Personal Statement:Pharmacy 8

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Pharmacy Personal Statement

I view pharmacy as a challenging and exciting career. I believe pharmacists are vital to healthcare in today's society as health practitioners. Their understanding of the pharmaceutical sciences ensures that the drugs are used to maximum benefit in disease prevention and patient treatment by health professionals. I am eager to specialise in this subject with a specific interest in the placebo effect and how drugs can not only affect us physically and mentally, but socially too. I have enjoyed the various aspects of my chemistry course particularly on my A2 course; however the organic chemistry topics have interested me the most. I especially liked organic synthesis because it allows you to make complex chemicals such as drugs from very simple materials. Whilst studying mathematics and physics, I have gained an understanding of the need to apply new concepts accurately quickly, easily and effectively. I believe these key skills will be essential in the study of pharmacy. Having thoroughly enjoyed the academic study of chemistry, physics and mathematics, I have chosen a degree that will enable me to combine theory with a practical application.

My work experience at a local pharmacy was an enjoyable and challenging experience. I observed the formulation of medicines and learnt about the precision and responsibility with which pharmacists must work. I also learnt how to dispense prescriptions and use the computer to check for possible interactions with other drugs, correct dosages and print labels for prescriptions. I was also fortunate enough to give advice to customers and indicate possible side effects their medication may have. My work experience gave me a valuable insight to my degree area and confirmed that pharmacy is a degree that I will thoroughly enjoy. I have had the opportunity to visit AstraZeneca, the Avlon site, in Avonmouth last year, where I saw how drugs were manufactured on an industrial scale; it was simply fascinating to watch. To widen my view of the field I try keep up to date with recent developments by enlightening myself with the pharmaceutical journals.

In addition to my academic studies, I have always enjoyed undertaking sports like badminton and squash and am currently learning to swim at my local sports centre every weekend. I have also completed the Bath half marathon last year in March 2007. I am fully conversant in the use of computers and have used them to them to maintain a website and research subjects on the internet. I have also held the responsibility of being a house prefect which has developed my speaking, listening, time management and leadership skills. I have mentored a year 11 student thought his GCSE year helping him with exam strategies and organisation skills. This has refined my communication skills and makes me feel like a respected member of the 6th form.

As didn't quite reach my predicted grades in my A-levels, I have chosen to retake some modules during my gap year in order to meet them. In addition to this I started full-time employment in Lloyd's pharmacy where I am progressing with my dispensing assistant course. I feel that this should significantly enhance my skills for application required by a pharmacist. This should furthermore enable me to develop into a more confident person.

Pharmacy is a subject which has greatly intrigued me for most of my life. I will bring determination and enthusiasm to my studies and feel I can do well in the university environment; enabling me to express my capabilities in their entirety. I am determined to achieve my long held ambition to become a pharmacist and to enjoy the stimulation that this career offers.

Universities Applied for:

• Bath (Offer) - Accepted & now studying Pharmacy at Bath
• Bristol (Offer)
• King's College London (Offer)
• Cardiff (Offer)
• Aston (Offer)

Grades Achieved:

• Maths (A)
• Chemistry (A)
• Physics (B)

Comments

General Comments:

Comments on the statement:

I view pharmacy as a challenging and exciting career, as I believe pharmacists are vital to healthcare in today's society. as health practitioners. In what other way would they be vital? Their understanding of the pharmaceutical sciences ensures that the drugs are used to maximum benefit in disease prevention and patient treatment by health professionals. The admissions tutors know this, so the applicant has no need to tell them. I am eager to specialise in this subject with a specific interest in the placebo effect and how drugs can not only affect us physically and mentally, but socially too. It's not really clear what is being referred to here. I would suggest that the applicant should completely rework this paragraph, starting with their particular interest in the placebo effect, and why it interests them.

I have enjoyed the various aspects of my chemistry course particularly on my A2 course; however the organic chemistry topics have interested me the most. I especially liked organic synthesis because it allows you to make complex chemicals such as drugs from very simple materials. Whilst studying mathematics and physics, I have gained an understanding of the need to apply new concepts accurately quickly, easily and effectively. I believe these key skills will be essential in the study of pharmacy. Having thoroughly enjoyed the academic study of chemistry, physics and mathematics, I have chosen a degree that will enable me to combine theory with a practical application. This is rather rambling and repetitive. The applicant should try to make it more interesting by assuming that the admissions tutor will have worked out what subjects they are studying, and focusing on the topics that particularly appealed to them.

My work experience at a local pharmacy was an enjoyable and challenging experience. I observed the formulation of medicines and learnt about the precision and responsibility with which pharmacists must work. I also learnt how to dispense prescriptions and use the computer to check for possible interactions with other drugs, correct dosages, and print labels for prescriptions. I was also fortunate enough to give advice to customers and indicate possible side effects their medication may have. This could very easily be misunderstood. If the applicant is talking about paracetamol, they might get away with it, but on the whole this sounds more like them not knowing their professional limits. As the applicant is currently working in a pharmacy and doing their Dispensing Assistant training, it might be more useful to delete this here, and put it in later. My work experience gave me a valuable insight into my degree area and confirmed that pharmacy is a degree Repetition should be avoided where possible that I will thoroughly enjoy. I have had the opportunity to visit AstraZeneca, the Avlon site, in Avonmouth last year, where I saw how drugs were manufactured on an industrial scale; it was simply fascinating to watch. A bit OTT don't you think? To widen my view of the field I try keep up to date with recent developments by enlightening myself with the pharmaceutical journals. This tells the admissions tutor nothing about what the applicant has read and understood. They need to demonstrate this. Was there a topic that particularly caught their interest recently? They should say something about it, and why.

In addition to my academic studies, I have always enjoyed undertaking sports like badminton and squash and am currently learning to swim at my local sports centre every weekend. I have also completed the Bath half marathon last year in March 2007. I am fully conversant in the use of computers and have used them to them to maintain a website and research subjects on the internet. I have also held the responsibility of being a house prefect which has developed my speaking, listening, time management and leadership skills. I have mentored a year 11 student thought his GCSE year helping him with exam strategies and organisation skills. This has refined my communication skills and makes me feel like a respected member of the 6th form. Far too many "I"s in here; it's important to try linking points together to reduce the need to repeat I, I, I.

As didn't quite reach my predicted grades in my A-levels, I have chosen to retake some modules during my gap year in order to meet them. This is quite negative, just leave this out. Instead start with: In addition to this For my gap year, I have started full-time employment in Lloyd's pharmacy where I am taking the opportunity to progressing with my a Dispensing Assistant course. I feel that this should significantly enhance my skills for application required by a pharmacist. This sentence doesn't make sense. This should furthermore enable me to develop into a more confident person. It would be less cheesy to say something like "This experience is building my confidence in..... "

Pharmacy is a subject which has greatly intrigued me for most of my life. I will bring determination and enthusiasm to my studies and feel I can do well in the university environment; enabling me to express my capabilities in their entirety. I am determined to achieve my long held ambition to become a pharmacist and to enjoy the stimulation that this career offers. I am not keen on this last paragraph; it's a bit too cheesy.

--Minerva 17:35, 11 April 2009 (BST)