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Pharmacy Student Panel Advice

Clara, Kara, Maria-Pharmtox

  • Maria

  • Pharmtox to pharmacy school

  • Gets some classes out of the way

  • Pharmacy School Application Opens in summer

  • Rolling applications

  • Lots of stuff done from FIG

  • Volunteering/jobs, TAs- letters of rec

  • Transcripts- Send them early!

  • There’s no “most” important part of the application

  • PharmCAS- similar to Common App

  • Letters of recc

  • Ask as early as possible (End of the spring semester before applying)

  • Get close with TA/ Professor

  • One from a Science teacher

  • Get close with TA- TA can vouch for you to professor

  • 3 letters of recc- science/math, volunteering, other (not family, friends, congressman, etc)

  • Don’t worry about not knowing a pharmacist

  • Go to office hours for subjects you struggle in

  • When asking, have a resume and transcript and paragraphs on why you want to go to pharmacy school ready

  • PCAT

  • Start studying at least a month in advance

  • Kaplan Books and practice tests

  • Don’t spend time on subjects you’re already good at

  • Schedule a time for studying, doesn’t have to be super intensive

  • Math- basic calc 1

  • Pre-req classes prepare you well

  • Bio, Ochem- Take the summer after school ends

  • Pharmacy schools still look at writing score, but it’s not included in the composite score

  • Interview Day

  • Timed Essay- Open-ended questions (30 minutes)

  • A small part of the big picture

  • Why do you wanna go to pharmacy school? Experiences? Etc

  • Build a little plan for each possible questions

  • ALWAYS ask them a question at the end

  • Ex: why did you get into pharmacy?

  • They’re looking for your reaction to tricky questions

  • Pharmacy School club that offers mock interview

  • Eye contact, formalities

  • Wear comfy shoes

  • Business clothes: blazers, dress pants, a nice blouse

  • Panels on interview day- come with a list of questions

  • Applying to other Pharmacy Schools

  • Some schools don’t require PCAT

  • Similar application processes to Madison

  • Keep timelines in order

  • A lot of schools have other requirements to apply

  • Hard to apply to multiple schools when fast-tracking

  • Volunteering

  • Badger Volunteers- Clara

  • Volunteeryourtime.org

  • UW Health

  • Find something you’re interested in and can do long-term (1-2 semesters)

  • Doesn’t have to be healthcare related

  • Commitment

  • Don’t worry as much about numbers; quality over quantity

  • Shadowing

  • Email a pharmacist formally to ask to shadow

  • Don’t be afraid to send multiple emails and only get a couple of responses

  • Dress up nice, ask questions, observe, get to know them

  • Bring a pen and paper and take minor notes

  • GPA

  • Application is Holistic

  • Well-rounded applicant- don’t worry about GPA as much

  • There’s no cutoff

  • They look at your improvement in classes you struggled in

  • They look at the combination of classes you’re taking

  • Essays

  • Personal statement

  • Have other people read it

  • Writing center

  • Do it as soon as possible

  • Keep it an ongoing draft

  • School-specific questions

  • Tuition

  • More expensive than undergrad

  • In-state vs out of state still a thing

  • Scholarships

  • Big pool of scholarships for first year

  • Second-year you have to apply for them

  • Pharmacy School

  • 3 years of classes, minor rotation

  • 4th year is all rotations no classes

  • 2nd-year Pharmaceutical sciences degree

  • Certificate during undergrad?

  • OChem Advice

  • Whiteboard- write out all mechanisms

  • Know your basics well

  • Know your study spots

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