[pinkch33ks]

I just want your views on what you would do if you were in my position, so any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I'm a junior in uni, and as far as future career goes, I didn't really consider my overall satifisfaction and contempt with my life and work when making the decision to become a pharmacist. Eh, stability, sufficient salary, license, and satisfying my parents, what more could I ask for? Happiness, my area of expertise and interest and such were not really taken into account in my naive, fresh out of high school self three years back, so these were pretty much all the factors that were taken into when making my decision. The main decision was up to my unyielding parents and since I wasn't sure of my own choice, I just followed through with theirs.

I decided to take a break for school this semester and have been working in a retail pharmacy for two weeks so far, and it is depressing like nothing I've ever experienced and the prospect of being miserable with a career in which I see no hope for my mental well-being has gotten me considering a change of major, which is a huge decision for me since I'm already in my third year.

So here's the dilemma. I've already been accepted to pharmacy school for next fall(whicih I've worked diligently towards up untill now) and in the meanwhile, I am contemplating changing my major to accounting. This would be a bit of a setback, since the majority of the courses I've been taking are science or science-related, and I would probably be stuck in school for another 2-3 years or so just to get a B.S. in accounting. I havent' done too much research into accounting and will be considering other areas as well. THe pay and benefits of being an accountant will probably not equate to being a pharmacist, but I really don't see myself in that field.

Emotional satisfaction....or......Salary satisfaction

[i'm lagging yo]

I'm in my third year right now as well and i'm in the process of changing my major from computer engineering to business... so as you can imagine the requirements are no where near the same. I am going to have to stay longer than usual and catch up with summer school. i also have to petition for extra units as I am going to go over the maximum units allowed for a bachelor degree at my school.

but in your case, you say pharmacy is boring. Have you thought about any other options? because the stereotype with accounting is it's also boring, so if you're afraid of boring repetitive jobs then.... you might as well choose something you believe you'll actually enjoy doing for the rest of your life.

on the other hand.... you've only been working at the pharmacy for two weeks?? i don't think that's enough time to gauge what you'll be doing when you graduate. Not all pharmacists work at Sav-on or Rite-Aid you know... hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, whatever..

so basically are you willing to stick up with the rest of college in pharmacy then go to pharm school for another... what like 2 years? since your parents chose this major for you, you better just really contemplate what you picture yourself doing for the rest of your life and decide on a major that corresponds to that.

[Jay Chou]

there are a lot of other careers in healthcare, like dentistry, optometry, etc. so you're not only limited to pharmacy.
maybe search for another career that's science-related?
and what makes you think accounting is not boring? and that you will like it?

go check out this website, there are good descriptions of every career you can think of:
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/home.htm

[HPWB]

Have you also considered other fields of pharmacy?
You've tried retail, but you can also go into hospital pharmacy or research pharmacy which tackle different facets of the career. In hospital you pair with doctors and deal with different drugs while in research you help research and develop the drugs.
But then again, with retail pharmacy, do study something commerce related so that after a few years of work, you can go into a partnership or own your own pharmacy. You therefore have the choice of being pharmacist in charge, or/and work the books - something more accounting related where your commerce degree can kick in. Since you're still a student - not a fully qualified pharmacist, you're responsibilities are limited.
We're all just giving advice but ultimately its your decision - just do what is best for you.

[Brusky]

I was in the same situation as you; I also wanted to become a pharmacist for all of the same reasons - good pay, good stability, good blah blah blah. I took a lot of science and science-related classes working towards my B.S. in biology, but I came to realize it just wasn't for me anymore. I didn't want to school for another 6 or whatever years, I didn't want to worry about paying for all of my schooling, I didn't want to do something I wasn't truly passionate about.

I'm finishing my second year of college and I've just flipped everything around and taken a 180 from bio to study art and pursue a career in graphic design or computer animation. I know my new field is saturated and extremely competitive, the pay isn't nearly as good, and it's not as stable a career, but the way I see it, "do something you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life."

I don't need a lot of money; just enough to support a family and live comfortably is sufficient for me. I want to live a rich life, not in money, but in experience and happiness.

In the end, it's really up to you. What'll make you happier overall is what you should go with.

[uwmissy]

yes i agree with Jay Chou. You might want to look into other healthcare careers. Since you have taken enough science and general ed requirements to get into pharm school.. you will most likely have already fulfilled the prereq's for applying to maybe nursing, dentistry, optometry school, etc. So that way you don't have to completely start over. Maybe job shadow for a coulple weeks to figure out if the other healthcare options interests you.

[EYJAYJAY]

ive changed my major from pharmacy to physical therapy. these 2 majors share some similar required courses so, it shouldn't be a major setback if u decide to do wat i did as well

[pinkch33ks]

Do you individuals put personal ambitions and happiness before other obligations?

My family is middle-class, my parents work hard and I haven't had to work or anything throughout my life because I've always been so irresonsible. As embarrassing as it is, I still get an allowance, but reality is, that my parents are hitting their mid-50's and will have to retire soon, and I have this extreme burden of having a high salary job so that I will be able to support them in a few years after I graduate. It's the whole: "they help me out now by working really hard, I pay them back later and do the same" mentality that gets in the way of seeking happiness in my own life, career, future, etc.


I'm not sure if I would be happier by making a personal sacrifice in order to make others happy or by going the other route.

I guess I just need some time to give this all some serious thought, but anyways, thanks for the links and advice.

[EYJAYJAY]

accountants still make a decent amount dont they?

[hamster428]

accountants still make a decent amount dont they?

yes they do. my friend's mom has a master's in accounting and she gets paid pretty well.

wow, it seems like i'm not the only one who backed out from pharmacy. I applied to a pre-pharmacy program cuz i didn't have a direction and my parents pushed for it too. but then I changed my mind last minute and chose an engineering school instead. I switched twice since then too, from Aerospace Eng to Biomedical Eng to Civil Eng. But I like what I do now. It fascinates me, infrastructures and stuff like that. Talking about the Big Dig interests me more than talking about the new drugs for cancer I guess.

And yeah, being a traffic engineer will get me so much less money with so much more work to do. But I'll be doing this for a long long time and I want to make sure I like it. Counting pills isn't exactly exciting . I did that when I was 6 (my uncle had a pharmacy); I'd like to move on.

So the point is, what do you want to do? Not what we think you should do. Cuz, that's like asking your parents what they want you to do.

If you're worried about the salary thing... don't. Sure, pharmacists get paid like 80G a year coming out of school, but do you really need that much? My parents make 50G a year combined, and we get by. Of course I'd like to strive higher than that and with a college degree, you will get more than that. So I don't think you need to make top salary to be able to provide for your parents. Unless you're a big spender

[Brusky]

Do you individuals put personal ambitions and happiness before other obligations?

My family is middle-class, my parents work hard and I haven't had to work or anything throughout my life because I've always been so irresonsible. As embarrassing as it is, I still get an allowance, but reality is, that my parents are hitting their mid-50's and will have to retire soon, and I have this extreme burden of having a high salary job so that I will be able to support them in a few years after I graduate. It's the whole: "they help me out now by working really hard, I pay them back later and do the same" mentality that gets in the way of seeking happiness in my own life, career, future, etc.
I'm not sure if I would be happier by making a personal sacrifice in order to make others happy or by going the other route.

I guess I just need some time to give this all some serious thought, but anyways, thanks for the links and advice.

I see where you're coming from and I understand that desire to be able to make enough to care for and support your parents, but put yourself in their position. Assume you've already lived your life, worked, and are now part of the elderly community. Would you want/expect your children to worry about getting jobs that'll make enough to support you? Or would you want/expect them to worry about getting jobs that make them happy, enriched, and fulfilled?

My point is not that you should leave your parents to rot away, wither, and die, but rather that you shouldn't give up your life trying to save theirs - the time for each of us will come regardless of how much money you make and spend. I guess what I'm really trying to say is that it's still possible to get a career you love and still tend to your parents

[Jay Chou]

as long as you choose a career thats related to healthcare, you don't have to worry about salary because basically all healthcare jobs have stable income. and there is always a need for healthcare professionals because the population is aging.

for accounting, i think you get paid ok or either very well if you have degrees or youre at the top.

but it's a personal choice....everyone has different views.
i personally think that you don't really need to be that interested in a career in order to do it. i think income stability and job outlook is one of the top priorities in choosing a career (one of the reasons i'm choosing dentistry, and also because my parents do it).
but accounting is perfectly fine too....don't regret if you don't like it though.

[uandme4ever21]

I just want your views on what you would do if you were in my position, so any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I'm a junior in uni, and as far as future career goes, I didn't really consider my overall satifisfaction and contempt with my life and work when making the decision to become a pharmacist. Eh, stability, sufficient salary, license, and satisfying my parents, what more could I ask for? Happiness, my area of expertise and interest and such were not really taken into account in my naive, fresh out of high school self three years back, so these were pretty much all the factors that were taken into when making my decision. The main decision was up to my unyielding parents and since I wasn't sure of my own choice, I just followed through with theirs.

I decided to take a break for school this semester and have been working in a retail pharmacy for two weeks so far, and it is depressing like nothing I've ever experienced and the prospect of being miserable with a career in which I see no hope for my mental well-being has gotten me considering a change of major, which is a huge decision for me since I'm already in my third year.

So here's the dilemma. I've already been accepted to pharmacy school for next fall(whicih I've worked diligently towards up untill now) and in the meanwhile, I am contemplating changing my major to accounting. This would be a bit of a setback, since the majority of the courses I've been taking are science or science-related, and I would probably be stuck in school for another 2-3 years or so just to get a B.S. in accounting. I havent' done too much research into accounting and will be considering other areas as well. THe pay and benefits of being an accountant will probably not equate to being a pharmacist, but I really don't see myself in that field.

Emotional satisfaction....or......Salary satisfaction

What is it that you do not like about the profession? Do you feel that it is boring, tiring, stressful, or what?
All health care is like that. Name me a physician who doesn't skip out on meals, isn't being yelled at, stress out at every minute? Name me a nurse who doesn't have to listen to the constant nagging and complaining about patient or isn't vomited on sometime in her life. Name me a dentist who doesn't have to stare at left over food in the mouth or has a sore back from bending over all day? Basically there are no perfect jobs out there. There are only jobs you can live with and jobs you can't live without.
Unless you are sending a rocket ship into space or doing brain surgery, I promise you most jobs are tedious and mundane. There are a lot of other ways to make money that require a lot less sacrifice. I know people who graduated college with just a bachelor degree that are making six figures right now, while I have to give up my weekends working on patient profiles and study. This past christmas, the only poor people who were at the dinner table was me and my close med friend. Everyone else had their kids, driving a descent car, and own a little house.
If you want to make money, then go into a profession that makes your boss money. Most of health care is going bankrupt. The reason why pharmacist and everyone else in health care are paid so well is the responsibilty one has to take for a patient's life. You get that nice paying job as long as you don't loose your license.
On a good note, my boss made more than 130K last year if you include sign on bonuse and revenue sharing. Starting salary at the local chain store, 50 dollars an hour with 2-5 K sign on bonuse. All the pharmacist at my work place own bmw and 2 to 3 hourses. A medical director I know at the local ER makes more than 500 dollars an hour, turns out to me more than one mill a year.

[Becca*]

everything is about money today, but you'll have to think if you can actually go through with your career until you retire...money is nothing if you're not happy
I'd rather do something I love doing than doing something I hate, even if it has more pay
One time, my parents kept talking about my distant cousin making 100K+ a year being a pharmacist, and I thought, wow I'm going to become a pharmacist so I can make that much...now I that I've thought about it, I don't anymore
Accountants have pretty good pay anyway, probably not as much as a pharmacist but you'll still have a pretty good lifestyle with that kind of pay
Anyways, I'm in a similar situation, but less complicated. Like I said, I also planned on becoming a pharmacist b/c it paid well and that's what my parents wanted me to be. I've only been granted early admission in uni, but I came to a realization that being a pharmacist did not interest me at all and I did not want that to be my career....so I gave up my early admission and changed it to business b/c that's what I have an interest in

[pinkch33ks]

What is it that you do not like about the profession? Do you feel that it is boring, tiring, stressful, or what?
All health care is like that. Name me a physician who doesn't skip out on meals, isn't being yelled at, stress out at every minute? Name me a nurse who doesn't have to listen to the constant nagging and complaining about patient or isn't vomited on sometime in her life. Name me a dentist who doesn't have to stare at left over food in the mouth or has a sore back from bending over all day? Basically there are no perfect jobs out there. There are only jobs you can live with and jobs you can't live without.
Unless you are sending a rocket ship into space or doing brain surgery, I promise you most jobs are tedious and mundane. There are a lot of other ways to make money that require a lot less sacrifice. I know people who graduated college with just a bachelor degree that are making six figures right now, while I have to give up my weekends working on patient profiles and study. This past christmas, the only poor people who were at the dinner table was me and my close med friend. Everyone else had their kids, driving a descent car, and own a little house.
If you want to make money, then go into a profession that makes your boss money. Most of health care is going bankrupt. The reason why pharmacist and everyone else in health care are paid so well is the responsibilty one has to take for a patient's life. You get that nice paying job as long as you don't loose your license.
On a good note, my boss made more than 130K last year if you include sign on bonuse and revenue sharing. Starting salary at the local chain store, 50 dollars an hour with 2-5 K sign on bonuse. All the pharmacist at my work place own bmw and 2 to 3 hourses. A medical director I know at the local ER makes more than 500 dollars an hour, turns out to me more than one mill a year.

Weren't you the same person who made a post about feeling disillusioned by the whole profession of pharmacy and decided to go to med school? Perhaps I've mistaken you for another member who made posts on the subject.

[NEENER.]

Wow. Reading this has sure made me think of me.
Im pretty much in the same steps as you.
Except Im currently just a freshman.

Sometimes its hard to think about yourself.
When you have so much pressure comming in from everyone.

Im hoping that with time and experience.
I might start like the pharmacy route.
But right now my feelings are just pretty neutral.

From prepharm club meetings Ive learned that there are so much more fields to go into.
The only when that I can remember, and was also mentioned, is Retail.

Look into it and see if your Pharm school has any Business classes.
And you'll probably get more helpful information from a counselor.

[uandme4ever21]

Weren't you the same person who made a post about feeling disillusioned by the whole profession of pharmacy and decided to go to med school? Perhaps I've mistaken you for another member who made posts on the subject.

No, I am the person who is disillusion at the entire health care area period! But like I said, it is only one of a few jobs out there that will guarantee you a six figure salary and a life time job as long as you don't kill someone. There are easier ways to make money though. A six figure salary would barely get you an average size house in LA. Imagine what average Americans have to go through. You know, the ones who work 60 hours a week, 40 for a salary, 20 hours of free overtime, hoping they don't get fired, investing all they can into their 401K because they know the pensions are not going to be there. Or the ones who are stuck at a crappy job because they don't want to loose their health insurance.
Yes being a pharmacist stinks sometimes, but guess what, that is why you get paid so much and have privileges that the average person could never dream about. I get diseaster health insurance at a cheap rate, a very good health coverage, cheap interest rates for house loans, revenue sharing, and etc... All because I work in health care. Any job that pays a lot will basically stink. Go ask the straight guy who is doing gay porn. Start your own company like I am doing then.

[globosapien]

i was planning on becoming a pharmacist too... my parents wanted me to do it... and the stable pay, the benefits, and the great hours seemed appealing...

well... i worked as a pharm tech for about a year at a retail pharmacy, and i really didn't like it.
it wasn't for me.

you also have to take a look at your personality... i have a very outgoing and talkative personality, but as a pharmacist, talking and engaging in conversation is so limited.

all you do is sit behind a window, give out prescriptions, and occasionally smile at a regular customer from time to time...

oh and did i mention i gained 10 lbs working there?
all i did was fill prescriptions, eat, memorize medications, eat some more, watch korean dramas with my pharmacist, and then finally go home.

i found it fun in the beginning, but after a while, i just had zero passion for it.

think about what you like, what you're passionate about... let that drive you towards your career choice...
btw: take as much classes as you can... see where your interests lie...

i like what one of the guys ^ said up there...
how i'd rather be doing something i love and not work a day in my life...

now that sounds awesome in my book

good luck

[PiffleSprite]

>.< right now i am a bio-chem major... i dont really have much of a passion for a certain career really... a lotta things happened when i was little that made my parents really sad (the older brother and sisters set that negative pace... ) and ever since i was little i didnt want to make my parents feel sad/cry like they did in the past... right now as a bio-chem major ive decided to become a doctor or pharmacist.. maybe its because its been programed in my head by my parents saying that i should... it doesnt really bother me too much to go in that profession... but i do wonder sometimes if this is where i should be... right now im taking classes to become a certified pharm tech and its okay so far... but im still in between... the only problem is that i havent been focusing too much and i might actually hinder my chances of getting accepted (crosses fingers) to med/pharmacy school... i got the dreaded C in the first semester of o-chem ...
i may be just babbling but i think pinkch33ks if you do decide to change your major or direction, i also think you should look at other options, how your decision affects other people, and how it will affect you. i know in the end its your future and your life and you should do what you want and i think that of myself too, like i should find something that i want and i may be just weak but i dont have the heart to break my parents' hearts and in the end, if i chose a medical profession iill be doing for a long while, but the satisfaction of my parents being happy (and not think so much of what my elders did) then to me, it would be worth it.
i go to a community college and its my 3rd year (im transferring soon) but ive met sooooo many classmates who have their bachelors and have their stable career. i ask a lot of them why did they decide to come back to school and many of them say they werent happy with their jobs and they didnt want to do it anymore. this one guy i met was like 30 something.. he was successful and even drives an audi but hes going to the community college i go to, and he wants to change his profession... so i think... if you are really unhappy and think you will b in the future then i would suggest changing it before you are working in it for 5-10 years and regretting it...

[Sky012]

Do you individuals put personal ambitions and happiness before other obligations?

My family is middle-class, my parents work hard and I haven't had to work or anything throughout my life because I've always been so irresonsible. As embarrassing as it is, I still get an allowance, but reality is, that my parents are hitting their mid-50's and will have to retire soon, and I have this extreme burden of having a high salary job so that I will be able to support them in a few years after I graduate. It's the whole: "they help me out now by working really hard, I pay them back later and do the same" mentality that gets in the way of seeking happiness in my own life, career, future, etc.
I'm not sure if I would be happier by making a personal sacrifice in order to make others happy or by going the other route.

I guess I just need some time to give this all some serious thought, but anyways, thanks for the links and advice.

I'm in the exact same situation as you, I also wanted to become a Pharmacist - but recently had a change of mind. I'm switching to graphic design now, because I feel that pharmacy isn't for me....I don't think I can handle the workload and memorizing all the drug names. When I got into pharmacy, just like you...I thought of the good pay, stable job and fulfilling my parent's wishes. But I wasn't really happy...I was pretty much lost. I was going towards that direction because my parents wanted me to. Even though being a graphic designer won't make as much money compare to being a pharmacist....at least I will enjoy what I do. Pharmacy seems boring to me, I have no interest in it. I talked to some of my friends about it and they say I should do what I really like....something I will enjoy for the rest of my life. So I suggest you sit down and really think about it....think about what makes you happy...not what makes a lot of money!