匹兹堡大学的药学院（school of pharmacy）有着悠长的历史。它成立于1878年，是匹兹堡大学里建立时间最长的健康科学学院，也是第一例脊髓灰质炎（小儿麻痹症）疫苗的诞生地。该学院开设的研究项目其中包括Master, Phd和PharmD。据2020年U.S News 的排名显示，匹兹堡药学院摘取全美药学院排名第9的好成绩。
PharmD全称为Doctor of Pharmacy，PharmD项目申请可以分为三种情况，分别为2+4，3+4和4+4。2+4是最普遍的一种，2+4代表了2年本科+4年药学院，也是这三种中最节省时间和金钱的。3+4是3年本科和4年药学院，4+4也就代表了在本科毕业之后申请药学院。据PharmCas官方数据显示PharmD项目每年录取人数在116人左右，其中包括55位guaranteed program的学生们，总录取率在30%左右。
对2+4感兴趣的朋友们，可在上完一年的课程后，在暑假准备PCAT （Pharmacy College Admission Test)。PACT 中包括了写作，生物(General biology, Microbiology, 和Anatomy & Physiology)，化学(General chemistry, Organic chemistry 和 Biochemistry)，阅读和数学。
申请药学院需要通过一个叫PharmCas 的官方网站，这个网站将会在七月份中旬的时候对学生开放申请。申请需要的材料包括申请本人的基本信息，Official Transcript，3-4封推荐信，以及课外活动的经历和 personal statement。
如果通过第一轮基础筛选，第二轮面试时间的通知将根据你提交申请的时间来决定，一般需等待1-2周。第二轮面试结束之后，大多数的同学会在一月和二月之间收到录取结果。
接下来让我们邀请到的P1到P4的Pharmacy 学生们，来给大家来介绍一下他们眼中的Pitt Pharmacy！
问：
你觉得P1 year里最挑战的部分是什么？
答：应该是适应时间上的变化，因为p1的时候不能自己选课得要根据药学院的安排来上课，所以大部分的课程从早上8, 9点开始 一直到下午四五点才结束。对于比较喜欢晚课的同学可能会有点挑战性。还有一点就是P1 很多课程的教授并不是固定的，有时候一节课可能同时会有好几个教授来教课，考卷基本上会出现好几个教授一起出题的情况，很难像本科那样去适应他们的出题风格。
问：
你想要向那些想申请药学院的同学们说什么呢？
答：我的建议就是好好享受undergrad的时光，多出去旅旅游放松。对于药学院录取申请的硬标准我也不是知道的很清楚，因为到了药学院之后发现有的同学学习成绩好，领导能力强，但也有些同学会拖到最后一秒复习，成绩也不是很突出，所以尽自己最大的努力就好。如果有research和intern的机会也不要错过，因为这些可以成为你申请时的加分项。
问：
在药学院的各种压力下，你是怎么解压 或者调节压力的？
答：尽量学会调节合理安排时间，让自己能有 多余的时间去做自己想做的事情。多跟朋友们聊聊天也是一种解压的方式。
问：
你最喜欢药学院的哪一个部分？
答：我最喜欢药学院的氛围。大部分同学都天天在一起上同样的课，很多同学在一样的frat或者organization。大家都一起面对学习压力，一起面对考试，大家互帮互助。时间长了，不太熟的同学都变成了见面会打招呼，有困难会帮一把的好朋友。药学院的同学都很友好还都很积极，大家一起组吃饭局，一起组学习局。氛围很好，有压力也有很多欢乐。
问：
你长期和短期的目标是什么呢？
答：我短期的目标就是认真对待药学院的所有课程，然后尽量抓住机会多参与活动,research和intern。我长期的目标是申请PharmacoAnalytic的ARCO，这个ARCO 是注重于分析病人和药品的大数据，去了解各个药品的副作用和病人的情况，可以为病人选择最好的治疗方式。这个ARCO 还可以分析实验数据，走research方向的数据分析。
PY1 学生 Christopher Yang
(右一）
（左一是预备役药学院学生小编dini ——来自审核的私心【小声bb）
答：
你为什么会对pharmacy感兴趣？
问：
首先我本身对health science这个大学科非常感兴趣，相比较解刨等类似学科，我对药理和病理更感兴趣。其次作为一个药剂师会有更多去其他学科交流的机会（interprofessional opportunity）也有更多机会去做research。相比较医生的工作环境，药剂师们可以选择在医院，诊所，社区等很多不同环境下工作。
问：
你觉得P1挑战最大的是什么部分？
答：平衡生活学业和如何个性化自己的学业，
同时快速得适应从本科到研究生的变化，
又相对于一般做research的研究生PharmD有更多的考试和社会实践压力。
问：
你想对那些想申请或者准备药学院的同学说些什么？
答：不需要对成绩过分的关注，
get involved！加入各种相关的社团
可以选择去和教授做research（过程很简单只要email教授就好了！！）
可以的话做special topics！！
问：
在药学院的强大压力下你是怎样缓解压力的？
答：唱歌，暴饮暴食，大部分时候只能自己压着等放假释放了 但说实话会忙到忘记自己有压力
问：
你最喜欢药学院的那一个部分？
答：个性化教育！我们学校有Area of Concentration 和各种各样的方式去往自己想发展的方向努力
问：
你短期和长期的目标是什么？
答：短期：暑期实习加上academia special topics,
长期：我的area of concentration：Geriatric and Palliative Care. 希望可以将它和我对academia的兴趣结合在一起。
PY2 学生 Danielle Digiorgio
(
左1
）
Question:
Why you want to study Pharmacy?
Answer: I have always been interested in understanding how medications work in the body, and I really enjoy helping people. Being able to study a topic that is intellectually stimulating to me personally, and then using the knowledge that I have gained to make a difference in the lives of other people is pretty cool.
Question:
What did you think is the most challenging part for P2 year?
Answer: I think the P2 year was challenging due to the sheer volume of works. The classes were all very interesting but required a lot of outside of classwork to stay on top of everything. Time management was important to be able to get all of the work done and also have a life outside of pharmacy school.
Question:
How did you deal with stress?
Answer: I try to plan something at least once a week that would make me happy like going out with my friends or simply having a night to watch TV.
Question:
How is P2 year different from P1 year?
Answer: P1 year, while an adjustment from being an undergrad, was not as stressful as P2 year. You had a lot of exams but they seemed like they were more spaced out compared to P2 year. You could get away with not working every single night. P2 spring is a lot more relaxed, but you have a lot more projects to take your time instead of studying for your exams.
Question:
what did you like the most in pharmacy school?
Answer: I really enjoyed our more clinically based classes like cardio. The professors are clinical specialists in the field and it is so cool that they go from rounding in the hospital to teaching our class!
Question:
What is your future goal?
Answer: I really enjoy translational research with a focus on genetically associated adverse drug reactions; however, I also really enjoy patient care too, so I am not positive what my exact career path will look like yet.
问：
你为什么会对pharmacy感兴趣？
答：当初高中的时候，上了一门心理课，对里面关于大脑，neurotransmitter和药物对它的影响的那个章节产生了很大的兴趣。然后当时又挺喜欢化学的，就在选专业的时候挑了pharmacy。
问：
你觉得P2挑战最大的是什么部分？
答：很多人会说P2 Fall多恐怖，其实我还蛮喜欢那学期的，会学到很多很有意思提高你专业知识的东西。主要就是把时间管理和安排比较重要，提前把该做的做了，后面就不会那么狼狈。
问：
你想对那些想申请或者准备药学院的同学说些什么？
答：别太担心，好好努力，趁着暑假把PCAT考了（当然有condition的同学就更不用担心了，保持在一个要求的GPA以上就可以了，好好享受undergrad的时光，因为进了药学院以后就没那么轻松了~）
问：
在药学院的强大压力下你是怎样缓解压力的？
答：会找朋友聊聊天，或者听听音乐 。
问：
你最喜欢药学院的那一个部分？
答：觉得自己学到东西真的可以帮助到别人吧
问：
你短期和长期的目标是什么？
答：短期就是把要处理的一些杂事儿，接收的project弄弄好，长期就是能找到一个自己合适的发展方向吧
Question:
Why you want to study Pharmacy?
Answer: I really admire the role a pharmacist can have in the healthcare field! I have grown to appreciate more and more as I experience pharmacy school, due to the wide variety of roles a pharmacist can have.
Question:
What did you think is the most challenging part for P3 year?
Answer: The most challenging part of PY3 would be the increase in workload, but the classes are definitely more interesting since we focus more on therapeutics this year.
Question:
How did you deal with stress?
Answer: I like to run! It's helpful to non-pharmacy related hobbies tod deal with the stress.
Question:
What are some suggestions for students who interested in pharmacy or ready to apply for pharmacy school at Pitt?
Answer: My suggestions would including to shadow a pharmacist if possible! This can help you decide if the pharmacy could be a good fit for you. Talk to the admission directors of pharmacy schools to see if they can pair you up with a current student to talk for advice, but overall, working on PCAT/application tips are also helpful to discuss when applying.
Question:
How is P3 year different from P1 and P2 year?
Answer: P3 year is definitely heavier on the therapeutics classes compared to P1/P2. P1 is more of an introduction/basic year, while P2 is when you start to really get into pharmacy therapeutics/drug development.
Question:
what did you like the most in pharmacy school?
Answer: I loved everything about the Pitt pharmacy! it has greater professors, mentors, and opportunities that encourage students to find their passion and guide students along in that journey.
Question:
What is your future goal?
Answer: My goal is to pursue a PGY-1/PGY2 residency to explore the clinical role of a pharmacist.
Question:
Why you want to study Pharmacy?
Answer: I want to pursue a profession that will allow me to directly impact patients’ lives, and pharmacy is a diverse field that would allow me to do that through various platforms, whether it’s through direct patient care in a hospital or on a population-based level in the pharmaceutical industry.
Question:
What did you think is the most challenging part for P3 year?
Answer: I am in the pharmacotherapy scholars ARCO, which has two additional elective classes on top of our normal rigorous therapeutics-based curriculum for the year. Keeping up with all our organization involvement, the ARCO electives, classes, extra projects and research, and work has been a lot to handle, especially since I love everything I’m learning and want to put in my best effort, but may not have as much time to spend as I want to!
Question:
How did you deal with stress?
Answer: exercise or meditation via podcasts
Question:
What are some suggestions for students who interested in pharmacy or ready to apply for pharmacy school at Pitt?
Answer: Get involved in organizations that you are passionate about! volunteer and have hobbies and interests!! Pharmacy schools love to see diverse students who have had experiences outside of the classroom, as that builds true character!
Question:
How is P3 year different from P1 and P2 year?
Answer:
in P3 year, you also take all therapeutics classes, which are tougher and time-consuming!
You are the leaders and oldest of the students in the school, so you must be a role model for the other students
Question:
what did you like the most in pharmacy school?
Answer:
the professors and upperclassmen are all so welcoming and kind. We truly are a family and I love that about our school.
Question:
What is your future goal?
Answer: I want to pursue a residency at an academic medical center before working as a clinical pharmacy specialist in critical care!
Question:
Why do you want to become a pharmacist?
Answer: I loved science classes in high school. I also grew up moving every 2-3 years and loved talking to and making connections with so many different people so I knew I wanted to pursue a career that would allow me to continue interacting with many people. Pharmacists are the most accessible health care professionals, so it was a perfect choice for me.
Question:
What did you think is the most challenging part for P4 year? What are some major differences about P4 year when you compare it to P1-P3?
Answer: P1-P3 year is set in the didactic classroom setting. Each year, the amount of clinical experiences increases. P1 year is focused on interacting with patients and basic science classes like biochemistry and anatomy. P2 year you focus more on pharmacy topics such as cardiology and infectious disease. P3 year is when you continue with pharmacy topics but this year, you can choose electives based on your interests (I picked parasitology, diabetes management, advanced infectious disease, and community management). P3 year is the last year you are in the classroom setting. P4 year is when you have your 5-week rotations. So, every 5 weeks you’re working and experiencing a new area of pharmacy. So far I’ve been at Forbes Pharmacy working with patients with schizophrenia, UPMC Presbyterian Heart and Vascular Institution working with heart failure and heart transplant patients, Pitt Pharmacy for my academia focused rotation, UPMC Mercy for my anticoagulation rotation, Walgreens for
my community focused rotation and I also had the chance to go to Italy for 5 weeks to work at their transplant hospital.
The most challenging part is being somewhere different every 5 weeks and having to adapt while also trying to figure out what you want to do after graduation. It is also weird because everyone has different schedules, so you don’t really see any of your classmates for the entire year.
Question:
What are some suggestions for those students want to apply to pharmacy school?
Answer: Look into what a pharmacist can do. I remember when I decided to do pharmacy, I thought pharmacists could only work at a CVS or Rite Aid. But pharmacists can do so much more- they have many clinical roles in the hospital, you can do drug research, work for a pharmaceutical company, etc. If you want to apply to Pitt pharmacy, do a tour and reach out to the admissions staff, they are awesome and will root for you during the application process if they know you. Go shadow a pharmacist, get a job as a pharmacy tech, or volunteer at a hospital to see what it is actually like before you jump into it.
Question:
How did you deal with stress?
Answer: I used to be very bad at dealing with stress. I kept everything to myself and isolated myself whenever I got stressed. Now I have a much better coping mechanism. I talk to my friends and family because I know they can also relate and talking it out with me. I also like taking a break from whatever is stressing me out and do something I like for a little bit.
Question:
What did you like the most in the school of pharmacy?
Answer: I love being with the same 114 people. I was worried at first, thinking it would be like dreadful high school, but I have found some of my closest friends within the school and I would not have survived pharmacy school without them. It is such a supportive environment.
Question:
What is your goal or plan after graduation?
Answer: I have been traveling for the past two months for my residency interviews. It is called a Post Graduate Year One pharmacy residency (PGY1) and if you want to be a clinical pharmacist, it is required. My current interests include transplant, cardiology, ambulatory care, and psychiatry pharmacy. I want to eventually work at an outpatient clinic while being an adjunct faculty member at a school of pharmacy.
看到这里你一定对Pitt Pharmacy 有了更深层的了解。希望这篇文章能帮助到那些对pharmacy感兴趣或者在为申请pharmacy school做准备的同学们。如果有更多关于申请或者有关pharmacy school的问题请私信CUSA 官方微信！最后非常感谢这几位同学在繁忙的学业下抽空来参与我们的interv
iew。
还没关注我们的同学们记得关注我们哟！
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