Is Pharmacy worth it?

MPharm is a great choice because it's almost guaranteed long term employment. You have no outside competition, the pay is extremely good considering most other graduate roles are £25k and it's so hard to land a job these days. It's a strong and stable career that guarantees a life of middle class although you won't be making £100k unlikes doctors and lawyers.

Hi,
I've just received an unconditional for RGU and I'm still waiting to see if I get an offer from Strathclyde. I came on here to see if anyone else had been accepted, however, somehow fell down a rabbit hole and ended up reading forum after forum about how Pharmacy is a 'dying job' and how it isn't paid well - even though the average annual salary online is good.
Pharmacy has always been what I wanted to do but now, I'm worried that I am making the wrong choice. I don't want to do a 4 year degree just to find out that I can't get a job anywhere and I'll be, and I quote from another forum, depressed since it's such a bad job.
I've also applied to Pharmacology and Immunology (not received any offers) , the course really was just as a back up in case I didn't get into MPharm but now I'm wondering if I should properly consider it, despite having an unconditional for one of my top choices.
Does anyone else have these worries? Does anyone have any advice? Also, has anyone got offers from RGU, if I do accept, I'd love to know some people on the course.

Sorry, Andy, but I disagree with almost everything you have said. If this was 1993, then yes, I would agree with you. This is the problem in 2020 in pharmacy, it is still being 'sold' to prospective students on outdated information. i'm not going to re-type everything, but you can check my history of posts that will refute most of what you say. I really wish it were all still true, but the only bit is at the end, you certainly won't be making 100k. The average pharmacist salary is 42k and in community it's 36k from stats from 2019.

So looking for a job in the future, I would be looking at up and coming or expanding industries. Obviously computer, and the internet and coding, if you are lucky to be good enough to understand all that stuff and all the algorithms!
E-commerce and delivery. The energy industry solar, wind, and the demise of oil and petrol vehicles and new clean energy, and batteries for electric cars we all may be driving by 2040/45.
Those into banking and finance may wish to study cryptocurrency. I think as I write both crypto and the Dow Jones have both hit new all-time highs!
Science-wise I think gene therapy and biotech will start to play a bigger role in medicine development, and tailoring meds to specific genetics of people. But that's probably a couple of decades away.
So basically, what I'm saying is, pharmacy is a good course, but I'm not sure if you might find better courses to do with regards to future tech and science developments than pharmacy. so research, research research!

Sorry, Andy, but I disagree with almost everything you have said. If this was 1993, then yes, I would agree with you. This is the problem in 2020 in pharmacy, it is still being 'sold' to prospective students on outdated information. i'm not going to re-type everything, but you can check my history of posts that will refute most of what you say. I really wish it were all still true, but the only bit is at the end, you certainly won't be making 100k. The average pharmacist salary is 42k and in community it's 36k from stats from 2019.

maybe its just where I live but this thing of 'pharmacy is declining' is simply not true. the same thing was said to my cousin 5 years ago but he immediately got a job within the first week of searching and gets paid 40k per year. he's definitely never going to be on 6 figures a year but through this pandemic he has held a job and is even paid more now while others have lost there job. its definitely not as stable as it was however depending on where you live its relatively easy to get a job with a good salary and certainly not as bad as a lot of others.

Jones I’ve heard this argument that Pharmacy isn’t worth it but couldn’t you argue that if your passion is in science then it is much more wise to do a pharmacy degree than a degree such as biology, Chemistry, Biomed etc. Many people who do those life science degrees find it incredibly difficult to find employment in a job they’re happy in after graduation. Whereas with pharmacy you a guaranteed a job after graduation. Also just because you have a pharmacy degree it does not mean you have to stay in Pharmacy forever you could apply to other scientific/ non scientific roles , and you can be locuming in between looking for jobs to keep you afloat.

Could any Pharmacy graduates or anyone else correct me if I am wrong ?

1. A pre-registration job (which only pays £18,500) is not guaranteed after graduation
2. What's the point of all the effort and debt just to become a poorly paid locum while looking for a new career? If you're someone who is still in 6th form, actually pick a degree in a career you want to pursue from day 1 rather than planning to change career..
3. It's true that Mpharm degree can open other doors for you (non-pharma based too) - This is ideal for people who are already studying Mpharm

Overall, if you're someone who is still in 6th form, don't pick Pharmacy on a whim because you will regret it for the rest of your life!

Are you a grad or someone currently studying ?

Post grad who left pharmacy to do another career + alternate income streams.

What other careers have you done , if you don’t mind me asking?

I don't mind at all.

I went into IT as my main career - working in software development.

Would you say your Mpharm has given you valuable skills in the role you are doing now that you may have not gotten from another degree. Also if you could go back what would you have done instead of Pharmacy?