[Pharmacist]

Hi, Im a pharmacist! Or at least by next year i will be. I am finishing my last year of pharmacy school currently. Sorry i really just skipped to the last page of this thread so I dont know whos who and whats what around here yet but Ill be glad to answer any questions anyone may have~

[I_broke_a_nail!]

Hi, Im a pharmacist! Or at least by next year i will be. I am finishing my last year of pharmacy school currently. Sorry i really just skipped to the last page of this thread so I dont know whos who and whats what around here yet but Ill be glad to answer any questions anyone may have~

What's the yearly ballpark salary of the following:

During residency year 1?
During residency year 2?
Profession after 1 year of residency?
Profession after 2 years of residency?
Hospital pharmacy VS. retail?

I live in NYC. And will be graduating in 4 years (that is including this year).

[Pharmacist]

What's the yearly ballpark salary of the following:

During residency year 1?
During residency year 2?
Profession after 1 year of residency?
Profession after 2 years of residency?
Hospital pharmacy VS. retail?

I live in NYC. And will be graduating in 4 years (that is including this year).

First of all, I didnt know there was a pharmacy school in NYC? What school do you go too? Anycase, Ill do my best to be honest with these figures based on my best understanding.

During residency year 1: 30-40K (maybe even up to 45K) a year depending on the institution you do your residency at
During residency year 2: sorry dont know at all
Professional after 1 year of residency: ~90K/year (assuming you are referring to actually working as a clinical pharmacist after completion of residency year 1)
Professional after 2 years of residency: sorry dont know at all. I would assume a little more maybe since you are specialized now
Hospital vs retail: hospital staff (80-90K) vs retail (100-125K) of course all these figures depends on what part of the country you live and work.

[tinipinki]

Hi, Im a pharmacist! Or at least by next year i will be. I am finishing my last year of pharmacy school currently. Sorry i really just skipped to the last page of this thread so I dont know whos who and whats what around here yet but Ill be glad to answer any questions anyone may have~

I'm applying to pharmacy schools this year! I'm still a senior in high school haha
What school are you graduating from?
How were the classes you took? The hardest vs. easiest?
Did you have any regrets?

[Nikhil]

I think working as pharmacy clerk would be better because you can grow in the field what you have chosen. "Where there is a will there is a way " don't worry go head .

[onlyx1]

what is good time to start internship?

[precious4e]

^ Interning? Like licensed interning at a pharmacy? I would say the sooner the better. In NY we can intern after we complete our 3rd year of the program. It will help get you familiar with the drugs and how a pharmacy operates. It will also help you a lot in classes. From my experience, pharmacies are ALWAYS in need of interns. They basically hire you on the spot and start you the next day.

What's the yearly ballpark salary

http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugt...e/detail/500075

this might be an interesting article to read.

I'm also doing my last year of pharmacy school and live in NYC (but school in Albany).
Having to decide what to do next is so tough. I might go for a residency.
Anyone going to the clinical midyear in Orlando this year?

[I_broke_a_nail!]

First of all, I didnt know there was a pharmacy school in NYC?

LOL what? There should be more in NY (only 4 as of right now)
How else would people understand the NY state laws for dispensing meds if they didn't have pharmacy schools in the NY state?

But thanks for answering.

But NY is extremely behind in the pharmacy world. Like really really behind.

what is good time to start internship?

I think you should do it as early as possible.
There's a lot of basic stuff you could learn in the pharmacy like how the insurance rejections work, production, etc.
But when you become an official intern in your state, there's more stuff you could do like call the doctor and counsel patients.
Would you really want to be learning the basics (which is a lot) while learning the interning stuff at the same time?

That sounds like a headache and overload.

So yeah, try to get some experience ASAP.

[~Sen~]

Hi, I'm a senior in HS and at the moment I have no idea what I wanna do or major in,
but someone suggested becoming a pharmacist to me.

So I was just wondering how many different types of pharmacists there are,
and which one are the ones you see at like Wegman's or CVS?

Also how hard is the math and bio chem, because I didn't do so well on
the bio chem test in my AP Bio class.

And how much math would you have to sue daily if you were like the
CVS/RiteAid/Supermarket type of pharmacist?

Thanks in advance...

[f0reveralways]

Does anyone here work as a Pharmacy Technician?

May I ask what your work schedule is like? I want to know how many hours it demands.

[Pharmacist]

Does anyone here work as a Pharmacy Technician?

May I ask what your work schedule is like? I want to know how many hours it demands.

Its like any other job, it depends on how many hours your looking for and how many hours they have available to give you. Theres no set amount of hours that is required. Most techs are typically students so they all work part time maybe like 10-20 hours a week. There are few full time techs as well that typically work the usual 9-5 as well but mostly it all depends on what the pharmacy has available to give you.

[f0reveralways]

^ thank you for answering! i plan on taking the test in Dec & hopefully begin working sometime in early 2009

[danceplaylove]

Can you apply to pharm and med school at the same time/year? o_o

[precious4e]

So I was just wondering how many different types of pharmacists there are,
and which one are the ones you see at like Wegman's or CVS?

Also how hard is the math and bio chem, because I didn't do so well on
the bio chem test in my AP Bio class.

And how much math would you have to sue daily if you were like the
CVS/RiteAid/Supermarket type of pharmacist?

Thanks in advance...

The ones you see in CVS etc... are retail pharmacists. You don't need to use much math. All you need to know is how to calculate maximum daily doses, days supply, and simple conversions and proportions. These only require basic arithmetic skills and you can use a calculator.

there's also clinical pharmacists, staff pharmacists, and you can also work for drug companies/insurance companies or do research.

Bio chem wasn't too bad for me but it's different for everyone (all you need to do is pass anyways)
You will also probably have to take calculus for pharmacy school

[~Sen~]

^Haha cool thanks for replying...

Anyways how much does a retail pharmacist make?
I'm more interested in becoming one of those.

And Calculus? I can't think of why a pharmacist would need to know calculus.
Well, whatever, I'm in AP Calculus AB right now, but I'm not doin so well...

Meh, even if I totally bomb the AP exam, I guess it won't be too bad if I retake it in college since I've already taken it once.

[I_broke_a_nail!]

Does anyone here work as a Pharmacy Technician?

May I ask what your work schedule is like? I want to know how many hours it demands.

During school year
Wednesday 12:30-8:30
Saturday 10:00-3:00
(Sometimes) Friday 5:00-9:00

During the summer
Wednesday: 9:00-8:30
Friday: 9:00-8:30
Saturday: 10:00-3:00

Pay rate: $13.00/hr for 3rd year student (still a tech, not an intern)

HOWEVER... I think I'm a bad example.
I'm money hungry so I try to get more hours.
I remember that last year, I only worked Fridays 3:00-8:30
Some pharmacies are very lenient. It really depends on how many people are staffed at that pharmacy.

If it's too little, bad, because they're going to be expecting more hours from you.
If it's too much, that could be bad too because during the summer, you'll have to share all those hours.

Anyways how much does a retail pharmacist make?

And Calculus? I can't think of why a pharmacist would need to know calculus.
Well, whatever, I'm in AP Calculus AB right now, but I'm not doin so well...

Retail pharmacist's salaries really depends on which state you choose to reside in.
California, Florida, and NYC makes the top salaries for retail pharmacy I BELIEVE. (not sure)

In NYC 2006, my sister was offered $115,000/year + a signing bonus.
In 2012 when I graduate, it will probably be going up.

It sucks, but even if you work there for a while, a new graduate could come in making much more than you do.
But that's how it works, they offer the higher salaries to the newer hires.

--

As for calculus, if you don't pass it in high school, that's fine.
If the college you choose accepts AP scores, I suggest you pass it because college calculus tends to be UN-fabulous.
Believe me, I've seen kids in my school struggle in college because of calculus.
So try to get those courses out of your hair asap, but don't worry if you don't.
You'll just have to be like the others and take it with them.

And just to let you know,
Calculus is really the LEAST of your worries in pharmacy school.
Organic was pretty bad, but now... I'm in my 3rd year and prepharmacy courses were SUCH a joke =(

So I was just wondering how many different types of pharmacists there are,
and which one are the ones you see at like Wegman's or CVS?

Also how hard is the math and bio chem, because I didn't do so well on
the bio chem test in my AP Bio class.

And how much math would you have to sue daily if you were like the
CVS/RiteAid/Supermarket type of pharmacist?

There are many job opportunities for a pharmacy graduate. You could be a:

-clinical pharmacist (making rounds in the hospital with doctors, suggesting medical regimes to the doctors)- requires 1-2 years of residency after you get your license.
-an industrial pharmacist (I don't really know what they do, but they usually work at Phizer)
-you could be the few people who become Directors/Managers at their hospital pharmacy. (which all do honesty, you do not really do anything with your pharmacy degree. You pretty much make sure that the hospital pharmacy runs efficiently)

-STAFF pharmacist (this includes hospital pharmacy- where you fill prescriptions, retail pharmacy- filling prescriptions in a community pharmacy, and other places)
-Mail order pharmacist (you go to some deserts place and fill several prescription without actually talking to any of the patients. it's crappy and boring--and i'm not a big fan of mail order places)

There are others that I cannot think of.

And Walgreens and CVS-- retail pharmacist. They make the most money, starting salary-wise, but I find that MOST of them are the ones that (1) Do not use most of the information they spent 6 years studying (2) Very very sad and depressed.

---

Biochem, it really depends on your professor and college.
I go to Long Island University, and sadly, all you have to do is memorize the slides and the handouts.
That's about it.

I think Pathophysiology is very hard but the most interesting.
But then again, my professor is very very intelligent, so I can't hate him for making the exam hard.
But again, these are still considered the introductory courses.

I think clinical, pharma-whatever-kinetic will be hard and pharmacotherapeutics will be a MONSTROSITY!

---

Are you trying to run away from math?
Luckily for you, calculus and precalculus is not necessary in a retail pharmacy setting (BUT you still need to take the course and pass)

In a retail pharmacy, if you do compounding, you'll be doing some alligation/alliquot method of mixing medications I BELIEVE (not sure). But most of the time, CVS and Walgreens do not do much compounding. SO, you basically need to calculate VERY SIMPLE MATH, for the day supply and making sure that the patient isn't overdosing per day.

[f0reveralways]

During school year
Wednesday 12:30-8:30
Saturday 10:00-3:00
(Sometimes) Friday 5:00-9:00

During the summer
Wednesday: 9:00-8:30
Friday: 9:00-8:30
Saturday: 10:00-3:00

Pay rate: $13.00/hr for 3rd year student (still a tech, not an intern)

HOWEVER... I think I'm a bad example.
I'm money hungry so I try to get more hours.
I remember that last year, I only worked Fridays 3:00-8:30
Some pharmacies are very lenient. It really depends on how many people are staffed at that pharmacy.

If it's too little, bad, because they're going to be expecting more hours from you.
If it's too much, that could be bad too because during the summer, you'll have to share all those hours.

ooh thanks for the specific times. i'm hoping to work maybe once a week like the friday thing you did last year. i already work 2 jobs (that i'd rather not give up) so i was hoping working as a pharm tech would just be a side thing.

[~Sen~]

And Walgreens and CVS-- retail pharmacist. They make the most money, starting salary-wise, but I find that MOST of them are the ones that (1) Do not use most of the information they spent 6 years studying (2) Very very sad and depressed.

Umm... man I'm gonna sound so stupid... Why are they depressed? Boring job? Don't talk to people much?

Are you trying to run away from math?

Math is the bane of my existence >_>

And thank you very much for replying. The people on this board are so helpful...

[precious4e]

^ Retail pharmacists are mostly "depressed" because they work long shifts (sometimes as long as 14 hours), they spend most their time dealing with stupid insurance companies and get yelled at by customers on a daily basis. It's a very stressful job that's more about profits than patient-oriented care. You spend 6 years of school learning how to better manage patient's medications but doctors take you as a joke and customers think you're a pill dispensing machine.

But don't let that get you down LOL. You gotta work in retail first to see if you'll feel the same or not. I know some pharmacists that love it and I know some that hate it.

I worked at busy stores (300-400 scripts a day) before and at times it can get crazy but sometimes it's fun since you get to interact with a lot of people. I think people who handle pressure well and who have good customer service skills will do fine in retail. If not, then maybe being a staff pharmacist in a hospital (or other fields) would be better.

[erure]

This is a question made out to people in pharm school right now. Do you ever regret it? I'm not saying you will or you should or anything like that, it's just that one of my friends is a third year at pharm school here in UCSD and she says she hates it because all she does is memorize things. She says she's not feeling like she's learning anything and she wishes she had gone to grad school instead. I was confused by her random rant because I would be so happy if I was a third year in pharm school -- only 1.5 more years and you're a pharmacist! +_+ So how do you guys feel about this?

I know it's very different but I'm sort of torn between med school and pharm school (if I can get into either;; )... At this point I will probably apply for med schools first and get some experience as a pharmacy technician. Oh, and you need to pass a test to work as a pharmacy technician, right (I'm in CA)? O_O

Thank you in advance... ^^