worried about calculations? foundation year

[sharewic1]

hi i am a US student entering foundation year program at KEELE. i already know my degree has less value on the Uk grading system. and the fact i was accepted with only a few biology and anatomy course but no chemistry.

i am worried about calculations. i have to make 70% passing to get into the program. are the calculations really hard. i am sure it it doable. i am hardworking. what subject should i be worried the most about. i am thinking chemistry. and books you might suggest to a mature student to get me into right mode of thinking.


i would ask the school for a suggested reading list but i have not completly made up mind about pharmacy.

[Nik]

i am hardworking

That says it all. If you can put your head to it, then the calcs should be fine. The types of calculations they teach during the degree are kind of chemistry orientated (don't expect stuff on enthalpies or Gibbs free energy though). Have you actually started the program at Keele yet ? If you are starting next year I doubt whether they will give you calc questions on dosages, infusion rates. If you do decide to do the degree, the following book is worth getting for calc practice:

Introduction to Pharmaceutical Calculations

[electra316]

Hiya,

I did the foundation year at Keele two years ago and Im now on the MPharm proper. The maths in foundation year is a little hard going at times, especially as you dont see the clinical relevance at the time- now Ive started the pharmacy calculations and MPharm chemistry I can see why we did what we did in foundation year!
I expect you have Barbara for maths? She is fab, she will go through everything nice and slowly and is always available for extra help if you need it. I actually bumped into her the other day and she offered me help with my dilutions calculations and Im not really her student any more!

The book they recommend for the maths part of the FY course is "foundation maths", can't remember the author off the top of my head but if you put that into Amazon Im pretty sure its the top one, its a big orange book anyway. Its really useful and covers everything from the lectures.

In the foundation year its just pure maths- logs, calculus, probability, working with fractions etc. Might not seem like bags of fun, but Im one term into the MPharm and Im already seeing its application, as I say particularly in chemistry- and actually enthalpies and Gibbs is covered in the FY in the second semester Fun times!

I should also say that Im a mature student and my A-levels are all in arts subjects- I only have science and maths GCSE (high school qualifications). The 70% seems scary, but there is a lot of help and support given and if you are willing to put the work in, there is no reason you shouldnt make it through.

Best of luck

[Nik]

Yeah much better advice

but Im one term into the MPharm and Im already seeing its application, as I say particularly in chemistry- and actually enthalpies and Gibbs is covered in the FY in the second semester Fun times!

Ah the good old days of horrendously boring chemistry (don't let that put you off sharewic1)

[sharewic1]

thanks for your replies. i am looking for those books right now.

[sharewic1]

how do u like keele? socially. dorms.ect.? are there activities.

[sharewic1]

How did u like KEELE ? socially, dorms, are there activities?

I did the foundation year at Keele two years ago and Im now on the MPharm proper. The maths in foundation year is a little hard going at times, especially as you dont see the clinical relevance at the time- now Ive started the pharmacy calculations and MPharm chemistry I can see why we did what we did in foundation year!

[electra316]

Im probably not the right person to ask about dorms and activities. Im married with two young kids so my social life is a little limited and I dont live on campus

The campus is lovely, the staff are great and I am really really enjoying the course.

The people who I know who live in dorms don't seem to have any complaints, and there always seems to be something going on at the SU. Sorry I can't be much more help than that.

[student786]

Hi,
i'm considering applying for the keele pharmacy foundation year. I'm 18 but am currently studying:

Applied ICT (Double) AS grade (AA)
Applied Business AS grade (B)
GCSE Core science

I have e-mialed the admissions department...
Do you think i will be considered with these qualifications
P.s i have also undertaken work experience at a community pharmacy

Your help would be much appreciated,
Thank

[electra316]

I can't remember the exact entry requirements for foundation year, Im pretty sure you need gcse maths grade c or above and sciences. I got in with maths gcse grade c, sciences grade aa and then 4 alevels in arts (drama and the like) at grade e (I liked the pub) so I think you should be fine, especially as you already have pharmacy experience. Im third year MPharm now (yep this thread is quite old!) and I have to say that the foundation year has proved to be invaluable, so definately go for it.