Living Options While Learning at PCSP

Hello everyone!  My name is Marija, and I am a P2 student at PCSP.  From the first time when I visited PCSP during the Open House to now, when I am half way finished with my second year, I still love everything about this school.  As previously mentioned by my fellow classmates, this school has a lot to offer to help mold us into the best future pharmacists.  We get to learn using top notch technology, integrated curriculum, and the best professors a student can ask for.  In addition, the sense of community and togetherness at PCSP is incredible.  These were some of the aspects that were important to me when I was deciding on which school to apply to.  There are many other aspects to consider, including where one chooses to live in relation to where PCSP is located.  I personally live in Greenville, South Carolina, fifty miles north of Clinton.  Although the drive from Greenville to Clinton is a long distance, I carpool with two fellow classmates to keep fuel costs down and the drive more enjoyable.  Rather than moving to Clinton, I chose to remain in Greenville in order to live close to home and enjoy the charm that Greenville offers.  Many of my student colleagues live in cities closer to PC, including Simpsonville, Laurens, and Clinton. The city you choose to live in determines the length of a commute you will drive to and from school.  For example, the family-friendly city of Simpsonville is nearly a 30 minute drive, whereas Laurens is more of a 15 minute drive.  Clinton, in which PCSP is centrally located, offers students the opportunity to either walk to school or drive a very short distance.  Although the prospect of finding a home before your first year of pharmacy school can be stressful, a facebook housing page was created for future PC pharmacy students to inquire about buying and renting, as well as roommate opportunities.  As you can see, there are many options to choose from when deciding where to live, but you can be certain that your PC family will help make that transition as smooth as possible.

Go Have Some Fun

My name is Candice, and I’m currently a P2 at PCSP.  I know some of you are wondering if I have a life outside of school.  Though school is the most important reason you will be coming to Clinton, SC, you have to give yourself a break, physically and mentally before you go crazy!!!!

So what is there to do in the small town of Clinton?  Not much, but you are in driving distances to Columbia, Greenville, Gaffney, Spartanburg, Greenwood, and surrounding areas. There is SHOPPING (my favorite stress reliever) at the different malls and shopping centers.  There are also a variety of restaurants for you and your soon to be new friends to go and dine, especially Chick-fil-A in Simpsonville.  There’s also Frankie’s Fun Park to have a day full of games and bowling alleys.

So don’t let the town be the deciding factor of whether or not to go to Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy.  This school has a great family environment away from home, as well as a great faculty and staff whose main goal is to see you succeed.  So with that being said, I hope you decide to make PCSP your home away from home. 

Pharmacy Student Ambassador: Offering a Student Perspective

In the semester of Fall 2012 as a second year student, I was given the opportunity to become an ambassador.  It was an eye opening experience because I was able to go out and talk to prospective pharmacy students about PC School of Pharmacy.  One of the events I partook in was recruiting at USC Upstate and was accompanied by Marija (another second year pharmacy student here).  We met a variety of students who all had the same ambition to become a Pharmacist.  As an ambassador, I was able to answer their questions with up-to-date information about admissions and other topics.  One of the most attention-grabbing aspects the prospective students liked was that we could give them details about the school from a student view. Recruiting at USC Upstate was a success because a few of the students we talked to said they will be applying within the next year.  

Written by Bartou, P2 student 

RX 101: Surviving the First Semester of Pharmacy School

Hi my name is Paige, and I am a P1 here at PCSP.  It’s hard to believe that this semester is already over; it seems like just yesterday I was sitting in orientation.  How did I get through this semester?  STUDYING!!!   This was very hard for me, because I am not use to studying, but if you stay ahead and study a little a day it will pay off.  Learn what works best for you.

Studying is very important, but you must get involved as well.  I am very involved at PCSP - I am honored to be a Student Ambassador, the P1 Class Liaison, and a member of National Community Pharmacists Association.  Being a part of the school gives you an opportunity to get to know your classmates, the other classes, as well as your professors. 

Last but not least, time management.  Pharmacy school is NOTHING like undergrad.  It is very demanding of you.  No more cramming a few notes a few hours before.  You know when your tests are so use your time wisely.  Study, get involved, and manage your time; and you will get through pharmacy school just fine.   

Integrated Approach

Hi, my name Dawn, and I am a P2 here at PCSP.  There are so many things I could share with you about PCSP but this would no longer be a blog.  As I directed my path into a career in pharmacy, PCSP was not open yet but I had seen an article in a Pharmacy Times Magazine introducing the school.  As time got closer, my interest in the school grew.  The community-based program was very intriguing and important to me.  I have no doubt that I made the right decision to be here.  

I want to share with you one of the unique things about our school.  We do our rotations during the school year starting in the second semester of the P1 year.  These rotations are one day a week for 4 hours to different locations for a 5 or 6-week time-period.  What is great is as you go out to these sites, the things you learn during school you put to work in the community making learning more effective.  Believe me, as you learn here and apply it out there, the better you understand.  You do not have to wait until the summer or your 4th year rotations to start experiencing the pharmacy world we will be entering very soon.  This also gives you experiences in areas other than just retail or hospital pharmacies.  PCSP does a great job at exposing you to many different avenues in the world of pharmacy, and because it is early on, it allows you to make better decisions and set goals early in your career.  My last rotation was a great experience.  Even though I have worked in a hospital pharmacy for many years, this hospital rotation gave me some incredible insight and experience.  I worked with physicians, medical residents, medical students, pharmacy residents, and other pharmacists.  Their teaching and knowledge was awesome to learn from and coincided with what I learned in class.  They were excited for us to be there almost as much as I was.  It was a privilege to be in that environment and was a wonderful experience and opportunity to build on my education.  I am thankful that PCSP has developed this into their program.