Problem finding a pharmacist for a letter of recommnedation

[pharmd4me@510]

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Hi all,

My first pick for pharmacy school is UOP (in Stockton,Ca). However, they require a letter of recommendation from a pharmacist and I don't know any. I've been trying to find a pharmacy that would take volunteers. So far I haven't found any in my area. It's really hard to find a pharmacy that takes volunteers if you're not a certified pharmacy tech. Anyone knows of a pharmacist that would be willing to interview you, then write a letter of rec based on that? Or if you know a pharmacy that takes volunteers, that would be great too. I live in Fremont, ca. Thanks!

 

[beachsaki101]

Try the hospitals. Call the volunteer department to add your name to the system. Then call the pharmacy department. Connections are helpful. Usually hospitals want long-term commitment. Some hospitals respond right away. Be persistent.

Hi all,

My first pick for pharmacy school is UOP (in Stockton,Ca). However, they require a letter of recommendation from a pharmacist and I don't know any. I've been trying to find a pharmacy that would take volunteers. So far I haven't found any in my area. It's really hard to find a pharmacy that takes volunteers if you're not a certified pharmacy tech. Anyone knows of a pharmacist that would be willing to interview you, then write a letter of rec based on that? Or if you know a pharmacy that takes volunteers, that would be great too. I live in Fremont, ca. Thanks!

 

[Baxter81]

Hi all,

My first pick for pharmacy school is UOP (in Stockton,Ca). However, they require a letter of recommendation from a pharmacist and I don't know any. I've been trying to find a pharmacy that would take volunteers. So far I haven't found any in my area. It's really hard to find a pharmacy that takes volunteers if you're not a certified pharmacy tech. Anyone knows of a pharmacist that would be willing to interview you, then write a letter of rec based on that? Or if you know a pharmacy that takes volunteers, that would be great too. I live in Fremont, ca. Thanks!

When I applied to UOP last year, I had just started volunteering at a hospital pharmacy. Therefore I had limited time to get some tenure as a volunteer. So I was straight forward with the pharmacist and told him my situation. I asked him to interview me and based on that, write me a letter since UOP requires a letter. So tell the pharmacist that you in the process of applying and need the letter. This will let the pharmacist know that you are not just a person just volunteering and unsure about the profession. Good luck!

 

[i ♥ pharmacy]

When I applied to UOP last year, I had just started volunteering at a hospital pharmacy. Therefore I had limited time to get some tenure as a volunteer. So I was straight forward with the pharmacist and told him my situation. I asked him to interview me and based on that, write me a letter since UOP requires a letter. So tell the pharmacist that you in the process of applying and need the letter. This will let the pharmacist know that you are not just a person just volunteering and unsure about the profession. Good luck!

I completely agree with Baxter. 😳

I would also try a hospital (what hospital isn't looking for volunteers?) and be upfront about telling them that you are applying to Pharm school. 🙂

 

[Pharmcdc]

Hospitals--good idea, also independent pharmacies. Usually the owner is in and out and you may be able to talk directly to them. They may be more willing to take you as a volunteer as opposed to large chains.

 

[senzabee]

I agree that hospitals are the best way to go as far as volunteering in a pharmacy. Like what some others said, you should definitely be straight forward and let them know that you need a LOR. But a great way to approach the interview is to not only talk about yourself but to also ask the pharmacist about his job. Taking interest in what he does and showing some excitement when talking about what they do will show that you really want to become a pharmacist.

Also, do you have a Kaiser in your area? I'm volunteering at Kaiser right now and they have a great volunteer program with inpatient and outpatient pharmacies as options.

 

[AtomicLuv]

I am volunteering in a hospital in nyc, and there are so many pharmacists! I have no idea which one to ask for a LOR, plus I will be applying in a year, so I want to ask now because I will end volunteering at the end of the summer, and I dont want them to forget me. Also, isn't it true that for some schools, when you apply through pharmcas, the LORs have to be electronically sent by the professor/pharmacist? Like, don't they have some system where pharmcas sends a link to the letter writer, and they then write it and send it in online?
I think I heard about something like this...
any clarification appreciated!!!

also, if this is true, how can I ask for an LOR now, if I will only need it in a year?
😕

 

[ttran01]

how do you go about volunteering at a pharmacy? is there some website you can go to and apply as a volunteer?

 

[gimpsd]

I am volunteering in a hospital in nyc, and there are so many pharmacists! I have no idea which one to ask for a LOR, plus I will be applying in a year, so I want to ask now because I will end volunteering at the end of the summer, and I dont want them to forget me. Also, isn't it true that for some schools, when you apply through pharmcas, the LORs have to be electronically sent by the professor/pharmacist? Like, don't they have some system where pharmcas sends a link to the letter writer, and they then write it and send it in online?
I think I heard about something like this...
any clarification appreciated!!!

also, if this is true, how can I ask for an LOR now, if I will only need it in a year?
😕

First, pharmcas will also accept letters that are mailed in as opposed to filled out electronically. Secondly, you can download the new letter of rec form from Pharmcas and have the pharmacist fill it out and seal it. You can then either hold on to it and mail it when the time is right or you can hand it over to your undergrad school. I'm not sure about your school but ours has a program set up that allows you to place letters of rec in a folder that can be sent out to any graduate schools/ jobs that you might be applying for. Good luck...

 

[AtomicLuv]

First, pharmcas will also accept letters that are mailed in as opposed to filled out electronically. Secondly, you can download the new letter of rec form from Pharmcas and have the pharmacist fill it out and seal it. You can then either hold on to it and mail it when the time is right or you can hand it over to your undergrad school. I'm not sure about your school but ours has a program set up that allows you to place letters of rec in a folder that can be sent out to any graduate schools/ jobs that you might be applying for. Good luck...

thanks a lot for the suggestion.
I think my college has that too where they keep the letters in a folder
that sounds like an excellent idea
so I send one letter to pharmcas, and then they distribute it to all the schools..
what if I am applying to a nonpharmcas school? and I have only one sealed letter?
how do I make a copy to send to it? do I just ask the pharmacist right away for two copies of the same letter? 😳

 

[AtomicLuv]

how do you go about volunteering at a pharmacy? is there some website you can go to and apply as a volunteer?

I think that most hospitals need volunteers, once you go to their volunteer office, (just call them and ask about volunteering), you could ask to be put in the pharmacy. when I was there, I told the head of the volunteering department that I want to become a pharmacist and that its really important for me to only volunteer in the pharmacy (they place volunteers all over the hospital usually), and she asked the head of the pharmacy and I met with him and he said it was alright. I see a few volunteers there also, but they don't come on a regular schedule, I think they are just there simply to volunteer at a hospital, whereas for me, its really important to volunteer in a pharmacy.

plus, get this, in this hospital, they require that you do 150 hrs of volunteer work before you are allowed a letter of recommendation from a pharmacist. I am not sure if the pharmacists know about this rule and if they would write me one regardless, but I think I will just complete the 150 hrs ....

shouldn't be too difficult to volunteer in hospital, they r not paying you why wouldnt they want a volunteer?? dont give up, make it seem like its your dream to volunteer in a pharmacy and that its very important to your future! 😀

 

[gimpsd]

thanks a lot for the suggestion.
I think my college has that too where they keep the letters in a folder
that sounds like an excellent idea
so I send one letter to pharmcas, and then they distribute it to all the schools..
what if I am applying to a nonpharmcas school? and I have only one sealed letter?
how do I make a copy to send to it? do I just ask the pharmacist right away for two copies of the same letter? 😳

If you do the school method then they can open the letter for you and make photocopies to send to each school. The pharmacist has to only write one letter. Sometimes each particular school has a form that they want the pharmacist to fill out, I would suggest attaching these forms along with the request for the letter of rec. (i.e. you have to know which schools you are going to apply to before approaching the pharmacist).

 

[fairandbalanced]

I agree that hospitals are the best way to go as far as volunteering in a pharmacy. Like what some others said, you should definitely be straight forward and let them know that you need a LOR. But a great way to approach the interview is to not only talk about yourself but to also ask the pharmacist about his job. Taking interest in what he does and showing some excitement when talking about what they do will show that you really want to become a pharmacist.

Also, do you have a Kaiser in your area? I'm volunteering at Kaiser right now and they have a great volunteer program with inpatient and outpatient pharmacies as options.

I think there is a Kaiser in my area of orange county. Who do I ask about the volunteer program?

 

[senzabee]

I think there is a Kaiser in my area of orange county. Who do I ask about the volunteer program?

Call the main line and ask to see if they have a volunteer services department. During the school year (not summer), they usually want you to volunteer 4 hours/week for about 6 months. I just did the summer program, which was 12 hours/week!!! But I'm not continuing during the year because I [fortunately] got a job as a pharm tech at another hospital 😀 .

If you do volunteer, regardless of where you are, you may not be given too much to do. Or, you'll be given tasks (like labeling, restocking, etc), but you won't feel like you're learning anything. That's how it was for me for the first couple of days, and you should take the initiative to ask the head pharmacist (or any of the pharmacists) for some responsibilities or to teach you some things. I asked and the pharm-in-charge gave me questions about medications, and also was really into talking to us about applying to pharmacy school and interview questions. If you take that intiative, you'll get more out of it and the pharmacist will see how much you want to learn and take that as a positive attribute. Good luck!