<p>I am going to start this thread off with complete honesty. I'm a senior in high school, and I am torn between choosing two professions. The first choice is a pharmacist, and the second choice is a doctor(specialty undecided). I am currently leaning towards choosing the doctor route. However, my parents are concerned that if I am unable to get into medical school then I will be trapped with a career in microbiology or chemistry. In addition, my parents are trying to persuade me to choose a career in pharmacy due to the steady pay and success rate. </p>
<p>(Original poster's note) I have considered using pharmacy as a pre-med degree. (Due to con-current enrollment and AP courses I will essentially start college as a sophomore.) However, in most cases I have read that using pharmacy as a pre-med degree is a bad idea. If this option is not a bad idea then please by all means elaborate on the subject.</p>
<p>I want to choose the doctor path, but the constant reminder of failure, student loan debt, and the debt that comes with starting a practice haunts my mind.</p>
<p>(Original poster question) Can doctors find employment without putting money up front for office space,employees, and such? Is using opportunities to pay for medical school via the military a viable option for a male without physical disabilities. </p>
<p>When it comes to pharmacy, I do not hate that opinion. I only prefer being a doctor over being a pharmacist.</p>
<p>I also have another question. Do you know what percent of doctors actually pay off their student debt or at least reach some form of financial security. </p>
<p>(Original poster's note) My parents fear of my failure is very surprising to me. I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA and a 4.563 weighted GPA. ACT scores are in the 97th percentile of the nation.</p>
<p>Doctor make WAY more than pharmacists, and if your practice is successful, you can pay off those loans in a few months</p>
<p>*Doctor make WAY more than pharmacists, and if your practice is successful, you can pay off those loans in a few months *</p>
<p>This is sooooooo not true.</p>
<p>Newish doctors (even very good ones) do not make “tons of money” right away. That’s why even very good doctors take years to pay off their med school loans.</p>
<p>It’s a myth to think that newish doctors are making mega bucks right away.</p>
<p>* However, my parents are concerned that if I am unable to get into medical school then I will be trapped with a career in microbiology or chemistry. In addition, my parents are trying to persuade me to choose a career in pharmacy due to the steady pay and success rate. </p>
<p>*</p>
<p>There is no reason why you can’t “prepare” for both. If you major in Chemistry, then the pre-reqs for Pre-med and Pre-Pharm are not that different. </p>
<p>Then, if you don’t get into med school, you can apply to pharm school. Or perhaps apply to both types at the same time (don’t know if anyone has applied to both at the same time…but certainly you could apply to med school one year, and then apply to pharm schools if you don’t get into med schools.)</p>
<p>Have you looked at the pre-reqs for both programs? </p>
<p>Which college will you be going to? Pull up the req’ts for each program and paste them on this thread.</p>
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<p>ahahahahahahahahah…good one.</p>
<p>I wish I was able to pay off my loans in a couple months.</p>
<p>I’m a 2nd year resident. I have almost 200K in debt. On average I work 65-70 hours a week but sometimes it’s more than 80 hours a week, most months I only get four days off the entire month. 2nd year residents at my institution, regardless of specialty, earn around 48k per year…</p>
<p>The pre reqs are extremely close. Students apply for pharmacy school after two years of college. I will be starting college as a sophomore essentially. Med school applicants can apply once they have met the pre reqs and taken the MCAT. However, 97 percent of those accepted have a bachelors degree of some kind.</p>