How can I get involved in becoming a pharmacist?
- Talk to local community pharmacy and see if you can shadow a pharmacist.
- Reach out to your local hospital and see if you can shadow a pharmacist.
- Contact your local pharmacy school to learn more about pharmacy education.
What do I need to consider when shadowing or interning?
- Scholarships.com has provided some questions for you to consider when choosing an internship.
- U.S. News writer, Heather R. Huhman, gives some insight on how to choose the right internship for you.
- Make sure to explore ALL pharmacy career paths in different healthcare settings!
Experience Your Future: The Importance of Shadowing and Observation Hours
Shadowing and observation hours are a vital way to gain experience and contribute to your professional school application. Find out what shadowing and observation hours are, why they matter, and how to find opportunities in your desired field.
Other resources
- AAMC: If you are looking for summer programs focused on healthcare, check AAMC’s Summer Enrichment and Pipeline Programs to see what opportunities are near you.
- Explore Health Careers: If you are looking for opportunities to get involved with pharmacy, check out Explore Health Careers.
- Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP): This program provides students interested in health careers the opportunity for a transformative summer experience. This FREE six-week summer enrichment program helps college students enhance their academic proficiency and career development opportunities in a health profession. The program has been shaping careers and changing the lives of premedical and predental college students for 27 years, formerly as Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP). SHPEP recently expanded in 2016 to include a broader array of health professions, including pharmacy! Participation in the summer enrichment program may better position students for acceptance into advanced degree programs.
- To be eligible, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or an individual granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- Be a college freshman or sophomore at the time of application
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.5; and
- Identify with a group that is underrepresented in the health professions.
- Early Admission: Applications must be completed on or before February 1.
- Regular Admission: Applications must be received by March 1. The postmark date on mailed application materials must be March 1 or earlier, otherwise they will not be processed.
- To be eligible, you must: