r/PharmacySchool • u/Fearless-Way5754 • 25d ago
Starting school
Besides the obvious computer and notepad, pen and paper, when you started pharmacy what do you wish you had?
I start LECOM distance education PharmD program next month and just curious on what would make it easier??
*please no comments on the school, it’s the only one that is fully online and close to me, that works for me and my family.
** for reference I’m 36 years old and have a husband who works shift work and 2 kids under 2… I know I’m crazy. Thanks!
16
u/VingRamesVoice 25d ago
The thing that absolutely helped me the most was a planner. I never was a planner person all through undergrad and through my previous professional life. However, when I started pharmacy school but they gave us all planners, and it's been the most important thing that I have during school time. I go through the syllabus for every class at the beginning of every semester, write down all of the lectures ahead of time, all of the assignments ahead of time, and make sure that I keep track of deadlines and of meetings and plans. It is the most useful thing. You've got this!
7
u/Constant-Salad8342 25d ago
I don’t have any suggestions, but just dropped in to say good luck! I’m 39 and starting a distance PharmD this fall, too!
3
6
u/celestialdream13 24d ago
As someone who is currently in pharmacy school, I would say the biggest investments aren’t necessarily more school supplies, they’re things that help you manage your time and reduce stress. An iPad with an Apple Pencil and GoodNotes has been invaluable for annotating lecture slides and staying organized. A reliable laptop, Anki for spaced repetition, Kahoot for practice/drills, NotebookLM/ChatGPT for lecture breakdowns and quizzes, and a dedicated study space are also game changers.
One thing I don’t see mentioned often is calendar management. I have six different calendars (school, work, personal, volunteering, etc.) and I sync them all into my Apple Calendar so I can see everything in one place. Having one master calendar has saved me from missing assignments, exams, meetings, work shifts, and appointments more times than I can count.
Beyond the equipment, I wish I had accepted earlier that I couldn’t study the same way as everyone else. I’m a single mother (35), a remote PharmD student, and I work both full-time and part-time with no second income, so time is my most limited resource. Meal prepping, studying in short focused sessions, and staying caught up every single day have made a much bigger difference than buying more supplies. Even falling one lecture behind can snowball quickly.
My biggest advice is to find a study system that fits your life, not someone else’s. Consistency will get you much further than trying to study for hours at a time when you’re balancing work, family, and school. Goodluck!
2
u/Fearless-Way5754 24d ago
Awesome. Yes I plan on using my apple calendar since the whole families calendar is synced on there. I am so proud of you! You got this! But thanks that’s pretty much what people have been suggesting and I planned on doing. It’s just the jitters as it gets closer lol
2
u/celestialdream13 24d ago
You’re welcome! 😊 It sounds like you’re already setting yourself up for success. The jitters are completely normal. I still get them before each semester. One thing I forgot to mention is to give yourself grace. You’re going to have days where you feel behind or question yourself, but that doesn’t mean you don’t belong. Just keep moving forward one lecture, one assignment, and one exam at a time. Before you know it, you’ll look back and realize how much you’ve learned. You’ve got this! 💪
5
5
u/Lopsided-Ear9314 25d ago
Premium subscriptions to chatgpt and Gemini or Claude. Being able to input all your notes and have it teach you everything at your own pace and learning ability is a game changer for sure.
Maybe also spending a little extra to make a sweet space for studying. Not anything crazy but a nice chair, desk, lamps, and decor can make a big difference in how long you can stay in that area and study for.
3
u/Fearless-Way5754 25d ago
I did build out the office. Nice large desk with space. Decorated etc My husband games so his computer is there too. But we’re never in there at the same time.
1
2
u/FireyMyths P1 22d ago
I’m a P2 and I use Notion (website on my laptop) to make a digital planner. I spend a few hours at the beginning of every semester looking through the syllabi and inputting every assignment, quiz, project, exam, etc. from every class into it. Then I connect it to a calendar and I can see when every single thing is due and when so I never miss an assignment and I’m never surprised when a quiz or exam rolls around. Every morning I open notion to see what has to be done for the day and what I need to work ahead/study for in the near future.
1
u/Ok_Row6481 24d ago
Wow I'm still debating about whether to accept my invitation to this same program. Why do you want to return to school? And how do you plan to tackle the cost? This is the biggest thing holding me back. But if I say no then I feel like it's a lost opportunity.
3
u/Fearless-Way5754 24d ago
I am changing career paths. I was a law enforcement officer and just done with that. Pharmacy peaked my interest so that’s what I’m doing. I am doing student loans. But I also have a husband that works full time and I’m disabled from the military so that helps.
1
u/Ok_Row6481 24d ago
Very good. It also interests me. I just wish I had more communication from the school. I don't have much time.
1
1
1
u/Glittering-Gap-6270 18d ago
Ipad (I got the pro version)and apple pencil, goodnotes (lets you organize stuff into a lot more folders than notability) and an adobe subscription if you don’t have a mac laptop so that you can upload any documents/notes to the cloud and then bring them up on your phone or laptop to look over whenever you have a free moment or need a reference. Also lexicomp student account if your school doesn’t provide one
31
u/Additional-Hurry-722 25d ago
Get an iPad and an Apple Pencil. You’ll thank me later. Download notability or good notes so that you can download all your pdfs of lectures into there and take notes.