Everything I Wish I Knew Before Applying for a Pharmacy Residency

Applying for a pharmacy residency is one of the most exciting — and stressful — chapters of your journey as a future clinician. It’s competitive, fast-paced, and full of decisions that feel bigger than anything you’ve faced in school so far.

When I applied for residency, I went in determined… but also nervous, confused, and constantly second-guessing whether I was doing things “the right way.” Looking back now, after completing a PGY-1 and helping many students through the process, there is so much I wish I had known earlier.

If you’re preparing for residency season, here are the truths, lessons, and insider tips I wish someone had told me.

1. Your CV is your first impression — and it matters more than you think

I used to think a CV was just a document where you list your experiences.Wrong.

A strong CV:

• Tells a clear story

• Highlights your strengths as a future resident

• Shows your progression

• Proves you’re ready for advanced practice

Residency programs look at hundreds of CVs. What sets you apart is clarity, structure, and strategy — not just quantity.

2. A powerful letter of intent can make or break your application

Here’s what I learned the hard way: A generic letter gets ignored. A strategic, customized letter gets noticed.

Your letter should:

• Show your personality

• Reflect your “why”

• Connect your experiences to the program’s mission

• Demonstrate what value you bring

It’s not about sounding perfect — it’s about sounding purposeful.

3. Midyear is overwhelming if you don’t have a plan

My first Midyear experience? Chaos.

So many booths. So many handouts. So many programs that sounded exactly the same.

I wish I had:

• A shortlist of programs

• Targeted questions to ask

• A plan for who to talk to

• A framework to compare programs afterward

Preparation turns Midyear from stressful to strategic.

4. Interviews are not about perfection — they’re about confidence

I used to memorize answers. Programs don’t want that.

They want to see:

• How you think

• How you problem-solve

• How you communicate

• How you fit their culture

Practicing real interview questions (especially clinical ones) would have saved me so much stress.

5. You don’t need to do everything — but you DO need to do the right things

Not every applicant has 10 leadership positions, multiple publications, and years of hospital experience. You don’t need all that.

What you do need is:

• Alignment with the program

• A clear story

• Good communication skills

• Self-awareness

• Professionalism

Residency programs want strong residents, not perfect robots.

6. Most students feel lost — you’re not alone

Something I wish I had heard earlier: Everyone is confused their first time applying.

The process is complicated. There are unwritten rules.And it feels like everyone else knows what they’re doing.

They don’t. I promise.

And that’s exactly why I created the SECURED course.

After going through the stress, confusion, and pressure myself — and after helping so many students — I realized something important:

Residency applicants don’t fail because they’re not smart. They fail because no one taught them the roadmap.

That’s what SECURED gives you.

Inside the course, you get:

• Tips, tricks, and insider strategies

• Step-by-step guidance through the entire residency process

• Tools, templates, timelines, and checklists

• CV and letter of intent support

• Midyear prep advice

• Interview coaching

• And over 100 practice questions with answers

It’s the resource I wish existed when I was a student — something clear, supportive, and practical.

Final Thoughts

Applying for residency doesn’t have to be overwhelming, lonely, or confusing. With the right structure and preparation, you can feel confident, organized, and fully ready for Match Day.

And if you want a proven roadmap to help you get there, SECURED is here to guide you every step of the way.

You deserve a future you feel excited about — and residency is a powerful way to secure it.