Question:
I am in first year right now. A lot of people I know score high without studying as much. It takes me more effort and I still end up doing just a bit lower than class average. This is causing me alot of stress and anxiety. Do first year marks determine whether I will be able to get through the next 3 years?
Response 1:
We’re all coming into pharmacy school from different backgrounds and level of education. As a bulk of the first year term rests in anatomy, there are many people who may have already done courses similar to it in their undergrad, and may find it easier than those who haven’t. Studying for pharmacy is going to be different from undergrad, so everyone’s still adjusting to their own pace and learning style coming in. If you are hovering around class average, that’s not bad at all! You’ll find that once you find your own groove it will seem a lot more doable. Definitely reach out to your peers, form study groups, ask for help when you need it! If you find you are struggling with something specific in a course, reach out during the prof’s office hours. Keeping all these things in mind will help you succeed in the next 3 years for sure!
Response 2: Thanks for your question! I remember a similar feeling so I hope you know you’re not alone and that a lot of others are feeling the same way you are. The best advice that I can give is to focus on what you’re doing more than on how others are doing. This is easier said than done and I think we are all guilty of comparing ourselves to others, however, it won’t help you become a better pharmacist and at the end of the day that’s what pharmacy school is all about. Of course, do the best you can and take advantage of all the resources to help you succeed, but honestly grasping the concepts the best YOU can is what matters, not your individual grade on every test. Remember, you made it! You’re in pharmacy school. Now try to shift your focus from high grades to wanting to do your best to become a better pharmacist. Good luck!
Response 3: Thanks for the question! I had the exact same feeling when I started pharmacy school, particularly with the anatomy courses (I would get around ~70% on the midterms). I can tell you that going to pharmacy school for the sake of achieving a specific score will not help things and may in fact make you feel worse. This is definitely something difficult to believe in, especially when that is what you are used to doing from undergrad. Being a good pharmacist and achieving good grades are not the same thing. Of course, you should study and try to do well, but most importantly, try to understand the relevance of the information and how that will help you in your placements/future job. I know this is easier said than done, but trust me when I say this. On another note, the marks you obtain in first year are often times different from what you will encounter in the subsequent years, so if you find yourself below average now, you may do exceedingly well in your future courses-this was the case for myself. I find it was because those courses are based on pharmacotherapy and very relevant to what you will do in practice. It is also new information, so all of your classmates are in the same playing field, unlike with anatomy/physiology where some students may have an advantage over others from previous experience. In practice, your grades from school do you very little justice in providing great patient care. At that point, its making use of your resources and being efficient that matters. This is why employers do not look at your grades when they hire you, but instead focus on your personality, previous experiences and ability to handle situations. As mentioned above, please do not get lost in only striving for the numbers, but more on being a good pharmacist. Know that you are not alone, and school will be over in the flash of an eye and you will miss it tons! So make the most of it, enjoy it and try to learn as much as you can. I say all of these things based on my own experiences. Best of luck!