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How do I decide if pharmacy is for me?

Hello! I am a pre-pharmacy student right now and am really struggling to decide if pharmacy is for me. I have been struggling in the chemistry area specifically with organic chemistry and I feel so overwhelmed by what I will need to know as a pharmD. Do you have study advice or general advice for how to know if pharmacy is truly for you?

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Yolanda’s Answer

The field of pharmacy has changed dramatically over the years. I have been a pharmacist for over 20 years, and even though I love what I do, I would not advise the future generation to go into pharmacy. I say that because now you have to do at least 2 residencies to be competitive. Plus there are so many pharmacy schools now, that the market is overly saturated. To get a job you may have to move to the out skirts where no one wants to be. I would seriously reconsider your path. But don't take my word for it. Research the profession. Speak to other pharmacists. I would look into becoming a PA or nurse practitioner. Less time in school, better pay, and they are in demand. If you really want job security, look into the mental health profession. Hope this helps. Wish you the best.
Thank you comment icon You have a PharmD AND PhD… I agree it would be quite difficult to find employment utilizing your skill set however, there are plenty of opportunities for people who want to just practice pharmacy. It’s all relative to your level of commitment . You can achieve anything you put your mind to. Mary Ehrgott
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Mary’s Answer

Pharmacy continues to be a diverse and rewarding profession. I worked as a clinical hospital pharmacist for 35 + years. I recently retired and now work per diem in a retail setting specializing in HIV care. I live in suburbs of Philadelphia where there are many opportunities for employment. In order to ascertain whether pharmacy is right for you I recommend shadowing pharmacists in various practice settings and volunteering at local hospitals in the pharmacy department. Most will welcome extra help and you can observe and get a sense of whether you have what it takes. Note I started out in pharmaceutical industry but within years realized this venue did not align well with my personal goals as well as my professional vocation to help others. There’s always something unique and different to do in pharmacy. You have to keep an open mind!
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Seth’s Answer

I suspected that pharmacy could be my career when I did well in inorganic and organic chemistry. I did almost as well in biology. Less well in physics or mathematics. I had to take calculus twice to make it through. I suspect my physics professor passed me not because I did well enough but because he didn't want to see me take his class more than once. (I'm a class clown.) If I hadn't done well in chemistry in college, I probably would have taken a different route.

I will say that before I took pre-pharmacy courses, my mother (who is a nurse) told me that health care professions don't go out of style. The automobile industry killed the industry making whips for people driving horse-drawn buggies. It's unlikely health care will go away, as long as there are humans. I then got a job at a pharmacy, and would walk past the pharmacist regularly on my way up to the billing office where I worked. He never looked like he was working hard, so I figured if he could do it, I could. What I did not know was that Abdul was SUPREMELY COMPETENT and didn't have to break a sweat to do his job. I only figured that out after getting into pharmacy school.

You don't have to be a genius to be a pharmacist. Working hard at learning what you need to can be enough. Of course, if you are a genius, that should help. Best of luck!
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