i want to be a pharmacist. questions!?

Question

well im only a sophomore in highschool, but the pharmacy career has interested me. My parents have told me about it, and want me to pursue it. I have a couple questions though, what EXACTLY do they do? i mean i searched and found replies that you need to know math and physics. whats that have to do with medicine? im not the GREATEST math wiz or physics person so thats why i ask. I like general chemistry and sciences though.

Answer 1

You need to fill out prescriptions with the amount and details given in a doctor's note at a drugstore like Walgreens or at your local grocery store if they have a pharmacy section.

Answer 2

Prerequisites for pharmacy schools typically include: 1 yr general chemistry, 1 yr organic chemistry, 1 yr biology, 1 yr of physics. Biochemistry, microbiology, calculus, English are also requirements or recommended classes for some schools. The PCAT exam is required for entrance to pharmacy schools. These classes can be completed in a around two years if you take them as a full load. Go to pharmacy school websites as each school has different prerequisites. The school I want to attend doesn't require physics as a prerequisite but it does require one calculus class. The PCAT has simple math but no physics. The reason you take math and science classes is because pharmacy school has science classes and they want to see that you are good at it.

Pharmacy schools are 4 yr programs. Pharmacy schools admit students with 2 years of prepharmacy or a bachelor's degree so that's 6 or 8 years of school. There are some 0+6yr pharmacy schools that admit directly from highschool. I think the trend is going to be more admits with bachelor's degrees in the future. There is also an optional hospital residency at the end that is usually are a year long if you want to work in a hospital or a special field of pharmacy (nuclear pharmacy or emergency pharmacy). Working in a retail pharmacy doesn't require a residency.

With pharmacy and medicine your undergraduate major can be anything you want (biology, chemistry, english, drama...hopefully something you enjoy and get good grades in) as long as you complete the prerequisites of the schools. Pharm schools are very challenging programs and admission is competitive. Doctor of Pharmacy or PharmD is the degree for a pharmacist. This is a professional degree. The school that you would attend is called a professional school (like law school or business school). This degree is different from PhDs, which are research degrees.

My advice is to volunteer in a hospital or follow and interview pharmacists. Earnings for pharmacists where I am is $100k a yr. It is a good job but don't go into it thinking about money and the materials and cars you want to buy. Money isn't everything and you can make as much money doing other jobs. Do what you have a passion for. A lot of people would consider pharmacy a crappy job and wouldn't do it for any amount of money. Were you good in your high school science classes? Ask yourself whether you like studying and learning science because you'll be doing a lot of it and taking many exams.

Pharmacists can work in industry (developing drugs), in retail or in hospitals and more. There are good blogs that can give you an idea of what it's like to work in this profession. You can search for blogs too.
Good blogs written by pharmacists (some retail some hospital):
http://drugnazi.blogspot.com/
http://apatheticrx.blogspot.com/...
http://my.opera.com/thestatpharmacist/bl...
http://www.xanga.com/RainDrop
Good luck

Answer 3

I have listed below a couple of websites for you to explore about the career opportunities with a pharmacy degree.

Math is the "essential science." You'll need college math up to Calculus II to get accepted to most, if not all pharmacy schools. The physics required is trig-based, usually called General Physics, you'll need 2 semesters. Physics is extremely important in medicine. Lasers, X-rays, optics, to name a few are some of the disciplines that require physics knowledge.

Once you see the different opportunities available to pharmacy grads, you'll see how important the core studies are to pharmacists. Most peoples' experience is with the chain drugstore pharmacist, yet 30 - 40 % of pharmacists do NOT practice in a retail setting.

Good luck.

Rick the pharmacist

Answer 4

There is more to pharmacy than the drug store. You can always work in a drug store, they usually make the most money. The hours are long and you stand all day long.

Hospital pharmacy is very rewarding. You will round with MD's and interact with patients. You will make recommendations on their medical therapy. You will make IV's, TPN's (total parenteral nutrition), chemotherapy, etc.

Home Health Care is also very rewarding. You will do all the same things you do in the hospital but it is usually at a more relaxed pace. You will monitor drug therapy for patients who are sick but not in a hospital.

It is an excellent career...especially for women. The pay is very good (easy to find a 6-figure/year job).

Also, as far as the medical profession goes, it is a "clean" profession. I mean, there is not a big chance of contracting diseases like HIV, Hepatitis, etc...through patient contact.

Good Luck to you! If you like science...you will do great.

Answer 5

hello . i am studying pharmacy in university . i am now in the 4th year .... many things a pharmacist can do ...
1) work in a pharmacy
2) work in a factory
3) researches and drug discovery
4) herbalist
5) analysis
and as for math and physics ,,, these subjects are only in the 1st year .... the physics in pharmacy is about how to manufacture drugs ( tablets , solutions ) .... to be a good pharamcist u need to be good in organic chmistry and biology ...... wish u good luck