Pharmaceutical options

Pharmaceutical careers are among some of the fastest growing jobs in the field

By Donna Taketa
The Collegian

Brainy math and science students aren’t known for winning popularity contests in school. However, mental prowess in math and chemistry can help students enter careers that win them the confidence and admiration of the public as well as high salaries.

Doctors, nurses, veterinarians and pharmacists consistently win the public’s approval for honesty and ethics according to a 2003 Gallup Poll. Nurses top the list at 83 percent; meaning survey respondents thought nurses had “high” or “very high” ethical standards.

Fourth on the list are pharmacists, with a 67 percent rating. Not only a trusted and respected career, pharmacy is one of the hottest growing jobs.

Shirley Kovacs, a pre-pharmacy advisor at Fresno State said in the past 10 years she has witnessed a 100 percent increase in pre-pharmacy students. She cites high salaries, job security and regular working hours as appealing factors.

A pharmacist advises doctors and patients about drugs and also dispenses and prepares medications.

Annual starting salaries can exceed $100,000 reported a Sept. 2005 AARP bulletin. A shortage of pharmacists nationwide has driven up salaries and increased demand for qualified people in all regions of the country reported AARP.

There are only 89 pharmacy schools in the U.S., and acceptance into the four-year programs is competitive.

“Generally we recommend that students take the high road,” Kovacs said, “and take the most rigorous courses to allow flexibility for admission.”

Undergraduate classes include two years of chemistry, a year of physics, calculus and biology, among others. A minimum 3.4- 3.5 GPA is required, Kovacs said.

“FYI, the majority of successful applicants are female,” Kovacs added. She said the ratio of female to male is about two to one.

For students interested in pursuing pharmacy she recommends they talk with a pre-pharmacy advisor and that, “familiarity with the pharmacy profession such as working for a pharmacy as an assistant… and community service and activity leadership skills are pluses.”

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