<p>Okay, so here is my biggest problem. During High School, I was an average student, i graduated with a total of a 3.8 gpa and 4 ap tests (enviro, lit, stats, and art history) under the belt. Along with that, I took college courses after school and during summers , coming in to community college with approximately 30 units (all ge's, languages, and i got an A in all of them), and around 26 units in ap classes. I decided I would save myself money by going to Community college (i prob wouldnt have gotten scholarships). In college classes I got a B only in one french class this Summer while I was on a month study abroad in Paris. </p>
<p>thats background info . Now the Problem:
My main interests are chemistry, and international business</p>
<p>the careers im thinkg about are: Pharmacy, Chemical engineering (maybe something that has to do with nano-tech), or chemistry material science somehow including travel and int'l business. I'm trying to think of the BEST route for me to apply to UCLA or UCSD. Should I get a PharmD, or a major in chem engineering, and then maybe minor in international business. Or is there any chemistry obs that make good money that have to do with traveling??</p>
<p>I really dont know what to do. Im trying to apply after one year of community college under the honors program and i have to put my major down. I like Chem, less of physics (a horrible teacher), but im sure if i had a good one i would do fine, and international affairs/business. I also want an interesting job, i dont want to sit behind a cubicle for the rest of my life.</p>
<p>If you’re interested in Pharmacy, see if your CC has a pharmacy Tech program that you can do to get your feet wet. doing that kind of thing will tell you if you really want to do pharmacy.</p>
<p>but other than that, go for chem e if you’re up for the challenge</p>
If you are in a financial crisis - that’s fine. But if you are not and you have the money to support yourself (plus FA), you should always consider a 4-years college, because it saves time IMO. I don’t know about the CA system - but here in CUNY if you transfer from a CC to a 4-years CUNY schools you usually lose credits - that should be the case in almost all transfer cases.</p>
<p>Why don’t you first decide it as a chemistry student - and then take one or two IB classes?
You can always do graduate IB.</p>
<p>Okay after doing research i found this post on the same website </p>
<p>"Let’s compare both pipeline.
Finish PharmD in 6 years
Apply for another grad school at age 24 for a Master’s in Chemistry
Work part time and make 60+k a year while going to school.
Apply for another grad school at age 25 for Master’s in Chemical Engineering
Continue normal routine and work part time so you never pay a loan</p>
<p>Let’s just stop there.
By the time you’re 27 you would have had Doctorate in Pharmacy and 2 related Master’s Degrees, all while never going into debt. You are guaranteed an excellent position in any pharmaceutical company with those credentials."</p>
<p>This was from 2005, is this still true can you still get a PharmD in 6 years, and then get a Chem degree in 2 years?
Thats the thing about pharmacy, I’m actually very interested in the CHEM part of it, not the being behind a cubicle part ( that sounds SO dreary ). I was thinking a job for the FDA or a government job (hopefully somewhere here in CALI cause I love it here so much), actually doing something that involves chem. My back up plan was to major in Pharm and minor in Int’l Business to then be able to open a intl pharmacy related business.</p>
<p>Any other suggestions on the most optimal career choice ? the one most rewarding in benefits and income, yet still interesting and “fun” if you can put it that way.</p>
<p>Why on earth would you need all those degrees? Whoever said that those credentials will “guarantee” you a job in pharma is wrong. First off, you will be vastly overqualified for entry level positions and unqualified for high level positions since you will lack any real experience. Secondly, pharma has been cutting A LOT of jobs lately.</p>
<p>See, thats the problem. I feel like I’m constantly being led into the wrong direction and noone (including me obviously) actually knows what the best rout would be. I dont want to spend 8 years doing something and then realize I could have done it in 4. I’m usually a more “live in the moment” person, but I feel like when life is so short lived, you have to make plans for big decisions like this… Cause It’s kind of big deal and I just want to be happy with my career/major choice, happy with my income and not regret doing it the wrong way</p>
Possible, but tough, and most industries frown on “high school to doctorate in 6 years” programs - if pharmacy is like this you may have a hard time with your career.</p>
<p>
Getting fully funded for a science masters degree (much less 2) is quite difficult, as most funding is reserved for PhD students. Your best bet would be to do this at one of the few schools that offer the masters but NOT the PhD, but they are not generally that good. Plus, funding generally requires its own work obligation along with a prohibition against outside employment, so you could either get your tuition waived and a stipend, or you could work on your own and pay out of pocket.</p>
<p>Plus, 2 masters degrees in 3 years is incredibly optimistic. Many people are unable to complete one in that time.</p>
<p>
Ha. Ha ha. Ha ha ha ha.</p>
<p>Nothing is guaranteed, and the combination of degrees above are not a great match for most pharmaceutical companies. PharmD is a professional degree, preparing you to handle the “retail” end of the business, accurately and safely providing medications to patients. The masters degrees prepare you for a mid-level entry position at the production end, creating and producing medicines. Research into new drugs is largely performed by MD’s and PhD’s in research fields like biochemistry - not people with masters degrees.</p>
<p>The combination cited above would essentially qualify you for two seperate positions with minimal overlap - so you would be wasting 2-3 years.</p>
<p>OP: What do you WANT to do? Homer can go on and on about how engineering is dead (long live the medical field), but engineering pays a pretty darn good wage by any standards (other than Homer’s) and offers lots of long-term prospects. There are plenty of engineering/business jobs for those who are interested, although I am not in ChemE and cannot comment on the specifics of that field.</p>
<p>Conversely, if Pharmacy sounds good to you, go for it! I know a pharmacist and he makes a good living (although he complains about the hours, essentially all standing).</p>
<p>One thing I would recommend - avoid the combined undergrad-doctorate programs unless you are absolutely certain that this is what you want. It is far better to do an undergrad in chemistry or the like, THEN a PharmD when you are sure that it is what you want. You may be surprised how much your interests can change during college.</p>
<p>“Possible, but tough, and most industries frown on “high school to doctorate in 6 years” programs - if pharmacy is like this you may have a hard time with your career.”</p>
<p>A PharmD is not a real doctorate. A PharmD graduate does not get to call themselves “doctor” like an MD or PhD does.</p>
<p>Engineering only pays a good salary if you are employed. For some (unemployed) people, engineering has turned out to be a very low paying major:</p>
<p>Sure they do, it just isn’t very common. It is a doctoral degree, and as such, holders of said degree are technically a “doctor” even if it isn’t common to refer to them as such. It is similar to people with an Ed.D, J.D. etc. Technically, they are doctors. They just don’t often go by the title.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The same thing can be said for <insert major=“” here=“”>. Seriously, get a grip. Name any major and put it in that sentence and it will be a true statement.</insert></p>
<p>Some areas of engineering are being hit hard. Although the data is a year old, civil engineers in Phoenix have a nearly 30% unemployment rate. And before you say “But the data is just for one city” take in mid that many areas have double digit unemployment rates in construction. </p>
<p>Civil and chemical engineers have it bad, we all know and accept that.</p>
<p>Now can we stay on topic? I thought Homer was doing a good job of not just bashing engineering and giving unbiased information when all of a sudden debate sprung up. Seriously guys, calm down.</p>
<p>Thanks so far for all the advice everyone ! hopefully I can continue to get more and make a wise decision before sending in my apps by the end of October. Also, does anyone know if theres a recommendation to apply in a certain major and then change. I know that some are easier to get into as a transfer and easy to change. </p>
<p>I really wish people like admissions counselors would like at this site and answer questions, that would be so helpful.</p>
<p>and why do “chemical engineers” have it bad right now? I thought it was the opposite, I was told that they are in high demand because they are greatly needed in environmental engineering and sustainable/green products.</p>