Computer Science or Pharmacy???

What an interesting choice. I'm studying pharmacy and my best friend is studying Comp Sci. I guess you really need to sit down and think about what interests you the most and what direction you think you wanna go in life. They're both difficult courses so you really should be sure before you start one or the other.

Reply 3

nikk

15

sophisticated_i

Give me the Pros and Cons

If you are interested in it then I would definately say go for Pharmacy. I used to work into the IT industry....very poor pay and quite dull.

Reply 4

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NikNak

If you are interested in it then I would definately say go for Pharmacy. I used to work into the IT industry....very poor pay and quite dull.

Having done a comp sci degree, it is not necessary to go into the IT industry.
There are a lot of branches of computing that can be interesting (e.g. game design, animation - like in Shrek).

to the poststarter I would say that you should do what you are interested in. Computing and pharmacy are so different...

Reply 5

Apotheke

Looks like you've just chosen by job security. Pharmacy is far more secure and you'll earn 35K a lot quicker I'd say. This has been said before but just pick whichever one interests you more. DO NOT think pharmacy is just remembering drug names, their use and labelling medicine boxes. There's the pharmaceutical science part of the course too (most people considering pharmacy don't even know the difference between medicinal chemistry/pharmaceutics/pharmacology). And really look into computer science. There's lot of maths in there and if youi don't enjoy computing, I seriously wouldn't bother unless you are good at it AND aiming for a job in IT/finance. Personally, I'd cry myself to sleep if I had to do computing/IT for a full time job..........Working for multibillion dollar drugs company like GSK or Pfizer sounds much more enjoyable, stimulating and fulfilling.

Reply 6

Apotheke

Working for multibillion dollar drugs company like GSK or Pfizer sounds much more enjoyable, stimulating and fulfilling.

Then again very, very few pharmacists end up doing that.

Reply 7

Unregistered

MPharm : Bigger Debts

Comp Sci - got the chance to go big - if you are a graduate and can talk your way - you could earn big amounts of money :smile:

MPharm: better job security

comp sci - more diverse

MPharm - basically a whole degree in chemistry - my friend is a 3rd year at Aston

MPharm/comp sci - can both be rewarding

Reply 8

HaggenDaZ

MPharm : Bigger Debts

Comp Sci - got the chance to go big - if you are a graduate and can talk your way - you could earn big amounts of money :smile:

Depends if you do an BSc or MSci surely?

I wouldn't say that pharmacy somehow precludes you from being good at business.

MPharm: better job security

comp sci - more diverse

Purely because there is a specialist job market for pharmacy - I would argue that that makes the opportunities for a pharmacy graduate greater. There aren't many jobs in computer related fields that are inaccesible to a science graduate.

MPharm - basically a whole degree in chemistry - my friend is a 3rd year at Aston

MPharm/comp sci - can both be rewarding

Pharmacy is not a degree in chemistry I can assure you!

Reply 9

-Emmz-

Then again very, very few pharmacists end up doing that.

Absolutely, many more chemists do, however.

Reply 10

Hash

Apotheke

Working for multibillion dollar drugs company like GSK or Pfizer sounds much more enjoyable, stimulating and fulfilling.

...and working for a multibillion dollar software house or bank isn't enjoying, stimulating and fulfilling?

My chemistry teacher who got a Phd in chemistry from Oxford went into pharmaceuticals. He worked for GSK and said the work was **** and boring, he came to teach instead.

Reply 11

Hash

...and working for a multibillion dollar software house or bank isn't enjoying, stimulating and fulfilling?

Indeed, but a degree in pharmacy does not preclude you from pursuing such a path either.

My chemistry teacher who got a Phd in chemistry from Oxford went into pharmaceuticals. He worked for GSK and said the work was **** and boring, he came to teach instead.

That is his opinion. A PhD at Oxford does not add any weight to that opinion.

Reply 12

Unregistered

ChemistBoy

Depends if you do an BSc or MSci surely?

I wouldn't say that pharmacy somehow precludes you from being good at business.

a normal 3 year BSc is obv going to be less than a 5 year masters in pharm

ChemistBoy

Purely because there is a specialist job market for pharmacy - I would argue that that makes the opportunities for a pharmacy graduate greater. There aren't many jobs in computer related fields that are inaccesible to a science graduate.

what the **** are you talking about? i simply stated that there would also be work for a pharmacist but someone with a computer science degree would have more options to choose from

Chemistboy

Pharmacy is not a degree in chemistry I can assure you!

a lot of it contains chemistry

Reply 13

HaggenDaZ

a normal 3 year BSc is obv going to be less than a 5 year masters in pharm

MPharm is 4 years not 5.

what the **** are you talking about? i simply stated that there would also be work for a pharmacist but someone with a computer science degree would have more options to choose from

And I am disagreeing with you. I don't think a Comp Sci graduate has any more options than a Pharmacy graduate, in fact I think there may be less options with a Comp Sci degree.

a lot of it contains chemistry

But it is not a chemistry degree. It also contains Biochemistry, Biology and Social Science.

Reply 14

ChemistBoy

Absolutely, many more chemists do, however.

Exactly, which is why I would say ... unless somebody is confident of graduating top of their year then do a straight science degree over pharmacy to get into the pharmaceutical industry ... well unless you have a strong desire to be a formulation scientist.

Reply 15

ChemistBoy

MPharm is 4 years not 5.

True but they were probably including the pre-reg year you have to do before you become fully qualified. Although in to relation to debts, you do get paid for your pre-reg year and it could be argued that because of the job security you'd be more able to pay off you debt.

Reply 16

Hash

ChemistBoy

Indeed, but a degree in pharmacy does not preclude you from pursuing such a path either.

That is his opinion. A PhD at Oxford does not add any weight to that opinion.

A degree in pharmacy definitely disadvantages you if you want to work in a high level position in a reputable software house. Obviously you will not have the technical knowledge to be handle projects etc.

A degree in Comp Sci is a lot better for banking because its nature as a heavily maths based degree is important for a such a job. I believe pharmacy is not as numerate a degree as comp sci.

As for the PhD, I would say it does add weight. Obviously doing the PhD reflects the man's passion and dedication towards the subject. He felt that the job he was doing in GSK just wasn't up to scratch.

That's my opinion anyway! Though I can see where you're coming form

Reply 17

Unregistered

ChemistBoy

MPharm is 4 years not 5.

And I am disagreeing with you. I don't think a Comp Sci graduate has any more options than a Pharmacy graduate, in fact I think there may be less options with a Comp Sci degree.

But it is not a chemistry degree. It also contains Biochemistry, Biology and Social Science.

you're a ****ing moron

first off, a graduate in Mpharm is most probably going to practice pharmacy - not going into any other science or do research or whatevr, altho the minority will

it takes 5 years to qualify as a pharmacist

most people that graduate with mpharm practice pharmacy whereas people with comp sci degrees can train to become accountants or go into other professions

dont take things literally........ a LOT of the pharmacy degree is chemistry........

Reply 18

an Siarach

15

sophisticated_i

Give me the Pros and Cons

Its hard to get work with a computing degree now because of troubles with the industry but pharmacy pretty much guarentees you immediate work and further prospects.

Reply 19