doingit4mykid

Hello: I am planning to take the NAPLEX in the next 4 to 6 months. My plan is to use the APHA to start off my studying..you know, go through each chapter 2 or three times to "get my brain in the groove", and then after the first 2 months to start focusing on the Rx Prep for my full time studying. Based on the reviews, it seems the RxPrep is the best book. I have read that the APHA is too "bulky" but I have very limited pharmacy experience, so I think in my situation it will be a good idea to start off with that, as I can certainly use the knowledge. I CERTAINLY WANT TO PASS THE NAPLEX, but I need to also be prepared to be a pharmacist in the U.S. So I plan to use my NAPLEX preparation time as time to improve myself beyond the exam. If you are in a similar situation, and this "plan" or "method" sounds good to you, based on your own situation -- I would like to form a small study group to study on Skype for 1hour to a MAXIMUM of 1.5hrs per day. We could decide the chapters in the APHA to study, and then discuss it/quiz/review together for reinforcement. Maybe we could discuss 2 chapters per day..because we would all need to study the chapters before and we would only be reviewing. Example, review main drugs, interactions, side effects, patient profiles, discuss anything a member of the group doesn't understand etc etc. After we have completed that phase, we would have a very good foundation as better pharmacists and our memeories would be refreshed and we would learn new things! Then we can go HIGH gear into using the RxPrep (which I haven't bought as yet as I want to focus on one book), to start focusing on passing the NAPLEX. This will be a waste of time for anyone who is interested in passing the NAPLEX in the next month or so...it will only be ideal for someone who has around 4 months left to sit the exam and is just starting to study..like me. It would allow some good group studying and still leave time to go back to self study. The timing of the review session would have to be worked out...as days are not an option as I work full time. Early morning or evenings would have to work (EST)...if everyday is too much, we could do 3 or 4 days per week... depending on what is ideal for the group members. Please send me a private message if you are SERIOUS and interested. I am giving myself time because I plan to pass at the 1st attempt...only serious people please. Small group works best..so it would be good to get no more than 3 people in addition to myself. Thanks and all the best. PS. I used a similar strategy for the FPGEE and it worked for me

Did you get the APHA for FPGEE as yet??

Hi All: Anyone knows any school that offers a Post Bachekor's online Pharm D program that accepts foreign grads? The ones I have seen so far require the US pharmacist licensure eg. Univ of Florida). The ones that don't require US licensure, do not offer the program online (eg. Nova Univ). Thanks

Hello: Does anyone know of any post Bachelor's Pharm D program that is offered online and open to persons with a foreign pharmacy license? All the online post Bachelor's Pharm D programs I see requires US pharmacist license. Thanks

The APHA is on Amazon for less than $100 --plus free shipping!

For those who are confused as to whether or not teh APHA is enough --- I did say it was EXCELLENT for me...but here is a suggestion: Buy the book (it was way cheaper on Barnes and Noble) than on Amazon -- study it diligently for two months. In two months you will be able to go through it more than once, because it is not bulky. Do the Pre-FPGEE after you read the book. Evaluate how you feel after diligently studying the APHA for FPGEE for 2 months and then doing the Pre-FPGEE --- If the book is not enough "for you," believe me you will know it at that time. ..unless you do not know how to evaluate yourself. At that time - if it's not enough, you can get another book. The good thing is you will still have enough time and still be educated from what you did learn in teh APHA.... but do not try studying 3 texts at once as I see some people recommend here. That is more liekly to get you confused, and make you feel overwhelmed. You will also know what area you are weak in, and for those areas you can seek additional sources... Also get very close to the blueprint....and as you feel that you have studied each specific item in the blueprint (not just each section, but each subtopic under each section), highlight or tick that item... I did that, and when you use the APHA, you will see that you cover the material. I wanted to do the exam in April 2011, and if I had bought the APHA then I would not have waited until Sept. I was following everyone that said CPR is the magic book... It is an excellent book of course, but certainly based on the exam I did in Sept (and it was my 1st time doing the FPGEE, so I don't know if it was a one in a lifetime paper) -- the details of this book is not necessary to pass the exam. Don't always think more is better. It is better to focus on what you really need. Your objective is to pass the FPGEE, keep focused on that......not to pack your head with everything in an impossible book.

I only did the TOEFL yesterday. I do not have the results as yet, so I did not say I passed it. Re your question...that was what many people typed on this forum, that the APHA is not sufficient because it does not have the diseases.... It was sufficient for me.. In MY opinion -- and it's just my opinion....the FPGEE does not FOCUS on diseases....just what was in the APHA in small details. I did not use any other book to read about diseases. I recommend studying according tp the blueprint. From my interpretation of the blueprint at the time, it was not necessary to spend a long time on specific diseases. For those who want details on diseases, the CPR might give that...but I am not sure that's needed for the FPGEE.... At the end of the day, each person must assess his/her own study style..I felt confident based on what I saw on the blueprint and what I studied in APHA... others probably don't. So for those of you planning to sit exam, read many posts and make your assessment based on different opinions, not just one. But mine is that the APHA is a very good tool for the FPGEE.

I relied on this site for some study suggestions when I planned to sit FPGEE, so I am just returning the favor. I passed the Sept 2011 FPGEE (score 117) and I would STRONGLY recommend the APHA for FPGEE. In fact, you will see where I recommended it on this forum even before I sat the exam. If I used the CPR, I would not have been successful, as in MY opinion it is very very bulky, provides way more details than is necessary for one to be successful in the exam and hard to study. This does not mean it's not an excellent book... It does mean however, that if CPR doesn't work for you, another book can. Many persons say it is impossible to pass FPGEE w/out CPR --- so not true. The APHA for FPGEE is simply written and concise, so it is very easy to study from. I answered MANY questions on the exam based on the knowledge I gained from the book. Of course, additional materials can be used...especially in areas where you feel weak, but it was my PRIMARY study material..more than 90% of all my studies. I also did the pre-FPGEE twice. It was useful for me to get a feel of the exam. I would recommed doing it once early in your studies...this informs you how to study based on the type of questions asked; and then again closer to the exam, this assesses how you've improved. You won't remember teh questions from the 1st time...at least I didn't...so it was useful for me. For those who worry about the time. The good thing about the FPGEE is that it is not a "speed" exam - the time allotted is way enough. I finished each section with a LOT of time left., Indeed, I was out of the exam about an hour before the time was up and it's not because I am bright. However, the APHA made the second section very manageable and the exam time is very generous. They want to test what you know, not how fast you can answer. For those who asked about if it's enough time to study for April. YES YES YES. You can certainly adequately prepare for the April FPGEE from now.. if you can't SERIOUSLY start studying now, try to browse and read a few pages (with APHA the chapters are short so you can read two or three chapters a day)... I was worried because I did not start studying very early, so do not let that happen to you...start at least getting in the study mode now, and then by January start getting serious... However, on average I think 2 to 3 months is okay to prepare ,,maybe more or less for different people. For those people who are considering if online course is necessary...my opinion is that it might not hurt and it depends on how you study. Some persons might rely soley on the course because they are in it..others might find that the course is too bulky (like CPR) and so is not useful for how they study/interpret materials. If one as the money and wants to do it, I think you should go ahead...at least try it. However, if you cant afford it, or study better on your own, then follow the blueprint and study the APHA 3 to 4 times (you can go through it 6 times if you start now), I studied the whole book two times because I started late and read the chapters I was weak in one or two extra times. Then read additional materials, (like on the internet)....re-read information on what you are weak in, and you can still do very well. I also sat the TOEFL yesterday..Nov 05 I passed and I was worried, you can pass too... if anyone else used APHA and was dissatisfied with it, please share too..so others can assess both opions, but for me, the BOOK was MAINLY what helped me pass. Good luck to you. I will focus on NAPLEX forum now...and for all who say it is impossible to get an inetrnship.... don't be negative! It is hard, but not impossible..I won't be negative, so I will find one.... no one said it would be easy, but be positive and plan not to give up!

Hi: I just want to follow up with the last answer. That is correct... you do not need FPGEC before doing internship in all states. (In some states you do). I know in MD, you do not even need to start FPGEE first. If you are able to get an internship in these states, then great...however, don't lose focus on the fact that you will still need to pass the TOEFL in the end. I also know someone doing internship and has not even sat the TOEFL as yet..not sure I recall the state she is in though... but it shows that it is possible. Also, for questions that can be answered by calling the Pharmacy Board, do not hesitate to do so... sometimes, you might be misinformed here....

I went through the entire book once (except the Pharmacokinetics chapter which I avoided so far because I hate Pharmacokinetics --though that's exactly why I need to read it! I am reading that chapter now). I am now in the process of going though the book a second time, I am about 40 percent through it a second time. When I do practice questions (like in the FPGEE practice exam), everything I see is familiar, which means it is in the APHA book. Don't get me wrong, even the authors say that the APHA book is meant to be used along with other materials, so I am not saying it is better than the CPR. I am just saying CPR cannot be the only way to pass, and maybe some people would benefit from trying something esle if thats not working for them. However, for persons, like myself who find the CPR too overwhelming (I would find it overwhelming and unnecessarily bulky even if I had 2 years to preapare), then the APHA is a good alternative. If you are not going to remember anything from CPR, it must be better to remember something from another book. However, if you can manage CPR, then GO FOR IT. I only started reading the APHA about one month ago, and I know if I had started to read it a long time, so I could go through it 3 SOLID times (I read slowly) then I would feel much better. For those who are reading the APHA, you can always use the CPR for topics which you think you need more information on. I think the Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics chapters should be more detailed...but then those are my weak areas, so maybe I am just being prejudice. However, when I started reading the APHA, I looked in the CPR after each chapter to compare, and while the CPR is more thorough, they both had all the same MAIN points. Good luck to you all.

Everyone say APHA is not enough -- well CPR is too much.I would learn nothing if I studied it for a year.....the APHA is the main book I have been using....I think it is a good book and it does follow the blueprint...I will see how it goes.....but I dont think the CPR is the only way to pass the exam. Just like people study it night and day and fail, I am guessing that some people pass without it..... my opinion though...don't kill me...

Hi Everyone: I am interested in finding a responsible, organized, self-driven and determined study partner in the Philadelphia area. I had planned to take the FPGEE in April but I did not, so this Sept. will be my 1st attempt. I want to take it only once, so I am planning to do some real serious studying in the next few months. I think self study is more important than anything else - however, it would help all involved to form a study group. I would like to find a study partner in the Philadelphia area so we can meet once weekly at a public library. If it is well organized it can be very effective, with us deciding on one or two topics for each week and preparing beforehand, then meeting to review and do quizzes with each other. This would just complement our private study time. I am most certainly not interested in doing this online, so please only respond if you are in my area. If someone is REALLY serious and lives even an hour away (I don't live in Philadelphia per se, I live in the suburbs), I would be willing to drive and we alternate travel each week--- though i would prefer to just meet with person/s nearby. I am not interested in a large group. 3 persons, maybe 4 maximum (if I am lucky to get even ONE :) ). I want to reiterate that I am not interested in time wasters as we have a lot to cover (but of course it does not mean we would not have a nice and relaxed study time together!:). I just mean if we study together each person must do what the group decided to cover by a certain time. If you are interested, please do not post on the forum, as I will still have to ask you to submit a private message. So would you please provide your contact number via private message. Thank you, and good luck to you all!

Litzy -- we all ask questions of persons we don't know on this forum. If we knew each other we could communicate otherwise. I ask because ALL your postings seem to be promoting this man and nothing else. Also, one of threads in which you were discussing this, was actually closed by the administrator because as they say, someone who is not in the US is posting under the pretense that they are in the US. Good for you if you are who you say you are, but you are not at home anymore. You are in the US, where freedom of speech exists. Thanks for replying. Congratulations on your high score. Take care and all the best in the future :):):):)

For those in the PA-NJ area who want to form a study group, please send me a private message. Maybe we could meet at a library one day every week and study throughout the day. We would be able to accomplish a lot. Please Please, do not send another public posting, send contact info in private message so we can proceed.WE only ahve a short time left

I am wondering why this man's name can't be typed on this forum?! If you try typing his name-- it is replaced by the term he-who-must-not-be-named, once you post it! I would love an explanation for this. That is why I put the letters u between the letters of his name. I don't know how he does that -- but if you have a real honest reputable review course, wouldn't it be a good thing to want potential applicants to talk about you? That could only mean more business. I would like some feedback on this review course. A friend told me that money has to be sent through Western Union to this man..so I just want to know if this a real valid course. I find the fact that his name can't be posted on this forum, very freaky!