Just a couple of questions.. (with regards to study and pharmacy)

[farm-a-sea]

Hi Robert,

I am glad that i could help you and my advice made sense. With regards to your question, i think that chemistry is involved alot in the course. However the whole course is not chemistry based. Each year we study parts of chemistry, Biology, Physics and Maths and that each year we develop our learning and go more in depth in these subject fields. Since you are studying Biology and Chemistry at A-levels it will help you alot.

Majid

[lm248]

Originally Posted by Roberttt

Again, thanks to all that have replied. I am still unsure as to what I wish to study but I guess I have a few months until I have to start looking for university placements.

Majid, could I just ask some questions about the course? You see, I would love to study Pharmacy as I like giving advice to patients (or 'customers') on whatever possible and I feel as a qualified Pharmacist, I would be able to offer alot more. Obviously Pharmacy is going to include aspects of Chemistry, I know that. However, I was just wondering how much of the course actually involves chemistry?

Thankyou, Robert .

Hi Robert, just noticed this thread and thought I'd stick my oar in too I'm in my 3rd year at Bath Uni. I did biology, chemistry and german at A-level and am definitely glad I did German instead of say maths or physics - it's far better to do something that you'll enjoy and get a good grade in, and it gives you something to talk about in interviews.

With regard to medicine vs pharmacy - first off, everyone I know who's doing medicine at uni finds it takes over their life. Huge amount of work and stress, so you have to really really want it as opposed to thinking it might be something nice to do. I'm not saying pharmacy's a walk in the park but you do get free time - I currently have 2 occasional part time jobs and plenty of time to see friends and get work done.

Another thing I noticed you mentioning was the ACT issue. The way I see it (and the way I've heard pharmacists talking about it) is that it's actually a positive - it means less time dispensing prescriptions and more time making use of the 4 years of clinical pharmacy you've learned as you have far more time free to spend on wards/doing MURs. The profession is changing but generally (excluding this forum!) all the pharmacists I've spoken with seem happy with it.

Anyway, I'd definitely recommend pharmacy as a degree. I have to admit I found the first 2 years very hard, but this year we're doing a lot of clinical pharmacy and it's all tying together. As for chemistry - we did a module on organic chemistry in the first year, and since then it's been *slightly* optional. I have a general understanding of the concepts but I'm very shaky on electron transfer diagrams and it doesn't seem to ahve affected my exams *crosses fingers* I'd be more worried if you couldn't do maths or biology to save your life

[Pharmanaut]

Originally Posted by lm248

Anyway, I'd definitely recommend pharmacy as a degree. I have to admit I found the first 2 years very hard, but this year we're doing a lot of clinical pharmacy and it's all tying together. As for chemistry - we did a module on organic chemistry in the first year, and since then it's been *slightly* optional. I have a general understanding of the concepts but I'm very shaky on electron transfer diagrams and it doesn't seem to ahve affected my exams *crosses fingers* I'd be more worried if you couldn't do maths or biology to save your life

The problem is that the sciences are 'compartmentalised' in the way they are taught.
When it was a 3 year course it took until just before christmas in the final year for it all to click into place. When it does everything suddenly becomes clearer and then it gets a bit easier to understand.

[Asterix]

What's the ACT thing?