Student Panel 10/10/2017
Devon and Spencer
Do I have to declare a major if I’m doing a 3 year plan?
Yes! But no! College of Letters and science will make you declare, but if you get into pharmacy school, it doesn’t matter what major you do. Definitely pick a major that you would use for a parallel plan.
Tips for PCAT:
Kaplan/Princeton Review books (different sections are better in different books)
Prepare about a month out
Take online Pearson Practice tests - don’t get freaked out by raw score on those practice tests
UW is very holistic - so PCAT score isn’t the only factor for admission
What’s the biggest challenge for getting into pharmacy school?
Application process (adding every grade you’ve ever gotten)
How many references?
3 (one must be science math professor/TA)
Took Physiology and Pathology in undergrad - getting used to pharmacy school curriculum/taking tests every week
Is credit load higher?
1st semester 18 credits, 2nd semester 15/16
A lot of classes! But manageable
Balance between social and school is very important but also difficult
It is important to know your limits and where your priorities are
It is easy to burnout if you don’t practice self-care
Brianna and Allison
Shadowed ICU pharmacist in high school
Did 2 year plan. Some crunching.
Didn’t have a pharmacy job before getting into school
Important to know how to answer the question “why do you want to be a pharmacist?”
Rolling admission process: call you for an interview, 30-minute interview but a whole day of the school selling themselves to you
A lot of people come in without pharmacy jobs
Worked in a pharmacy and it solidified that this was what she wanted to do
Different schools do interviews differently
Pre-health advising center has a mock interviews that are tailored to the specific schools that you are interviewing with
Mike
Shadowing - YES! Do it!
Apply to multiple schools if you’re worried about getting in
What are interviews like?
Very nerve racking, but very good experience
Interview 20-30 minutes
What do you want to do after Pharmacy School
First thinking community, now more hospital-based
Very fun, likes variety in daily activities,
Didn’t work in a pharmacy before pharmacy school
Tessa - 2nd year pharmtox, she wants to go to medical school
Sister was pharmtox and now pharmD
Go to office hours and try and create a relationship with your professor if you are later going to ask for a letter of recommendation
Suggests asking for letter of recommendation in person- almost never say no!
More interested in diagnosing the disease rather than treating it
Wanted to set herself apart from other biology majors
Don’t underestimate how long it takes to finish application, start personal statement early!
Mike - 3rd year
Many opportunities
Wants to work in Hospital-pediatrics Residency if you want to work in a hospital- you need to get out and apply Wanted to do something in medical field but wanted to work with kids and medical school seemed too daunting Tech job recommended but there are still a lot of ways to get exposure
Prefer Kaplan book for PCAT preparation
Started studying 2 or 3 months
Christine
Interested in chemistry, then liked pharmacy
Wants to work in hospital Some undergraduate shadowing- can seek out opportunities to shadow. UW hospital and VA are very willing to shadow.
Also used Kaplan book
Started studying 2 or 3 months
What’s the biggest challenge for getting into pharmacy school?
Took a gap year, was tough to get back into the swing of school
Brianna and Allison
Interviews and Admissions
Just applied to one place; 2 years of undergrad
Meeting with Amy helps to plan out coursework; what you can fit it
Make sure you look at course requirements at different schools
Make sure classes will transfer for prerequisites
Start looking at prerequisites early on
Every school has a different interview process
Look into Mock Interviews: Look at pre-health advising if applying to other schools (will do a mock interview with you in the style that the school you are applying to)
See if you can get emails from the school that you are applying/want to apply to
Interview Day: Also get a feel for the school
Make sure to relax
Work to find a balance in your school/social/professional life
Do what you like to do and what interests you; don’t need to be involved in everything
Get experience and get involved early to prepare for pharmacy school
Be active in the clubs/organizations that you have joined
Have a balance on your application
Don’t need a perfect GPA
Well rounded application is important
Looking for an entire individual (work, school, involvement, PCAT)
Don’t need a pharmacy job - show your interest in a different way
Andrew and Brad
Working in a Pharmacy
Don’t need to work in a pharmacy before pharmacy school
After 2nd year of pharmacy school you can become an intern
Medication History; Discharges
Inpatient/Outpatient Technician
Inpatient: Hospital setting
Outpatient: Retail, clinic based
Applying school to jobs
Experience, exposure
Get to apply knowledge
Get to know drug names, applying them
Background, patient contact
Transition from Undergraduate to Graduate
Similar to Highschool to College but x10
Everybody is talented; have to work hard
Not too big of a difference
Attending UW-Madison helps prepare you for Pharmacy school
Similar information to undergrad except more related to pharmacy school
No perfect time to apply; everyone can be successful
TIME MANAGEMENT
Prioritizing
Trial and error
Justin, Julia, Erin
Involvement/Building Resumes
Badger Volunteer; consistent volunteer experience
International volunteering (unique experiences)
Find your passions but you don’t need to do everything
Everyone has a different story/path to pharmacy school
Don’t need to be perfect on paper to be a good pharmacy student/candidateSo many routes
Applying to other programs
Look at prerequisites early
Not all schools have the same requirement
Clubs
Student Ambassador
Peer Advisory Council: helping students that are struggling both
PLS: Pharmacy Leadership Society
WSPS: Wisconsin Society of Pharmacy Student
Good way to get volunteer hours in healthcare (COPs - community outreach program)
Medic: Volunteer at clinics
BadgerPeds: Pediatric Pharmacy
Clubs for all types of pharmacy
Clubs and professional fraternities are a great way to meet people and to build relationships and friendships
Be in just a couple of clubs and make it count
Financial Question
Financial Aid
Applying for scholarships
Financial aid office hours
Generous loans
4th Year is the most expensive
3 semesters instead of 2
4th Year
All outside of the classroom
Practical application of knowledge
Interview Day
Make sure you have questions at the end of the interview
Don’t be nervous