The Waiting Game & CPR Certification Card

I hope everyone's been enjoying the holidays.  That's pretty much all I've been doing as I play the waiting game for the arrival of my California pharm tech license.  I would love to start working now and feel a bit restless.  But at least the wait is happening during a time when the holidays can be a distraction.  It would have been less tolerable in the summer.

I'm tempted to go looking into the 2010 Census jobs as a supplemental job to go along side being a pharm tech.  But of course considering getting a supplemental job without knowing the schedule of my future primary job is a bit difficult to do.  But calling to find out how long they'll be taking applications couldn't hurt.

In other news, I received my credit card sized CPR certification/identification card.  So now if in the unlikely scenario that someone asks if I'm CPR certified, I can show them proof.  And more importantly, I can see the official time span in which I can claim certification.

Volunteering - San Francisco H1N1 Vaccinations

Alright, I was able to make it this time.

I had no experience, and didn't speak multiple languages, so I ended up being assigned to... I'm not quite sure of the title... but it was part of the whole data collection system.

As people came in, as a standard procedure, people had to fill out some forms giving all the relevant medical information, and as the vaccine was administered, the forms had to be checked off as to what form of the vaccine was given.  This was to keep an eye on supply and most likely to keep track of relevant statistics.

So as forms got filled out, they got taken back to the back room where I and a partner were, where we kept tally of how many were brought into us, and where we sorted them out into relevant age groups and counted again.  (0-24 months, 2-4, 5-18, 19-24, 25-49, 50-65, and 65+ years)

Sounds simple, and sounds repetitive, and it was.  I wouldn't want to do that every day, but it is of course important, and I didn't mind contributing my time for something like that for one day.  And because we inherited about a thousand forms as we started second shift, and were receiving 550 to 800 forms an hour, there wasn't much down time with just two of us handling the job.  The first shift had seven volunteers working with them, and they left us a backlog of forms.  I guess we set up a extremely efficient system, which was kind of nice to realize.

We also had access to the evaluation forms that people were filling out.  A lot of people came in with low expectations of how the whole thing would be run, but, for the most part, they all left with those expectations proved wrong.  That's nice to know.  Both about the public perception of the Department of Public Health, and knowing that their minds have been changed.

Overall, it was a pretty interesting experience.  Some day in the future I'll be able to administer vaccines or prepare them, since I'll be qualified to do so.  That'll be a good day.

Weight Loss - Part 4

It's been a month, so it's time for that new update on my weight loss goal.  Once again, while not directly related to pharmacy, working towards improving my health, self-esteem, and energy levels will most definitely help me reach my goal.  It's not all about fleshing out the application.

Now for the numbers:

Starting Weight: 216.8
Weight Last Month: 212.4
Week 9 Weight: 211.0
Week 10 Weight: 210.6
Week 11 Weight: 208
Week 12 Weight: 207.6
Total Weight Loss: 9.4
Pounds Still to Go: 22.6
Trendline Estimate: 207.2

- Week 9: Went to the gym 5 days this week

- Week 10: Went to the gym 3 days this week

- Week 11: Went to the gym 0 days this week, strict calorie counting

- Week 12: Went to the gym 0 days this week

I hardly went to the gym at all this month.  That's because I've misplaced my gym card and hoped to find it as I reorganized my room.  That didn't happen.  I still did lose weight however, that's because I focused on calorie counting and tried to see what I could do with that.  It worked.  It is pretty difficult though, and I prefer doing the combo of eat less/exercise more.

Something to note.  My shoulder is still hurt.  I can do chin ups just fine at home on the the pull-up bar, but doing pull-ups shows me the damage is still there.  This is taking a while to heal.  I do think it's better, but I wish it would speed up.

I'm obviously nowhere near my 185 goal, but as long as I keep on losing weight, that's what matters.  My new arbitrary end date is Monday, April 26th.  (The day before my birthday.)  Reaching my ideal weight is going to be a birthday present to myself.

SFSU - Summer 2010?

Good news! Summer 2010 classes will be held through SF State Extended Learning. We are preparing to offer a wide variety of high-demand courses this summer that will help you complete some of your degree requirements.  We are still finalizing registration deadlines and class offerings for summer 2010. We will provide detailed information online in the next couple of months so please check the SF State Extended Learning website frequently for information: http://www.cel.sfsu.edu/summer.  Further details regarding summer registration and class offerings will be sent to you in the spring.

I received this email yesterday.  And this is good news.  For me at least.  It can be viewed as bad news to regular students in respect to last year, and how Summer registration was just like a normal Fall/Spring semester, with all the priority registration and all that.  But it can also be viewed as good news to them since there was a worry that Summer classes would be canceled, much like Winter classes were this year due to budget constraints, so at least summer classes are offered.

What does this mean for me?  It means I'm put on an even playing field with everyone else.  If I understand this right, classes are now more expensive (paid by the unit and not the normal part-time/full-time plan) and there is no priority registration.  That means I have a chance of getting into some summer classes at SFState, whereas before I felt that I had essentially no chance of getting into any classes after I graduate.

It still remains to be seen as to what classes will be offered, and if any of those classes will be any different from those that I can take at my community college, but now I know I should be on the lookout.

Kaplan PCAT Diagnostic Exam

(I cut out and scanned the Answer Sheet rather than try photocopying it.  Click to enlarge.  Feel free to copy/paste it to use for yourself if you don't want to damage your own book.)

The diagnostic exam is half as long, in half the time, with no essay portion.  There are my results:

Verbal Ability: 19/24

Biology: 8/25

Chemistry: 11/24

Reading Comprehension: 18/20

Quantitative Ability: 18/24

Without even knowing what percentile I'd be in, obviously my Bio and Chem need a lot of work and the Verbal and Quant could use some improvement as well.

Verbal

I didn't score too bad.  I did change two of my answers away from the right answers, and with one question I filled in the wrong bubble.  That's an easy mistake to avoid.

Biology

First of all... there is a typo in the instructions that says you're only supposed to get 10 minutes, as opposed to 15.  It has the time correct in the full breakdown of the diagnostic, but not right before the actual Bio questions.

And the section this to note... I completely bubbled in the wrong section.  I was bubbling in the Chemistry section rather than the Biology section.  I only noticed when I was more than halfway done.  Fatal mistake that I'll be sure to not repeat again.

As for the actual content.  This is the section that I was pretty sure I'd need the most help on.  I will be retaking Physiology and Anatomy, so that should help.  And was already considering retaking Bio I and II.  Look like that consideration has more weight now.

Chemistry

I didn't feel as lost in this section as the Bio section even though I did almost as bad.  It all looked very familiar, but I took Gen Chem I over ten years ago.  My reading comprehension of chemistry is slow now because I'm out of practice.  I also ran out of time, and missed bubbling a question.

I got an A in the class last time, but I think I'll also have to be retake the class again because it's too old, and I guess from these results I can see why.

Reading Comprehension

Not much to say.  I ended this section very early.  I made a couple mistakes, but the score is probably pretty decent.  Just got to repeat this result or get better on the real thing.

Quantitative Ability

I could have done better.  I'll go over the exact reasons I made mistakes later.  But it's not horrible.  It's nothing that just a tiny bit of practice won't fix.  No worries here.

It's going to be a while until I take the actual PCAT, but I think getting the book this early and taking the diagnostic to give me some concrete feedback on what I need to work on has already been worth it.  That should help keep me focused when I retake some classes, and help really motivate me to pay attention rather than fall into the trap of feeling like I already know half (or more) of the material and I don't need to pay attention in the beginning.

It's someone sad that seeing how much work I need is a good thing, when I know I have a lot of ability in me, but I need to keep myself grounded and ensure that I don't stray from the path anymore.

I bought the Kaplan book on the Kaplan name, but it was nice to see the following review after I had purchased it from Amazon.com, since Bio and Chem are obviously the sections that I need work on:

I just got my PCAT score back and this book was close to the only thing I used to study.  The chemistry and biology sections are very good reviews.  Yes there are many typos, but they are usually obvious enough  that they will not mislead you.  However, the organic chemistry section only addresses a few functional groups.  The math section does not have enough calculus, so I took a practice test and reviewed the concepts that appeared on that exam.  The verbal section and reading comprehension section are too short to actually help the reader.  Lastly, the writing section is basically two pages.  In closing, this book is a good review of inorganic chemistry and general biology (I was in the 99th percentile for both the chem and bio sections), but I would get an additional aid for the writing, verbal and reading comprehension sections... and look over your old organic and calculus notes.  The organic chemistry on the exam is a breeze if you are a chem major so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

CCC - Spring 2010

Well, I went an enrolled into a one unit class at my community college.

Course Title: GLP and GMP; Principles and Compliance 

Description:  This course will introduce students to the laws, regulations, and quality practices associated with the biotechnology industry, with emphasis on the development of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Students will gain hands-on experience navigating and using the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website.

It's only a one unit class from 9am to 3pm, and takes place for only three Saturdays during the semester.  I'm taking the class for several reasons.  For one thing, I had no idea my community college offered classes like this, and it's not something that SFSU offers.  Another is of course that it seems like something that might be useful to know.  Another reason is that I need to look for more units to take that aren't repeat classes.

And the final reason is that by taking one class in the Spring, I'll be able to get in on the early enrollment of continuing students for the Summer or Fall (whichever I do first), rather than have to wait for the new student enrollment period.  I've been through enough enrollment problems in the past.  That's not going to happen again.

Book Review - Prescription to My Younger Self: What I learned after Pharmacy School

 

Prescription to My Younger Self: What I learned after Pharmacy School is a satisfactory book for those looking for words of inspiration or a few short lists on how to prepare for pharmacy school and beyond.  (The book preview can be found here.

The book, titled Prescription to My Younger Self: What I Learned After Pharmacy School, features letters from professional pharmacists and corporate executives sharing what they learned about themselves and their profession after pharmacy school. The book, which was compiled by sixth-year pharmacy students Annah Steckel, Alisha Broberg, Jennell Colwell, and Brad Koselke as part of a research project funded in part by a grant from Johnson & Johnson, was designed to help pharmacy students better understand what to expect after graduation. Assistant Professor Erin Albert, who served as the student's faculty mentor, thought the project would hold strong value to the students and profession.

(The full page describing the projects can be found here.

The first few letters provide words of inspiration and encouragement.  I wasn't really looking for that.  I've already found my determination and drive.  What was I hoping to find were some hard and solid bullet point types of advice.  And as I got further into the book, I got what I wanted.  And while I wasn't looking for it, I did eventually come to appreciate some of the words of advice that was offered.

None of the letters are very long, and the book is a quick read.  The arrangement of the letters seems to have had some thought put into it, with the most memorable letter saved for near the end.  This blog is about getting into pharmacy school, but the goal is about acquiring a career in pharmacy.  Reading messages from those who have already made it there is a nice glimpse of what's to come.

If you're looking for a break from researching schools and reading up on the technicalities and strategies of the application process, I think this is a nice change of pace.

Book Preview - Kaplan PCAT 2010-2011

As I said a couple posts back, the importance of taking the PCAT for the first round of applications has become more important to me, so I of course got the Kaplan guide.  Seems to be a well known and respected brand for all sorts of exams.  Originally I had been planning on waiting half a year or so for the next edition to come out, but with the new change in perspective, I wanted to start studying now, while I'll be having a pretty easy semester.  The bonus is that I'll be able to take the practice exam in this edition, and the practice exam in the next edition, if I should choose to do so.

Now for the Table of Contents:

-----

- Preface
- Note to International Students

 Section I: PCAT Strategies
- Chapter 1: Introduction to the PCAT
- Chapter 2: TTest Expertise
- Chapter 3: Test Mentality
- Chapter 4: PCAT Diagnostic Test and Explanations

 Section II: Verbal Ability
- Chapter 5: The Importance of Vocabulary
- Chapter 6: Mastering Sentence Completion and Analogies

 Section III: Biology
- Chapter 7: The Basis of Life
- Chapter 8: Reproduction
- Chapter 9: Genetics
- Chapter 10: Vertebrate Embryology
- Chapter 11: Vascular Systems in Animals and Plants
- Chapter 12: Endocrinology
- Chapter 13: Neuroscience
- Chapter 14: Respiration
- Chapter 15: Autotrophic Nutrition
- Chapter 16: Muscles and Locomotion
- Chapter 17: Digestion
- Chapter 18: Excretion
- Chapter 19: Animal Behavior
- Chapter 20: Ecology
- Chapter 21: Classification
- Chapter 22: Evolution

 Section IV: Reading Comprehension 
- Chapter 23: Reading Skills

 Section V: Quantitative Ability
- Chapter 24: Arithmetic
- Chapter 25: Algebra
- Chapter 26: Probability and Statistics
- Chapter 27: Precalculus and Calculus

 Section VI: Chemistry
- Chapter 28: Atomic Structure
- Chapter 29: The Periodic Table
- Chapter 30: Bonding and Chemical Reactions
- Chapter 31: Compounds and Stoichiometry
- Chapter 32: Chemical Kinetics and Equilibrium
- Chapter 33: Thermochemistry
- Chapter 34: The Gas Phase
- Chapter 35: Phases and Phase Changes
- Chapter 36: Solutions
- Chapter 37: Acids and Bases
- Chapter 38: Redox Reactions and Electrochemistry
- Chapter 39: Nuclear Phenomena
- Chapter 40: Organic Chemistry

 Section VII: Writing
- Chapter 41: The PCAT Essays

 Section VIII: Self-Check: Are You Prepared?
- Chapter 42: Final Exam
- Chapter 43: Final Exam Explanations

Community Service - H1N1 Vaccinations Round 2

Well, while I wasn't able to volunteer in October to help out with the vaccinations, looks like help is needed again.

Hello,

I received your contact information as someone who had expressed interested in volunteering during the H1N1 clinics in October. I work for the SFDPH Communicable Disease Control Unit and we are currently planning an H1N1 Mass Vaccination Clinic on Tuesday, December 22nd at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.  The clinic is for SF residents at high-risk for the H1N1 flu (children, pregnant women, etc).  The public clinic hours will be 10am-7pm, and we need volunteers for two shifts: 8am-3pm, and 1:30pm-8:30pm.  We are looking for responsible individuals who can serve as vaccinators, greeters, line managers, etc.   Food and training will be provided for the volunteers.

The volunteer registration form is available on our website at www.sfcdcp.org/flu under the "Volunteer to help" section.  I also attached the volunteer recruitment flyer and the volunteer registration form.

Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thanks so much for your help!

(Obviously you don't have access to my email, but the flyers are on the website.  And the recruitement flyer is below.)

Well... I'm free on the 22nd at the moment.  As long as I'll be free for the training, I should be able to help out.  Let's give it another try.

SFSU - Spring 2010

Well.. my registration time appeared, and I've registered for my final classes at San Francisco State University as an undergrad.  I'm taking "Introduction to Research in Psychology" and "Genetics."  The first because it's the final class I need to get my degree in Psychology, and the second because I need to take a class that I'm not repeating that will also help to demonstrate that I can handle the material in pharm school.

I'm only enrolled into two classes for two reasons, money is an issue right now and with this schedule I should be able to (hopefully) get a full time job as a pharmacy technician.  My classes are MWF 8-10am, with one more hour "to be arranged" whatever that means.

The good thing is that both these classes are fresh, and not courses I'm repeating.  The bad thing is that it's only six units, and I will have to take on a much harder load in a later semester to help my chances of getting accepted anywhere.

The worse thing is that I talked to an adviser on Monday, and found out that SFSU only accepts post-baccs in a specific two year program for pre-health students.  I can qualify for that, but it's a specific program and costs over $30k a year.  That's just as much (or more) as pharm school!  I can't afford that money, and the time commitment is pretty huge.

The California schools are in trouble, and have too many students at the moment.  They can't afford to take on more than they have.  That means my only option (to take classes at SFState after graduation) is to attempt to enroll through the Open University policy.  That essentially boils down to "Show up to class on the first day and cross your fingers that there is a spot open."  That'll be extremely unlikely with how packed the classes are.

What that means for me is that, unless I find out that it's possible for me to get into classes at another 4-year university, then I'll have to hope that taking all the classes I can at my local community college will be enough to help offset my grades.  Thankfully there's still Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology that I still have to take that will be available to me.  Unfortunately BioChem and Immunology classes may not be possible for me to retake.  And somewhat in between fortunately and unfortunately I may have to retake my Physics and Calculus classes because I took them so long ago.  (Having to retake them over kinda sucks... but then I have a reason to stack those hard classes with the other ones to create some tough semesters.)

This also places greater importance in studying for the PCAT and doing well on it.  I was starting to think that maybe I'll just apply to California in my first go around and add more schools for the second attempt, but with limited options into what classes I can take at a community college... well... it might not be enough to get into California schools.

It's not impossible.  The plan is to get all A's from here on out.  We'll just have to see how it goes.

My First Comment!

Hey look at that, someone actually read my blog that isn't one of my friends.

Congratulations on your PTCB Certification. Great job. --NPTA

Upon closer examination, it looks as if whoever that person is, they either work for, or at the very least, wants to promote the National Pharmacy Technician Association.

Just a couple hours into the first business day after I post that I received my certificate, and they're already nudging me to join!  That was quick.  They're watching.  *looks around nervously*

Well... thanks for the congrats! =)

I'll take a closer look at the website in a day or so.  Tonight I'll be doing some last bits of planning because I register for my final semester as an undergrad at SFSU tomorrow at 10am

CPR Face Shields

These arrived the other day.  I got two of these face shields, rather than another of the full sized mask.  They come in a White, Royal Blue, Orange, and Black cases.  They're only $5.05.  Amazon had some other ones that also came with gloves in a little backpack, but it doesn't come with the shipping deal that amazon has, so that was a no go for me.  I picked up two black ones.  They're too bulky to put on my keychain, but a great size for my bag and my first aid kit.

Here's a closer look at what the actual face shield looks like.  It's a simple plastic shield to prevent any fluids from transferring either way, with a filter in the air valve, and instructions printed on the front.  However the instructions aren't very good in describing hand placement.  But if you're certified, you should have had some kind of practice using some kind of tool any way.

Becoming a Pharmacy Technician - Part 13 - PTCB Certificate Arrived!

It finally arrived!  I passed the exam on Nov 19th, and my official certification date is Nov 30th, and it arrived in the mail on Dec 5th.  Keeping in mind that there was the Thanksgiving holiday during that time, it took sixteen days from passing the test to getting the certificate in my hands.

As soon as I got it, I took a shower, ate some lunch, and went back to that UPS Store where I got the Live Scan done, so I could get a notarized copy of the certificate, and retake my photo.  Unfortunately, (and I should have realized) they only take Polaroid photos there, and the application specifically states to not attach a Polaroid photo.

But I was there for two things.  The notary public made a copy, recorded it in his book, made me sign it and stamp my thumb print.  I had to swear that the contents of the document describing what was copied said was the truth, and paid my $10.33.

With that done, I went back to Costco to retake my photo.  But by the time I got it all finished, it was already too late in the day on a Saturday to make it before the last mail pick up at the post-office.  So I just decided to drop it off at later, and headed home.

I'm one step closer.

Oh yeah, here are the results.  They came with the certificate.  I'm surprised that my Admin. Mgmt. of Pharmacy Practice score was so low, especially since I got 100% on the practice exam.  But I passed.  And I'll master it all eventually.  I'm reading the Pocket Guide for Pharmacy Technicians, which has all the same stuff and more, and I'll be learning on the job once I get hired.  The learning doesn't stop because the exam is over.

Supplemental Applications

It's never too early to work on your personal statement, and it's never too early to take a look at supplemental applications.  Unfortunately, most of the schools send out invitations to submit supplemental applications, and so it's not possible for me to take a look.  But there are two California schools that have easy access to sample supplemental apps.

You can find the sample supplemental application for UCSF here.  The essays will require a lot of thought.  The questions on form B are below.  But of course it's important to take a look at the actual form to see how much space is allotted to for each response.  You might want to take a look at form D as well.

B1. EXTRACURRICULAR, LEADERSHIP, VOLUNTEER, COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES & WORK EXPERIENCE.  UCSF prepares students to be leaders in pharmacy.  Expand upon one of the outside activities you listed in your PharmCAS application by discussing how your participation demonstrates your motivation and ability to be a leader in the pharmacy profession.

B2. PROFESSIONAL ACUMEN AND CULTURAL AWARENESS.  Explain how your educational, employment or other extracurricular experiences have provided you an opportunity to actively address issues of diversity and/or health disparities.  How will these experiences help you to succeed in our Doctor of Pharmacy program and in the pharmacy profession?

B3. PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE.  How have your personal experiences informed your understanding of the human condition?

B4. OTHER INFORMATION (OPTIONAL).  You may use the space below to tell us anything else you would like us to know about you.  Reapplicants should use this space to summarize the steps taken in the past year to further develop their qualifications.

B5. UCSF CANDIDATE’S STATEMENT.  In a class of 122 highly qualified students, which of your personal characteristics will make you stand out as an individual?  In contrast to the PharmCAS application and statement, which asks you to describe your skills, accomplishments, and future goals, we ask that you discuss your personal uniqueness.

The sample application form for WesternU can be found here.  The Personal Questionnaire Form has a very different set of questions than UCSF.

1.  Why do you feel the need to obtain the PharmD degree at this point in your career?  Is there an area of practice that particularly interest you?

2.  If you are a re-applicant, explain what you have done in the past year to enhance your application.

3.  Aside from becoming a pharmacist, what other professional and personal goals do you have?  How do you plan to achieve them?

4.  Identify one social problem in the United States OR your country of origin that is of concern to you.  What do you believe are some possible solutions?

5.  Name an individual whom you admire greatly.  Why?

6.  What are your strongest and weakest personal characteristics?  How have these strength(s) and weakness(s) helped or hindered you in the achievement of your goals?

7.  Describe your participation in extra-curricular activities (campus and/or community) that you feel may enhance your application.  Include all offices and other leadership positions held.  If you have no participated, indicate why.

8.  Describe some of your non-academic interests (e.g., recreational or athletic activities, hobbies, club participation etc.)

9.  Have you had any academic difficulties that may appear on your transcripts that you would like to explain?

10.  Please use space below to make any additional personal comments that you think will strengthen your application.

Now I said two, but maybe this is a third?  If I had to guess, I'd say that the link was removed when the deadline passed, but there is at least a glimpse into what UCSD is looking for on their supplemental application here.

Becoming a Pharmacy Technician - Part 12 - Live Scan Fingerprinting

Short version: I got my fingerprints scanned, in anticipation of receiving my PTCE results in the mail, so I can send in my application for my California pharm tech license.

Long Version:  I got my finger prints scanned today.  I headed over the link provided in the application to find a Live Scan location.  I was trying to shop around for the cheapest location, and saw that most places were "Appointment Only."  I lucked out and found that the cheapest location was also the closest.  It had some random name, but whatever.  Am I really supposed to be familiar with the names of Live Scan sites?  I dial up the number.  It rings.  It rings some more.  Then I get an answering machine.

The message wasn't even a professional answering machine message.  "Thank you for calling [insert business name].  Our hours of operation are..." and all that.  It was the generic answering message you get on cell phones.  "You have called [insert number].  Please leave a message after the beep."  I was going to call to make an appointment for the next day or two, but after that, it wouldn't hurt to take a look to see what else is out there.

I skimmed through all the other nearby locations and saw that one of the locations was a UPS Store, and allowed walk-ins.  No appointment necessary.  That's great.  It was $10 more, but there was still plenty of time in the day, and I wasn't doing anything.  I figured I'd just go right then and there.

I get there, the are other people around taking care of their business, it's a nice and familiar store.  No hassle and a comfortable setting.  I figured that it was worth paying an extra $10.  I ask to get my fingerprints scanned, and hand over the paperwork and my ID.  While the lady was setting that up, another customer walked in and also asked for her fingerprints scanned.  Was that just a coincidence?  Or do they really do multiple scans per day?  I guess since there are so many locations nearby, it must be a service that's asked for pretty regularly.

Well, the person helping me yelled out from the computer she was at that the total cost would be $81!  There were additional fees, like the link said, I just didn't realize it would be that much.  It was $31 for the FBI, and $20 more for the DOJ.  (That could be reversed, but either way the total was an additional $51.) 

The lady also asking for fingerprinting said, "I hope it doesn't cost that much for me."  But then mentioned her work would also reimburse her for $50 of the charge. 

Then the attendant asked the lady how she'd be paying, and the lady responded that she'd be using her debit card.  "That'll be a $3.00 additional charge."

I could only laugh.  What's three more dollars.

Then the attendant said she could be charging me first, before they did the scan.  With payment processed, we went back to the computer and she scanned my prints.  First both thumbs, then all four fingers on my right hand, then my left, then all my fingers individually.  When that was done, she clicked a button, and said that they'd receive the info when it was done loading.  And just like that, I was finished.

I had my receipts and my paperwork.  And I noticed that the UPS store can also notarize things and takes passport photos.  I didn't really like the photo I took at Costco, so I'll be taking another.  And now I know where I can get my notarized copy of my PTCE results.  A nice one stop shop for all my California pharm tech license needs.  But I'll be sure to bring cash next time.

Book Preview - Pocket Guide for Pharmacy Technicians

As you can see, another book arrived today in the mail.  Pocket Guide for Pharmacy Technicians.  (I love the Amazon Prime service.)  I'll be taking a look through this later, but for now, let's just take a look at the Table of Contents  (There are plenty of sub-subcategories that I didn't list to keep this post to a manageable length.):

1 - The Foundation of Pharmaceutical Care
- Educational Requirements - Pharmacist
- Educational Requirements - Pharmacy Technician
- Certification Examination for the Pharmacy Technician
- Continuing Education
- Job Opportunities
- Places of Eployment
- Code of Ethics

2 - Drug Regulation and Control
- Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA)
- Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970
- Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA)
- Drug Listing Act of 1972
- Drug Regulation reform Act of 1978
- Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA '90)
- Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA'96)
- New Drug Approval
- Law and the Pharmacy Technician

3 - Pharmaceutical terminology and Abbreviations
- Medical and Pharmacy Abbreviations
- Medication Errors
- ISMP's List of Error-Prone Abbreviations, Symbols, and Dose Designations
- Arabic and Roman Numerals on Prescriptions
- Drug Names

4 - Pharmacy Calculations
- Arabic Numbers and Roman Numberals
- The Metric System
- The Household System
- International Units
- Fractions
- Decimals
- Percents, Rations, and Proportions
- Calculation of Oral Drugs
- Calculation of Parenteral Dosages
- Pediatric Dosage Calculations
- Allegation Alternate

5 - Prescriptions
- The Prescription Order Form
- Parts of the Prescription
- Processing the Prescription Order
- Prescription Refilling

6 - Dosage Forms and Administration of Medications 99
- The Seven Rights of Medication Administration
- Drug Forms
- Principles of Drug Administration

7 - Community or Retail Pharmacy
- Duties of the Pharmacy Technician in the Community Pharmacy
- Organization of the Retail Pharmacy

8 - Hospital or Institutional Pharmacy
- Hospital Pharmacy
- Organization of the Hospital Pharmacy
- The Roles and Duties of Pharmacy
- Technicians in Hospitals
- Medication Orders
- Medication Dispensing Systems
- Purchasing Systems
- Order Processing
- Storage of Medicaitons
- Inventory Management
- Safety
- The Policy and Procedure Manual
- Regulatory Agencies That Oversee Hospital Pharmacy

9 - Advanced Pharmacy
- Mail-Order Pharmacy
- Internet Pharmacy
- Home Infusion Pharmacy
- Hospice Pharmacy
- Nuclear Pharmacy
- Long-Term-Care Pharmacy

10 - Nonsterile Compounding
- Equipment
- Compounded Preparations
- Compounding Processes
- Compounding Records and Documents
- Commonly Compounded Products
- Repackaging

11 - Sterile Compounding
- Issues Related to Sterile Compounding
- Role of the Pharmacy Technician in Sterile Compounding
- Types of Sterile Formulations
- Equipment for Sterile Compounding
- Laminar Airflow Hoods
- Large-Volume Parenteral Solutions
- Small-Volume Parenteral Solutions
- Basic Considerations for Sterile Compounding
- Uses for Sterile Compounding
- Aseptic Technique
- Sterile Compounding of Solutions
- Compounding and Drug-Preparation Errors
- Packaging
- Labeling
- Storage
- Quality Control and Quality Assurance

12 - Medication Errors
- Occurrence of Medication Errors
- Prescribing Errors
- Dispensing Errors
- Administering Errors
- The Patient's Role in Medication Errors
- Avoiding Medication Errors
- Medication Error Reporting
- Negligence and Malpractice Penalties

13 - Computer Systems in the Pharmacy
- Components of a Computer System
- Computer System Databases
- Computer System Functions
- Technology and HIPAA
- Automation

14 - Pharmacy Operation
- The Role of the Pharmacy Manager
- Profitability of the Pharmacy Practice
- Inventory Turnover Rates
- Automated Work Systems
- Ordering
- Purchasing Procedures
- Pricing
- Repackaging
- Disposal of Drugs
- Accounting
- Receiving
- Bar Coding
- Returning Products
- Drug Recalls
- Record Keeping

15 - Billing and Health Insurance
- Payment
- Coding System
- Understanding Insurance Policies
- Insurance Health Plans
- Insurance Forms

16 - Biopharmaceutics
- Biopharmaceutics

17 - Human Response to Drug Activity
- Factors Influencing the Effects of Drugs

18 - Drug Effects and Drug Classifications
- Central Nervous System
- Endocrine System
- Cardiovascular System
- Muscloskeletal System
- Immune System
- Respiratory System
- Antineoplastic Drugs
- Sensory System
- Digestive System

APPENDIX A - Professional Organizations
APPENDIX B - Professional Journals
APPENDIX C - State Boards of Pharmacy
APPENDIX D - Converting Measurements
APPENDIX E - Medial Symbols and Abbreviations
APPENDIX F - The Most Common Poisonous Substances and Their Antidotes
APPENDIX G - The Most Commonly Prescribed Drugs in 2005
APPENDIX H - Controlled Substances in the United States and Canada
APPENDIX I - Pregnancy Categories: FDA Assigned
APPENDIX J - Drug/Food Interactions
APPENDIX K - Drugs that Should Not Be Crushed
APPENDIX L - Pharmaceutical Companies
APPENDIX M - Common Sound-Alike Drug Names
APPENDIX N - Nomogram
APPENDIX O - Drug Identification Guide

Personal Statement - Rough Draft 1.0

(Image from minoritylawstudents.org

I was in the shower, and the beginning to this attempt at a personal statement came to me.  It wasn't something I was actively trying to figure out.  So as soon as I was finished, I sat down at my computer, and started to type and this is what came out.

-----

The coin spun. My eyes traced its path. I caught it and slapped it onto the back of my other hand. Heads. My major was going to be physics.

The problem with being good at everything, the problem with being told you can be anything, is that you have everything to choose from. I didn’t know what I wanted to be, but I was supposed to pick a major, so I flipped a coin. I transferred to San Francisco State University with 112 units, just one year out of high school. The problem was that I had no motivation. Physics interested me, but that was it. I had no goal. I tried to force my way through it, but there was no motivation and I was depressed, and physics wasn’t meant to be.

I took a semester off to work construction for my dad. The time off of school, working with my hands was meant to give me time to consider where my future would take me. My brother was a marine reserve, and my parents suggested looking into the armed forces. I stepped into the Air Force recruitment office, and we had a talk. I was given a list of careers that the Air Force could train me in, but jobs such as mechanic or pilot didn’t interest me. Then at the end one word popped out amongst all others. Pharmacist. I scanned the rest of the list but my eyes popped back up to that one word. It’s not something I had ever considered before, but it seemed like it could fit me. I didn’t join the Air Force, and instead returned to school. I didn’t have a fully realized goal in my head, but at least I had a potential concept in my head that could help guide me.

I returned to school taking classes in biology and chemistry, and decided it was time to join an organization. School as a physics major was just a place to be. I wanted it to feel like a place I belonged. So I joined Alpha Phi Omega, a national co-ed service fraternity. It caught my eye because it was nothing like what my expectations of fraternities was like. I did hundreds of hours of community service, and enjoyed how much immediate satisfaction I could have in helping out others, and I enjoyed how much it was helping myself grow. I ended up helping to recruit and coordinate translators for the 42nd International Children’s Games, I spear-headed the Multi-cultural AIDS Awareness Day on San Francisco State University three years in a row and got to meet Mayor Gavin Newsom. I believed in the purpose and potential of the organization and so held positions coordinating our service program, developing our membership, and coordinated it all as president.

This satisfaction led to being president of the Fraternity Sorority Council, being a committee member of the Office of Student Programs and Leadership Development, and eventually founding a Pre-Pharmacy Association at San Francisco State University as the founding vice president. The problem was that this is where my priorities lied. All of my attention lay in these organizations. And when it seemed as if some people in my fraternity were slowly changing the atmosphere to a social fraternity and away from its stated purpose of being focused on service, I focused my energies in protecting something that I felt was worthwhile, and my grades fell.

There were other reasons. The first close death in the family happened when my grandma died, and I withdrew from most of my classes. I successfully lost thirty pounds after living with being overweight my entire life, only to tear my ACL playing volleyball, and losing my ability to run, sinking me into what may have been more than a minor depression. But the fact of the matter is that I had been a bad student. My priorities weren’t balanced and I wasn’t taking a long view of the future. I had a talking point in my head, in pharmacy, but it wasn’t something I truly believed in. And so my grades fell, not because I tried and failed, but because I didn’t try at all, to the point of forgetting about midterms because my attendance was abysmal.

And then it happened. I got put on academic probation by the school. I finally took a real look at my academic career, and saw that it was leading me nowhere. It was time to give up on biochemistry as a major, and time to give up on pharmacy. I switched to psychology because it had also interested me, and I began wondering what kind of future I could have in that field.

Then it struck me. During my year away from pharmacy, I rediscovered the joy of learning. I rediscovered that it was the challenging classes that were the most engaging, and were the classes that I did the best in. And I discovered that I missed pursuing pharmacy. When I left physics as a major, I felt relief. I was happy that it was no longer the path I was on. But it wasn’t happening this time. I enjoyed my classes in psychology, but I missed pharmacy even more.

My time with the Pre-Pharmacy Association had transformed that talking point in my head, into a true desire, and I hadn’t realized it. There was always parental pressure on me to enter the health field among other things. I knew I didn’t want to be a doctor and work with a lot of blood. Ignoring all that, pharmacy fit. The breadth of opportunity that I only learned by participating in the PPA amazed me. When you’ve been told you can be anything, you want to be everything. And the pharmacy profession seemed to embrace that concept. Research, improving the health of others, teaching, management, and so much more. Even constant encouragement for leaders who want to help change the field. A profession that is directly related to one of the major topics of the present days in healthcare.

In just two semesters away, I realized what I had given up in forgoing pharmacy. It wasn’t something I could do. If I try and fail, then so be it. But the attempt had to be made. So with the newfound resolve, I took steps to give myself the best chance possible of making it into the field that was meant for me. I even started a blog 2pharmschool.blogspot.com to ensure that I would keep focused. Pharmacy was no longer just a word to say. There would be no toss of a coin this time. I knew what I wanted. I finally had a goal.

-----

Ok, this is very rough.  First of all, I copy/pasted this into PharmCAS and the word count was over 6k characters.  PharmCAS has a limit of 4.5k.  I'm going to have to cut it down by 25% for it to even be accepted.  (Word 2007 doesn't do character count!  My old version of Word was able to!  Shame, shame, shame, Microsoft.)

I like the image of a coin flip starting out the personal statement, in terms of being catchy.  Now is it a good way to present myself?  I'm hoping by the end, it shows how I've changed, but I'll have to get more opinions on it.  And of course the concept is there, but the wording can be improved.

The next thing is,that most of the statement is explaining away faults, and not enough promoting any positives.  I'd like to have that more balanced.  Although at this point I have no choice but to incorporate my faults into my statement.  I don't have the luxury in being able to choose from a wide variety of topics to address.  I still need to also make sure it's clear as to why I'm pursuing pharmacy and what I have to offer.

Not as Big of a Hurdle - My GPA

 (Image from whatthehealthmag.wordpress.com)

Ok, so I went to PharmCAS and created an account.  Then I sadly found out that they don't calculate your GPA on the spot.  You enter in all your classes, fill out the rest of the application, send them your transcripts and payment, and then after five weeks they'll tell you your GPA.  So the plan to use PharmCAS to calculate my GPA was a bust.

But...

What I did find was the FAQ on how PharmCAS calculates GPA.

They use semester units (and convert quarter units to semester units by multiplying them by .667), which is great, because I've only been to colleges on the sysmester system.

They use the 4.0 scale, counting pluses, minuses, and grades like AB, BC, etc.  (There is also a conversion for number only grades.  (Ex. 3.79-3.6 = A-)

- 4.0 = A+/A

- 3.7 = A-

- 3.5 = AB

- 3.3 = B+

- 3.0 = B

- etc.

And finally, classes that are not counted in the GPA include: withdrawn courses, incomplete courses, audited courses, pass/fail courses, non-graded transcripts, AP/IB/CLEP courses, planned courses, in-progress courses, deferred courses, and institutionhal/departmental exam credit.  (There are of course other rules, but there are the main ones for me.)

So as long as I entered in the data correctly into my Excel sheet, and understand the FAQ right, because of how they treat incompletes, I have a 2.85 GPA rather than the 2.71 that SFSU is telling me.

That helps.

I'm now at the minimum GPA to get into all the California Schools except for UCSD and USC.  The minimum isn't good enough if I haven't demonstrated that I can handle the course load, but it is one less thing that I have to worry about.

The benefit of creating my own Excel sheet is that I can project what future grades will do for my GPA.  And because I have so many units, it will take 39 units of all A's to raise my GPA to a 3.0.  It's possible, but difficult, to do in the time frame that I want.  I'll have to seek out more information about any kind of exceptions.

However, with this new information, it is much more important for me to figure out exactly which classes I need to take (or retake):

- To satisfy a prerequisite
- To demonstrate I can handle the course load
- Because I performed poorly in them
- Because they were taken too long ago

I think tackling that list will take care of my GPA problem.  GPA is now a side effect of the course work issue.  I need to come up with a list, figure out when and where I'm going to take these classes, and then execute that new plan.  As long as I can get into and have time for the classes needed, I expect to get A's.

With this new information, I am now looking to apply in two application cycles.  The two to three years that was in my head has now settled down to one choice.

P.S.  I still have to check out my Prerequisite/Science GPA.

PSAR (Pharmacy School Admission Requirements)

I was looking through the stats section of Get Into Pharmacy School: Rx for Success!, and despite it being printed just this year, I noticed that some of the info (specifically the tuition for UCSF) was already out of date.  But thankfully the chapter "Planning Your Undergraduate Experience" led me to a more accurate source, the AACP website, and more specifically to the page on the PSAR

The Pharmacy School Admission Requirements (PSAR)© is designed to provide the most up-to-date information about each pharmacy school, including specifics about admission requirements, selection factors and educational costs for students entering pharmacy school in fall 2010. [ISBN 978-0-9723236-5-9]. To order a printed copy of the Pharmacy School Admissions Requirements©, go to the AACP Order Form. The PSAR is $25 plus $3 for shipping and handling.

Links to all the forms in .pdf format is all there ready for you to print out if you don't want to pay the $25 fee.  I'm going to go even further than that.  Since I'm just looking at the California schools right now, and the tables clump the schools by state... I'm going to be doing some copy/pasting into Paint, and do some quick photo editing so I get only the info I need, and save on ink.

(FYI: Hit the "Prt Sc" [Print Screen] button on you computer to copy what's on your screen.  Then you can just do the normal Paste.)

- The tables of interest to me are:

PSAR Table 1: Pharm.D. Programs - Pharm.D. Degree Programs Anticipated for 2010-11.

PSAR Table 3: Graduate Programs - Institutional Information and Graduate Degree Programs Anticipated for 2010-11

PSAR Table 4: Dual-Degrees - Dual-Degree Programs Anticipated for 2010-11

PSAR Table 8: First Year Pharm.D. Class - Characteristics of fall 2008 First Year Class for Pharm.D. Degree Programs

PSAR Table 9: Admissions Policies - Admission Policies and Practices for Pharm.D. Degree Programs Anticipated for 2010-11

PSAR Table 11: Tuition - First Year Tuition and Fees for Pharm.D. Degree Programs in 2009-10

- Now the real find is this next link.  The tables may be good for comparing schools in specific categories, but this next link gives you a full view of each individual school.  You get paragraphs about the school, its mission/vision, what the curriculum is like, admissions requirements, as well as all in the info in the tables.  And this won't even take any photo editing, since each school is given their own two pages.  Just pick and choose.

School Admission Requirements - Two-page narrative that includes General Information, Curriculum, Admission Requirements, and Further Information for each AACP member institution

- This last link gives a nice break down of all the prerequisite courses.  I like the table that I made for myself, but I'll be using this to double check that my info is correct.

Course Prerequisites by Pharmacy School - Summary of pre-professional course requirements by pharmacy degree institution

Major Hurdle - My GPA

(Image from whatthehealthmag.wordpress.com)

 

Ok, it's time to give it up. I've been skirting around this subject.  My GPA is 2.71.  I have a total of 283.5 units.  (I've been in school a long time.)  That's a lot of units.  That makes it hard to raise my GPA.  Most of the California schools require a 2.75 or 2.80 minimum GPA, with USC requiring 3.0.  And of course most of the time people with just the minimum GPA don't get in, so I want to raise my GPA as high as possible.

As soon as I get a pharm tech job, I am aiming to work full time until I get into pharmacy school.  That might limit my ability to take enough classes to raise my GPA to above a 3.0 in the next two/three years.  If possible, I would like to take at least one semester as a full time student with a full and challenging class load, as further proof that I can handle the challenges as a pharmacy student.  (The UoP admissions people mentioned that it does not look favorably if only one or two classes are taken at a time, and should be avoided if at all possible.)

I have a low GPA, a lot of units, and will (hopefully) have a full time job as a pharm tech. Those circumstances create a major hurdle in acquiring a qualifying GPA, let alone a competitive GPA.

I haven't crunched the numbers yet, but I took five classes last semester, got two A's and three A-'s.  That rose my GPA from 2.65 to 2.71.  With that rough estimate, It seems that making it to a 2.8 is possible in the time frame that I want.  3.0... not so much.  When I go down to the USC Info Session, most likely on this upcoming January 15th, I'll be sure to ask if there are any exceptions to the 3.0 rule.  (I know one of the websites specifically stated that some requirements could be waived if there was a good enough reason.  However I can't seem to find it at the moment.)

I'll be entering my grades into PharmCAS in the near future, just to see how it calculates my GPA compared to how SFState does it.  PharmCAS is the one that matters.

Black Friday Books

Today's Black Friday, and what did I buy?  (Ignoring the speakers and a dvd player/burner for my computer.  Both of which I'm using as I type this.  =D)

Despite the title of this post, the first item isn't a book.  It's the CPR Pocket Resuscitator.  I took the class and got certified, and I thought these things were cool when we were practicing with them.  I looked'em up on Amazon.com and saw they were only about $10!  Click.  It was an auto-buy.

I took the class because I want to be prepared, just in case.  I bought this little guy to help me be prepared for that just in case.  Although I have yet to decide where I'm going to keep it.  I have an emergency bag where I keep a first aid kit, an ace bandage, etc that I might throw it in.  Although I was also thinking the glove compartment of my car.  But then of course just keeping it in my bag might be a good idea too.  I want to have it handy when there's an emergency... so I need to have it with me when I'm around an emergency.  But since it's only $10, I may just buy a couple more.

The orange case comes inside a ziplock bag, and inside is the resuscitator, some blue nitrile gloves (size: large), some antiseptic handwipes, and some brief instructions.  Definitely worth it.

Get Into Pharmacy School: Rx for Success!  Now it should be obvious why I bought this.  I'm working towards and writing about getting into pharmacy school, and that's what this book is about.  I'll do a full review on it when I'm done getting through it.

As for a glimpse into what's in it, the Table of Contents is divided into six sections:

PART ONE: Is Pharmacy School for You?

- Ch 1: Introduction to Pharmacy

- Ch 2: Making the Decision

PART TWO: Planning for Pharmacy School

- Ch 3: Planning Your Undergraduate Experience

- Ch 4: The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)

- Ch 5: Selecting the Right Program

- Ch 6: Researching Pharmacy Schools

PART THREE: Applying to Pharmacy School - Navigating the Application Process

- Ch 7: Admission Criteria

- Ch 8: Completing the Application

- Ch 9: Personal Statement

- Ch 10: Letters of Recommendation

- Ch 11: The Interview

- Ch 12: Admissions Process - An Inside Perspective

- Ch 13: Rejection and Your Alternatives

PART FOUR: Preparing for Your Career in Pharmacy

- Ch 14: What to Expect and Do in Pharmacy School

- Ch 15: Postprofessional (Post-Pharm.D.) - Residencies, Fellowships, and Board Certifications

- Ch 16: Career Options

PART FIVE: Financing Your Degree

- Ch 17: Figuring Out Costs

- Ch 18: Applying for Financial Aid

- Ch 19: Finding Free Money

- Ch 20: Borrowing the Money

PART SIX: Resources

- Quick Reference List of Key Resources

- Pharmacy School Statistics

- Index

Looks like there should be a lot of good information in there, and this is a first printing, published in 2009, so the info should be up to date.  I'll let you know how it goes!

Prescription to My Younger Self: What I learned after Pharmacy School  Now this book... it caught my eye as I was shopping for the other one.  It was first published on March 28, 2008... had no description and no reviews.  Yet it had a very catchy title and there were only two copies left!  (Just one copy now with a "order soon (more on the way)" note on it.).  It was only $20, and I was curious.

I've only just cracked it open since it only arrived today, but here's an actual description for anyone else wanting to take a look at it, straight from the book:

This book is a collection of letters written by pharmacists in varying professional settings, who we feel have either excelled in the profession of pharmacy, or who have inspired us and were willing to share their stories in print.  We asked the pharmacists to provide a biography along with a letter they have written int he present to their former self on the day that they graduated from pharmacy school, and share the pearls of wisdom they learned about their profession after graduation.  Included in the epilog is group of letters from a different perspective- the student.  Each of us contributed a letter reflecting upon our current aspirations and hesitations as we venture into the unknown, a career.  Prescription to My Younger Self: What I learned after Pharmacy School, allowed us to step outside of the box and take a chance on a very unique and rewarding project.

There are twenty-seven total pharmacist chapters, from pharmacists in all kinds of pharmacy settings, as well a chapter each from the four students who came up with the idea for this book.  So the title of the book didn't lie to me, and it is what it says.  Cool.  And now you guys get more info about it than amazon.com gives.  Full review forthcoming!