.

I think pharmacology and optometry are ideal professions for folks who want to get a doctorate in medicine but still want to work normal hours.

 

[satchmo]

@Satchmo - what do you do??

Pharmacy manager for CVS. I've been with them since 2003 as a tech, intern, then pharmacist. Sucks at times but the pay and benefits are great.


Which school are you at?

 

[BrutalBoy]

How old are you? do you already have a Bachelors or any college education?

 

[Yardener]

Pharmacy manager for CVS. I've been with them since 2003 as a tech, intern, then pharmacist. Sucks at times but the pay and benefits are great.


Which school are you at?

I don't miss doing retail. Did some of my intern hours at Kroger. Worked with some really quality pharmacists, but I'm just not cut out for that gig.
sent you a PM w/ my work & school info

 

[DrVanNostrand]

 

[SevenSamurai]

In before "hook me up".....lulz

 

[MC Paul Barman]

There were quite a few in my class of ~65, probably 10 or so.

If you have any specific questions, just let me know. I am a recent graduate (c/o 2010).

Thanks! I appreciate it.

I'll definitely pm you a question or two.

 

[MC Paul Barman]

How old are you? do you already have a Bachelors or any college education?

35 years old.
Got my BA in Psychology back in 2000.
But, I'm worried that I'll have to take most of my grunt work course again. So be it if I have to.

 

[TriangleMan]

Any pharmacists here?

I'm thinking about going back to school for a pharmacy program that recently started at a college near where I live.

Are there many non-traditional students in pharmacy programs?

I know a lot of pharmacists. They were usually the people who either stressed heavy during exam weeks or just lived in the libraries. Do you have what it takes? Pharm school definitely wasn't any easier on them. But hey, you make it out, you make $120,000 here in SoCal, first year.

 

[MC Paul Barman]

I know a lot of pharmacists. They were usually the people who either stressed heavy during exam weeks or just lived in the libraries. Do you have what it takes? Pharm school definitely wasn't any easier on them. But hey, you make it out, you make $120,000 here in SoCal, first year.

I do like reading....
and really enjoy organic chem, biochem and molecular bio..

 

[akimbo187]

I do like reading....
and really enjoy organic chem, biochem and molecular bio..

Don't think about it, do it. If you know that you can be financially stable for 4 years to support your family. For your pre req's (organic chem, general chemistry, biology, math, english, etc...) go to a local college and do it part time. It should take you about a year. Go for the fall, spring, and summer sessions. If you don't have any financial difficulties, then just go full time fall and spring. All I can say to you is that just do it if you can.

 

[BrutalBoy]

35 years old.
Got my BA in Psychology back in 2000.
But, I'm worried that I'll have to take most of my grunt work course again. So be it if I have to.

shouldnt be too bad then. When I went back for accounting, almost all of my electives and prerequisites were already met and I only did the accounting classes.


Good Luck

 

[RTR ATL]

My cousin just graduated from UGA recently and is a pharmacist at CVS. She doesn't like it very much (CVS that is). She works from 8am to 10pm, five days a week one week, and then two days the next week. She says she never gets to eat lunch/take a break, and spends the beginning and end of her shift without any help. Of course the pay is great, though.

 

[Yardener]

35 years old.
Got my BA in Psychology back in 2000.
But, I'm worried that I'll have to take most of my grunt work course again. So be it if I have to.

If you have a BA already, you probably wouldn't need to take the pre-requisites like English, Econ, etc. The science stuff, maybe or probably. Talk to the school about which of your credits are transferable and what all you'd need to take.
The usual required science stuff is 1 yr of inorganic chem, 1 yr of organic chem, 1 year of bio, 1 semester of physics, 1 semester of calculus.
Also, take the P-CATs when you're ready. They're easier than the M-CATs. And if you get a good score, the school would be less stringent about requiring recent class credits.

Good luck. It's a great career path. Retail can be brutal (yes, you often never sit, eat, or ever stop during your insane shift), but it pays well. And there's lots of other types of jobs available - clinical, academic, industry, consulting, compounding, etc

 

[toaa]

I'm in the second semester of my second year of Pharmacy school. If you have any specific questions, send me a PM.