The different types of career paths in the pharmacy field

When I first applied to pharmacy school, I only knew about two main types of pharmacy career paths: retail and hospital pharmacy. This is a normal perception for most people coming into the program! I had no idea about the hundreds of other career paths that pharmacist could go into, which really limited my mindset. It’s hard to learn about new different career paths and to tailor your resume for those opportunities if you don’t know that they are out there.

Thankfully, my school did a great job in making sure we had plenty of opportunity to expand our horizons. We would have monthly talks from different pharmacists in unique jobs, took classes to expand our horizons, and got weekly emails with opportunities to get involved. If you’re interested in pharmacy, take the time to dig into Google and read up on all of the career paths that you can have as a pharmacist, such as forensics, research, informatics, management, etc. The world is bright for pharmacists!

The amount of time I had to spend studying

Now I knew that pharmacy school was going to be more difficult than undergraduate, but I honestly had no idea how much time I would spend studying on a regular basis. My first year in pharmacy school, I probably studied anywhere from 6-8 hours a day. If you think it gets better over time, it really doesn’t. You’re just studying different material and you probably don’t care as much as you used to about your grades.

I wish before I started pharmacy school that I had enjoyed my time and freedom in my undergrad years. You don’t realize how much that you miss when you can’t do it anymore like hanging out with friends, partying, and going to every event on campus. Basically enjoy your freedom!

The sheer diversity of your fellow classmates

Coming into pharmacy school, I thought everyone would be very similar in personality, values, education level, nationalities, and competency, but alas they weren’t. Everyone was so different from each other, which is a great thing. I just wasn’t expecting it when I walked into the first day of class. Some of my classmates have degrees (yep, more than one), some have children, some are older, and some are out-of-state.

Diversity in healthcare is so important for patients and for the healthcare culture. I’m thankful that my classmates are all so diverse and that I can learn from each and every one of them.  It also opens up a little light at the end of the tunnel that no matter who you are, you have a chance of getting into pharmacy school even if you are different and unique. Just work hard and be yourself because you’re magical.

The time commitment

When I first started pharmacy school, I had only completed two years of undergrad and was set to complete six years of college total. You don’t realize how those extra two years of schooling can affect you emotionally and physically. After two years of pharmacy school, all of my friends moved off, got their first full-time job, and some are even getting married and having babies right now.

It was difficult to say the least to see everyone moving on with their lives and you’re stuck in college. It hit even harder when I would have to study all day and couldn’t take time off to travel the world like I wish could. And even if I did take time off, I was still a broke college student because I couldn’t work a full-time gig, like my friends who had already graduated. Before starting pharmacy school, make sure you’re ready financially and emotionally for the time commitment that it takes to complete the program.

All of the organizations that you can be involved in

Typically within the first week of school, there’s an organizational fair that is held with all of the different organizations that you can be part of during your time in pharmacy school. From my experience, the fair is super overwhelming, and every club sounds amazing, which of course makes it hard to pick a few that you want to join.

Instead of waiting to get involved once you’ve started the program, if you can get involved when you’re just a pre-pharmacy student. There is a lot of opportunities from doing that such as networking, beefing up your resume, and get a real feel of what each organization is like when it doesn’t matter as much. You can take the time to find out what you enjoy or dislike about a club before you’re in pharmacy school, which is something that I wish I would’ve done for myself.

The importance of networking

You might’ve heard it before, but if not here it is again: networking is super important in the world of pharmacy. Pharmacy is such a small close-knit community that who know is sometimes more important than your PCAT score and your GPA. Now I’m not saying that those things aren’t important, but I am saying personal connections are even more important.

As a future pharmacist, your patients want to connect with you on a personal level and feel like they can trust your opinions. The same goes with your future fellow colleagues. My advice on getting started is to job shadow, work in a pharmacy, go to pharmacy organizational meetings, and just get involved with the profession in any way that you can. You never know…those connections may help you land your first pharmacy job or put in a good word into your potential pharmacy school program.

P4 year is not a walk in the park

I’ve always imagined that once you reach P4 year that it would be a walk in the park and that they would be super fun! Now don’t get me wrong, some rotations are fun, but others literally suck the life out of you. Some rotations are going to have you work ten-hour shifts, have loads of projects due daily, and require a lot of effort from you while others are going to work you as if you’re a tech.

Rotations are really all about preceptors, institution, and what you can take away from the experience. Which for me coming into the program, I didn’t realize how different each rotation would be from each other. P4 year really teaches you a lot about yourself, what you like and dislike, and what you can tolerate in terms of responsibility and manager style.

Your GPA isn’t everything, your character is

Let me be clear, your character is the most important thing that you have in life. I’m not saying that grades and academics aren’t important because they definitely are, but I am saying that nobody is going to remember your GPA at your grave. I wish I had known before starting pharmacy school how important it is to develop yourself in terms of how you want others to remember you and how you want others to perceive you.

Now take this advice with a grain of salt because you don’t need to set out to make sure everyone in class loves you, but it’s just to remind you about what’s important. Develop your leadership, be honest, and strive for success before, after, and during pharmacy school.

The post What I Wish I Knew Before Starting Pharmacy School appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

Plus by asking great questions to your interviewers, you’ll easily stand out from the crowd because a lot of applicants forget to ask questions! You don’t want to ask questions that are easily found on the program’s website or that are superficial in nature (aka don’t ask someone how much they make). And make sure to do your research before your interview that way you know what information you still need to find out.

You want to ask questions that show your interest in the pharmacy profession and show how serious you are in the program without being too extreme. Here are some examples of some questions that would be perfect for your pharmacy school interview:

What opportunities are there for student leadership?

This question shows your interviewer that you’re interested in becoming a leader in the pharmacy profession and shows your understanding of the role of a pharmacist in the healthcare team. Plus by asking about leadership positions, you’re showing to your interviewer that you are willing to take on more responsibility beyond coursework, which is really important for an interviewer to see.

I am interested in doing research during my time in school. Are there any research opportunities for students to get involved in?

Research is super important in the healthcare team because medicine is continuedly changing based off new findings in the literature. Almost every professor at the college of pharmacy is involved in research, and it’s a great way to build up your resume for future job opportunities. Don’t be scared of research if it’s something that you’ve never done before. You can always learn!

What type of students do the best in this type of school environment?

Finding the perfect pharmacy program for you is just as important for the college because they want all of their students to be successful in the program. Asking exactly the type of the student the program is looking for allows you to show your interviewer how you fit the bill and vice versa. You also might want to ask whether or not there are support systems or study groups to help students be successful in their career, especially if you’re going to need that for personal growth.

What made you decide that you wanted to be a pharmacist?

I love asking any pharmacist that I meet this question because it really puts a new preceptive on what drives people and a different view about the pharmacy profession. It also allows you to have a personal conversation with your interviewer that can help relax you in your interview and be more comfortable.

What is the hardest and easiest part of your job as a pharmacist?

Again, a really great question to ask your interviewer because it allows you to get more comfortable and gives the interviewer the chance to talk about themselves. Plus this question can give you some insight on what it is like being a pharmacist and if it’s something that you still want to pursue.

Where are some of your recent graduates employed at?

By asking this type of question, it can show your interviewer that you are already looking into your future career as a pharmacist and are generally interested to see what the alumni from this program are doing. Having a PharmD degree can really open a wealth of doors for career opportunities and it’s a great idea to open up your eyes of everything you can do one day.

Questions about your career field that you are interested in within the pharmacy profession.

This goes with the question above about asking questions about the profession and the different career paths that you can take. Plus by asking this questions, it shows your interviewer your curiosity to know about pharmacy and your desire to do more than just attend college.

What types scholarships are available for pharmacy students to help with the tuition burden?

Pharmacy school is an expensive adventure and being able to supplement student loans with scholarships can make a big difference in the long run. Asking about those opportunities at the beginning is a great way to show your interviewer that you are serious about your education and that you are planning to do well in the program.

Your pharmacy school interview is a great opportunity to prove yourself to your interviewer and for you to learn more about the program. Asking great questions near the end of the interview is going to make you look more professional and polished and leave an awesome lasting impression on your interviewer. But regardless, the best advice that I can give you is be calm and be confident in your abilities and in your resume and allow your personality shine through your interview. Best of luck!

You may also like: 3 Study Tips to Ace the PCAT, How to Ace Your Pharmacy or Medical School Interview, and How I Gained Pharmacy Experience As A Freshmen in College 

The post 8 Questions to Ask During Your Pharmacy School Interview appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

I remember like it was yesterday when I had to go into this large building, sit in a tiny room that was freezing, and had to actually take the test. I was so nervous I could barely concentrate! Then after the exam was over, I was so exhausted from it like could go into hibernation for a few years type of tired. Like, have you ever felt like your brain actually be tired? Imagine that and times it by 5. That’s how I felt.

But the good thing is that you don’t have to be like me! You can go ahead and implicate these three study tips that will help you ace the PCAT with less stress and more confidence, then when I took the PCAT.

So let’s get started!

Take practice exams

A lot of really good programs or books offer practice exams in the back of the book or online. Take as many practice exams as you can. You also break the exams down into each section so if you’re currently studying the math section, then you can just take the Math section of the practice exam to mark your progress.

There are also great practice exams online for you to test out and see how you do. Practice exams allow you to get the feel of the type of questions you’ll be tested on and give you the opportunity to work on your testing taking speed. When it comes to exam day, everything goes by super-fast, including the time limit for each section.

Here are some really popular study materials that include practice exams and examples:

Kaplan Prep Plus 2018-2019

PCAT Secret Study Guide

Study a little bit every day

The biggest problem with the PCAT that it includes everything you’ve learned in the first two years of college or everything you studied for the pharmacy prerequisites for pharmacy school. There’s just too much material to try to cram everything into a few weeks or even one month of studying. Plan to study anywhere from three to five months for the PCAT.

The best way to really retain the information that you’ll be going cover is to chop the information down into bite-sized pieces and study a little bit every day. That way you get the chance to actually understand the material, but you’ll retain it for a longer period of time.

Don’t overwhelm yourself with trying to learn everything before the exam  

Some students try to learn everything there is possible before the official exam date for the PCAT, but trust me, it’s just not possible. You can try as hard as you might, but you won’t succeed. The best tip that I can give you about studying for the PCAT is to study the most on the subjects that you give you the hardest time or takes you the longest to do. For me, that was math and chemistry so I spent a lot of time practicing problems and watching videos to help me learn the material.

The thing with the PCAT is that it’s all of the material that you covered or will cover in the first two years of college so most of the material will be something you’ve already learned. Don’t fret that you can remember everything off the top of your head. Most of the information that you will need will eventually come back and make more sense on the exam when its fresh.

Hopefully, I didn’t scare you with all of that information, but the PCAT is definitely something that you can overwhelm and do quite well on as long as you prepare for it. Preparation is literally the key to success! Just be prepared, study in pieces, and take your time when it comes to taking the PCAT.

You may also like: How to Gain Pharmacy Experience as a Freshmen in College, How to Ace Your Pharmacy School Interview, and 8 Questions to Ask During Your Pharmacy School Interview

The post 3 Study Tips to Ace the PCAT appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

Currently, I am a pharmacy student based in South Carolina so I’ve been in your shoes before so let’s get started how you are going to do amazing in your interview for either medical or pharmacy school. Hey the process is the same, just not the degree.

Prepare by researching the school

If you’re really serious about applying for pharmacy or medical school, then you need to do your research on each school that you have an interview with. Each school has their own story, achievements, and specialties. So knowing a little more details about the college will definitely give you an advantage over the competition. Pharmacy is all about the small details, and this one of those details you don’t want to skip out on.

Dress for the occasion

Being in a medical profession, it’s highly looked beyond as a serious profession. So coming to your interview in jeans and a tshirt won’t win you any favors and will actually hurt your shot of getting accepted into the program. You’ll want to come dressed for success by wearing either a suit or business clothes. It’s an interview and so you should act like it is. You’ll be so surprised at the amount of people who don’t come dressed for the occasion and who are too causal about the interview.

For men:

• Dark suit
• Tie or bow tie
• Dress shoes

For woman:

• Black slacks or skirt
• Fancy blouse
• Heels or business flats
• Blazer

Arrive on time ready to go

Plan ahead when it comes to transportation and travel to the interview with time to spare. You never know what may happen on the way to the interview so prepare for the worst case scenario. If you’re arriving via airplane, than make sure to your connection flights and landing flight leave enough time for any airway delays and time to arrive at the school. Same goes with driving! You literally never know if there is going to a big crash on the road or something crazy happen.

When I had my interview for pharmacy school, my interview happened a week before a big flood came through the town so interview was pushed back a week as well as the verdict. It was a crazy mess of a time, but I was prepared regardless.

Asks questions to your interviewers

Most people think that an interview is a one-way street, but it’s totally not! Yes, you’ll be asked questions by each person that interviews you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t ask questions to them too. I would highly recommend having a list of questions that you might want to ask during the interview. I know for me when I had my first interview I was so nervous that I forgot a lot of the questions that I had, but since I had them written down, I could refer back to my list.

Ask questions to the pharmacy students 

If you get the chance to talk with current pharmacy students, do it! They have such great valuable insight into what the program at their school is truly like and are always willing to answer any questions that you may have. No need to bring any prep questions for current students, but feel free to wiggle your way to the front of the group to get your questions answered. Plus they’ll be the best ones to give tips and advice!

Bring copies of your resume

I carried a small, professional looking folder that held multiple copies of my resume as well as a list of questions that I might want to ask during the interview. It’s just a good practice to do when you’re in an interview setting as well as to have your resume memorized. The interviewers will have looked at your application beforehand so they will know some key details about you, but you need to be able to go more in-depth about each item that you listed on your resume and application.

Practice makes perfect

If you have any friends who are in the program already or know a pharmacists or doctor, then you can see if they would be willing to help you practice for your interview. The more that you can practice with different people and with different questions, the more you’ll feel confident when asked for the real deal.

Once you’ve made it to the interview, you’ve already crossed a big hurdle, which is getting the interview in the first place. Not everyone who applies for pharmacy or medical school will even get picked for an interview, so feel lucky and keep this tips in mind before walking in for your interview. Good luck future students! I wish you the best of luck!

If you enjoyed this post, then please take a moment of your time to share this post across your social media accounts! It really helps me a lot and it only takes a second away from your time.

You may also enjoy: How I Gained Pharmacy Experience as a Freshmen in College, 8 Questions to Ask in Your Pharmacy School Interview, and 3 Study Tips to Ace the PCAT

The post How to Ace Your Pharmacy or Medical School Interview appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

There are 5 main ways to gain the experience that you need that also allows you to network, which is always a key concept. Those 5 ways are working, volunteering, interviewing, jobshadowing, and attending meetings or pharmacy-related conferences.

Become a Pharmacy Technician

There are two types of pharmacy technicians: registered and certified. Registered is exactly what it sounds like. Being a registered pharmacy technician means that you went into your local board of pharmacy office, signed a few papers, and now are able to work in a pharmacy legally. This type doesn’t have any formal training besides the one that is learned on the job. Certified pharmacy technician is when you actually go to school to become a certified and take a national test called the PTCB. Depending on your state, some states allows you to work in pharmacy with only being registered while others require you to be certified.

I actually have a cool story to tell you all! So the high school that I graduated from had a technical school close by that they allowed high school students to take classes there. I ended up taking the pharmacy technician course, taking the PTCB, and becoming certified right after high school.

But regardless of what you get being able to work in a pharmacy is the best way to gain pharmacy experience and get paid for it.

Volunteer

Volunteering is also a great way to gain pharmacy experience as well as network with some really awesome people. Some of your local hospitals and the free medical clinic will gladly take on volunteers and teach you the ropes around the pharmacy. You just have to ask and you shall receive for this kind of experience.

Be sure though when you are volunteering to document your hours and any important people you might’ve met while volunteering. These will be really important for when you apply for pharmacy school and you need documentation or recommendation letters.

Jobshadow

It’s very similar to volunteering except you’re an observer and you’re only there for the day. The great part of jobshadowing a local pharmacist or a specialty pharmacy is that you get to experience different types of pharmacy and ask as many questions as you can think of. A lot of people don’t know all of the different fields that pharmacists can go into, such as nuclear pharmacy, veterinary pharmacy, compounding, infectious diseases, board of pharmacy, and so many more.

Conduct an Interview

An interview is when you get the chance to ask more in-depth questions as well as make a real connection with a pharmacy teacher or pharmacists. It sounds like a scary experience, but it’s really not. You get the chance to speak to someone who’s been there done that and is willing to help you learn everything you want to. Take that advantage and get your notepad out. It’s also a great way to network, the thing that everyone keep saying throughout your career. Have a set of questions ready for the interview then tailor any further questions based off of their responses to the previous questions.

[bctt tweet=”Conducting an interview is like interviewing your future job. So ask away!” username=”uniquelymickie”]

Attend a pharmacy-related conference or pharmacy meeting

If you have a pharmacy program nearby, then some of the pharmacy school clubs allow pre-pharmacy students to participate in meetings as well as volunteer with the group. This is a great way to gain pharmacy experience as well as get the chance to meet pharmacy students in the program. You’ll also get to learn more about pharmacy as a profession and nitty-gritty of what a PharmD degree can do for your career.

What is your favorite way to gain pharmacy experience or funny story that you have working with a pharmacist?

You may also enjoy: How to Ace Your Pharmacy or Medical School Interview, 8 Questions to Ask During Your Pharmacy School Interview, and 3 Study Tips to Ace the PCAT

The post Pharmacy School Advice: How I Gained Pharmacy Experience as a Freshmen in College appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.