First Year so far (PY1)...

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DHG said:
...has taught me that I'm "below average." 😛

Are we there yet??? :laugh:
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what school are you in? do you mind me asking with what GPA you got in?
 
The class average on our exams has been outrageously high and I guess I'm at or a little below average. I'm learning a lot though and it's been kinda fun so far. I'm only competing against myself at this point, so a lot of the pressure is off.
 
Quick side note:


The pressure really isn't "off". I find my classmates are now just as if not even more competitive than pre-pharmacy.

Actually since some are such "striving-to-be-overacheiving" they purposely attempt to propel themselves above others, be it by with-holding past assignments, relevant readings, past exam questions etc. It gets beyond ridiculous at times, i.e "Erin how'd you know that answer to the med chem assignment?" [problem no one knew] "Ah I'm not sure it was pretty difficult, just studied the right stuff I guess"

Well turns out ****** had past assignments. Didn't inform or offer them to anyone. **** like that irks me.

There's always a group who just doesn't really care, so that's always good... but you'll find there are some hardcore anal nerds in there who just want to get the highest average. It's all in personality, you can spot quite a few of them on these boards as well. Then you have people who are just generally awesome and don't mind helping or sharing what they know. Ie myself, caverject sdn wvu zpacksux, etc.
 
I'm liking how there is no curve, unlike undergrad. No competition. However, the mandatory 90% to pass each exam is stressing me out. Man, in undergrad I was stressed enough with simply taking midterms but now its twice the stress with that 90% requirement. I feel like I'm going to age 10 years by the time I graduate. Actually, so far, the material has been very basic (like freshman year of undergrad) so I probably shouldn't be worrying so much.... We get the Monday following an exam off if we pass so having every other Monday off has been great.
 
P1 is a special year...

It's the year you'll find that few pharmacy friends who'll be your friend for life... choose wisely.
 
ZpackSux said:
P1 is a special year...

It's the year you'll find that few pharmacy friends who'll be your friend for life... choose wisely.
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I don't really understand what you said here. Did you mean 'the' instead of 'that'?
 
Requiem said:
Quick side note:


The pressure really isn't "off". I find my classmates are now just as if not even more competitive than pre-pharmacy.

Actually since some are such "striving-to-be-overacheiving" they purposely attempt to propel themselves above others, be it by with-holding past assignments, relevant readings, past exam questions etc. It gets beyond ridiculous at times, i.e "Erin how'd you know that answer to the med chem assignment?" [problem no one knew] "Ah I'm not sure it was pretty difficult, just studied the right stuff I guess"

Well turns out ****** had past assignments. Didn't inform or offer them to anyone. **** like that irks me.

There's always a group who just doesn't really care, so that's always good... but you'll find there are some hardcore anal nerds in there who just want to get the highest average. It's all in personality, you can spot quite a few of them on these boards as well. Then you have people who are just generally awesome and don't mind helping or sharing what they know. Ie myself, caverject sdn wvu zpacksux, etc.
Click to expand...

I guess there are probably some pathological over-achievers in my class. I'm one of those people who doesn't care. I got the seat and nobody but myself can knock me off of it. I intend to emerge from pharmacy school with my sanity and my enthusiasm for the profession intact.

You get old exams at your school? At my school, that's called cheating.
 
twester said:
You get old exams at your school? At my school, that's called cheating.
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I see tact escapes you; however:

you do get assignments back. You do not get exams back, they're retained by the school. Notice the choice of words: "exam questions", people can remember the questions they were asked on an exam (a couple always stand out) - that's what had happened.
 
Pre-double post. Now that was odd.
 
For most of our classes we get our exams back except for the finals and the profs even recommend that we look at them to get an idea of the types of questions that are asked. In one class we have to buy a packet of professor notes as the required text and they include the last 2 years worth of tests.
 
Requiem said:
I see tact escapes you; however:
Click to expand...

🙂 How I was I tactless? You make me laugh...

Requiem said:
you do get assignments back. You do not get exams back, they're retained by the school. Notice the choice of words: "exam questions", people can remember the questions they were asked on an exam (a couple always stand out) - that's what had happened.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I read more into your post than I should have. I was trying to make it more relevant than it actually was (now I'm being tactless). I'm sorry, but remembering a few exam questions couldn't possibly give people an advantage unless your exams are incredibly short.

For me, the pressure's off. I'm sorry you're having a different experience.
 
twester said:
You get old exams at your school? At my school, that's called cheating.
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At my school Kappa Psi sells old exam packets every fall. For $30 you get all of last year's exams (every class). This year they gave out free copies of the exams from two years ago too. All the profs return the exams and know that students use them as prep tools.
 
The "below average" comment cracked me up! I feel the same way. I even went in to the office to double check with them that they had picked the right person. HAHA They assured me that they had and to only compete with myself, not my classmates--just like twester said. It still stings a little to not be as close to the top as I once was.

Thank goodness I'm IN! That's what matters! So, here's to being "below average" (which is relative isn't it?) and being in pharmacy school. Cheers
 
From here on out....you're all in this together. The ultimate purpose is to provide good patient care. I am always happy when I work with someone I can bounce ideas off of & if I work alone...I'm only a phone call away from others I know.....

Collaboration & sharing knowledge is a lifetime event. Yes - you need to know & learn the basics yourself, but the field is waaay to big to know everything & you'd be arrogant to think you ever would. My ego is not so large it needs to be given credit for anything other than being helpful when asked.
 
twester said:
:I'm sorry, but remembering a few exam questions couldn't possibly give people an advantage unless your exams are incredibly short.
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What are you, new?

At my school, we have more than just MC questions. There's more than one way to test, for example long answer questions. Don't worry about it, they're probably considered cheating at your school.

Cheers newbie!
 
Requiem said:
What are you, new?

At my school, we have more than just MC questions. There's more than one way to test, for example long answer questions. Don't worry about it, they're probably considered cheating at your school.

Cheers newbie!
Click to expand...

:laugh: Are you a P3 at my school? I could swear that I bumped into you the other day. You were the rudest, most anti-socially insecure person I've ever met as you barked at the people simply walking through a hall door. Good luck in your career. Good luck on those social skills.

You're now on ignore because this isn't the first condescendingly rude encounter I've had with you. Bye-bye. 🙄
 
ANYWAYS....
back to the topic!
My class is great! Everyone is so helpful and not particularly competitive with each other, just trying to do their best!
Today was my first final (I have one class broken into modules with three grades per semester) and I think I have an A in that section!!!
It's very different from undergrad and different than I expected. It is really keeping me busy but if you pace yourself its fine! And I'm working like once a week or so.
I think our c/o 2010 is a really good group though! No cliquishness going on yet... nothing like that 🙂
I'm just excited to be IN pharmacy school!!! There is light at the end of the tunnel!
 
Hey ndearwater,
They told us at UMD that if you see the light at the end of the tunnel you better turn (because you are going the way you entered). ITS A LONG HARD GRIND. Good luck
Fatpharm
 
twester said:
I guess there are probably some pathological over-achievers in my class. I'm one of those people who doesn't care. I got the seat and nobody but myself can knock me off of it. I intend to emerge from pharmacy school with my sanity and my enthusiasm for the profession intact.

You get old exams at your school? At my school, that's called cheating.
Click to expand...

Same here. We have closed exam policy and they're being very difficult about us looking over the test. We can't have any writing utensils when we review the exam we just took in a monitored room.
 
They post last years exams here too. Sometimes several years back. Just makes the teachers have to make new exams every year. I think that's the best way... at least this way you KNOW exactly what concepts you are expected to learn, no questions. That is, the goals/learning objectives are very clear. Old exams then become just extra homework/study problems.
Schools/teachers that don't let students see old exams... Hmm... seems like they just don't feel like coming up with new material every year.

Oh, yeah-- and I think my class is so far really good and cooperative. I mean, I think we're all a bit competitive but mostly with ourselves. But I have not witnessed anything except all-out helpfulness from everyone towards everyone else when it comes to studying or assignments. I think we feel like we're all in this together. I hope it remains that way as school goes on.
 
I've noticed a LOT of recycled questions. We've gotten to review old tests in the teachers office but we can't copy anything from them.
 
My class seems pretty 😎 at my distant site. There's a few select people that really go out of their way to help everyone by posting scanned pages of some reading assignments, type up notes of a chapter or explaining(in length) in lay terms difficult portions of a lecture on the message boards. There's really good communication between students on class material on all of the class message boards.

The group work has been great too. As far as competition goes, we all ask how everybody else did to compare what's working and what isn't. We're all pretty happy for each other whenever someone gets a 90+ on whatever impossible exam. I've gotten straight B's on all of my exams so far but I'm still happy and couldn't care less if I'll be on the Dean's list this year. 😉
 
My first year so far has taught me that "average" can actually be pretty crappy - our first medical physiology exam had a 50% average. I did a little better than this, but I still feel like a total *******. The professor took some responsibility (only one person out of over 70 finished the exam within an hour), but he also berated us quite a bit. Luckily, he curved the test twice - once to add points and the second time to redistribute what an A, B, & C were. So I'm not failing pharmacy school, but I'm not doing as well as I'd like to be.

Luckily, grades don't matter quite as much anymore, but I need to keep at least a decent GPA - there aren't a lot of scholarships at my school and I'd like to nab at least one or two next year (I is poor).
 
First Year = EZ, I am only taking one class I haven't taken before (I have a BS, and my school doesn't allow any alterations of its curriculum, so I have to take them, and not very many people have a BS, so I am way ahead). Only class that is hard is the math and physics based class we have to take.
 
The P1s were complaining about the three exams they had this week, but that's nothing. Next week, I have one exam and two quizzes. The week after I have three exams. Two of the exams and one of the quizzes comes from our pharmacology and therapeutics class.
The goal is clear, and that is to get the degree. P1 year, I say, we were more competitive than we are now.
 
As long you as you pass, be proud of yourself. As a P-3, I can now honestly say that I do not care what my grades are as long as they are a C or better and as long as I put an honest effort in at earning them. I think that what people forget most about pharmacy school is to enjoy it. When you look back on 4 years of school, the good memories aren't going to be about studying or tests or how proud you were when you got a bunch of A's (At least I hope not). Get involved outside of class. Do things you enjoy, even if you have to fight to make time for it. Have a life. It's the best way to go about getting through school. 4 Years is a long time to not be happy. So Carpe Diem! Collect your C's and enjoy your lives!
 
OSURxgirl said:
As long you as you pass, be proud of yourself. As a P-3, I can now honestly say that I do not care what my grades are as long as they are a C or better and as long as I put an honest effort in at earning them. I think that what people forget most about pharmacy school is to enjoy it. When you look back on 4 years of school, the good memories aren't going to be about studying or tests or how proud you were when you got a bunch of A's (At least I hope not). Get involved outside of class. Do things you enjoy, even if you have to fight to make time for it. Have a life. It's the best way to go about getting through school. 4 Years is a long time to not be happy. So Carpe Diem! Collect your C's and enjoy your lives!
Click to expand...

That'll look good on my residency applications. Good idea.
 
I am enjoying my P1 year so far, but I'm dissapointed in the courses. Maybe b/c I have a bachelor degree and most of it is review, but I am having a hard time pushing myself to study. Anyone else experiencing this?

If you are experiencing this, do you think getting a job will help?
 
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