alphabet soup orgs

[pharmasaur]

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Hi guys...a fellow P1 and I are really curious about why pharmacy schools have SO. MANY. ORGS. (as a health science campus the MD, PA, DDS, PT, and OT programs have like 2-3 student orgs max whereas we easily have 15+ not including all the APhA "operations") whats the point? I kind of feel like I'm in high school again. As an older student with a job I am not sure if I have time but there is so much buzz/anxiety/pressure to join and take on leadership positions. I may join one because it sounds interesting and I'd like to attend meetings as a member but am not really interested in leadership positions....I did that in high school/undergrad just want to focus on other things right now. Is that really bad? Can anyone shed some light on this weird situation in pharmacy schools because my friend and I are a little confused about the hype as we have many friends in other grad programs and when talking to them they seem surprised we have so many orgs, that the focus of their programs are to study and work part-time if possible.

 

[Baka]

I am in the same boat as you. Just planning on joining one org and see what will happen. It's a good thing that the school made sure that no membership prioritization happens during health care signs up though, or else I have to join APSA, CHAPSA, KAPSA or maybe even VAPSA.

Now, stop wasting your time here and go study for our first midterm next friday.

 

[joetrisman]

Can't be good at everything. Pick a couple of things and put your max effort into them.

 

[pharmasaur]

I am in the same boat as you. Just planning on joining one org and see what will happen. It's a good thing that the school made sure that no membership prioritization happens during health care signs up though, or else I have to join APSA, CHAPSA, KAPSA or maybe even VAPSA.

Now, stop wasting your time here and go study for our first midterm next friday.

emm i dunno who you are lol....can you not tell me what to do with my time please 😀

 

[pharmasaur]

Can't be good at everything. Pick a couple of things and put your max effort into them.

yeah i get that. i was just wondering *why* so many student orgs in this profession vs. other grad school programs, healthcare and non-healthcare. it just seems odd to me.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

yeah i get that. i was just wondering *why* so many student orgs in this profession vs. other grad school programs, healthcare and non-healthcare. it just seems odd to me.

It may just be your school. There weren't 15 were I went to school. Not even close.

 

[pharm B]

My guess is they want to give everyone a chance to lead, and to network with the organisation of your choice.

The two no-brainers in my opinion are APhA and ASHP. Rho Chi and Phi Lambda Sigma have their place, plus maybe two frats.

NCPA makes sense because of its target niche that isn't addressed by APhA or ASHP.

One thing I never understood: why does a school need both APhA AND SNPhA?

 

[pharmasaur]

My guess is they want to give everyone a chance to lead, and to network with the organisation of your choice.

The two no-brainers in my opinion are APhA and ASHP. Rho Chi and Phi Lambda Sigma have their place, plus maybe two frats.

NCPA makes sense because of its target niche that isn't addressed by APhA or ASHP.

One thing I never understood: why does a school need both APhA AND SNPhA?

my school joined APhA, student APhA, ASHP, and student ASHP into one giant org...$200 joining fee 🙁

 

[Rx MPLS]

my school joined APhA, student APhA, ASHP, and student ASHP into one giant org...$200 joining fee 🙁

Ours has a similar structure, but the fee is less...join the giant org though; there are probably a lot of good opportunities in an organization like that. Additionally, $200 to potentially network is nothing compared with your annual student tuition and fees, and may actually help you get a (good) job or residency.

 

[mustang sally]

Hi guys...a fellow P1 and I are really curious about why pharmacy schools have SO. MANY. ORGS. (as a health science campus the MD, PA, DDS, PT, and OT programs have like 2-3 student orgs max whereas we easily have 15+ not including all the APhA "operations") whats the point? I kind of feel like I'm in high school again. As an older student with a job I am not sure if I have time but there is so much buzz/anxiety/pressure to join and take on leadership positions. I may join one because it sounds interesting and I'd like to attend meetings as a member but am not really interested in leadership positions....I did that in high school/undergrad just want to focus on other things right now. Is that really bad? Can anyone shed some light on this weird situation in pharmacy schools because my friend and I are a little confused about the hype as we have many friends in other grad programs and when talking to them they seem surprised we have so many orgs, that the focus of their programs are to study and work part-time if possible.

It's just the way pharmacy school is. It is very rah rah, be a leader, get involved, etc. I don't think it's bad if you don't want to hold a leadership position...but if you are thinking of doing a residency, it's probably a good idea to be involved in something, otherwise it really doesn't matter.

 

[Digsbe]

The only organization I joined was ASHP. I may join APHA next year as well. My school has about 5 or 6 organizations that have advertised themselves so far. How many of your organizations are specific for your school?

 

[pharm B]

As in they only exist at the school? Aside from the school-specific chapters of the national groups, we have a Cultural Diversity Committee. Walgreens provides funding for that group.