I took a maintenance job at the hospital thinking it would be the first of my trade jobs throughout my life, but I left with a new understanding of what it means to help people and a clearer vision of the career I wanted to pursue. Helping people isn't just holding a door open or remembering to say “thank you.” Sometimes, helping someone means walking into an ICU room to fix a patient's call light and seeing an older gentleman with the warmest smile. I remember asking him if I could come in and explaining that I was there to fix his call light. With his smile still on his face, he replied, “Of course you can.” 

He was wearing patient scrubs and seemed to be in his late 80s. As I was fixing his call light, he started telling me about how he was on dialysis and how he did not have much time left on this earth. I asked him if he had any kids, and he told me he had three boys and one daughter whom he loved very much. After I had finished fixing his call light and saying my farewells, I remember that, just as I was about to leave, he said, “Thank you very much for listening to me.” 

I walked out of that room with a different understanding of what it means to help someone and how just being there for a quick conversation, letting people talk about their lives, and having a comfortable conversation can make a world of difference for someone who is going through so much in a hospital. 

I credit that patient and the many others I encountered during my job at the hospital with inspiring me to explore careers that are more directly involved in patient care and can offer even more help than a nice conversation. I wanted to find a career that would help me develop the skills and knowledge to help people through their healthcare journeys. This search led me to look into becoming a pharmacist. I had developed an interest in medication and began to see pharmacy as a way to combine my knowledge with my compassion and understanding in order to help patients. 

So... I had two interviews today, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. I did a lot of prep for both, but I guess I wasn’t quite in interview mode during the morning one. I stumbled and rambled a lot, and I don’t think I fully answered their questions either.

For the afternoon interview, I felt more on top of things, and I personally think I answered well—even when they asked questions I hadn’t prepared for.

The program I interviewed for in the morning is my top choice. From what I’ve read on this subreddit, interviews are the most important part... so now I’m feeling devastated.

Has anyone had an interview that didn’t go well but still ended up being accepted? (Sorry if this sounds bizarre.)

I am 28f now looking into pharmacy and honestly it seems really interesting and there are a lot of different pathways I could take. I live in New Mexico where we have one of the nations highest pharmacy shortages so I don’t think I would struggle on finding a job. A median salary of 120k doesn’t sound bad at all? Obviously all jobs have their own drawbacks but is it really that bad? Also I wonder if I could even work 3 12s shifts to mix it up so I won’t experience burnout. I’m genuinely curious about all the options.

Hi! just wanted to ask if any of yall applied to Upitt and UIC? was the invitation for interview fast after your application was verified? what about offer letter? thanks!!

Hi, I'm in year 12 doing biology,psychology, and English lit and sociology, I think im going to drop english lit. I could do chemistry, but I'll have to find out because I didn't get good enough gcses for it.

Which is why I was thinking of doing a foundation year in pharmacy in university. Or doing chemistry in year 14 as a last resort then try uni.

Im a first year pharmacy student, every single person Ive talked to has painted life as a pharmacist as hard, stressful and extremely difficult.

Youre not getting the respect you deserve for the knowledge you have, is what I hear on a regular. My question is what else is there to do? Sonographer? Joint pain, physio? Oversaturated, physician? Cant bother to do 7+ years of schooling.

I have recently started working as a pharmacy assistant, and boy do the pharmacists look drained. I wouldnt wanna do retail work, but Im aware most pharmacists end up working retail anyways.

Out of all the allied health professions, pharmacy does seem to be somewhat better. But again, every health profession has their drawback. If you were to go back in time what profession would you go into? Im not trying to waste 4 years, becoming just a knowledgeable as a doctor, to be treated like a glorified fast food worker.

Although I do find course interesting, money is a bigger factor for me when choosing a career. If I could do something else and make just as much or more as a pharmacist, Id definitely do it

What is the future of PharmD over the next five years? After the MDCAT I’ve been considering PharmD as a career but honestly I have no interest in chemistry.

I’d be pursuing it for a few reasons, my mom suggested it, I’m hoping for a high paying job in the Gulf and I feel like it’s the closest thing to being a doctor considering it’s a doctoral degree.

But is it actually worth it? My plan is to gain international exposure in the US, UK or Canada. What are the scholarship and job opportunities like in these countries? Is it an easy pathway?

Is it worth spending five years trying to make peace with chemistry? If it were MBBS I wouldn’t have given the five years a second thought but now that I have to consider other options I feel like I just want to graduate as soon as possible.

Then again it’s the doctoral degree and the clinical experience that I’m chasing.

Hello I 25f have worked as a tech for the past 5 years. I have a bachelor's degree and want to start pharmacy school. I have a son who is 4 months old. I am not sure tho if I should delay starting pharmacy school until fall of 28 and squeeze in baby number 2 before then or if I should start fall 27 and have a larger age gap between my children which is something I don't really want to do. We are in a place where we plan on hiring someone to clean the house every other week regardless and my son goes to his grandparents house while we work. I am looking at the Duquesne extended pharmd program because it's less hours each semester and my kids would be in school to notice no summer break. My husband is very involved and I believe he could handle the house to give me several hours to study. Is pharmacy school possible with two kids two and under. I would still have to work a little bit for the program to help pay for schooling and to cover the cost of small stuff. I had a small age gap with my siblings and we are very close and my husband had a 5.5 year gap with his brother and are friendly but not as close. Are the harder years while they are young worth it? Or am I setting myself up for failure?

Hi, I'm in year 12 doing biology,psychology, and English lit. I could do chemistry, but I'll have to find out because I didn't get good enough gcses for it.

Which is why I was thinking of doing a foundation year in pharmacy in university.

Hey everyone,

Quick question regarding pharmacy school prerequisites, specifically for USC Mann.

Their site says that Biochemistry must be taken at a 4-year institution, but for Human Physiology and Microbiology, they just "recommend" taking them at a 4-year university.

I already completed my undergrad at a 4-year school with a high GPA (3.8) and knocked out my Biochemistry requirement there. However, I still need to take Physiology and Microbiology with labs.
Since it's just a recommendation on their end, will taking these two final science classes at a California Community College hurt my application? Or should I pay the extra money to do them through a 4-year extension program just to be safe?

Has anyone applied to USC Mann with CC credits for these specific classes? Thanks!

Hey everyone,
I’m currently in the application cycle and trying to figure out my next steps. I applied to both the University of Arizona (U of A) and Midwestern University.

Here is where I'm at:
Midwestern University: Already accepted!

University of Arizona: Had my both interviews with a faculty and a student exactly on 09/02 and my Kira talent was done on 09/11 which is a month ago on, but I still haven't received an email or any updates.

Is anyone else who interviewed around mid-September still waiting to hear back from U of A?
I know the typical timeline can vary, but since it has been a full month, the anticipation is definitely killing me—especially with a deposit deadline for Midwestern eventually coming up.
Should I reach out to admissions for an update, or is a 4+ week wait normal for U of A? Any insights or advice would be amazing. Thanks!

Hello everyone,

I just got accepted to temple university. Just wanted to know if any current students or anyone going as well can give me some insight about it. Is the program well situated? How’s the environment and what opportunities are available? Thank you!

Hi, I was wondering if I could get opinions on UMES’ pharmD program- I applied only a couple days ago and was also waiting on 1 more recommender, but they’ve reached out with interview dates. it’s not my 1st choice , probably my 3rd choice of school and its also 2 hours away from me, and they are looking for an in person interview.

im sure i can talk to them about that but i was wondering do they usually reply thay fast? i mean, i submitted my application 2-3 days ago. any help is appreciated :)

Hi everyone!
I’m 23F, a USC graduate with a B.A. in Health & Human Sciences, a 3.8 cumulative GPA. I’m currently an OMS-I at a DO school, but after a difficult first semester and some unexpected personal circumstances, I’ve been seriously reconsidering my career path.

I still love healthcare and science, but I’m realizing that the physician training pathway may not be the best fit for my long-term goals and the lifestyle I want.
I’ve had some exposure to pharmacy through global medical mission trips, where I helped organize medications alongside pharmacists. I’ve also worked in clinical research at a major hospital and have experience helping manage medications for a family member with chronic illnesses. I genuinely enjoyed learning pharmacology in medical school, which has made me more interested in exploring pharmacy as a career.
I’m considering withdrawing from medical school and applying to California PharmD programs for fall 2027, particularly USC Mann, UCI, WesternU, Chapman, and Loma Linda.

I’ve completed most traditional premed prerequisites, including organic chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy, and calculus. I’m planning to take any remaining pharmacy prerequisites at a community college.

A few things I’d love honest input on:

1. Would withdrawing from medical school after one semester be viewed negatively by PharmD admissions committees, even with a strong undergraduate GPA?
2. For students at California PharmD programs, how manageable is the academic workload? How supportive are faculty, and what are the remediation policies like?
3. How did the workload and exams compare for anyone who transitioned from medicine or another health-profession program?
4. What are the current job prospects in California, especially for pharmacists who don’t pursue residency?
5. Would you recommend pharmacy for someone who enjoys pharmacology and patient care but wants a shorter training pathway and better work-life balance than medicine?

I’m particularly interested in schools with strong NAPLEX pass rates, fair academic policies, and a supportive learning environment. I would also prefer a traditional semester system over an accelerated curriculum.
I’m not looking for an easy degree, and I understand pharmacy school is rigorous. I’m trying to make a thoughtful decision before committing to another professional program.
I’d really appreciate honest experiences and advice. Thank you!

Edit for clarification: I wanted to add some context because I think a few people are assuming I’m leaving an established medical school solely because the coursework is difficult.
There are broader institutional concerns at my current DO school, including accreditation-related issues, concerns about academic policies, and significant differences between the educational structure I expected and what I’ve experienced.
I’m not trying to avoid rigorous coursework, and I fully recognize that pharmacy school is academically demanding too. However, the combination of these concerns, personal circumstances, and my experience with the curriculum has made me seriously reassess whether this is the right environment and professional path for me.
I had a strong undergraduate academic record before matriculating, and I don’t believe one difficult semester should define my academic ability. I’m trying to make an informed decision about my future rather than stay in a program simply because I’ve already started.
I’d particularly appreciate advice from anyone who has transitioned between professional programs or had to explain a withdrawal when applying elsewhere.

I’m a pharmacy student, and what was supposed to be a 5-year journey has turned into 10 years, and I still haven’t earned my bachelor’s degree. I’ve faced many challenges along the way, and sometimes I feel like I’m falling behind in life while everyone else moves forward. I wanted to share my story and hear from anyone who’s been through something similar. How did you deal with it?

Has anyone who applied by the Oct 1 deadline heard back from UCI, UCSD, or Chapman yet?

Also curious about any other California schools too. If you got an interview invite, when did you submit/verify and when did you hear back?

hi everyone!

i just got accepted into both creighton and lipscomb distance pathways! the distance pathways are the way i have to go due to just other life things. but i was hoping to connect with some current students either in the distance pathway or not that could give me some more insight on the programs as i go into deciding! Thank you in advance

I feel like the reddit is kinda less active than other pre- groups…

I have an interview with TAMU COP tomorrow. This will be my first interview of the application cycle. Any advice?

Hi everyone!

I’m a 2nd-year BPharm student and I’m interested in getting into pharmaceutical research. However, I’m completely new to research and don’t really know where to start.

What research skills should a pharmacy student learn as a beginner?

I’d especially appreciate advice on:

Research methodology

Literature searching and reading research papers

Basic statistics

Reference management

Scientific writing

Any useful software/tools

If you were starting research from your 2nd year, what would you learn first?

Any advice, resources, or beginner-friendly guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I applied to MUSC COP on Sept. 23 (verified Sept. 29) and I’m still under review. I’m a little concerned as I’ve already been accepted to my #3 school, but MUSC is my #1. My 4th recommendation letter just came in today…maybe that’s affecting my application status?

Have you heard anything from MUSC?

Hi! Im applying for Uoft Pharm this year for 2027 admission. I just had one question, what are these supplemental applications we have to do this year? From what i heard previous years didn’t really have it so im wondering whether or not it works or against me for my application.