[angeldelight]

Hi, does ne1 here study pharmacy in RCSI? Do students entering under free fees get a laptop? What books do 1st years need? Thanx!

[John]

I don't know much about pharmacy there (I didn't know they got laptops!) but as for books I'd wait and see how the library there is stocked first. There's no point buying a chemistry or a biology book that you'll use once during the year, better buying books that you'll use for at least two years (something like a pharmacology text book or something similar I'd imagine).

[gnu]

Hi, I'm starting pharmacy at rcsi and was told that yes, we do get a laptop. I have to pay full fees :-( and there is a separate IT fee which covers the cost of the laptop over 4 yrs, hope the free fees will cover that! Last year it was 450 so it should be around that this year. Not too sure about books, people have told me to wait and see what the library has to offer or maybe try to pick up 2ndhand copies from the 2nd/3rd yrs.

[angeldelight]

Hi gnu, thanks. U never know, we might bump into each other there sometime, not a big course

[gnu]

No worries, yeah, I think there are 50 max in the class. C u in a few weeks then!

[ele1992]

Hey i'm thinking of studying pharmacy in rsci this year, is chemistry a requirement because on qualifax it only says 'chemistry/physics/biology' ?

[pfannkuchen]

Very late reply, sorry! Chemistry's not a requirement but you would be quite lost without it. There's a LOT of chemistry throughout the degree. There are lots of remedial tutorials and opportunities to get one-on-one help though, so it's not impossible. It would just require a lot of work.

On the other hand, having Biology doesn't give any advantage at all, in my experience. Physics can be helpful in some areas of certain modules, but you certainly wouldn't need to have done it before.

[ele1992]

Originally Posted by pfannkuchen

Very late reply, sorry! Chemistry's not a requirement but you would be quite lost without it. There's a LOT of chemistry throughout the degree. There are lots of remedial tutorials and opportunities to get one-on-one help though, so it's not impossible. It would just require a lot of work.

On the other hand, having Biology doesn't give any advantage at all, in my experience. Physics can be helpful in some areas of certain moBdules, but you certainly wouldn't need to have done it before.

Yeah i know what you mean! I got in anyways, very happy!! I've ordered books off amazon chemistry for dummies, etc. Very excited!! Was talking to my sci teacher in school and got an A in honours maths so he said that'd be a bit of a help because same train of thought for both? Very excited to start! Would there be many people without chemistry and is there extra classes for us? Thanks so much for your help!

[pfannkuchen]

Congrats, fantastic to hear!

In first semester, there's one Chemistry module and the first 10-ish lectures cover topics from the LC but after that, everything is new. In second semester, there are two Chemistry modules. You share all of those lectures with Foundation Year Medicine. There are tutorials most weeks, and you'll cover past exam questions and other sample questions. They're usually the whole class (depending on who turns up ) so it can be hard to ask questions sometimes. There is also a remedial tutorial most weeks, which is a smaller group thing, and those are meant to be really good. There would be a lot of Med students without Chemistry, and a handful of Pharm students.

As long as you go to all of the lectures and try to take in as much as possible and you're willing to put the work in, you'll be fine! I can guarantee that some people with LC Chemistry won't have a clue what's happening, it's quite different to what they've covered already. There is plenty of help available, so don't worry!

In first semester, you also have Physiology, Anatomy, Pharmaceutics and Professional Skills to look forward to. It's quite varied, so hopefully you'll enjoy it!

[JustJoycey]

Thanks for creating this thread, and thanks to pfannkuchen for responding, nice to have some info about the course I'm going to do. I personally can't wait to do some chemistry again

[pfannkuchen]

Congratulations! Seriously, let me know if ye have any more questions - I think it's always nice to have some information about a new college, I really appreciated it 2 years ago There'll be a good bit of chemistry to keep you going! There's also labs every week - they're just organised chaos! Chemistry wouldn't be my favourite subject so I wouldn't say that I find the chemistry modules to be extremely enjoyable but they're grand.

Btw, don't go buying any of the chem books they recommend, there are plenty of copies in the library to keep you going. You'll more than likely be forced into buying a physiology book, but you seriously don't need anything else.

[JustJoycey]

Good to know, I hadn't even thought about books and such yet, well I enjoyed chemistry in secondary but I suppose this course will show quickly how much I actually like it, still excited to start.