Average Day in Pharmacy School

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
C

Corpseman

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2010
Messages
1,024
Reaction score
290
Members don't see this ad.
Just wanted to get a feel what it was like for students daily life in pharmacy school.

It may also help if you write which school you attend as well.
 
8-12 four days a week plus lab and pt review. Professors speaking at the speed of sound with a heavy accent. Average pre school straight A student now makes a B-C. Without recordings I don't know what I would do.
 
Taking 18 units this semester vs 19 units last semester. This semester is a little more relaxed in terms of the hrs. Mon-Tues 9am-12pm, Wed-Thurs 8am-12pm, Fri 8am-11am and labs/discussions on some Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. However, the amount of info has more than doubled this semester. I already have a sh** load of info to review and classes started 4 days ago.

Also have IPPEs this semester.


I attend UOP.
 
chemnerd99 said:
8-12 four days a week plus lab and pt review. Professors speaking at the speed of sound with a heavy accent. Average pre school straight A student now makes a B-C. Without recordings I don't know what I would do.
Click to expand...

Doesn't everyone speak at the speed of sound?
 
Maybe they meant speed of light? :laugh:

Average pre school straight A student now makes a B-C.
Click to expand...

:meanie:

On a more serious note... I feel the same way as owlegrad, course load is heavier but the concept isn't as difficult as some of the hardest upper div, at least not yet. Students have to schedule IPPEs on their own at my school, so if you wait 'till the last week to complete the hours, it may feel like hell. Too many all-school conferences 😳 Typically I go to class from 10 to 2-3, then study maybe 2 hours a day consistently. During exam weeks studying can be dawn to... dawn 😴
 
I know the courses will be harder and require more time (for studying and such) but besides tests, what are you really graded on? Is there a lot of papers, case studies, "homework", or is it mostly mastering tests you need to worry about?
 
The focus will shift to being able to demonstrate competence/knowledge but at first it is still mostly exams. I am only ever stressed about exams, all other works require time/energy but the grade is always based on following a rubric so you don't need to worry about the grade on those.

You do have to pass the exams and some professors love to test on the smallest details or word things in confusing ways to make sure you "understand" it. Just like undergrad the vast majority of classes the largest portion of your grade will come from exams.

EDIT: Oh and every class will have a professionalism requirement which basically means they can dock you points for doing anything they don't like.
 
This semester is basically 10:30 AM-4PM 5 days a week. It's nice having mornings to sleep in a little more but the days can seem long. I have to study everyday or I'll get behind since I am taking 21 hours. I try to study after class just to finish off what I need to go over and give myself a good chunk of the afternoon to relax, stay involved in a few organizations, or go out. It's not difficult to balance if you stay ahead. Things become daunting if you fall behind trust me. I'm at Texas Tech and I love it here! I'm busy all the time but the time just flies (which I really like)! If there is more anyone wants to know, just post/message me!
 
The 18 science credits this semester sucked, but were doable. I actually have found second year to be easier, material wise, than first year. It's more about being organized and staying on top of things.

Usually from 7:30am-Noon I'm in class, study from Noonish to 4pm, work 4pm to 10pm, pacify wife from 10pm to 11pm, study from 11pm to 12:30ish.

I work 30 hours a week, have two four hour labs and have a 1 year old at home, so that daily schedule does vary some.
 
This spring the schedule is 8-12 daily, with a 1-2 class a couple days/week and a 2-5 lab a couple days/week. We have IPPE site visits for two of the months each semester. I generally study 2-3 hours/day if it is not near test time, more if it is close to a test. I try to study a bit on both days of the weekend. It's not terrible, really.
 
phathead said:
The 18 science credits this semester sucked, but were doable. I actually have found second year to be easier, material wise, than first year. It's more about being organized and staying on top of things.

Usually from 7:30am-Noon I'm in class, study from Noonish to 4pm, work 4pm to 10pm, pacify wife from 10pm to 11pm, study from 11pm to 12:30ish.

I work 30 hours a week, have two four hour labs and have a 1 year old at home, so that daily schedule does vary some.
Click to expand...

yikes, if that is truly your schedule, then you're kind of amazing
wish i could be that disciplined and hard-working :nod:
 
Monday through Friday I'm in class from around 9am-noon or 9am-1pm and one day a week I have a 3-hour lab in the afternoon. I get home, study for a couple hours, and then spend the rest of the evening doing something non-school related. I try to study a little bit every day, because I hate cramming and I love sleeping. Sometimes there are meetings for organizations to go to in the evening, which take up a couple hours but there is free food. I work on Saturday (10 hour shift), and spend Sunday either relaxing, working, or studying, depending on when my next exam is. There are some weeks when we have an exam literally every day. Those weeks aren't fun, but luckily the norm is usually more like 1-2 exams each week. Everyone's experience differs, but I love pharmacy school and I think it's a pretty chill lifestyle.
 
croquemonsieur said:
yikes, if that is truly your schedule, then you're kind of amazing
wish i could be that disciplined and hard-working :nod:
Click to expand...

You just learn to do what ya gotta do. I don't have a social life though. Been in this city for a year and a half and have yet to venture to a bar... actually I haven't had a drink in well over a year lol
 
I'll let you know at the end of the week. This year is 26 credits, 20 hour work weeks, several projects, and various other things I have to do. our program is rigorous. I have to study but I've mastered high yield methods. I have a 3.5 gpa but I don't sleep much. Not sure about other programs but, in the end, you will sacrifice something. many of the high gpa students don't work or work minimally. Some students still live at home. It's all about time management and study habits or methods as well as lifestyle. I have a home and fiancé to tend to as well
 
what kind of school supplies are needed and used for an average day in pharmacy school? I know that it's necessary to have a voice recorder (an ipad is a plus for video recording), but what else should I buy prior to starting date?
 
PharmacyWarrior said:
what kind of school supplies are needed and used for an average day in pharmacy school? I know that it's necessary to have a voice recorder (an ipad is a plus for video recording), but what else should I buy prior to starting date?
Click to expand...

As with the previous poster, most of our lectures are recorded (video/audio). A laptop is not expressly required, but in reality you have to have one. Otherwise, not much is required in the way of actual school supplies.
 
People in my class use voice recorders since some of my professors are somewhat against being recorded for lectures. With that said, the majority do record the lectures and post them online by the end of the day.
 
delano2000 said:
People in my class use voice recorders since some of my professors are somewhat against being recorded for lectures. With that said, the majority do record the lectures and post them online by the end of the day.
Click to expand...

People in my class used to, but virtually everything is at least audio recorded, so it's pointless.

Personal video recording is prohibited though. They can record any lecture (if it isn't already) by request.
 
My program (Texas A&M) has a screwy second year set-up. We're here about 9-3 (5, some days) Monday through Thursday, and we do our IPPE site visits on Fridays. It's not a terrible schedule, the days just feel too long. I'm sitting in a microbiology lecture right now, but in my head I'm miles away.

We take about 18 hours a semester normally. I have 20 this Spring thanks to an extra elective, and I might be doing 22/semester for the coming year since I'm trying to do a masters outside of my school.

If you're interested in pursuing a masters in that manner, it's doable. Not easy, though. 🙄
 
pharm B said:
My program (Texas A&M) has a screwy second year set-up. We're here about 9-3 (5, some days) Monday through Thursday, and we do our IPPE site visits on Fridays. It's not a terrible schedule, the days just feel too long. I'm sitting in a microbiology lecture right now, but in my head I'm miles away.

We take about 18 hours a semester normally. I have 20 this Spring thanks to an extra elective, and I might be doing 22/semester for the coming year since I'm trying to do a masters outside of my school.

If you're interested in pursuing a masters in that manner, it's doable. Not easy, though. 🙄
Click to expand...

Med Chem @ 7am for 3 semesters.

'Nuff said
 
I'll give you my "average day" this semester.

I go to Texas Tech University SOP.

Wake up at 9:30am, get ready...

10:30am, get to class, FIRST class: Drug delivery. Sit there, take notes...kind of boring.

11:30am, second class: physiology: have to pay attention in this, as it's really important later on!

12:30pm: 30-minute lunch break

1pm, third class: principle of diseases

2pm, fourth class Non-prescription meds

3:15pm, fifth class Principles of drug action.

4:05pm: out of class for the day

5pm-6pm break

6pm-9pm: study,/review material for that day

9pm- (whenever i fall asleep): do whatever i please (could study some more or relax)

Of course each class has their own daily quizzes, etc. some classes have attendance, some don't.

On Thursdays I have 8-10:20am lab, so add that in on thursday.

Fridays sometimes we have different events going on that we have to attend.
So yeah, it's different from day to day. Especially when I have quizzes/tests the next day or next week or so, I would stay at school longer.

PS. We're doing 21 hours this semester.
 
I'm a first year student at the University of Minnesota. Last semester we basically had class starting at 8 or 9 am until the universal lunch hour at 12:15. People either hang out in our pharmacy lounge over lunch, study, go out, or go to meetings. A lot of meetings are held over the lunch hour since it's open for everyone at the CoP. Then we'd have class again from about 1:20 to 2:30 or 3:30. Tuesdays and Thursdays just had the afternoon class(es) and the mornings were dedicated to labs. We also had mentoring, community teachers, "supergroups", interprofessional groups, and volunteering that you had to do outside of class time, plus whatever else you may be involved in.

I commute from out of town, so I spend about an hour or more studying (or sleeping) on the bus each day. Then there's chores, more studying, a social life (if you want to or can make time for it), work, etc. that everyone does outside of class as well. Some days I would hardly study outside of class and some days that would be all that I would do. It just depended on when there were exams and such coming up.

This semester we have all the same meetings, volunteering, etc. plus IPPEs that we have to do but our class times are different (I didn't type our lunch hour in)

Mondays are 1:25-5:30 (plus 8 or 10 am lab)
Tuesdays are 8-10, 1:25-2:20
Wednesdays are 1:25-4:25 (plus 8 or 10 am lab)
Thursdays are 8-11, 1:25-2:20
Fridays are 11:15-4:25
 
I see a lot of people spend hours a day studying. I was just curious how much you studied in your pre-reqs. Im just trying to get a comparison kind of thing. Weather you have always studied a lot or what not. During my pre-reqs I studied about....once a week. Usually only the day before a test and still managed a 3.87 gpa (new semester starting soon with 21 credits though so who knows what will happen).

Basically, just wondering if the courses require a lot more studying or some people just study more than others.
Not trying to say I dont want to study, I know it is very important to learn the material. Just trying to budget my time.
 
owlegrad said:
Honestly, a few hours the day before an exam sounds about right for most prereqs. A bit more for OChem and A&P.
Click to expand...


Thanks! I go to a super small school (5 people, including me, were in my organic class and my economics classes last semester...so pretty small 😛) So I wasn't really sure what the normal amount is.

Also, thanks for all your posts! Deff helped me out a lot in the application process.
 
Cool Thread. How many presentations do you do and are they lengthy tedious research type?
 
phathead said:
I think genetics was the class I studied most for in undergrad, and that typically meant studying at 6pm the night before an exam lol
Click to expand...

My pattern of reviewing final and midterm is similar to yours
I start studying an hour before midnight. After 1 hr, look at the clock.. hmm 9 hrs before the final... that is 540 mins before the final, which is 32400 seconds... I could just some naps... wake up 3 hrs before the final.. HOLY @#$%$!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Mr.Smile12
[AJPE] Should pharmacy schools continue to participate in USNews & World Report rankings?
Replies
0
Views
915
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
WildWing
[Announcement] Virtual Pharmacy School Fair Sept 18 & 19
Replies
0
Views
1K
WildWing
WildWing
WildWing
[Announcement] Pharmacy School Virtual Fair
Replies
0
Views
887
WildWing
WildWing
M
Evening Pharmacy School Program?
Replies
2
Views
3K
RxPreceptor
RxPreceptor
Mr.Smile12
[AACP article] Picking the right pharmacy school
Replies
3
Views
3K
Dred Pirate
Dred Pirate
Top