Hi guys, I am currently in my second year of community college right now as a Pre-Med. However, I am unsure as to whether I really would like to pursue being a full on doctor in the future. Although, I still would like to be in healthcare so I’ve been looking into other professions such as PA, nursing, and Pharmacy. I’ve heard some cons about pharmacy such as the brutal hours and such so I was wondering why you guys decided on pharmacy.

I’m currently an undergraduate student considering pharmacy school, but I’m still figuring out exactly what I want to do career-wise. I’m fairly certain I want to work in the healthcare field, and I genuinely enjoy learning about pharmaceutical concepts, medications, and therapeutics.
I’m particularly interested in pharma/biotech, including medical affairs, HEOR, market access, and other corporate roles. However, I also like the idea of keeping traditional clinical pharmacy as an option in case I end up enjoying that more.
My biggest concerns are the cost of pharmacy school and how flexible a PharmD actually is. I’ve heard mixed things about career opportunities outside traditional pharmacy practice, and I’m worried about taking on significant debt for a degree that might not align with my eventual career goals.
For current pharmacy students, pharmacists, or anyone working in the industry:
How versatile is a PharmD outside retail and clinical pharmacy?
Is a PharmD worth it for pharma/biotech industry roles, or are there better alternatives?
How much does it help with salary and career progression?
If you could choose again, would you still pursue a PharmD given the cost?
I’d appreciate any advice or insight, especially from people who have explored different career paths with their degree!

hi, im a second-year bio major, and im currently taking ochem and biostats rn. of course, i am aiming for an A in both, but there is a possibility i could earn a B in both. is a B in those two courses acceptable when applying to pharmacy schools? thank u!

A program reached out to me stating that if offered admission, I would need to complete a couple prerequisites, which I am more than happy to do. However I misunderstood a question in the PharmCAS “Other” section asking if I had any planned courses for the Spring of 2027 and I put no. In my mind I thought it was asking if I had signed up for classes in the spring. I was hoping if anyone had any experience with this? Thank you everyone!

Dear diary, today I failed to notice that my east coast school interview was obviously in EST and not mountain time and MISSED IT. I’ve already rescheduled the interview but I’m just unbelievably embarrassed about doing something so stupid and thoughtless.

I consider this school my first choice. I consider myself a decent candidate, but maybe not great—very high GPA and pretty good at interviews but no experience. The school is pretty competitive (~25% acceptance rate) so I already wasn’t sure. What do we think? Do I still have a chance or are they going to take me out back and shoot me like a dog after my zoom interview?

I've been a pharmacy tech for a little over 5 years now, both in retail and inpatient. I'm interested in pursuing a pharmacist degree, but I've noticed that they only ever seem to do med verification and quality checks? I love working with my hands, preparing IVs and whatnot, and I feel like being stuck at a computer and only looking at drugs all day would be a downgrade. Even if the pay is better.

Are there any settings where a pharmacist gets to work directly with meds?

I interviewed with UT on September 20th and still haven’t heard back about an acceptance or rejection. Has anyone been accepted already? 🥺

Update: found out multiple people have been accepted already. I think I’m cooked. 💀

My gpa is at a 3.5 and I’m scared it’s going down this semester more

Any advice for UT Austin interview? This is the only school I’m applying to that has a “group interview“ and is split into 2 days.

Hey everyone! I’m trying to decide between Shenandoah University, the University of Colorado, and MCPHS for my PharmD, and I’d appreciate honest advice from current students and graduates.

I live in Virginia, so finances are a big factor. I’m currently under a work contract that prevents me from starting in person right away, so I need a program that allows me to start online and transition to in-person learning later. I know Shenandoah and Colorado offer this option.

I’m also hoping to use a Navy scholarship, but I was told I must complete one year of pharmacy school first or attend an accelerated program to qualify. This is another factor I’m considering when deciding which school makes the most sense for me.

My main priorities are:

1. Quality of education: I want to graduate with a strong understanding of medications, pharmacotherapy, and patient care. I want to feel confident practicing as a pharmacist, not just pass exams.
2. Cost: Which school offers the best value overall, considering tuition, fees, and living expenses? Shenandoah seems appealing as a Virginia resident.
3. NAPLEX pass rates: Which program prepares students best for the licensing exam, particularly on the first attempt?
4. Clinical experience: Which school provides the strongest rotations and hands-on training?
5. Navy scholarship: Would choosing an accelerated program (MCPHS) make more sense financially, considering the scholarship eligibility requirements?
6. Overall experience: If you attended any of these schools, did you feel prepared and confident when you graduated? Would you choose the same school again?

I don’t necessarily want to choose the cheapest school if the education isn’t as strong, but I also want to avoid unnecessary debt.

If you were in my position, which school would you seriously consider and why? I’d especially appreciate honest feedback about the quality of education, total cost, and how prepared you felt to practice pharmacy after graduation.

Thank you!

Hi! I’m a current High schooler who’s faced with the age old question... the major. I wanna go into development in the long run and see how side effects work and what they cause but am fine with legit anything in regards to pharmaceutical! I’m getting my tech license through my school soon so yahoo for that! But yeah any suggestions major wise or general help at all is GREATLY appreciated!!!

hi! has anyone here applied to UGA for next year? submitted my application last week and it was verified 2 days ago so just waiting to hear next steps (if any)

Hello, everyone. I was wanting to know if anyone has received an interview invitation from the University of Houston COP? If so, how long after submitting your pharmcas and supplemental application? I submitted mine September 30th, it was verified on 10/05, and i received an email from UHCOP on 10/08 saying my application was under review. If I am selected for an interview, I wanted an estimate of when I'd hear back.

Thank you! :)

I'm curious if anyone has heard anything back from the following schools regarding interviews or application status. Just wondering if I should be concerned or just wait it out.

• University of Texas at Austin

  (Received email today 14 OCT 2026 that application is still under review and might be apart of Interview Session III if offered an interview)

• Thomas Jefferson University

• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

• University of Pittsburgh

So... I had two interviews today, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. I did a lot of prep for both, but I guess I wasn’t quite in interview mode during the morning one. I stumbled and rambled a lot, and I don’t think I fully answered their questions either.

For the afternoon interview, I felt more on top of things, and I personally think I answered well—even when they asked questions I hadn’t prepared for.

The program I interviewed for in the morning is my top choice. From what I’ve read on this subreddit, interviews are the most important part... so now I’m feeling devastated.

Has anyone had an interview that didn’t go well but still ended up being accepted? (Sorry if this sounds bizarre.)

hey! so i submitted my pharmcas applciation to usf tcop exactly on oct 1 (priority deadline) and got an email on oct 7 that they recieved my application. havent heard back from them abt an interview yet. should i be worried? is it okay to take this long bc ive heard back from my other schools i applied to

Hello! How soon after your interviews did you hear from Ohio state?

Hi! I wanted to know if anyone could put my mind at ease about my chances of getting accepted to at least one school, if any. I am a Texas resident and applied to UNT, Texas Tech, A&M, U of H, and UT (just for fun, and I know it's a long shot). I have a bachelor's in biology with a concentration in biological science, and my overall GPA is 3.0, but my math and science prerequisite GPA is roughly 2.64. However, I plan to retake one class in the Spring as well as take a couple of classes I'm missing, which is reflected on my application. I had a downward trend in my grades, but showed improvement later in higher-level courses. I explained the grades in my personal essay and explained how I rectified them and my plan for the other courses, as well as having a strong "why" in choosing pharmacy. I did an 80-hour pharmacy externship as a registered pharmacy technician trainee. I have roughly 3,200+ hours in healthcare administration as a quality assurance clerk, but also have experience in customer service. I have multiple healthcare certifications, such as CPR certification, medical office manager, and medical billing and coding. I know my grades aren't the strongest, but I do think I make up for it with experience, which I have more of, but I gave the highlights. Right now, my applications are all under review as of 10/8, so I also wanted to know when I should expect interview invitations, if I am to be granted one.

Update: I have received an interview offer from UNT!

I am 28f now looking into pharmacy and honestly it seems really interesting and there are a lot of different pathways I could take. I live in New Mexico where we have one of the nations highest pharmacy shortages so I don’t think I would struggle on finding a job. A median salary of 120k doesn’t sound bad at all? Obviously all jobs have their own drawbacks but is it really that bad? Also I wonder if I could even work 3 12s shifts to mix it up so I won’t experience burnout. I’m genuinely curious about all the options.

Hi has anyone got an offer for 2027 graduate entry pharmacy?

i applied on the 14 September and havent received anything yet. Just wondering if its normal.

I took a maintenance job at the hospital thinking it would be the first of my trade jobs throughout my life, but I left with a new understanding of what it means to help people and a clearer vision of the career I wanted to pursue. Helping people isn't just holding a door open or remembering to say “thank you.” Sometimes, helping someone means walking into an ICU room to fix a patient's call light and seeing an older gentleman with the warmest smile. I remember asking him if I could come in and explaining that I was there to fix his call light. With his smile still on his face, he replied, “Of course you can.” 

He was wearing patient scrubs and seemed to be in his late 80s. As I was fixing his call light, he started telling me about how he was on dialysis and how he did not have much time left on this earth. I asked him if he had any kids, and he told me he had three boys and one daughter whom he loved very much. After I had finished fixing his call light and saying my farewells, I remember that, just as I was about to leave, he said, “Thank you very much for listening to me.” 

I walked out of that room with a different understanding of what it means to help someone and how just being there for a quick conversation, letting people talk about their lives, and having a comfortable conversation can make a world of difference for someone who is going through so much in a hospital. 

I credit that patient and the many others I encountered during my job at the hospital with inspiring me to explore careers that are more directly involved in patient care and can offer even more help than a nice conversation. I wanted to find a career that would help me develop the skills and knowledge to help people through their healthcare journeys. This search led me to look into becoming a pharmacist. I had developed an interest in medication and began to see pharmacy as a way to combine my knowledge with my compassion and understanding in order to help patients. 

Im a first year pharmacy student, every single person Ive talked to has painted life as a pharmacist as hard, stressful and extremely difficult.

Youre not getting the respect you deserve for the knowledge you have, is what I hear on a regular. My question is what else is there to do? Sonographer? Joint pain, physio? Oversaturated, physician? Cant bother to do 7+ years of schooling.

I have recently started working as a pharmacy assistant, and boy do the pharmacists look drained. I wouldnt wanna do retail work, but Im aware most pharmacists end up working retail anyways.

Out of all the allied health professions, pharmacy does seem to be somewhat better. But again, every health profession has their drawback. If you were to go back in time what profession would you go into? Im not trying to waste 4 years, becoming just a knowledgeable as a doctor, to be treated like a glorified fast food worker.

Although I do find course interesting, money is a bigger factor for me when choosing a career. If I could do something else and make just as much or more as a pharmacist, Id definitely do it

Hi, I'm in year 12 doing biology,psychology, and English lit and sociology, I think im going to drop english lit. I could do chemistry, but I'll have to find out because I didn't get good enough gcses for it.

Which is why I was thinking of doing a foundation year in pharmacy in university. Or doing chemistry in year 14 as a last resort then try uni.

What is the future of PharmD over the next five years? After the MDCAT I’ve been considering PharmD as a career but honestly I have no interest in chemistry.

I’d be pursuing it for a few reasons, my mom suggested it, I’m hoping for a high paying job in the Gulf and I feel like it’s the closest thing to being a doctor considering it’s a doctoral degree.

But is it actually worth it? My plan is to gain international exposure in the US, UK or Canada. What are the scholarship and job opportunities like in these countries? Is it an easy pathway?

Is it worth spending five years trying to make peace with chemistry? If it were MBBS I wouldn’t have given the five years a second thought but now that I have to consider other options I feel like I just want to graduate as soon as possible.

Then again it’s the doctoral degree and the clinical experience that I’m chasing.

Hi! just wanted to ask if any of yall applied to Upitt and UIC? was the invitation for interview fast after your application was verified? what about offer letter? thanks!!