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Pharmacy Degree Work Experience

Hi, I am currently a year 12 student and I am intending to study Pharmacy at university however I have wanted to do medicine but I have changed my mind as I enjoy chemistry at A Level

All of my work experience up today has been medicine based and I will be applying to both medicine and pharmacy but adapting my Personal Statement to both but can I use my medicine work experience for Pharmacy?

And any advice into choosing between medicine and pharmacy at all?

Thank you! :smile:

Reply 1

username6042973

Original post by Be•Happy

well choosing medicine is a big commitment, im gonna do it hopefully. medicine is much more demanding, long hours, degree is longer, in education for longer. literally everything you can think of is different whereas working in a pharmacy is pretty relaxed as I also did work experience in a pharmacy whereas in a hospital ward rounds are long and being in theatre is intense, although I absolutely loved it.

so overall its just by preference, are you ready to commit the time and effort for medicine? if not do pharmacy

Reply 2

BBambiS

Ultimately we don't know your reasons for wanting to do medicine or pharmacy so nobody can really choose for you, but if i were you i would write down a pros and cons list for each and compare important factors such as work-life balance, salary, career progression, Job satisfaction, and so on...

Reply 3

McGinger

Do not try to write the same PS for both subjects.
It will look muddled, and that you are not that committed to Medicine.
Write your UCAS PS ENTIRELY and only about Medicine, do not mention Pharmacy at all.

Other Unis / courses understand about 5th choice applications - and they will either consider you for an offer regardless of your Med PS, or they will email you to ask for a 2nd PS once you have applied.

Work experience for Pharmacy is not essential, especially since this still difficult to get in some areas because of covid restrictions in the small work areas in some Pharmacies. For a Pharmacy PS, you can reshape your Med work experience to show a) an overall understanding of the NHS, b) understanding of 'patients' in a different setting, c) how the role of Pharmacy is changing (prescribing role), d) your interest in medicinal chemistry.

Useful reading :
Community Pharmacist - https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/community-pharmacist
Hospital Pharmacist - https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/hospital-pharmacist
New prescribing role for Pharmacists - https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/education/standards-pharmacy-education/faq-reforms-initial-education-and-training-pharmacists

Useful Moocs (short free online courses) to do over the summer :
Medicinal Chemistry - https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/discovering-science-medicinal-chemistry
Everyday Chemistry - https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/everyday-chemistry

Reply 4

artsandscience

Hello,
I was in your exact situation last year - all my work experience and ucas application was catered towards medicine. I would recommend writing out every thing you’ve done on a google doc and writing what skills you’ve learned from it and how this is applicable to pharmacy. There is so much you can relate to pharmacy, especially talking about the multidisciplinary team in hospitals for e.g.!!!!! try and like everything, maybe do a MOOC to show your interest, read the Carter Review!! Really just try and have an understanding of pharmacy as a profession. You should soon come to learn that pharmacy is becoming a more patient centred role, working closely alongside other healthcare professionals in a range of settings. Independent prescription is starting to become part of the uni course and the field of pharmacy is changing and honestly becoming so interesting. I’m sure you’ll find it a breeze :smile: