I don’t want to make a hasty decision. I thought I would see what other people think.
I am currently in my first year at uni, I genuinely really like the course, it is a lot of work and there is definitely parts I don’t like but absolutely more parts I do enjoy than don’t. I also really like my teachers they’re great.
However, I understood the cost before starting uni of course and I briefly thought about this before but the last few weeks I really haven’t been able to shake these thoughts. I am considering leaving and going into a dispenser, technician and eventually accuracy checker instead of continuing at uni to be a pharmacist. In the long run is the money i’m paying out be worth it after paying tax on my salary and taking my student loans. I feel a hospital technician has a very similar role as a pharmacist in community without as much patient facing aspects. I just also feel like the time I actually finish uni i’ll be 24 and basically having to start my life from scratch with a degree of course, where as I could start now and by the time I would have graduated uni already made a career for myself.
I just really don’t know what to do and thought I would get others opinions.
For reference as a newly qualified pharmacist I should be on about 40-50k a year (this is after 5 years of uni and training), vs 30k as a technician which I can start earning almost right away and up to 45k in later years.
It’s hard for me to think about this because i’ve genuinely always wanted to go to uni and be pharmacist but now the last few weeks ive been considering if it really is worth it. I will definitely stick in the pharmacy sector because I love it but don’t know if being a pharmacist is truly worth it after all.
I would also like to add I do understand both roles very well, I just really don’t know what to do. I thought about this before uni but it’s something i’ve always wanted so perused it but now i’m so unsure and freaking out about it!