PCAT Prep: Do It or Fail!

Of course, I am a registered pharmacist with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, now. So, I took the Pharmacy College Admission Test, also known as the dreaded PCAT. When I took the PCAT exam, you could pass the test with just the knowledge you learned from high school and your pre-pharmacy courses at an undergraduate college. There were a couple of books available you could study, but for the most part, it was not a very hard test. The hardest part was finishing the PCAT exam in the time allotted. We were only given about 30 minutes for each section with no clock in the room! I know. I forgot my watch. Doing sixty math problems in 30 minutes was pretty difficult, but I passed the test easily, about 85th percentile overall.

When I arrived at the pharmacy school, I was told by a few classmates and upper classmen that there was a book available at the time to pass the test with 99th percentile on all subjects. If you read the book tirelessly and memorized everything in it, you would pass with great ease. There were also PCAT practice exams in the book to hone your skills. I was shocked and wished that someone would have told me before I took the PCAT test what that book was. How could there be a book that not only helped you pass, but you could pass in the 99th percentile on all categories. I did not pay very close attention to what the book was or how to attain it. After all, I was already in pharmacy school.

I did not have to prepare for the PCAT or do PCAT prep, but I would have if I knew the scope of the test. Especially, if I was trying to get into pharmacy school now, I would study endlessly. It is extremely difficult to be accepted to pharmacy school now! You have to have close to a 4.0 GPA in undergraduate school and score a 75 or above on the PCAT. This is just the minimum scores! Most schools will not accept below 80 on the PCAT. I believe this book, the 2012-2013 Kaplan PCAT, and this CD course, 2012 PCAT Audio Learn, will help you pass the PCAT with great scores in every category. These PCAT prep lessons are essential to passing the test. This will allow you to master the PCAT and eventually get into a great pharmacy school. You will then begin your journey in the profession of pharmacy.

I have written recommendations for 8 students. All of them were accepted into pharmacy school. They have told me everything they had to do for the PCAT. I am trying to give you the best chance to achieve your goal of becoming a registered pharmacist by giving you the answer to the very first part, the PCAT preparation.I believe this book, 2012-2013 Kaplan PCAT, and this CD course, 2012 PCAT Audio Learn, will help you pass the PCAT with great scores in every category.

Meta Competency

Competency is defined as to be a standard based on which the performance of an individual is rated and the learning needs are evaluated on various grounds. This characteristic of an individual acts as an attribute bundle which further classifies the characteristic features of an individual, enabling him or her to deliver the best under any environment or situation. This concept is widely used for assess the various aspects of a job role. Competency plays a major role in defining the strategic decision-making process. It helps in predicting the performance on a specific standard. The various traits of individual accumulate to form, the behavioural aspect.

Measurement of competency is a complex process as it includes various aspects of one's behaviour, that includes skills, knowledge, image of self, motive, its construct and many more, each defining the conceptual end to each definition. Though it only attributes to a single trait, the meta-competency concept covers more number of characteristic features or behavioural concepts. It is used as a standard to increase the drive over numerous aspects of organization like sales and profit through appropriate judgement and identification of opportunities, goals in the development process. Widely covering numerous aspects it gives an overall evaluation of numerous distinct features of the core competencies for any specific role. This review is usually made across the organization in various jobs, levels and departments, so as to facilitate individual communication at both conceptual and practical level.

It must be understood that Meta competency is only applicable or can be used only at sections where the sub set competencies are already framed. This is useful in creating a logical connection between each and giving an evaluative paradigm under any set condition or environment for any job role or position in an organization. Though, in case additional drill into the existing job role is necessary it can be used under a well-defined strategic level. This concept demands a strategic mindset to create a conceptual and analytical framework for evaluating the various characteristics through necessary environmental scanning and trend analysis.

There are numerous disadvantages of Meta competency, though it gives an overall figure or act as a logical connection for the subset competencies. Unlike the competency mapping process, Meta competency mapping is comparatively tricky and demands appropriate knowledge over the various behavioural aspects and perspectives in connotation to the reason behind the process. This concept cannot be used to capture the overall image unless followed by two or more sub competencies. The predicted behavioural content base of any competency helps in framing up an assessment analysis model, thus creating a meaningful prediction of performance. From this one can anticipate the level and depth of this concept that leverage the growth and performance of the entire organization or business unit.