May is always a busy and exciting time at the School of Pharmacy, and this year was no exception. As the summer season began, our campus was buzzing with activity—from board exam prep, exit focus groups, and the research showcase to graduation festivities and everything in between. While our graduates were deep in exam prep, our P1 and P2 students completed their finals and launched into IPPE and APPE summer rotations. We are so proud of all our students as they transition to the next phase of their professional journeys.
Welcoming Back the Class of 2025
For the first time, our graduating PharmD class spent two full weeks back on campus before walking across the stage. We kicked off their return with a celebratory lunch—a joyful gathering that welcomed them back while also bringing together faculty, staff, and all our P1 and P2 students to mark the end of a successful academic year.
Throughout their time on campus, students received comprehensive guidance on board exam strategies and detailed information on how to navigate pharmacist licensure across different states. These sessions helped ease the transition from student to professional while providing the tools they need to succeed.
A Realistic Board Exam Experience
To simulate the testing environment, students participated in a full-length Mock NAPLEX exam of 225 questions over six hours, complete with check-in procedures to mimic the experience at a testing center. Results from the mock exam were then used to form targeted study groups.
These groups engaged in three days of intensive NAPLEX prep, working through themed question sets curated from the RxPrep test bank. Students completed each problem set individually and then revisited the same set with their study group, allowing them to engage and learn from their peers. Each session increased in pace to build stamina and simulate exam-day conditions. Importantly, each day included at least one problem set dedicated to pharmacy calculations, ensuring students practiced this critical component consistently and comprehensively. Faculty facilitators provided real-time support, offering strategies and insights for tackling complex and varied question types.
Measuring Readiness: NAPLEX Advantage Exam
To wrap up the prep experience, students sat for the new NAPLEX Advantage Exam, developed by NABP. This assessment includes 100 previously used questions and provides a scaled score and performance report, giving students a clear understanding of their readiness at the time of graduation and helping them focus their final study efforts leading up to exam day. The school will also use these results to compare with the cohort’s actual NAPLEX performance as those results become available in the coming months.
All 91³Ô¹ÏÍø the Law: MPJE Power Session
We didn’t forget about law! A full day was dedicated to MPJE preparation, ensuring our graduates are also equipped to develop a study plan covering regulatory requirements and laws at both the federal and state levels—no matter where they’ll be licensed.
A Special "Thank You" From Our Dean
As Dean of the School of Pharmacy, I would like to sincerely thank Walgreens for sponsoring our board exams preparation activities during the Finals week. Your generosity allows us to enhance support for our students, further our mission, and provide valuable resources that contribute to their success. Partnerships like yours make a lasting impact, and we are truly grateful.
If other partners are interested in learning more about opportunities to support out students and the School of Pharmacy, please feel free to contact me at marketa.marvanova@pacificu.edu.
- Written by:
Brandon Nuziale, PharmD, RPh, BCACP | Assistant Dean for Student Affairs & Associate Professor | School of Pharmacy
Marketa Marvanova, PharmD, PhD, BCGP, BCPP, FASCP | Dean & Professor | School of Pharmacy