P1 Fall Success Guide

Created & Distributed by KU CPFI

Disclaimer

Please note that the information contained within this guide has been collected and summarized from anonymous survey responses submitted by 39 pharmacy students from the graduating classes of 2026, 2027, and 2028. Each year, various revisions are made to the curriculum due to different professors, changes in content taught, and feedback by previous pharmacy students. This success guide includes numerous study tips and tricks and is intended to give you a general impression of what a first-year pharmacy student might expect.

In This Survival Guide

General Tips

Note Taking Methods

Tools

  • Apple Pencil: 89.6%
  • Keyboard: 28.2%
  • Paper & Pencil: 17.9%

Apps

  • Notability: 69.2%
  • Goodnotes: 28.2%
  • Collanote: 5.2%

Resources

  • Rho Chi tutors are available Monday through Thursday over the noon hour in Room 3032
  • Check syllabus or email professors for office hour availability
  • Request exam review sessions from the course’s designated Rho Chi tutor
  • Utilize the SOP Master Calendar: Keep and Share
  • Recorded lectures available on class Canvas page
  • Reach out to your PLS Peer Mentor for advice

Ask for Help

  • “Don’t hesitate to ask the professors and Rho Chi tutors if you have questions.”
  • “Ask for help the moment you realize you are not understanding the material. Your peers and your professors are there to help you!”
  • “The first few exams are going to be rough, but the good thing is the school and the professors do a good job preparing you for success; reach out to them, they are there to help you and they genuinely want you to succeed.”

Studying Tips

  • “If you go into an exam and do worse than you thought, try changing your study technique or talking with an upperclassmen.”
  • “Find your people and learn if you study better in groups or alone.”
  • “I recommend going over your notes yourself before class as it make you feel prepared and you can then see what you still need to go over after class.”
  • “Focus on what professors emphasize during class.”
  • “Being able to ask one another high level questions is the best possible preparation for pharmacy school exams.”
  • “[Do] not worry as much about writing everything down in lecture. Worry about understanding what is being said. Then, revisit your slides after class and see what you understand, then re-watch the parts you didn’t understand.”

Self-Care

  • “Exercise regularly – even a short walk or quick workout can clear your mind and boost your mood.”
  • “Nobody is perfect and you are going to make mistakes. Most people never forget what they learned after making a mistake and you want to have that same mindset.”
  • “Give yourself grace! Also, giving yourself one day off is very important for success.”

Organization & Time Management

  • “Have a planner and an organizer.”
  • “Find a calendar (Apple/Google/paper) that you like and use it to write everything down!! I personally used Apple because it syncs across all my devices and I can easily change assignment due dates – some courses will change their due dates!”
  • “It definitely helps to have your note taking app (such as Notability) already set up with all of your classes and exams that will occur in the semester. Additionally, I like adding every exam, quiz, and large assignment onto my Calendar app to ensure that I know what’s going on every week!”
  • “Study a little bit for each class every day to prevent falling behind (repetition is key for a lot of courses).”
  • “Join organizations and get involved in the school!”
  • “I highly recommend studying the same classes the day you cover their material.”

Challenges

  • Knowing What to Study: “[Communicate] with peers and professors, [look] for ‘tells’ or ‘signs’ that it will be on the exam. Also looking at study guides and talking through slides with friends.”
  • Burnout: “Make sure to pace yourself early and often and plan fun but small events to break up the studying while still not over-committing your time.”

On a scale of 1-8, how did you prioritize studying for the following courses?

1 = I studied the MOST for this course

8 = I studied the LEAST for this course

  • Medicinal Biochemistry I (MDCM 601): 1.9
  • Pharmacology I (P&TX 630): 2.2
  • Pharmacy Calculations (PHCH 517): 4.5
  • Ethical, Legal, and Cultural Issues in Patient Care (PHPR 620): 4.5
  • Introduction to Clinical Chemistry (PHCH 667): 5
  • Pharmacy Skills Laboratory I-B (PHAR 512): 5.4
  • Pharmacy Skills Laboratory I-A (PHAR 510): 6.2
  • Introduction to Pharmacy (PHAR 500): 6.9

Medicinal Biochemistry 1 (MDCM 601)

Did you purchase the textbook?

  • No, I did not need the textbook: 65.8%
  • Yes, but I did NOT use it: 23.7%
  • Yes, and I USED it: 10.5%
  • No, but I wish I HAD: 0%

What do you wish you had known before taking this course?

  • “Don’t just try to memorize the amino acids for 1-2 exams – make sure you learn them and can recall them (it will come in handy for not only this course, but courses later on in the pharmacy curriculum).”
  • “There are two professors who teach this course in two very different ways. Study, study, study any practice exams and questions that you are given (do them three, four times even!). Make sure that you understand HOW you get an answer.”
  • “Some sections are going to be more math/gen chem focused, others are going to be more conceptual-based. Make sure you know how to solve problems in the math-focused sections and make sure you understand and know the details in the conceptual-focused sections.”

Effective Study Tips

  • “Utilize the practice problems and practice exams provided by the instructors.”
  • “The ‘amino acid quiz’ app was helpful for the first portion of the course.”
  • “Rho Chi sessions.”
  • “Re-watch lecture videos over and over and over.”

“Write it out on the white boards especially the units about sugars and glycolysis.”

Pharmacology 1 (P&TX 630)

Did you purchase the textbook?

  • No, I did not need the textbook: 82.1%
  • Yes, but I did NOT use it: 10.3%
  • Yes, and I USED it: 7.7%
  • No, but I wish I HAD: 0%

What do you wish you had known before taking this course?

  • “Just know that every faculty member has a different teaching style and a different exam style. Ask as many questions as you can to get an idea of their exam expectations. If you can get a practice exam, that is the best!!”
  • “Learn the system of the body FIRST, then focus on the drugs that affect it.”
  • “Don’t slack on the quizzes. Try just as hard for them as you would for an exam.”
  • “Focus more on the mechanisms of the drug and how they work not just basic information.”

Effective Study Tips

  • “Drawing out the body system on a white board and then drawing in the drug’s mechanism of action on the system and talking it through with friends.”
  • “Making concept maps, flash cards, and quizlets.”
  • “For the equations with Dr. Muma do them MANY times.”
  • “Create charts for the medications in the drug classes discussed.”
  • “I used ChatGPT to generate practice questions and I used Quizlet.”

“Lecture videos are very good for refreshing your memory.”

Pharmacy Calculations (PHCH 517)

Did you purchase the textbook?

  • No, I did not need the textbook: 81.6%
  • Yes, but I did NOT use it: 13.2%
  • Yes, and I USED it: 5.3%
  • No, but I wish I HAD: 0%

What do you wish you had known before taking this course?

  • “Use the endless practice problems as much as you can, and study the homework and in-class questions too.”
  • “Make sure you don’t forget to turn in the homework as they are easy points. They are easy, but can really drop your grade.”
  • “I only joined one exam review session for the final and wished I have had done earlier to save me time.”

Effective Study Tips

  • “Keep practicing with the endless practice problems, homework, and in-class questions.”
  • “Attend the review sessions for each exam as Dr. Davidow is amazing and does a great job at explaining.”
  • “Do the practice problems like you would the exam.”
  • “Just complete ALL in-class work and homework. If you can do that without looking at notes, you will ace exams.”
  • “Practice, practice, practice.”

Ethical, Legal, & Cultural Issues in Patient Care (PHPR 620)

Did you purchase the textbook?

  • No, I did not need the textbook: 57.6%
  • Yes, but I did NOT use it: 27.3%
  • Yes, and I USED it: 12.1%
  • No, but I wish I HAD: 3%

What do you wish you had known before taking this course?

  • “Just go to class and listen!!”
  • “This was a participation heavy class.”
  • “I wish I engaged more in class. Ethics is a great class to really teach yourself how to be a professional. You may encounter situations in class that make you uncomfortable, but these situations are things you will most likely see when working in healthcare. Learn the situations and understand how to respond.”

Effective Study Tips

  • “Quizlet.”
  • “Go through the lecture slides thoroughly and look up/watch YouTube videos if you need better explanation.”
  • “Go over definitions and example scenarios.”
  • “My best tip for this class is to not blow it off. Really consider some of these dilemmas and think about how they could affect your future career.”

“Learn the important terms, laws, and important cases.”

Introduction to Clinical Chemistry (PHCH 667)

Did you purchase the textbook?

  • No, I did not need the textbook: 100%
  • Yes, but I did NOT use it: 0%
  • Yes, and I USED it: 0%
  • No, but I wish I HAD: 0%

What do you wish you had known before taking this course?

  • “A lot of people will blow off this course and ended up with a grade lower than they expected. It’s not too hard, but make sure you study and practice active recall of ALL material that was covered.”
  • “Do NOT forget to do the online homework quizzes. Like set an alarm.”
  • “Participation is taken randomly but it really helps boost your grade.”
  • “Learn all the number and values that we went over. It will come back…so learn them!”

Effective Study Tips

  • “Study any practice questions or quiz questions you encounter. Take the quizzes as many times as you can. But don’t only study these questions.”
  • “Quizlet and active recall from the PowerPoints.”
  • “Understand why lab values matter and how to differentiate between different disease states.”
  • “Calendar reminders so you don’t forget to do your quizzes.”

Pharmacy Skills Laboratory I-A (PHAR 510)

Did you purchase the textbook?

  • No, I did not need the textbook: 96.9%
  • Yes, but I did NOT use it: 0%
  • Yes, and I USED it: 0%
  • No, but I wish I HAD: 3.1%

What do you wish you had known before taking this course?

  • “Use practice questions to help you prepare for the OSLE. It is easy to miss things on the first OSLE so take your time so you can be detailed. Try to take in as much as you can when learning about vaccines – this will be extremely important moving forward.”
  • “Go to class, listen, and be active while you’re there, this will save time in the long run. Practice with friends and talk through what you need to know.”
  • “Get your vaccine stuff done early! Do not put it off!”

Effective Study Tips

  • “Utilize practice questions and practice exams. Ask Dr. Davidow lots of questions.”
  • “Working with groups of friends to make sure that all the information needed was known in my brain.”
  • “Quizlets are helpful.”
  • “Definitely try to prepare for the top drug quizzes ahead of time as they build up and are very extensive if you wait to the last minute to try to memorize them all.”

Pharmacy Skills Laboratory I-B (PHAR 512)

Did you purchase the textbook?

  • No, I did not need the textbook: 97%
  • Yes, but I did NOT use it: 0%
  • Yes, and I USED it: 3%
  • No, but I wish I HAD: 0%

What do you wish you had known before taking this course?

  • “The pre-lab quizzes can be difficult – ensure you set aside adequate time to read the pre-lab material and understand the procedures.”
  • “Those quizzes at the beginning of the week are going to be HARD. Be prepared for those. Read your pre-lab multiple times and practice active recall. You will also find that material from biochem lecture can be on the quizzes so stay caught up on that information, even if you haven’t been tested on it yet.”
  • “Pick your lab partner wisely.”
  • “Don’t miss class.”

Effective Study Tips

  • “Active recall for the quizzes! Make sure you know how to do calculations too!”
  • “Having good teamwork and coordination will help you pass and succeed the written portion of lab!”
  • “Make sure to read/take note of the lab and do the math of the week prior to the weekly quiz.”
  • “Pay attention when Dr. Wu is discussing concepts because it will help you in lecture!”

Introduction to Pharmacy (PHAR 500)

Disclaimer: The information presented on this course is a summary of responses from 5 CPFI executive members.

Did you purchase the textbook?

  • No, I did not need the textbook: 100%
  • Yes, but I did NOT use it: 0%
  • Yes, and I USED it: 0%
  • No, but I wish I HAD: 0%

What do you wish you had known before taking this course?

  • “If there is a specific area of pharmacy you are interested in, don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to guest pharmacist speakers and ask about opportunities for students. You never know where one connection may lead you!”
  • “Stay on top of assignments and try to get them done as early as possible.”
  • “Make sure to attend class! The lectures are as informational as you make them.”

Effective Study Tips

  • “This class didn’t require much studying, but it’s beneficial to take notes on the slides provided by each lecturer! Reflections are due every few weeks, and it can be difficult to recall what you learned without note-taking.”
  • “Make sure to really pay attention and take notes during the history of pharmacy section!”
  • “The best tip for this class is to be present for each day to learn about a brief introduction into pharmacy and its history.”