Pre-pharmacy club prescribes success

The Pre-Pharmacy Student Association, a networking tool for prospective pre-pharmacy students, has entered its third year of operation, Krysta Kadlitz, a senior from Chattanooga and association's president, said."We give students valuable knowledge for the [Pharmacy College Admissions Test] dates and study tools, pharmacy school admission process and guidelines and friendship from peers pursing the same goals," she said.

"We also take trips to local pharmacy schools to give students perspectives into what these schools are looking for in potential candidates.so they can better position themselves. to succeed," Kadlitz said.

The Pre-Pharmacy Student Association visited Lipscomb and Belmont Oct. 20, Lindsey Narramore, a junior from Dunlap, Ga. and secretary of the organization, said.

"We went to get a better feel for the admissions process of graduate school," she said.

Kadlitz said the trip to Lipscomb and Belmont was great.

"The faculty and staff were very welcoming. They went over the requirements for admission, the interviewing process, and welcomed any questions we had," she said.

"At Lipscomb.they gave us an 'inside scoop' on what to expect in professional school and some tips on how to make ourselves look more competitive," Narramore said. "Belmont is in the process of building a brand new pharmacy school, and they had a lot to say about the excitement of such an upcoming event."

Kadlitz said, "We also had an opportunity to see students who previously attended UTC and are currently students at Lipscomb."

During the school year, Pre-Pharmacy Student Association participates in canned food drives, coat drives and visits local nursing homes, according to Kadlitz.

According to Kadlitz, the organization has planned to work with the American Marketing Association and Sticky Fingers for a canned food drive to benefit the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.

Pre-Pharmacy Student Association is also fundraising and putting together a raffle, Narramore said.

"We plan on getting the entire campus involved," she said.

Prizes for the raffle will include gas cards and gift cards with tickets selling for $1 per entry, Kadlitz said.

"The proceeds will go directly to the Pre-Pharmacy Student Association and may be used for a charitable donation next semester," she said.

Kadlitz said the pharmacy and health care based professions are very rewarding.

"The pharmacy profession is dedicated to service to others," she said. "You have to have a passion for the career and really care for others."

Narramore said the organization has been a positive experience for her.

"I have met a lot of intelligent and inspired people," Narramore

Aside from making friends, it gives me a lot of exposure to the pharmacy profession that I would not have necessarily had if I wasn't involved with such a group of people."

Narramore said trips to prospective pharmacy programs at other schools have been exciting and enriched her sense of the future and are useful to her planned career.

Narramore said. "I learned that the thought of graduate school isn't so far-fetched anymore and I'm a lot less intimidated by the application process."

Kadlitz said the UTC Pre-Pharmacy Student Association is available for anyone interested in joining.

"We are here for guidance and mentorship throughout the admission progress," she said.