So much to do, so little time.

[AMO69657]

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Ok, I apologize if you all are getting sick of my posts, lol, but I have a dilemma. I'm a junior applying this year, however my stats are low so I am going to use this Fall semester to increase my GPA as much as possible and I am going to take the PCAT in August and October. I have a PT job that I enjoy, just got promoted too and it is important bc I have lots of bills, but I also recently got a job as a tech and the Pharmacist is really nice. However, I don't think I can do all these at the same time, having 2 jobs (especially the Tech one requires a lot of training at first, I'll be going 9-9 btw. both jobs), have time to study for the PCAT over the summer, and focus on my studies (when school starts). What would you do? Take the Tech job and gain valuable experience? Or focus on the PCAT and my classes and somehow find a diff. type of pharm experience?

 

[omnione]

I need a little clarification. Are you asking about working two jobs in the summer or in the fall?

 

[AMO69657]

I would work probably have to work two jobs in the fall, both my current job and the tech job, I mean it would not look very good if I only worked as a tech for a couple months and quit. In the fall, I'd have to work a couple days as a tech and a few days at my current job.

 

[omnione]

I would work probably have to work two jobs in the fall, both my current job and the tech job, I mean it would not look very good if I only worked as a tech for a couple months and quit. In the fall, I'd have to work a couple days as a tech and a few days at my current job.

That sounds like a lot, how many credits are you taking? How many hours do you plan to work?

It sounds like you won't have many classes to boost your GPA, or that you'll risk lowering it due to overworking.

 

[38ctk]

AMO

I would look for pharmacy experience that is less demanding of your time. Even though you will gain valuable experience working that many hours, it might put a dent in your study time. I would look for a pharmacy volunteer position in which the hours are more flexible. I used to volunteer 2 hours/week at the pharmacy and 5 hours at a local children's hospital. This was more than enough valuable experience I gained. Hypothetically, if working too many hours hurts your grades, you will have to go through the hassle of explaining yourself to admissions and in your essays. Too much work and too much of a headache to try to make something bad look good.

 

[AMO69657]

15-20 hrs in my current job (evenings), maybe 10-15 hrs as a tech (weekends and afternoons). I will be taking 15 hours (Organic, Animal physio, Anatomy, and Econ). So yeah not many classes but they're all extremely important and if I mess up in one class, my GPA could really suffer. And yeah this summer I need to study for the PCAT to get a good score bc my gpa isn't that competitive. But I really want to get some kind of pharm experience, that would help my application. So I am stuck on deciding what is more important.

 

[omnione]

15-20 hrs in my current job (evenings), maybe 10-15 hrs as a tech (weekends and afternoons). I will be taking 15 hours (Organic, Animal physio, Anatomy, and Econ). So yeah not many classes but they're all extremely important and if I mess up in one class, my GPA could really suffer. And yeah this summer I need to study for the PCAT to get a good score bc my gpa isn't that competitive. But I really want to get some kind of pharm experience, that would help my application. So I am stuck on deciding what is more important.

So, you plan to work 25-35 hours a week while taking 15 hours of coursework. I have heard of SDN pharmacy students who work like 20 hours a week, but I honestly think that's rough when you admit that your GPA isn't that great and you need a good semester. All the schools that interviewed me understood my lack of pharmacy experience because they heard about my other involvement.

Anatomy is going to take a lot of time to keep up, as will Organic. Animal physio sounds time demanding, and economics may be difficult depending on the professor. So, I suggest that you pick one job or none unless you're willing to be active many hours during the entire 7-day week.

 

[AMO69657]

Thank you both for your input, it was helpful. I kind of knew what I should do but needed the extra advice. My current job pays well and I really need to keep it to pay rent, etc. and they are really flexible with my hours too, if I need to miss to study for an exam or something. I probably could not work 2 jobs and focus on school. So I will probably let go of the tech position, though I feel really bad!

I am thinking about volunteering at a pharmacy at a hospital instead, if I have the time once school starts. They might be more flexible and I would be able to do a couple hours a week. question is - what are volunteers allowed to do anyway? Thanks again!

 

[k0ni]

In my experience, volunteers weren't allowed to do much. I work in an inpatient pharmacy, and the volunteers mainly file and organize. Some of the longer staying volunteers got to pull meds and put away the deliveries with the techs.. The longer ones also got to send up medications to the floors via pneumatic tubes. 🙂

When I worked at an outpatient pharmacy as a volunteer, I mostly stocked things on the shelf, counted out pills & made ointments.