Things I Wish I Knew as a Pharmacy Student in the First Year

Are you a first-year pharmacy student who is still trying to walk through the ups and downs of this challenging program? Do you still wonder, “is consumer non-durables a good career path?” Don’t worry; we’ve got your back.

As a seasoned pharmacist, I can give you some things I wish I’d known earlier when I was in your shoes. In today’s post, I’ll spill the tea and everything that could make all the difference in your pharmacy school journey. Read on and learn something new.

Clinical Pharmacy Isn’t Always the Ultimate Form of the Profession

As a pharmacy student, you may have been told that clinical pharmacy is the ultimate goal of your profession. While it’s true that clinical pharmacists play a critical role in patient care, it’s no secret that there are many other areas of practice within the field.

For instance, community or retail pharmacy allows you to work face-to-face with patients and counsel them on medications and health issues. You can also choose to work in pharmaceutical research, contributing to developing new drugs or improving existing ones. Therefore, as a freshman pharmacy student exploring career options available after graduation, keep an open mind about various professions before deciding which path suits your passions and interests best.

Don’t Enroll in a Pharmacy School If You’re Not Into Practice Skills

When you’re interested in pharmacy school, the program is developed for students eager to keep learning and improving their skills as a pharmacist. Okay, but what’s special? Enrolling in this kind of program but don’t have any interest or passion for practicing pharmacy is a surefire way to easily get bored and leave the school without ever coming back.

Pharmacy school requires a significant amount of time and energy to complete, so it’s crucial that you truly enjoy the subject matter. Otherwise, you’ll likely burn out quickly and struggle through your studies. It’s also worth noting that finding employment outside of pharmacy after completing such a specialized degree can be difficult.

Networking Is More Important Than You’ve Ever Imagined

As a pharmacy student, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind of studying and attending classes. However, building connections with fellow students, professors, and professionals can be just as important for your future career.

One way to start networking is by joining organizations like the American Pharmacists Association or attending industry conferences. You also need to go through internships or job shadowing experiences for much better networking in this industry. In short, the connections you make now could make or break your future success in the field.

Don’t Be a Future Pharmacist for Money

Make no mistakes: the pay is good, and the financial stability and job security are also great. However, if money is your only motivation for pursuing this profession, you may end up feeling unfulfilled and unsatisfied in the long run. Pharmacy involves working with people’s health and well-being, which requires a genuine passion for helping others. Without this passion, the daily tasks of dispensing medications and consulting patients can become tedious and unenjoyable.

Furthermore, being solely driven by money can lead to neglecting other important aspects of patient care, such as providing education on medication use or identifying potential drug interactions.

So what’s the bottom line? Being a pharmacy student can be challenging yet rewarding at the same time. It’s never too early to start readjusting your future in pharmacy as a freshman. And don’t forget; there will always be new lessons to learn along the way.