Odds of Getting In
Don't expect getting the pharmaceutical scientist gig to be a piece of store-bought chocolate raspberry cake. You and a million other job hunters are looking for that job with good pay and good work-life balance, which means the competition is fierce. You've got to have something to offer. Consider doing research over the summer when you're in college. Help out a frazzled faculty member with his research during the school year. Those experiences put you one step ahead of those million other brainiacs who enjoy science.
Having a degree under your belt and becoming specialized may help, too. If you've got a special skill set or talent (singing in the shower doesn't count), look for companies that could really benefit from your knowledge.