APhA, worth $40?

[Sparda29]

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My school is starting an APhA chapter. It costs $40 to join. Is it worth it?

 

[crazybob]

My school is starting an APhA chapter. It costs $40 to join. Is it worth it?

I personally think it's worth it, because I try to get as much out of it as I can.

 

[Praziquantel86]

My school is starting an APhA chapter. It costs $40 to join. Is it worth it?

Depends on whether you make it worth it. If you actively participate in the organization (join committees, run for office, attend local/regional/national meetings, etc.), then absolutely. I find that a lot of students just join to put it on their CV and get no real benefit out of it.

The best part of pharmacy school for me has been active involvement in multiple student organizations. I've made a lot of contacts and opened a number of doors that I didn't even know existed beforehand. A lot of pharmacy is who you know, and organizations are where the people to know belong.

 

[SHC1984]

$40 is very cheap...it cost $58 to join at my school and I joined it P1 and P2 year and will join again next year! 🙂

 

[J ROD]

Depends....if you go, then yes.

If you dont go, then no.

 

[Grizaholic17]

I personally believe that APhA is the best association to join. Especially if you plan on going forth in educating yourself through a residency. Not only does it look great for applications, but it is satisfying and (at least at my school) it is a learning opportunity as well.

Considering our tuitions, $40 is nothing. It's the pharmacy frat houses that really break your back 😛

 

[Filler]

.. Especially if you plan on going forth in educating yourself through a residency...P

I've always believed the ASHP was more relevant to residencies than the AphA, hmm...

 

[J ROD]

I've always believed the ASHP was more relevant to residencies than the AphA, hmm...

I concur.....

ASHP did our residency talks.

 

[Momus]

Back in 2007, they gave away a free APHA review book for NAPLEX so it basically paid for the membership for 1 year >_>; the book itself cost ~$45... so yea, good deal.

 

[confettiflyer]

I concur.....

ASHP did our residency talks.

+3 on this one

while both pushed residencies, i always saw apha as geared more towards the community/retail pharmacy crowd.

you go to ASHP mid-year for residencies, not apha mid-year.

 

[Sparda29]

Isn't APhA just like the pharmacy version of the AMA?

 

[owlegrad]

Isn't APhA just like the pharmacy version of the AMA?

Yes, if the AMA were terrible at what they do.

 

[meimei29]

+3 on this one

while both pushed residencies, i always saw apha as geared more towards the community/retail pharmacy crowd.

you go to ASHP mid-year for residencies, not apha mid-year.

I agree; APhA also has a considerably more expensive membership fee in comparison to ASHP at my school.

While I agree with everyone saying that if you're involved, it's a great organization to join. However, depending on the school, it is possible that there are other organizations out there already that offer the same sort of events which will help you develop professionally at a considerably lower cost. I think APhA is a FANTASTIC organization, and my school's student chapter is exceptionally strong.

That said, we have other organizations that offer professional experiences as well... so it is a matter of seeing which organizations will offer you the events and opportunities you are looking for.

 

[docss26]

My school is starting an APhA chapter. It costs $40 to join. Is it worth it?

It's definitely worth it. Since it is a new chapter you have a lot of opportunities to start new projects you find worth while. It's a great extracurricular and a way to network with other pharmaceutical colleagues.

 

[RealistRPh]

Yes, if the AMA were terrible at what they do.

I am curious as to what APhA has done to "protect" pharmacists as we all know AMA does to protect doctors? There are so many stressors placed on pharmacists these days. I am definitely out of the loop with APhA, but would someone please elaborate on their positive influences on the everyday practice of pharmacy.

 

[iluvtennis]

I agree with Momus (the user who posted above me). Additionally, any organization allows you opportunities to network. In the retail world, this is absolutely essential, I would not have gotten my job at Rite-aid without connections. However, where I currently live is a very saturated market. Even if you are planning for a residency, getting your face out there with local programs never hurts. What if you don't end up matching and need a year or so to kill? Thats when retail and local hospitals will come in handy.

 

[MindOverMatter]

Yes, if the AMA were terrible at what they do.

 

[Sparda29]

Joined it.