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What is the hardest thing about pharmacy school?

I really want to be a pharmacist but i fear the obstacles. #college #pharmacy #pharmacist #hardest

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David’s Answer

Great question. Pharmacy school demands a lot of hard work and dedication. I suggest looking for a part-time job in the pharmacy before making the commitment either in a retail store or hospital setting before making the commitment. Best of luck.

Regards ,
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Katherine’s Answer

Emily,


Interesting question. The simplest answer, without being flippant is:


The hardest thing about obtaining an undergraduate degree and then Pharmacy school is twofold: a) time and effort involved to complete the degree cycle and b) ending student loan balance.


Many of the P3 and P4 students I deal with are overwhelmed with the workload coupled with the fact that they will only use a small percentage of their knowledge in the everyday work enviroment.


That being said talk to your high school counselor and become involved in the work study program with one of the retail pharmacies in the area. Go to www.ptcb.org and begin to study for the National Technician Certification Board. There are courses available on line or at your local community college that you can review or enroll. This will give you an idea of what is expected in the "real world"
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Mary’s Answer

Hi Emily,


It has been a few years since I graduated from pharmacy school, but I think the challenge remains to be committed to your studies. Are you taking advanced science classes in high school? It is a 6-year minimum program to the Pharm D degree, but with dedication and hard work, there are many career options ahead of you. I agree that any experience/exposure in pharmacy will give you some insight. Best of luck!
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Scott’s Answer

Unlike undergrad, pharmacy school will be a truly full time experience. The hours per semester are much higher and all the classes are at a higher level. That being said, it is also very rewarding when you put in the time as every class builds toward the ultimate goal of being able to help your patients. You have to go into pharmacy school knowing that you will be busy all the time and have to dedicate yourself to attending class, taking quality notes and studying both independently and with a study group.

You must prepare you self during your undergrad years so that you adapt quickly to the fast pace of a professional curriculum. Create great study habits now and learn how to decompress and relieve stress through exercise, hobbies, etc. when things get"overwhelming".

You will learn so much during the 3 years of pharmacy school preparing you for the 4th experiential year and during that 4th year you will actually be partnering with other health professionals and putting your knowledge to work. It is very exciting and truly ties together all that you will learn.

Scott recommends the following next steps:

Create great study habits now.
Learn to study with groups that benefit you and you can benefit them.
Understand the expectations of the curriculum up front and really map out your own expectations based on the workload.
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Dinah’s Answer

Undergrad doesn't prepare you for pharmacy school whatsoever. Pharmacy school is rigorous and very demanding of your time. The courses that are taken are at a higher level and you can be taking over 20 credits a semester. The classes do build on each other and so you will be busy most of the time studying independently and sometimes with a study group. Waking up for an 8am class is very difficult, but making sure to attend classes is very important and aids in you succeeding. Create good study habits and stick with them because procrastination will lead you astray, which is not what you want. Also, writing out notes is time consuming, but it will help you retain important and pertinent information much better. I hope this helps and best luck to you!
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