okay so what do i do now?

[DavidS]

while lots of other people on the course get summer placements every year.

so what are they doing that you are not doing. Ask for their help. Get them to interview you. Ask to see copies of their letters of application.

[Ama2007]

i tell you what..

my friend who got accepted by boots and co-op and lloyds never comes into lectures and never meets deadlines so i dont know what i am missing on ,plus i ve done 2 weeks in hospital recently as voluntary but it has no use so far.

basically i ve decided to give up...relax ,have fun thats the best thing i caaaaan do.

its not my fault that most of my relatives are dentists and doctors so i cant get into contact with close pharmacy relatives to get me a placement.

so chill pharmacy_student

[johnep]

If one of your Dr relatives has scripts dispensed at a pharmacy, then they will be anxious to keep him/her happy. Let them request on your behalf.
johnep

[DavidS]

my friend who got accepted by boots and co-op and lloyds never comes into lectures and never meets deadlines so i dont know what i am missing on

Well, for goodness sake, s/he's just the one to ask. Just think if you can model his/her method of presentation at interviews, and with your steadiness, you would be unbeatable.

In any case, there must be others?

Have fun, sure, but don't give up. (you won't really have any fun if you just give up). It ISN'T hopeless.

And it IS your responsibility, even if it isn't your fault.

[Pharmanaut]

... never comes into lectures and never meets deadlines so i dont know what i am missing on.

Sounds like your friend is really serious about getting a pharmacy degree then.

[pharmacy_student]

I appreciate the advice DavidS, but I don't even make it to the interview stage and I can't change the pharmacy experience I have (2 weeks voluntary in a community) or my employment history. So I don't think there's much I can do to change my CV. I'm on a low 2:2 at the moment. So that could be an issue, but I don't think employers look at grades for summer placements.

JohnEP do you know anyone who I could get in contact with for a summer placement. I think you're local to me. I used to live in Barking until I was 12 years old, then I moved to Ilford. I think you're familiar with both areas looking at your previous posts.

I already spent last summer dressed in a suit with copies of my CV trying to get pharmacy work experience. I approached every single pharmacy I could find in Barking, Thames View, Seven Kings, Goodymayes, Barkingside, Gants Hill and East Ham. After more than 50 rejections, a pharmacy gave me some work experience. But it was only for 2 weeks and the dispenser was keen on me working at the till. So I didn't learn that much about the law and dispensing side of pharmacy.

I'm going to apply for Morrisons and try to apply for a place with a high demand for pharmacists. Does anyone know where I'm most likely to get a placement? I'm thinking of applying to the North East of England as there is a lack of pharmacy schools there. But they also have the lowest density of pharmacies. So I don't know if that would make it more competitive.

I would appreciate any advice I could get. Thank you.

[Ama2007]

thanks for the advice,
i will try to speak to my local hoapital pharmacy today!

[Ama2007]

Sounds like your friend is really serious about getting a pharmacy degree then.

sure she is

[johnep]

Probably 20 years since I visited Ilford, I worked as a Saturday boy at Boots in the High Street from 1950 and then was apprenticed there 1952-54. All the time I was at uni, I worked at the branch 717 Saturdays and holidays.

Well over 50 years since I visited Barking, was in 6th form at Barking Abbey School. My name in gold somewhere there.

Virtually only place left with shortage of pharmacists is here in East Anglia. I would suggest contacting Lloyds. They have an area office in Thetford. Visit Lloyds web site.

While at uni, I worked at May & Baker, Dagenham for three months during first year vacation. M&B taken over by Rhone Poulenc, not sure who owns it now. Look into yellow pages for manufacturing chemists. Also AAH at Romford and Martindales at Harold Wood.

If it is any comfort, US students also have problems obtaining placements.
johnep

[yu5uf]

I'm in the same position. 3rd year student. Rejected by boots, lloyds, rowlands, manor, tesco, sainsbury, many hospitals etc. Applied for every single summer placement I could find on the internet and have been rejected every year. I applied outside of London this year because I thought it would be less competitive, but still no sucess. It's depressing spending so long applying to places and getting nothing, while lots of other people on the course get summer placements every year.

I sympathise for you may friend, it falls heavily with luck... i actually got a placement this summer with Guys (finally after applying the previous years) then later just b4 my placement started I found out that I was terminated off the MPharm course. So in the end even the placement wasnt meant to be for me.
If you are looking for summer placement this year than try contacting hospitals directly. Make sure you e-mail or call the person in charge of the summer placements or pre-reg programme.
Lewisham Hospital may still have places. If you get in touch before the end of jan you may strike some luck. emphasise that you are willing to work wothout pay and really want the experience some smaller hospital which do not have summer placement schemes may take you on.
This is not much help to the original poster since not regarding pre-reg...

I have many friends who are applying for pre-reg still. As mentioned do try independents. If you want to stay in London then try applying to pharmacies out of your Local area. South London have many Community pharmacies which are regularly recruiting, Have a look in the PJ you may find pre reg ads.

Good Luck