Every few years the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (or better known as NABP) publishes the cumulative pass rate from all of the pharmacy school in the United States. In 2022, the average pass rate for first time test takers was 80%. That means that more 2,500 students did not pass the NAPLEX on their first try.

Failure is a hard pill to swallow, but I promise that you are not alone. There are hundreds of students going through the same thing right now, and things do get better. Instead of hibernating in your bed and crying yourself to sleep, here are 9 ways to move forward and learn from your past mistakes.

Don’t let this failure define you

Remember that failure is a normal part of life and that it’s an opportunity to learn from your past mistakes. You are not the first person to fail the NAPLEX nor will you be the last. From Oprah Winfrey to Walt Disney to Einstein, every amazing person that goes through life deals with ups and downs, struggles, and disappointments. The difference between them and you is deciding whether or not you’re going to get back up and keep trying. Once you’ve come to terms with you failing the NAPLEX exam, you can then start planning your next move. 

Take a break

Failing the NAPLEX can evoke some strong emotions of feeling devastated, mentally drained, and that your life is over. Remind yourself that these feelings are temporary by taking a break and doing something that brings you happiness. Life goes on after a failure, and you have more attempts to try again. It’s not the end of the world even if it may feel like it in the moment. Take a few minutes to read, walk your dog, bake your favorite dessert, or journal to take your mind off things and to reset your mood. Shoot – take a few days or even a week if you need to. The textbooks will be there when you’re mentally and physically ready. 

In case you need some ideas on how to reset your mind and take care of self during this time:

• Start a new hobby like pottery or hiking
• Try out the 30 Day Self Care Challenge
• Get some ideas from this self care routine guide
• Grab my favorite daily gratitude journal

Get the help that you need

Once you accept that you can’t change the past, you can then focus on how to move forward. This includes asking for help if you need it! Reach out to professors, mentors, and anyone that you could think could help you re-strategize and provide some emotional support as well. I also recommend getting a NAPLEX tutor if you need help in specific areas or a study accountability partner.

While getting a NAPLEX tutor isn’t the cheapest route by far, it was the best investment for me personally as I was able to get the help that I needed. But just like all things, tutoring is just one piece of the puzzle, and it is by no means a quick fix. If you are dedicated to passing the NAPLEX, you’ll still need to invest your time into studying and incorporate the other NAPLEX study tips into your routine. 

Dissect what went wrong

Before you jump back into studying, take some time to sit down and figure out what might’ve gone wrong during your first attempt. Once you write down a few things that you noticed retrospectively, you can then form a new plan that focuses on improving your weak areas and solidifying your strengths. Calculations, infectious diseases, HIV, and oncology are just a few areas that are notorious for tripping people up during the exam. Another big one is not finishing the exam on time. If this is something that you struggle with, you’ll want to spend some time working on your speed and time management. 

Make a new plan

Once you figure out your weaknesses and strengths, you can then come up with a new NAPLEX study plan. Since studying for the NAPLEX can feel like a ginormous task, it’s best to reverse engineer your goals. This just means that you break down your big goals into smaller bite-sized goals that are easier to accomplish. This could look like practicing an hour of calculations each day or finishing one chapter of your NAPLEX prep book every single day.

Whatever your plan of attack is, make sure that you’re studying daily and answering practice questions just as often as you are reading from a textbook. You’ll also want to practice speed and stamina because the NAPLEX is a 6 hour exam, which is a lot mentally and physically.

Simplify your calendar/work load to improve your focus

From graduation, moving, starting a new job or residency, there may be a lot going on in your life right now. Even though you may think that you can do it all, you don’t have too nor should you. Simplify your calendar and workload so you can focus on what truly matters right now, which is passing your licensure exams. If you can, try only working a day or two a week so you have some money coming in but enough time to focus on studying. Remember to ask your community for help and support during this stressful time. 

Sweat out your emotions

Lace up your sneakers, put on some comfy clothes, and go sweat out your emotions. There are so many benefits of regular exercise for your health, but the most important is the fact that it releases cortisol and endorphins. Both of which will make you feel like less stressed and leave you feeling rejuvenated. 

Find a study group

Sometimes studying alone isn’t the most exciting or the most productive. If you like studying with others, then go online and find yourself a study group to join. You may be able to find one already put together at your own university or organization. Study groups can be an effective study tool because they help each member to learn the material in a clearer way and create a positive environment to work in. Plus you can exchange notes, study guides, and other tools that may help you learn a difficult subject faster than without the additional assistance. 

Take your time

Many residencies and jobs require you to be licensed within a certain time frame, which may lead you to feeling rushed and unprepared prior to your first attempt. This may also be the reason why you failed in the first place beyond other reasons. For the next round, make sure to take your time when studying for the NAPLEX to make sure you feel properly prepared.

The NAPLEX isn’t an exam that you can pass by cramming at the last minute. It takes weeks and even months to feel adequately prepared. After you failed the NAPLEX the first time, you have to wait 45 days before you can re-apply to take it again. I would suggest studying for at least 6 weeks, maybe even more depending on how you’re feeling. You can check out my NAPLEX study schedule if you need some advice on how to tweak your own study schedule.

Best of luck on your next attempt! You got this!

The post What to Do If You Failed the NAPLEX Exam appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

Take a deep breath and relax

No seriously – Preparing for the NAPLEX is very stressful, and you may not even realize how you’ve let your health fall to the waist side because of it. You’ve been training for this very exam for 3 or 4 years, and you have everything that it takes to pass the NAPLEX exam. So take a few deep breaths, do a few yoga poses, and get yourself to relax as best as you can.

I know that that’s easier said than done, but here are some self care resources to help you build a self care routine and to incorporate self care into your daily routine:

• How to Kickstart Your Self Care Routine
• 30 Day Self Care Challenge to Decrease Anxiety
• 11 Ways to Invest in Yourself this Year

Read the NAPLEX Candidate Registration Bulletin

Just like any other major test, the NAPLEX has its own special website that shares more information about the exam, such as the types of questions you’ll see, a list of topics that you’ll be tested on, and the skills that you’re expected to demonstrate. While it may be an exam to test your minimum skills as a pharmacist, you’ll still want to take a look at the bulletin, so you can be more familiar with the exam beforehand.

Make the final decision on whether you need a tutor or not

If you type in “NAPLEX preparation”, you’ll find plenty of links to study test materials and maybe even a few for a NAPLEX tutor. Before your test date creeps up on you, you’ll need to decide whether or not you want to invest in a NAPLEX tutor. Not everyone needs a tutor, but it can be a useful tool for those that need the additional help and motivation. I’ve already talked about my experience using Varsity Tutors, and I stand by my opinion – I highly recommend them if you’re ready to take the leap.

For those that haven’t ever heard of a NAPLEX tutor, here are a few things that my tutor helped me with when I was studying for the board exams:

• Boosted my confidence and brighten up my day
• Provided me extra support and resources for topics that I wasn’t comfortable in
• Become my accountability partner to make sure I go through all of the chapters before the big day
• Gave me plenty of practice problems and worked through them with me

Block out 2 weeks before your exam to go over the heavy hitters or weak spots

It’s easy to waste away the two weeks leading up to your exam. You may be rushing to finish the dense study textbook, or you might be hyper fixating on the topics that you already know pretty well. Use the last two weeks before your exam to go over the heavy hitters or any subjects that you may not be the most confident in. Trust me, the extra time spent on specific topics are going to make a world of a difference on the big day.

You’ll not only feel more confident with your skills, but it’ll help you feel more relaxed when it’s time to take the exam. Now the big chapters will always change from year to year, but I remember when I was studying for the exam in 2020 that the chapters for HIV, Diabetes, Infectious Disease, Compounding, and Oncology were pretty thick chapters.

Take the Pre-NAPLEX Exam

Some pharmacy schools require students to take the Pre-NAPLEX before you graduate. If you are one of the lucky ones that doesn’t have to do that, then you’ll be blessed with two attempts to take the Pre-NAPLEX. The Pre-NAPLEX exam is the official NAPLEX practice exam that gives you a realistic idea of what the exam is actually like. I 100% recommend taking the Pre-NAPLEX exam about a week before your real test date.

On the practice exam, you’ll get a chance to answer 100 exam questions from previous exams in a 140 minute time limit. Once completed, you receive a total scaled score that is pretty accurate to what you’ll score on the real thing. While the NABP doesn’t say that, I’ve heard that many students, including myself, had similar NAPLEX scores compared to the Pre-NAPLEX. So I wouldn’t blow it off. Definitely try your best and feel free to push back your exam date if the score isn’t passing.

Prepare for the day of your exam in advance

Trust me that you do not want to be searching around looking for the right clothes, documents, and necessities the day of your exam. You’re probably going to be a little scatterbrained, anxious, and probably a little forgetful in terms of things unrelated to the exam. To avoid forgetting something important and to give yourself the best chance possible to do well, here are some pointers:

• Arrive to the testing area early – If you’re driving a long distance to your exam site, plan to arrive to your accommodations the day (or even days) before. This way your chances of getting into a car crash, having a flat tire, or even getting stuck in traffic are decreased.  I also recommend staying at a hotel super close to the testing site, so you don’t have very far to go to get there the morning of.
• Go to bed early – You’re going to be nervous or anxious the day before the exam, and you’ll want to get a full night’s sleep. Go to bed earlier than you normally do to give your mind enough time to shut off completely. Bring your favorite pajamas or comfort tool to help you fully relax.
• Eat a good breakfast and bring snacks – The NAPLEX is a 6 hour exam, and you’re going to eventually get pretty hungry while you’re at the testing site. Before you head on over, stop and eat a good breakfast full of protein and leafy greens. I also recommend throwing a sandwich and snacks in your bag as you’ll get a few breaks in between the long sessions where you can stuff your face quickly.
• Don’t study the night before – I know it’ll be tempting to study the night before, but I promise that nothing you review the night before will stick. Study for the NAPLEX is a long term game and cramming for it just won’t work. Instead of trying to memorize another math equation, take the day before to relax and to enjoy the day.

Do something relaxing the week before the exam

Being stress and anxious obviously makes you pretty tense, especially when you know an important date is looming in the distance. The week before the NAPLEX exam, do something that makes you feel relaxed such as a massage, facial, or a long soak in the hot tub. While it may not be much, you’ll feel so much better and ready to take on the day. Plus you deserve it. You’ve finally at the big finale that you’ve been working so hard for, and you deserve every ounce of happiness. Grab it and hold on to it as tightly as you can!

The post NAPLEX Prep: What to Do Before the Exam appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

What is Varsity Tutors?

Varsity Tutors is an online platform that offers private and group tutoring for thousands of subjects at different education levels. It can be used for the kiddos in kindergarten up to professional licensure exams. I obviously choose it because it offered tutoring for the NAPLEX exam, but you can even use it for the NCLEX, PANCE, MCAT, and etc.  The cool part about the platform is that it connects you with tutors that specialize in whatever topic that you need. You don’t have to worry about not having an amazing tutor that doesn’t understand where you are in your studies.

Why You May Need a Tutor for the NAPLEX

Tutoring has such a negative connotation around it, but let’s clear the air: if you need a tutor, it does not mean that you are not equipped, smart, or qualified enough to be a pharmacist. Even if you think that you’re learning enough with studying on your own, there’s always room for improvement and a tutor can give you that extra boost that you need to make sure you pass the NAPLEX. Here are 3 reasons why you may need a tutor:

1. You aren’t confident in your knowledge base

You could be the smartest student in your pharmacy class, but if you don’t have confidence in yourself, then the world will never know. While that may sound a little cliché, it really is true. Confidence in your knowledge base allows you to focus, concentrate, and recall the information necessary to answer questions correctly on the exam. It also reduces your anxiety because you’re confident in your abilities. As you start to study for the NAPLEX, I implore you to practice building confidence in yourself.

2. You feel like you’re spending so much time studying and not retaining enough

Are you the student that studies for 8 to 12 hours a day and still feels like it’s not enough? I understand your pain and frustration because I’ve been there. Just because you study more and for longer doesn’t mean that it’s a good quality study session. Your tutor can help you focus on what’s important and give you the encouragement that you need to take a break. Go enjoy a few relaxing days in between your study sessions.

3. Your studying materials don’t match your learning style

I’ve mentioned this before, but everyone has a different learning style, which may not be compatible with the study materials that are out there. You may not be the student that learns from reading a textbook or watching a long video. Whatever your learning style is, your tutor can work with you to find a study method that’ll help you retain and understand the material required to pass the NAPLEX.

Common Questions about Varsity Tutors

It wouldn’t be a complete Varsity Tutors review if I didn’t share the most asked questions that I’ve gotten since I posted that reel. I wanted to do this review mainly to give my honest experience using the platform because when I was reaching about it last year, there were barely any reviews from a student’s perspective out there. Hopefully this Varsity Tutors review can shed some light on it and answer your questions. If I didn’t answer your question in this blog post, feel free to email or DM me!

Who are the tutors on Varsity Tutors?

Depending on what course or exam you’re studying for, your tutors are people like you who have already been through the exam itself or has a lot of experience in the subject matter. For the NAPLEX, the tutors are licensed pharmacists who have passed the NAPLEX exam themselves. This is such an amazing bonus to the tutors on Varsity Tutors because you get to have someone who understands exactly what you are going through.

How does the platform work?

After you pay for your sessions, you take a mini quiz so that Varsity Tutors can match you with a tutor that best fits your needs. Once you’re on the website and matched with a tutor, you can schedule your sessions, based on the availability of your tutor. The online platform is pretty easy to use, and they give you a tour of it so you can learn more about it. I love the fact that you can add documents or take pictures to update to your virtual worksheet that you and your tutor can see. It makes it super easy to go over practice problems or concepts that you need help on.

What if I don’t like my tutor?

After a session or two, you can always switch tutors if the tutor you were originally matched with doesn’t fit what you need. I didn’t have to use this option since my tutor was amazing and was always willing to do whatever I needed to learn. 

How much does it cost?

The way that Varsity Tutors works is that you buy your tutoring sessions in packages. They are different packages depending on how many lessons that you want and your time frame. The packages are as follows:

I personally did the 12 hour package, and I spaced out my sessions over a six week time period, which ending up being one lesson a week typically.

How often are the sessions?

The number of sessions that you have are determined on your package as well as your time frame. It’s honestly up to you how you want to space them out. You could do two sessions a week for three weeks if you only have three to four weeks before your exam. Or you can easily schedule them like myself and do one session a week up to your exam. Think hard about how much tutoring that you need and what you want to focus on in your sessions.

What happens if I don’t pass the NAPLEX after using Varsity Tutors?

What I love about Varsity Tutors is their guarantee pass policy. This basically means that if you fail the exam after using their tutoring services and being active in your studying, then you’ll get a full refund! Having that guarantee policy to fall back on made me feel so much better about spending that kind of money on tutoring. Which by the way if it isn’t clear already, I highly recommend getting a NAPLEX tutor.

My Varsity Tutors Review

How My Tutor Helped Me Pass the NAPLEX Exam

The main reason why I got a NAPLEX tutor is because I quickly realized that I was spending a lot of time studying, but it felt like I was barely retaining anything. No matter how long I made myself stay focused and glued to the textbook, I couldn’t remember as much as I had hoped afterwards. So I decided that I would invest in a tutor to help me with the more difficult subjects and to hopefully help me improve my study techniques. While I went into tutoring with an idea of what I wanted and needed, my tutor went above and beyond and really pushed me to use my time more strategically.

Work with me on the topics that I found difficult

If you are currently studying for the NAPLEX, then you can probably already pinpoint the topics that you find more difficult than others. Mine was always oncology, infectious diseases, and HIV because those chapters are pretty dense and can be quite difficult to memorize everything that is necessary. In my tutoring sessions, we focused on the chapters that I knew were difficult for me as well as ones that I just generally wanted to cover.  

Gave me plenty of practice problems and worked through them with me

One of the study techniques that works for me is by answering practice problems. My tutor would either find practice questions from her materials or she would make her own for me to use. Both options were really helpful on dialing in on areas I needed to focus as well as what information was the most important to memorize from each chapter. We would also work through them so that I could understand why the answer was correct and the other options were incorrect. 

Gave me the confidence that I needed

Confidence is a big component when it comes to taking a test, standardized or not. Feeling anxious comes from feeling like you’re unprepared and that you aren’t confident in your own abilities. My tutor inspired me and gave me my confidence back that I had lost when I got overwhelmed by the whole process.

Provided study and memorization tricks

You can never have enough study tips and memorization tricks, especially when it comes to a mentally and physically draining exam like the NAPLEX. During our sessions, my tutor made sure to give me memorization tricks on the different topics that we covered. These tips were so good and easy that I was able to recall them on the exam a month later.

Was my accountability partner

Since I had a session each week, I always wanted to make sure that I was covering the topics that we would be going over in our sessions. She kept me accountable and made sure that I stayed on track with my study plan. She would also keep up to see what chapters I had covered, which made me want to make sure I was keeping up.

My Final Thoughts – Varsity Tutors Review

While the Varsity Tutors isn’t a cheap endeavor, retaking the NAPLEX exam and delaying your first post grad job or residency is also expensive. Getting a tutor with Varsity Tutors was the best decision that I could’ve made when it came to studying for the NAPLEX exam. I can’t recommend it enough! It not only provided me the tools to master the difficult subjects, but it also gave me back my confidence that I needed to push through.

After reading this Varsity Tutors review, are you considering adding a tutor to your study plan? 

The post Varsity Tutors Review: A Student’s Real Experience With The NAPLEX appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

Mistake #1: Procrastinating until the last minute

If you’re the student that waits until the night before an exam to finally study, then you’re making one of the number 1  study mistakes that college students make worldwide! Procrastination is the thief of joy, productivity, and sleep. I promise you’re going to be better off if you put your phone away and start studying immediately.

Instead of waiting the night before to study or to complete a big project, break down your work into smaller bite sizes pieces that are easier to handle. For an example if you have a big exam coming up in a few weeks, study a little bit of the material every day after class for 30 minutes to an hour a day. This way you can stay focus long enough to learn the material and your brain gets the chance to review the material every day, which is great for long term memory.

Mistake #2: Studying with people who distract you

You cannot study with people who are going to distract you the entire time…unless you don’t plan on getting any work done. When putting together a study group, you want to make sure that the people in the group are going to be actively studying and helping one another.

This is the time to get help on a topic that you’re having difficulty in and formulate practice questions that can help you remember the material. I personality would limit your study group to three or four people. Any more than that can cause an imbalance and make for more of a hangout scene versus a study scene. 

Mistake #3: Not learning how you study best

A lot of college students will simply re-read the class notes over and over again, hoping that something will stick in their brains. Let me tell you that re-reading your notes is passive learning and it’s not the most effective way to learn for an exam. This is why it is so important for you to learn how you study best and avoid this common study mistake. 

Everyone is so different in terms of how our brains operate and store information. Some people have to watch Youtube videos while others have to do things for themselves. So what does that mean for you as a college student looking to improve their studying? You have to try different study techniques out and see what works for you. I really enjoy making my own exams and creating color-coded study guides, which has helped me throughout pharmacy school.

Mistake #4: Studying in chronological order instead of in priority order

Just because your psychology exam comes before your organic chemistry exam, doesn’t mean that you have to study for each exam in that order. I’ve noticed that a lot of students study in the order that their exams are in, which is a big mistake! When you have a bunch of exams at the same (like midterms or finals), you want to spend the most time studying in the classes that are more difficult for you, not in the ones that are easy. This is where you have to learn how to prioritize your study and manage your time appropriately.

Mistake #5: Not preparing for the unexpected

Every time there’s a bunch of exams coming up at once (yep, I’m talking about midterms and finals), there’s always something that goes wrong and that is unexpected. Either you get a horrible cold or spill coffee all over your laptop. Something is bound to happen during this time period because you’re already stressed out and on edge. Make sure to do your best to prepare for the unexpected. Back up your laptop to online source or external hard drive (this is the one that I swear by!) to make sure you don’t lose all of your notes for the entire semester. It’s happened before and it definitely sucks!

Mistake #6: Refusing to ask for help before it’s too late

Don’t be the student that rushes to their professor’s office begging for a curve after you failed the class. Instead of waiting until it’s too late (aka after you failed the class), ask your professor for help whenever you’re not understanding throughout the semester. Your professors are here to help, and they want you to exceed in their class.

I promise, they aren’t scary once you get to chatting with them. By asking questions to your teacher, it’ll help you learn and understand the material faster than you could on your own. And don’t forget about your TAs (or teacher assistants)! They are also a great resource to use if your teacher is hard to reach or has weird office hours.

Mistake #7: Not quizzing themselves on the material 

If you’re aren’t quizzing yourself in a similar fashion as your exam, then you’re missing out on an easy and simple study hack. For an example if you know you have to write an essay or draw out diagrams for your exam, then re-reading your class notes isn’t really going to help you prepare for your exam. Instead practice answering some essay questions or practice drawing out the different diagrams from memory.

By practicing and studying in this way, you’re going to reinforce the material that you studied and prepare yourself for the type of exam you’ll be taking. This little tip will also identify where you have gaps in your memory, which makes it really easy to go back and study the areas where you need the most help in. Another great way for you to quiz yourself is by using the website and app called Quizlet. You can easily make your own quizzes and flashcards online to help you study.

Mistake #8: Basing your preparation on a number

You’ve probably heard students say that they need to get X percent to pass the class or to maintain a certain grade level. Honestly assigning a number to your success can actually make you feel more stressed out and disheveled than before. Because when you don’t reach that specific number, you feel depressed and anxious about the results, when it’s probably not that big of a deal.

Now I’m not saying to not worry about your grades and test scores, but just remember that that’s not everything. You have homework assignments, presentations, and essays that can also be a part of your overall grade. Instead of worrying about achieving a certain grade score, focus more on understanding the material and doing your best on every assignment or exam that counts. At the end of the day, you’ll feel more relaxed if you just study every single day and do the best that you can.

Mistake #9: Not having a game plan!

It’s so easy to just open up your textbook or notes and start readying them word for word. But it’s not going to be as helpful as you may think. You have to go into your study session with a game plan and an active mindset. Before you sit down to study, write out your game plan and figure out what you’re going to study, how you’re going to study the material, and the time commitment you’re going to need to complete the plan. Once you know what you’re aiming for, it’s going to be a lot easier to sit down and actually have a productive study session.

Mistake #10: Forgetting to take a breather

When you’re in college, it’s super easy to just go, go, go and burn yourself out with all of the stress that comes with being a college student. But when it comes time for midterms and final exams, you have to learn how to manage your time appropriately and allow yourself a break to do something that you enjoy. It can be as simple as watching your favorite show on Netflix to going on an adventure in your city plus lots of sleep! You’re going to do so much better on your projects and exams when you’re feeling relaxed.

What is one thing that you struggle with when it comes to studying?

The post 10 Common Study Mistakes and How to Fix Them appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

Tip #1: Revisit course material

One of the best study tips for college is to revisit all of your course materials and revisit all of your notes for the semester! Depending on if your final is cumulative or not will ultimately decide on how much you need to study for your final exams. I like to organize my study notes on topics or sections to make a large task (such as studying material for an entire semester) more reasonable and tasteful. Keep an eye for any repeated notes or any highlight sections that seem important because if it looks important, it’ll probably be on your final exam!  

Tip #2: Plan ahead of finals week

Planning ahead is an essential (and critical) part of preparing for your final exams! I personally like to write down my exams, assignments, and final tests in my agenda using the monthly view calendar. This way I can see ahead of time when my assignments are due and prepare for any upcoming exams. The worst thing that can happen to you in college is completely forgetting about an exam and going to class completely unaware about it (it’s happened I promise!).

Tip #3: Prioritize your studying based on difficulty level

Finals week is literally Hell Week for college students because you get a ton of exams and projects all due back to back. Which is why it’s so important to prioritize your studying based on the difficulty levels of each class. The good thing about taking a variety of classes in college is that some classes are going to come naturally to you while others are going to require a little more effort on your part. Whatever that may be for you is where you start to figure out how to prioritize your studying.

My favorite way to prioritize my studying is to set time blocks for each class, ranking them from the hardest to the easiest, throughout the weeks leading up to the dreaded finals week. By ranking your classes and setting up time blocks, it gives you a written guide of where you need to focus the majority of your time studying and how much. If you don’t already own a planner, then you definitely need to get one ASAP. The one that I really enjoy using when I was in college (I graduate in May!) is the Erin Condren Life Planner (read my full review here!).

Tip #4: Find a conductive study spot

Another study tips for college is finding a safe haven that sparks your studying stride! Whether it be a local coffee shop, your desk at home, or at the on-campus library, having some place to go to get into the study zone is going to make a huge difference in your grades.

The best place to study is somewhere where its quiet, calm, and makes you feel the most comfortable. I used to study in the campus library but seeing everyone in a panic the weeks leading up to finals week really made me stressed out. So now I study in my room or at a local coffee shop where nothing can bother me from the tasks at hand. Find what works for you and make it happen!

Tip #5: Get enough sleep

I feel like this tip is a given, but sleep is so important for your body, mental health, mood, and so much more. I can understand that during finals week, you’ll feel like you have to stay up late to cram in as much material as you possibly can. But let me tell you why you need to get more sleep, especially during finals.

While you sleep, your brain will compartmentalize the material that you studied into short-term and long-term memory, which is great for you in terms of passing your exams. Plus while you sleep, your brain and body hits the reset button and gets to fully relax so when you wake up the following morning, you feel rejuvenated and ready for the day! The best way to get more good-quality sleep is to create a night-time routine and participate in a good sleep habits.

Tip #6: Live a healthy lifestyle as best as you can

During final weeks, it’s more important than ever to eat healthy and to exercise daily. This study tip may sound a little crazy, but I promise it really does make a difference! When you eat crappy food and become a coach potato, you can start to have less energy and your mood may decline. It’s because junk food doesn’t give your body the vitamins and energy that it needs to keeping going.

The same goes with exercise. Exercise gives your brain a physical boost that it needs to remember everything you’ve been studying. Even just eating slightly better than normal and exercising daily during finals week will make a huge difference in the way that you feel and how you perform on your exams.

Tip #7: Make a practice exam (or two)

One of the best study tips for college is to make your own practice exams and test yourself on the material. After a big study session, take a few minutes to write down everything that you remember from a specific topic or section that you just studied. Whatever you don’t write is what you need to focus on. This little secret will help reinforce the material that you’re learning but also give you an idea of where you have gaps.

Don’t like that idea? Another way for you to quiz yourself is to make your own exams or quizzes online using a platform like Quizlet. I’ve been using Quizlet for years and it’s the easiest website to make your own quizzes. To make a good quiz/exam, go through your study notes and create your own questions based off your notes and what you think is important. I have to admit that sometimes when I used to make my own practice exams, it would be pretty darn close to the real one, which greatly improved my exam score! 

Tip #8: Live a little

This may sound like a set up, but you have to live a little and give yourself a few breaks in between those long hours of studying. I promise you’ll end up going crazy if you don’t! You have to realize that there’s only so much that you can do to prepare for an exam and that your brain also needs a break from studying all day. You’ll end up being more productive by taking small increments breaks throughout your studying session. For an example, you can study for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break to do something else.

How do you prepare for finals week and your best kept secrets to acing an exam?

This post was originally published in April 2019 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

The post How to Study Effectively & Nail Your Final Exams appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

Tip #1: Take quality notes during class

Once classes get started, you’ll be thanking me later for telling you that you’re going to need to start taking quality notes. There are a ton of ways for you to take notes during class from using a pen and paper to using a touchscreen device. Whatever works best for you, you’ll want to stick with it over the next few years.

The reason why taking your own notes is super important is because you’re more likely to remember the material when you’re actively participating and making connections in the material during the lecture. It’s called active learning and it really does work! For me, I handwrote all of my notes during class, and I also relistened to the lectures to fill-in any gaps that I might’ve missed.

Tip #2: Organize your calendar for the entire semester

At the beginning of every semester, I highly recommend that you read through every class syllabus and put all of your assignments and exams into a calendar. Then add in any personal events, work schedule, and any other extracurricular activities that you know of at the beginning of the semester. This way you can stay organize and stay on track for any assignments. With the constant influx of projects, assignments, and exams in pharmacy school, it’s super easy to fall behind and to let something fall between the cracks.

I personally use the Recollections planner from Michaels, which is the bomb dot com and has loads of space for everything that you could possibly need in pharmacy school. I also really like the Erin Condren Academic planner, which is more customizable option. But if you prefer a digital calendar, then I know some of my fellow pharmacy students used Google Calendar, which syncs up to all of their devices for easy access. Once you have a complete agenda or calendar, you can finally start blocking off time on a daily basis to study and to complete any upcoming projects. This will greatly help you manage your time appropriately and instill a great study routine.

Tip #3: Learn how you study the best

Learning how you, as an individual, learn the best is easily the best advice that I can give you on how to study in pharmacy school. Everyone is so different in the way that our minds work and how our brains learn things. Some people are visual learners while others are auditory. This just means that the way you have to study is going to be different from your friends in pharmacy school to even your loved ones.

I know this isn’t a quick fix, but in the field of healthcare where the literature is always adapting, it’s super important for you to nail down a study routine that works for you. For me personally once I got into pharmacy school, I had to completely change up the way that I studied in undergrad. It was a completely different ballpark (in terms of workload and the material) that I had to try new techniques and re-learn how to study. Now the best way for me to remember anything is re-read the material multiple times and to make my own color-coded study guides.

Tip #4: Utilize different study techniques

As soon as classes start, go ahead and break down the material into easy bite size pieces that are easier to comprehend and to remember. This may include creating your own study guides, summary sheets on a topic, medication charts, or flashcards. When you’re utilizing different study techniques, you don’t always have to reinvent the wheel and create your own 20-page study guide. Utilize what your teachers give you in class and make adjustments to it such as adding notes and comments to the file or color coding each individual section.

If you do have the time to create your own study materials, then make sure to write them in your own voice. You’ll be surprised how much somethings sticks with you when you can relate to the material or make a personal connection to it. During my second year of pharmacy school, I started making my own study guides including diagrams, color coding, and links to videos, and it made a world of a difference in the grades that I received.

Tip #5: Ask questions and get help from your professors

Let me say this one louder for the students in the back: Professors are your friends and they are there to help you! If you’re ever confused about the course material or have any questions about it, ask questions and get advice from your professors. Don’t forget that they are the experts in this area, and they want to see you succeed in their class.

This will not only help you understand the material better but also allow you to show your professor your willingness to learn and how much you care to do so. I won’t lie I’ve probably seen almost all of my teachers in their office hours one year or another because I found that 1-on-1 time with my teachers really made a difference in my grades. I also continue to have a great relationship with all of those teachers to this day!

Tip #6: Prioritize your material based on difficulty level

Remember when I said that pharmacy school throws a ton of work at you all the time? Yeah well, I wasn’t kidding which is why it’s so important to prioritize your studying based on the difficulty level of the class. Everyone is going to be completely different in this area, but some classes will naturally be easier for you and require less work than others. This is where you have to figure out where you need to prioritize your studying based on your strengths and weaknesses.

Basically, you’ll want to spend more time on the classes that are harder for you to understand and spend less time on classes that are easier. Typically after the first exam of the semester, you’ll have a better understanding of what the different exams are like, the type of exam questions, and what your teacher is looking for you to remember for the next exam.

Tip #7: Don’t cram the night before

I feel like this tip is a given, but I know students in pharmacy school who cram the night before for every exam. Please please don’t do this! If you think pulling an all-nighter for a big exam the is a smart decision, please think again. There are a ton of studies out there about the cons of all-nighters, so I won’t go into much details here. But you can read my tips on what to actually do the night before an exam later (hint: it includes lots of sleep!).

Remember that what you’re learning in pharmacy school is actually important for patient care and everything builds upon each other year after year. This means that it may not seem important right now for this exam, but it’ll come back to bite you later on. It’s better to stay organize and to study a little bit every day, instead of cramming a month worth of lectures into one night. Plus you can relieve a lot of stress if you plan ahead and create a solid study schedule.

Tip #8: Work in a pharmacy during your time in pharmacy school

Besides making a little extra money on the side, working in a pharmacy is a vital asset to any pharmacy student who is looking to get better at studying. Are you a little confused by this? Let me explain. When you work in a pharmacy (regardless of its retail or hospital), you’re going to be exposed to patients, drugs, and the healthcare system. Aka everything that you’re going to be learning in school is happening right before your eyes!

I’ve worked in a retail pharmacy for almost 5 years now, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to work while in pharmacy school. I had the ability to become well-versed in the pharmacy language including drug therapies, drug usages, and mechanism of actions. It became so easy and second nature that by the time that I started pharmacy school, I was already ahead of the game compared to my fellow students. Plus my pharmacists always made it a point to quiz me during the work shift to reinforce the knowledge that I was learning in school.

Take the opportunity right now to get started in the pharmacy field. You’ll be surprised about how much you’ll learn from working part-time somewhere in a pharmacy and how it’ll all connect during your coursework. Plus you’ll meet some pretty cool people that will continue to guide you throughout pharmacy school.

Tip #9: Take time for yourself

Honestly, a good healthy work-life balance is super important if you want to study more effectively. If you study all day and night, you’ll quickly become burned out mentally and physically. Even if you have a ton of work on your hands, you have to give yourself and your brain a break (and this includes sleep!).

Even if you give yourself a 15-minute break while studying, that’s completely fine! Just remember that you don’t have to study every minute of every day to do well in pharmacy school. Take a class, play intramural sports on campus, or whatever it is that makes you happy.

During my P1 year, I was studying every minute of every day, and I quickly burned out in a few months and was miserable in the process. Now that I’m almost done with my P4 year, I finally found a balance that works for me, and I’ve worked two jobs the entire time I’ve been in pharmacy school (which is insanity, I know!).  

Tip #10: Test your knowledge

After you’ve done a big study session, take a few minutes to test your knowledge and to see what you actually remember from your study session. I personally recommend taking a blank sheet of paper and write down anything and everything that you remember from a specific topic that you just studied. This little tip will not only reinforce the material that you just learned but also identify where the gaps are. After you’ve written down everything that you could, identify what areas need improvement and go back to the drawing board.

Another great way for you to quiz yourself is by creating your own exam on Quizlet. It’s super easy to do and is another way for you to study the material.  When I used to make my own exams, I would create questions based off of my notes and what I think will be important for the exam. I have to admit, sometimes I used to make practice exams that were exactly like the real ones, which as you can imagine was pretty dope.

What are your favorite study techniques that have helped you pass a tough semester?

The post 10 Study Tips to Survive Pharmacy School appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.