Pharmacy or healthcare experience is recommended and can be required for admission. Seek out volunteer or paid experiences.
The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) is required by most schools. Begin preparing for this exam well in advance. The PCAT includes one writing prompt and 192 multiple choice questions covering biology, microbiology, human anatomy and physiology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, basic biochemistry, critical reading, basic math, algebra, precalculus, calculus, and statistics and probability. A TOEFL score may also be required if English is not your primary language.
Most schools have minimum PCAT score and GPA requirements.
Most schools use a centralized application service known as PharmCAS (Pharmacy College Application Service). Schools may have supplemental applications, as well, so be sure to check with your school. Make sure you report required PCAT and TOEFL scores to PharmCAS. You will use the PharmCAS Transcript Request Form to request transcripts from all U.S. universities and colleges you attended. Some programs will require that you send foreign transcripts, supplemental applications, and AP, IB or other scores directly to them.
Letters of reference will be required from up to four individuals. Some schools will require that these letters come from certain people, such as science professors, pharmacists, or advisors. Some schools will require that letters are sent directly to them, while others will require the letters to be uploaded to PharmCAS. Advise your letter writers that they will receive electronic requests from PharmCAS.
Deadlines: PharmCAS applications open in July.
