If you could go back in time...

[useruseruser]

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If you could go back in time to your first year as a pharmacy student, what would you do differently?
What advice would you give yourself?


I'm from California and I'm about to start pharmacy school this summer in Arizona. I just want to make sure I get off on the right track 🙂

 

[owlegrad]

Spend more time with classmates and make sure to enjoy yourself whenever you can.

I have a link in my sig that you may find helpful as well. 👍

 

[useruseruser]

Spend more time with classmates and make sure to enjoy yourself whenever you can.

I have a link in my sig that you may find helpful as well. 👍

Oh okay. Sweet! Thank you! I'll check out that thread 🙂

 

[radio frequency]

If you could go back in time to your first year as a pharmacy student, what would you do differently?
What advice would you give yourself?


I'm from California and I'm about to start pharmacy school this summer in Arizona. I just want to make sure I get off on the right track 🙂

-People will tell you certain semesters are hard or easy, or that pharmacy school is easy. Pharmacy school is *not* easy. It's often very difficult, confusing, boring, and frustrating. Be in the mindset to work really hard, all the time, often on things that seem incredibly ridiculous and/or menial. Even the menial stuff turns out to be useful, though it seems ridiculously dumb and a waste of time while you do it. I think if you go in thinking it will be hard, it will help you. I was told it was a cake walk. That was a big lie.

-What's generally a good idea: get involved in some group. The fraternities are a great place to start; I recommend joining one if you're even remotely interested. Once you get networked in a fraternity, it makes it easier to build an even bigger group of friends and connections.

-Exercise and eat right when/if you can, whenever possible. Sometimes it won't be possible. Just do your best.

-Realize that those perfect people that look like they get 100% all the time and never break a sweat are a lot like ducks: they are struggling and paddling, but it's hidden under the surface. They just look calm and collected all the time. Try to be more like them, but don't get frustrated when it seems like you're the only one working your a** off. Trust me, you're not, some people just like to pretend like they don't have to work for their grades. Avoid people who tell you they never study and get straight As. These people are just trying to get you to tell them how smart they are. Don't do it.

-Avoid people who always tell you their grades. Never tell other people your grades. Never compare yourself. If people are crowded around, discussing a test afterward, get out of there as fast as you can. They will only bring you down.

-Do your best to network. Find positional and non-positional leadership roles you can take on. Smile. Be nice to people. Be the person that others can rely on. Don't ever be a flake. If you flake, people in your class won't trust you, and won't want to work with you when you graduate.

I think that's all I've got for now...

OH YEAH...
Last one!
-Intern. Try to get an internship somewhere you'd like to work later; work somewhere where you don't just get treated like a tech. Get paid and learn at the same time.

 

[fauxden]

I would have dropped out. I would have then either redirected toward med school, gone to RN school --> NP, or PA school. Probably most likely the NP path. Don't have to be under a doc like a PA, and low amount of school, compared to doc, to be practicing.

 

[Sparda29]

I would have stayed in pharmacy school, but I wouldn't have taken the extra GRAD plus loans, and I wouldn't have spent so much on the credit cards.

If the topic was, what would I have done if I went back to 1st year of college, I would have gone pre-med but I'd have done it at a CUNY/SUNY school instead of a private school.

 

[Momus]

Be in med school instead... that's for sure. I wanted 6 years and done, worst mistake I made in my life.

 

[BMBiology]

I would tell myself things do not always work out as planned so don't take things for granted. I would also tell myself to spend more time with my high school friends. Time was limited. I got careless and we drifted apart.

I am relatively happy with my decision to become a pharmacist, mainly because I found a job that I like and because I have paid back my student loans. Without those two things, I know I would have regretted my decision.

 

[xtsukiyox]

-Realize that those perfect people that look like they get 100% all the time and never break a sweat are a lot like ducks: they are struggling and paddling, but it's hidden under the surface. They just look calm and collected all the time. Try to be more like them, but don't get frustrated when it seems like you're the only one working your a** off. Trust me, you're not, some people just like to pretend like they don't have to work for their grades. Avoid people who tell you they never study and get straight As. These people are just trying to get you to tell them how smart they are. Don't do it.

Realizing just how true this is, most of the way through P1. Almost everyone has been caught behind at one point or another over the course of the last 3 quarters, but it depends on who they are as to how far behind. Even people who have it all together.

 

[PharmDstudent]

I would have taken pharmacy school more lightly. It was great to graduate with honors, because it had made me proud, but I don't think it made much of a difference in the end.

 

[rxlea]

I would have started my PhD program earlier.

I wouldn't have cared as much about A's during first and second year.

I would have relaxed a LOT more.

Everything else has worked out rather well. I have no complaints.

I spend most of my effort on research, networking, hanging with faculty, finding teaching opportunities, and my PhD courses.

Pharmacy school is what you make of it.

Best advice I can give is go in with an open mind and find your niche. Don't be afraid to try things.

My other piece of advice is to not memorize/regurgitate just to get A's. Really learn the material. I paid attention to the important stuff and now it's all come together and made this semester much easier.

Get to know your faculty.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I would have worked in the med chem lab more. Dr Gannett told me I had a brain more suited to research than being a clinician. He was around me for like 2 months and knew more about me than I did.

Oh well. To twist a quote from The Wire. I suppose being a suburban overnight pharmacist provided a fine life. Just a fine life.

 

[xiphoid2010]

I had the opposite experience than PharmDstudent. I wish I hadn't partied as much during the first year, and started interning from the very start. That would have saved me another $14K off the student loans and also made me even more experienced.

However, studying and working hard was instrumental in graduating near the top, getting the top choice on residency, earning good references, getting hired as a clinical/manager and then becoming DOP.

One thing I like about this country is it's over all fairness. Hard work will generally get you ahead.

 

[Hope1974]

I would have dropped out. I would have then either redirected toward med school, gone to RN school --> NP, or PA school. Probably most likely the NP path. Don't have to be under a doc like a PA, and low amount of schoo , compared to doc, to be practicing.

Me too. I would have dropped out and focused on PA or medical school. It's ridiculous how they keep opening schools and pumping out graduates. It's ridiculous how these idiots keep saying "But I see hundreds of job listings for pharmacists." Those are just listings. Make a fake resume and apply; see how many offers you get. It's ridiculous how students are going into residencies. For pharmacy? Please, what BS. I regret doing pharmacy. Biggest mistake ever. And the constant listings for CVS and Walgreens are due to the people that get burned out, or the companies fire you for stupid sh*** like because you wanted to verify a control and they wanted you to just fill it, or because they will then hire the next grad at a lower salary. Wake the F*** up!!


But as usual, there's nothing like first hand experience. So all the people that want to go to pharmacy school, go right ahead, figure it out for yourself.

 

[Lnsean]

Be in med school instead... that's for sure. I wanted 6 years and done, worst mistake I made in my life.

damn i had the same thought when i was in my first year. worst mistake of my life also.

 

[JoBreeze]

If the topic was, what would I have done if I went back to 1st year of college, I would have gone pre-med but I'd have done it at a CUNY/SUNY school instead of a private school.

I would have then either redirected toward med school, gone to RN school --> NP, or PA school. Probably most likely the NP path. Don't have to be under a doc like a PA, and low amount of school, compared to doc, to be practicing.

Be in med school instead... that's for sure. I wanted 6 years and done, worst mistake I made in my life.

Me too. I would have dropped out and focused on PA or medical school. It's ridiculous how they keep opening schools and pumping out graduates. It's ridiculous how these idiots keep saying "But I see hundreds of job listings for pharmacists." Those are just listings. Make a fake resume and apply; see how many offers you get. It's ridiculous how students are going into residencies. For pharmacy? Please, what BS. I regret doing pharmacy. Biggest mistake ever.

damn i had the same thought when i was in my first year. worst mistake of my life also.

This sentiment seems quite popular. Why is that?

Do schools/professional organizations create an unrealistic portrayal of the profession for students?

 

[Sparda29]

This sentiment seems quite popular. Why is that?

Do schools/professional organizations create an unrealistic portrayal of the profession for students?

Absolutely. They show retail as endless consultations and patient advice, clinical as going on rounds all day, making recommendations and being respected by everyone.

Pharmacy is not for someone who wants their ego stroked every day they go to work( like me). The more that I think about it, I think I'll like staffing better than clinical since its more hands on. Clinical seems like there are a lot of boring meetings, boring analysis and the focus is more on saving money for the hospital rather than rounding and talking to docs all day about drug recommendations and seeing patients.

 

[358265]

This sentiment seems quite popular. Why is that?

Do schools/professional organizations create an unrealistic portrayal of the profession for students?

Simply put, yes.

 

[JoBreeze]

Absolutely. They show retail as endless consultations and patient advice, clinical as going on rounds all day, making recommendations and being respected by everyone.

Pharmacy is not for someone who wants their ego stroked every day they go to work( like me). The more that I think about it, I think I'll like staffing better than clinical since its more hands on. Clinical seems like there are a lot of boring meetings, boring analysis and the focus is more on saving money for the hospital rather than rounding and talking to docs all day about drug recommendations and seeing patients.

There seem to be so many great aspects to the profession so I don't get why this is the case..

 

[wucool33]

Absolutely. They show retail as endless consultations and patient advice, clinical as going on rounds all day, making recommendations and being respected by everyone.

Ohhhhhh pleaseeeeee!!! Why are you acting like you didn't know? You said it yourself that you worked retail before pharmacy school. You were the one that said people shouldn't be accepted to pharmacy school if they don't have work experience!!! Now all of a sudden, you are saying you were being misguided as a pre-pharm? Which one is it? You know you were just too lazy to think about med school. Stop playing it off like people lied to you about the profession. You probably still wouldn't go the pre-med route even if you can go back in time.

 

[thedrunkenpharm]

I would have explored more hole in the wall bars around the area. I had no idea about some of the better drink specials until much later.

I think I would have asked that one girl in class out. She seemed out of my league but I think I should've given it a shot.