Three Things I Wish I Knew As A Pre-Pharm Student
There are many unspoken things that numerous pre-pharmacy students goes through that are rarely addressed.
1. Don't stretch yourself too thin
I know that once you commit to the field, it is hard to not put an immense pressure on yourself. Many students think that joining numerous clubs will put yourself above others and will polish your specs for when you submit your application. I also had that mindset of trying to join as many clubs as possible, but you end up facing the consequences fast. Often times you will wring yourself out to dry and give little room for other hobbies and interests. In my personal opinion, try to stick to two to three clubs you are passionate about-- it doesn't even have to be pharmacy-related. Get involved and immerse yourself into the clubs that will benefit you and, in return, will benefit them as well. At my university, I was highly involved in an organization (UHPPA) and dedicated numerous hours to serving my community. I served as a webmaster for a year and with my ambitious goals, I created a completely new website that is still up and running.
2. Choose a major that you enjoy*
The requirements for pharmacy school is a bit different and non-traditional, so you are not bound by getting a degree or forced to choose a certain major. While you have to fulfill certain pre-requisites, make it a goal to have an enjoyable college experience. When deciding what major to choose, look at your interests and choose something that you are truly intrigued by. It is a myth that schools are more inclined to choose a person who majored in biology/chemistry/etc in comparison to a person who choose psychology or fine arts. If anything, having a unique educational background will make you stand out as an applicant who is skilled in multiple facets of several subjects.
3. Let go of your greed
I cannot emphasize how important this topic is and how applicable it is to anyone in any situation. If I had to take away anything from my experience as a pre-pharmacy student, it would be this piece of advice. Do not let greed get the better of you and your mindset. Once application season begins, it is only natural for you to be anxious and filled of nervousness as you await for a reply from the schools you have applied to. For me, during this time, I had nothing but toxic thoughts that constantly clouded my head. I kept yearning for more and more, and did not give time to myself to reflect and be grateful for the things that I had already achieved. The root of all of the negative thoughts, was the sleepless nights that I stayed awake criticizing myself as I compared myself to other applicants. Comparing yourself to others does no one any good, and at the end, all you are doing is hurting yourself. Even though, at that point, I had already been accepted by another school, I was so fixated on getting into my dream school that I failed to see the bigger picture. Life does not always go the way you want it to. At the end of the day, in four years, I will be a pharmacist, regardless of the school I went to. Once I let of that greed and let things happen naturally, I became more appreciative of the position I was in. Not a lot of people can say that they've made it to pharmacy school! So now, I am a much happier person, eager to begin a new chapter in my life.
*Pharmacy school requirements may differ, so make sure with each school you are trying to apply to.
1. Don't stretch yourself too thin
I know that once you commit to the field, it is hard to not put an immense pressure on yourself. Many students think that joining numerous clubs will put yourself above others and will polish your specs for when you submit your application. I also had that mindset of trying to join as many clubs as possible, but you end up facing the consequences fast. Often times you will wring yourself out to dry and give little room for other hobbies and interests. In my personal opinion, try to stick to two to three clubs you are passionate about-- it doesn't even have to be pharmacy-related. Get involved and immerse yourself into the clubs that will benefit you and, in return, will benefit them as well. At my university, I was highly involved in an organization (UHPPA) and dedicated numerous hours to serving my community. I served as a webmaster for a year and with my ambitious goals, I created a completely new website that is still up and running.
2. Choose a major that you enjoy*
The requirements for pharmacy school is a bit different and non-traditional, so you are not bound by getting a degree or forced to choose a certain major. While you have to fulfill certain pre-requisites, make it a goal to have an enjoyable college experience. When deciding what major to choose, look at your interests and choose something that you are truly intrigued by. It is a myth that schools are more inclined to choose a person who majored in biology/chemistry/etc in comparison to a person who choose psychology or fine arts. If anything, having a unique educational background will make you stand out as an applicant who is skilled in multiple facets of several subjects.
3. Let go of your greed
I cannot emphasize how important this topic is and how applicable it is to anyone in any situation. If I had to take away anything from my experience as a pre-pharmacy student, it would be this piece of advice. Do not let greed get the better of you and your mindset. Once application season begins, it is only natural for you to be anxious and filled of nervousness as you await for a reply from the schools you have applied to. For me, during this time, I had nothing but toxic thoughts that constantly clouded my head. I kept yearning for more and more, and did not give time to myself to reflect and be grateful for the things that I had already achieved. The root of all of the negative thoughts, was the sleepless nights that I stayed awake criticizing myself as I compared myself to other applicants. Comparing yourself to others does no one any good, and at the end, all you are doing is hurting yourself. Even though, at that point, I had already been accepted by another school, I was so fixated on getting into my dream school that I failed to see the bigger picture. Life does not always go the way you want it to. At the end of the day, in four years, I will be a pharmacist, regardless of the school I went to. Once I let of that greed and let things happen naturally, I became more appreciative of the position I was in. Not a lot of people can say that they've made it to pharmacy school! So now, I am a much happier person, eager to begin a new chapter in my life.
*Pharmacy school requirements may differ, so make sure with each school you are trying to apply to.
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