The pharmacy school interview is an integral part of the application process as the admission staff, who already knows everything about you on paper, will finally be able to see how you will fit into their program. This is also your time to interview each pharmacy school, so be prepared to ask questions you may have about their program.

Most pharmacy schools do a good job of making the interview session as comfortable and non-stressful as possible. Usually current pharmacy school students will greet you and make conversation with you. Take full advantage of this opportunity to loosen yourself up and practice your speaking skills. By this time you should have already completed your speech requirement, so now is the time to make use of what you have learned in the classroom!

Prepare yourself by familiarizing yourself with what you wrote on your personal statement essay. In addition, it is a good idea to have a general idea on what kind of questions are going to be asked.

As soon as you meet your interviewers, take the initiative to build rapport / spark up a mini conversation (crazy traffic this morning, beautiful day, etc). Smile and split eye contact between all your interviewers as much as possible when you are speaking and keep eye contact on the person asking the questions.

Some General Interview Questions
1. Tell me about yourself
2. What was your favorite/most difficult course in college?
3. Who is your greatest role model?
4. What is a negative aspect about yourself? How have you worked on making it better?
5. Describe a moment you felt proud an accomplishment.
6. Why our pharmacy program?
7. What do you want to do after you graduate?
8. What do you do in your free time?
9. Why pharmacy, why not research or medicine?
10. What got you interested in pharmacy?
11. What are the most important attributes of a pharmacist?
12. What makes you stand out among other applicants?
13. What got you interested in pharmacy?
14. Give us an example of your leadership ability.
15. Is there anything you would change about your undergraduate experience?
16. Describe the importance of understanding diversity as a pharmacist.
17. What is the most positive aspect of pharmacy?
18. Give us an example of when you used your creativity to solve a problem.
19. What makes you unique?
20. Where will you be in 5 / 10 years?
21. Anything else we should know about you? YES, [list other positive aspects about you]

Be familiar with topics in health care and ongoing changes to pharmacy practice as you may be asked to give your opinion or specific questions on some of the major events that are going on now.

Other questions may be hypothetical questions that place you in a ‘difficult’ or ethical situation where you will need to discuss your course of action. There is usually no right or wrong answer, but make sure you are paying close attention to the question being asked so that you don’t miss anything. Take a moment to think over your answer before starting to speak.

I personally bought a book to have the correct mindset and strategy to answer even the toughest interview questions. I think this really helped me to nail my interviews. Check my Pharmacy School Interview Lens for a link to actual interview feedback and questions from each pharmacy school.

Don’t stress out, you’ll be just fine for your interviews!!

One of the newest products to hit the weight loss industry is Akavar 20/50 that promises no diet easy weight loss. It is a European diet pill and its no diet easy weight loss promise lets you eat everything you want but still be able to lose weight. Here is some information about the product.

How it works

As a no diet easy weight loss solution, its marketing claims that it can get rid of your excess fat. Furthermore, it claims that it is a weight loss product that works automatically. The product works by restricting your calories through appetite suppression. You may not be obliged to eat too much food because you don’t feel very hungry, so you eat less without depriving yourself of anything.

Competitors

While Akavar 20/50 is new, it still has competitors like Xenadrine and Alli. However, unlike those other products, its no diet easy weight loss solution does not dissolve or block your fat or increase your metabolic rate. It simply works by suppressing your hunger so you can lose weight.

The price

Akavar 20/50 costs around $39.99 for a single bottle with 60 capsules. Since the product is fairly new in the market, you can buy it from their website and they can even provide you with a “buy two get one free” option for $79.98.

How it can help

Just like other weight loss products, it may help you lose weight more effectively if you combine it with a proper diet and exercise. However, it still claims that even without dieting and exercising, it can help you lose weight. It can also help you stick to your diet especially if you are restricting your calorie intake because it helps suppress your hunger.

Far-fetched?

While the no diet easy weight loss promise sounds a little too good to be true, their website claims that they tested the product on 24 participants and the results showed that 23 of those participants lost weight. However, results may still vary from person to person. If you want to try it out, the manufacturers can give you a refund if you find that it does not work. However, if you have any serious medical condition, you should refrain from taking this product.

When you are combating the unavoidable ageing process, chances are your primary focus will be on your face and neck skin since these are the first to manifest the ageing signs and symptoms such as fine lines, wrinkles and skin dryness. Cosmetics industry has grossed over a billion sales for the skin care products alone. This is not surprising since most consumers are willing to purchase even expensive skin care products just to remedy their skin problems.

Somehow, they tend to forget that the most effective cure for these skin problems are from natural foods. They are the cheapest and the safest healing foods. These foods offer an extensive capacity of healing and preventive powers for your skin troubles. You need not consult your dermatologist for these kinds of health foods since the top foods for healthy skin are within your household reach. Let’s start with the most basic and the most available health product like:

Water – We are talking about clean, pure water. If it is in beverage or caffeinated form the quantity is not considered as water intake. Water is the number one source in keeping and maintaining hydration of your skin cells. It helps in flushing out the toxins and free radicals that enters your body. According to a nutrition expert, when the body is properly hydrated it perspire efficiently. With this theory, your skin will be clean and clear. Drinking plenty of water everyday will definitely keep your skin healthy and youthful. Green Tea – This powerful antioxidants drink are known to reactivate dying or dull skin cells. It is proven to reduce inflammation and protect our cell membrane. It is high in polyphenols; a compound that eradicates free radicals that may cause cancer. Green tea is rich in vitamins C, D and K and has several mineral properties like zinc, calcium, riboflavin, magnesium and iron. Blueberries – This fruit have the highest source of antioxidants. They are responsible in repairing and reducing cell damages caused by free radicals. Blueberries shield our skin cells from harm and deterioration which will definitely result into a clear and youthful skin. Considered as a phytochemicals family, blueberries are an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fiber and as such it promotes new cell growth for collagen fiber and elastin. It therefore aids in restoring the firmness and elasticity of the skin. The fruit is also a good source for vitamins C and E. Salmon – This fatty fish is known to possess very high healthy fatty acids that are a major component in attaining a healthy skin. This healthy fatty acids better known as Omega 3 reduces the production of inflammatory agents that are possible causes to skin damage. Salmon is also rich in vitamin B12, potassium, protein and selenium. Carrots – These powerful antioxidants prevent skin cell damages caused by free radicals. An excellent source of vitamin A, carrots maintains hydration of the skin cells. This famous fruit is also a superior source of vitamins K, C and B6.

Eating these therapeutic kinds of food is essential to your body’s health maintenance. However, you must also avoid certain foods that causes health risk such as; sugar, saturated fats, fried foods and white flour. These are known to damage your skin and your total health.

Before doing a vitamin/supplement regime to improve your physical and mental health it is good to prepare the body to better assimilate the nutrients as well as detox your body from harmful chemicals/metals. Two popular herbs to help rid your body of toxins are Cilantro and Chlorella. With any type of detox it is good to avoid eating pork and milk products.

Supplement: Cilantro
Details: Releases metal toxins from the brain and nervous system. Must be taken with Chlorella. Chlorella is used to absorb toxins so they are not reabsorbed into the body.

Supplement: Chlorella
Details: Chlorella absorbs toxins while cilantro releases them. Chlorella is high in iron and Vitamin D. Blood purifier. Better than Spirulina and Blue-Green Algae for metal detox. 30% become nauseous and have intolerance to chlorella. For those with chlorella intolerance an enzyme containing cellulase should be used.

Supplement: Cellulase
Details: Chlorella digestive enzyme. Found in some “Plant Enzyme” complexes.

The body will also naturally get rid of toxins through urine and sweating. Drinking enough fluids, getting plenty of fresh air, exercising, saunas, and soaking in Epsom salt baths are some other good inexpensive ways to help rid your body of toxins.

It is possible to over hydrate oneself with water, and instead of ridding your body of just toxins, you will be losing precious nutrients as well.

It is good to rehydrate after intensive exercise or time in the sauna with an electrolyte or sports drink. I like to use Alacer ElectroMix (electrolyte drink mix) because it is easy for me to find at my grocery store in the vitamin section. Just make sure you look for a electrolyte product that is low in sugar and artificial ingredients. Or you can make your own sports drink with some water, a pinch of salt, lemon/orange juice, and a little sugar to help the body utilize the water. Milk or Coconut Milk also works to help replenish electrolytes.

Note: I am not affiliated with any of the products I recommend. I do not get paid for my recommendations.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes, and does not dispense medical, legal or professional advice, or prescribe any treatment or strategy that should be tested without the advice of a professional. The author makes no claim about the validity of the statements made. Readers claim sole responsibility for the use of information obtained from this article.

There are simply too many brands in beauty and skin care treatment products on the market today and it might be a problem for you to look for the best one that really is suitable for you skin type. It might be easy to choose if you do some research on which brands or products that are well known to most people since you will know that beauty and skin care treatment have some followers.

Of course when you are searching for the beauty and skin care treatment product, you want it to brighten your skin and make it fairer. The best beauty product has this brightening regimen that restores evenness of skin tone, and returns luminosity to skin while protecting it against elements that can lead to the further development of pigmentation. A good skin care treatment must have the ability to make your skin stay brighten and fairer for a long term even though expose to the sunlight.

A good beauty and skin care treatment is mostly based on four technological principles. The principles are Calm, Protect, Correct and Prevent. It calms by reducing irritation at its source, thus strengthening skin’s surface; protects by neutralizing free radical damage; corrects by shattering skin discoloration or age spots; and prevents by minimizing abnormal melanin production.

When you apply beauty and skin care treatment in combination, you will get the benefit of brightening skin, returning colour uniformity and clarity to your skin, faster and more effectively than ever before. This is why using the correct skin treatment product that really suitable for your skin type is very crucial to achieve this kind of good result.

Beauty and skin care treatment is also necessary because of factors unrelated to our aging skin. In other words, you can delay the age for your skin so that it will look younger longer than ever before. Here is a great feature of skin care treatment – it is very successful way of beating nature and focusing on needs of your skin. The truth is, nowadays both men and women are always searching for the best type of skin treatment.

Some food for thought, if you have a high budget, go for the much expensive beauty and skin care treatment product. There is always a reason why the price is much higher and that is because it really can make your skin more beautiful and smoother.

I will begin with the statistics of the accepted students into the University of Southern California Doctor of Pharmacy program for 2009. 460 students were offered interviews from a pool of over 2000 applicants. 240 students are accepted (11 students from out-of-state schools), and the expected class size for 2009 is 190. One must note that USC offers their undergraduates the opportunity of guaranteed admission as long as they complete their requirements in the TAP program (these students take up a large chunk of seats available for other applicants).

Obtaining a Bachelor’s degree is now a requirement for admission at USC. The minimum GPA requirement is a 3.0 (the average GPA of accepted students is a 3.60). Since USC does not require taking the PCAT, other admission criteria is weighed more heavily (GPA, interview performance, extracurricular activities, personal statements, etc.).

For the application process, it is very important for you to note that the University of Southern California sends out interview invitations on a rolling basis, so it is important that you turn in your PharmCAS application and supplemental application as soon as possible. The deadlines for both are early November, but I highly recommend that you turn both in no latter than early August (I turned in my applications by mid-July, just 1.5 months after the application was made available).

At your interview, you will be asked questions by a current pharmacy school student as well as a faculty member. Think of it more of a conversation where you also ask questions back to both of them. When you first arrive at the interview session, you will be greeted by several current pharmacy students, who do a great job of calming you down prior to your interview. Take this opportunity to ask questions and warm up your oral communication skills. Do not worry to much about the “essay” portion as it is just a test of how well you take notes off of a random article that you read. BE SURE to follow all directions provided to you as it is also a test on how well you pay attention to details.

Here are the pre-requisites for USC’s pharmacy program:

Calculus (for science majors)
Statistics (non-business)
Physics w/lab (science/life science majors- thermodynamics & Electromagnetism recommended)
General Biology w/lab (excludes human anatomy & physiology, botany, and microbiology)
Mammalian Physiology w/lab (human preferred-excludes plant, cell and marine physiology)
Microbiology w/lab (fundamentals of microbiology for science majors)
Molecular or Cell Biology(for science majors-one upper division course)
General Chemistry w/lab (for science majors-include inorganic & qualitative analysis)
Organic Chemistry w/lab (for science majors)
Biochemistry (for science majors one upper division course)
Human Behavior (General Psychology or Introductory Sociology)
Microeconomics

For Internationals (holders of foreign US bachelor’s equivalent):
English (expository writing)
Interpersonal Communications or Public Speaking

For specific course equivalencies from your college, please check the forms available from USC’s website.

The Pharm.D. program at USC is a 4 year program. USC is a private school, and our estimated tuition and cost of living for 2009 is approximately $60,000.

The University of Southern California provides students the opportunity to pursue dual degrees in addition to their Doctor of Pharmacy Degree. These include the following:

Pharm.D./Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Pharm.D./Juris Doctor(J.D.)
Pharm.D./Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
Pharm.D./Master of Science in Regulatory Science (M.S. Regulatory Science)
Pharm.D./ Master of Science in Gerontology (M.S.G.)
Pharm.D./Graduate Certificate in Gerontology (Gerontology Certificate)
Pharm.D./Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Consider our body as an airplane. Don’t be surprised if I say that iodine or natural iodine supplement supports the auto pilot to maintain speed of our body. Read the following two cases and you will know how it works.

Robert, a 20 year old science student was found perspiring in a temperature controlled air conditioned room. Believe me, the air conditioner was set at 19 degrees Celsius for a laboratory experiment. His Professor immediately sent him to a general physician. Robert told the physician that he had been sweating quite a lot for the past 6 months and his sleep was getting affected. High heart beat also was noticed. Though he lost a little weight, he had good apatite. He advised Robert to check his thyroid.

Though leading a normal life, Stella a mother of 2 children quite often felt weak and tired. She experienced high fatigue. She was not employed and a home maker. She was gaining weight but her food intake was low. That was quite strange. She felt cold often. Her husband took her to a physician. She was asked to check her thyroid.

The problems for Stella and Robert are two extremes. But both of them were advised to check their thyroid. Why?

Thyroid is a hormone producing gland. It is found in our neck. Thyroxin is the principal hormone produced by thyroid. If at all our body works in the correct speed, it is because of the level of thyroxin hormone. Thyroid gland is an auto pilot.

If the hormone level decreases, our activities of the cells in the body will be decreased. Energies required will be decreased. Body weight will increase but apatite will decrease. Since less energy is used, less heat is produced and the body will be cold. Heart beat will be low and everything will be slow in our body. So the body will feel extreme fatigue and one will feel tired and weak. This was what happened to Stella.

If the hormone level increases, the cell activities are considerably increased. Fat and proteins are burnt quickly. Body will lose weight but food intake will increase. Since more energy is used, high amount of heat is produced to keep the body cool. Heart beat will increase. Sleep becomes difficult. This was the problem faced by Robert.

How to correct the above extremes and ensure that the proper speed is maintained? We have another gland called pituitary. This gland will come into play whenever there is a change in the level of hormone in the thyroid gland. The pituitary gland will send a kind of another hormone to the thyroid to stimulate the thyroid gland to produce more or less thyroxin to maintain appropriate speed.

However, we should understand that we can scoop from the vessel only when there is food. Unless there is sufficient thyroxin producing substance in the gland, what the poor pituitary gland can do? Here comes the support of iodine or natural iodine supplement.

Iodine is a trace mineral. It is converted as iodide in our body. It is an integral part of thyroxin.

Iodine is very rich in sea food. Perhaps, that is the reason why iodine level is low in the people living in the central parts of the land, hills etc., which are away from sea. Iodine deficient people will have enlarged thyroid gland with swollen neck.

Almost 40% of the world population is deficient in iodine. It is a major cause of concern for many countries in the world today.

In case of iodine deficiency, one should go in for natural iodine supplement. Also one should adopt a balanced natural nutrition supplement to handle this important aspect.

Going to a fitness center is something most of us could benefit from. Our busy lifestyles often leave us not getting enough exercise and not eating right. Exercising can help you sleep better and feel better. It will also boost your immune system and give you more energy. A fitness center offers a variety of exercise equipment, weights, swimming, aerobics, and many other activities to get you in shape. Going to a fitness center can be the motivation you need. The key is to participate in fitness exercises you enjoy so that you will look forward to going to the fitness center rather than dreading it and making excuses not to go.

We are all busy, that is just the way of our society. Don’t let that be your reason for not going to a fitness center. It is important to make time for yourself, and going to a fitness center is a perfect way to do it. Get up

One day everything seems fine but the next day there can be a sudden and new tenderness and lower left back pain. The cause may seem a mystery, especially if the sufferer thinks back to the last few days or even weeks.

Nothing comes to mind that could cause symptoms such as a numbness or tingling in the left leg, aching in the lower back muscles and a host of other symptoms. It can be so uncomfortable that the pain doesn’t cease, whether sitting or standing.

Low back pain treatment:

What causes lower left back pain? Consultation with a medical doctor may be necessary to determine the specific cause and proper low back pain treatment options. Before seeking medical treatment, though, a look at one’s lifestyle can be very helpful. Think about any possible changes, from new exercise programs to the birth of a baby.

Even something like eating new foods can cause intestinal problems which radiate to the back. Repeated motions, including exercises mean to strengthen the lower left pain can actually result in pain, if done incorrectly.

Sports injuries also can result in lower back pain. Oddly, some internal organs may be infected but the first symptom of that can also be mostly in the back, radiating outwards. The bones may not even be affected!

While there are certainly some serious causes of lower left back pain (fractures, cancer and inflammation), other symptoms are signs of a temporary condition. However, it is best not to try low back pain treatment methods or self diagnose the problem if it has been going on for some time.

If a warm heating pad or even a hot cloth in a plastic bag is applied to the tender spot and the pain eases, it could be just a temporary muscle sprain. But if the pain reoccurs, seek medical help.

If the pain is not intense, try keeping a journal before seeing the doctor and coming up with the best low back pain treatment plan. Note any and all foods eaten, bouts of diarrhea, sports and exercise routines and daily habits. Why should you do this? Because the cause could be as simple as food allergies, resulting in lower left back pain and spasms. Also, a journal keeps the doctor fully informed.

Lower left spinal pain is often easily treated. Options vary but can include special exercises as well as physical therapy (often done at home). In some cases, a cortisone shot may be given, offering immediate relief. With proper diagnosis, some people feel better in a matter of days.

With cortisone shots, there are even those who get instant relief, along with tips on how to prevent the aches and pains from returning. It should be a relief to know that surgery is required only in very special cases and is not necessary much of the time.

The key to a happy, healthy and emotionally stable life depends on a number of factors. One such factor is the ability to act independently to meet one’s own needs. For some individuals, this very basic need is extremely hard to meet due to circumstances such as age or physical disabilities. Simple tasks such as bathing, sitting, standing or even walking without help are very difficult or sometime’s – impossible. Facing that kind of reality on a daily basis weighs very heavily on emotional health and has negative effects on quality of life. Fortunately, home healthcare products can help tremendously in restoring independence and improving general emotional well being. This, in my opinion, is why home health care products are so priceless, especially as we age and aren’t as mobile as we once were or are affected by circumstances beyond our control.

How do Home Health Products help?

With the help of walkers, mobility scooters, wheelchairs and other elder or disability care products, you can perform some daily tasks without the aid of a loved one or a caregiver. And for many, there is no better feeling than to be able do things for themselves. Home Health Products provide you with the extra freedom to get out and enjoy your life again. No longer are you confined to your home depending on others to help you get out and about. With mobility products in particular, you can visit friends or relatives at your leisure and feel good knowing that you have these items in place to support you. Just having this extra freedom does wonders for your emotional health and just your outlook on life in general. Knowing that you have these products to use on a daily basis makes you feel secure and in control of your daily activities and reduces your stress level, which in turn, improves your quality of life. Because of the wide variety of different products that are available for purchase, there is most certainly something out there to suit you.

What Are the Benefits?

The benefits of home health products are many. Not only are they made to help you with mobility and day to day living in general, they help you feel better as a whole. When they are in use, you are no longer confined to your home — you can go wherever you want, whenever you want, on your own. Additional benefits include giving you back your personal freedom to live your life to its fullest and that my friend, is worth more than money can buy!