Burn out

[SexyPlexi]

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Hey guys...I have been dead set on pharmacy school for about a year now and went back to get prereqs starting last fall. I work full time and am married. The entire last month of school I have just not been feeling it AT ALL. I don't want to spend YEARS studying ALL the time. This semester has been a real downer to me. I study -> I make As....USUALLY. This semester I didn't make ONE A (except in chem lab...but that hardly counts) even though I studied so hard. I'm not sure if I just got so discouraged that it turned me off or if I just had a revelation that living is better than studying. But there are so many great things about being a pharmacist...I am truly interested in medicine and chemistry - oh yeah and I'd like to mention how I realized how much I really hate biology.

GAH I just feel SO confused right now....


and then reading the post about finals...phew...I didn't even study for my finals because I was SO over it. It's only been a year!! I don't know....I know it's not studying for EVER and that sacrificing now will pay off later...but it just seems like it's causing problems in my life and I get nervous about what would happen with 5-6 more years of this.

I know that no one can really answer this for me, but any comments would at least be interesting. 🙂

 

[mattc_85]

I know you've probably heard it before but if pharmacy is what you want to do stick with it. There are going to be times when you feel like it isn't going to end but look at the end result. Once you get in, it isn't always study study study. I have had some great times in pharmacy school.
So just hang in there and before you know it you'll be there.

 

[SexyPlexi]

How much biology is there? Chemistry is like leisure reading for me but Biology makes me want to poke my eyes out!

 

[mattc_85]

Well there is bio in physiology and then you get chemistry with your drug design, biochem, medchem, etc. Really, I think there is a pretty even balance of the two. I am more of a biology person and haven't been overwhelmed with chemistry.

 

[SexyPlexi]

Well maybe I will start to like it more...my bio teacher really wished that his BIO I class was biochemistry so maybe that was part of the problem.

 

[mattc_85]

Yeah, it can all depend on the teacher. I personally loved Bio I. So you only have Bio II left?

 

[SexyPlexi]

Yeah, it can all depend on the teacher. I personally loved Bio I. So you only have Bio II left?

Yep! And OrgChem I and II which I am kind of excited about...then physics...oh waaaaait my #1 just added Anatomy also

 

[mattc_85]

Anatomy shouldn't be that bad. I would recommend taking it with physiology if you can. It should help when you have physio in pharm school.

 

[YapYap6]

Yep! And OrgChem I and II which I am kind of excited about...then physics...oh waaaaait my #1 just added Anatomy also

Orgo is exciting....until your first exam! Well, it also depends on how thoroughly your professor wants you prepared. Most don't give a crap, some genuinely want you to have the skills necessary for professional school.

 

[inquirer89]

Yeah don't feet discouraged. I felt exactly the same way my last semester! But I partially blamed my professors because they didn't adequately go over the material and had some ridiculous tests. I just had to pick myself up and keep that Pharm D as my goal!

 

[b*rizzle]

Anatomy shouldn't be that bad. I would recommend taking it with physiology if you can. It should help when you have physio in pharm school.

I think physiology and pharmacology have been the two most useful course sequences I've had in pharmacy school.

But for the OP: I personally think that the spread of biology and chem is pretty even in pharmacy school, maybe a bit more emphasis on bio. Don't stress too much, even if you're making B's and still feel like you really understand stuff, don't worry. That's all that matters. Having a solid knowledge of bio and chem will help you out a great deal on the PCAT.

Pharmacy school isn't all study study study. It can be, if you let it. It's important to make time for yourself. And as for being married, it will either make things much easier for you, or much more difficult. If your spouse is super-supportive and willing to pick up the slack for you (financially and otherwise) you will have an easier go of things. I met my husband after I'd started pharmacy school, so he didn't really have a choice in accepting the circumstances, but he is very good at keeping me grounded and making sure I take time out to chill occasionally. He also maintains a side business outside of his regular job to help us pay the bills.

I do, however, know people who have gone thru divorces during pharmacy school because their spouse is either selfish, unsupportive, or unwilling to acknowledge the huge time and financial commitment that comes along with going to pharmacy school.

Best of luck, and keep your chin up. If this is really what you'd like to be doing, keep your nose to the grindstone and keep pushing through. Some days (or weeks) will be harder than others, but anything that's worth doing is worth the trouble.

 

[mike36]

Are you taking the summer off? Maybe if you took a break from studying, it would help you come back more motivated.

 

[firefighter9015]

I know you've probably heard it before but if pharmacy is what you want to do stick with it. There are going to be times when you feel like it isn't going to end but look at the end result. Once you get in, it isn't always study study study. I have had some great times in pharmacy school.
So just hang in there and before you know it you'll be there.

You better believe that you have had some great tmes in pharmacy school (how about them cows w/ arthtritis??)

The point of the matter is if pharmacy is really important to you, you will stick it out and it will be worth your time. As a previous poster mentoned maybe take the summer off to get reenergized and regrouped and honestly once you get in life will be a little more laid back, it isn't like you are fighting to get into a school.

 

[SexyPlexi]

Are you taking the summer off? Maybe if you took a break from studying, it would help you come back more motivated.

Yes I have decided to. My original plan was to take Org I over the summer with lab, take the PCAT in Aug. and apply, take the other courses in fall and spring, and hopefully start 2009. But maybe it's the squeezing everything in while working full time that's getting to me. My new plan is to spread it out, take the summer off, take PCAT in January (AFTER BIO II) and be ready to apply June 1 NEXT summer.

I guess I am not managing the stress well because my health hasn't been as good as it was, which is kind of a big deal for me SO I guess I just need to relax some and keep at it - just maybe not as hard and fast as I originally hit the ground. I worry way too much about getting in too. I need to just stop worrying about that. So I guess the moral of the story is that I need to CHILL a little.

 

[PharmDstudent]

I would definitely consider applying to pharmacy schools that do not require the PCAT. If you don't have to take it or it isn't factored into your application, then that's just one more thing that you can scratch off your list --> less stress --> less burn out. 🙂

 

[medicalCPA]

Cows with arthritis? Now I'm curious.

 

[firefighter9015]

Cows with arthritis? Now I'm curious.

In immunology we were studying meds that were made from anitbodies and such. One of them was used for cows with arthritis and that insued a long discussion about how sad it is for cows to have arthritis. 🙂 Let me tell you, we never forgot about that drug.

 

[n0mad]

just an opinion, but the admissions committee believe
pharmacy is a rigorous 4 yrs program, so they'll look
at your undergrad work to see if you can withstand it..
so saying if you spread your classes out, i doubt they'll
find that a very qualifying candidate.. they want to see
a full time commitment... but again its all opinion-based.

 

[SexyPlexi]

just an opinion, but the admissions committee believe
pharmacy is a rigorous 4 yrs program, so they'll look
at your undergrad work to see if you can withstand it..
so saying if you spread your classes out, i doubt they'll
find that a very qualifying candidate.. they want to see
a full time commitment... but again its all opinion-based.

Yeah. I thought about that too. I am starting up a company and working full time and volunteer right now too though.

 

[mattc_85]

I could be wrong but I don't really think that spreading classes out another year would make that much of a difference.

 

[mike36]

just an opinion, but the admissions committee believe
pharmacy is a rigorous 4 yrs program, so they'll look
at your undergrad work to see if you can withstand it..
so saying if you spread your classes out, i doubt they'll
find that a very qualifying candidate.. they want to see
a full time commitment... but again its all opinion-based.

True, but some schools (or most?) will also look at your other time commitments. So if you only take 2 classes a semester, but work 50 hours a week and take care of two kids, that is different than if you only take two classes while living off your parents and party every weekend.

 

[firefighter9015]

I don't think that will matter either. The majority of our class spread out their classes and they are in the program. The thing is that if you don't spread them out and get bad grades, then that won't be good for the admissions process either.