Pre-Pharmacy | Health Professions Advising | BYU-Idaho

# Pre-Pharmacy

Academic Preparation

Extracurricular Preparation

Testing Preparation

Application Preparation

Application Timeline

International Students

Academic Preparation

Extracurricular Preparation

Testing Preparation

Application Preparation

Application Timeline

International Students

Academic Preparation

Extracurricular Preparation

Testing Preparation

Application Preparation

Application Timeline

International Students

## Academic Preparation Overview

Many pharmacy schools do not require earning a Bachelor's degree before matriculating but do require you to meet prerequisite requirements, which can vary from school to school. We do recommend earning a Bachelor's degree, in the circumstance you decide pharmacy is not the right choice for you. See ****Required and Recommended Courses**** below to learn which BYU-Idaho courses can meet pharmacy school prerequisite requirements. Pharmacy schools do not have a preference regarding your choice of major, so study something you love!

### Required and Recommended Courses

The guide is designed for applying to a range of pharmacy schools. ****It is not a comprehensive list.**** Requirements may vary by school. See a Health Professions Advisor if you have additional class planning questions.

Pharmacy School Prerequisites (PDF)

### AP Credits

Check with individual schools to see if they accept Advanced Placement (AP) credits earned in high school towards their prerequisites. AP credit is acceptable for General Education requirements and other degree requirements.

### Grading Policies and GPA Requirements

- ****GPA****--Pharmacy schools generally look at three GPAs: Overall GPA, Science GPA, and All Other (Non-Science) GPA.

 - Generally, the ****minimum**** GPA required for Overall, Science, and all Non-Science is 3.0 but may be higher or lower depending on the school.
 - ****To be most competitive, strive to earn at least a 3.4-3.6 GPA.****
- ****Withdrawals****--W's should be used ****only**** for emergencies, although W's will not affect your GPA.
- ****Repeated/Retaken Courses****--****EVERY**** grade for ****ALL**** attempts at a course will be included in your GPA calculations when you apply.
- ****CLEP Credit & Correspondence Study****--Not acceptable as part of the pre-pharmacy curriculum.
- ****AP Credits****--Generally, students must take coursework beyond introductory classes waived by AP, but may be accepted by individual schools.

### Preparing for Letters of Recommendation

When it is time to apply to pharmacy school, you can submit up to 4 letters of recommendation. It is important to keep this in mind as you begin your academic preparation. Your letters should support your application by speaking to your academic ability, your commitment to service, leadership, teamwork, reliability, and resilience.

****Collecting Letters****

As your prepare to collect your letters of recommendations, it is best to subscribe to a service like Interfolio.com. Interfolio.com allows you to collect all your letters in one place and have them sent to each application service when the application opens up. It is not best to wait until your application opens to obtain your letters of recommendations.

****Types of Letters Needed****

Visit the PharmCAS School Directly to view program-specific evaluation requirements. The number and type of evaluations required vary by program. Some programs prefer that evaluations are sent directly to them.

****Tips to Get to Know Your Professors/Mentors****

- Visit their offices regularly
- Look for mentors, not just letter writers
- Be genuinely interested in those you seek as mentors
- Be humble and gracious
- Ask thoughtful questions
- Share your academic and career goals
- Inquire about their areas of interest and research
- After you have gotten to know professors, ask about further opportunities, e.g., teaching assistantships, individual research projects, etc.

### Helpful Websites and Resources

- FAQs About Pharmacy Admissions
- Is Pharmacy Right for Me?

## Extracurricular Preparation Overview

Preparation for pharmacy school involves engaging in experiences that develop and demonstrate skills in communication, leadership, community service, research, and familiarity with the profession. ****What you do with your time helps define who you are on your application.**** Pharmacy schools will learn what you care about and who you are through experiences that align with your interests and goals. Keep in mind that activities complement your coursework, but will not compensate for low grades. ****Both are important!****

- Keep a detailed record of all hours and experience -- document contact information and reflections on each activity. Most students track hours and experiences on an Excel spreadsheet.
- All activities should ****be completed**** during your undergraduate study.
- Complete activities consistently throughout the school year.
- Be intentional and deliberate in planning your experiences so you are prepared to apply when the time comes.

### Shadowing

Shadowing should be one of your first experiences as a pre-pharmacy student. Observing pharmacists in action will help you gather the information you need to commit to the profession fully. Shadowing requires professional dress and conduct.

****Competitive applicants shadow at least 2 different pharmacists and accumulate 50-100 hours of shadowing.****

### Community Service

Because you are preparing for a humanitarian profession, it is important to have volunteer experiences that demonstrate a consistent and long-term commitment to serving others in your community. Look for service opportunities with an underserved population, in your community, or on campus. Volunteer activities need not be pharmacy related but should be meaningful to you. Quality of the experience is more important than quantity.

****Competitive applicants complete at least 2 different experiences and gain 100-200 hours of volunteer experience during their undergraduate study--this is in addition to any church service.****

### Leadership Experience

As a pharmacist, you will be a leader in many ways. Professional schools admit students who have experience making and recognizing the consequences of their decisions. Leadership involves teamwork and builds solid communication skills. Examples of leadership could be mentoring, tutoring, society presidencies, student government, in a job, coaching, or church callings.

****Competitive applicants complete gain 50-100 hours. At least half of your hours need to be non-church related.****

### Research Experience

Pharmacy schools desire applicants who understand scientific literature, know how research is performed and can distinguish credible research. Any research, as long as it is hypothesis-based and utilizes the scientific method can build your experience. As you do research, make sure you understand the hypothesis, the procedure, and your responsibility in the project. You can count research projects done in your courses, participate in research through faculty-directed work, or complete other research internships nationwide.

****This is not required for pharmacy school, but makes you a more competitive applicant.****

### Patient Exposure

Interacting well with patients is one of the key indicators of a successful future provider.

****Competitive applicants gain 100-200 hours. Some schools will allow patient exposure and shadowing hours to be grouped together.****

### Hobbies

While pharmacy schools do not have requirements for hobbies, they are interested in well-rounded students who know how to balance work with recreation. Hobbies and interests can make your application unique to you.

### "Double-Dipping"

To be competitive, you should strive to meet the requirements in ****each individual area****. One activity should not be counted in two areas. This is called "double-dipping," and makes it appear you are not taking the time to develop yourself fully. While an activity may be both volunteer and leadership, you will list the experience as a single experience on your application--recognizing there may be overlap in some experiences.

### Helpful Websites and Resources

- AACP

## Testing Preparation

### Testing Preparation

Most pharmacy programs rely on either the GRE or other combinations of grades, extracurricular hours, or interviews to assess candidates. Because requirements vary by school, it is essential that you review the admissions criteria for every program you are considering. Doing so will help you choose your courses wisely, prepare for any required exams, and submit the strongest possible application.

## Application Process Overview

Most Pharmacy schools admit students once a year in the fall, but applications are submitted about 12 months before the desired pharmacy school enrollment date. Applications open each year in July for the following year admission.

When you apply depends on when you will complete necessary prerequisite coursework, and successfully take the PCAT. Timing is sensitive so you will want to plan well.

Apply early in the cycle, but make sure your application is the best it can be. Pharmacy school requirements vary from school to school -- research schools early for specific information on their requirements.

Before submitting your application, have people with an unbiased eye go over the ****entire**** application to catch any errors.

Pharmacy School Application includes four main components:

1. Primary Application
2. Letters of Recommendation
3. Secondary Applications (not all schools will require Secondary Applications)
4. Interviews

### The Admissions Test- PCAT

Check school websites to determine which test you will need to take to apply for admission.

### Primary Application

Primary Applications are processed through a central processing service and are sent to every school affiliated with that service. The application service for pharmacy school is called PharmCAS.

The application opens online in July and can be submitted as soon as completed. It is important to apply early!

****READ ALL INSTRUCTION MANUALS AND DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY!****

PharmCAS requires:

- Your test score
- A list of all college classes taken, as well as official transcripts from each college where you have earned credit
- A list and descriptions of your activities since graduating from high school
- A Personal Statement outlining your motivation for pursuing a career as a pharmacist
- Letters of Recommendation

****NOTE: To help us advise other students, we would appreciate it if you would release your statistical information from your applications to the Health Professions Advisor when prompted. This information will always be kept confidential.****

### Personal Statement

Your personal statement is a very important piece of your application and should be given a high degree of attention in the process. You can begin creating your first draft at any time, but serious work should be done a few months before applying. A personal statement is about you and your motivation for pursuing a career as a pharmacist.

PLEASE NOTE, your audience has more pharmacy knowledge and knows what it is like to be a pharmaceutical professional. Don't try to impress them with your knowledge of the field.

Get feedback! Have 3 or 4 people you can trust to be honest with you (professor, parent, advisor, etc.) read your essay and offer feedback. Give yourself plenty of time to make revisions.

A great personal statement will answer the following:

- Motivation - Why pharmacy?
- Capacity - How have you prepared to become a pharmacist?
- Fit - What makes you a good fit for the profession?
- Vision - What impact do you wish to make?

GENERAL PERSONAL STATEMENT DOs and DON'Ts

DO answer the question, "Why do you want to be a pharmacist?"

DO concentrate more on actual experiences rather than speculation about future accomplishments.

DO focus more on what you can give rather than on what you can get by becoming a pharmacist.

DO "show" more than "tell."

DO limit the number of "I" statements you use.

DO share your background if it is appropriate.

DO describe meaningful experiences.

DO pay careful attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

DO pay attention to the character count (4500).

DO NOT use the "I want to help people" theme if possible.

DO NOT devote too much space to writing about other people (family, patients, a pharmacist you know).

DO NOT summarize or merely repeat what is on the activity list on your primary application.

DO NOT use overly flowery language.

DO NOT assume everyone knows what you know.

DO NOT try to make jokes.

DO NOT use a foreign language.

DO NOT begin your essay with a quote.

### Letters of Recommendation

PharmCAS has a service that allows your letter writers to upload your letter directly to the application and have them distributed to all schools to which you have applied. However, some schools will want letters sent directly to them. Make sure you check school websites and understand what type of letters they require, as well as how they prefer to accept them.

****Requesting Letters of Recommendation****

- Ask if potential writers feel capable of writing a STRONG letter. If anyone is hesitant, you should probably try someone else.
- Ask if recommenders would welcome any written background material. You could include a brief biographical sketch or resume, your interests and activities, career goals, and motivation toward your intended profession.
- Always give recommenders ample time -- two to three weeks at a ****minimum****.
- Make sure letter writers know their letters must be signed and on letterhead.
- Follow-up with your letter writers and be sure to send thank you notes.

### Secondary Applications

Some Pharmacy schools will require a Secondary Application. These are specific to each school, and vary in length and structure, but often require one or more additional essays, or ask you to list certain experiences in a specific format. ****FOLLOW DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY****.

Some schools send Secondary Applications to every student who submitted a Primary Application. Other schools will screen Primary Applications first and only send Secondary Applications to students who are under consideration for admission.

Secondary Applications usually have a fee attached, so it is a good idea to re-evaluate your list of schools at this point. If you have changed your mind about applying to a school, you do not have to complete their Secondary Application.

Make sure you promptly return your Secondary Applications with well-written, thoughtful, and professional responses.

### Interviews

The final stage of the application process is the interview. If you receive an invitation for an interview, that is an indication that a school has decided that you are a qualified applicant and they want to get to know you better. Some pharmacy schools hold "interview days" where they bring in a group of applicants for a day that may consist of some or all of the following: Interviews, lunch, school tour, and opportunities to meet students and faculty. Remember, ****the entire day is the interview****, not just those times when you are in a formal meeting. Be on your best professional behavior all day!

Interviews can take many forms, so it is essential to research your schools and be prepared. A Health Professions Advisor can help you with preparation tips and practicing your interviewing skills.

The most common types of interviews are:

- One on one interview--Usually one or two 20-30 minute interviews
- Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)--7-10 rooms with a different prompt or scenario posted on the door. You are typically given 2 minutes to think about the prompt before entering a room, and 5-8 minutes to respond to the question. Additional questions or a role play situation could be part of the interview.
- Group interview--Either one applicant interviewed by several interviewers, or a group of applicants interviewed by one or more interviewer.
- Zoom Interview--More schools are implementing video interviews. Before the interview, applicants are sent a link to a site like Zoom, Teams, HireVue, etc., where they will be asked to provide a timed video or written response to questions."

## Application Timeline Overview

- Applications are submitted about 12 months before the desired pharmacy school enrollment date. Applications can be submitted in July for the following year.
- It is helpful to create a timeline for yourself when applying to pharmacy school. Having an academic plan, a plan to complete extra-curricular activities, and a plan for test preparation all contribute to your timeline.

### Preparing to Apply

- Talk to the potential writers of your Letters of Recommendation. Give them plenty of time to write the letters.
- Continue with your volunteer, shadowing, or research activities until you have received an acceptance letter from a pharmacy school. ****Do not stop these activities you have an official offer of admission.**** It may take more than one application cycle to gain admission, so you need to be continually improving your application until you do.
- Consult the PharmCAS website for school requirements. Always confirm school-specific requirements by checking each school's website directly.
- Continue to save money for the application process.

Application Timeline

Pharmacy School Application Timeline (PDF)

## International Students Overview

International students are students who are not green card holders or permanent residents. A permanent resident is generally considered the same as a US resident for application purposes.

International students not holding a green card can be accepted to some US pharmacy schools.

If an international student is accepted, schools have policies that may require a student to show evidence of their capacity to pay tuition above and beyond the INS requirements for an I20. Some schools may expect the student to ****pre-pay**** tuition for the entire four years or create an escrow account for these funds. Some institutions will accept loans co-signed by a US citizen.

### Research Schools and Plan Accordingly

Each school is different, and it is imperative that you check individual admissions websites to view policies regarding international applicants, coursework requirements, financial requirements, etc.

### Create a Financial Plan for Pharmacy School

Pharmacy school is an expensive endeavor. ****The average cost of attending a 4-year program can range from $65,000 to $200,000. International non-resident students do not qualify for Federal Financial Aid****, so consider alternative options. For instance, some institutions offer ****school-specific loan programs or scholarships****. Additionally, some major banks offer ****private student loans**** to international applicants, but you would need to have a co-signer who is a citizen of the US.

The key is to evaluate the available options and have a plan in place before starting school.

### Most Important, Make Yourself a Competitive Applicant

This really is the key to the whole process. ****When you apply, it is imperative there are no gaps in your application.****