Back in the day........

[ClassOf78]

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Hello Everyone
I have been lurking in this forum for quite some time. Our daughter is very interesting in pursuing a career in pharmacy (College Freshman) and I just wanted to see how things have changed. Just some trivia about how it used to be back in the day. As my name states, I am a Pharmacist from the class of 78. And oh my how things have changed. Hope you enjoy these useless but interesting facts. I went to UMKC School of Pharmacy. I did not get accepted after my freshman year but made the cut (barely) my second year.

1. Got in with a 2.5 GPA
2. PCAT was just a thought in someone's head--(Kind of glad I missed that
one)
3. I was one of 20 females in a class of 80.--pretty good odds for us girl (in
fact I married a Pharmacist)
4. Applicants:Accepted 1:4
5. We went 2 semesters the 1st year (P1) and year round P2 and P3
(quarters)
6. We were a tight group--all hung out together--I think this is because we
were so young and very few were married--lots of partying-in fact
pharmacy school was one of the most beloved times of my life--it was
really fun and as I recall not too stressful--enjoy it when you get there.
7. Tuition: $1,000.00/year YES per year--$250.00/quarter
8. My starting salary at Revco $12.50/Hour
9. Busy day: 150 scripts *manual typewriters--no computers*
10. Smoking was not only allowed in the building but many professors allowed
it in the classroom---I can't even hardly believe it now but that's how it
was---WOW
11. Calculus was not required
12. We took our boards in the same room we had 90% of our classes--all
of us together one last time (sniff sniff)
13. We had a practical exam and compounded something or other--AND--
the monitors were members of the State Board of Pharmacy (weird huh)
14. My total loan debt upon completion--$5,300.00
15. Started my 1st pharmacy job when I was 12--have never worked
in any other field (All retail by the way)
16. Graduated and licensed by 22
17. From 1975-1999 Pharmacists were the most trusted of all professions
in our country


Well I could go on and on and if you might have any other questions about the day please ask away. I just want to say I have never every regretted
my career as a pharmacist. I simply adore pharmacy, and I see so many capable young men and women in you all. Good pharmacists to carry on the tradition of this grand profession. And so I would like to wish each and every one of you the very best of luck. Here's to my future Pharmacy Comrades.

 

[Farmercyst]

If you want, stroll over to the pharmacy forum and enjoy the beverages by pharmacists thread. That is unless you lurked (is that a word?) it all ready.

It'd be interesting to see the difference between you at UMKC 1978 and UCSF in 1977. (bait for discussion)

 

[jun99]

Wow, awesome info! Thanks for posting. 🙂

 

[PolarBear21]

My total loan debt upon completion--$5,300.00

😱 X 10000

 

[cystapharm]

wow thanks for sharing this! Arn't you glad you're among the older generation?

This is something that my mom doesn't understand and always give me a hard time about. Shes alwasy bringing up how others in my family (the older generations) were able to work full time and support themselves and had children all while going to school and they've only been in the country for about 10 years and they're all pharmacists/doctors now etc so why am I taking so long when I don't have children or work, etc... I'm like mom that was ages ago it was so easy then.. if I had the stats I have today back then I would've been done in a heartbeat! my mom is so naive. 🙂

 

[ClassOf78]

You are definitely right. In 1975(the year I got accepted) it was a lot less competitive and I do believe from everything I've read easier to get in and less stressful to get through it. The big difference is I was pretty much an average student and I think most of us that went were like that. NOW, you really have to excel academically. Not that we didn't have some very smart kids in our class. But I still think an average ambitous student can make it and be a great pharmacist. I hope the schools are not just looking at empirical numbers to determine who "can make it". While it is so competitive and you DO have to have higher standards to start the process, getting people that are "people" persons is really important. Most of what you do in the retail part of pharmacy (which is still where the majority of graduates will practice) is communication of your knowledge to a varied population (young to old). So you average applicants hang in there--it really does still work out for you if you work hard and are persistent in your pursuing your dream. Good luck to you all.

 

[sdn1977]

Hello Everyone
I have been lurking in this forum for quite some time. Our daughter is very interesting in pursuing a career in pharmacy (College Freshman) and I just wanted to see how things have changed. Just some trivia about how it used to be back in the day. As my name states, I am a Pharmacist from the class of 78. And oh my how things have changed. Hope you enjoy these useless but interesting facts. I went to UMKC School of Pharmacy. I did not get accepted after my freshman year but made the cut (barely) my second year.

1. Got in with a 2.5 GPA
2. PCAT was just a thought in someone's head--(Kind of glad I missed that
one)
3. I was one of 20 females in a class of 80.--pretty good odds for us girl (in
fact I married a Pharmacist)
4. Applicants:Accepted 1:4
5. We went 2 semesters the 1st year (P1) and year round P2 and P3
(quarters)
6. We were a tight group--all hung out together--I think this is because we
were so young and very few were married--lots of partying-in fact
pharmacy school was one of the most beloved times of my life--it was
really fun and as I recall not too stressful--enjoy it when you get there.
7. Tuition: $1,000.00/year YES per year--$250.00/quarter
8. My starting salary at Revco $12.50/Hour
9. Busy day: 150 scripts *manual typewriters--no computers*
10. Smoking was not only allowed in the building but many professors allowed
it in the classroom---I can't even hardly believe it now but that's how it
was---WOW
11. Calculus was not required
12. We took our boards in the same room we had 90% of our classes--all
of us together one last time (sniff sniff)
13. We had a practical exam and compounded something or other--AND--
the monitors were members of the State Board of Pharmacy (weird huh)
14. My total loan debt upon completion--$5,300.00
15. Started my 1st pharmacy job when I was 12--have never worked
in any other field (All retail by the way)
16. Graduated and licensed by 22
17. From 1975-1999 Pharmacists were the most trusted of all professions
in our country


Well I could go on and on and if you might have any other questions about the day please ask away. I just want to say I have never every regretted
my career as a pharmacist. I simply adore pharmacy, and I see so many capable young men and women in you all. Good pharmacists to carry on the tradition of this grand profession. And so I would like to wish each and every one of you the very best of luck. Here's to my future Pharmacy Comrades.

Aaaah - a colleague of mine!! UCSF '77😀

My gpa was a bit higher......also no PCAT, but one h*lluva long application!!!

The interview was all day - 2 interviews & an essay.

My class was 100 - women:men = 50:50 - applicants to acceptances, like yours l:4.

Had summers off, unlike the medical & dental schools - so it was easy to plan a summer wedding - 2 of us married dentists, 1 a physician, 1 a UCB PhD Chemistry student, 1 a lawyer at a SF law school & a few of my class married each other.

We were not all "tight", but some of us were - we split into groups, I'd guess. We did, indeed, do a lot of partying - we knew all the bars on Judah & each & every bar across town were you could get appetizers with the purchase of a $1 well drink. Studying was a joint process - we all shared old exams, study guides, whatever - we all felt strongly we were not competing against each other,, but against ourselves. We all split in 4th year during rotations, but came back together for about 2 weeks at the end before graduation to get that process finalized & to review the law for the State Board.

Calculus was required & actually used because we had to not just use the kinetic formulas, during 2nd year, we had to derive the forumula then use it on the exams. Third year exams were all oral - none written. Fourth year had no exams - they were all evaluations since there were not lectures - just rotations.

We graduated 99, I think. One person committed suicide, one transferred to USC 🙂( -she married a person going there) & one person transferred to dental school, but we gained 2 people during the second year who were coming to get PharmDs from other states.

I took the State Board over 2 very long, very agonizing days at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park with about 500 of my nearest & dearest friends. There was no practical, but I was asked a really dumb question - was is the red liquid which tastes orange? I never knew my score on the state board🙂 .

During one of the breaks, I met a very nice woman about 15 years older than myself who was moving from New York to CA to take an Asst Dir job. I would find out 2 months later, she would be the person who hired me for my first job - a hospital (aka.....clinical😉 ) pharmacist - I was paid on a salary $1250/month. Oh...smoking was indeed allowed - the physicians even smoked while they were in the hospital😱 😱 Time, indeed, has brought good things!

I had no loan debt (my parents were very generous!), but my husband did - about $30,000. We immediately took on another $57,000 to start his practice. Our tuition was also about $1100/year - dental was higher - about $1500, I think.

I made the most & some of my closest friends during my first year - not all pharmacy - also dental & medical because at each & every free moment we had, we ran to the student union (across the street) & we'd all watch the Watergate hearings - a very bonding time for those of us who some might call "hippies" in the Haight area of SF.

All good times which, like you, I look back on fondly & proudly.

These students will indeed be a part of a profession which is highly regarded & forged by you and I & those who were so bold in the 8-10 years before us to make it what it has become. I look forward to seeing what these students will create!

Welcome & pm me anytime if you want to talk about the good old days (aaah - the labels you had to manually roll into the platten🙁 ).

 

[ClassOf78]

SDN,
Thanks so much for your comments. I don't even know you but I almost feel like I do. While at work today I started thinking of some other ways of the days and it almost seems unreal. Although I will say that I think CA was much more advanced and mature in 1977-1978 than MO. as far as pharmacy goes. Remember the Bates stampers---I actually have one, hey they said they were going to toss it and if I REALLY wanted it I could have it. Also back then when a Dr wrote PRN they meant PRN--like forever. I think back then we were in a more laid back society. I am surprised that the men to women was 50:50 in CA back in the 70's. I think you'll agree pharmacy is a GREAT career choice for women. In MO we also had the sign for codeine containing cough syrups--I'm personally glad that no longer happens. Well anyway thanks so much for your comments--really brings back memories and very fond ones at that. I hope all these young folks will enjoy and treasure their pharmacy days as much as we did back in the day. Enjoy the journey.

 

[sdn1977]

SDN,
Thanks so much for your comments. I don't even know you but I almost feel like I do. While at work today I started thinking of some other ways of the days and it almost seems unreal. Although I will say that I think CA was much more advanced and mature in 1977-1978 than MO. as far as pharmacy goes. Remember the Bates stampers---I actually have one, hey they said they were going to toss it and if I REALLY wanted it I could have it. Also back then when a Dr wrote PRN they meant PRN--like forever. I think back then we were in a more laid back society. I am surprised that the men to women was 50:50 in CA back in the 70's. I think you'll agree pharmacy is a GREAT career choice for women. In MO we also had the sign for codeine containing cough syrups--I'm personally glad that no longer happens. Well anyway thanks so much for your comments--really brings back memories and very fond ones at that. I hope all these young folks will enjoy and treasure their pharmacy days as much as we did back in the day. Enjoy the journey.

Yes - Bates stampers😀 !!!

I've got a treasure & this one I framed: its the pharmacist's duplicate of an rx written Nov 17, 1928 for Whiskey with the dose written in drams. It is on a blank called "Prescription Form For Medicinal Liquor" issued by the Bureau of Prohibition which was a dept of the US Treasure Dept. It's got the pts name, the prescriber's name & address (he was on Post St in SF) & the pharmacist's name & address (he was on Powell St in SF).

How I got it was interesting....I had changed jobs in 1979 & I was the newest pharmacist so I often worked the evening shift. About 1980 this man would leave after visiting hours were over (his wife was hospitalized). He would come by about 9:30PM & visit with me for 30-40min - I had interned with him while I was in school about 5 years before and since he recognized me, we would catch up on his wife, his life, mine,, pharmacy....I was in my late 20's & he was about 70.

One night, on his way out, he stopped by to tell me his wife was being discharged the next day (this was in the day of 1-2 week hospitalizations - remember those???). Anyway - he told me he brought me something for me to have & it was this rx. I had never, ever seen one before.

When I asked him why he was giving it to me & thanking him profusely, he told me he wanted me to have it because he knew that I was a person who not only learned the new & looked forward to the future of the profession, he could tell I was also someone who had learned from & respected the past. He knew I would keep it safe - and I have.

Long story & the man has since passed away as has his wife, but I've got the rx framed on my wall. I doubt we'll ever have prohibition again, but looking at this keeps me grounded in what folks have done before us & gives me hope we'll end up tossing PSE log sheets as well😉 !

I actually kept one of my husband's old triplicates - those too will be historical someday......

Yep - great career - for men & women. Neither of my kids wanted to follow in mine or their dad's career. In fact, much to my embarrassment - my daughter's most difficult subject in medical school is pharmacology ! She took the Step I today - I just hope she remembered the antiarrhythmics🙄 .......

 

[Charlottefromca]

Wow you guys are old 😀

.. and I say that with the utmost respect 😍

 

[sdn1977]

Wow you guys are old 😀

.. and I say that with the utmost respect 😍

Why thank you😀 ! (I hope you don't think I was around in 1928😱 )

The amazing thing is......we've got great legs since we stand up all day - just ask Zpak😉 !

So...Class78 - how about some other old stuff - do you remember these?

Black & white enemas????

Terpin Hydrate with Codeine???

Mixing up potassium permanganate - Ugh!

Potassium Iodide as an expectorant???

Suppository molds???

Punching capsules & folding powder papers??

I'll have to think back for more.....

 

[eelo]

Whoa, hold on a minute there! I'm not a pharmacist (I don't even play one on TV), but I was a Navy Corpsman for over 20 years from 1977-1997..... I remember ETH w/codeine, and I remember suppository molds. Back in the day, if we did something *ahem* inappropriate, we were given various forms of punishment to learn the errors of our ways and repent for our grievous sins. One time after snapping at someone (aw, come on- I was soooo hung over), I was given the lovely task of washing out the suppository molds.

 

[sdn1977]

Whoa, hold on a minute there! I'm not a pharmacist (I don't even play one on TV), but I was a Navy Corpsman for over 20 years from 1977-1997..... I remember ETH w/codeine, and I remember suppository molds. Back in the day, if we did something *ahem* inappropriate, we were given various forms of punishment to learn the errors of our ways and repent for our grievous sins. One time after snapping at someone (aw, come on- I was soooo hung over), I was given the lovely task of washing out the suppository molds.

so you're old too!😀

 

[ClassOf78]

quote=sdn1977;4966589]Why thank you😀 ! (I hope you don't think I was around in 1928😱 )

The amazing thing is......we've got great legs since we stand up all day - just ask Zpak😉 !

So...Class78 - how about some other old stuff - do you remember these?

Black & white enemas????

Terpin Hydrate with Codeine???

Mixing up potassium permanganate - Ugh!

Potassium Iodide as an expectorant???

Suppository molds???

Punching capsules & folding powder papers??

I'll have to think back for more.....[/quote]

I'm not that old😀 51 Years Young

I almost forgot about Terpin Hydrate and Codiene---WOW

NTG Capsules could only be dispensed in their original bottle

Afrin nasal spray was RX only

Birth contol pills $2.35/month

My first boss went to school 6 months to become a pharmacist(he recently died---104YO)

There were VERY FEW generics (and nobody wanted them anyway--give me the "real" thing)

In school if we were caught licking the sticker (label) we were punished

We learned the proper way to pour from a gallon jug (over the shoulder)

Valium was in the top 10 drugs in the country

Soda Fountains in the pharmacies

Carter's little liver pills

Lillian Pinkham tabs

SDN--I'm going to start writing down this stuff over the next couple of days and put some up, hope you can do the same--it's so much fun to remember the "old" ways, does it even seem real sometimes how we did things back then--potassium permanganate--yuk yuk yuk---I actually still see some SSKI prescriptions (10qtts in water yadayadayada) Well this thread has really brought back some good memories and I hope some of the younger ones enjoy the richness of the past. Just curious, will you work (a few days a week anyway) as long as possible?? I think I will. Right now I'm working 3-4 days a week until our children finish college (our son is in nursing school and is going to become a nurse anestitist and our daughter a pharmacist). My goal is to still be working a least one day a week when I celebrate 50 years of being a pharmacist---30 down, 20 to go.