If you’re reading this because you’ve been accepted into pharmacy school, then I just want to say “CONGRATULATIONS!”. Being accepted into pharmacy school is a great achievement and honor. Now that my pharmacy school career is over, I wanted to take a minute to reflect on my first year in pharmacy school and provide some tips for any incoming pharmacy students. You may have already heard me say this on the blog before, but pharmacy school is not the same as undergrad. It’s a totally different beast that you have to prepare for, which is what I’m hoping this blog post will help you do.
Expect the unexpected and roll with the punches
As you may imagine with the COVID-19 outbreak and just in general in life, you have to expect the unexpected and just roll with the punches. Pharmacy school can be pretty stressful, and you don’t need to make it worst by being rigid. Go with the flow, take a breath every now and again, and remember why you started pharmacy school in the first place. I promise it gets better with time, especially when you walk across the stage to get your degree.
Get involved in 1 or 2 organizations
Before you dive into every organization on campus, take a few weeks to test trial a few clubs that you think you may be interested in joining. You do not want to pay dues for every club at your pharmacy school just because you want to beef up your resume. It’s going to do the total opposite effect of what you were looking for. Most employers and residency directors would rather see you very involved in a handful of organizations rather you be a member of everything under the sun. You also don’t want to get overwhelmed by trying to be super involved in school that you let your grades slip. Join 1 or 2 that you enjoy and get super involved in those!
Create a study schedule that works for you
Once classes get started, go ahead and create a study schedule that works for you and your lifestyle. Grab your agenda and set a schedule that is flexible and manageable to get through all of your assignments and allows for enough time to prep for your exams. I just started using the Cloth and Paper planner and so far I’m loving it; it’s literally perfect for college students or busy millennials looking to organize their lives. The entire aesthetic/mood is a total vibe and I’m obsessed! But definitely use whatever planner works best for you, digital or paper.
Be flexible and moldable when it comes to studying and learning
I’ll be the first one to say that once I started pharmacy school, I had to completely change the way that I studied for exams and assignments. Undergrad and pharmacy school are not the same beast and require you to re-learn how you study best. It may not be the same for you but go into your program with an open mind and the willingness to change if you have to.
Stay open-minded about the different pharmacy career paths
You may start pharmacy school with a clear-cut idea of what kind of pharmacist that you want to be and what you don’t, but alas your mind will probably change a few times during pharmacy school. I swore up and down that I would never go into hospital pharmacy, but after a few rotations in a hospital system, I fell in loves with topics that I thought I would never like. I still like my original vision, but now my eyes have been opened to other career paths that I also enjoy.
All that I’m saying is to keep an open mind to different paths within the world of pharmacy and see where you land up at the end. When you land an opportunity or rotation, go into it whole-hearted and make the most out of the experience. You may learn more about your likes and dislikes that will help you decide your career path later on.
Work in a pharmacy if you haven’t started already
If you haven’t already started working in a pharmacy yet, then I highly recommend that you start during your first year in pharmacy school, even the summer before. This way you can get accustom to what it’s actually like working in a pharmacy, and you can start memorizing the most common drugs dispensed in your area. Plus you’ll get the opportunity to learn about how insurance works, how to talk to patients, and so much better that you will eventually be tested on in school.
During my four years of pharmacy school, I worked two jobs (one in pharmacy and one at my apartment complex) anywhere from 20 to 30 hours a week. So if you’re thinking that there’s no way that you can manage school and a part time job, you most definitely can! It just requires a little more time management and scheduling to make it work.
Start networking with other pharmacy students and pharmacists
Pharmacy is a small world, which I’m sure you are tired of hearing me say that on the blog, but it’s honestly so true. During your first year in pharmacy school, it’s super important to lay the groundwork down and get comfortable networking in the field of pharmacy. Go to conferences, meetings, and just put yourself out there. At first networking can feel pretty uncomfortable and awkward, but with time and practice, it does become easier and more natural feeling.
Keep an eye out for unique opportunities
Your school and organizations will typically send you emails about any cool opportunities that are upcoming or things that you can apply for. If you’re even a little bit interested in doing something, do it! You literally have nothing to lose and everything to gain by participating in an opportunity that comes your way. Sometimes you can find out about cool research projects you can join, scholarships you can apply for, and even competitions you can compete in even as a P1 student. These types of events and opportunities will not only beef up your resume but also allow you the chance to learn about your likes and dislikes in pharmacy.
If your school doesn’t have something that you would like to know more about, search online for pharmacy organizations in the field that you are interested and get involved that way. There’s literally a world of opportunities, but you may have to go searching for them yourself.
Keep a running CV
This tip is a definite must-do if you don’t follow any of my tips in this post! Even if you don’t have a resume or CV right now, go ahead and start one that you can add to throughout the next few years. By the way, I have a great CV template up on my website that will quickly help you get started! After you participate in an activity, such as volunteering or participating in a clinical challenge, make sure to write it down in your CV for later. You can add things like presentations, research projects, scholarships that you’ve won, and conferences that you’ve attended to your running CV.
I promise you that when it’s time to make a professional CV, you’ll be thanking me later for suggesting that you write everything down as soon as it happens. That way you won’t forget everything you’ve done, including the dates and places.
Believe it or not, the next four years will definitely fly by, so you’ll want to make the most out of your time and experiences in pharmacy school. Hopefully these tips will give you some insight on what to expect and what to prepare for your first year in pharmacy school.
