Worth of Pharmacology degree

Crestfallen

Hey all, I'm hoping perhaps I could get some advice on doing a pharmacology degree. The CAO change of mind deadline is horribly soon and I still haven't made my mind up 100%. I'm currently torn between 2.

1: Law - great money and employment opportunities associated with it but to be honest I'm not at all sure if I'd be interested in it as it seems quite boring.

2: Pharmacology - very interested in the area but am quite nervous of the financial (or lack of) opportunities upon graduation. It seems that the standard route is to get a postgrad and then become a QA in a pharmaceutical company, and earning about 40k... which seems quite low.

Does anyone have any information about what a pharmacology degree can ultimately lead to? I'm well aware of the difference between pharmacology and pharmacy, so i don't really need info on that aspect.

Thanks in advance.

InFront

I don't know much about the financial payback, I'd imagine that employee for employee, pharmacology is much less lucrative than law alright. But it's incredibly interesting material. I'm a medical student and although we don't get nearly as much pharmacology as I'd like to study, it's hugely relevant to medicine, medical progress, and human life.

As for what a pharmacology degree can lead to, well obviously you could work in drug development, clinical research, academic work, and I'm sure the people who run and manage drug companies also know a thing or two about pharmacology as well. I don't know what sort of availability of work there is out there, but I'm sure there are a few pharmacology graduates/ students on here.

By the way, I would have thought that a QA Manager in a pharmaceutical company would earn considerably more than 40k, no?

Bear in mind that an undergraduate degree in Law is not necessary to go on and qualify as a solicitor or a barrister
http://www.lawsociety.ie/displayCDAContent.aspx?node=283&groupID=283&code=education
http://www.kingsinns.ie/website/prospective_students/prospective.htm

oneeyedsnake

Crestfallen wrote:

Hey all, I'm hoping perhaps I could get some advice on doing a pharmacology degree. The CAO change of mind deadline is horribly soon and I still haven't made my mind up 100%. I'm currently torn between 2.

1: Law - great money and employment opportunities associated with it but to be honest I'm not at all sure if I'd be interested in it as it seems quite boring.

2: Pharmacology - very interested in the area but am quite nervous of the financial (or lack of) opportunities upon graduation. It seems that the standard route is to get a postgrad and then become a QA in a pharmaceutical company, and earning about 40k... which seems quite low.

Does anyone have any information about what a pharmacology degree can ultimately lead to? I'm well aware of the difference between pharmacology and pharmacy, so i don't really need info on that aspect.

Thanks in advance.

Just because you do a law degree doesn’t mean that you are automatically going to get a high paying job .It is a very competitive industry and even when you do get into the 3 figure salary area your company will expect a lot from you, ie a lot more than the typical 9 to 5.A few people I know work in high end corporate law and they say the partners in the law firm have given up a huge amount and placed a lot of strain on their families ect. Also if you do well in your pharmacology degree and do a law conversion course you may have an edge on other job hunters as this will show you are a lateral thinker, good analytical skills ect...you will also have your foot in the door for
Pharmaceutical law jobs but I know very little about that area

seraphimvc

currently a pharmacology student:D

check careerdirections.ie you might find it useful

mate,i really wouldnt say anythin bad about doing pharmacology at the moment,just a statement of fact that 16 out of 20 of the top pharmaceutical companies are based in ireland (and some of them are quite 'old' already,have been here since 10-20 years ago,ya see):D dont you know that ireland is like a small but famous base for biomedical/drugs industries?

hope you are doing what you are looking for back in August:D