Peer Advisor Blog Posts

Hello and welcome Class of 2028!

My name is Daniel Oronoz and I am currently a second-year pharmacy student at Marshall B. Ketchum University (MBKU). Coming into pharmacy school, one of the skills that you will need to gain, if you haven’t already, is time management. Balancing school, work, social life, personal life, and relationships can be tough to manage but I believe that it is very doable. Here are 3 tips to help you manage your time efficiently as a pharmacy student.

First off, congratulations on getting into grad school! Welcome to MBKU!

Going to graduate school is a daunting feat for anyone, particularly when there is a move involved. For me, moving to California was especially scary since I had only been to the mainland twice before — I had never even been away from the islands for much longer than 2 weeks either. Such a big move is life changing for anyone moving from a small town.

First and foremost, congratulations on your acceptance, and welcome to the MBKU family!

PA school is an exciting time where you will build lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories. It sometimes feels like you’re in a bubble, shielded from the outside world when you’re in PA school, but I think it’s essential to take a step back and maintain relationships outside of school, too. I wanted to share a little about my experience in PA school and tips that helped me maintain and strengthen my long-distance relationship with my significant other, so here it goes.

Good day to all of the incoming class of 2028.

During my first year at SCCO, I commuted to Fullerton from San Clemente every day, which ended up being about 45 minutes on the road each way.

Here are some tips I used to make the best of my commute!

Hi future students of MBKU, congratulations on your acceptance!

I’m an out-of-state student who drove here all the way from Houston, TX the summer before my first year. I remember being really overwhelmed by how much there was to do as I got ready to move, so I put together a list of some of the things I learned to hopefully help you all out.

So, you made it to graduate school. Congratulations, that’s amazing! Making it this far already says a lot about your determination and you should be proud.

As we go about the school year, you’ll experience a ton of great times and a lot of challenging ones as well. You’ll come to find that this is the nature of grad school–it’s not easy. But just because it can be hard, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible! The most important thing is to keep going! To help, here are some of the things I’ve found that keep me focused and determined.

Get “Distracted” (Intentionally)

Congratulations on getting into PA school! Here are 5 things I wish I knew before starting:

1. Make a schedule and try to stick to it. Write out your priorities and then find a way to fit them in. Sleep, health, relaxation, time with loved ones… it’s a marathon, not a sprint! Make sure you pause and reflect from time to time to remind yourself of all you have accomplished. PA school is not for the faint of heart and you are making sacrifices to be here.

Embarking on my journey at MBKU College of Pharmacy is akin to setting sail on a vast ocean of knowledge, challenges, and immense rewards.

In the whirlwind of lectures and exams, it’s easy to lose sight of the shore - your personal well-being and life outside academics. Yet, maintaining a balanced life is not just advisable; it's essential for success and fulfillment. Although I am still learning and growing every day, here are some ways in which I try my best to maintain balance as an MBKU student. 

Welcome to Marshall B. Ketchum University.

I would like to extend my congratulations and best wishes to the students at the Southern California College of Optometry and the School of Physician Assistant Studies and wish you luck in all your future endeavors. However, I want to extend a warm welcome to the incoming class of 2027 to the College of Pharmacy.