Transcript Title

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PILLS 7
General Meeting
Application Workshop
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013
FROM 7:00 -8:30PM AT 101 MORGAN
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: WWW.OCF.BERKELEY.EDU /~PILLS
American Heart Month
o Each year 600,000 people in the United State die because of heart
disease.
o40 states allow pharmacists to provide expanded patient care
o~275 million people visit a pharmacy PER WEEK
oFree blood pressure screenings
oEducate patients on risk factors/prevention
oSavings on aspirin/vitamins/blood pressure monitors
oDistributing guides on heart health
oAPhA launched the Pharmacy Blood Pressure Challenge
o Pharmacists can log their progress online to track their contribution
PILLS Volunteer
Upcoming Volunteer Event
oBerkeley Project Month, 3/9, 8-4pm
oRegister at: http://www.berkeleyproject.org/ , and http://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/nmcqx
oGroup to volunteer with: PILLS; date to volunteer: March 9th; preferred site leader: blank
oEaster Pancake Breakfast, 3/31, 9-1pm
oOakland Chinatown at Lincoln Rec Center
o15 PILLS volunteers
oRSVP 1 week from general meeting
Paid clerk position at Abbotts
Compounding Pharmacy
o Applications due on Friday, 3/15 at 4:00pm
o Located at 2320 Woolsey Street (at Telegraph Ave.)
o 1-2 shifts per week, M-F,1 -5:30pm
o Tasks: general customer service (helping patients, answering phone calls),
packaging prescriptions for delivery, assisting pharmacist/pharmacy technicians
o Email cover letter and resume to [email protected]
o Format: “LAST NAME_FIRST NAME_Resume” and “LAST NAME_FIRST
NAME_Cover_Letter”
o Interviews during week of 3/18
oQuestions? Email [email protected]
Social
•InterHealth Social
•Friday, March 8th, 6:30-8PM
•Come meet other members from
different clubs: PAHC,
ForeSight,PDS, etc.
•Fulfill your Social Requirement to
be an Active Members in PILLS
PhREND & SIBLING
Updates!
NCPPS
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PRE-PHARMACY SYMPOSIUM
th
7
Annual Northern California
Pre-Pharmacy Symposium (NCPPS)
oWhen: Saturday, April 6th, 2013 8:45AM-4:30PM
oWhere: VLSB
oRegistration: $16 public, $13 PILLS members
oHow: http://pillsncpps2013.eventbrite.com
Application Checklist
oPrimary Application – PharmCAS
o Transcripts
o Personal Statement
o Letters of Recommendations (LORs)
oSecondary Applications
oCompletion of Coursework
oPharmacy Experience
oExtra-curricular & Leadership Experience
oInterview Preparation
PharmCAS
Checklist
PharmCAS
What you need to complete: (http://www.pharmcas.org/docs/CHECKLIST%201213.pdf)
 Basic biographic information
 Send in PCAT scores if applicable
 Send in ALL college transcripts (including community colleges)
 http://www.pharmcas.org/applicants/transcripts.htm
 Send in letters of recommendation
 Personal Statement
 Prompt: Your Personal Essay should address why you selected pharmacy as a career and how the Doctor of Pharmacy degree
relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background
will help you achieve your goals. (4500 characters)
 Payment ($150 for the 1st school, $50 for the subsequent schools)
Processing time AFTER submission is around 3-4 weeks, so plan accordingly!
◦ Example: UCSF’s application is due on November 1, so you can submit your PharmCAS application on
November 1, but PharmCAS will not finish processing all your material and send it to UCSF until midNovember
Home Page
1st section: Applicant Information
2nd section: Academic History
3rd section: Additional Information
4th section: Essay
5th section: Privacy Statement
6th section: References
7th section: Schools to Submit to
Read the FAQs!
PCAT
College Information
Transcripts
Coursework
Extracurriculars
Example - Active PILLS Member
Name of Organization: Pre-Pharmacy Informational Learning Society
City: Berkeley
Is the activity related to pharmacy or health care?: Yes
Related Healthcare Profession: Pharmacy
Total Number of hours: 17 (If active member for 1 year)
Average Weekly Hours: 0.5
Activity Date: September 2012-Present
Personal Statement
Letters of Recommendation
Fees and Waivers
oOn PharmCAS, the fee depends on the number of schools that you want to receive your
application. Your application will not be considered until payment is received.
oFees are non-refundable (this includes withdrawals and missed deadlines)
o$150 for one school and $50 for each additional school for the 2012-2013 cycle
oAvailable for those in financial need, but you must apply by the deadline! First come, first serve
basis.
o This is based on your income, your parent’s income and whether you are claimed as a dependent
according to the most recent Federal Income Tax Return.
o If you are given a fee waiver, you can apply to one school for free
o Must use within 45 business days or you will lose it!
o Do not e-submit until your request for fee waiver has been approved or denied
o If approved, must pay by money order
Letters of
Recommendation (LOR)
Letters of Recommendation – Why?
oLetters of rec are part of what the schools use to assess your application.
oThey can often make or break an application
oAllows for someone else to vouch for your abilities
Letters of Recommendation – How?
oPharmCAS allows for up to 4 letters to be submitted
o Submission can be electronic or by mail. Electronic submission is preferred
o See here for detailed instructions
oPharmCAS provides a list of questions to the person writing your letter. Detailed instructions
and questions available here
oKeep in mind that schools have different LOR requirements. Review the specific requirements
for each school you’re applying for! This school-specific information can be found both on the
school websites and on PharmCAS
oUSC requires 2, with at least 1 being from a faculty member
oUSC accepts 4, requires 3.
Letters of Recommendation – How?
oWho should you ask?
o Again, can depend on the school, but in general they should be from people who:
o Know you well (not just someone with a reputation)
o Can speak for your academic ability
o Can vouch for skills (communication, leadership, critical thinking, teamwork, motivation, etc.)
o Someone who can articulate all of the above (basically someone who can write a good letter
Examples:
Pharmacist
Professor
Boss/supervisor
Post-doc
Letters of Recommendation
oHow to ask for one
o Ask in person, then follow up with an email
o Give your letter writer plenty of time. Ask at least 2-3 months in advance, and make sure you follow up
with them
o Clarify deadlines, requirements
o Provide your letter writer with whatever they require (Cover letter, personal statement, resume,
transcript)
o Be prepared to articulate your interest in the program you’re applying to.
oOther tips:
o Confidential letters are preferred
o Check the career center and school websites for more specific information
Questions about
primary application?
Supplemental Applications
and Interviews
Supplemental Application
oIn addition to the PharmCAS application, many schools also require a secondary “supplemental
application”
o Basic biographical questions
o Coursework information (again)
o Additional essay questions specific to the school
o Resume
oBoth applications (primary and secondary) are due by school specified deadlines
oTIPS:
o CHECK DEADLINES!
o May be different from PharmCAS application deadline, and different between schools
o START EARLY
o Some questions require more thought than others
o Keep a journal of pharmacy and write down ideas as you go
Interviews
oAfter submitting applications, schools may start contacting you for interviews
oYou are responsible for arranging your own transportation and lodging
oDress in business attire
oTIPS:
o Research the style and format of interview
o Research potential interview questions (studentdoctor.net)
o Know yourself, why pharmacy, and why that particular school
UCSF
Supplemental
Application
Background
oFounded in 1872, fist pharmacy school in the West
oLocated in San Francisco, CA on the UCSF Parnassus Campus. No undergraduate program.
oUCSF mascot is presumably a bear, though it does not have any athletics, thus no official mascot
o were voting on possible a bank of fog, or bacteria
oIn 2012, US News and World Report ranked UCSF School of Pharmacy number one. Also first in
NIH research funding among pharmacy schools.
oInnovators of 3-pathway PharmD (Pharmaceutical Care, Pharmaceutical Science, and Health
Services and Policy Research)
oAdmissions Coordinator Joel Gonzales’ Blog: http://pharmdadmissions.ucsf.edu/
UCSF Application Overview
oCost: in state ~$35K/academic year
o Primary Application: PharmCAS
o Secondary Application: 4 required essays, and 1 optional
o $60 Application fee, $80 for international students
o Letter of Recommendation: 3 or 4 (additional ones will be discarded).
o At least 1 from a person who knows you through college-level academic work
o Interview: Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) & Essay
o New interview process for Fall 2013 candidates
o 6 minute rotations of independent assessments
o Meant to get aggregate score of soft skills like professionalism, ethical/moral judgment, interpersonal skills
oAcceptance: Interview offers around Christmas, admission decisions before April 1st, not rolling
admission
University of the Pacific
THOMAS J. LONG SCHOOL OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH SCIENCES
Background
oLocation: Stockton, CA. approximately 1.5hr
drive from Berkeley, 1hr south of Sacramento
oPharmacy school is not on main campus
o3 year accelerated program: 3 week summer
break, class from 8-5 almost 5 days a week
oDual degree program offered: PharmD/MBA,
PharmD/PhD
oProduces most number of pharmacists in
California
oFor more information:
http://schoolpages.pharmcas.org/publishedsurvey/490
Personal Tips
oRolling admission: APPLY EARLY! No PCAT required
oEssay prompts: Describe a challenge that you have overcome; Why University of the Pacific
oResume required for supplemental application, format it well
oRequired rec letter: one professor, one pharmacist
oOpen filed interview, one student one professor, 20 mins each
oRelaxing interview, friendly staff
oNotified within 2 weeks of interview about acceptance
oDeposit expensive, $750.
oDeposit paid within 2 weeks of acceptance to secure spot
University of California,
San Diego
SKAGGS SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
Background & Environment
oLocated in La Jolla, CA
o Established in 2000, first graduating class of pharmacy was in 2002
o Four-year program closely associated with UCSD School of Medicine
o Numerous research and development companies surrounding the campus
o Close proximity to the beach
oMarine pharmacology or sea medicine
Application Process
o Website: http://pharmacy.ucsd.edu/prospective/admissions-process.shtml
o In-State: ~$50K/year (detailed breakdown
http://meded.ucsd.edu/assets/25/File/Student%20Budgets%20201213_PHARM%281%29.pdf)
oOut of State: ~62K/year
oPrimary application through PharmCAS
o Secondary application: $80 application fee (must be postmarked by due date)
o Letters of Recommendation: three (see PharmCAS)
o Interviews: Conducted January/February
oEmphasis placed on oral and written communication skills
oSeek personal & emotional characteristics necessary to become an effective
pharmacy practitioner
SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
Background
o Located on USC’s Health Campus in Los Angeles, California
across from the LAC+USC Medical Center off the I-10/I-5
Freeway
o Neighbors with Keck School of Medicine, Norris Cancer Center,
Doheny Eye Institute
o Founded in 1905 and established nation’s first clinical
pharmacy program
o Dense in API and Hispanic population
o Top 5 non-English languages in LA/OC area are Spanish, Cantonese,
Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean
o 730 PharmD students, 86 faculty members
o Strong in Dual/Joint Degrees (+1-2 years)
Application Process
o Preliminary Application (Part I) through PharmCAS by early to mid-November.
o Supplementary (Part II) material due at the same time.
o Part I – General process, 2 Letter of Recommendations, price depends on # of school applied
o Part II – Resume, no longer application fee for supplementary
o 2 parts to Interview Process: oral interview and written interview
o Will be notified 2-3 weeks before interview,
o Oral (20+ minutes): main questions (why pharmacy, why USC, strengths/weaknesses), don’t be around
the bush, be sincere (no BS-ing), stay calm (no caffeinated drinks in morning)
o For Class of 2016: 1,065 applied, 450 interviewed, 282 admitted (26%), 185 seated
o Average age: 24, Average GPA: 3.59
o Highly consider GPA, but also extracurricular
o If unaccepted, some get put on active consideration for following year.
Touro University
California
COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
Background
o Located on Mare Island, in Vallejo, CA, at a
National Historic Landmark of what once was a
U.S. Navy base.
o Established in 1997, first graduating class of
pharmacy was in 2009
o Distinguished 2+2 program
o Offers 7 required rotations, 4 elective
rotations
o Local, has many affiliation with Berkeley
clinics, pharmacies & UC Berkeley clubs
Application Process
o Website: http://admissions.tu.edu/cop/process.html ; Admission questions contact
[email protected]
o Cost: $40K/academic year
o Primary Application: PharmCAS (3 to 6 weeks processing period)
o Secondary Application: $50 Application fee
o Letter of Recommendation: Requires THREE ( 1 biological/physical sciences faculty member,
remaining two up to applicant), but you may send more
o Interview: Group setting (3 panelist, 5-6 interviewees)
o Gauges verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills
oAcceptance: Discussed every other week and decisions are sent out immediately afterwards
Questions about
secondary applications?
Out of State & PCAT
SCHOOLS OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA.
Why Out of State?
oMany top pharmacy schools are out
of state.
oMany different programs out there:
oDual Degrees, 3 year programs, etc.
oMany require PCAT, some do not.
oNew experiences.
oBetter job market in other states.
PCAT Overview
oPCAT Costs: $199
oWill only reimburse half of payment if test is cancelled. Avoid the late fee.
oScore is based on percentile rank: 1 to 99th percentile. (99th percentile is
highest score)
oMay improve application if you have a low GPA.
oStandardized test = able to evaluate across schools.
oTest is taken on a computer and is timed by section.
oNo points deducted for wrong answers.
oOne of writing subtest experimental.
o48 questions each section (40 scored, 8 experimental)
oWill have to choose which schools to send score to when registering.
PCAT
Test Structure
Studying for PCAT
oRecommended classes:
oOrganic Chemistry: CHEM 3A/3B or 112A/112B
oGeneral Chemistry: CHEM 1A/1B or 4A/4B
oBiology: BIO 1A/1B
oAnatomy: IB 131
oCalculus: MATH 16A/16B or 1A/1B
oWhen to take: Summer after Sophomore year
or Winter break of Junior year
oStudy Preparation:
o Kaplan Classes
oPrinceton Review, Barron’s, Kaplan study books
PCAT Test Days
Questions?
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PILLS 8
General Meeting
Pharmacy guest speaker
TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013
FROM 7:00-8:30PM, LOCATION TBD