I have been in a comfortable routine for about 11 weeks now; Novartis, Dana Farber, then sleep; and repeat. Co-op has been great, but working close to 60 hours a week has begun to get tiresome. Class will be a nice break from all this work....until exams start. I feel pharmacy co-ops are more advantageous than other major’s co-ops. The pharmacy program has four month co-ops which helps to prevent boredom with work or school.

The advantage of 4 month co-ops (pharmacy is 4 months compared to 6 for most other majors) is that you get a change of pace more frequently and you also get to experience three different work settings instead of two.

The summer classes for third year pharmacy students are pharmacology 2, pharmaceutics 2 with the lab, health care systems and communication skills with a lab. The nice thing about summer classes is that we have Friday’s off! Three day weekends are always nice, but I have a feeling I might be spending those Fridays in the library.

Thursday is going to be a very exciting day for me. I’m going to see an NCAA men’s basketball tournament game at the TD Bank North Garden (where the Boston Celtics and Bruins play). My girlfriend bought me tickets to see Duke vs. Villanova and also Pitt vs. Xavier. Duke has been my favorite team since I was about 5 years old, and seeing them play live for the first time will certainly be exhilarating. I will definitely post some pictures of this game at the end of the week.

As always, please feel free to ask questions/ make comments about my blog.
Have a good night!

Posted by Neil Labak at 4:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Life certainly has been busy for me over the last few weeks. I have been consistently working 60 hours a week. When I am not working I am taking care of all the things I have been neglecting (laundry, grocery shopping…etc).

I have been receiving some emails regarding life as a pharmacy student and its challenges/perks and reasons why it is better than other schools. I will openly answer some basic and potential questions prospective students might ask before they make their decision on what college to attend in the fall:

Q1) What makes NU better than other pharmacy schools, besides the co-op program?

A) NU is not just about co-op, (it is only 1 year total out of 6 years) it is the environment that it surrounds itself in. NU has an amazing campus located just minutes from some of the most prestigious hospitals in the world, and also near Cambridge, which is home to one of the most concentrated pharmaceutical areas in the world. NU prepares you academically and also socially for the world after college. The professors are dedicated to teaching and expressing their love for teaching, the advisors are always willing to go the extra mile for their students, and the Bouve College of Health Sciences is also located in one the nicest buildings on campus!

Q2) Boston is a large city and it seems like everyone likes to go to parties, but I am from a small town and am timid. Will I survive?

A2) Yes! Boston may be large, but it has many niches for very diverse student groups to fit into. With so many students in such a concentrated area, you will find many students with the same extra interests as you. Not everyone goes out on the weekends to party. There are many museums, sporting events, and student run activities that occur every weekend. In addition to this, there are many events planned by the residential assistants in each dormitory during the week.

Q3) NU Pharmacy seems impossible to get in. It is my first choice, but I am scared that I won’t get in. Will my life be over?

A) No. NU pharmacy is an amazing program, but all pharmacy programs across the country are as well. The curriculum might vary slightly, but the wealth of useable knowledge you will attain will be immense at any program. Also if you do not get into a pharmacy program, that doesn’t mean you can’t be involved with the pharmaceutical industry. Novartis (my current co-op) employs many people with various science/business backgrounds who actively participate in clinical trials and other pharmacy related career paths.

Q4) What is the point of a co-op? You get experience in real-world settings in the 6th year while you are on rotations.

A4) Co-op helps acclimate students who have no pharmacy related experience, and also prepares them for the interview process. Co-op brings out-of-the-classroom learning into your experience at NU. Applying what you learn in a classroom and what you learn at a real site of pharmacy practice is the best and most efficient way to excel in a challenging pharmacy program like NU. Interacting with other health care professionals is a very, very important concept; and it is the best way to attain expertise knowledge from various areas of health care. Co-op also prepares you on your potential career path, and also on potential places to pick for your rotations in the sixth year. Connecting with various companies and institutions also provides very good networking for after graduation job opportunities.

Posted by Neil Labak at 8:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)