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Currently a 20 year old first year pharmacy student. However, throughout high school I wanted to study medicine. I did apply for medicine, got in to a foundation course for medicine meaning I had to study a course one year, meet their conditions before they would allow me on to medicine. Unfortunately, something happened that affected me being able to meet one of those conditions. And so, I couldn't progress on to medicine. I had applied for pharmacy during that year just in case something like this did happen, other people on course had also applied for their back up courses as well. And hence, I decided to choose to study pharmacy as it was something I thought I would enjoy studying as well. This year has been good as a first year student and Ive enjoyed it, some bits not but thats like on every course. Where my dilemma lies is that i've now also received an offer to study medicine from the same university although I didn't apply or anything (its a long story lol). I am not sure what to do now. Should I continue with pharmacy or should I change my course to medicine? There are so many pros and cons to both that I cannot decide. Can someone who is a medical student, a doctor or a pharmacist advice me on what they think? Or if you have studied both courses then I'd love to hear about what you think.
I know medicine is tough, so is pharmacy but how much more difficult is medicine than pharmacy? Will I be able to cope with it? And even if I do become a pharmacist, I'd aim to be a hospital pharmacist but I'm not sure if thats definitely something I would enjoy. I just don't want to regret my decisions later in life. If I were to study medicine, I think I would want to become a GP but who knows.
I know medicine is tough, so is pharmacy but how much more difficult is medicine than pharmacy? Will I be able to cope with it? And even if I do become a pharmacist, I'd aim to be a hospital pharmacist but I'm not sure if thats definitely something I would enjoy. I just don't want to regret my decisions later in life. If I were to study medicine, I think I would want to become a GP but who knows.
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#2
(Original post by conffusedd)
Currently a 20 year old first year pharmacy student. However, throughout high school I wanted to study medicine. I did apply for medicine, got in to a foundation course for medicine meaning I had to study a course one year, meet their conditions before they would allow me on to medicine. Unfortunately, something happened that affected me being able to meet one of those conditions. And so, I couldn't progress on to medicine. I had applied for pharmacy during that year just in case something like this did happen, other people on course had also applied for their back up courses as well. And hence, I decided to choose to study pharmacy as it was something I thought I would enjoy studying as well. This year has been good as a first year student and Ive enjoyed it, some bits not but thats like on every course. Where my dilemma lies is that i've now also received an offer to study medicine from the same university although I didn't apply or anything (its a long story lol). I am not sure what to do now. Should I continue with pharmacy or should I change my course to medicine? There are so many pros and cons to both that I cannot decide. Can someone who is a medical student, a doctor or a pharmacist advice me on what they think? Or if you have studied both courses then I'd love to hear about what you think.
I know medicine is tough, so is pharmacy but how much more difficult is medicine than pharmacy? Will I be able to cope with it? And even if I do become a pharmacist, I'd aim to be a hospital pharmacist but I'm not sure if thats definitely something I would enjoy. I just don't want to regret my decisions later in life. If I were to study medicine, I think I would want to become a GP but who knows.
Currently a 20 year old first year pharmacy student. However, throughout high school I wanted to study medicine. I did apply for medicine, got in to a foundation course for medicine meaning I had to study a course one year, meet their conditions before they would allow me on to medicine. Unfortunately, something happened that affected me being able to meet one of those conditions. And so, I couldn't progress on to medicine. I had applied for pharmacy during that year just in case something like this did happen, other people on course had also applied for their back up courses as well. And hence, I decided to choose to study pharmacy as it was something I thought I would enjoy studying as well. This year has been good as a first year student and Ive enjoyed it, some bits not but thats like on every course. Where my dilemma lies is that i've now also received an offer to study medicine from the same university although I didn't apply or anything (its a long story lol). I am not sure what to do now. Should I continue with pharmacy or should I change my course to medicine? There are so many pros and cons to both that I cannot decide. Can someone who is a medical student, a doctor or a pharmacist advice me on what they think? Or if you have studied both courses then I'd love to hear about what you think.
I know medicine is tough, so is pharmacy but how much more difficult is medicine than pharmacy? Will I be able to cope with it? And even if I do become a pharmacist, I'd aim to be a hospital pharmacist but I'm not sure if thats definitely something I would enjoy. I just don't want to regret my decisions later in life. If I were to study medicine, I think I would want to become a GP but who knows.
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(Original post by Democracy)
If you've got an offer to do medicine and that's what you always wanted to do and you're still interested in doing it then I'd say go for it. Where's the dilemma?
If you've got an offer to do medicine and that's what you always wanted to do and you're still interested in doing it then I'd say go for it. Where's the dilemma?
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(Original post by Volibear)
Working hard is never pointless.
Working hard is never pointless.
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(Original post by Volibear)
Why don't you do the thing you want to do more and accept that stress is part of it, but will (hopefully) be worth it?
Why don't you do the thing you want to do more and accept that stress is part of it, but will (hopefully) be worth it?
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#6
I've never studied pharmacy so just answering based on what I've heard/read about pharmacy here - I don't think it's necessarily any easier than medicine. Sure there's probably less material to cover but I wouldn't say the content in a medical degree is particularly hard at all. The difficulties are not academic, but more just the length of the course and more intense working hours towards the end of the degree.
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#7
If you are coping with a pharmacy course and have been made an offer for a medicine course, what evidence exactly do you have that you wouldn't be able to cope with the demands of a medical degree? Admissions tutors with years of experience, possibly decades, believe you will be able to, and as above the fundamental demands on the students aren't so dissimilar. Every medical student I've seen or heard comment on the matter indicate that the content isn't difficult so much as the volume of it (which will be similar for a pharmacy student I imagine).
You will be funded but if you have more than one year of prior study the first year(s) may not be eligible for tuition fee loans (you can still get a maintenance loan). It would be best to check this with SFE, and perhaps discuss whether you may need to defer for a year to save up some money with the university. Be aware that the last years of the course are funded by the NHS independently of student finance and so you should have funding for that regardless, I believe.
I suppose "burning out" is a possibility but this seems unlikely during the undergraduate medical course compared to later in the career. Besides that, this is true of literally anything so...not really a reason to not do something.
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Listen to Yi.
You will be funded but if you have more than one year of prior study the first year(s) may not be eligible for tuition fee loans (you can still get a maintenance loan). It would be best to check this with SFE, and perhaps discuss whether you may need to defer for a year to save up some money with the university. Be aware that the last years of the course are funded by the NHS independently of student finance and so you should have funding for that regardless, I believe.
I suppose "burning out" is a possibility but this seems unlikely during the undergraduate medical course compared to later in the career. Besides that, this is true of literally anything so...not really a reason to not do something.
Listen to Yi.
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#8
Not wanting to sound harsh, but this is not a dilemma and you need to be able to figure this out yourself. Otherwise, there would be concerns about your mental strength and indecisiveness. When you are a GP (or a Pharmacist or any profession really) - you will be called on to make snap decisions based on your judgement, skill, gut feeling, knowledge. If you are unsure what to do, then maybe your heart is not in medicine? Question yourself and then make the choice and do it.
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#9
(Original post by conffusedd)
Currently a 20 year old first year pharmacy student. However, throughout high school I wanted to study medicine. I did apply for medicine, got in to a foundation course for medicine meaning I had to study a course one year, meet their conditions before they would allow me on to medicine. Unfortunately, something happened that affected me being able to meet one of those conditions. And so, I couldn't progress on to medicine. I had applied for pharmacy during that year just in case something like this did happen, other people on course had also applied for their back up courses as well. And hence, I decided to choose to study pharmacy as it was something I thought I would enjoy studying as well. This year has been good as a first year student and Ive enjoyed it, some bits not but thats like on every course. Where my dilemma lies is that i've now also received an offer to study medicine from the same university although I didn't apply or anything (its a long story lol). I am not sure what to do now. Should I continue with pharmacy or should I change my course to medicine? There are so many pros and cons to both that I cannot decide. Can someone who is a medical student, a doctor or a pharmacist advice me on what they think? Or if you have studied both courses then I'd love to hear about what you think.
I know medicine is tough, so is pharmacy but how much more difficult is medicine than pharmacy? Will I be able to cope with it? And even if I do become a pharmacist, I'd aim to be a hospital pharmacist but I'm not sure if thats definitely something I would enjoy. I just don't want to regret my decisions later in life. If I were to study medicine, I think I would want to become a GP but who knows.
Currently a 20 year old first year pharmacy student. However, throughout high school I wanted to study medicine. I did apply for medicine, got in to a foundation course for medicine meaning I had to study a course one year, meet their conditions before they would allow me on to medicine. Unfortunately, something happened that affected me being able to meet one of those conditions. And so, I couldn't progress on to medicine. I had applied for pharmacy during that year just in case something like this did happen, other people on course had also applied for their back up courses as well. And hence, I decided to choose to study pharmacy as it was something I thought I would enjoy studying as well. This year has been good as a first year student and Ive enjoyed it, some bits not but thats like on every course. Where my dilemma lies is that i've now also received an offer to study medicine from the same university although I didn't apply or anything (its a long story lol). I am not sure what to do now. Should I continue with pharmacy or should I change my course to medicine? There are so many pros and cons to both that I cannot decide. Can someone who is a medical student, a doctor or a pharmacist advice me on what they think? Or if you have studied both courses then I'd love to hear about what you think.
I know medicine is tough, so is pharmacy but how much more difficult is medicine than pharmacy? Will I be able to cope with it? And even if I do become a pharmacist, I'd aim to be a hospital pharmacist but I'm not sure if thats definitely something I would enjoy. I just don't want to regret my decisions later in life. If I were to study medicine, I think I would want to become a GP but who knows.
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#10
(Original post by conffusedd)
Currently a 20 year old first year pharmacy student. However, throughout high school I wanted to study medicine. I did apply for medicine, got in to a foundation course for medicine meaning I had to study a course one year, meet their conditions before they would allow me on to medicine. Unfortunately, something happened that affected me being able to meet one of those conditions. And so, I couldn't progress on to medicine. I had applied for pharmacy during that year just in case something like this did happen, other people on course had also applied for their back up courses as well. And hence, I decided to choose to study pharmacy as it was something I thought I would enjoy studying as well. This year has been good as a first year student and Ive enjoyed it, some bits not but thats like on every course. Where my dilemma lies is that i've now also received an offer to study medicine from the same university although I didn't apply or anything (its a long story lol). I am not sure what to do now. Should I continue with pharmacy or should I change my course to medicine? There are so many pros and cons to both that I cannot decide. Can someone who is a medical student, a doctor or a pharmacist advice me on what they think? Or if you have studied both courses then I'd love to hear about what you think.
I know medicine is tough, so is pharmacy but how much more difficult is medicine than pharmacy? Will I be able to cope with it? And even if I do become a pharmacist, I'd aim to be a hospital pharmacist but I'm not sure if thats definitely something I would enjoy. I just don't want to regret my decisions later in life. If I were to study medicine, I think I would want to become a GP but who knows.
Currently a 20 year old first year pharmacy student. However, throughout high school I wanted to study medicine. I did apply for medicine, got in to a foundation course for medicine meaning I had to study a course one year, meet their conditions before they would allow me on to medicine. Unfortunately, something happened that affected me being able to meet one of those conditions. And so, I couldn't progress on to medicine. I had applied for pharmacy during that year just in case something like this did happen, other people on course had also applied for their back up courses as well. And hence, I decided to choose to study pharmacy as it was something I thought I would enjoy studying as well. This year has been good as a first year student and Ive enjoyed it, some bits not but thats like on every course. Where my dilemma lies is that i've now also received an offer to study medicine from the same university although I didn't apply or anything (its a long story lol). I am not sure what to do now. Should I continue with pharmacy or should I change my course to medicine? There are so many pros and cons to both that I cannot decide. Can someone who is a medical student, a doctor or a pharmacist advice me on what they think? Or if you have studied both courses then I'd love to hear about what you think.
I know medicine is tough, so is pharmacy but how much more difficult is medicine than pharmacy? Will I be able to cope with it? And even if I do become a pharmacist, I'd aim to be a hospital pharmacist but I'm not sure if thats definitely something I would enjoy. I just don't want to regret my decisions later in life. If I were to study medicine, I think I would want to become a GP but who knows.
As a current pharmacy student who also was offered to study medicine (but declined because i wanted to get the hell out of uni ASAP) GO FOR MEDICINE. my uncle is a pharmacist and says how he studied just as much doing pharmacy as a medicine student would. medicine is just more years of studying than pharmacy. and tbh if i could I WOULD GO FOR MEDICINE, its so much more rewarding and you can progress and specialise in your career and get a better salary the more you work whereas with a pharmacist, that it, your just a pharmacist unless you want to further study for a PhD , even then might aswell spen those years doing medicine.
i honestly wont feel accomplished or happy when i become a pharmacist. and since you have the oppurtunity in THE SAME UNI bloody go for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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