Question from Reader:
“I am curious how you survived pharmacy school. Do you mind sharing the way that you study materials and how you digested all of the information? What is the best way to read pharmacy text books and master all the concepts? I read a pharmacology text book recently, and I felt like the more I read, the harder it was to understand. I couldnt figure out the main point that I needed to remember after completing the chapter. Thanks You.” – Tona
How to Study in Pharmacy School
Pharmacy school can be intimidating to a lot of students. A lot of information is thrown at you in a short amount of time. Each person will study differently and it may take a few tries before you find out what works best for you. Personally, I was one of those individuals that took longer to digest information. I had to spend lots of time at the library reading over my notes over and over trying to memorize information. I really envy those who have photographic memory. These gifted individuals study the night before exams and still score the highest in the class.
For the rest of us we must use different methods to help us memorize and understand the concepts better. Here are my Top 10 Tips for Studying in Pharmacy School:
- Find Old Exams – One of the best ways to study is to first learn how the professor writes his/her exams. This should be a great study guide for you to focus your time on specific materials that will actually be on the exams.
- Find Smarter People – It is a good idea to surround yourself with people who are just simply smarter than you. You can learn a lot from these individuals. It can be how they study, what topics they are focusing on, or maybe just learning difficult concepts from them. You will have to contribute in one way or another since people do not like freeloaders. While your at it, build a friendship and network.
- Avoid reading Text Books – Most professors test from their lecture material and not from the textbooks. Unless of course you see old exams that provide test questions that were taken from text book readings. To save time I would only read from textbooks if you are having a hard time understanding a specific concept. The other way to overcome difficult concepts is to utilize TA’s, professors, and your “smarter classmates”.
- Pharmacy Internships – Having real life experience in pharmacy can help you understand concepts in the classroom setting better. It is another way for your brain to memorize information and put it into practical use instead of just reading information on a piece of paper. (Read about my Pharmacy Internship Experience)
- Record Lectures – If you fall asleep during lecture maybe it would be beneficial to try and listen/watch lecture on your own time. Many students like to record lecture or re-watch recorded lectures. This will allow you pause and write notes so you do not miss anything.
- Proper Sleep, Exercise, and Nutrition – We get extremely busy with school and work and sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves. It is important to get proper sleep as this can severely affect your cognitive abilities. My advice would be to also get regular exercise and eat a balanced diet to prevent getting ill. Taking care of your body will benefit you throughout your life not just during pharmacy school! Remember, eat your vegetables!
- Study Groups – Studying with a group of classmates can significantly improve memory. It utilizes a different part of the brain when we interact with each other verbally to study. Testing each other out loud can help improve your test scores.
- Rewriting Notes – The motion of rewriting your notes is another method to help memorize information.
- Flash Cards – Others may like to use flash cards to help them memorize information. This can be a self study tool or even in a group setting to prepare for exams.
- Think about what worked in the past – All of you have studied for exams and digested a lot of information up to this point to get into pharmacy school. What worked for you in the past? Try new things and try previous methods that showed success.
*Comment below on how you study to improve your test scores and/or understanding of concepts.
I hope the recommendations above will help guide, motivate, and inspire you to achieve your goals. Follow my blog for more tips and advice on finances and being a pharmacist. What are your experiences? Please comment below and share your thoughts.