Things to know/review before entering pharm school

[hqd003]

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For current pharm students, what should entering pharm students review prior to entering pharm school? I know organic chemistry is a must as well as the top 200 but is there anything else that should be reviewed that would give us a head start?

 

[ernievdb]

My suggestion would be to make sure you have all your required courses covered and maybe take a summer class if you don't have them all completed...for instance, I did my undergrad at a different school and when I started pharmacy school I still needed a fine arts credit in order to satisfy the college credit requirements. Other than that, take a look at your schedule and see what classes you have...for instance, if you will be taking biopharmaceutics, review things like half-life and elimination kinetics if you really want to punish yourself.

 

[npahlavan]

For current pharm students, what should entering pharm students review prior to entering pharm school? I know organic chemistry is a must as well as the top 200 but is there anything else that should be reviewed that would give us a head start?

What are the top 200?

 

[Jack555]

I was wondering the same thing. I was thinking maybe study up on biochem and human physiology???


any help is appreciated

 

[meowmeow]

What are the top 200?

top 200 drugs.

 

[fuCl]

go in cold. don't waste your summer remembering SN2 this and alkyne that.

Enjoy your summer and don't worry about pharmacy until august.

 

[aboveliquidice]

For current pharm students, what should entering pharm students review prior to entering pharm school? I know organic chemistry is a must as well as the top 200 but is there anything else that should be reviewed that would give us a head start?

As an incoming Pacific Student - we expect more from you than these generic posts... 😎

I wouldn't stress to much - All of things I pointed out earlier would be great if you already knew it. If you didn't though, do not worry - they will put you through the paces.

It would be kind of useful to review major components of biochem as well - know your amino acids... etc.

aside from that - enjoy not studying all the time - after two years of studying nearly everyday - I am burnt.

 

[inquirer89]

It would be kind of useful to review major components of biochem as well - know your amino acids... etc.

Would you say that taking biochem before pharmacy school is very important? I will only have up to Orgo II and Bio II (and Physics this summer to finish all of my prereqs) before I start pharmacy school this Fall. My school did not require Biochem or A&P, and I'm wondering if I'll be at a huge disadvantage compared to those who already took those advance courses.

 

[aboveliquidice]

Would you say that taking biochem before pharmacy school is very important? I will only have up to Orgo II and Bio II (and Physics this summer to finish all of my prereqs) before I start pharmacy school this Fall. My school did not require Biochem or A&P, and I'm wondering if I'll be at a huge disadvantage compared to those who already took those advance courses.

The extent of how important biochem is to your school's program varies greatly. At Pacific - you need to have a good foundation of chem and biochem prior to starting to school - they do review most concepts - but they are considered reviews.

I wouldn't change my schedule to pickup the course though - only if you have some room to fit it in...

 

[hitzgirlforever]

Guys, chill. You don't want to overexert yourself with studying during the summer! Please just relax by the pool or something. You will experience enough stress during pharmacy school. Take advantage of the free time you will have and do something you enjoy while you still can!

 

[hqd003]

I agree with you here but the program I got accepted to is an accelerated 3 year program...I am working 4 days a week right now and the other 3 days I am bored out of my mind so I might as well get a head start so I don't stress out as much during the pharmacy year

I have a one month vacation planned before I head to school so that will be plenty of break for me...I am used to working full-time and going to school full-time so 4 days of work and 3 days off with no school is a real treat for me already.

 

[hitzgirlforever]

I agree with you here but the program I got accepted to is an accelerated 3 year program...I am working 4 days a week right now and the other 3 days I am bored out of my mind so I might as well get a head start so I don't stress out as much during the pharmacy year

I have a one month vacation planned before I head to school so that will be plenty of break for me...I am used to working full-time and going to school full-time so 4 days of work and 3 days off with no school is a real treat for me already.

Ok, whatever floats your boat. It's just that I worked 25 hours/wk while taking 2 classes during the summer before P1 and looking back I wish I had just played more.

 

[hqd003]

Ok, whatever floats your boat. It's just that I worked 25 hours/wk while taking 2 classes during the summer before P1 and looking back I wish I had just played more.

Hahah yeah, I know what you mean...I want to relax during the summer so I'm gonna be quitting work by June and using my spare time to play around like the good ol days in elementary school! 😀

 

[thephoenician88]

once thing you need to realize, especially for schools that accept students with 2 years of prepharm, is that you may be ahead of everyone. So I took organic chem during my second year, now i'm on my third year and have covered a lot of what i believe will be introduced to pharm students during first year.


Cliffs:
i'd do a quick review of
Organic basics ( i wouldn't worry about aldol reactions 😛)
biochem basics
quantitative basics (you don't want to look like an idiot who can't convert to mols"
MLA basics (in case you have to write a paper or something along those lines )

 

[thephoenician88]

hmm, i just realized i chose everything chemistry and nothing from biology.......i dislike biology lol.

 

[Spock87]

I've been working 30hrs/week and going to school full time for the last 4 years ---> SO BURNED!!!

I'm still gonna work off my butt this summer, but I'm not gonna touch any book!! No school for at least 3 months. I need a break! LOL

 

[aboveliquidice]

As a general reminder for incoming pharmacy students - Remember to evaluate what people say based upon experience as well as aptitude. While it is great that pre-pharmacy students want to make recommendations - the fact that they have zero actual pharmacy school experience should enter into your reasoning process.

Doing absolutely nothing before pharmacy school isn't a bad idea - assuming your comfortable with all of the information you do know.

 

[thephoenician88]

As a general reminder for incoming pharmacy students - Remember to evaluate what people say based upon experience as well as aptitude. While it is great that pre-pharmacy students want to make recommendations - the fact that they have zero actual pharmacy school experience should enter into your reasoning process.

Doing absolutely nothing before pharmacy school isn't a bad idea - assuming your comfortable with all of the information you do know.

knowing the basics of undergrad can't hurt though.

 

[Sparda29]

If you payed attention and didn't cheat your way through undergrad, then you should be able to remember the stuff when the professors talk about it. If they professors say something and you don't remember it, write down what you don't remember, then go look it up when class is over. For the love of god, please do not stop pharmacy school professors to explain stuff that was supposed to be covered in prerequisites. Go home and find it out for yourself.

Don't waste your last summer before pharmacy school studying. Seriously, assuming that you are going to get a job right after you graduate pharmacy school, the summer before pharmacy school is going to be your last summer of freedom. (Unless you spend the 3 months after graduating partying and then start working in September.)

 

[charfdorn]

top 200 drugs.

What's a good resource to use for learning these? Is there an official publication or something? And what about the top 200 should we know...?

 

[168533]

I'm not doing anything school related this summer. I'm trying to find a job to pay off some debt and save money, but other than that I'm relaxing. The only book I will pick up and read is one for my enjoyment. Like someone mentioned, if a professor brings up something that I'm fuzzy about, I'll just write it down and look it up when I get home.

 

[Sparda29]

What's a good resource to use for learning these? Is there an official publication or something? And what about the top 200 should we know...?

No, you don't need to review the Top 200 drugs before starting pharmacy school.