Volunteer for Summer

Being in a pharmacy school, everyone is looking forward to summer break. This summer my plans are to do some pharmacy related activities. First, I am going to work at Ingles as a pharmacy intern and try to accrue some of my 500 pharmacy related hours that are require. I am very excited because finishing 1st year of pharmacy school, I know lot more than I did before. I can help my pharmacists with much more than before - from filling prescription to other work that I can help with.

While on my break, I also want to do volunteer work at a free-medical clinic. I plan to volunteer at St. Luke’s Free-Medical Clinic in Spartanburg. I volunteered there before I had any experience in pharmacy, so now I want to go back and volunteer in the pharmacy helping patients. I am very excited to spend my time with patients and learning new things even when I am on summer break.



Rima Ray P2

Roomies

Congratulations! You got accepted into Presbyterian College’s School of Pharmacy. Now what? It is time to find a roommate!

Unlike your freshman year of college, you actually get to pick this roommate. My suggestion? Choose wisely! A roommate is not just a person you live with, share a house with, or buy groceries with. It is someone who goes on this journey with you, someone who knows what you will be going through.

I was blessed to find a great roommate and I am very thankful for her. She is not only my roommate, but also a close friend. We study, laugh, cry, and watch television together.

Use the Facebook housing page, talk to members of your class, talk to P2s and P3s; find the person who fits you best! Good luck and I can’t wait to see each one of you in the fall!


Jessica, P3

Finals Week

FINALS week in pharmacy school can be very hectic.  I often find myself thinking back to my undergraduate days of final week and remembering how great that was.  If a student in my classes worked really hard during the year and had a 90 or higher a lot of professors would allow you to skip the final if you were okay with your current grade.  In pharmacy school, there is no skipping a final.  If you go into finals with a 100 or a 60 you still have to take the final.  Cramming in pharmacy school will do no good there is simply too much information to wait until a few days before to study.  I would recommend making study guides for each topic as you go throughout the year, and then maybe a week or two weeks before finals you can go back and look over all your previously made study guides.  When I do this I notice how quickly the older material comes back to me and I find that studying for the final this way is easier for me.  What works for me may not work for you, but I can promise you cramming will not work.  No doubt you will develop your method of reviewing older material and new material during your first finals week.  If you have any questions about this article or questions about school in general please feel free to email me at castaggs@presby.edu.

Caleb
P2 - Class of 2017

Preparing Your CV

Preparing your CV

In pharmacy school, when applying to internship, future jobs, or other career advancing opportunities, PharmD candidates should apply with a curriculum vitae (CV) instead of a resume. A resume is usually one page summary of your job history and applicable skills whereas a CV is an in-depth document that can be laid out over two or more pages.

A CV contains a high level of detail about your education, accomplishments, publications, awards, etc. It conveys your personal details in the way that presents you in the best possible light. A CV is a marketing document in which you are marketing something: yourself! You need to "sell" your skills, abilities, qualifications and experience to employers.

What should go on a PharmD candidate’s CV? A pharmacy student’s CV should contain the following sections:

1. Education

                On a pharmacy student’s CV it is necessary to include your undergraduate education. If you did not graduate, you can refer to your pre-requisites as pre-pharmacy coursework. Make sure to include the dates of attendance and the location of your school. It is not necessary to include any high school information.

2. Professional Experience

                This is the section where you tell about your work experience. You will list paid internships and any pharmacy-related work experience. A brief description of your job duties is important to include as it can show future employers the qualifications you have.

3. Rotational Experience

                Rotations are your Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs). List these in order of most recent. Make sure to list the institution’s name, your preceptor’s name and title, and the location of the experience.  You can include special projects under this section.

4. Pharmacy Licensures and Certifications

                Most of your pharmacy licenses and certifications such as HIPAA and Bloodbourne pathogen training will be obtained once you start pharmacy school. It is important to keep these updated.

5. Leadership

                This is where you shine! Once you become involved at Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy, you have many opportunities to lead. Whether you become an ambassador, president, or committee chair—make sure to tell everyone how awesome you are!

6. Professional Organizations

                Every pharmacy student is required to join one professional organization while at school. Make sure to list these here and include dates of membership.

7. Professional Service

                In addition to joining a professional organization, it’s required to serve our community with pharmacy-related and non-pharmacy-related service every year. Our profession is a career of service so it’s great to get a head start on helping others!

8. Professional Development

                As a professional, it’s important to make sure you are up-to-date with the most recent information. Pharmacists and pharmacy students “develop” themselves by attending at least one professional meeting each year. Include the title of the meeting, date, and location.

9. Presentations (if applicable)

                There are numerous opportunities to present throughout pharmacy school. You may include the information from a class presentation but it is recommended to include a presentation that was delivered to an audience outside of school.

10. Posters (if applicable)

                If you are involved in any research throughout your pharmacy school career and are chosen to present your poster at a meeting or symposium, make sure to let everyone know how talented you are!

11. References (attached)

                Always have 3 references available on a separate sheet of paper if asked. You may include the phrase “available upon request” on your CV.

12. Extra

Shadowing, Research, Honors and Awards, etc. may be listed where you feel necessary.

Alex

P3 - Class of 2016

Volunteering in the Community

At PCSP, we follow the motto of, “While we live, we serve.” As future pharmacists, we must be sensitive to the idea of the Care for the Community. Since our patients live in the communities we will one day practice, we must be sensitive to the needs of our communities, to ensure the healthiest patients. As healthcare professionals, we have a duty to the upmost care of our patients and communities as a whole.

I have been able to give back to the community of Clinton by serving as a weekly volunteer at the Palmetto Therapeutic Riding Program, located right here in Clinton, SC. This program provides horseback riding lessons to children and adults with different disabilities. At the lessons, I help prepare the horses, and assist in the actual lessons. I will sometimes lead the horses, or serve as a side-walker to some riders. Not only has this given me the chance to give back to others, but the experience has been extremely rewarding to me as well! This gives me a few hours each week that I can have a break from school and studying. Being around the horses and animals is a relaxing experience. In addition, it is very fulfilling to watch the progression of the riders and the joy they experience from the lessons and the time with the horses.

Overall, volunteering in the community has been extremely beneficial. I have the opportunity to serve the community and have learned more about the importance of the care for the community motto. Not only am I helping others, but I look forward to attending the lessons each week! I highly encourage you to be actively involved in the community during your time here at PCSP. You won’t regret it!

Annie

P1 - Class of 2018

End of the Year Picnic

Every year we have a “Welcome Back” picnic and at the end of the year we have an “End of Year (EOY) Picnic”.  It is very important to attend both of these events because as a newcomer or a person leaving, networking and touching bases with your future co-workers is important.

My first year attending the picnic was very significant for me. Beginning pharmacy school was an overwhelming process for me. Being able to meet current students already in the program helped to ease my worries a little into starting my first couple of months.  Conversing with some of the students gave me an idea of what to expect and how to approach my beginning stages of pharmacy school. Not only was it effective to know more about the program that I was beginning to start, but as a P3 I am still friends with current and former students. One day soon I will be graduating from pharmacy school, being able to create relationships are important for networking and a possible opportunity to expand my career options.

The EOY picnic is definitely a much less overwhelming process because not only have I made it through the first year of pharmacy school, but it is close to summer break!  Spending time with classmates in school every day is different than hanging out with classmates outside of the school setting.  It is very important to create those relationships and friendships not only in a professional setting but in a personal setting.  These relationships that can be created can take you a long way in your journey as a future pharmacist professionally and personally.  So my advice is to have a great time and attend the picnics and other events, especially the EOY picnic, you never know where the road might lead you.

Sienna

P3 - Class of 2016

Preparing for Finals

My first semester in pharmacy school I was so nervous for finals week.  I had no idea how I was going to study for cumulative finals in multiple classes to be taken within the same week.  Throughout my time here at PC I have been able to talk with other students and professors to learn some helpful ways to study for finals.

The way PC sets up the curriculum, finals week is not a challenge course wise if you keep up with the material throughout the semester.  If you learn better by making flashcards or study guides, I recommend making them for each section you are learning at that time.  This will allow you to have the information in a condensed and organized form to study from.  The material really does build upon itself so if there is something you are unsure of when a professor is explaining it, do not be afraid to ask!  Clarifying material early on will help you to remember it better and have less to learn or relearn for when it comes time for finals.  I found that it is very beneficial to keep on top of your material.  For example, even if exams may not be cumulative throughout the year, go back and review previous material.  Doing so will help you study a little at a time instead of trying to study everything all at once for the final.

Finals week may be more stressful for some than others so take time out for yourself if you need to.  Go for a hike, see a movie, or have dinner with family and friends.  Pharmacy school is a wonderful time.  Try not to be too stressed when it comes to finals week, everyone here at PC is here to help!

Nicole

P1 - Class of 2018