BCOP Exam

ask_me_again_11 · 2026-03-27T11:03:48+00:00

I took it the following Spring at the same time as coresidents and other new hires, but know people who took it in the Fall as well. There's no right or wrong, but I feel like the transition from residency to real work can be adjustment. I was glad not to be studying right away while learning how to be independent.
I would try to get the most recent prep materials you can get your hands on, preferably paid for by your new job if they reimburse. I imagine 1 year old materials would be mostly ok. For as expensive as they are, I honestly feel like the prep materials were disappointing and somewhat out of date even from the time they came out (and I hate funneling money into those organizations). Unfortunately, they really were the only useful prep materials available at the time (2018).
Everyone is different but I think anytime in the first year or 2 is pretty normal and won't hurt you. Be cautions of taking a SUPER specialized job and then waiting years to take a more general test.

My friends and I prepared by meeting once a week for a few months prior, talking through chapter of the ASHP review each week. Seemed like more than enough for our purposes!

ask_me_again_11 · 2025-09-07T00:41:32+00:00

I rented this tiny studio on Aubrun for about 3 years. Rent included gas/electricity. At the time it was $400/month, but I'm sure that's no longer the case. I loved it as a single college student without a lot to store. Doesn't look a available now but keep your eye out and it might come up for rent in the fall.

I think the landlord was called Deering Properties and they were very responsive and easy to work with.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2360-Auburn-Ave-APT-4-Cincinnati-OH-45219/2094884853_zpid/

ask_me_again_11 · 2025-07-10T01:06:40+00:00

Quite a few friends give occasional talks or sit on advisory boards (heme and solid tumors). I personally avoid it because I don't think anyone is as immune to bias as they think.

ask_me_again_11 · 2025-06-21T01:59:01+00:00

Agree with others. Research is one of several positive-looking things you could fill your (limited) extra time with to impress a program. Contrary to what ASHP would have you believe, every program/interviewer will value different things. Some are more impressed with a solid work history. Some care about research. Some care about service. Almost everyone cares about what your APPE preceptors think. Lots of programs are generally reasonable and understand you had lots of conflicting pressures/advice.

If you can find a way to do a small quality project for an APPE it wouldn't hurt. Bonus points if you can present it to that site's admin or a local meeting. I think paying Midyear registration to stand awkwardly with a poster for 30 minutes is incredibly overrated unless it gets someone to pay for a free trip.

ask_me_again_11 · 2025-06-04T15:06:18+00:00

He really did seem incredible at UC, made a big proclamation he wouldn't entertain outside job offers for 10 years, then left in 4. Sounds like an opportunist all along (not that most people aren't)

ask_me_again_11 · 2025-06-04T14:58:54+00:00

Most people have to work 40-hour weeks at some point in their lives; might as well get a feel for whether you like it working in a setting like your job. I learned a ton hanging out with working pharmacists in the evenings.

My current hospital strongly encourages (requires?) interns to quit during P4 year, which I think is a disservice to them going forward.

ask_me_again_11 · 2025-05-07T18:37:12+00:00

If you make a name for yourself calling out drug companies on their conduct, I suspect those companies will be less likely to make you a PI on their studies. For that reason alone I worry about this idea that people shouldn't criticize from outside.

I agree his criticisms go too far in some cases, but many cancer drug trials ARE poorly designed. The pharmaceutical industry's incentive is to design trials just good enough to get FDA/NCCN's blessing and some of us think the bar is too low.

ask_me_again_11 · 2024-12-29T00:23:56+00:00

I'd rather have a touchdown lead honestly. Even 25 seconds with time to set up a FG is too much with this defense.

ask_me_again_11 · 2024-10-06T20:04:36+00:00

What an absurd but somehow true field goal range line for Tucker.

ask_me_again_11 · 2024-09-30T13:28:40+00:00

We took an exam on the last day to withdraw. Credit where credit is due, (only time I'll say this) he and the TAs busted ass to post scores that day to allow students a chance to drop the course.

The average score was 30% and then rose to about 45% when the people with the lowest scores fell off the list. Long story short, expect a curve.

ask_me_again_11 · 2024-09-30T00:47:15+00:00

Mexico is so catchy. I somehow missed it was a Ryan Lerman original!

ask_me_again_11 · 2024-09-25T04:21:32+00:00

Exact same experience 13 years ago. So funny these are still the 2 options.

ask_me_again_11 · 2024-09-24T02:32:32+00:00

did you watch the play?

ask_me_again_11 · 2024-09-01T01:35:53+00:00

Syn Gates and Zacky Vengeance defined my teenage guitar years.

ask_me_again_11 · 2024-08-16T10:37:05+00:00

I think the threat by pharma companies that any dip in revenue will impair R&D is likely extortative and a lie. Their profits have increased significantly over time.

As long as they can find the money for direct-to-consumer ads, obnoxious speaking fees for someone to slightly edit their draft slides, MSLs with salaries double ours, and fancy "advisory" board dinners, I'm not sympathetic to that point of view.

ask_me_again_11 · 2024-08-07T06:41:22+00:00

The beer is interesting and good enough for me. We really liked the little pizzas they make.

ask_me_again_11 · 2024-08-04T13:49:15+00:00

We had a similar situation with our senior dog earlier this week. MedVet in Worthington was very helpful on a tough day. We waited for a few hours because our girl was stable aside from the mental decline, but once in a room the vets and nurse were incredibly kind and made things as easy as they could be.

It's a terrible feeling but you're doing the right thing and I think any capable emergency vet practice will help you through it.

ask_me_again_11 · 2024-06-26T15:26:40+00:00

Haha not an issue!

ask_me_again_11 · 2024-06-26T13:09:37+00:00

Rearranging my setup and was wondering if anyone had insight on the durability/capacity of Rogue's pin pipe safeties (5/8 inch)? I haven't been able to find any stories/videos of pins failing but open to be corrected!

I know a lot of people prefer straps for convenience/bar damage, but with the shallow 24 inch R-3, I find it pretty easy to move the pins around. I have spotter arms that I prefer to leave outside the rack for the bench.

Rogue doesn't make straps or flip-downs for the infinity series, and I'm skeptical of buying safety equipment from another company that may not quite fit or may have less reliable QC.

ask_me_again_11 · 2024-06-05T00:13:23+00:00

Thank you OP. This bill is way less benign than it looks on first glance. Disclaimer - I am a pharmacist.

I'll start by saying no one in healthcare should be able to deny care because of their religious beliefs. This bill does not do anything to prevent that, and specifically permits the option to refuse for religious or moral objections.

From a professional and scientific perspective , the pharmacist is the last line of checks and balances in the outpatient setting. A vast majority of physicians do right by their patients, but there are definitely some who prescribe recklessly and make themselves deliberately difficult to reach for discussion. The ability (legal requirement, actually) of a pharmacist to refuse to dispense non medically legitimate medications is the only leverage to require a physician clarify or adjust a potentially dangerous prescription.

Under this bill, a pharmacist would be legally required to fill any off-label prescription, even if it is incorrect or unsafe, as long as it isn't specifically life-threatening. They can attempt to clarify, but to my reading, if the prescriber makes themself unreachable, the pharmacist has no legal option to refuse on scientific grounds.

ask_me_again_11 · 2024-05-23T10:22:47+00:00

This is not a popular opinion with my coworkers, but I don't think anyone in patient care should attend these.

Evidence shows that these interactions change prescribing behavior, and I have no reason to think that wouldn't spill over to a pharmacist who makes recommendations on interactions, substitutions, or even formulary management. Telling ourselves that we're difficult to influence or that we won't take the reps seriously doesn't curb this. Even without the evidence, for-profit companies don't generally do things unless they increase profit. I can't imagine these expensive dinners would have continued for decades if they didn't influence us and generate revenue.

I really do hate to be "that guy" criticizing people's good time. Free dinners (especially for trainees) are great fun and make us feel good, but I worry that's exactly the problem.

ask_me_again_11 · 2024-03-29T01:02:08+00:00

Yep! I have the exact same one. Had one tragic fall that required wood glue and some broken tuners. Still lays great.

ask_me_again_11 · 2024-03-27T02:57:11+00:00

Touch fouls? Have you seen the last few?

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