Pharmacy Fraternities?

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jason UCSD2000

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So... when I was at my interview at UOP, my guide discussed the many pharmacy fraternities at the school. Although I have never been a big fan of that kind of stuff, I wondered what kind of benefits it could bring - networking...etc. Has anyone else thought about joining one of these?
- jason

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Fraternities?????? I am sure you can find other ways to get involved in your school, especially if you want to do something worthwhile
 
Kappa Epsilon is hosting a social on the 16th. I'll probably go and check it out. I don't know much about these pharmacy fraternities and what they have to offer. I may or may not join depending on what I find out. I did join tri-beta as an undergrad. It got me a cool medal to wear during graduation and something extra to put on my transcripts.
 
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From what I've gathered, joining a professional fraternity such as Kappa Epsilon is a lot different than joining a social fraternity. Dues are a lot cheaper, the activities relate more to community service and career development, and they're usually coed. It's kind of like an honor society except that the grade requirements aren't as strict. I'd check it out if I were you.
 
Originally posted by TCB
Fraternities?????? I am sure you can find other ways to get involved in your school, especially if you want to do something worthwhile

As Modnar said, professional fraternities (co-ed, usually) are completely different than any undergrad "frats" and are basically completely service oriented. Phi Delta Chi is involved with poison prevention week, national pharmacy week, and they have an ongoing tutoring program at a local elementary school. They usually have one or more faculty mentors (professors) and also allow you to meet upperclassmen. In short, I don't know if there are many better ways "to do something worthwhile" in pharmacy school. No, I'm not a member of any, but I would certainly look into it.
 
yeah actually iwas going to ask that same question.. i think i'm definetly gonna check these things out..and as long as there not too much like the undergrad ones.. and the dues aren't to high i may join one.
 
Another pearl of advice from GravyRph: (hehe)

Join a pharmacy fraternity or be close friends with someone who is! 100% for sure.

The reason: Practice tests and more practice tests. The fraternities (at least the one's at UOP) have a whole collection of past tests and practice tests for your classes that will help prepare you better than just studying. There are some classes where the prof's don't change the tests too much or use a pool of questions and over the years the fraternites have basically collected all the questions. Weeee. You still prepare "just in case", but many times you end up seeing a good majority of the questions in those practice tests.
For that reason alone I would join one. (I didn't, but my study partner did and thus I had access to them). And they helped, a lot.
 
gravy how expesnive were the dues?
 
No idea. I never actually joined, but I had a close connection.
 
Most professional organizations charge $60 or $70 per year in dues.
 
It all seems like a good idea. I guess it's just the terms "fraternity" and "brotherhood" that leave a bad taste in my mouth. As long as there are no hazing incidents involving OTC meds, I'm fine.
 
Those pharmacy fraternities are more like a joke. I visited a couple of different school websites and talked to some current students, guess what? there are female pharmacy students who join the fraternity(unlike undergraduate where it is brotherhood and parteeee) plus they don't seem to have big parties and/or do fun things. Any pharmacy sororities?
 
Kappa Epsilon was actually founded as a sorority. Since they're a professional organization, it's illegal for them to bar men from joining, although some schools' chapters are still mostly women. There's another pharmacy fraternity (can't remember the name) that was founded as a fraternity, and again, they can't legally bar women but some schools' chapters are still mostly men.

If you're worried about missing parties, there's nothing that says you can't join a professional fraternity and a social one.
 
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From what I've seen, most of the pharmacy fraternities are about community service, networking for your future, group studying, exam preparation including board exams, etc. There's not going to be Frank the Tank and streaking runs. 😉

There were parties, but they weren't all that common.

You can always visit the undergrad school fraternity for their parties if you're looking for some drunken fun. Just don't do it the night before exams. Heh.
 
Yeah, nothing wrong with being both... I am Sigma Chi from undergrad and Kappa Psi in Rx School. The two are completely different. With Kappa Psi, we're more involved in Poison Prevention, Diabetes Education, Community Brown-Bags, etc etc etc...... It doesn't hurt that our dean and most of our professors are Kappa Psi from days past 🙂 People tend to get the wrong idea when they hear 'fraternity.' If the dues aren't outrageous, I say join. You have nothing to lose. I've definitely gotten more out of being a member of Kappa Psi than from ASP or SSHP......
 
Women's pharmacy fraternity (yes, it is considered a fraternity even though it is all female) is Lambda Kappa Sigma or LKS for short.
 
All the 1PD's at Florida just received a link to Rho Chi's test bank, with a message that the profs reuse test questions all the time. I think it is a gift, so we'll think about joining their fraternity during orientation next week.
 
As long as they don't haze it'd be alright, someone tries to make me do push-ups or someone else's homework and I'm knocking them out.
 
Now you guys got me all interested.

SC' Societies with Greek in em:

HONOR SOCIETIES

-Rho Chi Theta
-Phi Lamda Sigma

SOCIAL FRATERNTIES +pissed+

-Alpha Iota Pi
-Lambda Kappa Sigma
-Phi Delta Chi
 
Whatever happened to promoting someone, not because he knows the "secret handshake" but rather because of his merits? I know I am being an idealistic since this is how our society works but I am just so tired of this bull****.
 
There's merit in knowing the secret handshake. You'd be surprised how many people put the thumb down instead of cocked at a 45 degree angle.

Anyways, not ever actually being in a fraternity but the idea is not getting a job because you know the code word, but that your references are top notch. I'm going to more likely hire someone I know because, well, I have a good idea on what type of person they are or at least I know someone whose opinion I trust who knows them. I'm not going to take a chance on someone I've never NETWORKED with. Thus, the term networking.

I don't think that made much sense, but I know what I mean.
 
Anyways, not ever actually being in a fraternity but the idea is not getting a job because you know the code word, but that your references are top notch. I'm going to more likely hire someone I know because, well, I have a good idea on what type of person they are or at least I know someone whose opinion I trust who knows them. I'm not going to take a chance on someone I've never NETWORKED with. Thus, the term networking.

That sounds really fishy to me. So you either need to know the candidate or know someone who knows them to consider them qualified? i think a lot of us would be in real trouble if that was the case for our apps to pharm school.
 
Originally posted by Triangulation
That sounds really fishy to me. So you either need to know the candidate or know someone who knows them to consider them qualified? i think a lot of us would be in real trouble if that was the case for our apps to pharm school.

When it comes to getting a good job, aren't the good jobs in the "hidden job market"? The good jobs you can only acquire through networking with people responsible for hiring decisions? There is no "admissions committee" that must assess your qualifications in a prescribed manner, like your app for pharm school was. Getting a job (or at least the job you want) depends quite a bit on who you know. Maybe not so much the case for retail, but if you're trying to get that coveted spot in industry, good luck applying through human resources and want-ads. If it's fishy because it seems unfair, you're probably right 😉 ...it ain't fair. But if you want that brass ring, you've gotta play the game. Joining a pharm fraternity is just one of those things you might consider doing (along with joining APhA-ASP, ASHP and going to their conventions and networking).

The faculty advisor for one of my school's fraternities openly told interested students that he was able to get one of the frat members a job at a pharma company (don't know what position). This faculty advisor was very well connected in industry, working for years in pharmacovigilance and drug development. It might not seem fair, considering that the job may or may not have been posted; and if it was posted to the general public, there may have been better qualified candidates who sent their CV's to the company's HR department who were then passed-over...because those candidates didn't know "the right people".
 
I'm sure we all have anecdotes about someone getting chosen for this or that reason, but what I'm questioning is the merits of picking someone based on who you know. In the big picture, and I capitalist economies have certainly learned this that literally the biggest dividends are paid to those companies select the most qualified not the most connected. Microsoft and Sony, especially Sony, were noted for their efforts not to seek those that had easiest access (mostly through the Ivies in the States and the equivalent 'name schools' in Japan). This isn't because these companies are trying to be altruistic but because they realized that it's naive to think that the most talented people all happen to know someone in your company. it's pretty much smithian economics. This trend seems to hold up just about everywhere. I think pro sports is another fine example where opening up your selection pool only increases your organization and the level of the sport as a whole (reference Ichiro Suzuki, Pedro Martinez)
 
That's absolutely true...a true meritocracy...opening up the applicant pool and selecting individuals solely based on what talents they bring to the organization is ideal. I really wish everyone would throw the "good 'ol boys network" scheme out the window. But that won't happen 'till people like you, Tri, are the ones responsible for those decisions at all the top companies.

...But until that glorious day occurs, we'll just have to play this stupid game involving trading business cards, name-dropping, and handshakes.
 
You're right LV. Sucks, huh? Picking on merit does make sense even when you don't like it though. My old PI at UCSF who I'm fairly confident will receive a nobel in the not too distant future, hated most of the people she picked for post-docs, but she picked em anyway, bc they did quality research that helped her lab. She could tell from their CVs and their references that they were what she needed. Of course she iv'd them and made a final decision, but she didn't know of any of these people ec one and the one she knew abandoned the lab 6 mos after joining to move to biotech.

We'll have to see. I'm still a believer in the cream rising to the top, but you gotta claw your way there.
 
What's more amazing than any of this is that 37 people have looked at the thread entitled 'LVPharm Your PM box is full'.

BTW, have joined any frats LV? If not, why?
 
Originally posted by Triangulation
What's more amazing than any of this is that 37 people have looked at the thread entitled 'LVPharm Your PM box is full'.

BTW, have joined any frats LV? If not, why?

That's funny! :laugh: I didn't realize that...

As for the frat thing. I missed the spring rushes for Phi Delta Chi and Kappa Psi, but I will be joining this fall. I haven't decided which one I'll rush in the fall, but I'm leaning towards Phi Delta Chi right now. I'm not too concerned about joining since there doesn't seem to be an enormous time commitment associated with being a member.
 
You guys are making this sound way too sinister.

I'm just saying if two people are just out of school from say UCSF and I am going to choose between them, all things being equal, except one knows me from networking, who am I going to hire? Simple question.

How are you going to determine who has the most merit if on face value they have the same merit? I can judge candidate A because I know him from a few CE programs, but I have never met candidate B, so I go with someone who I have the familiarity with.

It is a much better way if picking than who wore the better tie.
 
I think we missed the "all things being equal" part 😉 That's true Gravy, given two candidates of equal merit, if one of the candidates knows of a mutual and respected acquaintance that can vouch for him/her, that candidate would have the distinct advantage.

But there is another benefit of networking. Not every application for employment at "XYZ Pharmaceuticals" gets past the company's HR department. Most of it probably gets screened out. Via networking, you may be able to directly get to the person in charge of hiring for that position...the department head, manager, etc. This ability to get your foot in the door is probably the biggest, most powerful advantage of networking. Nothing sinister about that, but it does seem unfair that a more qualified candidate applying through the Human Resources department may be screened out by HR peons, and a well-connected, but somewhat less qualified person can "slip into" that position. "Cronyism" and other forms of favoritism do take place in the job market. Not everyone gets hired solely based on their merit or abilities.
 
The ignorance of some people on this board towards Greek organizations is truly comical. I don't get upset. I simply credit ignorance and walk away. G'night.

- Proud member of Phi Kappa Psi -
 
Originally posted by JPHazelton
The ignorance of some people on this board towards Greek organizations is truly comical. I don't get upset. I simply credit ignorance and walk away. G'night.

- Proud member of Phi Kappa Psi -

Care to elaborate? Seems like several different people have several different ideas about greek organizaions to me. Are they all ignorant?
 
Originally posted by jdpharmd?
Care to elaborate? Seems like several different people have several different ideas about greek organizaions to me. Are they all ignorant?
Exactly. Some of us would join/have joined a Greek organization, and some simply aren't sure. Only a couple of people truly dislike them, but you're bound to hear that kind of thing on the internet. I truly don't see what you think is so "ignorant", JP. This has been the most civil discussion of the Greek system I've seen - here or anywhere else.
 
Originally posted by JPHazelton
The ignorance of some people on this board towards Greek organizations is truly comical. I don't get upset. I simply credit ignorance and walk away. G'night.

- Proud member of Phi Kappa Psi -

I could have sworn I was talking about the benefits of joining a pharmaceutical fraternity. I think that's the title of the thread. Last time I checked, "Phi Kappa Psi" was not a professional school fraternity.
 
Originally posted by JPHazelton
I don't get upset. I simply credit ignorance and walk away. G'night.

Um, is this before or after a keg stand?

sigh...just kidding.
-jason
 
I think we missed the "all things being equal" part

err, ya, i didn't make that very clear the first time around.
 
Oh please JPHazelton. My uncle founded a frat, three of my closest friends were in frats, and my ex was in co-ed frat. I saw the BS hazing that went on. I watched two of them fall from pre-med to barely getting thru. What I'm talking about is hazing. It sucks. Waste of time. It's for an era that we're not in. Tell me the purpose it serves. How that will increas the viability of my organization? What i'm talking about is BS good ol boy crap. That stuff is useless. It's for the wimps that can't compete on an even playing field. If you need a social group that bad then so be it. I'm not into it.

If frats don't do those two things and actually commit to what they preach in their charters, then I'm all over it. But, I'm saying it again: someone tries to haze me and I'm gonna send more business to the dental forum.
 
more business to the dental forum <cackle> thas funny😀
 
jphalzelton.
dude, not ignorance but jealousy. Yup i had tons of fun, did some community stuff and some crazy things. Maybe the crazy things is the cause of ignorance.
 
Speaking from experience...

In NY, there are hazing laws on the books and are strictly enforced. The only "hazing" we ever experienced was the massive binge drinking that took place after exams, friday night happy hours, and brothers or sisters coming into town for a visit. Pledging was a quick affair and people were way too busy for stupid shenanigans. Pharmacy fraternities at my my school were definitely service oriented, not party-hearty oriented.

Just my 2 cents, loo.
 
i didn't join a pharmacy frat but from what i hear from friends who did, there is a tiny bit of hazing here at SC. nothing compared to undergrad style hazing...just some annoying stupid stuff. but still...

and at SC they are very service oriented but they are also very party oriented. so i guess you'll be getting the best of both worlds if you join. i for one couldn't really get past that tiny bit of hazing so i didn't bother. you'll also notice that the frat people here get a little cliquey (is that how you spell it?). but they REALLY do get into their whole networking thing.

i too wish that it wasn't all about networking in this field but unfortunately it is.
 
As to whether or not to rush a Rx frat, it is a very personal decision. The Greek pharmacy societies at the University of Buffalo, when I was on campus, were truly Greek societies in every sense of the word. They had rush parties, initiations in the Greek tradition, and a full social calendar, including themed parties and Greek Week programs. They balanced the purely social aspects of the fraternity with professional programs in both the University and neighborhood communities. There was NO hazing in LKS, Rho Pi Phi or Kappa Psi upon initiation, although we did have some good natured fun...scavenger hunts, etc, for a "Hell Night" that wrapped up at a local pub! All groups maintained Chapter files with old tests, offered tutoring and group study to aid their members. As far as "networking"..most of the profs at that time were members of KY and served as mentors to the brothers of the UB chapter.(and they were truly "brothers" at that time~ KY is now co-ed on many campuses!). In my experience, I never knew a KY brother or LKS sister that regretted their decision to join their respective houses. If anything, as alumnae, the bonds
formed while serving as collegiate members became stronger and more meaningful with time. Being a Rx Greek provided me with an awesome college experience and memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
I've loved every minute of it!😍
 
You do realize this thread is 5 years old...right?
 
Yes! As you can see, things live forever in cyberspace! Even though this thread may not have been responded to, I believe it certainly has been read and reviewed by those currently contemplating joining the Greek system. My experience was such a positive one at my University, I wanted to contribute, for whatever that may be worth (or worthless, should I say?!!:laugh:)
 
I see your point. I'm definitely joining one or two. Don't know which ones yet. To me, it's more of a sign of professional development and dedication/awareness to/of the field. How else are you going to know what is happening in the field? IMO, students should want to join and be a part of professional organizations.
 
I guess I'll chime in since I was in a social sorority in undergrad and am in a pharmacy fraternity.

In undergrad, there was the "typical" stuff such as partying, fake ID's, judging people only by appearances, etc. BUT there was also sisterhood, bonding with girls whom I'll be friends forever with, and a TON of amazing leadership and philanthropic opportunities. It's one of those "unless you went through it, you have no idea" type of things. Every school is different. Every house is different. Every chapter is different.

In grad school, there are a lot of the same things, but a lot less mild. There wasn't a formal rush for us, there's no hell week, there's not a lot of that. There is still the great leadership and networking though.

I recommend you at least go to an event or two and talk to current members to get a real perspective. You may like it or not but at least go into it open minded and give it a chance.
 
I recommend you at least go to an event or two and talk to current members to get a real perspective. You may like it or not but at least go into it open minded and give it a chance.

I agree.

I'm a member of Kappa Psi and chose that frat over Phi Delta Chi mainly due to the membership and activities of both respective frats. The thing is, the emphasis and "cliqueness" differs from school to school. At some places, the situation I described is in reverse.

When reviewing a frat, I would look at time commitments, required activities, rush procedures, values (though the main social pharmaceutical frats are really identical here), and the people in the group. Find the best fit.
 
Ehh, I like hazing in fraternities and sororities as long as it isn't too extreme. My idea for a paintball club initiation is that you have to play a game where it's just the initiate against the entire club.

The most dangerous game with paintball?

I don't know how it is at other schools, but my school being a private catholic university has super strict no hazing rules. The national office of Kappa Psi fraternity also endorses no hazing and I heard some chapters lost their charter due to hazing. I think it's a felony now if you get caught.
 
The most dangerous game with paintball?

I don't know how it is at other schools, but my school being a private catholic university has super strict no hazing rules. The national office of Kappa Psi fraternity also endorses no hazing and I heard some chapters lost their charter due to hazing. I think it's a felony now if you get caught.

Paintball is pretty safe as long as you never take off the goggles. That 1 Vs All is a great training exercise anyways. It's not like they don't get a gun. We did that for the non-school affiliated team I was in. I managed to take out like 18/30 learning a lot of stealth, before getting lit up. You don't really feel the pain when the adrenaline is pumping.
 
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