Average age of Pharmacy Students?

Question

I know my concerns might be shallow.. but I need some of your insights:

I just got a B.S. degree but I want to go on to pursue Pharmacy which means that I have to spend 6 more years of my life studying. I just want to know if its worth it. Lately I've realized how fast life goes by!

Do you still have time to do other things like work, or go on vacations?

Are you happy and contented with your job? Why so?

Do you guys work? (I need to work to pay for pharm school if ever)

Is it true that pharmacy graduates find looking for jobs a breeze?

Please help me. It is a life-changing decision. Haha =)

I'm not that old, I'm just 21. But I do want to enjoy life while I'm young and capable of doing crazy things. Haha =)

Answer 1

The average age at my school for first years is in the mid 20s. Pharmacy school is only 4 years long. However, I don't know how many prereqs you'll have to make up.
Most people do work during pharmacy school. The average is 10-15 hours per week. Once you start pharmacy school, the chains will pay you quite a bit more than the average tech. Walgreens, in my area, will pay about $14.50/hour for first years, and each year, the pay will increase. You will have to take loans.
At my school, the 4th years, on average, have 4-5 job offers upon graduation.

Answer 2

Average age, I don't know. But at the school where my pharmacist friend goes, most of them are about your age starting out. Some of the older ones start pharm school in their 40's and beyond. While you're in Rx school (4 years) life can be pretty rough (my friend has gone on a few 1-week vacations over the last 4 years), and the curriculum is demanding. Some summers you might have to do school stuff.

Job search? No problem.
Work? A lot of Rx students work as pharm techs. Some are "second career" students, so they work their "first career" part-time or during the summers. There seems to be time to work, as long as you're a decent student.
I'm not a pharmacist, but the ones I ask seem to think they are paid pretty well.

As for enjoying life, you can probably enjoy it easier with a great job and lots of money (I know money's not everything), so don't sweat it.