Hello again! I thought it would help to include all the questions I was asked during my PPS interviews at ASHP Midyear. Make sure to draft your answers beforehand and rehearse in front of a mirror - I went over my interview etiquette in a previous post and all the same rules apply - check it out here. I rehearsed my answers to the questions below so many times that I could say it forward and backward in my sleep. This isn't an all inclusive list and it varies from program and company but I do hope this helps you with your preparation! I know this is easier said than done but you'll soon notice that there's really no time to be nervous during your PPS interviews. I had 21 interviews and so many back-to-back's that I became numb to the process. Once you're in the hot seat, that adrenaline rush kicks in and your confidence takes over. I got so accustomed to it that I could predict what they were going to ask! You'll see what I mean once you're there! Best of luck! 😁 UPDATE: PSA - MIDYEAR 2020 IS NOW ENTIRELY VIRTUAL.
Midyear feels like it happened such a long time ago! I have a tremendous amount of unpublished content and I cannot wait to share all my pictures and tips on the blog! Get ready for numerous posts on interview prep, what to bring, outfits, receptions and anything else associated with the madness of PPS at ASHP Midyear! These posts will be sprinkled throughout the year leading up to Midyear 2020... hopefully it's not a virtual Midyear!
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada
Great place to be if you're there for pleasure - all the folks applying for residency were able to take it easy. For those applying to fellowships, I found myself writing thank you cards each night, reinforcing the knowledge I had about programs and running to receptions. Oh, taking an Uber took much longer than walking to different hotels for receptions (more details in a later post) since there was a Cowboy Rodeo, Marijuana Convention and Hockey Game...
VENUE: Mandalay Bay Convention Center
The convention center is massive but I spent the vast majority of my time in PPS with a slight detour to the Posters Ballroom for my Poster Presentation! This is in no means to downgrade the PPS layout because I averaged 15,000 steps each day. I found myself running from one end to another (in heels 😓) to make it to my interviews on time; I had to schedule some back-to-back interviews due to scheduling conflicts. More details to follow...
A simple little accessory... along with keeping you warm and toasty, this stole is a versatile piece that can be layered on top of coats, sweaters and anything else that may come to mind. I treated this as if it were a scarf so instead of leaving this stole hanging around my neck, I decided to belt it up! I've been very fond of the "belting up scarf" look ever since high school and that feeling was only heightened when Burberry showcased this look during their Fall / Winter 2014 Fashion Show. Instead of leaving the belt buckle exposed in front, I rotated it 180 degrees to the back - just a matter of preference.
To continue the color scheme, I wore a slouchy cashmere sweater from J. Crew. It's the comfiest thing ever but boy does it wrinkle; good thing the stole covers up all those pesky wrinkles! I paired this outfit with my Zara skinny leather trim black pants and OTK suede boots by Ivanka Trump! These are no longer available but I've linked similar ones below. What do I love about OTK boots? They work well with pretty much everything! Besides, they're appropriate for work, school, and casual outings! Until next time!
A sudden rush of cold air left a lingering chill as winter break reaches its untimely end. Though I prefer warmer temperatures, piling on layers always makes for better outfits. Anyways, one of my favorite pastimes was creating looks that appear much more exuberant and lavish than on the hanger. The Très Chic on my sweater was a bit plain so to create more depth and texture, black beads were added. I've always wanted to create a YouTube channel to document my outfits in motion... maybe after I graduate! But I digress... this is one of the outfits I'd wear to school. I was a bit more daring as an undergrad since I did wear these heels on campus. Yes, I walked around Ring Road and through Aldrich Park.... I've really put my feet through it all however, I've since morphed into more sensible shoes. Until next time!
Between working on my journal club presentation, doing literature searches and helping out with studies, I've been a bit MIA from my blog but I do try to post daily Instagram stories so follow along @adriennenguyenn. I will now be staying up to finish projects whereas I used to stay up to study for exams. It's a big change but this adventure is illuminating and I know it's going to be a wild ride. I find that I have more time for leisure on the weekends but it'll soon be occupied with researching programs/schools offering fellowships and preparing for interviews.
As for this post, it was taken earlier this year at Balboa Park in San Diego. This is a typical outfit I'd wear on vacation but it was such a beautiful, sunny day that it was warranted. The day started at Caroline's near UCSD where lunch was quick and the views were breath-taking. Even though I've been a resident of San Diego for the past three years, there's just so much more for me to see. I opt for walking around new spots whenever it's feasible and safe since it's easier to take in the culture and of course, snap a few pictures. Anyways, if you've been following me on Instagram, you know that I took a brief vacation in San Francisco. I'm still sorting through all my SF pictures but that post will be up before the end of August! Until next time!
It sure has been a long time since my last post but school has been consuming the bulk of my time. This is my last quarter in a classroom and to be honest, it's surreal. I've spent the better part of my life as a student so it'll be bittersweet when it comes to an end this June. Sure, I'm only at school once a week 😬 but I'll get nostalgic when it's official. I will write another post about my plans for the rest of the year but just know that I'm both ecstatic and anxious.
Onward to this post, I had the opportunity to visit the poppy superbloom at Lake Elsinore! Jonathan and I spent around 2 hours in traffic however, the excruciating wait was worth it. We got there an hour or so before dusk which made taking pictures quite difficult but I think we managed well. Prior to out expedition out to Lake Elsinore, I saw numerous articles regarding the heavy traffic so I was left a bit disheartened but it was manageable during the week day. We parked right around the entrance and started our trek up the mountains. As we began walking on the trail, there were a plethora of people who wandered off the trail. Up above and down below, people were scattered within every crevice of the mountains. No flowers were harmed for these pictures - we just used photoshop and strategic angles to capture our pictures 😏 We spent a few hours here until visibility was at a bare minimum and these are some of the pictures!
I've received a delightful number of responses from my mentor-mentee application as well as personal emails! I really appreciate all of those who follow/read my posts and to all my new readers, welcome 👋 ! Please keep your questions coming - it really helps me develop pharmacy content for my blog!
When I began pharmacy school, I came in with the mentality that I would later pursue a career in industry. I never considered any other path but if my first year has taught me anything, it's that people change paths very often. I actually changed majors as an undergrad from Biomedical Engineering to Biological Sciences. Not much of a leap however, I took fewer Math and Chemistry classes! I digress... People often say that you should have a plan in life. To know what you're supposed to do early on but wouldn't that be boring? Besides, life is complicated.
Hey guys! I'm finally back! I just took my last final and I'm officially done with my first year of pharmacy school! I was planning on adding videos I shot while at school however, the quality wasn't up to my standards so I'll be sharing my thoughts with words and a few pictures.
For those who haven't been following my blog, I am a first year student pharmacist at UCSD Skagg's School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. I was debating on how to go about documenting what an average week (during my last quarter of my P1 year) looks like; it was difficult since each day and week varies. Not to mention that my life for the past month revolved around studying for exams, working on projects, presenting said projects and participating in extracurriculars. Anyways, for the remainder of this post, I will condense everything that occurred this past month to give you guys better insight to my academic life.