Public Speaking course. Is it really necessary?

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gnpddl

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All the schools that im applying require me to take public speaking course.
Is it really necessary to take it?
Im currently in senior year of college and im doing double major in
biochem engineering and biology so that i couldnt find the right schedule for that class.
I've done alots of presentations in my engineering class so that i feel its unnecessary.
What would happen if i dont takt that public speaking course and apply .
Thank you for your help.
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gnpddl said:
All the schools that im applying require me to take public speaking course.
Is it really necessary to take it?
Im currently in senior year of college and im doing double major in
biochem engineering and biology so that i couldnt find the right schedule for that class.
I've done alots of presentations in my engineering class so that i feel its unnecessary.
What would happen if i dont takt that public speaking course and apply .
Thank you for your help.
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they take your app. money and deny you admission. easy.
OR they'll accept you contingent upon completion of that course prior to matriculation.
 
Them's the breaks. If it's a required class, it's required. You could always look into taking it at a CC the summer before pharmacy school (if they allow it). You'll probably have the class everyday but you can knock it out in a month and be done with it.
 
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You're good at presenting technical information to other people in your majors. The point of Public Speaking (or at least the one I took) is to be able to relay different topics to all sorts of audiences.
 
gnpddl said:
All the schools that im applying require me to take public speaking course.
Is it really necessary to take it?
Im currently in senior year of college and im doing double major in
biochem engineering and biology so that i couldnt find the right schedule for that class.
I've done alots of presentations in my engineering class so that i feel its unnecessary.
What would happen if i dont takt that public speaking course and apply .
Thank you for your help.
Click to expand...

When I first returned to school to complete my prereqs, I had the same reaction and asked Creighton about this. They said that unless I could prove I did public speaking in my professional job for many years, then I need to take the class. They will not take any other class in its place (acting...) Since I didn't know how to prove my professional experience, I just took it over the summer at a CC and actually enjoyed it.
 
MathDebate said:
You're good at presenting technical information to other people in your majors. The point of Public Speaking (or at least the one I took) is to be able to relay different topics to all sorts of audiences.
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my public speaking course was more about picking up different cues and types of speaking and how to diffuse them.

i think my favorite was learning "kitchen sinking" (where someone just pulls things out left and right into the argument), and you can deflect it by segmenting the conversation (by addressing each point and tabling it for later discussion).
 
confettiflyer said:
my public speaking course was more about picking up different cues and types of speaking and how to diffuse them.

i think my favorite was learning "kitchen sinking" (where someone just pulls things out left and right into the argument), and you can deflect it by segmenting the conversation (by addressing each point and tabling it for later discussion).
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Amoung other things, we covered various logical fallacies in my speech class. It was pretty interesting. The idea was to order our thoughts logically, but I suspect the instructor simply liked that topic. Anyway it turned out to be one of the more enjoyable class I took in undergrad.
 
Making presentations about topics for classes is different from just getting up in front of people to make a discussion, persuade the audience, or inform them of a procedure or a new idea.
 
I used to think there was no point in public speaking class as a requirement till i actually started in the program. It has been a huge help for me in my community service and rotations. Yes, some things are useless from the course, but overall it's a requirement. No one is above the pre-reqs...most of the time..
 
Judging by how many people who interviewed with me couldn't even maintain eye contact for more than 2 seconds at a time, yes, it's necessary. Shy pharmacists are no good for the profession.
 
Passion4Sci said:
Judging by how many people who interviewed with me couldn't even maintain eye contact for more than 2 seconds at a time, yes, it's necessary. Shy pharmacists are no good for the profession.
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I'm shy and don't appreciate your generalization about what's good and bad for the profession.
 
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Passion4Sci said:
You know, you'd be a great truck driver. They don't ever need to really talk to anyone... except that whole Breaker-Breaker thing.

Not only are you shy you're also thin-skinned. Sweet combo.
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Wow, going to an extreme to make a point. How sdn of you. I'm sure your arrogance would be great for pharmacy. 👍
 
IwantPharmD said:
Wow, going to an extreme to make a point. How sdn of you. I'm sure your arrogance would be great for pharmacy. 👍
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We need someone to be realistic about things.

Your coworkers are not always going to tell you what you want to hear.
 
Back to the original post. They would probbaly accept you and say you must take the class before matriculating, but after you get accepted it might be easier to make your case about getitng it waived. i wouldn't do it until you have the acceptance. i don't have that class taken, but public speaking was a general ed requirement at my undergrad and I took a genetics lab that covered it. The school I least want to go to has the public speaking pre req. If I only get accepted there I will see if they will let me use my lab to cover that pre-req. If not I will say I'll do i tover the summer, but there's no way i will take it before that since this school is my last choice. I need acceptance before wasting anymore money.
 
crazybob said:
Your coworkers are not always going to tell you what you want to hear.
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That's why I want to be a pharmacy manager.:meanie: I'll use the over saturation scare to intimidate my servants into submissive brown nosing. 😛
 
gnpddl said:
All the schools that im applying require me to take public speaking course.
Is it really necessary to take it?
Im currently in senior year of college and im doing double major in
biochem engineering and biology so that i couldnt find the right schedule for that class.
I've done alots of presentations in my engineering class so that i feel its unnecessary.
What would happen if i dont takt that public speaking course and apply .
Thank you for your help.
Click to expand...
I can't believe this thread got 30 posts deep without anybody pointing out the hideous spelling and grammar! Dude, if you speak like you write(you know, like if you say "alots"), you need a public speaking course.

Also, every school you're applying to requires this, and that doesn't tell you how important it is? Also, you're a senior and you're just now realizing you left out a pre-req?
 
Actually, I don't really understand why most pharmacy school require a public speaking class. I mean, public speaking skill is essential, but why make it a pre-req? I don't see Medical or dental school have such requirement.....
 
goodmusic00 said:
Actually, I don't really understand why most pharmacy school require a public speaking class. I mean, public speaking skill is essential, but why make it a pre-req? I don't see Medical or dental school have such requirement.....
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It's an understood requirement for most medical schools that the applicant have a bachelor's degree. It's not required, sure, but best of luck getting in fighting that semantic.

I can't speak for other states, but in Texas there is a set of "core" requirements that have to be fulfilled for all bachelors degrees, and public speaking is included in that core.

As far as why it's required: In our first semester, we've already done at least two presentations, and we have another one or two left to do. I expect to speak publicly a LOT between now and graduation.

But I've seen students get up who are petrified. They have taken public speaking, but they still lock up when they have to present to their peers.

It's hard to make the argument, "a pharmacist will never need public speaking skills."
 
pharm B said:
It's an understood requirement for most medical schools that the applicant have a bachelor's degree. It's not required, sure, but best of luck getting in fighting that semantic.

I can't speak for other states, but in Texas there is a set of "core" requirements that have to be fulfilled for all bachelors degrees, and public speaking is included in that core.

As far as why it's required: In our first semester, we've already done at least two presentations, and we have another one or two left to do. I expect to speak publicly a LOT between now and graduation.

But I've seen students get up who are petrified. They have taken public speaking, but they still lock up when they have to present to their peers.

It's hard to make the argument, "a pharmacist will never need public speaking skills."
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👍
 
PharmyDude said:
That's why I want to be a pharmacy manager.:meanie: I'll use the over saturation scare to intimidate my servants into submissive brown nosing. 😛
Click to expand...

That's assuming you know about the connections they have. You never know if they would know a lot of pharmacy managers and leave your store for somewhere else (or for someone else :laugh:)
 
pharm B said:
It's an understood requirement for most medical schools that the applicant have a bachelor's degree. It's not required, sure, but best of luck getting in fighting that semantic.

I can't speak for other states, but in Texas there is a set of "core" requirements that have to be fulfilled for all bachelors degrees, and public speaking is included in that core.

As far as why it's required: In our first semester, we've already done at least two presentations, and we have another one or two left to do. I expect to speak publicly a LOT between now and graduation.

But I've seen students get up who are petrified. They have taken public speaking, but they still lock up when they have to present to their peers.

It's hard to make the argument, "a pharmacist will never need public speaking skills."
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So you mean that even right now, most pharmacy students don't have a Bachelor's degree when entering pharmacy school?
I think currently pharmacy school is getting quite competitive to get in now, that most students need to have a Bachelor's degree.
So why this make pharmacy school so special?

Also, why pharmacy school seems to put so much emphasis on "public speaking", or presentation?
Is that medical /dental school doesn't have such presentation? Do they not emphasis on public speaking skill?
(Just curious, does med school require a lot of presentation for the students to do at school?)
I am just curious on why pharmacy always stress public speaking, it seems even more than med school.
I thought that communication / public speaking skill are also very important being a physician or dentist, isn't that true?
 
I find it interesting that this topic comes up so frequently. Back in my day (and heck, still now - I just checked my alma mater's website), "speech communication" (aka public speaking) was a required course for an undergraduate degree. This is obviously not the case at every university, but I'm surprised that more people haven't just taken it as part of their normal progression towards a degree.

If you're worried about it (I was, back when I was an 18 year old college freshman), take it over summer or at a CC. I did it over summer and our class had a lot of international students - maybe it was wrong of me, but it made me less nervous because at least I didn't have to overcome a language barrier in addition to speaking in front of the class, plus the class was a lot smaller than during the regular school year.
 
Sparda29 said:
Well, can you get up in front of 200 people and present a case, or a project? If the answer is no, then you need to take public speaking.

The number #1 fear of people isn't death, it is public speaking, you get sick.
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When I take a beta blocker before talking in front of a huge crowd (100+), I feel more calm.

I think the BZDs would make you fall asleep before you said your first word :laugh:
 
Sparda29 said:
With me, I start sweating profusely and then I start mumbling and speed talking.
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It's the anticipation that bothers me. I sweat and become flushed. However, once I get started I relax and then I'm magic up there.😉
 
See in pharmacy school and the health care world, I can no longer do what I used to do in middle school and high school during presentations and whatnot. When I was in middle school and high school, I would throw stuff at my classmates if they were being asses during the presentation and the teacher just laugh.

For example, presentation on earthquakes and volcanoes.
Me - Talking about volcanoes and eruptions. Two jackasses in the back start snickering and laughing.
Me - Looks at them. Continues talking, "sometimes during volcanic eruptions, ash and rocks are ejected from the volcano, and if you are too close to the eruption... *picks up a textbook and flings it at the jackasses hitting one of them in the face*... devastation can happen."
 
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Seriously, public speaking is essential. Not only will you be presenting in pharmacy school but when you get out into the real world, you will have to be able to communicate effectively. How effective are you going to be when you are on rounds with docs and residents and you cannot maintain your composure as you make a therapeutic recommendation or advocate for a patient? How are you going to make a "clinical" presentation to get a clinical job? What about residency, etc.etc. Or what about just being able to educate a patient?

Perhaps there is some "fluff" to the pre-reqs or pharmacy school curriculum but I think you should try to get something out of it all. Public speaking is an opportunity for you to gain a great skill. It will be useful one day.
 
rxlea said:
Seriously, public speaking is essential. Not only will you be presenting in pharmacy school but when you get out into the real world, you will have to be able to communicate effectively. How effective are you going to be when you are on rounds with docs and residents and you cannot maintain your composure as you make a therapeutic recommendation or advocate for a patient? How are you going to make a "clinical" presentation to get a clinical job? What about residency, etc.etc. Or what about just being able to educate a patient?

Perhaps there is some "fluff" to the pre-reqs or pharmacy school curriculum but I think you should try to get something out of it all. Public speaking is an opportunity for you to gain a great skill. It will be useful one day.
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Yeah, it turns out that public speaking can be pretty easy depending on the subject matter. I had to do a demonstrative public speaking project once. I brought in my computer, hooked it up to the projector, and demonstrated to the class how to play Counterstrike: Source.
 
Sparda29 said:
Yeah, it turns out that public speaking can be pretty easy depending on the subject matter. I had to do a demonstrative public speaking project once. I brought in my computer, hooked it up to the projector, and demonstrated to the class how to play Counterstrike: Source.
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We were told specifically that a presentation similar to what you're describing isn't a demonstration speech so much as it is just a demonstration, and since you really can't form it on Logos, Pathos, and Ethos, that type of thing would receive a very poor grade.

Sounds like your speech class instructor forgot what the whole point of public speaking and persuasion is about. Of course, given your reputation, I guess I should be shocked you didn't hook a webcam up to your car and drive down a bridge in traffic at 140 MPH.
 
rxlea said:
Seriously, public speaking is essential. Not only will you be presenting in pharmacy school but when you get out into the real world, you will have to be able to communicate effectively. How effective are you going to be when you are on rounds with docs and residents and you cannot maintain your composure as you make a therapeutic recommendation or advocate for a patient? How are you going to make a "clinical" presentation to get a clinical job? What about residency, etc.etc. Or what about just being able to educate a patient?

Perhaps there is some "fluff" to the pre-reqs or pharmacy school curriculum but I think you should try to get something out of it all. Public speaking is an opportunity for you to gain a great skill. It will be useful one day.
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Public speaking is essential, but taking a public speaking class is NOT. Most schools on the east coast don't require a public speaking course and all those pharmacists are not able to educate a patient? Hmm...
 
My public speaking class really didn't help me. I barely remember anything about the class an it was only 1 year ago. I remember stuff about thinking about presenting to the audience and that apparently I don't move my arms a lot when I present so I look unnatural.
 
Passion4Sci said:
We were told specifically that a presentation similar to what you're describing isn't a demonstration speech so much as it is just a demonstration, and since you really can't form it on Logos, Pathos, and Ethos, that type of thing would receive a very poor grade.

Sounds like your speech class instructor forgot what the whole point of public speaking and persuasion is about. Of course, given your reputation, I guess I should be shocked you didn't hook a webcam up to your car and drive down a bridge in traffic at 140 MPH.
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The car I had at the time was only capable of 110 mph. 🙁
 
PharmyDude said:
Public speaking is essential, but taking a public speaking class is NOT. Most schools on the east coast don't require a public speaking course and all those pharmacists are not able to educate a patient? Hmm...
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You need to reread what I wrote. I said public speaking is essential, not the class. I said the class is an opportunity to learn a skill. So, I am not sure how you concluded that I think pharmacists who haven't had public speaking can't educate a patient.
 
I may have misread into your post. Yeah being able to speak with other people is quite useful for humans. yay communication
 
rxlea said:
You need to reread what I wrote. I said public speaking is essential, not the class. I said the class is an opportunity to learn a skill. So, I am not sure how you concluded that I think pharmacists who haven't had public speaking can't educate a patient.
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That's the main point. By requiring the course, schools are able to assume they won't have to teach you how to speak in front of people. Not everybody needs the course to get to where they need to be, but everyone who takes the course should be at a certain minimum standard.
 
pharm B said:
Only 110? I thought it was a pre-req that your car be able to do at least 125... Man, why are schools so different? :meanie:
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My first car was a 2006 Honda Accord. It's actually capable of 140 mph top speed but it takes forever to get there. In the time that I could get my Honda Accord to 115 mph, I can get my Volkswagen CC to 160 mph.
 
Sparda29 said:
My first car was a 2006 Honda Accord. It's actually capable of 140 mph top speed but it takes forever to get there. In the time that I could get my Honda Accord to 115 mph, I can get my Volkswagen CC to 160 mph.
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I remember my first car. A 98 Civic. It was fast off the line, but it took forever to hit 100mph.
Now, my old 350z 125mph was cake.
 
98 Civic and fast off the line don't belong in the same sentence. Even with a B18C, standing starts suck for FWD I4s.

My first car was my 1968 Mustang. Now that is fast off the line, even with its fairly stock 351C at the time.
 
Passion4Sci said:
98 Civic and fast off the line don't belong in the same sentence. Even with a B18C, standing starts suck for FWD I4s.

My first car was my 1968 Mustang. Now that is fast off the line, even with its fairly stock 351C at the time.
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LOL I stand by my statement. It was quick the first 50 feet after that it fell off.
I had a 96 Prelude that was a also fun off the line. Then again I preloaded it the second the tree started.
I actually broke that clutch into pieces. You would push the clutch all the way in and the car would keep rolling.:laugh:
 
UNMorBUST said:
LOL I stand by my statement. It was quick the first 50 feet after that it fell off.
I had a 96 Prelude that was a also fun off the line. Then again I preloaded it the second the tree started.
I actually broke that clutch into pieces. You would push the clutch all the way in and the car would keep rolling.:laugh:
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If you think a 98 Civic gets off the line "fast" you've never driven a real car with real torque, including that 350Z. All they do is make noise.

You can't even make max torque with those ricer engines until 7,000 RPM.

I will say this... for the first FIFTY FEET, most cars are about the same in terms of speed. I mean, consider the difference between a $130,000 Corvette ZR1 and my Cali Special Mustang. 0.3 seconds difference between them to 35 MPH. Now, to 60, different story. And a LOT different to 150, and so on.

So I guess it's *possible* for 50 feet your Civic would launch the same as my 'Stang, but that's being awfully generous, since Civics, like most ricer imports, are gutless, noise making annoyances.
 
Passion4Sci said:
If you think a 98 Civic gets off the line "fast" you've never driven a real car with real torque, including that 350Z. All they do is make noise.

You can't even make max torque with those ricer engines until 7,000 RPM.

I will say this... for the first FIFTY FEET, most cars are about the same in terms of speed. I mean, consider the difference between a $130,000 Corvette ZR1 and my Cali Special Mustang. 0.3 seconds difference between them to 35 MPH. Now, to 60, different story. And a LOT different to 150, and so on.

So I guess it's *possible* for 50 feet your Civic would launch the same as my 'Stang, but that's being awfully generous, since Civics, like most ricer imports, are gutless, noise making annoyances.
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Okay, the reason that It is quick off the line is simple. You mentioned it. Low torque(no tire spin), light weight(no moving 4 k pounds like a Camero). So it's possible.😀

I'll admit I haven't owned any really fast cars. However, I have been in some fun ones. 11 sec terminator(Remember 5.5k feet above sealevel). 11-12 sec Srt-4 ( guy actually hated his car. He said it's no fun when you have 600whp in a fwd. Hit the gas "bang" something broke) and a few others. Yes, I know your the car guy.:bow:
 
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