Quick, easy, pre-pharm questions

[XxAlbertoxX]

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I searched a bit and found some odd answers, but:

When do you guys recommend volunteering etc...?

I figured the 2 or 3 weeks of summer should be good, I called about 5 Pharmacies and they said they don't take "volunteers". They said in order to be in the pharmacy and touch medicine you need to get hired-in as a tech. So I applied to multiple stores (approx. 8) for a tech position.

Should I do reg. community service, non-related to Pharmacy/medicine too?

Also, when Pharm. schools look at your GPA, they only look at the pre-pharmacy grades correct? I have 48 credits of non-pharm. classes atm.

I have a 3.0 GPA in those classes, but (3) C's on classes that I had my freshman year.... So I was wondering to retake those after I'm done with my pre-reqs or to forget about it since I still have organic/calculus/biology/physics to finish up so I still have lots of time to get a 3.0 + GPA

thank you

 

[delano2000]

I searched a bit and found some odd answers, but:

When do you guys recommend volunteering etc...?

I figured the 2 or 3 weeks of summer should be good, I called about 5 Pharmacies and they said they don't take "volunteers". They said in order to be in the pharmacy and touch medicine you need to get hired-in as a tech. So I applied to multiple stores (approx. 8) for a tech position.

Should I do reg. community service, non-related to Pharmacy/medicine too?

Also, when Pharm. schools look at your GPA, they only look at the pre-pharmacy grades correct? I have 48 credits of non-pharm. classes atm.

I have a 3.0 GPA in those classes, but (3) C's on classes that I had my freshman year.... So I was wondering to retake those after I'm done with my pre-reqs or to forget about it since I still have organic/calculus/biology/physics to finish up so I still have lots of time to get a 3.0 + GPA

thank you

First off, are you a certified pharm tech? Generally chain pharmacies will not allow you to volunteer due to liability issues. I would maybe contact an indy pharmacy or a local hospital. Hospitals are generally the easiest to get volunteering experiences at due to them having a structured program.

They look at your cumulative GPA as well as your science GPA.

 

[musicman123]

That's a very short duration if you're considering volunteer work in a hospital pharmacy.. I would volunteer on a more consistent basis.

 

[XxAlbertoxX]

No, I'm not certified.

I called hospitals and local Pharmacies; they both said they do NOT take volunteers, even with licenses. You need to be hired as a tech they said.

In Indiana though, you don't need a license though, they train until you get certified/acquire your license, so you don't need it prior.

I was going to volunteer/work longer than that most likely, or break it up in parts

 

[Passion4Sci]

I searched a bit and found some odd answers, but:

When do you guys recommend volunteering etc...?

I figured the 2 or 3 weeks of summer should be good, I called about 5 Pharmacies and they said they don't take "volunteers". They said in order to be in the pharmacy and touch medicine you need to get hired-in as a tech. So I applied to multiple stores (approx. 8) for a tech position.

5 pharmacies in retail locations or county locations? If the former, to be expected. If the latter, really surprising. Maybe California is more liberal about such things than Indiana, but no tech license was required to begin as a volunteer at any hospital that I contacted.

Should I do reg. community service, non-related to Pharmacy/medicine too?

Absolutely. Volunteering need not be pharmacy related to be highly useful! Try not to break it into parts, though. Choose something that you can do reliably and for a protracted period of time. This falls under the "quality vs. quantity" thing, like with clubs.

Also, when Pharm. schools look at your GPA, they only look at the pre-pharmacy grades correct?

Completely incorrect.

I have a 3.0 GPA in those classes, but (3) C's on classes that I had my freshman year.... So I was wondering to retake those after I'm done with my pre-reqs or to forget about it since I still have organic/calculus/biology/physics to finish up so I still have lots of time to get a 3.0 + GPA

I'd let it ride. A's in your remaining pre-requisites will vastly overshadow those C's. Take other, new classes with your time left over.

 

[delano2000]

That's a very short duration if you're considering volunteer work in a hospital pharmacy.. I would volunteer on a more consistent basis.

It depends. The hospital I volunteered at had a minimum of 100 hrs that they required. You could do as many hours as you want. Only thing is that they may rotate you to different areas in the hospital. I did like 120 hrs over like 5-6 months.

 

[UNMorBUST]

It depends. The hospital I volunteered at had a minimum of 100 hrs that they required. You could do as many hours as you want. Only thing is that they may rotate you to different areas in the hospital. I did like 120 hrs over like 5-6 months.

HOspitals all have there own requirments. One hospital asks that you make a 9 month commitment for 4 hrs a week.

 

[delano2000]

HOspitals all have there own requirments. One hospital asks that you make a 9 month commitment for 4 hrs a week.

Like I said, it depends on the hospital.😛

 

[UNMorBUST]

Like I said, it depends on the hospital.😛

😎👍

 

[delano2000]

😎👍

Getting ready for finals this week?

 

[mandydp6]

Like I said, it depends on the hospital.😛

Was this a situation where I could have used the "Fail" technique?? LOL!!

 

[mandydp6]

I searched a bit and found some odd answers, but:

5 pharmacies in retail locations or county locations? If the former, to be expected. If the latter, really surprising. Maybe California is more liberal about such things than Indiana, but no tech license was required to begin as a volunteer at any hospital that I contacted.

Absolutely. Volunteering need not be pharmacy related to be highly useful! Try not to break it into parts, though. Choose something that you can do reliably and for a protracted period of time. This falls under the "quality vs. quantity" thing, like with clubs.

Completely incorrect.

I'd let it ride. A's in your remaining pre-requisites will vastly overshadow those C's. Take other, new classes with your time left over.

And, as usual, dido to what P4SCI said!!

 

[delano2000]

Was this a situation where I could have used the "Fail" technique?? LOL!!

 

[UNMorBUST]

Getting ready for finals this week?

Meh, should be easy so i'm not worrying. I'm just excited for class to end for a few weeks before fall starts.

 

[delano2000]

Meh, should be easy so i'm not worrying. I'm just excited for class to end for a few weeks before fall starts.

I am only gonna have 2 weeks of summer vacation which will hardly be vacation since I have to start studying for the PCAT in October.🙁

 

[Ji the Captain]

vacation is overrated.

 

[Passion4Sci]

vacation is overrated.

I agree! Anything longer than a week or so and I am itching to get back. 2+ months is just killing me. Although I have gotten into great shape, LOL.

 

[delano2000]

I agree! Anything longer than a week or so and I am itching to get back. 2+ months is just killing me. Although I have gotten into great shape, LOL.

I wish I had 2 months right now. I feel so emotionally and mentally drained. Might I add physically as well. 🙁

 

[UNMorBUST]

I wish I had 2 months right now. I feel so emotionally and mentally drained. Might I add physically as well. 🙁

Pssh, I would be content with 2 days off in a row.

 

[delano2000]

Pssh, I would be content with 2 days off in a row.

I can't wait till next Sunday. Will be off until the Friday of that week.😀

 

[UNMorBUST]

I can't wait till next Sunday. Will be off until the Friday of that week.😀

I had to sign up for Developmental Psych on sunday my only day off from everything.🙁 Damn class schedule not working with me.

 

[Passion4Sci]

I had to sign up for Developmental Psych on sunday my only day off from everything.🙁 Damn class schedule not working with me.

Hollah at cha boiii! One of my emphases was Dev Psych 😀

 

[delano2000]

I had to sign up for Developmental Psych on sunday my only day off from everything.🙁 Damn class schedule not working with me.

I stopped at Gen. Psych. Never really liked psychology to begin with lol.

 

[UNMorBUST]

Hollah at cha boiii! One of my emphases was Dev Psych 😀

Yea, plus psych in film next semester too.👍 Good times.

 

[bottlecap1990]

I searched a bit and found some odd answers, but:

When do you guys recommend volunteering etc...?

I figured the 2 or 3 weeks of summer should be good, I called about 5 Pharmacies and they said they don't take "volunteers". They said in order to be in the pharmacy and touch medicine you need to get hired-in as a tech. So I applied to multiple stores (approx. 8) for a tech position.

Should I do reg. community service, non-related to Pharmacy/medicine too?

Also, when Pharm. schools look at your GPA, they only look at the pre-pharmacy grades correct? I have 48 credits of non-pharm. classes atm.

I have a 3.0 GPA in those classes, but (3) C's on classes that I had my freshman year.... So I was wondering to retake those after I'm done with my pre-reqs or to forget about it since I still have organic/calculus/biology/physics to finish up so I still have lots of time to get a 3.0 + GPA

thank you

I don't think 3 weeks show that you are committed to the field. I had a hard time finding experience also(I asked to volunteer at a hospital, retail, private pharmacies and NO luck). My advice is to apply to CVS or Walgreens. They have a training program and you do NOT need any experience or certification. I got hired by CVS with Zero experience and NO certification. I had to attend like 2 classes and next monday I will be trained on the job. I actually was told to work a few hours right after I am trained 😱. They will also pay for my certification ($120) and I will be mailing out the app today(I got hired like 10 days ago).
I was told that many stores (at least CVS) are hiring during this time of the year because lots of the interns go back to school.

They calculate your overall and your prereqs GPA.
good luck.