workload in pharmacy school

Started by bibiancheng
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bibiancheng

bibiancheng

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Hi folks!

school just started, and I wonder howz the workload in each school. also, i want to know which school has a more organized curriculum that provides useful study materials/helps to its students?

thank you so much for answering 😛
 
Well, how about you share your workload and the school you go to first. I think many of us are interested...
 
In my opinion, the load varies each semester. Some semesters are easier depending on the courses you take. When it comes to studying, you might be able to pair up with someone else to make a review, or you could attend study sessions that are sometimes offered. If you need help with the material itself, go to your professors.
I study best a couple of days before an exam. Although, I need to understand the concepts early on, not the night before the exam. I like to review the material early, but I need a little pressure to force myself to memorize the terminology, formulas, definitions, etc.
If you review your material daily or every other day, you shouldn't need too much additional help.
 
Workload is preparation dependent. P1 1st semester is review of undergrad topics for the most part at USC. So far I'm reviewing medicinal chem, anatomy/physiology, and biochem. The only new information is topics in healthcare and pharmacy practice. Most of it is super simple. Of course if you haven't had med chem, biochem, or if you haven't had them recently, it's a little more intense.
 
We're doing a lot of review right now, which I am kind of disappointed because I feel like they're spending way too much time on it, and yet, more than half of the people in my class don't know the material. It makes me wonder if they should even be here at all. It's not too bad at all right now. Just a lot of busy work. Then again, it's too early to tell.
 
The workload's not so bad if you pace yourself and keep a daily schedule of what you need to be doing and when. You could BBQ all the time if you plan right.
 
The workload is often what you make of it. There is alot of personal choice involved in how much time you spend and how effectively you spend it.

What school will be easiest for someone to learn at is also one of those things that varies by person. Some of us do better with different presentation styles and formats, and that varies with every professor at every school.

With regards to study materials, what may be a study aid to one student may be "busy work" to another. There seems to be a theme developing. 🙂
 
In addition to what bananaface said, we're all different kinds of students. Each one of us has different motivations for being in pharm school. What I expect to get out of a lecture and from my daily tasks may be very different from what the student down the row from me is after. As such, our study habits and workloads will differ.

That said, I find the workload to be a challenge. It's like having a job to which I'm married. People who are pursuing 2nd careers might understand the analogy. That's not entirely a bad thing, but it can be tiring and stressful. I constantly struggle for a balance between academic/personal life, the adequate v. the exceptional and my own unique spin on what those things mean.

I wouldn't do anything differently. I love what I do. Things could be and have at other times been, so much worse.
 
Oh - if you cannot process a large amount of info very quickly - stay away from the three year, year-round curriculum. Its a LOT of info, VERY fast - a little over half of our class had to reassess after hour first exam - just because the info came fast and furious, and some do not adjust very quickly.

Know your own study habits - and plan your future accordingly.

~above~
 
I'm coming off of a nice buzz while studying on a Saturday night. I had company over this weekend, so I finally get to study for my exam on Monday. Does that say anything? I'm studying on a Saturday night, geez! Maybe I just sound like a drunk 😳 (please keep in mind that I live in Louisiana).
If you want to live a particular way, you need to be able to incorporate what you desire into your life as a professional student. If there are conflicts with school, you need to reevaluate the situation.
This might sound like common sense, but don't overload your schedule. You wouldn't want to be closing a bar at 3am every night when you have class at 8am, even if you could make a lot of money. It's unrealistic. Overachievers can be guilty of being unrealistic too. I wouldn't volunteer to be your class president if you have trouble with time management.
If possible, let school be your #1 priority.
 
ForcedEntry said:
Purple Haze rocks...especially at Rock-A-Bowl with a kickin Zydeco band 👍
Click to expand...

Purple Haze is awesome.
They serve it at The Chimes, along with many others. http://www.thechimes.com/beermenu.cfm?s=1001521
I used to work there. If you visit Baton Rouge, you have to eat there for its atmosphere- unless you're not an LSU fan.

Epic's a little crabby, because you forgot to mention the crawfish. You can't have Zydeco music without crawfish.
 
Farmercyst said:
Workload is preparation dependent. P1 1st semester is review of undergrad topics for the most part at USC. So far I'm reviewing medicinal chem, anatomy/physiology, and biochem. The only new information is topics in healthcare and pharmacy practice. Most of it is super simple. Of course if you haven't had med chem, biochem, or if you haven't had them recently, it's a little more intense.
Click to expand...
exact same situation at UT
 
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