You Want to Become a Pharmacist but Feel Behind?

My Journey to Pharmacy School

As I get ready to ship off to my first year of pharmacy school in just a couple of days, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my journey so far.

I always knew I wanted to do something in STEM. When I was 13, I became obsessed with science. I competed in science fairs, took honors classes, did at-home science experiments, and generally drove everyone around me a little crazy with how much I wanted to learn. If you knew me at that age, you also knew I told everyone I was going to become a pharmaceutical scientist.

The funny part? I had absolutely no idea what a pharmaceutical scientist was. I just knew it was two big, science-y words that sounded cool.

Once I got to college, however, I bounced between just about every career option you could imagine. I wanted to be a marine biologist, an astronomer, a doctor—you name it, I probably wanted to be it at some point. It wasn’t until my third year of college, when I was still firmly set on going to medical school, that I took a toxicology class that completely changed my perspective.

That class made me reconsider pharmacy.

And suddenly, 13-year-old me seemed to have known the entire time.

After that class, I fully committed to pharmacy and even added a minor in pharmaceutical science. It’s more than just two big science-y words, believe it or not.

But there was one problem, I felt like I was late to the game.

If you’ve been exposed to any healthcare career, you probably know how competitive they can be. In pharmacy and medicine, it can sometimes feel like you’re expected to build an impressive resume before you’ve even had the chance to figure out what you want to do.

Volunteer hours, clinical experience, leadership positions, clubs, research, and work experience can all feel like requirements on an already overflowing college schedule.

When I decided to switch into pharmacy, I had some volunteer experience, two clubs, and a job toasting bagels and making coffee.

I had no idea how I was supposed to catch up.

You Are Not Behind

Now that you’ve read my whole life story, I want to reassure you of something: if you relate to anything I’ve written above, you are not behind.

I went through all of the feelings that come with imposter syndrome. I felt behind. I compared myself to other students and wondered how I was ever supposed to catch up to people who seemed to have been preparing for healthcare careers since freshman year.

What finally helped me was taking a step back and realizing that this was the path I had taken, and instead of focusing on what I hadn’t done, I needed to focus on what I could do next.

Everyone is on their own clock. Not everyone is going to come to the table with the same qualifications, experiences, or timeline.

And honestly, taking a different path can be a good thing.

Deviating from the typical applicant can make you stand out. Your experiences might be different from everyone else’s, and that difference can be exactly what makes an admissions committee remember you.

Take the Time to Build Your Experience

One of the best things I did to make myself a more competitive pharmacy school applicant was take a gap year. (Some people might find this controversial but it is what worked best for me.)

Instead of rushing through the application process because I felt like I was “behind,” I gave myself time to step away from school and focus on opportunities that would strengthen my application. I became a pharmacy technician, volunteered with a junior high school, and completed additional prerequisite courses that I needed.

Looking back, that gap year was one of the best decisions I could have made.

Become a Pharmacy Technician

If you’re considering pharmacy school and have the opportunity to become a pharmacy technician, I highly recommend it.

Working as a pharmacy technician gives you something that is difficult to replicate through a classroom or a resume. As a pharmacy technician, you gain actual exposure to the profession.

You get to see what pharmacists do every day. You learn how a pharmacy operates, interact with patients, work alongside pharmacists, and experience the realities of the profession before committing yourself to years of graduate-level education.

For me, becoming a technician helped me feel like I was finally “back in the game.”

I didn’t graduate from my undergraduate program with a particularly competitive GPA, and I had relatively sparse volunteer and work experience compared to some applicants. But becoming a pharmacy technician gave me meaningful experience in the field and helped demonstrate that pharmacy was something I genuinely wanted to pursue.

It ultimately became one of the experiences that helped strengthen my application, and I was fortunate enough to be accepted to every pharmacy school where I interviewed.

Don’t Underestimate the Interview

Another major part of the pharmacy school application process is the interview.

Getting an interview means that the school already sees potential in you. Now, it’s your responsibility to show them who you are beyond your application.

There are countless websites and resources that provide lists of common pharmacy school interview questions. These can be incredibly helpful, but I recommend using them as preparation rather than memorization tools.

I used practice questions fairly lightly because I didn’t want my answers to sound rehearsed.

You want to be prepared, but you also want to be able to have a genuine conversation.

If you’ve memorized twenty answers word-for-word and the interviewer asks you a question that isn’t on that list, you don’t want to look completely lost.

Instead, practice thinking through the types of questions you might be asked. Know your experiences, know your “why pharmacy,” understand your strengths and weaknesses, and be prepared to talk about the things you’ve actually done.

The goal isn’t to have a perfect answer for every possible question.

In my interviews, I wanted to make sure I came across as personable while also being knowledgeable about the field without seeming cocky or like a know-it-all. You should be proud of your accomplishments and willing to talk about them. They are important, and they are part of what makes you a competitive applicant. However, how you communicate those accomplishments matters just as much.

Pharmacy schools want to see that you are an approachable person who is capable of holding a genuine conversation. At the end of the day, they are responsible for bringing in the next generation of healthcare professionals who will eventually play a role in patient care and safety.

The goal is to be confident enough in your own story that you can answer whatever comes your way.

The Most Important Thing

If there is one thing I want you to take away from this article, it’s this:

You are capable. You are strong. You are not behind.

You just have to take a step back and focus on the goals that lie ahead of you instead of dwelling on what you could have done differently in the past.

Focus your energy. Move forward. Attack your goals.

This article is honestly everything I wish I had known when I initially chose the path to becoming a pharmacist, and I hope you found at least some of this information helpful.

Believe in yourself, believe in your journey, and believe in your dedication to your future.

You’re going to do great.

If you want to follow along with my journey as I navigate pharmacy school feel free to subscribe and I’ll see you in my next post!