[sidney]

Does anybody ever feel this way?

This is my senior year of college, and I'm majoring in Biology. I plan to apply to pharmacy school this year. If i don't get into pharmacy school this year, I have no idea what the hell am i going to do. With stress and pressure from parents, I just want to die. Then I think of other alternatives to pharmacy. I was thinking optometry, dental, etc. But all are all the same to level of difficulty. I blame myself for messing up during my college career, I should've study until I die to get a perfect 4.0 or something. Believe me, a career in the heatlh industry is THAT competitive.
I have no idea what to do with my life. Can't get to any grad school. Graduate with a bachelor in Biology and can't make it to use. I am 20 years old already, and I still live at home and depend on parents to pay bills.
I can get a job as a cashier or whatever, but seriously, is that what I want to do with my life? No. But it seems like the path I'm heading.

[coreancc]

Life is rarely as bad as it seems. I'm a few years further down the road than you, and I've observed several friends fall flat on their face and completely start over again... go back to school, get another degree, go down a different path... etc... I know from experience that no matter how bad your life gets, you can crawl back out of that hole and go somewhere yet. Don't let the whole death thing get into your head... seriously, if you think ending your life is a better option, then why not throw caution to the wind and try something risky instead - say, start your own business? I mean, what do you have to lose, right? You were planning on ending it all anyway... (note, I'm just following a line of reasoning, not implying that you are considering suicide yourself)

[709394]

^ i agree with above. Im almost in the same stage, having graduated college with no freaking clue what i want to do. But ending my life has NEVER occurred to me because i feel that there are too many things in life worth seeing. I find that if you step out of your zone for a bit, you'll get a whole new perspective on life and that in itself helps. IE: talking to people with life experience, they can REALLY help. Or going to another place for a bit and observing the people around you...these may sound like quirky ideas what they help calm me down so much, and I suddenly get a wave of inspiration JUST from not being in the same place that I'm used to.

But back to your original post, biology degree is tough, your limited to a couple jobs. But if its one thing i learned about post-college recruiting, IF YOUR GOOD ENOUGH, employers will look past your degree and hire you. I can only speak for the business/econ side of things, but i've definetely seen people getting hired for consulting/analyst positions when they have a totally unrelated degree. The key is making them believe that you are genuinely interested, and you got what it takes to pickup everything from scratch, fast.

[Laxntiga]

Optical school is easy, in PA all it requires is u to pass a test I think. Opticians make bank, my dad was one.

My best friends dad is the person who makes the fake teeth when people need implants. He is doing pretty well too.

Either way, you can't lose. I say go for optician, glasses will never go out of style.

[derrek]

*gives sidney a hug* Things are gonna work out homie! Without sunshine and rain, the grass won't grow!

[sasuke-kun]

Optical school is easy, in PA all it requires is u to pass a test I think. Opticians make bank, my dad was one.

My best friends dad is the person who makes the fake teeth when people need implants. He is doing pretty well too.

Either way, you can't lose. I say go for optician, glasses will never go out of style.

i think OP was referring to optometrist, not an optician.

either way, why do you want to go into healthcare? just for money? or is it because everyone is telling you to be some sort of doctor? are you sure youre going to like it? i have some friends who are in different healthcare fields and they hate what they are doing.

[negitoro]

Definitely don't be too down and never, ever get so down you think about dying.

People start over all the time. I have many friends who have changed career paths completely since graduation. I did it twice already myself.

My mom's a bio major and she did just fine. She ended up working, getting her MBA and then later starting her own business. Many college graduates come out with liberal arts and physical sciences degrees that end up doing jobs that have nothing to do with their degrees and none of them starve or end up working at McDonalds.

To think that because you might not get into Pharm that you'll be forced into a minimum wage existence is ridiculous.

[Prot]

Does anybody ever feel this way?

This is my senior year of college, and I'm majoring in Biology. I plan to apply to pharmacy school this year. However,
- My gpa is only average, 3.2~
- PCAT score is horrible, 30 percent mark
- pharmacy is too competitive

My chances of getting into any pharmacy school is from 0 to 20%. If i don't get into pharmacy school this year, I have no idea what the hell am i going to do. With stress and pressure from parents, I just want to die. Then I think of other alternatives to pharmacy. I was thinking optometry, dental, etc. But all are all the same to level of difficulty. I blame myself for messing up during my college career, I should've study until I die to get a perfect 4.0 or something. Believe me, a career in the heatlh industry is THAT competitive.
I have no idea what to do with my life. Can't get to any grad school. Graduate with a bachelor in Biology and can't make it to use. I am 20 years old already, and I still live at home and depend on parents to pay bills.
I can get a job as a cashier or whatever, but seriously, is that what I want to do with my life? No. But it seems like the path I'm heading.

I am 20, I am a Bio major 3rd year, my GPA is 3.1, I am not planning to invest more time in education. You can get into graduate school fine with 3.2~ and you can do a lot with a bachelors in Biology (which is what I am planning to do). You simply need to invest time in researching job opportunities. A lot of health care related fields in the gov only require bachelors and you can work your way up IE: CDC FDA Homeland security, etc the options are endless and that is only in the gov. sector. Imagine the offers in the private sector which you can get into after job exp in the gov sector if you cannot get an entry level job to raise your job experience.

Anyway, if you are really interested in getting into higher education, then apply and try. Otherwise, invest more time in researching job opportunities.

[tlydia]

Does anybody ever feel this way?

This is my senior year of college, and I'm majoring in Biology. I plan to apply to pharmacy school this year. However,
- My gpa is only average, 3.2~
- PCAT score is horrible, 30 percent mark
- pharmacy is too competitive

My chances of getting into any pharmacy school is from 0 to 20%. If i don't get into pharmacy school this year, I have no idea what the hell am i going to do. With stress and pressure from parents, I just want to die. Then I think of other alternatives to pharmacy. I was thinking optometry, dental, etc. But all are all the same to level of difficulty. I blame myself for messing up during my college career, I should've study until I die to get a perfect 4.0 or something. Believe me, a career in the heatlh industry is THAT competitive.
I have no idea what to do with my life. Can't get to any grad school. Graduate with a bachelor in Biology and can't make it to use. I am 20 years old already, and I still live at home and depend on parents to pay bills.
I can get a job as a cashier or whatever, but seriously, is that what I want to do with my life? No. But it seems like the path I'm heading.

I'm really sorry to hear about your situation. I agree with what most of the replies that everyone has posted. Here's my two cents. You should try to do what makes you happy and take it from there. It seems to me (from reading your post) that you want to get into pharmacy because of your parents. Is that something you want to do or pressured into? I was in somewhat of the same situation. My family wanted me to become a pharmacist and I decided to major in pharmacy. I worked my butt off studying, putting my personal life on hold. Right before I was to apply to pharmacy school, I realized that I wasn't happy. Pharmacy was what my family wanted, not me. I needed to think about what I wanted first before what others want of me. So I decided to take a different path and pursuit my degree in education which I finally finished up. What I'm trying to say is, it's not too late. You're still young and have so much opportunities to do what you want. All you have to do is think positive, make an effort, and take the initiative. I would also like to mention, a career in the health industry is competitive. I switched from majoring in pharmacy to education and now recently to healthcare. It was so competitive to get the internship that I wanted, I only confided in my then boyfriend and two of my closest friends. I didn't want to mention to my family because I didn't want them to be disapppointed just in case I didn't make it. I was 100% sure that I didn't get the internship and thought it was a waste of time considering the people that I was up against, vying for the same internship. I got in by trying to make the best of what I got and working hard. And I think you can do the same. You'll never get anywhere if you sit back, do nothing, and pity yourself. I wish you nothing but the best.

[muta]

Does anybody ever feel this way?

This is my senior year of college, and I'm majoring in Biology. I plan to apply to pharmacy school this year. However,
- My gpa is only average, 3.2~
- PCAT score is horrible, 30 percent mark
- pharmacy is too competitive

My chances of getting into any pharmacy school is from 0 to 20%. If i don't get into pharmacy school this year, I have no idea what the hell am i going to do. With stress and pressure from parents, I just want to die. Then I think of other alternatives to pharmacy. I was thinking optometry, dental, etc. But all are all the same to level of difficulty. I blame myself for messing up during my college career, I should've study until I die to get a perfect 4.0 or something. Believe me, a career in the heatlh industry is THAT competitive.
I have no idea what to do with my life. Can't get to any grad school. Graduate with a bachelor in Biology and can't make it to use. I am 20 years old already, and I still live at home and depend on parents to pay bills.
I can get a job as a cashier or whatever, but seriously, is that what I want to do with my life? No. But it seems like the path I'm heading.

From reading your post, it seems you are just looking for excuses to fail.
Anyway, you are 20 years old, it is time to grow up and take charge of your life.

[Raito!]

you can change your major =)

but the economy is badd so im sure your not the only one that wanna die T__T

you can always start as a cashier then progress into bank teller and then move into the area of finance =)

[ching22194]

i emphatized with you but never did i think of ending my life just because the world is so harsh.

i didnt do well in college either, i screwed up my major subject.
im embarassed to apply for a job in big companies coz they'll look for my transcript.

well im an architect. i dont have money to start on my own and the competition is so tough.

just find an alternative and divert your energy on things your good at. being a cashier is not a good option for you.
find a job thats more inclined to your course.

you said your planning to apply for pharmacy, then do it. if you get turn down at least you tried.
you may think your not capable but believe me youll quickly learn evrything coz your damn serious about it.

[tinasarangg]

Heh you and I both buddy, the only difference is I'm dental...
My advisors both told me that if your GPA isn't good enough, take one year off and engage in a long term research project, and on the side study to take your pre-professional exam again...

You know...there are things outside of pre-professional schools. There are a lot of government funded places that you can look into esp with a biology degree (NIH, FDA, Walter Reed, private organizations, etc.)

Good luck =\
Heads up okay?

[Take Five]

i was about to embark on the same path as you. unfortunately, i failed out a lot faster and haven't had much luck with school after that either.

so...chin up cuz there are people out there worse off? lol. here's to hoping that things work out for people like us one day.

[jshat4]

I've been there too...and honestly while we can say all this encouraging things about how it's going to be better, reality is---who knows if it'll get better. Sorry for being pessimistic, but sometimes I think it's just good to be realistic and don't try to find bright rainbows where they don't belong.

Now that being said, 3.2 is still ok. Like you could probably get into a lot of grad schools with that. I'm not sure if you're in the US, Canada, Australia, etc. But grad school obviously has its problems too *cough* lack of jobs *cough*.

You know, there's jobs that just hire ANYONE with a bachelors and you work your way up. Look into the government.

Healthcare is competitive, but then again, what isn't? I don't get how healthcare is more competitive than other fields in the current economic state. At least people will always get sick regardless of the fluctuating economy.

[Laxntiga]

isn't an optician and optometrist the same?

I know the eye doctor is different..... doesn't optician and optometrist both make glasses? I think an optometrist is an optician... no? am I wrong?

[uhhuh_5]

Maybe you should expand your options and do more research in other healthcare and allied healthcare professions? Acupuncturist, medical technologist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist, dental hygienist, chiropractor, food technologist, public health, etc. I was a bio major as well and I've discovered that it really is only a stepping stone in obtaining a higher degree. And since I have discovered that I actually have no interest in most healthcare professions out there, I am stuck working in a lab, for now.

[Mattsanity]

life is a john teshing warzone

[Pogichinoy]

Are you passionate about what you are studying/future career?

Since you are still unsure of what to do, where to go, and how to do it, simply let it ride, keep working as hard as you can so you can finish your studies. Afterwards when you begin working, you will gain a greater understanding of what options are out there, then you can make your decision on where you want your life headed.

Stay optimistic, it is not a total loss.

People like you experience this feeling at least once in their lives.

---

And grow up, honestly, 'wanting to die'? You cannot expect to succeed in life, if you are that weak. Keep your head up!

[sasuke-kun]

isn't an optician and optometrist the same?

I know the eye doctor is different..... doesn't optician and optometrist both make glasses? I think an optometrist is an optician... no? am I wrong?

theres ophthalmologist which is a doctor of medicine (MD) that specializes in eye. they can do surgery, diagnose and treat eye diseases.

optometrist are eye doctors. they are doctors of optometry. they do the visual tests and prescribe eye glasses. they can also treat minor eye conditions.

opticians are technicians. they do the dirty work such as teaching how to put in contacts, fixing glasses.

i think the labs actually do the grinding to make the glasses.



its like a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician. they are different. the pharm techs do the dirty work, thank God!