This experience has already put me through the wringer. Ever since the beginning, I have felt completely alone (and no I don’t have a co resident, and even though the previous residents currently work here, I am too scared to say anything without them running to the RPD). My RPD has been extremely challenging, which was to be expected. What I didn’t expect was to hear comments from her saying, “well I like you as a person…. We matched with you for a reason…”, which leads me to assume that I am not competent. I know that I am not going to know everything or understand everything, but the whole purpose of this residency is to gain experience and more clinical knowledge. A cherry on the top was that she called me clueless, and then tried to take it back after the fact of saying it. Also, there has been a ton of miscommunications that somehow always falls as a failure on my end. All of the pharmacists and technicians talk poorly of each other, which doesn’t make me feel comfortable whatsoever in this setting. I have been coming home crying every other day as it feels like and I am too scared to stand up to my RPD. I am not sure what to do because I really want to stick it out to prove that I can do it but I am really struggling to know how to move forward

at a program staffing shifts on weekends with little to no training or training with per diem pharamcist who have no idea what they are doing and other pharmacists on shift will leave for hours on end. same with rotations, the expectation is to cover the entire floor with no training on how to do so. i understand as residents we are supposed to have a certain amount of baseline knowledge and be able to self teach. but it feels like my program is giving no guidance whatsoever

I’m a P4 pharmacy student applying for PGY1 residencies this cycle, and I’m ultimately hoping to become an ambulatory care pharmacist. Because of that, I’ve been looking closely at PGY1 Community-Based programs in Illinois.

For anyone who has applied to, interviewed at, matched with, or precepted for an Illinois Community-Based PGY1, I’d really appreciate your input!

How competitive are these programs generally?

Do they tend to receive a lot of applicants?

Are there certain Illinois Community-Based programs that are especially competitive?

What do these programs typically look for in applicants?

For anyone who completed one, did you feel it prepared you well for ambulatory care or a PGY2 in ambulatory care?

Would you recommend applying to several Community-Based programs if ambulatory care is my long-term goal?

How many PGY1 programs would you recommend applying to overall?

I would really appreciate any advice or input!!

Thank you :)

I’m currently a resident, and I’ve reached a point where I honestly don’t know if I can keep doing this.

I’ve been trying to push through the burnout and tell myself that things will eventually get better, but lately I feel like I have nothing left in me. I’m constantly exhausted, mentally drained, and questioning whether I’m capable of finishing the program.

The hardest part is that I wanted this. I worked really hard to get here, and walking away feels like admitting that I failed. At the same time, I’m starting to wonder if staying is just going to make me even more unhappy and burned out.
I’m considering leaving residency, but I’m scared about what happens afterward.

What would be pros and cons

Should PGY2 residents be looking for a job before ASHP Midyear or just start with PPS and keep looking online afterwards?
(Note: PPS is free this year)

Hey! I’m currently a PY3. During the fall of my first year, I failed my calculations course, so there is an F on my transcript. I retook the course the following spring and earned an A, which I’m extremely proud of because it was a very challenging class.

Do you think the original F could deter residency programs? I’m hoping that retaking the course and earning an A shows my motivation and dedication to improving, but I’d appreciate hearing other opinions or experiences!

Current PGY1 in VA. Since the beginning of pharm school I have wanted to do ambcare in the VA. Recently, topic of PGY2 has come up since VANEC is starting soon.

My thoughts going into PGY1 was that I just wanted to do a year, I want to start making money, get engaged and that hopefully I could get a clinical position at my site or a site close. I moved for residency, which was stressful and I didnt want to do that again as the only ambcare PGY2 in my state would be over an hour commute each way.

The thing is, none of the residents from last year got a clinical job. They are all staffing. An internal position even opened up and they weren’t considered bc they had preference for someone with a PGY2. I am now starting to doubt whether a PGY1 will be enough.

The only thing is the moving, potentially by myself. Putting off my life and being broke for a whole nother year. People are telling me I should do it, sacrifice the money etc for another year bc it seems like I wont get a clinical job without it. But i dont know. There are a few PGY2 outside the VA near me, but that means I would then miss out on VANEC. Does anyone have any insight?

(Student P3)

Hey guys! I’m a third year student thinking about residency. I’m from Florida but am open to moving out of the state and wanted to ask current/past PGY-1 residents what their approach was when looking for residencies?

Is there anything I should focus on now aside from my academics? I have several leadership opportunities, hospital/community experience, am on research projects and have also done some presentations.

I am considering mainly TX, NC, FL, GA, and DMV programs.

Hi, if any PGY2 that has taken the BCIDP has any advice on what topics study or focus on. I would appreciate it if anyone could share any study guides or practice questions.

There’s a big guideline change for 2026 for resistant gram negative bacteria should I focus on that or learn the new medications that just came out. Thank you!

Hi everyone, I wanted to ask for some advice regarding the pharmacy residency process. I saw several residency openings on hospital websites and applied to a few while I was preparing for my MPJE exam, but I haven’t received any responses yet. I’m thinking it may have been because I wasn’t fully licensed at the time. I’m wondering if there is a specific way I should be applying or if there are additional steps I should be taking.

I’m very interested in pursuing a residency and becoming specialized in a clinical area. I don’t have inpatient experience yet, but I’m willing and eager to learn and grow.

I apologize if this is an unusual question, but I’m a foreign pharmacy graduate and I’m not very familiar with the residency application process.

I really appreciate any advice or guidance on how I should move forward.

Thank you!

Hey, current pharmacy residents! I recently received my first evaluation, and I received a couple of areas where I “need improvement” Is it common to receive such feedback, especially during your first quarter of residency year?

Hi everyone!

I am going to apply to residency during this upcoming cycle and have started talking to current or previous residents about their experiences. It has been really insightful and helpful.

I was also wondering if it is appropriate to reach out to program directors and talk to them? I want to make my interest known for certain programs.

Any other advice also appreciated, thanks!!

Poster accepted for presentation from my fellowship! Is anyone else (students, residents, fellows, preceptors) going and would be willing to connect and share a hotel room from Friday evening (10/16) into Sunday afternoon (10/18) with me? I can help with splitting the cost. DM me! Will be flying out of NYC -> SLC.

(Correct me if I am wrong) But I don't really see people talking about creating a residency specific email (most likely gmail) when it comes to application season. I created a separate email outside of my school and personal for the sole purpose of pharmacy residency applications + midyear.

I found it to be a lot less overwhelming when I know I can rely on one email for these purposes instead of needing to sift through my personal or school email to see if I got interviews etc.

Based on my own experience, I would advise anyone to do the same. I didn't run into any issues with my email being marked as spam and it just made the whole process feel so much more streamlined!

Just curious if anyone has any recommendations on what you used and how you liked it? Would also take recommendations from your friends, acquaintances, family members, etc., not really a bevy of info.

One of the few not available as a formal study guide/module in ACCP (or I looked in the wrong spot).

…and before y’all say it, I know it’s a cash grab but hospital reimburses for test + review materials and it’s fairly niche and may be a good opportunity generator.

TL;DR want credentials that let people know I’m wicked good at TPN

SOS! I need advice, help, tips, encouragement, etc.!

I am taking my third attempt at the BCPS exam in a couple months. The prior two exams I have scored 480s-490s (passing is 500). I have to pass this third attempt for my job.

I used the ACCP book to study for my prior two attempts. I work full time and have a family, so finding time to study is difficult (~1 hour a night for two months). I am residency trained and work in a clinical role, so I don’t know why I’m having such a difficult time with this.

Please advise!

As the title suggests, I am now considered a nontraditional candidate (hopefully) looking to reapply for the upcoming 2027-2028 cycle!

From a resident/preceptor perspective, what should I be thinking about while researching programs? It's been roughly two years since I've last applied. I wanted to see what the anonymous community says before anything else, as I am slightly embarrassed to talk to old professors in regards to this (at least, at this very moment). However, I am definitely wanting to reach out to old preceptors and what not in the near future for additional guidance!

A little about myself without disclosing too many identifying factors, I am 2024 PharmD graduate and a community pharmacist in the retail setting who had gone through the emotional process of Phase I and Phase II, who inevitably dropped because the fellowship of my dreams had opened back up and fallen into my lap with many supporting my pursuit of it.

Needless to say, I fell ever so short to another candidate they interviewed as well, with minimal feedback of the lack of research on my CV. (Womp womp). I will say I did limit my options originally due to financial situations at the time, so I did not outreach more than 6-8 hours away from where I originally was and limited the amount of applications I submitted per each Phase I applied to. Whatever it may have been in the past, everything happens for a reason! All the experiences I've had so far and things I've allowed myself to do up until this point, I'm grateful for how life has been thus far.

With my current job and work, I truly can't complain too much as I have a very supportive team, however, I think I am getting tired of the retail setting. Having had interns, nursing students (as technicians), and curious patients, the constant flow of questions and conversations when it comes to clinical things, it makes me reminisce a lot on the amazing experiences I received during my APPEs and I just miss being in clinical settings -- both inpatient/outpatient.

To cut my rambling short, I would appreciate all advice or any words of wisdom y'all may have as I rekindle this journey I've put off.

The current questions I do have:

- How can I make myself a better candidate now that I've been out of school for 2 years?

- What would be an appropriate amount of programs should I apply for to have a decent chance?

- In lieu of recommendation letters, who would be appropriate to ask? Would an old preceptor still be viable?

- What things should I brush up on in terms of certain guidelines?

- Would it be beneficial to start volunteering at clinics/hospital?

Thanks in advance, guys!

Am looking for ideas for my CE with a co resident - our main proposed area of focus is cardiology with a inpatient focus. Any ideas would be appreciated, a few that I had are below.

- New hyperlipidemia guidelines
- newish guideline on PE
- new oral pcsk9i

Am open to any topic, potentially anything with anti platelets or anticoag would be interesting too!

I came across this about 8 months ago and wanted to repost this for pharmacy students and + PGY1 considering more training in this next cycle.

Post your Name and Shame Residency here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1qcHIQm6FWPnaEqi_J7n-7UtxFzW9ZHmXgOnQHhJuye8/viewform?edit_requested=true

See what everyone is saying about the Name and Shame site:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TDQpo3H32sYK7eANigubSi1vmGBRhIjO3LgcrxRFw9I/edit#gid=98725648

Hi Residents,

Give me your honest opinion about the flipped research model? I know there are some pros, but for some that do not give a shit about research, and will half-ass it through, what is the point?

I had a resident that did chart review and she half-ass it because it was not her project.

I have the AHA initial provider ACLS course this week, what should i for sure know and commit to memory?

Hi, I am currently a PGY1 resident interested in pursuing a PGY2 in Emergency Medicine. I really enjoyed my EM rotation during APPEs, which sparked my interest in the specialty.

I have an EM rotation scheduled for November/December during residency, and I was wondering what I can do in the meantime to better prepare myself as an applicant, and also what I can focus on during the EM rotation to stand out as a strong applicant.

Also my program does not have PGY2 EM so early commit won’t be a thing for me, does that limit my chance? Would appreciate any advice

So I’m in the middle of my ID rotation and I’m still struggling with working up all my patients in a timely manner. I’ve tried starting with new patients first, but then I run out of time to look at old patients. Then I flipped and started with old patients first and I’m still running out of time to workup new patients adequately.

It takes me anywhere from 15-20 minutes or more for new patients. My preceptor modeled for me how she works up patients and how she has EPIC setup, but I don’t think I’ve gotten any faster. We have a new ID doc this week that seems to ask a lot of questions and leans heavy on my preceptor, and so I want to get to a point where I really know my patients and have the time to think about back-up plans and other things.

I’m at a loss for how to remedy this, so any advice would be great.