1
June
By Evan Slonac, PharmD student
The community of student pharmacists at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is unlike any community of students I have seen. The community of students is very supportive throughout all years of the program and beyond, as alumni and professors are extremely helpful and very willing to speak to students regarding any questions they may have.
As a student, the other students are always willing to help each other, as we are all experiencing the same struggles, so no one ever has to feel like they are alone in their journey. Walking through the atrium or study areas of Rennebohm Hall, there are students everywhere working together to study and discuss concepts to further their understanding of the rigorous curriculum. This extends beyond students in the same cohort, as there are many opportunities to meet with older students who have already succeeded in the coursework in previous years. Many of these students will take the time to lead formal or informal study groups to help younger students better prepare for their exams and tell them how they succeeded in their coursework.
These study groups have been extremely beneficial to me in my studying, as they often can help me understand what to focus on when studying and how to best prepare for test questions that I may encounter. With the study groups being student-led, it helps to reduce the anxiety of meeting with a professor which helps students, and professors will often help student leaders prepare these study groups, which is very beneficial. Students explaining concepts in ways they understand can be very helpful as opposed to hearing the professor re-explain concepts in ways that students may not understand as fully. I would definitely recommend finding someone to study with occasionally to clarify questions and work on concepts together, but not too many, as it may become a group distraction then. The students are generally pretty focused on their work, so it makes it easy to find a good study partner.
Additionally, older students will offer advice as to what jobs to apply for and internships to look for once eligible. Older students have been through the process of selecting pharmacy practice experiences, and can help guide other students to what sites are helpful and where good locations are to practice, which is very beneficial to students who want to learn more about the field of pharmacy.
There is also a wide variety of different clubs and organizations within the UW School of Pharmacy that allow students to build a community within the school, and participation is highly encouraged. These can be a great way to take your mind off of school, apply knowledge to real situations, and to build a larger network within the pharmacy school as well as building your resume. However, I always found more opportunities within research rather than student organizations.
Participating in pharmaceutical research is a huge benefit of attending a research university like UW–Madison. I have been able to build a community within my research lab, work professionally with pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, as well as use my knowledge to better the world of pharmacy.
The community as a PharmD student is very productive and supportive of each other’s success.