What to Expect

Pharmacy programs are a mix of lectures, labs with hands-on applications and tutorials for discussions. Programs differ from one school to another, but you can expect heavy course loads and stress in every program.

Vincent Fung is a first-year pharmacy student. Fung did two years of prerequisite courses and has a lighter schedule than many of his classmates. Still, he spends two or three hours per day doing homework.

Fung is positive about his future and looks forward to putting his studies to work. "When I graduate, I plan on working in a hospital setting where I can use everything that I've learned in pharmacy school about drugs to help with proper medication management with patients," says Fung.

"I will be able to work alongside other health-care professionals such as physicians and nurses in helping to determine proper medications to use, proper dosages and regimens to ensure that patients are getting optimum therapy," he says.

Charity F. Olson's dream is to work in a community pharmacy in her hometown of Casa Grande, Arizona. She's on her way: she is a pharmacy student at the University of Arizona. "I love interacting with people and would really like to bring a more personal feel back to the local pharmacy," says Olson. "Everything is becoming so big and impersonal and pharmacists have the ability to change that. I want to be the person people call first when their baby has a fever and they need advice. There is no better feeling."

Olson agrees that the heavy course load expected of pharmacy students can be overwhelming. "There is a lot of pressure and the classes are designed to test you academically and emotionally," says Olson. "There is a lot of independent study required and you will have to sacrifice time with family and friends if you wish to succeed."

Olson became an expert in dealing with difficulties in the program during her first year.

She had taken her prerequisites at a local junior college and was having trouble with the transition to university life. Plus she discovered she has testing anxiety. On top of that, her three-hour round trip drive to school was taking a toll on her.

That combination would be difficult for any student. But Olson is also a mom. She has four kids aged five to 12.

So when she broke her arm that year it was the final blow. "The only thing that saved me was reaching out and asking for help," says Olson. "I went to my teachers right away and worked out a plan. Most people don't go to their teachers and ask for help. Pride can hurt you if you are not careful. I had to get over it really quickly and reach out. I was amazed how receptive they were."

Tuition for pharmacy schools is higher than average. But there are some ways to lighten the financial burden. "Some pharmaceutical companies are willing to pay for your education if you can sign a contract to work with them for three to four years after your graduation from the program," says Fung, adding that the military also offers some financial incentives.

If you take good notes and pay attention in class, you might not need to buy all the textbooks, says Fung. Olson recommends studying in groups to cut down on costs and time.

How to Prepare

In high school, you should focus on math and science. "You can never go wrong with those two fields of study," says Olson. "You will also want to pay attention in English."

Fung recommends volunteering in a pharmacy before you apply to the program.

"Get a feel for what really goes on and what you are getting yourself into," he says. There is no limit to the types of extracurricular activities that you can do to prepare.

"Pharmacy is such a diverse field and it requires people from all backgrounds, so there is no set activity. Just be active. Be involved. Be passionate. Those are the qualities pharmacists need to be successful."