Tonight, the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy is holding its final open house of the year for prospective students. Since it's your last chance to join an open house this school year, we're coming to you live from the Howard Q. and Mescal Ferguson Auditorium (Kerr 2001) to make sure you don't miss any important details.
The session is scheduled to last 90 minutes, with a 45-minute presentation followed by a 45-minute question-and-answer period.
During this session, you will:
- Learn about outstanding career opportunities in the pharmacy profession
- Receive information on the professional and educational requirements for success
- Review our admissions process and gain suggestions for preparing a comprehensive application
- Hear perspectives from our dynamic faculty and staff
In Reverse Chronological Order
7:00 p.m. Todd encouraged students to stick around after the presentation to ask additional questions and interact with the current students more.
6:58 p.m. Q: Can you talk about the flipped classroom and video teleconferencing?
Palazzolo: This classroom is very tech savvy. There are microphones at all of the desks, so the camera zooms in on you when you are talking. We have students in Asheville, who are shown on that back screen. They can chime in on the conversation at any time. For the flipped classroom, professors design the curriculum to create a more interactive classroom. It requires more preparation before class, but class is more enjoyable. You’re working in teams and interacting. You’re not just listening to lecture.
6:55 p.m. Q: What did your pharmacy internship entail?
Nicole Palazzolo: It was at NYU Langone Medical Center. It was called the Health Career Opportunity Program. I selected pharmacy as my focus. It was a one-month program. You were essentially a volunteer in the pharmacy. We were given different projects to work on. I got to learn a lot about pharmacy. The students from all of the different disciplines came to meet together to have a discussion at the end of the day. Overall, it was a very good program.
6:50 p.m. Q: How do you juggle school with family?
Elizabeth Weddendorf: I really have to manage my time. I see this as a job, so I stay here from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. When I go home, I spend time with my family. When my kids go to bed, I’ll study. I function well on either four hours or eight hours of sleep. Admissions isn’t going to let you in here if you can’t handle the workload. Faculty will help you make a plan. Everyone is always trying to help you proceed. Professors have office hours and are very approachable.
Ivy Lio: Other students are really good study buddies. We lean on each other to succeed.
Ferreri: We have a lot of faculty who are young parents. We have a lot of students who are young parents. We all feel it. I have advisees in my office and we talk about these issues. Faculty understand this. Students understand this.
6:43 p.m. The open house moved into a panel set up. Five current PharmD students (Mariana Lucena, Jacob Maready, Nicole Palazzolo, Ivy Lio, Elizabeth Weddendorf) and one PhD student (Sarah Claypool) are accepting questions.
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| Current students answer questions from prospective students at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy open house on October 9. |
6:42 p.m. Q: Can you explain the LEAD Program more?
A: It’s an extended session of what Ferreri presented. It explains how you can be a good candidate and a good pharmacist.
6:41 p.m. Q: Do you have a preferred major?
A: No, we do not have a preference. Our top majors are chemistry and biology. A lot of our prerequisites fall into those programs, but you can major in whatever as long as you complete your prerequisites.
6:39 p.m. Q: If I’m finishing my degree this summer, can I apply?
A: You should probably wait. If you’re not finished with your prerequisites by the spring, we recommend you wait to apply in the next year. Consider volunteering or get a part-time job. We would like to see those items.
6:38 p.m. Q: Are UNC alumni given priority?
A: No, we have a lot of UNC alumni who apply, but we do not give any priority. We are looking for the best students. We want people who are going to be leaders in pharmacy.
6:37 p.m. Q: Do we include high school leadership in application?
A: No, we like to see activities from your undergraduate degree or roles you’ve taken on in your current job. You really want to focus on your most recent work.
6:37 p.m. Q: Do you have a limit on how long ago you can take a class?
A: Not really, but we do ask for PCAT scores within the last five years.
6:36 p.m. Lewis opened the floor to questions.
Question: If you’re applying as an undergrad, when do you apply?
Answer: You have to have prerequisites finished in the spring before you apply. We have a lot of students complete their bachelor’s degree and then apply.
6:36 p.m. Other ways to get connected:
- UNC LEAD Program
- Pharmacy Fridays
- PCAT Reviews
- Facebook: UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Prospective Students and Admissions
- Twitter: @UNCPharmacy
6:35 p.m. If you are pursing a PhD, Lewis explained that application process is a little bit different. You apply through the Graduate School at UNC. Lewis highly encourages students to talk to faculty members in the division he or she is interested in joining.
6:35 p.m. Lewis encourages students to review tuition and fees. The School has both in-state and out-of-state tuition.
6:34 p.m. Profile of student admitted for Fall 2012:
- 624 applications, 162 student accepted (140 UNC, 22 Asheville)
- Average PCAT Composite Percentile Rank: 86%
- Average GPA: 3.5
- Top two majors: chemistry and biology
6:32 p.m. Lewis listed student expectations: consistent and punctual attendance; expressed willingness/enthusiasm; courteous, respectful, and nonjudgmental communication with preceptors, patients, students, and staff; confidentiality; collegiality; flexibility; and personal accountability and responsibility.
6:31 p.m. We like to see a minimum of a 50 composite score on the PCAT, Lewis says.
6:29 p.m. Lewis clarified that admissions is a holistic process. If your GPA isn’t so good, you can balance it out with a good PCAT score, or vice versa. In the interview and letter, you can explain some of your weaknesses and how you’re improving them. It’s also a good idea to talk about any jobs you had while in school.
6:28 p.m. Question from the audience: If you taken a class two times, which grade will you consider? Lewis explained that we look at both, but we care more about the most recent grade.
6:26 p.m. Lewis also reviewed the factors considered during the admissions process: overall GPA, PCAT scores, two letters of recommendation, personal statement, pharmacy volunteer or work experience, extracurricular and leadership activities, and interview. The interviews take place October through March.
6:25 p.m. Lewis reviewed the vaccinations requirements for admission: Hepatitis B, Varicella, and Tuberculosis.
6:20 p.m. Todd introduced the crowd to Mimi Lewis, coordinator of admissions here at the School. Lewis is explaining the application process and procedures. Deadline is December 2, but the priority deadline was October 1. Also have to submit a supplemental application and undergo an interview. You can't really prepare for the interview, Lewis says. You just have to be yourself and show your personality and communication skills.
6:17 p.m. Question from the audience: How were you able to go to school and work at the same time? Ferreri says it was a challenge, and she was often sleep deprived. Many current students do work at community pharmacies while in school. We understand you have to pay rent and support your family.
6:11 p.m. Why go to the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy? We produce high-quality students because of our high-quality faculty, Ferreri says. You can see that by our ranking (2nd in U.S. News & World Report). Our students are the best. Ferreri could tell the difference when precepting students on rotation. We have great relationships and partnerships with hospitals, and our students can expect multiple job offers upon graduation.
6:09 p.m. How do you make the decision to go to pharmacy school? Here's what Ferreri says you need to consider:
- Respected profession
- Opportunities for professional growth
- Understand he time and commitment to achieve it
- People-oriented profession
- Enjoy the sciences
- Career stability
6:07 p.m. What are the minimum requirements to become a pharmacist? You need at least two years of pre-pharmacy and four years of pharmacy study. Six years is the minimum it can take you to get through the program. You have to graduate from an accredited program and pass a licensure exam to officially become a pharmacist.
6:05 p.m. Pharmacy is changing, especially with the Affordable Care Act. Ferreri described how the field may adjust and expand the scope of the pharmacy practice to improve patient care. Medication therapy management is a good example of this expanding role.
6:04 p.m. Ferreri explained the variety of opportunities in pharmacy:
- Clinical/physician offices
- Colleges and universities
- Community pharmacy
- Consulting pharmacy
- Government agencies
- Hospice and home care
- Hospital and institutional practice
- Independent Ownership
6:01 p.m. Ferreri presented the primary goal of the pharmacy profession: Insure optimal therapeutic benefit from medications while minimizing harmful adverse effects and drug interactions.
5:59 p.m. Pharmacy careers offer excellent earning potential, Ferreri says. You can work both full-time and part-time.
5:57 p.m. Pharmacy can be a dynamic career, Ferreri says. You can change career paths. You are very important to the healthcare team. No one in the healthcare field has as much education about the patient's medication as you do. And there are tons of professional development opportunities, and the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy finds student strengths and encourages students to become leaders in their fiends. The faculty here are involved in professional organizations and provide opportunities for students to also become involved in these organizations.
5:56 p.m. Ferreri is very interested in self-care (over-the-counter) drugs. She sees these drugs as a great opportunity for pharmacists to interact with patients and encourage proper use of these drugs.
5:50 p.m. In 2004, Ferreri chose to join the School full-time. She's grown as a faculty member at the School since that time. The residency program she helped establish is still going strong and growing. She encourages PharmD students to follow their passions.
5:45 p.m. Ferreri is a certified diabetes educator and fellow of the American Pharmacists Association. During her pharmacy education, she enjoyed educating and interacting with patients, and she wanted to know more about these people. She completed two pharmacy residencies: a PGY1 community pharmacy residency and a PGY1 health-system residency. She was hired as a shared faculty member at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and Kerr Drug in 2001. It was her job to set up residencies within community pharmacies and establish practice opportunities at these sites. She also taught at the School.
5:41 p.m. Following the video, Stefanie Ferreri took the stage. Ferreri is the executive vice chair of the Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education here at the School. She explained how she ended up in the pharmacy profession. After a visit to Merck in high school, she began considering a career as a pharmacist.
5:36 p.m. The video highlighted key facts about the School, including:
- #2 ranked program by U.S. News & World Report
- 634 PharmD students
- Asheville satellite campus opened in 2011
- Video teleconferencing equipment in several classrooms
- State-of-the-art equipment in lab
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| Prospective students attend the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy open house on October 9. |
5:26 p.m. Prospective students are starting to file into our auditorium. Kerr 2001 is one of our largest lecture halls. It holds 140 students and is outfitted with multiple projections screens and microphones to allow for videoconferencing with our satellite campuses.
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