Dear Class of 2024
The things I wish I knew when I was starting pharmacy school
Congratulations! You did the work, took the PCAT, and now are about to start on this 4-year journey that we call pharmacy school. I remember that feeling of walking into orientation: excitement for what was next and all the possibilities the years ahead would bring. But I was also nervous; what would be expected of me? Was I ready for the challenge? Would I measure up?
Here are some of the things that I wish I had known from the beginning.
- Organization and Time Management are your new best friends
In pharmacy school, there is no syllabus week. You hit the ground running, and hit it hard. No matter what kind of student you were before, this is a whole new ball game. It’s important to set yourself up for success by staying as organized as possible, not only time-wise but also with information. Those study habits that got you through undergrad? Yea, they might need an upgrade.
- Everybody is lost, it’s not just you
I was an atypical student. A business school graduate moving into the sciences having never worked in a pharmacy. Other than the pre-requisites to get me in the door, I had nothing. I thought that I would have to work double time just to keep up. It didn’t take long for me to realize that when it came to medicinal chemistry and pharmacokinetics, everyone was just as lost as I was. I discovered that if I could just shed all of that self-inflicted pressure, I would be just fine.
- Think outside the retail box
We’re all thinking it, so I’m just going to come out and say it. The profession isn’t what it used to be. Even in the more rural areas of the country, the job market is becoming increasingly saturated. I don’t say that to discourage you about this (financially impactful) life choice, but to encourage you to remain open to what you can do with your degree. There’s more out there than just retail and hospital jobs. Pharmacovigilance, Public Health Service, the Poison Center, and Clinical Trial Operations are just a few areas in which our degrees are highly valuable.
- Extracurriculars are just as important as the curriculum itself
If I look back on my most valuable experiences in pharmacy school, I think half of them would come from extracurriculars. Your professors can teach you the hard skills, but trust me when I say that organizing a student conference spanning 3 days for 100+ attendees will give you a new found appreciation for the importance of the soft skills. And those skills are what will set you apart in a sea of job candidates.
- These friends are friends for life
Pharmacy school is a whole other experience. No one will understand that better than the people you go through it with. From late night study sessions, to out-of-state conferences, and to some of the weirdest patient encounters I’ve ever had. It may be no undergrad, but pharmacy school is a wild ride. And these bonds are forever.
As I start life post-graduation and feel all the excitement that comes with starting a new chapter, it’s hard to not see the similarities between now and 5 years ago. For some, pharmacy school is the natural next step in their college careers. For others, it can be a radical career change later in life. Either way, it’s something new, and different, and maybe a little apprehensive. I know that there’s a lot on your plate right now but savor this moment. It’s not every day you embark on a life-changing journey.
-Dr. Alyssa Lowder