Pharm Tech Vs Volunteering

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Hey,
I am looking for some input regarding how I should spend my time this summer. I have just finished my first year of prerequisites and now looking to get some sort of pharmacy experience. Which approach would give me a stronger pharm school application or exposure to the field itself: pharm tech or volunteer? I have no pharm tech experience so I thought it might be easier for me to volunteer for the time being.
Also,
I am going to make an attempt to get my O-Chem textbook(s) this summer and try to get ahead for fall semester. Are there any difficult topics I should take a look at that may have given some of you trouble? I hear bad things about O-Chem I and II so I am trying to see what I am getting myself into.
Thanks.

 

[Gizmo]

I would suggest volunteering at a pharmacy since you don't have any experience. That is what I did. I started off as a volunteer and eventually the pharmacist ended up offering me a job as a tech. So I was able to say that I had volunteer experience as well as pharmacy experience on my applications.

 

[imprecious]

Hey,
I am looking for some input regarding how I should spend my time this summer. I have just finished my first year of prerequisites and now looking to get some sort of pharmacy experience. Which approach would give me a stronger pharm school application or exposure to the field itself: pharm tech or volunteer? I have no pharm tech experience so I thought it might be easier for me to volunteer for the time being.
Also,
I am going to make an attempt to get my O-Chem textbook(s) this summer and try to get ahead for fall semester. Are there any difficult topics I should take a look at that may have given some of you trouble? I hear bad things about O-Chem I and II so I am trying to see what I am getting myself into.
Thanks.

I am not sure what the situation is like in your state, but in California (or for me at least), it was difficult to find volunteer work. The best bet would be to volunteer at a private owned pharmacy. For me, I was unable to find volunteer work easily, so I opted to get a pharm tech certificate and I got my pharmacy experience through the externship and the job that was offered following my externship. Either way, as a pharm tech or volunteer, you still get exposure to the field.
Browsing through your ochem text over the summer would be good to kind of get a feel of things. Just familiarize yourself with the things that will be talked about. Best wishes!

 

[DownonthePharm]

Dont mess with O-Chem this summer. If you put out the effort during class time you shouldnt have a problem with it. Each class is unique and you may find yourself wasting a lot of time learning details that will not be required.

If you are really fearing it this is what I recommend: Purchase the Organic Chemistry as a Second Language books. There are two of them in the series. They are short and easy to understand, but cover the important topics. Scanning these shouldnt take more than a few days.

In my opinion the most important rule to success in Organic chemistry (after studying of course) is to make sure you understand how electrons move and why they move, it makes everything a lot simpler and you will be able to think out problems you have never seen before.

 

[RockAByBaby]

Are there any difficult topics I should take a look at that may have given some of you trouble? I hear bad things about O-Chem I and II so I am trying to see what I am getting myself into.
Thanks.

i thought synthesis was the worst...but maybe just at my school. oh and i also remember not liking tauteromism...or however you spell it.

 

[DuocSi2010]

Ochem is different for everyone but most of the people hate it, including me. It'll definitely takes a lot of time to do those practice problems to make it through. I still have the Organic Chemistry as a Second Language 1 if you're interested 🙂. That book is definitely a much easier read than the textbook.

 

[ADN1226]

QUESTION:

Besides a hospital pharmacy, are there any other volunteering opportunities out there? I've never heard of volunteering at a retail pharmacy... can you do that? Theres only 2 hospitals near my school and one does not allow volunteers in the pharmacy... i've yet to hear from the other. So does anyone know of anywhere else that takes volunteers for pharmacy exposure? Any advice will be appreciated.