<p>Well it has been a thing I wanted to do since I was 8, im 15 now and am going to start college fall 2015 (I will be 16 with a GED) but the first thing I have to take will be science general ed, I have never taken chemistry but ive read some books on it and feel I can easily grasp basic principles on it and I have a great intrest in the subject. But I also want to become "DR UltimaBlade" so to speak, so should I take the chemistry phd or pharmD? I love both subjects but I really want to go into research and be a world renowned researcher and not "pharmacist joe" so to speak. Given my situation, what would you guys choose? Pharmacy or phd?</p>
<p>I think you’re getting kind of ahead of yourself. No one can say which one you should do, but you do have lots and lots of time to figure it out.</p>
<p>First of all, either way, focus on getting into a college where you will be happy and that has a lot of opportunities for chemistry majors, including career exploration programs/orgs/club and research opportunities. Second of all, since you’ve never even taken a chemistry class before, plan on taking some intro chemistry courses to see if you’re actually interested in it or you just think you are. Reading about chemistry is a lot different than studying it academically, especially once you reach upper-division classes where you may have to study fields of chemistry that you’re not interested in or learn the nitty-gritty aspects of chemistry that feel tedious and unnecessary when you just want to look at the bigger picture. Then try to get experience. Get research experience as early as you can to both get experience for grad school if you decide you want to get a PhD and to see if you actually want to get a PhD. Research is not for everyone, even if you think you like it now. It’s something that you really have to try to see if you want to do it for at least the 5+ years it could take you to get your PhD. Also, try to get some more exposure to pharmacy to see if that’s what you want to do. Talk to pharmacists. Your school might have talks about pharmacy and pharm school. I know some students who worked as pharm techs before going on to pharmacy school. See if that’s what you’re actually interested in.</p>
<p>You have a ways to go before you have to decide, so just focus on one thing at a time. It’s good to have options, but keep an open mind. You might find that neither of those interest you or that you hate chemistry, and that’s okay too. There’s no reason you have to figure it out now. You can get experience or exposure in both areas during undergrad.</p>
<p>If you want to be a pharmacist, get the PharmD.
If you want to go into research, aim for a PhD.
But this also isn’t something you have to figure out anytime soon. I didn’t decide to go to grad school until spring of my 3rd year, and my advisor thinks I have a great shot at the top PhD programs in my field. Just get involved in research, shadow some pharmacists, and see what appeals to you.</p>
<p>You have some time to figure it out. When I advise students who are interested in a PharmD, I always suggest that they get a B.S. first and then decide. If you get a PharmD without a B.S. it will take one year less but leave you with less flexibility in the long term. By the time you finish the B.S. you will have a much better idea of where to head for your career.</p>
<p>Could one of you all look at my post that I have written? I really need an answer ASAP!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/mercer-university/1656491-interested-in-the-pharmd-mba-program-but-don-t-know-if-gpa-will-do-should-i-transfer.html”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/mercer-university/1656491-interested-in-the-pharmd-mba-program-but-don-t-know-if-gpa-will-do-should-i-transfer.html</a></p>
<p>reading and doing chemistry problems are completely different things. Just by reading it, of course you think you will understanding, because the solutions are in front of you. When you taking a test, or doing hw, its not that easy. Usually teachers/instructors will give you problems to solve that are within the same concepts as their lectures, but entirely different problems, and can be challenging. ALso you seem to be under assumption you will be a “bigshot” Doctor, by the time you graduate from college, and go on to become a Phd holder. Since you are this young, you have alot of time to decide what is best for you in the future, you may change interest all together in another field </p>
<p>Lol… think chemistry is easy… I don’t think you’ve gone deep enough in chemistry. Or maybe you really are a prodigy. Either way, you need to take a chem class, to see how you enjoy it. Knowing trivial chem is a fun party gag, but deeper chemistry isn’t for everyone, not to mention there are a lot of chemistry topics. Some chemists are basically physicists, others are glorified biologists. </p>
<p>As for grad school you need to figure out which part of chemistry you like. I doubt you’ll like every facet of it. </p>