Get into Pharmacy School

by William Figg; Cindy H Chau

• ISBN13: 9781607144779
• ISBN10: 1607144778
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-10-20
• Publisher: Kaplan Publishing

Summary

Earning an impressive score on the PCAT exam is not enough to gain admission to a reputable pharmacy school.Get Into Pharmacy School: RX for Success!, the only guide on the market that offers candid insight into a pharmacy career, is a mustread for applicants.This book offers expert advice on how to prepare an application, write persuasive personal essays, obtain the best recommendations, and sail through interviews. Also included as an appendix are contact info and entrance stats for accredited U.S. schools.

Author Biography

Dr. William Douglas Figg received his BS in Pharmacy from Samford University and his doctoral degree from Auburn University. He received an MBA degree from a combined program at Columbia University and the London Business School. Dr. Figg joined the National Cancer Institute I 1992. Dr. Cindy H. Chau received her PharmaD and PhD degrees from the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy as an NIH predoctoral fellow. She is currently completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Cancer Institute.

Table of Contents

About the Authors	p. ix
How to Use This Book	p. xi
is Pharmacy School For You?
Introduction to Pharmacy	p. 3
What Is Pharmacy?	p. 3
A Profession on the Rise	p. 4
The Changing Role of the Pharmacist	p. 5
What Can a Career in Pharmacy Lead To?	p. 5
Components under the Pharmacy Education Umbrella	p. 7
Making the Decision	p. 11
The Life of a Pharmacist	p. 11
The Pros and Cons of Being a Pharmacist	p. 15
The Qualities of a Pharmacist	p. 17
Planning For Pharmacy School
Planning Your Undergraduate Experience	p. 21
Deciding on Your Undergraduate College	p. 21
Choosing an Undergraduate Major	p. 24
Prepharmacy Course Requirements	p. 25
The Option of Online Classes	p. 28
Extracurricular Activities	p. 29
On-the-Iob Experience	p. 30
The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)	p. 33
What's on the Test	p. 33
How the PCAT Is Scored	p. 35
Tips for Taking the PCAT	p. 36
Test Dates and Registration	p. 37
Selecting the Right Program	p. 39
Traditional Pharm.D. Programs	p. 40
Location	p. 43
Cost	p. 44
Accreditation	p. 44
Balancing Personal and Academic Life	p. 46
Alternative Pharmacy School Programs	p. 47
Public versus Private Schools: Preference for In-State Residents	p. 49
Researching Pharmacy Schools	p. 51
Resources	p. 52
Websites	p. 52
What's the Important Information?	p. 53
Applying To Pharmacy School-Navigating The Application Process
Admissions Criteria	p. 59
Academic Ability	p. 59
Pharmacy Experience/Knowledge of the Pharmacy Profession	p. 61
Leadership Skills	p. 61
Effective Communication	p. 61
Community Service	p. 62
The Nontraditional Student	p. 62
Your Total Package	p. 62
Completing the Application	p. 65
What Is PharmCAS?	p. 65
Deadlines	p. 67
Non-PharmCAS Schools	p. 68
Application Dos and Don'ts	p. 68
Personal Statement	p. 71
Ideas for Getting Started	p. 71
Explaining Special Circumstances	p. 72
Fine-Tuning Your Statement	p. 72
Writing Drafts	p. 73
The Five Most Common Mistakes	p. 73
The Supplemental Application to the PharmCAS	p. 75
Letters of Recommendation	p. 77
General Guidelines	p. 77
How to Solicit Letters	p. 78
Etiquette	p. 79
What Makes a Great Recommendation?	p. 80
The PharmCAS Letters of Reference Service	p. 80
Confidential or Nonconfidential Letters	p. 81
The Interview	p. 83
The Oral Portion of the Interview	p. 83
The Written Portion of the Interview	p. 87
How to Prepare	p. 88
Last-Minute Tips on Preparing for Your Interview Day	p. 91
Admissions Process-An Inside Perspective	p. 93
Weighing In on the Factors	p. 93
The Admissions Committee: Understanding the Process	p. 97
Sharing of Admission Decisions	p. 98
Alternate Lists	p. 99
Rejection and Your Alternatives	p. 101
What Went Wrong	p. 101
Postbaccalaureate Programs	p. 104
Consider the Alternatives	p. 104
Preparing for your Career in Pharmacy
What to Expect and Do in Pharmacy School	p. 109
Organizations within Pharmacy Schools	p. 109
Working While in School	p. 110
Internships	p. 111
Preparing for the License Exam (NAPLEX)	p. 112
Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE)	p. 114
Postprofessional (Post-Pharm.D.)-Residencies, Fellowships, and Board Certifications	p. 115
Residencies	p. 115
Fellowships	p. 118
Training and Career Development for Pharm.D. Researchers	p. 118
Graduate Study	p. 118
Board Certifications	p. 119
Career Options	p. 123
Community Pharmacy Practice	p. 124
Consultant Pharmacy and Senior Care Pharmacy	p. 124
Hospital Pharmacy Practice	p. 126
Managed Care Pharmacy	p. 127
The Pharmaceutical Industry	p. 128
Academic Pharmacy	p. 129
Governmental Agencies	p. 130
U.S. Public Health Service	p. 130
Other Specialized Fields in Pharmacy	p. 134
Beyond the Typical Pharmacist Role	p. 134
Financing Your Degree
Figuring Out Costs	p. 137
Tuition and Fees	p. 138
Public Schools and Residency	p. 138
The Budget	p. 139
Comparing Pharmacy School Costs	p. 140
Calculating Aid	p. 140
Applying for Financial Aid	p. 143
Application Materials	p. 143
Supplemental Financial Aid Forms	p. 144
Calculating Your Need	p. 145
Determining the Expected Family Contribution	p. 147
Federal Methodology	p. 147
Graduate Classification	p. 148
What to Expect Next	p. 148
How Aid Is Awarded	p. 149
Finding Free Money	p. 151
Federal Funds	p. 151
State Funds	p. 152
Institutional Funds	p. 152
Pharmacy Education Financial Programs Database153
Additional Scholarship Search Databases	p. 153
Borrowing the Money	p. 155
Federal Loan Programs	p. 155
PLUS Loans	p. 158
Federal Perkins Student Loan	p. 159
Health Professions Student Loans	p. 159
Loans for Disadvantaged Students	p. 159
Private Loans	p. 160
Loan Repayment Programs (LRP)	p. 160
Federal Loan Consolidation	p. 161
Debt Management	p. 162
Resources
Quick Reference List of Key Resources	p. 167
Pharmacy School Statistics	p. 169
Index	p. 201
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