Questions Regarding Pharmacy UCC?

yoyojc

So I've been thinking hard about what I'd like to do in College.

I'd love to get into Medicine but the HPAT is difficult to do well in..
I'm researching back up plans and seriously need some advice. I've spoken to my Guidance teacher and it was useful but I'm still down to a broad list.. It's a big decision!

I was thinking about Pharmacy in UCC? To be honest, I like chemistry but I don't love it.. I do however like the prospect of working with medicinal drugs etc. It would be interesting.

Does anyone have any experience regarding the course and could they give me any advice?

My idea of it at the moment is that it's alot to do with measuring drugs, seeing what they do etc?

Thanks

d1234

Hi there!!

Although I'm not studying pharmacy I'm too thinking about it (I'm in 5th year). I've done work placement in the school of pharmacy at TCD and also in my local pharmacy and I've went to both the RCSI and TCD's open days.

At the minute you study 4 years pharmacy for your BSc/BPharm degree. So in this case, you would spend 4 years in UCC. However to became a Member of the Pharmaceutical Society here in Ireland, you need to complete an extra year which is in the RCSI in Dublin. So that means you would be with the students from TCD, RCSI and UCC. However, during that fifth year a lot of it will be placement based and the later end will be exams. (You will also get paid that year!). This will change though and in 2015, students will complete their entire degree in whatever institution they choose e.g 5 years in UCC etc.

I suppose I was like you in the fact that I could only relate to making drugs. There are three different sectors - community pharmacy i.e. your local pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and industry pharmacy such as working in Pfizer, Bayer etc. You choose 1 area to specialise in.

There are also other aspects to the course like biology/anatomy, bit of maths etc. so I suppose it's not solely chemistry!

The big problem is the competition in getting a place - I've been told that there are 13 applicants per space!!

Best of luck with your decision!!

yoyojc

d1234 wrote: »

Hi there!!

Although I'm not studying pharmacy I'm too thinking about it (I'm in 5th year). I've done work placement in the school of pharmacy at TCD and also in my local pharmacy and I've went to both the RCSI and TCD's open days.

At the minute you study 4 years pharmacy for your BSc/BPharm degree. So in this case, you would spend 4 years in UCC. However to became a Member of the Pharmaceutical Society here in Ireland, you need to complete an extra year which is in the RCSI in Dublin. So that means you would be with the students from TCD, RCSI and UCC. However, during that fifth year a lot of it will be placement based and the later end will be exams. (You will also get paid that year!). This will change though and in 2015, students will complete their entire degree in whatever institution they choose e.g 5 years in UCC etc.

I suppose I was like you in the fact that I could only relate to making drugs. There are three different sectors - community pharmacy i.e. your local pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and industry pharmacy such as working in Pfizer, Bayer etc. You choose 1 area to specialise in.

There are also other aspects to the course like biology/anatomy, bit of maths etc. so I suppose it's not solely chemistry!

The big problem is the competition in getting a place - I've been told that there are 13 applicants per space!!

Best of luck with your decision!!

Thanks alot for your reply, really appreciate it. Really? I was under the impression that the pharmaceutical industry was growing and that there would always be jobs there..

I need to go to the UCC open day and check it out. From your experiences in a pharmacy did you enjoy it? I'd probably prefer to work outside a pharmacy but I'm not sure.

d1234

Hi again! Yes I suppose I did enjoy it simply because I was with a great pharmacist who give me a lot of opportunities over the few days which really helped. The job though can be rather repetitive at times but I liked the fact that you are working with the customer and it can be more informal that other healthcare professions. I suppose if you're looking for something more different/new tasks everyday medicine would be great but jobs like occupational therapy can be very varied. I meant to mention that that was for the course the 13:1 thing but yes there are good jobs out there. The general community jobs are always a secure bet. The hospital jobs are crazy at the moment it seems as the HSE weren't recruiting in a while and there is quite a few graduates looking for employment and the industry is good in general but more unstable as lots of companies relocate to other places leaving 100s in the same line of employment looking for work. I must mention also that there is quite a good forum in the TCD section on pharmacy http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056364984. I had a look through UCC but couldn't see anything pharmacy related but there may be one. Good luck!

Razzledazz34

Helooo, im studying pharmacy at the moment in RCSI in first year and I remember looking up all these boards for information too but sometimes couldnt find too much on it. I was never a big fan of chemistry but loved science/biology and working with people so I figured medicine or pharmacy was for me but I decided to go for pharmacy because i think its a nicer job in terms of when im older and a working mom. Medicine I think is something you really need to know what your getting in for before you start but saying that I know alot of people doing it who love it.

In terms of the course, as someone who was never mad on chemistry either, its definitely manageable. RCSI is really good for any extra support you need and because its a smaller class you really get all the attention you need eg. extra optional tutorial classes. RCSI is also a lot more clinical based then other courses I have heard from friends doing pharm in trinity. Im not sure about UCC but in trinity everything is a bit more scientific while in RCSI even from early on were learning all the clinical skills you need. In semester one we had Chemistry, Physiology (10 credits), Anatomy, pharmaceutics and professional skills. Anatomy is so interesting and we got to work with cadavers every 2 weeks which was amazing. Professional skills was also great because it was about inter-professional environments and so had a group project with med and physio students. All in all i think its a really interesting course.

Il admit its definitely getting a bit more difficult this semester but still nothing that is impossible. Once you do your best to stay on top of things it normally works out ok!

I also work in a pharmacy so know a bit about the actual job. Personally, I really like it but that might be because I got lucky and am working with really great people in a busy pharmacy near my home. The job can definitely be repetitive at times so if your looking for something that is really going to be stimulating ur brain morning to night then maybe its not for you, but at the same time the gratification you get off people when they come in to you with an issue that you can help them with is whats rewarding to me. Typically its a 9-6 job ( altho i know there is a lot of late night pharmacies but mine is 9-6), still a good salary regardless of how bad things have gotten recently in the economy your still going to get better than working in some other sectors, and as soon as 6 oclock hits you can leave work behind and not have to think about it when you go home (something else i like about it).

Lastly, my sisters friend is a pharmacist in crumlin childrens hospital and she absolutely loves it. Its very clinical based and not like the old days where pharmacists would live in the dispensary and not leave all day. She has a lot of ward checks and is an integrated member in a lot of the staffs clinical decisions.

Hope that helps, if you have any questions feel free to mail anytime.

yoyojc

Razzledazz34 wrote: »

Helooo, im studying pharmacy at the moment in RCSI in first year and I remember looking up all these boards for information too but sometimes couldnt find too much on it. I was never a big fan of chemistry but loved science/biology and working with people so I figured medicine or pharmacy was for me but I decided to go for pharmacy because i think its a nicer job in terms of when im older and a working mom. Medicine I think is something you really need to know what your getting in for before you start but saying that I know alot of people doing it who love it.

In terms of the course, as someone who was never mad on chemistry either, its definitely manageable. RCSI is really good for any extra support you need and because its a smaller class you really get all the attention you need eg. extra optional tutorial classes. RCSI is also a lot more clinical based then other courses I have heard from friends doing pharm in trinity. Im not sure about UCC but in trinity everything is a bit more scientific while in RCSI even from early on were learning all the clinical skills you need. In semester one we had Chemistry, Physiology (10 credits), Anatomy, pharmaceutics and professional skills. Anatomy is so interesting and we got to work with cadavers every 2 weeks which was amazing. Professional skills was also great because it was about inter-professional environments and so had a group project with med and physio students. All in all i think its a really interesting course.

Il admit its definitely getting a bit more difficult this semester but still nothing that is impossible. Once you do your best to stay on top of things it normally works out ok!

I also work in a pharmacy so know a bit about the actual job. Personally, I really like it but that might be because I got lucky and am working with really great people in a busy pharmacy near my home. The job can definitely be repetitive at times so if your looking for something that is really going to be stimulating ur brain morning to night then maybe its not for you, but at the same time the gratification you get off people when they come in to you with an issue that you can help them with is whats rewarding to me. Typically its a 9-6 job ( altho i know there is a lot of late night pharmacies but mine is 9-6), still a good salary regardless of how bad things have gotten recently in the economy your still going to get better than working in some other sectors, and as soon as 6 oclock hits you can leave work behind and not have to think about it when you go home (something else i like about it).

Lastly, my sisters friend is a pharmacist in crumlin childrens hospital and she absolutely loves it. Its very clinical based and not like the old days where pharmacists would live in the dispensary and not leave all day. She has a lot of ward checks and is an integrated member in a lot of the staffs clinical decisions.

Hope that helps, if you have any questions feel free to mail anytime.

Great to hear from someone who is studying the course, thanks alot! I'm strongly considering it in UCC but I'm not sure. I'll have a think about any other questions I might have

Gitiana

Hi everyone!

Well, HPAT results are in and medicine for me is a no-go. So my options are pharmacy or biomedical science. And I cant decide. I personally slightly prefer the course content of biomed but im scared I wont get a job after college. Money isn't really an issue for me, I just want to be able to secure a job here in Ireland. I don't want to emigrate! So would anyone be able to tell me which of these two has better job opportunities at the moment?

A quick response would be much appreciated as CAO deadline is tomorrow! :O

d1234

I would say that you probably have better job prospects at the minute with pharmacy. However, the future is difficult to predict as the online market may take over. There will always be jobs though as you have different sectors such as industrial community and hospital. Another advantage with pharmacy is that you graduate with a MPharm, a masters of pharmacy. On the downside though, many people find the job boring and would take career breaks etc. Good luck with your decision!!

Gitiana

d1234 wrote: »

I would say that you probably have better job prospects at the minute with pharmacy. However, the future is difficult to predict as the online market may take over. There will always be jobs though as you have different sectors such as industrial community and hospital. Another advantage with pharmacy is that you graduate with a MPharm, a masters of pharmacy. On the downside though, many people find the job boring and would take career breaks etc. Good luck with your decision!!

Thank you!!

Julius Seizure

I'm having such a hard time choosing between Pharmacy, or Chemistry and then a masters afterwards, or perhaps Medicinal Chemistry. I really love chemistry but I don't know if I like it enough for a degree in it, and also I like the idea of Pharmacy being more vocational, you have a pretty solid profession afterwards. Although chemistry is more open ended for stuff like teaching etc... Decisions decions