URGENT: The End Goal is Medicine.. But should I do PharmaD before that?

College Search & Selection
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Hi!!!

So I have been admitted to UCSB( in-state tuition) for pre-bio, Bryn Mawr for Bio, Purdue for Biochem, Northeastern for Biochem (16k Scholarship), and UOP for the 2+3 PharmaD program (18k Scholarship, but only for the first 2 years because it only applies to undergrad).

For me, the end goal is medicine, so whatever school I decide on, I will do pre-med, shadowing, volunteer, ect. But because UOP has no pre-med, I applied pre-pharmacy for my mom’s sake (she just wanted another safety). I never expected to get into the 2+3 program, and now I’m really confused- should I got the traditional route, or should I try the PharmaD route and then apply for med school? Time really wouldn’t be an issue, as I’ll finish PharmaD in 5 years, and many people do take an extra year to study for the MCAT or a gap year to volunteer anyway, so it’ll even out.

My top choice between the other schools is Northeastern, just because of the Co-op and the research possibilities, as well as the volunteer opportunities. The scholarship also helps :wink: . But if you think another school will be more well suited for my goals, then please, tell me (with justification, of course).

So what should I do- Go the traditional or non-traditional route?

If it helps anything, I am very interested in research, especially drug discovery, but I am also very interested in practicing and actually helping the patients, not trying to climb the social ladder- and I hate retail, so don’t try to sell me on that. AT ALL.

Thanks so much for the input!!
<3 thesmartone23

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EDIT: not social ladder- Corporate Ladder!!!
my bad…

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Retail…?

A PharmD might be useful if you want to become a physician, though I don’t think much at all other than as life experience… but when you’re a physician why would you be in the pharmacy dispensing drugs… It might make medical school applications stand out, but it doesn’t make much sense to me if you know you want to be a physician. If pharm school tuition is expensive, don’t do it.

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Retail as in dispensing drugs- or working at CVS or Walgreens. And I do realize that that’s not what all pharmacists do- many of them go into research for drug discovery and testing, as well as going up the corporate ladder and working in the Pharmaceutical industry… which you could also do with MD, I might add. This is the source of my confusion, because I love both helping people (in a hands on manner) and doing the research behind drugs.

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Unlike having a PhD, having a PharmD would not be seen as a differentiating feature or one that gives you an added advantage for medical school. On the other hand you’d have to come up with a credible explanation as to why you chose to switch from a Pharmacy career to a Medicine career. Focus on making your portfolio as strong as possible for a career in medicine. Doing a research year in a top-notch lab (generally, unpaid) resulting in publications would be the most helpful to your application, followed by an observership or volunteer work.