Worried about husband.. study tips?

[aamna929]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

My husband is new in professional pharm school and having a hard time. His program is crazy hard - he studies like mad but rarely gets an A.. it's usually low Bs and Cs. And I keep hearing from his colleagues how the 2nd year of the professional program is the worst semester in 4 year program. I am so scared and worried that next semester he might bomb! I guess i am a pessimist 😱 but I am ready to help him in any way. I'm not really in the science field though (well, i'm in the field of speech-language pathology, but it's a totally different kind of science), so does anyone have study tips that I could pass on to him?

 

[Abilify]

Stay off of his case...seriously

If you are being a pessimist around him, it will do nothing but hurt him.

We all figure it out at some point...some take longer than others to figure it out

 

[loo]

My husband is new in professional pharm school and having a hard time. His program is crazy hard - he studies like mad but rarely gets an A.. it's usually low Bs and Cs. And I keep hearing from his colleagues how the 2nd year of the professional program is the worst semester in 4 year program. I am so scared and worried that next semester he might bomb! I guess i am a pessimist 😱 but I am ready to help him in any way. I'm not really in the science field though (well, i'm in the field of speech-language pathology, but it's a totally different kind of science), so does anyone have study tips that I could pass on to him?

It is normal to drop down a grade once you begin pharmacy school...so low B's and C's aren't the end of the world. There is a lot of info. to wade through and you cannot remember it all! It is more important that he understands the concepts first---then fill in the details.

My advice is for him to seek out a study group or tutoring if he does not understand the material.

 

[sdn1977]

First...I'd recommend what some others have suggested - don't worry! He has done the most difficult part & that is become accepted. Really right there - the most critical people have decided he is worth it (his school) - now you must believe it.

Second....let go of grades. In professional school, grades are not the most important (IMO - there will be others who disagree!). The most important issue for him is - is he learning the material??? If he is, and only he knows this for sure, then all is good. If he wants to pursue a residency, recommendations count for a lot. There could be reasons he doesn't test well (all those with test anxiety can relate). When he gets in practice, he will have the time to figure stuff out. He may never be an ICU kind of guy where time is critical, but who cares - there are lots of practice settings.

Third...the school is investing a lot of time, money & energy on him. They very much want him to suceed. If he needs help, they can help him find it. Give him the encouragement & permission to seek out help if he needs it.

Finally, the ultimate test for him will be his state board exam. The best you can do, IMO, is to start now by encouraging him to find resources within himself and outside himself so he can show what he knows on this huge test of his clinical knowledge. It may take you both a few years to get comfortable with this. Obtaining B's & C's are just fine right now if he really is learning the material. His most critical people will be his patients. You can be his safety net - his place where he can vent and he will know your faith in his abilities will never waver. It's easy for us to say don't worry.....use this forum to vent or your friends....just know, we all had our doubts, but were always grateful for our SO's who didn't verbalize their worry along with our own about what was ahead. Good luck & enjoy these years!

 

[ButlerPharm.D.]

Our Dean told us at orientation that students who are used to getting A's may need to get used to getting B's and C's. Maybe you husband needs to take a look at his study habits in an effort to streamline them, i.e. go to the library for 4 hours after class and just study....just a thought. On a side note, our Dean will be heading to the University of West Virginia School of Pharmacy...we're going to miss her...

 

[drugmanrx]

My husband is new in professional pharm school and having a hard time. His program is crazy hard - he studies like mad but rarely gets an A.. it's usually low Bs and Cs. And I keep hearing from his colleagues how the 2nd year of the professional program is the worst semester in 4 year program. I am so scared and worried that next semester he might bomb! I guess i am a pessimist 😱 but I am ready to help him in any way. I'm not really in the science field though (well, i'm in the field of speech-language pathology, but it's a totally different kind of science), so does anyone have study tips that I could pass on to him?

In my program, 2nd professional fall semester is also considered the hardest because that is when PDA starts to kick into full gear. The program does, however, have 3 hours of electives scheduled that I can during that semester. I have gotten 1 of those hours taken care of so I only need to take a 2 hour class to meet the requirements (which I may even do this summer). See if your husband has any electives that he can get out of the way during the summer that may lighten the load for at least part of the year. Also, some schools may offer pharmacy classes during the summer perhaps? My school only has remediation for courses during the summer because of its size so it may not be an option for him either. As far as grades go, I think my school allows for around 8 hours of D grades and you must have a 2.0 to graduate. I know there aren’t very many pharmtards that get Latin honors but most people that are in the professional phase at least graduate (even if it means retaking a year). I would listen to the advice that other people gave you and encourage him as much as you can (which I’m sure you do) because it ain’t easy. Hope this helps.

 

[walkamile]

Everybody must find their own way that works for them to study and pass. What you can do is show your understanding for the difficulty of the program, and support him.

I was used to getting A's with minimal effort in my preprofessional years. I found in my first semester of my P1 year the same amount of effort got me very low C's. One instructor told me it's like drinking from a firehose and trying not to miss a drop.

NEVER doubt him. If you do doubt his ability, NEVER let him know you doubt his ability. Give hime time to study. Understand that for many, pharmacy school is the most difficult thing they have ever done. A "I have faith in you that you can do it" can make a huge difference. When he feels like the whole world is out to get him, be that one person he can come to lean on.

The year i was accepted, for every 1 person at my school they let in, about 39 people got a letter that started out with "We are sorry to inform you". The prerequisits, the PCAT, and the admissions process are designed to pick the people that are most likely to be able to complete the program. If your husband is good enough to get in, he is probably good enough to pass. After you get accepted from there on out it's just a game of do you want it bad enough to jump through all the hoops, deal with the stress, and put a significant amount of time studying to pass the program.


A few notes on the lighter side of passing pharmacy school.
If becomming a pharmacist was easy, there would not be a shortage, nor would it pay nearly as much.
What do they call a guy who graduated last in his class at pharmacy school? A pharmacist.
If grades were really all that important shouldn't they call it pharmaA, or pharmaB, instead of pharmaCy?

Hope this helps

 

[aamna929]

Thanks to all who have responded thus far! Some of you have given very helpful advice. Even though I stress and worry, and sometimes over the most trivial things, I rarely verbalize it to anyone.. I just drive myself crazy, lol. I'm going to be more encouraging than usual though, like how some of you advise.

I'm relieved to hear that others are also finding pharm school to be difficult as well. He has friends he reviews material with, but he usually prefers to study by himself. He studies all the time - after class is over, he goes straight home (he doesn't like the library because he says he gets annoyed when people see him, come by and bother him while he studies) and studies until morning. He's planning on taking electives in the summer like you mentioned, drugmanrx, to lighten the load in the Fall so he can concentrate on those killer courses.

I'm pretty sure that he understands the material - it's just that some of his professors are so tricky! He says the material isn't hard, but the professors make it hard! lol.

Also, it's just.. my vent is that he studies so much, time we spend together is limited , and when his studying doesn't match with his grades it feels like I lost time with him over nothing (we're newlyweds, so I'll probably get used to it after a while!).

 

[dgroulx]

Also, it's just.. my vent is that he studies so much, time we spend together is limited , and when his studying doesn't match with his grades it feels like I lost time with him over nothing (we're newlyweds, so I'll probably get used to it after a while!).

Yes, this is something that you must get used to. My husband is always complaining that we don't have weekends together anymore. That's because my school sends out assignments on Friday afternoon that are due on Monday morning.

My husband knows that when I come home I go straight to my office and do school work. He asks what I want for dinner and I snap back that I don't care. Then he brings me up a glass of wine and calls me when dinner is ready. I'm sure he's getting tired of this after 3 years. While I was in undergrad, we had time for all sorts of things. Pharmacy school is different.

 

[sdn1977]

Thanks to all who have responded thus far! Some of you have given very helpful advice. Even though I stress and worry, and sometimes over the most trivial things, I rarely verbalize it to anyone.. I just drive myself crazy, lol. I'm going to be more encouraging than usual though, like how some of you advise.

I'm relieved to hear that others are also finding pharm school to be difficult as well. He has friends he reviews material with, but he usually prefers to study by himself. He studies all the time - after class is over, he goes straight home (he doesn't like the library because he says he gets annoyed when people see him, come by and bother him while he studies) and studies until morning. He's planning on taking electives in the summer like you mentioned, drugmanrx, to lighten the load in the Fall so he can concentrate on those killer courses.

I'm pretty sure that he understands the material - it's just that some of his professors are so tricky! He says the material isn't hard, but the professors make it hard! lol.

Also, it's just.. my vent is that he studies so much, time we spend together is limited , and when his studying doesn't match with his grades it feels like I lost time with him over nothing (we're newlyweds, so I'll probably get used to it after a while!).

Aamana929...you are in a difficult position being a newlywed, but as Dana described...it wouldn't matter how long you were married. However, I'm betting your husband feels worse about the situation than you - he knows he's the source of the lack of time the two of you spend.

Again...his grades are not a reflection of how he is doing. His professors are making things tricky because illness & its prevention or treatment is tricky - that's why it takes so long to learn it and his learning won't stop when he graduates.

I'll put aside my pharmacist hat and give you my opinion as a wife...remember the things which occur everyday which made you want to marry him - is there something which occurred in your day or you read or experienced which you want to share with him; does he make sure to tell you when you go to bed or leave in the morning he loves you; do you look forward to plans - even if they are years down the road? I know you do & this will be just of the many things which occur in your life together - jobs, kids, extended family which take time away from each other. Try to ride the lows as well as the highs and try to reduce his emotional load - he hates being away from you as well as you do. Again...get a friend to vent with, PM one of us, anything you need - just be sure to be your husband's most supportive voice he hears in his head. Good luck & really enjoy these years!

 

[ultracet]

just make sure you're patient....

we were told during orientation that many many marriages will end in divorce...

lo and behold....

they sure did

engagements broken... divorces... etc.

pharmacy school is stressful and if you don't have someone understanding you're screwed

 

[walkamile]

Vent noted and understood.

I understand how time is important, more so with newlyweds.

I assume he loves you and wants to spend more time with you also.

Please do not make him choose bewtween you and school. Missing a "movie night" with you in order to study for a test can be made up another night.
Failing a test, and possibly an entire class may result in taking another year in school.

Mising time together because of school for four years can be repaid tenfold once he graduates and he has the time and financial stability to do whatever you two choose for the rest of your lives.