Preparing for the Pharmacy Admissions Process

There has never been a better time for students to consider a rewarding career in pharmacy. The demand for trained pharmacy professionals has increased due to the rapid growth of the health care and pharmaceutical industries, especially for the growing elderly population. The number of pharmacists in health care services is also increasing as pharmacists become more actively involved in drug therapy decision-making for patients of all ages.

LENGTH OF PROGRAM
The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degree program requires at least 2-years of specific undergraduate college study followed by 4-academic years (or 3-calendar years) of professional pharmacy study.

The majority of programs accept students into the professional pharmacy degree program after the completion of the college course prerequisites. The majority of students enter a pharmacy program with 3 or more years of college experience. Some pharmacy admission offices require or give preference to applicants who have previously earned a baccalaureate (B.S./B.A.) degree. Individuals who hold a bachelor's degree must still complete the full 4-academic years (or 3-calendar) years of pharmacy study.

HIGH SCHOOL COURSES
A sound education in science and math is essential in the preparation for the study of pharmacy. High school science classes are helpful in preparing students for the advanced science courses required in the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree curriculum. Courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics are especially desirable. High schools students considering a career in pharmacy should also have good written and verbal communication skills. Prospective student pharmacists are encouraged to take college preparatory classes in areas such as literature, history, government, and humanities in order to become well-rounded individuals. These skills will help create an educational foundation on which to grow. Contrary to popular belief, Latin, while helpful in many aspects, is not essential for admission to pharmacy school.

COLLEGE MAJOR
You are not required to major in "pre-pharmacy" in college to be eligible for admission to pharmacy school. Chemistry is the most common major for pharmacy applicants because the course prerequisites for pharmacy are incorporated into the standard chemistry curriculum. Student pharmacists, however, come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds, including those who majored in English, business, communications, biology, etc. If the pharmacy prerequisite courses are not required as part of your undergraduate major, you will need to complete these courses as electives.

COLLEGE COURSE REQUIREMENTS
The classes required for admission into a pharmacy program vary significantly from one institution to the next. Due to the variations in admission requirements and procedures among the colleges and schools of pharmacy, it is advisable to research different pharmacy programs. Visit the PharmCAS school pages for course requirements. School-specific information is also available in the AACP annual publication, "Pharmacy School Admission Requirements" (PSAR).

GRADES
Most pharmacy institutions have minimum grade point average (GPA) and test score requirements. Due to the high number of applications received in recent years, the minimum GPA may be quite low as compared to the average GPA of applicants offered admission. Policies regarding forgiveness of repeated coursework vary by institution. Visit the PSAR Table 8 for list of average GPAs for the most recent entering class.

RETURNING ADULT STUDENTS
A growing number of pharmacy applicants are returning adult students who are interested in changing careers. Your previous work experience may or may not be a factor in the admissions process. Generally, pharmacy schools do not offer accelerated pharmacy programs for individuals who hold a degree or have work experience in a related health care field. Admissions offices may require that your science and math college coursework be less than 5-10 years old, depending on the institutional policy. If your prerequisite courses were taken more than 5 years prior, be sure to check with the pharmacy admissions office directly to determine if you must re-take the classes to be eligible for admission. Admission offices do not consider your age in the evaluation of your application.

PREFERENCE FOR IN-STATE RESIDENTS
Some U.S. pharmacy institutions give preference to in-state (resident) students. Out-of-state (non-resident) and foreign applicants may vie for a limited number of positions or may be ineligible for admission, depending on institutional and state policies. Private pharmacy institutions may offer out-of-state and foreign applicants a greater number of positions within the program as compared to state-supported, public institutions.

PCAT AND OTHER TESTS
Approximately two-thirds of all pharmacy programs require applicants to submit scores from a standardized test known as the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). To determine which colleges and schools require the PCAT, review Table 9 of the PSAR handbook or the PharmCAS "at-a-glance" table. Minimum PCAT scores may be required for admission consideration.

In lieu or in addition to the PCAT, some pharmacy admission offices may also require you to submit Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), SAT, ACT, GRE or other test scores. International (non-U.S.) applicants, if considered for admission, may be required to send Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or other test scores to demonstrate English language proficiency.

PHARMACY-RELATED EXPERIENCE
Pharmacy colleges encourage or require applicants to have volunteer or paid experience working with patients in a pharmacy or health-related setting (hospital, nursing home, etc.). On-going work or volunteer experience in a pharmacy setting may be an important factor in the admissions process. If you are unable to gain work or volunteer experience directly related to pharmacy, contact your selected pharmacy admission offices to determine what other experiences they might accept to demonstrate your knowledge of the profession.

LETTERS OF REFERENCE
Many pharmacy degree programs require 1-4 letters of recommendation (also known as "letters of evaluation" or "letters of recommendation") as part of the pharmacy admissions process. Schools may require you to submit letters from particular evaluators, such as a pharmacist, professor, or academic advisor. If letters are required, select individuals who know you well and can speak to your maturity, dependability, dedication, compassion, communication-skills, leadership, and any related experience in the field. Many colleges and schools participate in the PharmCAS online reference process. Be sure to review the admission requirements on the individual School Pages for instructions.

CLASS RANK
Colleges and schools of pharmacy, in considering applicants for admission, may give attention to the relative position of students within their class-near the top, in the middle group, or near the bottom. Colleges of pharmacy are interested in enrolling students who have demonstrated exceptional work in school and potential for contributing to the profession.

DEADLINES
Apply early! Some institutions are on a "rolling admissions" process, and give special consideration to applicants who submit applications earlier in the admissions cycle. Review the PharmCAS "at-a-glance" Deadlines table.

INTERVIEW
The interview format varies by institution. Pharmacy colleges may require you to speak with a single faculty member, a student, a pharmacist, a panel of interviewers, or participate in an orientation program.

If invited, you should be prepared to discuss why you have chosen to pursue a career in the pharmacy profession and how you perceive the role of the pharmacist in health care. Those who have researched and gained direct exposure to the profession will be better prepared to respond to the interview questions. During these interviews, you may be rated on your oral skills, how you present yourself and interact in a group, your knowledge of the profession of pharmacy, your ability to solve problems, and your motivation to purse a career in pharmacy. Your written communication skills may be measured with an on-campus essay exercise.

Professional attire is recommended for the interview. You are discouraged from wearing jeans, shorts, t-shirts, tank tops, tennis shoes, or other attire that is considered inappropriate in a business environment. Bring personal identification (e.g., driver's license), your letter of invitation from the college, and a pen. Be sure to contact the pharmacy admissions office immediately if you are unable to attend the interview on time or as scheduled, or if you are no longer wish to be considered for admission.

OTHER CRITERIA
In addition to academic preparation, you should evaluate your personal qualifications to meet pharmacy's demands for judgment, dependability, and conscientious performance. Pharmacists must be able to pay attention to detail. As with others on the health care team, the pharmacist's decisions and actions effect human life and well being. Pharmacists, by law, are entrusted with the proper handling and dispensing of potentially dangerous and habit-forming substances. They must have high ethical standards, communicate well with patients and other health care providers, maintain reliable records, and be knowledgeable about existing and new medications on the market to ensure each patient has optimal drug therapy results.