Thinking About Pharmacy School?

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Ashish August 18, 2014

All the information you need if you're considering pharmacy school.

In this course, participants learn core principles, concepts, and methods of continuous improvement and explore the history of continuous improvement efforts. In a series of lectures, Master Black Belt in Six Sigma Shane Wentz, Ph.D., enables learners to enhance, optimize, and stabilize business processes and to augment quality control through varied methodologies. Participants gain the skills and knowledge to reimagine internal processes, engage in advanced problem-solving, and empower employees. The course covers high-level foundational principles of Lean, Six Sigma, and DMAIC processes before diving deep into Lean Six Sigma methods. Learners will analyze the tools of process mapping, Kaizen (a continuous improvement method/tool deemed a prerequisite for Lean transformation success), Lean (a continuous improvement philosophy that emphasizes streamlined workflows and reducing waste), and the process improvement methodology driving DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.

Entrepreneurs fostering new ventures outside of well-developed entrepreneurial ecosystems like Silicon Valley face significant challenges. These markets are unlike Silicon Valley, and they will likely remain so. That doesn't mean they can't nurture and sustain new businesses. In transitioning markets that lack abundant private sector financing, creative approaches from government officials, donors, and business leaders can fill the void to support entrepreneurial activity. Northeast Ohio (where Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University are located) has become a laboratory for such innovative solutions. During our time together in this course, we will explore some of these creative approaches to promoting regional entrepreneurship. Northeast Ohio has seen a massive infusion of government and donor resources for over ten years. In that time, Northeast Ohio has promoted regional development (including job creation and follow-on funding) through alternative methods of financing startups. It has not been easy. The region has made progress, but it remains to be seen whether it has struck upon an enduring formula. A dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem takes many years, even decades, to develop. Government policymakers and donors typically seek quicker returns on their support programs, which makes long-term support for entrepreneurship challenging. This course includes case studies and first-person testimonials from entrepreneurs who have launched products and services ranging from medical devices to LED lights to whiskey. You will learn how these entrepreneurs discovered and procured resources from various programs and intermediary organizations. You will hear from business people still in the process of developing their companies as well as those whose ventures have flourished. Our focus will extend beyond Cleveland to selected markets around the world, including Greece, Vietnam, Tunisia, Argentina, Rwanda and China. You will learn about international incentives and other supports available to developing startups and small businesses across the globe. This course examines how different communities around the world approach implementing strategies and methods to support businesses. I will ask you to reflect on how to apply the principles we learn to growing entrepreneurship where you live. The social interactive features of the online platform will enable students from around the world to share ideas and learn from one another. Most MOOCs rebroadcast professors’ lectures; this course is different. Don’t expect to see me standing in front of the camera, talking and lecturing every module. Instead, the lectures will be relatively short in length. They have more of the feel of an engaging documentary than a static classroom setting. ## __What type of person takes the *Beyond Silicon Valley* course?__ - Active and aspiring businesspeople in communities looking to initiate new startup ecosystems or bolster existing ones - Current and prospective entrepreneurs who want to learn about funding sources, risk management, and the lifecycle of startups - Professionals who work in government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, philanthropic institutions, and various private funds that fund startups - Anyone curious about how to create and grow startup ecosystems outside the major tech hubs - The principles Beyond Silicon Valley teaches have been drawn from and applied to startups worldwide, from small villages to megalopolises. You'll study success stories spanning the globe from Vietnam to Kosovo to Botswana. ## __What will you learn in *Beyond Silicon Valley*?__ - How and where startups can find funding to get their businesses off the ground - What role government can play in encouraging startups and a healthy startup ecosystem - How anchor institutions such as universities and healthcare systems participate in startup ecosystems - How nongovernmental organizations support startups - How to raise funds from venture capitalists, angel investors, and accelerators - How to navigate challenging periods in the startup lifecycle - The importance of mentoring in successful startups

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Here are the basics you need to know about pharmacy school, and reasons why the PCAT is so important.

Pharmacy School Length & Curriculum

Pharmacy school, in the US, consists of a 4-year program, which is after one completes her undergraduate degree. This 4-year program results in a Doctorate of Pharmacy (PharmD). There are a few programs that are only 3 years long, but involve a very grueling curriculum with year-around school.

In the pharmacy school curriculum, students start off with an introduction to the sciences, which serves as a bridge between undergraduate courses and pharmacy classes. Introduction pharmacy classes include: microbiology, human physiology, and biochemistry.

The difference between these courses and the ones taken in undergrad is that the courses in pharmacy school have a strong focus on drug metabolism, structure, distribution, and absorption through the body.

Later in the curriculum, students get to dive into actual drugs, disease states, and how to apply the knowledge they learn in real life situations, not just in the classroom, but also on rotations.

Pharmacy School Admission Process

In order to be admitted into pharmacy school, admissions committees look for students that have more than just good grades, but are well-rounded and have an obvious passion for pharmacy.

They look for experience in a pharmacy as a volunteer or as a technician. Schools want to make sure that you know what pharmacy school is all about before they let you in the door. They want to make sure that you have this experience and thus know exactly what is in store.

Another aspect of admissions is a letter of recommendation. These can be from school or work, as long as it is from someone who can attest to your experiences and skills.

Other things that committee members look for are extracurricular activities and what positions you held in them. Did you have leadership roles in these organizations and if you did, what did you accomplish? Finally, the last thing that pharmacy schools look at are your PCAT results.

The PCAT & Pharmacy School

The PCAT is an important part of your application because it shows how good you are at problem solving, how you work under pressure, and how much information you can store and retrieve in a timely manner; it is more than just learning how to read a paragraph and answer some questions.

A good score on the PCAT is more of a reflection of how you work and think and not the actual material being tested. Although there is not a score that is considered a “good score," most pharmacy schools look for scores above the 75th percentile with highly competitive schools looking above the 90th percentile range.

This isn’t saying that you don't have a chance if you get a 72. The whole application is a balance between various criteria. Some applicants have really high PCAT scores with low GPAs, while others have low PCAT scores and high GPAs.

Overall, you want to have a well-rounded application that shows that you are a good student, a good person, and an overall good future pharmacist.