All About My Journey to Pharmacy School & My First Semester!

[@BiblioGLAMDrama]

It is interesting to see a BookTuber with a diverse range of talents. :)

[@KassidyReads]

♡♡♡

[@skoolgirl311]

I think choosing pharmacy school was a really smart decision. I'm currently in my last year of pharmacy school in CT before my advanced rotations start in June. It's really stressful, but I love it so much and I think it was the best decision of my life. Pharmacy was never really something I thought about until I was a junior in college. I was a biology major and I didn't know what I wanted to do after graduation. I knew I didn't want to go to med school and I knew research wasn't for me. Pharmacy just kind of fell into my lap randomly, but I don't regret it at all. It's a good career if you want to become a healthcare professional and be able to help patients without becoming a medical doctor. It's great to see a fellow book lover have a wide range of interests like pharmacy and science. Good luck and have fun because it goes by so fast!

[@KassidyReads]

Thank you! Oh that's great, I'm so happy to hear your story. Good luck to you as well ♡

[@flowlessbooks1572]

I am a French community pharmacist ! it's quite different, the first year is common with med school and you can compare it to the Hunger Games. 3000+ students for 400 students in2nd year of medschool and around 200 in 2nd year of pharmacy. it's right after high school and its lasting depends on the field : community pharmacy is 6 years long, with a PhD degree to obtain (a thesis to pass). I wanted to do research in organic chemistry but made an internship in a community pharmacy and I really enjoyed it. So that's what I decided to do :)

[@KassidyReads]

That's so fascinating! Wow, yes very different. I'm glad you found something you really like ♡♡ Thanks for sharing!

[@ManiacalReader]

I really liked this video. I had no interest in science or chemistry when I went to school, but my cousin is a pharmacist near Toronto. She loves it! She didn't want to work in a lab, but loved having drug therapy knowledge like you. She was also nervous about moving to a new since she comes from a small city. I'm glad your first semester was good, and that you're looking forward to the next one.

[@KassidyReads]

Thank you! ♡ Oh that's so neat!

[@ashleyjolly1194]

Thanks for sharing your story! I almost went to PT school but decided I didn't want to go through all the extra schooling to get my doctorate, so good for you!

[@KassidyReads]

I can totally understand that! I've heard PT school is no joke. Thank you!

[@ashleyjolly1194]

Yep, part of the reason I decided not to go. I went the Sports Medicine route instead!

[@aideeng8259]

I never had an interest in science or pharmacy but I love hearing other people's stories. I'm in my second year of college doing primary school teaching (which I think is the equivalent to elementary school in America). I can't believe there was 1000 students in one class!! I thought my course was big- there's 450 of us. And we are split into groups of 30 for almost all of our classes because of the practical nature of our course. Good luck next semester!

[@KassidyReads]

Aw when I was little I wanted to be a teacher, that's so great! Yeah, well I feel with that subject matter it is necessary to be in groups like you said. My big classes were like Art 101, Statistics, and Introductory Chemistry. Thanks so much, good luck to you as well. ♡

[@goneherondale]

good luck with everything!! :)

[@KassidyReads]

Thank you! ♡

[@sarah-6594]

Yay!! Thanks for making this video. I am applying in few weeks and this made me even more determined to study pharmacy. :) :) :)

[@KassidyReads]

Thank you for watching! Oh yay! That's so exciting. Good luck ♡

[@HostileUterus]

Wow I've been watching your videos for awhile and how did I miss that you were in pharmacy school? SO AM I! I go back for p2 on Tuesday the 22. Good luck to the next year!

[@KassidyReads]

Aw yay!! I just started my P2 year today 😄 Good luck to you as well!! 💜💜💜

[@izabelanancy7068]

Hey! I'm on my 5th semester on pharmacy school, just 3 more to graduate!!! I just found out your channel, I'm brazilian and I'm so excited to see how the pharm school works out there!! Loved your video!! New sub! Kisses from Brazil!!!

[@KassidyReads]

Awesome, congrats! Thank you so much ♡

[@PaulineFireheart]

Hi! I just found your channel! I'm a french bookworm and I graduated from Pharmacy School last year :) Good luck for the rest of your studies x

[@KassidyReads]

Thank you! Oh nice, that's awesome. Congratulations ♡

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

YAY IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!!

[@KassidyReads]

Eee thank you ♡

[@TaniWeinstein]

This was very informative. I have wanted to become a pharmacist since 6th grade, and I am now a Sophomore in college. Thank you for making this video, it really helped me to secure my decision to go into pharmacy.

[@KassidyReads]

Aw, that's so great!! Good luck with everything. Thank you for watching and commenting. ♡ You can do it!

[@TaniWeinstein]

Kassidy Voinche thank you so much!

[@xxshortiioo]

Starting pharmacy school in August! Super excited!

[@KassidyReads]

Yay! Congrats, good luck! You'll do great :)

[@krystalh9900]

Can you please do another video about pharmacy school? For example, what is required to get into pharmacy school, how the interview was, etc.

[@KassidyReads]

Great idea! I will do a follow up video. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@sarahlucas1999]

Great video. I love science too. Biology being a favourite. It's nice to hear the experiences of a book tuber away from their bookish hobby. Congrats to you I know you'll go far 😊🎓

[@KassidyReads]

Thank you!! That's so wonderful ♡

[@sandyreadsalot]

I'm not interested in pharmacy school since I'm a psychology and criminal justice major. I have no idea what I want to do when I get my bachelors or if I should go to grad school but it was really interesting to hear about your journey and experience! :)

[@MsFortune020]

sandyreadsalot I'd love to watch a video with you sharing your experience as a psychology and criminal justice major 💜

[@KassidyReads]

Psychology and Criminal Justice is fascinating!! There are many avenues you can go down. Thanks for watching! ♡

[@littleredinmotion]

Thank you so much for this video! I've been contemplating changing my major to PrePharm and my mom keeps telling me I would be a good pharmacist. This video really helped me to decide what I may want to become. This was super helpful!!

[@KassidyReads]

Thank you for watching! I'm so happy to hear that. Good luck with everything ♡

[@thepageprincess]

It's so amazing that you're doing all this. I'm still not even really sure what I want to do. I'm studying English because all I like is reading and writing , so I'm confused. I think you should create an original roomate's tag!! I'm not sure what kind of questions could be in it, but whatever you choose will be great!

[@KassidyReads]

Thank you! ♡ If you love English then stick with it! It's great to do something you really have a passion for :) We may! Thanks for the suggestion.

[@shahdashraf8495]

I love the fact that you went to pharmacy school 🙈🙈 I'm in my 3rd semester in pharmacy too

[@KassidyReads]

Oh yay!! That's so so great. ♡ Good luck!

[@janaewishem2507]

I'm a pharmacy technician now Majoring in chemistry and I plan to go to pharmacy school "Xavier " lol but I choose to start with being a technician because it teaches the you as a person that your techs make the pharmacy and pharmacist. A lot of pharmacist may feel that their above the world . I love pharmacy and don't regret my decisions. I plan to go into the field of nuclear pharmacy.

[@KassidyReads]

Oh that's wonderful! Xavier is a great school. Definitely, starting as a tech is very beneficial in many ways. I have a family member in nuclear pharmacy and she loves it! It's so neat! Good luck!

[@marybethdwellsinbooks3844]

So proud of you

[@KassidyReads]

Thank you so much! ♡

[@fro7a541]

please do more videos about pharmacy school , that was so helpful .. thank you 👩🏻‍🔬❤️

[@BiblioGLAMDrama]

AWESOME!!!

[@Nicolesbookishlife]

I completely agree that 2nd semester is harder than 1st semester lol! Already, 2 weeks in, we have sooooo much work to do! I think it's more busy work than it is difficult, but yes, definitely harder. What classes do you guys have this semester? I'm interested to see what differences in classes there are between your school and University of Arizona. Which class from 1st semester did you think was the hardest? I think Pharmaceutics was the most difficult for me, the others were all pretty decent or fairly easy. Im glad there is someone who loves Pharmacy and reading as much as I do! Oddly enough, pretty much my entire class LOVES Harry Potter. Win for me! haha. Good luck this semester!

[@KassidyReads]

Yes, I feel like I've been in my 2nd semester for like a month with all of the work, but it's only been 8 days lol! We have Pharmaceutics II, Pathophysiology II, Principles of Drug Action II, Parenterals, Microbiology/Immunology, Ethics and Law I, Top Drugs, and the second Lab. So much fun haha First semester.. I would say Drug Action was the hardest, just so much info! Pharmaceutics was hard too, but my teacher was super nice and gave bonus points, so that helped a lot. I'm so happy you commented, it is nice to meet other book & science lovers ♡ Thanks, good luck to you as well!

[@iknowudontcare]

I'm really interested in the health field, but am much more English-minded. I really don't care for math at all, but Pharmacy definitely sounds appealing to me because of the patient interaction. As a Pharm student, would you say that one might struggle or be miserable in this field if he isn't good at math? Thanks!

[@KassidyReads]

You can definitely go more towards the patient-centered areas of the field. However, you don't specialize while you're in school, so everyone takes the same classes regardless of what field you want to go into. Calculus I is a pre-requisite for my school and it is also on the PCAT. However, we haven't done too much advanced math. I had one math course last semester, but it was more calculating patient doses using proportions and algebra, not too bad. I think you could still do it! Most classes so far don't involve math.

[@kei8539]

I'm a 3rd year Pharmacy student and I love Pharmacology ❤ and i so hate Pharmaceutical calculations omg! But, been there done that! 1 year to go and i will be graduating 😋😍 but being a pharmacy student is very hard. With all the community, hospital, manufacturing duties 😭

[@KassidyReads]

Oh yay!! That's so great. haha I really enjoyed calculations, but immunology is really hard for me! Congratulations and good luck! ♡

[@ToniMackaylaa]

Currently in undergrad @ ULM & i'm sooo excited to be applying for early admissions in the Fall! 😁😁

[@KassidyReads]

Oh yay! How exciting!! Good luck, I'm sure you'll do great. Send me a message on here or Twitter if you have any questions or need anything!

[@ToniMackaylaa]

Kassidy Voinche I sure will. Thank you so much!! ☺☺

[@naturallyforgotten]

I wish I was on a path for my future like you are. I'm still trying to figure things out.

[@KassidyReads]

It took me a while to find pharmacy! It's okay to not be sure right now, you'll find it soon enough ♡

[@magbeths0100]

I loved what you said when you said you wanted to help patients but not have hands on responsibilities like a doctor . I know I really want to help people and I said the same thing about helping patients, so pharmacy seems like a good fit for me. I make straight A's and I feel like I could do the schooling. I am only a senior and will be starting college next year majoring in pre-pharmacy, then I will go to a university with a pharmacy school. Do you have any tips or advice on how I can be preparing myself now?

[@KassidyReads]

There are also so many areas of pharmacy to go into, so if you do want to go into more of the clinical side, there are many opportunities for that! That's great. I would just say getting involved in an organization would be good and/or start working in a pharmacy. Those things help you build skills and make you more competitive for school. However, I know people who have done neither of those things and are doing well in the field. Good luck!

[@Becksnnc]

It's funny how Science is your favourite subject and is the career path you are going down and that Science Fiction novels are your favourite. I wonder if there is some kind of science link going on there haha.

[@KassidyReads]

Yeah, they definitely tie in together :D I love seeing how authors use science to weave a fictional story ♡

[@chilicrab2754]

I also want to go to pharmacy school!

[@KassidyReads]

Oh yay!! Good luck ♡ You can do it.

[@blackdiamond3709]

How important is math? I'm not a big fan of math, but love biology and chemistry

[@KassidyReads]

Well, my school requires you to take math through Calculus I before you start, and Calc I is on the PCAT. However, we haven't really done much math in school. I had a Calculations course last semester, but it was more algebra, proportions, and ratios to determine patient doses and things that like. The math itself wasn't hard, it was more conceptualizing what the question is asking, lots of word problems. There's wayyyy more focus on Bio and Chem. Hope that helps!

[@hhau5]

Whisper challenge!

[@KassidyReads]

Oo yeah that's funny!

[@lovealwaysaoife]

I'm a PYI too and it sounds like your school in LA and mine in PA are very similar. My class size is larger, but the general schedule and classes seem to be the same. What classes did you take this year?

[@KassidyReads]

Nice! Good luck! ♡ I'm in Principles of Drug Action II, Pharmaceutics II, Pathophysiology II, Microbiology and Immunology, Top Drugs and Medical Terminology, Pharmacy Ethics and Law, Parenterals, and Lab :)

[@Rfaivre1978]

I'm a pharmacy tech in Washington state. We had to actually go to school for a year it was like 6 classes first quarter internship and 4 classes the next quarter and then mainly intern and 3 classes last quarter. I do believe our state is stricter than Louisiana. Our pharmacy law teacher got his degree in your state and was always saying how strict it is up here. My manager was a pharmacist in NYC and I guess the laws there are even stricter than ours. I think the biggest challenge is insurance. People have no idea! I hate it when I enter all the info hit fill and it rejects and you're like swearing under your breath lol. I feel like I'm still learning tricks and stuff in the way of insurance billing and I've had my license for almost 2 years! Also, hahaha I still mispronounce medication names and I'll hear myself and be like noooooooooooo! Lol!!! Dude! People have no idea. Truly. It takes a while to really get your footing. And you have to be paying such close attention to every detail. It's like OCD city. Anyways clearly I can go on.

[@KassidyReads]

Yeah, I believe it is stricter, but that's great training! Insurance is definitely a headache at times. haha and then the relief when you get a paid claim :) There are so many tricks! I'm learning as well. Thanks for sharing your experience! I can relate, for sure ♡

[@HannahCassieBooks]

Mm pharmacy, pretty much secured for the rest of your life. I was thinking of it till I took pharmacology class but I am I guess opposite to you, lab is pretty much my home so I ended up in graduate school doing genetics. But yeah, prepare yaself for a lot of learning, I just wrote my last exam a few months ago and will never ever miss it. Oh and here in Europe pharmacy is bit different, its only 6 years same as medicine no pre-schools or anything and I am pretty such with biochem classes you can pretty much skip first semesters cuz they are always to get everybody on same level :) But hey, science rules! :D

[@KassidyReads]

That sounds so interesting! I'm glad you found something you enjoy. Hm that's very cool! Science is awesome ♡ Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@lmychocolate]

Absolutely loved this video! Really enjoy hearing your exeperience! :D I'm a high school senior and had thought about going into pharmacy since i love science but not that into lab research. But i kinda changed my mind later on because I found out I wasn't really good at Chemistry and not super interested in it. Would pharmacy still be a good choice if I'm super into Biology but not as much in Chemistry? How many % of biology, chemistry and biochemistry are the pharmacy classes distributed?

[@KassidyReads]

Thank you!! ♡ I would say it's 60% Biology, 40% Chemistry. But they overlap a lot into biochemistry. It's really a lot of physiology and anatomy. So far, it's mostly been information at the micro level, discussing proteins, receptors, and enzymes. However, in the pre-requisite courses I learned a lot of that and my professors reviewed it very well in my beginning courses in pharmacy school. I am more interested in biology than chemistry as well, and I have done fine.

[@lmychocolate]

Thank you so much for answering! If you ever want to do another school/pharmacy related video, I'm all for it! Have a great spring semester! :D

[@SlytherinReader]

I'm interested in your school life not just books

[@KassidyReads]

Thanks!

[@LaurynsLibrary18]

I hope you don't mind me asking but I'm also from Louisiana and was wondering if it's the more southern pharmacy school or the one up north?

[@KassidyReads]

Oh awesome! Up north :)

[@LaurynsLibrary18]

Nice! I have friends who go there and love it! Good luck in pharmacy school!! And one more thing I made a Mardi Gras Book Tag on my channel if you wanna check it out especially because you're from the south and know about Mardi Gras!!

[@KassidyReads]

That's so neat! Thank you! Oh yay, I will definitely do it! Thanks so much for letting me know ♡

[@dalekmoon]

Where can I send you health/pharmacy books if you want some? ♥

[@KassidyReads]

Oh, thanks, but you don't have to do that! You can just let me know the titles and I'll check them out.

[@EsamAshur]

Thank you very much for the informative video. Do you have any older students in your class? I'm 30 with MA in linguistics thinking about going for PharmD! Any recommendations?

[@KassidyReads]

Thank you for watching. I think the oldest person in my class is around 26 or 27, but I do know that there have been older students in other years. I would definitely recommend looking into it!

[@Neverrgreen]

I;m kinda curious what they asked you for your interview (even though I'm not in or going to be a pharm person, just curious)

[@KassidyReads]

haha they asked the normal questions, why are you choosing pharmacy and this school in particular, but the third question was actually, what was the last book you read! I was very excited for that question :) Then they got into, how do you study, are you involved in any organizations, what would you do in such and such situation..., tell us about a time when... Not too bad, but there were 3 people in my interview asking me questions!

[@Neverrgreen]

Kassidy Voinche Neat, thanks! I really can't wait for the day I'm asked in an interview what the last book I read was.

[@anniechen7956]

I like your video! You are very luck that you got a job given by the manager working in pharmacy store, so my question is how to get a job in pharmacy store if there is nobody I know who works there? I know it's a really good experience for applying for pharmacy school and I'm right now a second years in undergrad. There are few different position in pharmacy, which one should I apply and what steps should I follow to apply it????? Looking forward to your reply! Good luck on your new semester!

[@KassidyReads]

Thank you! I'm not sure about the laws where you live, but here to work in a pharmacy you have to have a technician in training license. If you get a job at a chain retail pharmacy (such as Walgreens, CVS.. etc.) they will typically help you get that. I'm not sure about independent retail pharmacies. I would say the best thing to do is to go into a pharmacy and talk to the manager. Let them know you want to go to pharmacy school and are interested in getting experience as a technician, and they should guide you on what to do next! Hope that helps ☺️

[@BeautifulJourney11]

I'm sorry if someone has already asked you this before, but how do you manage your time between college stuff and reading? Good luck with your studies :)!

[@KassidyReads]

I try to stick to a schedule as best as I can. I also study every day and don't try to cram a night or two before. It's still a work in progress! Sometimes I go a month only reading 1 book and may skip a week here and there of videos, but I just try my best!Thank you! ♡

[@Athena7_7]

i am also a pharmacy student from dhaka university

[@jchidi]

Are you at Xavier university?

[@KassidyReads]

No, I'm not.

[@baylaD8]

Hey there, I was wondering if you could help me out a bit. I have not taken my PCAT yet, I take it in mid fall of 2017, but the application for the pharmacy school I am applying to opens in mid June 2017, I am supposed to apply a year before I'm finished with all pre reqs, similar to you I entered college with many credit hours from high school so I will finish all pre reqs in 2 years. However, moving at this fast past hasn't left me much time to prepare for the PCAT. I saw in previous comments that there is cal 1, are there any other specific courses you recall standing out? And how did you personally prepare for your PCAT, (and if you don't mind did you take it more than once?)

[@KassidyReads]

+M'Kayla DeLeon The application process can definitely be intense! Hope I can help. I took my PCAT at the last possible date, so only had time to take it once. I would compare it to the college version of the ACT. Calc I was a big part, also the science section had a bit of anatomy & physiology, which I had actually not completed at the time I took the PCAT. To prepare, I just bought the practice PCAT tests and I think I did two. I ended up doing fine on it, but it's different for everyone. I don't know if your school has a required score, but my school just wanted you to get in the 50th percentile. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself! It will turn out ok.

[@baylaD8]

Wow thank you so much for getting back to me so soon. my school also requires a 50% but I am struggling to prepare. I apply this summer and early decision commitment is the first week of september. I want to apply as early as possible but I just don't feel too confident. I have only taken my Chem 1&2 and Bio 1, I took high school anatomy but that was a joke honestly. Would you say that there are any similarities of the ACS exam and the PCAT chemistry wise? I just feel like I'm not ready to take my PCAT but I have to take it so soon.

[@nayerayassin9594]

Hi, I really enjoy biology but I don't really enjoy chemistry...like, I'm OK with chemistry, but it isn't my favorite. Would you recommend pharmacy for me?? Thank you!

[@KassidyReads]

I think you could definitely pursue pharmacy! It depends on the curriculum of the school you attend for how much chemistry is involved. At my school there is a good bit of chemistry in some classes, but it's more biology though. Chemistry isn't my favorite either ☺️

[@mimiwin412]

Any thing you thing is helpful to brush up on before the first semester of pharmacy school ? Starting this fall !!

[@SunriseFireberry]

Who knows, maybe you'll move to Houston to be an astropharmacologist & work with astronauts. :-) Maybe you'll work internationally with a new pgm called pharmacists without borders. In any case, your future looks bright.

[@KassidyReads]

Both sound awesome! Thanks.

[@americanbee]

I like the beginning of the video about the journey to pharmacy. But I expected to hear more about first semester, beside "I love it and a lot of studying". Probably best way was just to make 2 separate videos. Wasted my time here :(

[@KassidyReads]

+Marina Zh I'm sorry you feel that way. What more do you want to know about my semester? I figured it might be boring to go into each specific class I took and what it's about, but I may do a video about my classes once I finish my first year. I didn't want to go too in depth and make this video an hour long.