Do I have a chance with an accent?

[Belana]

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Hi Everyone,
I've recently developed an interest in pharmacy and was wondering if you can evaluate my chances of getting into pharmacy school. I'm currently getting my BS in biochemistry ( 1 year left, GPA 3.4 ) and going to take PCAT in June. I will have a complete set of prereqs. required for most of the schools I'm interested in by the time I graduate. I have no work experience in the medical/pharmacy field and no community service. My major concern is that I immigrated from Russia 6 years ago and while my English is fluent I do have a slight accent and obviously smaller vocabulary then most of the native-born applicants. I realize that good communication and strong verbal skills are essential when applying to school and working in the field and that's why I'm somewhat hesitant about applying if my chances are low. I'd love to hear what you guys think. Thank you

 

[UES Girl]

Hi Everyone,
I've recently developed an interest in pharmacy and was wondering if you can evaluate my chances of getting into pharmacy school. I'm currently getting my BS in biochemistry ( 1 year left, GPA 3.4 ) and going to take PCAT in June. I will have a complete set of prereqs. required for most of the schools I'm interested in by the time I graduate. I have no work experience in the medical/pharmacy field and no community service. My major concern is that I immigrated from Russia 6 years ago and while my English is fluent I do have a slight accent and obviously smaller vocabulary then most of the native-born applicants. I realize that good communication and strong verbal skills are essential when applying to school and working in the field and that's why I'm somewhat hesitant about applying if my chances are low. I'd love to hear what you guys think. Thank you

I wouldn't worry about it - I have an accent/am Russian myself and don't think it's going to be a problem. If anything people usually compliment me on my accent saying how nice( or hot depending on who's saying it 😛) it is. As long as you are fluent communication shouldn't be a problem.


Plus I know of at least one russian who's got an interview at UCSF. 🙄

 

[drugdoc]

We have 2 Russian pharmacists where I work and another in pharmacy school at the U of Minnesota. The 2 pharmacists also went to the U of MN (they are all related) and are younger.

 

[ngynththo]

Hi Everyone,
I've recently developed an interest in pharmacy and was wondering if you can evaluate my chances of getting into pharmacy school. I'm currently getting my BS in biochemistry ( 1 year left, GPA 3.4 ) and going to take PCAT in June. I will have a complete set of prereqs. required for most of the schools I'm interested in by the time I graduate. I have no work experience in the medical/pharmacy field and no community service. My major concern is that I immigrated from Russia 6 years ago and while my English is fluent I do have a slight accent and obviously smaller vocabulary then most of the native-born applicants. I realize that good communication and strong verbal skills are essential when applying to school and working in the field and that's why I'm somewhat hesitant about applying if my chances are low. I'd love to hear what you guys think. Thank you

Many people in hospital where I work has accent. They are doctors, pharmacists, and so many LVN/RN/NA/NP..

 

[nerv12345]

seriously...do you really think schools are THAT superficial?

 

[steveysmith54]

I know a lot of pharmacists with different accents. Some don't even speak english too well. But, i work at rite aid 😀

 

[cystapharm]

are you saying you've never come cross a pharmacist or even doctors for that matter..with accents???? I've seen pharmactists that don't have accents but they can barely enuniciate what the heck they're saying and I wonder how the heck they ever got into pharamcy shcool.

if you've see em around, that means they had a shot therefore I don't think it's too concerning.

 

[medicalCPA]

Hi Everyone,
I've recently developed an interest in pharmacy and was wondering if you can evaluate my chances of getting into pharmacy school. I'm currently getting my BS in biochemistry ( 1 year left, GPA 3.4 ) and going to take PCAT in June. I will have a complete set of prereqs. required for most of the schools I'm interested in by the time I graduate. I have no work experience in the medical/pharmacy field and no community service. My major concern is that I immigrated from Russia 6 years ago and while my English is fluent I do have a slight accent and obviously smaller vocabulary then most of the native-born applicants. I realize that good communication and strong verbal skills are essential when applying to school and working in the field and that's why I'm somewhat hesitant about applying if my chances are low. I'd love to hear what you guys think. Thank you

This may be just my opinion, but you're fine. You obviously know how to express yourself and you write better English than many Americans I know. I have an accent too, and I say anyone who cannot see past my accent is not worth knowing. Same thing for pharmacy schools, although I don't think this will be a factor.

 

[Rumplestiltazepam]

seriously...do you really think schools are THAT superficial?

Nothing wrong with an accent as long as the patient, large percent elderly, can understand the counseling you are giving them. I was at Safeway the other day and I walked by the pharmacy and the pharmacist was counseling an elderly gentlemen and I could barely understand a single thing he said with his thick accent, I am young with good ears so I can only assume that elderly gentlemen could not make out a single word of it. Safeway must have been desperate when hiring.

It is not superficial to reject a applicant to pharm school because of the fact you can barely understand them over their accent. It is about patient safety plain and simple. They may be a good applicant but just like their academics they need to work on their accent before they apply.

 

[PharmDstudent]

If you want to build your vocabulary, stop watching tv(if you do). It's a passive way of learning. You probably hear enough English in your day-to-day activities. Read instead. I have a degree in German, so I know how difficult it is to communicate in another language with a limited vocabulary. I would always have to think of another way to say something, because I would know how to say it in English, but I couldn't "translate" it in my head.

The best way to build your vocabulary is to learn words in context. Writing is another great way to enhance your language skills. I've been accused of writing too much on SDN 😛

*I highly doubt your accent is significant enough to exclude you from being a pharmacist.

 

[DrugDealer]

You will be fine!! I moved to Massachusetts for pharmacy school, and at least half my class has a wacky Massachusetts accent (and these are native English speakers!). Honestly, I've been here 3 years and at least once during each shift at work I have absolutely no idea what a customer is saying. I ask them to repeat it like 3 times and then finally spell it (when it's their own name and they are picking up a prescription)...and then I'm like, OH! Your last name is Carley, not Cowley...etc, etc. And we are both native English speakers....LOL

Just make sure you know how to say the drug names. It can be painful to sit through a student presentation and they stumble through "colesevelam."

 

[babetrang]

If you want to build your vocabulary, stop watching tv(if you do). It's a passive way of learning. You probably hear enough English in your day-to-day activities. Read instead. I have a degree in German, so I know how difficult it is to communicate in another language with a limited vocabulary. I would always have to think of another way to say something, because I would know how to say it in English, but I couldn't "translate" it in my head.

The best way to build your vocabulary is to learn words in context. Writing is another great way to enhance your language skills. I've been accused of writing too much on SDN 😛

*I highly doubt your accent is significant enough to exclude you from being a pharmacist.

I think you're off the topic. This issue is about the accent not the vocabulary. I don't think smaller vocabulary has anything to do with the accent. Watching TV, listening to the radio, talking to people on a daily basis are good ways to learn, imitate, and correct yourself to improve. I agree reading will help building your vocabulary skill but it will not help with the accent...

@ Belana, I don't think a slight accent will prevent you from getting accepted. However, a thick accent may be an obstacle. If your English is fluent, and people can understand what you say or you can understand what they say, you will be fine.

 

[RNtoPharmD]

There are ways to reduce accent. Unless you language has shortage of vowels and consonants, you may be able minimize it by taking phonetics class or trying to learn phonetics of the words in dictionary before you speak (trying to pronounce each word by putting the stress on the correct syllable and pronouncing the right vowels will help listener understand you much better). That's why phoneticians can imitate sound of pretty much any languages. I guess many Japanese and Chinese speak English with accent mainly because of lack of vowels.

Fortunately, my language has so many vowels and consonants, making less difficult to imitate other language. However, I know that some folks from my home country has worse accent than I do because they did not take advantage of this.

 

[PharmDstudent]

I think you're off the topic. This issue is about the accent not the vocabulary. I don't think smaller vocabulary has anything to do with the accent. Watching TV, listening to the radio, talking to people on a daily basis are good ways to learn, imitate, and correct yourself to improve. I agree reading will help building your vocabulary skill but it will not help with the accent...

@ Belana, I don't think a slight accent will prevent you from getting accepted. However, a thick accent may be an obstacle. If your English is fluent, and people can understand what you say or you can understand what they say, you will be fine.

This is what the OP said:

My major concern is that I immigrated from Russia 6 years ago and while my English is fluent I do have a slight accent and obviously smaller vocabulary then most of the native-born applicants.

 

[PharmDstudent]

Do you know enough English to get through an interview? That's your first obstacle.
Worry about the accent thing later. You have four years of pharmacy school to work on it 😀

 

[Belana]

Thank you so much everyone who responded! All what you said is very encouraging! I read some other threads here and it looks like there is a few pharmacy students with English as a second language and this gives me hope.

Do you know enough English to get through an interview? That's your first obstacle.

The interview is what I'm most concerned about. Eglish proficiency is also something I worry about. I can express myself pretty well in life, but during interviews I get very nervous and often can't find the words. I wouldn't say that my accent is too strong, but it's clearly there and with the pharmacy field becoming more and more competitive every year it looks like every little thing matters.
But I feel alot better now after hearing everyone's thoughts. Thank you guys very much !!!

 

[Shprot]

I am a non-native English speaker as well (also Russian btw) and I would agree reading/writing is the way to go to improve vocab (I am still horrible at it). However, reading and writing could only get you to a point... and in my opinion that is a passive way of communication. They wont' really help you on the interview, but would on a test (PCAT). But if you really would like to impress everyone on the interview, it would be best to use your communication skills actively and talk/communicate as much as possible, even with mistakes. Eventually, you will hear your own mistakes and everything will start to make sense. Even working in a pharmacy, giving lectures or presentations improved my speech SO MUCH!
Another way to "assimilate" a language, would be to mimic someone's speech. That's where watching TV and once again ,mostly importantly, USE your communication skills in any and every setting possible. It takes sometimes long months to years to finally start "thinking" in another language and practicing that (even force yourself) would definately help.

I never tried to get rid of my accent.. it is not to thick, however it is there. There are techniques out there that can make it more controlable, but I have never tried. If you guys are experienced at that - please share!
However, I do not look at it as a drawback, in fact that is what makes me unique and I am sure I can use it through out my life with an advantage!

By the way, welcome comrad! Don't you worry, you will do just fine!😉

If you want to build your vocabulary, stop watching tv(if you do). It's a passive way of learning. You probably hear enough English in your day-to-day activities. Read instead. I have a degree in German, so I know how difficult it is to communicate in another language with a limited vocabulary. I would always have to think of another way to say something, because I would know how to say it in English, but I couldn't "translate" it in my head.

The best way to build your vocabulary is to learn words in context. Writing is another great way to enhance your language skills. I've been accused of writing too much on SDN 😛

*I highly doubt your accent is significant enough to exclude you from being a pharmacist.

 

[UES Girl]

But I feel alot better now after hearing everyone's thoughts. Thank you guys very much !!![/quote]

Like Shprot said - Welcome to the Russian community of SDN.

 

[Hels2007]

As long as you can communicate well, an accent should not be a problem (as long as people can understand you, of course). I have an accent myself, and it never prevented me from obtaining any position I wanted, however competitive, even in parts of the country where people literally have never spoken to a foreigner before. 😉 However, I can be eloquent and have excellent presentation skills - and they are transferable. You have them in one language - you will have them in another language once you develop a certain level of comfort with that language and build up sufficient vocabulary. Trust me, I speak five languages (well, four and a half is a fairer assessment). 😀 Generally if you have been immersed into the language, after 6 years you should be at an almost-native level (plus the accent, since they are impossible to get rid of without working on that specifically). So unless you spent your 6 years in Brooklyn, you should be fine. Good luck!

 

[PharmDstudent]

I am a non-native English speaker as well (also Russian btw) and I would agree reading/writing is the way to go to improve vocab (I am still horrible at it). However, reading and writing could only get you to a point... and in my opinion that is a passive way of communication. They wont' really help you on the interview, but would on a test (PCAT). But if you really would like to impress everyone on the interview, it would be best to use your communication skills actively and talk/communicate as much as possible, even with mistakes. Eventually, you will hear your own mistakes and everything will start to make sense. Even working in a pharmacy, giving lectures or presentations improved my speech SO MUCH!
Another way to "assimilate" a language, would be to mimic someone's speech. That's where watching TV and once again ,mostly importantly, USE your communication skills in any and every setting possible. It takes sometimes long months to years to finally start "thinking" in another language and practicing that (even force yourself) would definately help.

I never tried to get rid of my accent.. it is not to thick, however it is there. There are techniques out there that can make it more controlable, but I have never tried. If you guys are experienced at that - please share!
However, I do not look at it as a drawback, in fact that is what makes me unique and I am sure I can use it through out my life with an advantage!

By the way, welcome comrad! Don't you worry, you will do just fine!😉

I guess what I was trying to say is that reading and writing are less passive than watching tv. Interacting with someone in person is definitely more active than reading or writing because it involves non-verbal communication too.

I think it would help if the OP practiced at home. H/she could do mock interviews with a friend. It seems like I always exude my nerdiness on SDN, but I used to practice interviewing before a pageant. The practice was helpful.

 

[kevintech]

I know plenty of students with foreign accents who get admitted into medical, dental, and pharmacy schools. Just be sure to not let your foreign accent affect your confidence at an interview, because that's what will really count (not your accent).

 

[toscogo]

Don't worry about you accent,i am going to tell you a little secret, EVERYBODY HAVE AN ACCENT.The britsh speak funny to the americans, the american speaks funny to the australian and the Irish even speak funny to the scotish, as long as you can effectively communicate, forget about your accent Its' what makes you unique .

 

[kevintech]

Don't worry about you accent,i am going to tell you a little secret, EVERYBODY HAVE AN ACCENT.The britsh speak funny to the americans, the american speaks funny to the australian and the Irish even speak funny to the scotish, as long as you can effectively communicate, forget about your accent Its' what makes you unique .

I think she was implyng that she had a "foreign accent".

 

[toscogo]

Here we go again, an accent is always foreign no matter what, be it Asian, African , Indian or Korean. If you go to Africa like i am from, guess what you are the one with a foreign accent.I have been in the United States for 5 years and i do have an accent but this hasn't stop me from A's in Public speaking, English compostion I and II, and even in Toefl's IBT. What i am trying to say is as long as you effectively communicate your accent dosen't matter be it "foreign", local, international, getto or gangster

 

[eric4321]

"I have no work experience in the medical/pharmacy field and no community service."

That's the part you need to work on. The accent is minor in comparison.

Get a pharmacy tech job - Walgreens pays the best for just starting out - and volunteer at a hospital or nursing home at least 3 hours a week.

[It's tough to combine those two things. Very limited chances to volunteer IN a pharmacy & if you do, you'll likely just be cleaning or stocking shelves with OTC items. Better to get real experience & get certified as a tech.]

 

[kevintech]

Here we go again, an accent is always foreign no matter what, be it Asian, African , Indian or Korean. If you go to Africa like i am from, guess what you are the one with a foreign accent.I have been in the United States for 5 years and i do have an accent but this hasn't stop me from A's in Public speaking, English compostion I and II, and even in Toefl's IBT. What i am trying to say is as long as you effectively communicate your accent dosen't matter be it "foreign", local, international, getto or gangster

I have a Southern California accent. Is that foreign to other Southern Californians?

 

[yazzman]

Nothing wrong with an accent as long as the patient, large percent elderly, can understand the counseling you are giving them. I was at Safeway the other day and I walked by the pharmacy and the pharmacist was counseling an elderly gentlemen and I could barely understand a single thing he said with his thick accent, I am young with good ears so I can only assume that elderly gentlemen could not make out a single word of it. Safeway must have been desperate when hiring.

It is not superficial to reject a applicant to pharm school because of the fact you can barely understand them over their accent. It is about patient safety plain and simple. They may be a good applicant but just like their academics they need to work on their accent before they apply.

oh yeah..this guy knows it all...he is really smart..an expert at accentology....give him a chance he will knock the accent right out of you....

 

[UES Girl]

oh yeah..this guy knows it all...he is really smart..an expert at accentology....give him a chance he will knock the accent right out of you....

Quit harrassing people and following them into another thread. 😡It's one thing for a 30 year old to ask questions that can be figured out with basic leveled math - sure silly but aprropriate - not everyone is a raging book nerd who knows how to multiply like you said. It's another thing for a 30 year old to keep harassing people and make comments left and right that are rude. Did you just get off the island ?

 

[yazzman]

Quit harrassing people and following them into another thread. 😡It's one thing for a 30 year old to ask questions that can be figured out with basic leveled math - sure silly but aprropriate - not everyone is a raging book nerd who knows how to multiply like you said. It's another thing for a 30 year old to keep harassing people and make comments left and right that are rude. Did you just get off the island ?

by the way yes I am from an island...are you a racist...making fun of islanders...go study ...the last post I read of yours you was getting a "F" in biochemistry....thats really scary...you internet stalker...you follow me around like that girl...be ashamed of your self.....

 

[evilolive]

by the way yes I am from an island...are you a racist...making fun of islanders...go study ...the last post I read of yours you was getting a "F" in biochemistry....thats really scary...you internet stalker...you follow me around like that girl...be ashamed of your self.....

That was terribly coherent. For someone who attacks other people for being experts, you ironically seem to be rather confident in your own perceptual capabilities. I would suggest that you try not mocking others without any evidence to support your claims. You quip at others, and yet you are hypersensitive when they quip at you.


Accents shouldn't make a huge difference as long as people can articulate themselves clearly. A lot of people just have them because of where they were born or how they were raised. It happens. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[yazzman]

That was terribly coherent. For someone who attacks other people for being experts, you ironically seem to be rather confident in your own perceptual capabilities. I would suggest that you try not mocking others without any evidence to support your claims. You quip at others, and yet you are hypersensitive when they quip at you.


Accents shouldn't make a huge difference as long as people can articulate themselves clearly. A lot of people just have them because of where they were born or how they were raised. It happens. I wouldn't worry about it too much.[/quot


$@#%@$#%$#@%$#% eVILOLIVEREREWQRFZX KJ9RE U8P47

 

[labrat024]

You quip at others, and yet you are hypersensitive when they quip at you.

100% agreed.....chill pills are indeed in order here. Cough...cough...Spazzman....cough...cough.