Welcome to the Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy blog!

Friday, December 27, 2013

Tips on Interviewing.


As a Student Ambassador, one of the things I’ve picked up on is that prospective students get some serious butterflies for their interviews. I suppose there’s good reason for the nervousness right? It’s not like your whole future might depend on the interview process! So I decided to write this blog to give prospective students tips for conquering the interview so that when you leave, you’ll be happily thinking, “I killed it!”

1. Dress to Impress

First impressions are always important. When you walk into the interview room, the first thing everyone is going to notice is your appearance. Guys, you should wear dress slacks, a coat, and a tie to look your best. Ladies, consider black pants and a nice shirt with a coat, or anything that fits the business attire descriptions. Also, make sure you get a good night’s rest before the interview to ensure alertness and to avoid those pesky yawns.

2. Take A Deep Breath

Don’t worry, everyone gets nervous before interviews. I think the important thing to remember here is that the people interviewing you want you to succeed. They want to get to know you. They want you to be comfortable. So relax, take a big deep breath before you go in and maintain a positive attitude. When you go in, offer a firm handshake to your interviewers and introduce yourself.

3. The Interview

Now it’s time to get things started. Take a few more breaths if you still feel a little nervous. Sit up straight and be a good listener. When speaking, try to be clear and concise and speak in complete sentences. Don’t forget about eye contact! It’s the key to effective speaking. Answer questions presented to you with necessary information but don’t ramble. Speak from the heart and be honest in your responses. If you can’t think of an answer to a question immediately, don’t panic! Just take another breath and think about it for a few seconds. The interview is not a race so remember to take your time. Throughout the interview, be courteous and use good manners, be friendly but not too casual, and organize your thoughts.

4. Don’t…

Chew gum, speak in slang, play with your hair or clothes, act like you know everything, interrupt, smell like cigarettes, speak negatively, slouch, lie, discuss controversial topics, argue, and never ever ever ever answer your cell phone or text messages (unless its an emergency)!

5. Wrapping In Up

Upon the conclusion of the interview, thank the interviewers for their time. If you have any questions about the application process or the school in general, now is a good time to ask. And what may have seemed like an eternity is now over! You did it and you’re done! Follow these tips and I guarantee you will leave feeling confident and excited to get that acceptance letter.

 
I wish everyone applying good luck and hope you found these tips helpful!

Written by Zack, P1 Student





Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Bring Your "Swagger" to PCSP!


Dear prospective students, congratulation on getting to the interview process!!  The interview part of the process was my favorite.  I knew if I could get an interview and the school was able to see who I really am, I would have a great shot at getting a seat in the upcoming class.  I know there will be a lot of nerves kicking in during the interviews and that is normal.  I would like to pass this on to you.  One of my professors always tells our class that as long as we show up to test day with our “swagger” then we will do just fine.  I have listened to him and learned that as long as I show up in whatever I am doing with “swagger”/ confidence in myself then I do just fine.  So as you are preparing for your interview or if you have already been accepted and you are preparing for the start of the year, come with your “swagger”, have your personal confidence built, be yourself and you will be successful.

If you have already been accepted and you are looking for a way to get a jump start on your P1 year, there are few things I would suggest.  First go ahead and learn the top 200 drugs in both brand and generic names, this will be HUGE advantage to you if you already know these terms coming in.  Secondly, when you get tasks that you think are small task that you can easily knock out then go ahead on the weekend and easily knock them out.  You do not want these easier tasks piling up on you at the end of the semester.

Best Wishes!!
Written by Caleb, P1 student

Monday, December 9, 2013

White Coat Ceremony


White Coat Ceremony, what a day.  I never felt so full of hope and excitement for the future.  It was not simply my induction into the doctor of pharmacy program; the connotation of this phrase goes far beyond the innocently named ceremony or the physically white coat.  I had already worn a white coat before.  Why did I feel so different and special on that particular day?  Maybe it was the representation of all of my hopes and dreams.  I finally felt that I had attained something on account of all of my hard work.  Ironically, on such a day of beginnings I experienced a sense of completion.  The physical ceremony proceeded equally as beautiful as my inner epiphany.  I was impressed by the faculties’ dedication to perfection.  Hopefully we did not throw them off kilter by collectively giving them high fives during the procession.  That moment was so glorious that I proudly take credit for instigating it.
My name is Anna Lavotchin and I highly recommend the white coat ceremony as a day to ponder about the immense blessings bestowed upon us which brought us to that day.  I wish that I could write a blog about every single day at pharmacy school because it keeps getting better and brighter. 
Written by Anna Lavochin, P1 Student
 




Monday, December 2, 2013

Study. No really, STUDY!!!


I’m sure everyone reading this is asking the same question, “How hard is it?”, I know I was. Honestly, it is hard, but if it wasn’t you probably wouldn’t be entertaining the thought of going to pharmacy school. Anything in life worth having is also worth working for. Admit it you want that Pharm. D. and you want to be able to really make a difference in the world, we all do.

So, can you do it?

I asked myself this question every day for the first 3 weeks, then I studied, and I studied right. There are certain things that work for certain people and I encourage you as an incoming student to explore your study options and find out what works; what makes it click to you. Some of you probably have never even had to study, and learning good study habits will be a challenge for you, just don’t give up.

For me, I have a close study group that I click with. We shout out answers, draw on all the lovely white boards we can find, and quiz each other continuously. We meet often and help each other stay motivated. Of course, there is time during these group study sessions for laughter and fun, and when you start including the material in the jokes; you know you’re a real pharmacy school student.

Find what works for you whether it’s studying alone or in groups; flashcards or outlines; put in the time, put in the effort.

So, yes, you can do it.

Written by Rebecca Conley, P1 Student