unlocking pharmacy school 🥼 entry tips, interviews, education & everything you must know UK guide

Summary

This video offers an in-depth look at the realities of studying pharmacy, debunking myths and providing personal insights from a pharmacy student. The speaker discusses the challenging and time-consuming nature of the degree, emphasizing the importance of a genuine interest in chemistry and medications. They also touch on the clinical and scientific aspects of the field, the workload, and the mental preparation needed. While acknowledging that pharmacy is demanding, the speaker suggests it’s ideal for those passionate about medicinal chemistry and patient care, rather than those seeking it as a fallback career.

Takeaways

• 😀 Pharmacy is not a backup degree for medicine; it is a rigorous, demanding field that requires genuine interest and dedication.
• 🧪 Pharmacy involves a heavy workload with daily lectures, laboratory classes, clinical and dispensary sessions, and volunteer work.
• 🩺 Students considering Pharmacy should have a strong interest in chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and the science behind medicines.
• 💡 Pharmacy is a scientific degree that focuses on understanding the properties and effects of medications, not just dispensing them.
• 💼 If you don’t care about medications and their scientific aspects, Pharmacy is not the right choice for you.
• 📚 The Pharmacy degree is content-heavy, with a constant increase in the amount of material covered each year.
• 🤔 Pharmacy is challenging, requiring mental preparation for its intensity, but it is not impossible for those dedicated to the subject.
• ⏰ In addition to studying, students need to complete clinical placements, attend workshops, and fulfill volunteer hours as part of the degree.
• 🏫 Unlike some other degrees, Pharmacy has no optional modules; students must study all the required content.
• 🎓 The degree’s difficulty is on par with other medical fields, but the sheer volume of content in Pharmacy can make it particularly overwhelming for some students.
• 🔬 If you're fascinated by how drugs work and the science of medicinal chemistry, Pharmacy can be an exciting and rewarding field to study.

Q & A

Why is pharmacy considered a challenging degree?

Pharmacy is a challenging degree because it involves a heavy workload, including daily lectures, extensive laboratory and clinical classes, mandatory placements, and volunteering. It also requires deep understanding of medications, pharmaceutical chemistry, and formulations, which can be difficult for those not genuinely interested in these topics.

What is the key difference between pharmacy and other healthcare degrees like medicine or nursing?

Pharmacy is primarily science-focused, specifically on medications, chemistry, and pharmaceutical formulations. Unlike degrees in medicine or nursing, which have a stronger clinical component, pharmacy is centered around understanding drugs and how they work, requiring a deep interest in chemistry and medicinal science.

Is pharmacy a good backup degree for medicine?

No, pharmacy should not be considered a backup for medicine. While it may seem like a similar field, pharmacy requires a different skill set and deep interest in medications. Many students who choose pharmacy as a backup for medicine struggle because it demands significant dedication and interest in pharmaceutical science.

What qualities make someone a good candidate for studying pharmacy?

A good candidate for studying pharmacy is someone who enjoys chemistry, is fascinated by how medications work, and is curious about the science behind drugs and their formulations. This person should also be willing to commit to the rigorous coursework and clinical aspects of the degree.

What does a typical day look like for a pharmacy student?

A typical day involves 3-4 hours of lectures, followed by 6-8 hours of laboratory and clinical classes, as well as placements and workshops. Pharmacy students also have to balance coursework, volunteering, and revision, making it a highly demanding schedule.

How much time does a pharmacy student need to dedicate to placements and volunteering?

Pharmacy students are required to complete at least 120 hours of placements at clinical sites such as hospitals or GP practices. In addition, they must volunteer for 40 hours throughout the year, on top of their regular studies and coursework.

What advice does the speaker give to students considering pharmacy as a backup degree?

The speaker advises against choosing pharmacy as a backup degree, especially if you're not passionate about medications and chemistry. Pharmacy is demanding, and those who lack interest or see it as just a fallback option tend to struggle and may not graduate.

What personal experiences did the speaker share regarding their decision to study pharmacy?

The speaker initially wanted to pursue pharmacology or chemistry-based degrees but was influenced by their family to choose pharmacy. They found that pharmacy aligned well with their interests in medicinal chemistry, and they enjoyed the degree despite some challenges with the clinical parts of the program.

What is the hardest part of studying pharmacy, according to the speaker?

The hardest part of studying pharmacy is the sheer volume of content and the extensive nature of the degree. The speaker mentions that they were often unprepared for the amount of material they had to learn, and the difficulty increases each year as the program becomes more content-heavy.

How does the difficulty of pharmacy compare to medicine?

While pharmacy and medicine both have their challenges, the speaker feels that medicine involves a larger volume of content, though it may be more facilitated for students. Pharmacy, however, has its own unique challenges, such as the complexity of pharmaceutical formulations and the requirement for deep understanding of drug science.