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What are some key study tips or advice you would forward to first year pharmacy students?

The first year of pharmacy school can be a very exciting, yet scary experience. There is limited time to adjust and it can be difficult to immediately find mentors that are overflowing with tips and help. Overall, what is some general for advice for first year pharmacy students?

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Kimberly’s Answer

Hello!

I work closely with pharmacy students and this is the feedback I hear most often.
- Stay organized. Every week, write down all due dates/lecture sessions/exams. Block out designated study time.
- Be open to changing your study techniques. You may need to pivot to be able to tackle the information in new ways.
- Understand it's a commitment. You may need to give up other responsibilities for a short while during pharmacy school. It's worth it in the long run!

Good luck!

Kimberly recommends the following next steps:

Buy a planner
Research science-backed study methods
Assess what's on your plate and what can you give up to make time for school
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Sheila’s Answer

Pharmacy school is exciting and demanding. My study tips are based on your learning style. I am a visual learner (color coding and charts). Several times a week, I would review that week’s classes and color code my notes in categories. I also created charts /grids to review. Each week I would review previous week’s material then start the new material. This was time consuming upfront but saved me study time near tests/exams. Due to the rigorous course load, it would have been too much to wait until a week or so before tests/exams to learn the material.

Some of my classmates just read the material every week, often recording what they read to listen to during down time (driving, waiting in line shopping, at restaurants- fast food of course- while waiting on order).

Study groups or studying with just one person also helps in courses that are more challenging.

Hope this helps. Best of luck.
Thank you comment icon Great tips as every student has their own style. I would definitely recommend that you find a group that studies similar to you and create a strong study group. Pharmacy school is very fast paced and you will learn a great deal. Working with others will not only help you talk through what you learn, but prepare you for group projects during and after school. Scott Lason
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Dinah’s Answer

I am currently a second year pharmacy student and I have had my fair share of ups and downs. Pharmacy school is an awesome time in your life, but it is rigorous and demanding at the same time. Being on top of and having school work and having time management skills is the key to really succeeding in pharmacy school. Procrastination will do you no good and you will just dig a deeper hole for yourself. I know students study differently, but handwriting your notes will help you retain so much more information, then just reading the powerpoint or PDF. Your studying habits can change from undergrad to pharmacy school because undergrad doesn't really prepare you for professional schooling. Making a study schedule is also a very good idea because it allows you to stay on top of your work and what you have to do for the day. Reviewing the material a second time after a class is also a good idea as well, so you don't get behind on coursework and then have to spend most of the time before an exam trying to catch up instead of studying. Hope this helps and good luck in school!
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Uzmah’s Answer

I would recommend creating study groups. Studying with peers can be helpful in many ways. You develop and build your understanding of topics when you are able to discuss them. You can come up with questions and research answers together. You can learn from one another and develop common questions that you may have for faculty.
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Mary’s Answer

Congrats on getting into pharmacy school! It is a hard journey but totally worth it. As the previous commenter said, I would definitely encourage you to organize and condense your notes. I would rewrite/reorganize my lecture notes and have a set of condensed notes for each exam per class. After the exam, I would go back and highlight what was asked/emphasized. For the final I only needed to look at my condensed notes instead of looking through each and every lecture.


One major thing I wish I knew as a P1 was to start a CV/resume. You do so much in pharmacy school and don't document it. When you're a P3-P4 applying for programs then you don't have to scramble and make a CV/resume.
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Dolly’s Answer

Pharmacy school can be very exciting at first. However, pharmacy school is all about time management and dedication. Do not be afraid to reach out to anyone who can help whether that be faculty, or your fellow upperclassmen. Also, I would advice you try to join organizations and be active on campus. This would boost leadership skills and networking skills. Pharmacy school is all about what you make of it. Enjoy every experience because believe it or not, it goes by really fast.
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Jackline’s Answer

The most challenging thing about pharmacy school is time management. The curriculum can be overwhelming as you are taught a lot of material that you must retain for exams. Combining that with other activities beyond academics, such as student organizations, family responsibilities, and holding a part-time job, makes it even more challenging. I quickly realized that staying organized and being realistic with my time would help me avoid being overwhelmed and be successful in pharmacy school. So, I started waking up early and purchased a calendar in which I wrote absolutely everything on it, such as exams, meetings, work shifts, and due dates, which have proved essential in my success in pharmacy school.
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