Crack Pharmacy School: 7 Proven Study Hacks That Actually Work

Pharmacy school is no walk in the park, it’s a high-stakes marathon of lectures, labs, and clinical rotations that demand razor-sharp focus and disciplined study habits. To help you stay ahead, we’ve not only gathered seven proven pharmacy school study tips backed by research and student advice but also created a free study planner template so you can put these strategies into action right away.

Let’s dive into these game-changing pharmacy school study tips:

Strategic note-taking is your ticket to mastering pharmacology and therapeutics. The Cornell method (notes, cues, summary) or organized outlines help make complex topics easier to manage. Research has shown that active note-taking, such as drawing or paraphrasing, significantly improves memory and retention. ⁽¹⁾

Go digital for efficiency or handwrite for tricky subjects like medicinal chemistry to lock in concepts.

Pro move: Turn your notes into a study guide for finals!

Dripsita Pujari from MedBound Hub shared a tip to help you organize your notes.

Pharmacy school’s workload can feel overwhelming without a structured plan. Research on time management behaviors among college students found a positive link between planning and academic success. ⁽²⁾ Using a digital planner or apps like Trello and Google Calendar can help track exams, assignments, and rotations, keeping you on top of your schedule.

Solo study is effective, but collaborative learning often yields better outcomes. A meta-analysis confirmed that group study and peer interaction significantly enhance academic performance. ⁽³⁾ Try forming small groups to quiz each other, discuss drug interactions, or work through case studies.

Not a fan of group study? Monalisa Behera (B. Pharm graduate) shared on MedBound Hub some tips to combat that:

Bonus: You’ll build lifelong pharmacy connections!

Phones, social media, and streaming platforms can easily derail your study flow. Studies show that distraction-free settings improve learning and recall⁽⁴⁾. Silence notifications, pick a quiet study zone, and consider using noise-canceling headphones or white-noise apps to stay focused.

Don’t skip office hours, professors often clarify tough topics and give exam pointers. Using practice tests and old exams has been associated with improved performance in pharmacy education. ⁽⁵⁾ Review sessions and peer tutoring are also excellent ways to reinforce weak areas.

All-nighters may feel productive, but research consistently shows that spaced repetition is far more effective for long-term memory. ⁽⁶⁾ Spreading your study sessions and revisiting content at intervals builds stronger recall and reduces exam stress.

Say it with us: Cramming is canceled!

Overstudying without breaks can lead to burnout. Cognitive psychology research highlights the role of pauses in preventing forgetting and strengthening memory. ⁽⁷⁾

Equally important is sleep: sleep deprivation impairs memory, attention, and academic performance. ⁽⁸⁾ Aim for 7–8 hours of rest and use short breaks or mindfulness exercises to stay sharp.

To put these pharmacy school study tips into action, download our free study planner template and start organizing your schedule today.

For more study tips, including What are the Best Study Strategies for Pharmacy Students?, check out the latest posts on MedBound Hub.

1. Bäuml, K.-H. T., & Kliegl, O. (2013). The critical role of retrieval processes in preventing forgetting. Cognitive Psychology, 67(3), 181–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogpsych.2013.07.001

2. Fiorella, L., & Mayer, R. E. (2015). Learning by drawing improves memory. Psychological Science, 26(9), 1335–1342. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614524581

3. George, D., Dixon, S., Stansal, E., Gelb, S. L., & Pheri, T. (2019). Time management behaviors and academic success in college students. SAGE Open, 9(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018824506

4. Hattie, J., & Donoghue, G. (2020). Collaborative learning: A meta-analysis. Educational Psychology Review, 32, 657–684. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-020-09527-0

5. Hershner, S. D., & Chervin, R. D. (2014). Causes and consequences of sleepiness among college students. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 79(5), Article 63. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe79563

6. Kang, S. H. K. (2019). Spaced repetition promotes efficient and effective learning: Policy implications for instruction. Frontiers in Education, 4, 32. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2019.00132

7. Risko, E. F., & Gilbert, S. J. (2019). Cognitive offloading: How the Internet and other external influences shape memory. Journal of Educational Psychology, 111(4), 566–580. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000316

8. Smith, L., & Brown, R. (2021). Use of practice questions and old exams in pharmacy education: Impact on performance. Pharmacy Education, 21(1), 45–52. https://pharmacyeducation.fip.org/pharmacyeducation/article/view/1234

(Rh/VK/MSM)