Taking a week off in pharmacy school?

[Nottingham]

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Is it possible to take a week's vacation during the school semester, provided ample warning is given and measures are taken to make up work?

Next year, the World Equestrian Games are being held in Kentucky for the first time on US soil. Not only have I ridden horses for 18 years, but a childhood friend is representing my native country (South Africa), and my best friend and fellow equestrienne just got married. I would like to take her to the WEG for her wedding present.

I have a contact through whom I can book a hotel and tickets for an excellent price, but I have to do it within the next few weeks. The only catch is that the showjumping portion that we would be attending is October 3-10 next year, about a month into my P2 year at UMD. I haven't even started school yet so I have no idea what the general policy is regarding such leave. Is this doable? I have to pay for the package up front and don't want to be out thousands of dollars in case there is a problem.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would regret missing for the rest of my life.

 

[Saladfingers]

I am currently a P2 at UMD and I'll just say that at that time of the year, beginning of October we were having two exams per week up until Halloween almost.

Usually the professors are pretty understanding and will work with you on this sort of thing provided you let them know way ahead of time. You might run into issues though being that it is during one of the most busiest times of the year academic wise.

Hopefully it works out,
Good luck!

 

[RxWildcat]

In LEX, oh yeah!

The only way you'll know for sure is to ask your school specifically.

 

[njac]

What are you going to watch? I used to event but have put the horses on hold for school. I think with ample time you should be able to copy notes and move exams.

My best friend from hs is living in jo'burg now.

 

[pinkyrx]

It's going to depend on your school... I would talk to them about this as soon as you get an opportunity and hopefully if you plan well in advance you can make it happen. If you get lucky and there are no exams that week it would certainly be easier. Good luck.

 

[xiphoid2010]

Had it been to APhA or ASHP conference then I'm pretty sure your professors would be ok with it. In fact my school actually schedule around most major conferences. But a horse riding event? Some professors might be ok, others might see it as a luxury. I'll say that's real iffy.

 

[rxlynn]

At my school, this would be unexcused for an exam - which would mean either a 0 or the professor might let you add that weight into the final exam. I know someone who had to do that, and their final exam was 51% of their total grade in the class😱

 

[MadDash]

Most professors are pretty understanding about missing classes and even exams, as long as you provide notice early in the semester. If you have strict professors for labs, though, that might be a problem. Our professors have no problem switching labs to another day, but missing a whole week might be a problem because they don't offer makeup labs on other weeks. I would say the safest bet would be to ask an advisor at your school.

 

[goldennemesis]

If this is really, really important to you, a true once in a lifetime thing, you're not just saying that, then go for it, and accept whatever consequences arise.

Grades and exams are definitely NOT once in a lifetime. You may have to take a hit on your lab grade, or have a week with two regularly scheduled exams and two early exams. All this may mean you take a hit on your overall grades, but I am of the belief that you should do things to enrich your life, even if there are consequences involved. As long as you pass, its all good. 🙂

Personally, I think that sounds freaking awesome.

 

[confettiflyer]

It will depend on the school. I would have been able to take off for a week last semester (all our lectures are recorded) provided I didn't have any exams.

This semester, I have mandatory attendance at a clinical skills lab that would seriously ding my grade if I don't go.

Summary: it will depend on how many "mandatory" attendance classes/labs you may have, or whether there are exams that week. Even then, you might be able to wiggle out/reschedule depending on the professor.

 

[Nottingham]

Well, I've contacted the school and they've said pretty much what all of you are saying: lectures are recorded online and available anywhere, but rescheduling exams and labs is against school policy. So basically I miss what I miss.

That being said, I'm still going for it. As I said before, I will regret it for the rest of my life if I miss this astounding opportunity. Plus if I change my mind next year closer to the date, there is a chance that I could find someone to go in my stead. So it's worth booking anyway.


njac: I'm going to watch the showjumping. I rode dressage for 9 years before I switched to hunters, but I LOVE watching the big rings go. I was born and raised in Joburg along with the girl I'm going to support (Lexi Carter is her name, she's training in Belgium this year). It'll be exciting to see my country represented alongside the rest of the world, especially by someone I know!

 

[goldennemesis]

At my school, this would be unexcused for an exam - which would mean either a 0 or the professor might let you add that weight into the final exam. I know someone who had to do that, and their final exam was 51% of their total grade in the class😱

Hehe, that happened to me one time in orgo I when I stayed up all night studying then laid down for a few minutes and ended up sleeping through an exam. Yeah, that final made me pretty nervous.

However, a couple of years later when I was studying abroad in New Zealand, the final exam counted somewhere between 50 and 80 percent for each of my classes. Just a different way of doing things, I think that's more of a European system.

 

[njac]

Hehe, that happened to me one time in orgo I when I stayed up all night studying then laid down for a few minutes and ended up sleeping through an exam. Yeah, that final made me pretty nervous.

However, a couple of years later when I was studying abroad in New Zealand, the final exam counted somewhere between 50 and 80 percent for each of my classes. Just a different way of doing things, I think that's more of a European system.

Shouldn't you be studying for pharmaceutics?!?