Scholarships: Where to look, and how to get them.

Let’s face it, university can be expensive. More than just tuition, expenses include textbooks, lab equipment, tutors, transportation, housing, and food – that is before you have factored in a social life. Scholarships and bursaries can make the financial burden of school more manageable, so we have compiled a short list of resources you can use to look for and win scholarships.

Scholarship Websites:

One great way to look for scholarships is to sign up for a website that does the searching for you. Scholarships Canada and Student Awards are the two biggest names in the field of scholarship hunting. Many Canadian students may have had accounts such as these when they were in high school, so it is only a means of updating information. If you did not go to a Canadian high school, you will have to set up a new profile, which only takes about 15 minutes per site. After you hit submit, it comes up with dozens of different bursaries and scholarship opportunities. What is great about using sites like these is that it only provides you with information about scholarships that are still available, so you don’t have to worry about already having missed the deadline.

The trick to websites such as these is to spend time filling out your profile – include all your interests, career aspirations, university goals, parents work information, sports interests, ect. The more information you give the website, the more it can tailor the scholarships it presents you.

Family Affiliations:

Many scholarships can come from your parents work affiliations or volunteer organizations that your family contributes too. Organizations such as rotary, unions, scouting, churches, cultural groups and many more offer scholarships for children of their members – make sure to check out the websites of any organizations your family is affiliated with. Smaller organizations may not know to put their scholarships up online, so check the community boards to ensure you are not missing out!

If there is a scholarship, express your interest in person (if possible, such as at a meeting or by talking to the scholarship organizer) as it helps put a face to the name, allowing you to stand out in the selection process. Tailor your scholarship application to the particular organization you are applying through – highlight your work with children if you are applying through a youth center, or your work in the community if you are applying through a humanitarian organization.

The University:

The University itself tries to provide you with opportunities for scholarships and the resources to ensure that your scholarship application is strong. Visit Brock Hall and speak to an Enrollment Services Professional if you have any questions regarding University scholarships. Many scholarships, especially for current university students, require a resume and/or cover letter – Career Services, which is also located in Brock Hall, offers advising appointments for resumes, cover letters, and CVs. This can be especially helpful if you are not familiar with Canadian resume customs.

The University offers many scholarships for continuing students, you can check out the information on their scholarship website – pay close attention to the deadlines, if you know that school is going to be very busy for you in the fall, make sure to apply to the scholarships now.

These resources and opportunities are available year-round, so even if you have missed a deadline for a scholarship this past year, you can ready yourself for the next.

Where do you look for scholarships? Have any great tips for creating a stellar scholarship application? Share them for other students in the comments section below!

– Sukhman Perhar, Communications and Marketing

The Office for Experiential Education Staff!

Advice

Experiential Learning in Pharm Sci

The summer, with its long days and salty breeze, is the perfect time to reflect on the journey of an undergraduate education. While we attend a fantastic institute of education, many students attest to massive amounts of career training that happens outside of a classroom. While interviewing graduating students for our most recent issue of Discover, a consistent theme emerged through the advice section – explore as many pharmacy options as possible.

When giving advice to students who are still in the Faculty, grads wrote:

“One piece of advice I would like to give to students still studying in the pharmacy program is to explore different aspects of pharmacy whether you have an interest or not. Sometimes, when you experience something you realize you enjoy it when you may not have thought you would have. Ways to do this would be to visit smaller communities on OEE rotations, and trying to get hospital exposure before 4^th year. By the time your 4^th year hospital rotation comes, it is too late to apply for a residency.”

– Trevor Choo

“Our Faculty is committed towards providing us with the education and training needed to address the issues and challenges of our ever changing healthcare system. Use the next few years to explore your interests and challenge yourself.”

– Aaron Sihota

“This is a great time to explore what you want to do with this degree. I think it’s so important to expand your vision and try something you have never tried before.”

– Tian Zhang

This is where the Faculty of Pharmacy Office of Experiential Education (OEE) comes into action. The OEE is responsible for coordinating the structured practical experiential programs that students are required to complete for their BSc (Pharm). Facilitating over 1000 placements around BC per year, the OEE are superstars for helping provide students with this crucial out-of-classroom learning.

The Experiential Education Courses are an opportunity for students to apply knowledge learnt in school, in a real-world, practical environment. Given the opportunity to learn in a practical setting, many students commented on finding passions and interests that traditional in-class leaning would not have provided them. Furthermore, experiential education also lets you test-drive potential career paths, helping you decide what if certain careers are compatible with your lifestyle and your pharmaceutical interests.

Angela Kim Sing, Director of the Office of Experiential Education, maintains that experiential education is amongst the most valuable:

“While we can provide students with case based learning and practice lab simulations on campus, but there is simply no substitute for working with real patients in the community.”

UBC as a whole is committed to developing well-rounded students who have had positive in and out-of-classroom experiences. Recently, UBC has committed to supporting two “enriched educational experiences” per student during their time at university. This includes community service learning, research and co-op experiences, internships and mentorships, international opportunities, and participation in a rewarding campus life.

Has experiential learning left a lasting impact on you? Tell us in the comments!

Advice

TED Talk Tuesday: The Happy Secret to Better Work

This month’s featured TED Talk, “The Happy Secret to Better Work”, explores the ideas of happiness, perspective, and productivity. Presenter Shawn Achor has spent 12 years studying what makes people happy at Harvard University. Now, you might think, “why study happiness at Harvard, one of the most prestigious universities in the world, with a study body who are amongst the most privileged?”

Achor postulates that our external world (whether we’re at Harvard or at community college, lottery winners or retail workers) only accounts for 10% of our long-term happiness and 90% is based on the way our brain processes our situation. Check out the talk:

How is this relevant? While the summer is in full swing, many students have time to reflect on the year gone by. I think this is the perfect TED Talk to help determine the mindset you are going to have going into your next year. Whether it is course registration, decisions about majors, or career options – this TED Talk proves that having a positive perspective on your situation can make a massive difference to personal outcomes.

Rather than seeing a heavy course load as daunting, it can be seen as a result of attending an amazing institution for learning. Our peers can transform from competitors for class registration and careers, to fantastic opportunities to learn, grow, and network.

If the sheer thought of being happier is not enough to convince you, there are productivity benefits to processing our world with a positive lens. Achor states that our brain works 31% more productively when thinking with a positive perspective, over a negative, neutral, or stressed perspective. Extrapolated out to students, you could get through studying faster, learn material quicker, and (with that extra time) have a better social experience at university.

As you continue to think about the next year, be it school or work, remember to stay positive and truly appreciate the opportunities that are presented to you.

What do you think? Do you have any tips for staying positive while at UBC?

Advice

Stay Connected After Graduation!

Last week, a fresh batch of students graduated from UBC Pharm Sci. Congratulations to all of our graduates! While leaving UBC might be bittersweet, here are a few simple ways you can stay connected with UBC and UBC Pharm Sci community:

Register Your A-Card

This year, for the first time, graduates will receive an Alumni A-Card as part of their convocation package. Your A-Card comes with many benefits such as discounts to the UBC Bookstore, discounted entrance to UBC Varsity matches and UBC attractions, discounts to selected non-UBC stores, and continued borrowing rights with the UBC Library. The card also automatically enters you into a quarterly rewards program prize. Really, it’s a great deal – so make sure you register your A-Card here.

Connect With Pharm Sci on LinkedIn

To help foster community and networking among Pharm Sci alumni and students, we have created a Faculty LinkedIn page. Connect with us for updates on networking events, conferences, job openings, and other important news and opportunities.

Fill Out Your Advanced Profile for the Digital Alumni Yearbook

You will likely have spent time scrolling through the Digital Alumni Yearbook in the Story of Medicines during your time at UBC Pharm Sci. While all new graduates are automatically entered into the Yearbook, you can submit extra information you might like to share using the Advanced Profile form. Click here to fill out your advanced profile.

Subscribe to our Email List

Subscribing to the Pharm Sci email list is an awesome way to stay updated on class reunions, events, research and other news. Join us here.

Be Proud of Being a Young Alumnus

Did you know there is a separate branch of alumniUBC which caters to UBC graduates who are up to 10 years out from their degree? This includes you – welcome to UBC’s Young Alumni!

–Sukhman Perhar, Communications and Marketing

Advice

Run the distance – Preparing to ace your exams like a marathon runner

The start of exam season has prompted the Communications & Marketing team to find ways to help you achieve success on your exams. We thought an interesting parallel emerged when comparing study tips to the training marathon runners engage in before the big race, and hope that this comparison will aid your exam performance.

Running 26.2 miles sounds daunting, but is it as daunting as preparing for that exam that is worth 60 percent of your final grade? If you assume that running a marathon is on equal footing on the “Jitter-O-Meter” as taking a final, then it would be safe to assume that you can prepare for an exam in a similar way to preparing for a marathon. Here are some training parallels that can boost your performance when preparing for final exams:

Run (study) enough, but not to the point of exhaustion

A crucial mantra that is surprisingly dismissed by both marathon runners and students is “Stay healthy”. It is counterproductive to train or study so hard that your health is compromised – taking an exam while sick or tired is comparable to running a marathon while injured. Remember: Best to be feeling rested and eager, even if slightly underprepared, than losing all motivation due to running or studying too much.

Create a training (study) schedule, and try to follow it closely

Marathon runners usually build a training schedule that covers as many different aspects of the race as possible. This includes varying miles per week, working on running speed and including at least one long run per week – with recovery days present. Similarly, you can plan a study schedule that covers the different topics that will appear on the final exam, varying the days you will study each section. Include ‘rest days’ in this schedule as to not get overwhelmed. Remind yourself that a schedule is supposed to help and not be a source of stress if you find that you miss a planned day of studying.

Running (studying) smart is key

Newcomers to marathons might think that training hard seven days a week is a prerequisite for success at the finish line. Experienced runners would advise differently, underlining the concept of ‘smart running’: Four-time-a-week runners ran just as well as runners that trained six days a week and covered 20 percent more miles in a study at the University of Northern Iowa. Approach studying similarly by devoting most of your time and efforts on topics that you know will appear on the exam or feel less confident about. If you try to cover every detail of the material, you might find your time not being adequately employed.

There is no preparation without mental preparation

The body can only help you so much when you face the nervousness of running your first race, hitting the dreaded ‘wall’ (when your pace or performance drops near the last miles of the marathon) or asking yourself just what are you doing running 26.2 miles in the middle of the race. These mental roadblocks can also surface when you are writing your exam. Overcome them like a runner would. Recall what it is that you like most about the task at hand, visualize yourself feeling proud when you turn the exam in – there are many possibilities to help keep your mind on track, just don’t forget to keep on writing the exam!

We hope these training parallels will help you deliver your best in your exams, and the C&M team wishes you the best during exam season! How do you prepare for your exams? Share your advice with the Pharm Sci community in the comments section.

-Raul Scorza, Communications & Marketing

Advice

Student Services Update – Admissions Process

This week, Jennifer Chatterton, Director of UBC Pharm Sci’s Student Services, has an important update on admissions.

The admissions process continues! We would like to confirm that our interviews will be held over the weekend of May 3^rd and 4^th,2014. At this time, the Admissions Office should have received all of your transcripts and we should have received all of your PCAT scores. We are expecting the list of admission averages from the Undergraduate Admissions Office sometime this week. This means that we will be shortlisting our interview candidates very soon.

Please make sure that you check your email frequently, as we will contact shortlisted candidates via email to invite them for an interview. If you have not heard from us, please also check your junk mail folder. If you are invited for an interview, we will let you know the date and time that we are requesting that you attend. If you have a conflict and cannot make this time, please notify us. Please note: all candidates will be notified of whether or not they are being invited to interview via email.

-Jennifer Chatterton, Director, Student Services

Remember – UBC Pharm Sci’s Official Blog is a platform for you to experience a transparent admissions process. If you have any general questions or concerns, please share them in the comments section!

-Raul Scorza, Communications & Marketing

Advice

Update from Student Services – Incoming PCAT scores and request for transcripts

Jennifer Chatterton, Director of Student Services for the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, shares an update on PCAT scores and transcripts for admissions.

Many of you have emailed asking whether or not we have received your PCAT scores, especially if you wrote or re-wrote your exam in January 2014. Today we received a large shipment of PCAT scores. This means that, over the next few days, we will be updating your scores on the Pharmacy application. If your PCAT score is not updated right away, please don’t worry. We have a lot of scores to update and this will take some time. Also, we will contact you if we do not have your score.

The Undergraduate Admissions Office is currently working on calculating your admission averages. If you haven’t already done so, please make sure that you send them your transcripts. You can check your Applicant Status on the SSC to see if any documents are missing from your application.

Jennifer Chatterton, Director, Student Services

Do not forget to post any questions regarding PCAT scores, admission averages and transcripts on the comments section!

Raul Scorza, Communications & Marketing

Advice

Update from Student Services – 2014 BSc in Pharmacy applications are closed

The UBC Pharm Sci Blog is a place where you can learn more about student experiences at the Faculty, as well as an informal space where you can ask questions and gain insight into the student admissions process. Jennifer Chatterton, Director of Student Services, will be joining us from time to time to keep you up to date with the latest admissions developments and answer any questions you may have about the process.

The application for the 2014 Winter intake for the Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy program has officially closed and now, we are moving on to the evaluation stage. We will, at times, be using this space to update you on the admissions process and to let you know when we are sending out invitations for interviews. We also encourage you to use this blog to ask us questions about admissions as we are interested in knowing how we can help. We will monitor the blog weekly to look for and answer your questions.

-Jennifer Chatterton, Director, Student Services

Rather than responding to individual e-mails, applicants and the student services team will benefit from reading the questions and corresponding responses of others. Check the blog regularly for updates – and do not forget to post your general questions relating to admissions in the comments section! *Stay tuned for a dedicated page on the blog to post questions and receive answers.

-Raul Scorza, Communications & Marketing

Advice

Making the Most of your UBC Pharm Sci Experience: Insider Advice

Over the last three weeks, Ivan, Julia and I have shared different ways you can make the most of your time at UBC Pharm Sci. To conclude this series, we have asked several of our students and faculty members to share their responses to the following question:

What one piece of advice would you give students to maximize their learning and professional experience during their Pharmacy studies?

Here’s what they had to say:

“Explore all of your options and find your niche. Figure out which clubs and associations do what, and take opportunities to really discover what area you would find satisfaction in practicing in the future. Be honest with yourself about what you want and go after it. It’s much easier to make connections and refine the skills you will use in your career if you start specializing yourself early on. No one expects you to be good at everything, but make sure that future employers can see your goals and intentions through the experiences you chose in school.”

– Andrea Silver, Third year BSc(Pharm) student

“My one piece of advice to students is to leverage your student status as much as possible. Introduce yourself to influential people in the profession (and other health care stakeholders) and ask their opinions and advice. People are willing to give students a surprising amount of time in the spirit of supporting someone’s learning process. This also gives you practice building a network of people and you will be surprised how important your network of people will be in practice.”

– Barbara Gobis, Director, UBC Pharmacists Clinic

“An important piece of advice I would give current and new students is to learn from your mistakes and accept criticism in a healthy way. This may be a cliché, but this is a world-class program and is designed to help you learn and improve your skills. Although it may be hard to accept sometimes, learning from your mistakes leads to improvement and development – a very important trait to have as a future pharmacist.”

– Jason Alessio, Second year BSc(Pharm) student

“I strongly encourage each student to get involved while in the program. There are several clubs, sports teams, student societies, or professional pharmacy associations that students may join, as well as opportunities for students to take part in both clinical and laboratory research with leaders in the field! Getting involved not only provides you with the chance to build relationships with individuals in the Faculty and pharmacy community, but it also provides balance to your life and enriches your learning experience. As well, it allows you to discover your niche in pharmacy and decide where you would like to go with your career.”

– Renée Dagenais, Third year BSc(Pharm) student

I hope this series has equipped you with some ideas on how to enhance your learning, development and experience here at UBC Pharm Sci.

What would you recommend to future students? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

– Raul Scorza, Communications & Marketing Assistant

Advice

Making the Most of your UBC Pharm Sci Experience: Four ways Pharmacy students can give back to their community

Our ongoing series of tips and advice will help you to make the most of your time at UBC Pharm Sci. Pharmacists play an essential role in creating healthy and thriving communities. This week, I’ll share some ideas of how you, as a UBC Pharm Sci student, can become involved in and give back to your community.

Become involved in the UBC United Way campaign

You can help foster an inclusive community by following in the footsteps of two Pharmacy students: Joyce Chang and Teresa Lee. Lee and Chang were appointed Vice-Chairs of the first ever United Way Student Campaign group, focused on adding a student voice to the community building experience. Through initiatives like advisor auctions at on-campus residences and a letter-writing program for students to reach out to their seniors, our Pharmacy students raised funds and awareness to help end bullying, child poverty and senior isolation.

The student group will start recruiting for new Vice-Chairs and coordinators in the spring, and you can express your interest in joining by emailing united.way@ubc.ca. You can also help by indicating your interest in volunteering at events hosted on campus or special projects like the Day of Caring. Keep an eye on the United Way website for opportunities as they are posted.

Attend one of the Rho Chi Society’s Community Outreach presentations

The Rho Chi Honour Society hosts community outreach presentations across the Lower Mainland to share how pharmacists can help patients manage various medical conditions. Previous outreach events included:

-A presentation at the West 7^th Avenue Parish designed to educate adults on Type 2 Diabetes risk-reduction strategies and therapeutic management.

-A discussion at the Marpole-Oakridge Community Centre on the safety and effectiveness of over-the-counter medication.

Attending these presentations is a great opportunity to engage with the local community and learn more about how, as a future pharmacist, you can be of service. You can request and explore topics with Rho Chi by emailing ubc.rhochi@gmail.com. Keep an eye on the Society’s Facebook page for future ways to get involved.

Volunteer for the upcoming Suicide Awareness Day

Your participation as a Suicide Awareness Day volunteer will help ensure the success of this annual campaign. Student volunteers can host an outreach booth or join a series of street teams. Both opportunities will allow you to share vital information on detecting warning signs and using the excellent support resources that are available to our campus community.

To participate, you must attend one of the following volunteer training sessions at the Main Boardroom in Brock Hall:

– Wednesday, January 15, 12 – 1 p.m, or

– Wednesday, January 22, 3 – 4 p.m.

You can then volunteer for one or two hours between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29. Look for the posting on UBC’s CareersOnline to find out more!

Take advantage of the AMS and CSI tools for volunteering

Do you want to volunteer with a specific organization or area? UBC offers a great set of online tools to help you identify volunteer opportunities with the causes and organizations you’re passionate about.

The Centre for Student Involvement & Careers website provides an excellent volunteer search engine. There are many options within the health care and medical sectors including research positions with St. Paul’s Hospital, helping the Canadian Cancer Society with event planning or becoming an ambassador for the UBC Mental Health Network.

What if you want to help, but are unsure of the contributions you could bring to the table? The AMS Volunteer Connect program will aid you in matching your specific skills and goals with particular organizations that would benefit from your qualities – including those you’ve developed as a Pharm Sci student. Be sure to participate in the 1-on-1 consultation service (which is completely free of charge) and the Volunteer Opportunities Fair. Drop by their office at the SUB in room 249C or email volunteers@ams.ubc.ca for more info.

How do you give back to your community? Share your experiences in the comments!

-Raul Scorza, Communications & Marketing

INSIDE UBC PHARM SCI

A Blog for Our Students & Prospective Students

Category Archives: Advice

Scholarships: Where to look, and how to get them.

Experiential Learning in Pharm Sci

TED Talk Tuesday: The Happy Secret to Better Work

Stay Connected After Graduation!

Run the distance – Preparing to ace your exams like a marathon runner

Student Services Update – Admissions Process

Update from Student Services – Incoming PCAT scores and request for transcripts

Update from Student Services – 2014 BSc in Pharmacy applications are closed

Making the Most of your UBC Pharm Sci Experience: Insider Advice

Making the Most of your UBC Pharm Sci Experience: Four ways Pharmacy students can give back to their community