pharmD + mba...

Graduate School Business School - MBA
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Look, what I am saying is that you're really going at this in a hugely roundabout way. The truth is, most Big Pharma sales reps come in with nothing more than a bachelor's degree. And some don't even have that. What you're proposing is going to take a number of years to do, years that you could instead be working as an actual rep.

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<p>Look at all the posts above. No one ever said anything about being a "rep" except you.</p>

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In this case, the shortest path between two points really is a straight line.

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<p>Yes, except the extra degree allows you to have more than two points and more than just ONE straight line. In this instance, you get to choose and pick which path you want to take.</p>

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While you're getting all these degrees, he's out there working, getting experience, building leads and pipeline, and generally getting better.

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<p>It only takes one year to get a MSE ChemE. His lead be negligble in the long run. While your getting your extra degree, you could also work part time, which would essentially cut down on that already tiny lead.</p>

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Furthermore, sales is something that you learn and get better at through experience, not by getting degrees. I've seen plenty of people with plenty of fancy degrees who couldn't sell food to a starving man.

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<p>Again, no one said anything about sales except for you. I was only saying another degree could help you in sales, not hurt you. The focus is not on sales. Look at the original poster. He mentioned nothing about sales.</p>

<p>Fancy/non-practical degree: anything other than MBA, JD, MD, Engineering Degrees</p>

<p>While sales is an important branch in a pharmaceutical company, I think the original question was more broad. You're right. An additional MSE degree is not necessary in pharm sales. But if you wanted to branch out to research, development, and manufacturing, the PharmD and MSE ChemE will make you a better candidate.</p>

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Look at all the posts above. No one ever said anything about being a "rep" except you.

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<p>I was just pointing out that a lot of people in Pharma get in through the sales route. You choose to go down that road with me, which is how the post diverged into a talk about sales. If you want to take the discussion back onto the main road, that's fine. </p>

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Yes, except the extra degree allows you to have more than two points and more than just ONE straight line. In this instance, you get to choose and pick which path you want to take....It only takes one year to get a MSE ChemE. His lead be negligble in the long run. While your getting your extra degree, you could also work part time, which would essentially cut down on that already tiny lead.

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<p>First off, iwhether it takes 1 year or more really depends on which MSE in ChemE you're talking about. For example, it is not particularly easy to complete that at MIT in just 1 year. Probably 1.5 years (3 semesters). </p>

<p>Secondly, again, my point is that you need to seriously weigh the benefits and the costs associated with getting all these extra degrees. My point is that if Pharma is what you want and you can get into Pharma right from undergrad (as many people do), then take it. I know plenty of people who job offers from Pharma right after undergrad. No need to mess around getting all these degrees. I also know people who went into related industries (medical devices, biotech, HMO's, and then later got into Pharma). </p>

<p>At the same time, I know plenty of people with advanced degrees who nonetheless didn't get a Pharma offer. Hence, there really are no guarantees to anything. </p>

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Again, no one said anything about sales except for you. I was only saying another degree could help you in sales, not hurt you. The focus is not on sales. Look at the original poster. He mentioned nothing about sales.</p>

<p>Fancy/non-practical degree: anything other than MBA, JD, MD, Engineering Degrees</p>

<p>While sales is an important branch in a pharmaceutical company, I think the original question was more broad. You're right. An additional MSE degree is not necessary in pharm sales. But if you wanted to branch out to research, development, and manufacturing, the PharmD and MSE ChemE will make you a better candidate.

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<p>Again, nobody is trying to dispute that extra degrees can be useful. However, where we disagree is just how useful they are. You keep using words like 'guarantee' and such. That's where we part company. Like I said, I know people with doctorates in the health sciences, along with MBA's, who nevertheless still couldn't get a Pharma job offer (and they ended up in investment banking). There are no guarantees to anything.</p>