Getting Accepted

Well, let me start with the process of actually getting accepted to pharmacy school. For me, this was a bit of a challenge, especially because I don't have a "competitive" personality. I've always struggled with the concept of getting "straight A's". I believe that if a person is TRULY learning and retaining the information, it shouldn't matter how well they can "memorize" to achieve the "A". I have a tough time believing that just because someone makes "straight A's", then they are "smarter" than the other people making B's and C's. Now, this isn't to say that SOME people who make the A's aren't ALSO super smart, and we all have different views as to what "smart" truly is. For ME, it is being able to apply material I learn to my life and the lives of other people. The point of learning is to have clarity of the material and to understand it inside and out. We should also always keep in mind our PURPOSE of learning. Having a purpose keeps us grounded and constantly keeps us applying the information.

My purpose of having an expertise in pharmacy is and always will be to keep on the cutting edge of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) information. This is my interest because my dad has battled the disease for over 15 years now. There hasn't been much in the way of progression regarding the treatment of MS, but I will surely on the front lines when something, (anything), happens!

This purpose has driven me throughout these years in school. Whenever I kind of get "off track" or don't feel like keeping on, I step back in my mind and remember MY purpose! I've noticed that some people's purpose is to "make the big bucks", (don't get me wrong, I'm excited and will be GRATEFUL for that paycheck when it gets here), but I've learned that money should and can never be a driving force for success. Money should also never define one's success. This has been a HUGE lesson learned along the way. I got "sucked" into the feeling that the more money one makes, the more successful they are. I have learned that THIS IS NOT TRUE! I have learned that instead, happiness and success are defined by one's contentment on the inside. There's nothing wrong with success and money, but I've learned that they should never fill the void of contentment in our lives.

OK, off the soapbox now....

Getting accepted to pharmacy school:

First thing I had to overcome was the DANG PCAT (pharmacy admissions test)! I took this sucker THREE times, and still didn't do that "HOT"! I learned to be super grateful for the interview and other factors that weighed into acceptance. My mentor (Mary Lou) was my cheerleader throughout this process! Mary Lou had taught me everything about pharmacy thus far, and I was (and still am) very grateful for her! So, I applied to ONE school in Arizona (Midwestern University), and crashed and burned. At this time I was also going through a divorce, so life wasn't quite "panning out" at this point. Mary Lou and my parents kept me focused and strong. I was honestly worn out, but felt like I have a goal and I want to finish it!

So, I retook the PCAT, and worked refocusing my goals. At this point I was moved back in with my parents, and moving through grief and disappointment. But, somehow I just kept going. I decided to finish my degree at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ (which delayed my entrance to pharmacy school). Here's another lesson I had to learn: There is no need to be in such a rush to get things done....time will pass regardless! It's important to just keep pressing toward the goals that have been set. I always thought there was a certain timeline that I had to keep up with, and that if I didn't keep up, then I would be behind! "God-forbid!" haha....

So, I realized that one day at a time is good enough. I took the next year and worked hard to get my degree in Chemistry with a minor in Biology, and worked to keep my grades at a competative level (even though I loathed the concept). Mary Lou encouraged me to branch out and apply to schools all over the country. So I did just that! I can't even remember how many essays I wrote and how many application fees I paid, but I was just determined. My parents and Mary Lou still supporting me the entire way. The weeks and months went by, after I turned in all the applications (these applications also took a lot of work and thought). I wanted to get accepted for just being who I truly was, not because I looked good on paper! So, I was still hoping for those interviews!

Finally, I was on a lunch break with a friend, and we were at Bath and Body Works, when I got a phone call from Wingate University in North Carolina for an interview. I was SO excited! I didn't even realize or care how far North Carolina was from my home, I was just excited to be on a closer level to acceptance. I started recieving letters and phone calls within the next two weeks regarding interviews at Mercer University in Georgia, University of Kansas in Missouri, and University of Wyoming. I decided to start with what would be my first and final interview at Wingate University!

So, my parents helped me with a plane ticket out to North Carolina, and my mom accompanied me! It was a great trip. My mom and I had a blast! We were exploring new territory (she's got a gift with this)! I was scared at not knowing about anything in NC, but my mom's exploratory personality perfectly complimented me at this point! : - ) I needed her!

She drove me to the interview, dropped me off, and came back to get me after 8 hours of the intense interview! I felt like I was a contestant on Donald Trump's show "The Associate". Everyone was so cut-throat! I wasn't sure if I was cut out for this type of competition, and hoped that the Dean and other professors saw my genuine personality, and would give me a chance.

My mom picked me up in the parking lot of the school, and I was in a cold sweat! I was so nervous about the results, but yet at the same time had a sense of peace. The school was great! The people were great! I felt really comfortable at this school. So comfortable that I had made MY decision as to which school to choose...Wingate University! I was just hoping they would choose me too!

We enjoyed the rest of our trip.....ate at Captain Dee's, went to see The Pink Panther at the theater, checked out the hot guy working at Tommy Bahama at Southpark, and laughed together. Again, I needed my mom here!

A week later, (on a Friday), I received a phone call at the pharmacy where I worked from my mom. She had a letter from Wingate! I was freaked out.... should we read it over the phone??!!! Ahhhh!! I caved and told her to go ahead and open it.... all I heard was "oh Andrea! We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to the School of Pharmacy..." I was so excited! What a great day! We started celebrating in the pharmacy, and I felt like a new world had just opened up to me. I was sure to finish out strong at NAU, and graduated in May. Now the next adventure would be in learning how to move all my stuff out to North Carolina....2000 MILES AWAY FROM HOME!!!