Tips for Incoming Pharmacy Students
Three years ago, I was conferred with the degree BS Pharmacy in a Philippine university. I was humbled and honored but unprepared of what lies ahead. In the first place, I never even dreamed of becoming a Pharmacist, I was just there for unclear reasons. As one of the best students, the board examination came easy. I brushed it off with an 89.30% rating qualifying me in the Top 15 List of Passers, undoubtedly. After passing the licensure exam, I worked my way to a retail pharmacy, then served in the Department of Health before eventually settling down into the academe. Life in the academe is in fact horrendous, if not stressful (another discussion on this topic will soon arise). So what valuable things do I have to tell prospective students wanting to take up a Pharmacy course? Here are few:
1. You have to be excellent or have a curiosity in Chemistry and Biological Sciences. If you check on the curriculum, you will not be surprise to see descriptive titles like "Inorganic, Organic Chemistry of Medicinals, Biochemistry, Anatomy-Physiology, Microbiology, General and Physical Chemistry,etc"every semester. You can not go away with that fact. At least in every sem, you will always be bringing with you a periodic table and a calculator. Unless these subjects really interests you, do not take up Pharmacy
2. Laboratory experiment and Workload. This is a very demanding course, not for the faint of heart. Your determination will be tested. A lot of requirements, assignments and school projects will be expected. Laboratory activities will always be present so the ability to follow scientific method and ability to synthesize and infer is necessary. If you lack these skills, do not take this course. Find some other which your strength and interest match.
3. Memorization of voluminous information. As with other health science courses, pharmacy demands a lot of memorization. From the therapeutic uses, side effects and mechanism of action of drugs to signs and symptoms and diagnosis of diseases. The names of each muscles, bones and detailed body parts, you all have to know. Quizzes and Examinations rely heavily on the ability to memorize. Of course clinical correlation is also very relevant and needed. You will hate your Microbiology-Parasitology, Pharmacology-Toxicology, Anatomy-Physiology, Organic/ Inorganic Medicinal Chemistry-Pharmacognosy, etc subjects and wish you never enrolled in Pharmacy.
4. It will never be easy. You will face so many setbacks and failures. There will come a time when you want to give up, burned out or too demotivated to review. Attending classes are not really fun, many times they are boring but that is the way it is. You are here to learn about drugs so that its safety and quality is maintained until administration. You chose to be here to counsel patients about rational use of medicines, to be an advocate of positive change in pharmacy practice. You are here not just to dispense medicines later on but rather to influence the community for distribution of accessible, affordable medicines for all. You have more important role to play beyond selling!
1. You have to be excellent or have a curiosity in Chemistry and Biological Sciences. If you check on the curriculum, you will not be surprise to see descriptive titles like "Inorganic, Organic Chemistry of Medicinals, Biochemistry, Anatomy-Physiology, Microbiology, General and Physical Chemistry,etc"every semester. You can not go away with that fact. At least in every sem, you will always be bringing with you a periodic table and a calculator. Unless these subjects really interests you, do not take up Pharmacy
2. Laboratory experiment and Workload. This is a very demanding course, not for the faint of heart. Your determination will be tested. A lot of requirements, assignments and school projects will be expected. Laboratory activities will always be present so the ability to follow scientific method and ability to synthesize and infer is necessary. If you lack these skills, do not take this course. Find some other which your strength and interest match.
3. Memorization of voluminous information. As with other health science courses, pharmacy demands a lot of memorization. From the therapeutic uses, side effects and mechanism of action of drugs to signs and symptoms and diagnosis of diseases. The names of each muscles, bones and detailed body parts, you all have to know. Quizzes and Examinations rely heavily on the ability to memorize. Of course clinical correlation is also very relevant and needed. You will hate your Microbiology-Parasitology, Pharmacology-Toxicology, Anatomy-Physiology, Organic/ Inorganic Medicinal Chemistry-Pharmacognosy, etc subjects and wish you never enrolled in Pharmacy.
4. It will never be easy. You will face so many setbacks and failures. There will come a time when you want to give up, burned out or too demotivated to review. Attending classes are not really fun, many times they are boring but that is the way it is. You are here to learn about drugs so that its safety and quality is maintained until administration. You chose to be here to counsel patients about rational use of medicines, to be an advocate of positive change in pharmacy practice. You are here not just to dispense medicines later on but rather to influence the community for distribution of accessible, affordable medicines for all. You have more important role to play beyond selling!
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| Pharmacist, Tips to becoming a good |
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