Applying to Pharmacy School

 

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Applying to Pharmacy School

Schools of Pharmacy Contact Information
Applying to Pharmacy School
Testing/PCAT
Admission Criteria
Entering Class Statistics of California Pharmacy Schools

Schools of Pharmacy Contact Information

You can see a list of Pharmacy Schools in the US that are accredited by Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), including 8 in California, on the PharmCAS website.

California Pharmacy Schools
School	Public or Private	Location	Phone / Email
Loma Linda University	Private	Loma Linda	909-558-1300 rxadmissions@univ.llu.edu
University of California, San Francisco	Public	San Francisco	415-476-2733 osaca@itsa.ucsf.edu
University of California, San Diego	Public	San Diego	858-822-4900 sppsadmissions@ucsd.edu
University of the Pacific	Private	Stockton	209-946-2211 or 800-959-2UOP admissions@uop.edu
University of Southern California	Private	Los Angeles	323-442-1466 pharmadm@usc.edu
Western Health Sciences	Private	Pomona	909-469-5336 admissions@westernu.edu
Touro University	Private	Vallejo	886-652-7580 jlee@touro.edu

Applying to Pharmacy School

Pharmacy applicants apply to the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS). PharmCAS allows applicants to use a single application and one set of materials to apply to pharmacy degree programs. PharmCAS accepts applications beginning each Spring for admission to pharmacy school in the Fall of the following calendar year. For instance, Cal students hoping to enter pharmacy school in Fall 2005 will complete the online PharmCAS application sometime between Spring 2004 through Fall 2004. It is important to check individual school's PharmCAS deadlines. Applying early is encouraged.

When planning to apply to pharmacy school, you should plan on applying one year in advance of entering a program. Generally, you need to complete the pharmacy application after you complete your third year of college. Each pharmacy school has its own admissions process. Some schools offer rolling admissions and others collect all of the applications at one time. It is important for you to find information about each pharmacy school to determine pharmacy admission requirements and application deadlines.

Testing/PCAT

Do I need to take the PCAT?

California pharmacy schools do not require the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT). However, if you are applying to a pharmacy school outside of California, be sure to inquire if the PCAT is an admissions requirement. Information is also available on the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy website, or you can contact PCAT directly at (800) 622-3231. Dates and deadlines vary, see the PCAT website for deadlines and test dates.

Admission Criteria

Most pharmacy school admissions committees will be looking at the following criteria when selecting pharmacy students:

Academic Ability	Generally, pharmacy schools are looking for students who are able to handle a rigorous course load and who have been able to keep their GPA above a 3.2. Some schools look at a cumulative GPA (all college coursework) and a prepharmacy GPA (only prepharmacy coursework). Admissions committees look for trends in academic ability. Indication of improvement in your last two years of college work is highly noted. GPAs of entering students range between 3.0 - 4.0. The average GPA of entering classes ranges between 3.2 - 3.5. To be a competitive pharmacy applicant, keep your overall GPA above 3.3.
Community Service	All pharmacy schools will be looking to see if applicants have experience in community service. Evidence of community service demonstrates your interest in serving and helping people, your willingness to learn from others, and your development of interpersonal communication skills.
Leadership Skills	Pharmacy schools select students who will become leaders in the profession. Leadership skills can be gained by serving as an officer in a student organization or fraternity/sorority, taking a leading role in a public service agency, or participating in competitive sports. The ability to initiate, lead, problem solve, organize, and plan are skills that can be gained by becoming involved in an extra-curricular activity.
Communication Skills	Communication skills are of utmost importance to admissions committees. To determine oral and written communication skills, pharmacy applicants are required to participate in pharmacy interviews and can be asked to submit a writing sample at the interview. Admissions committees will assess your ability to think on your feet, explain an idea and problem solve. If you feel you need assistance in becoming a better communicator, take as many public speaking and composition courses as possible. Additionally, if you feel you need help with interviewing, attend the Career Center's workshop on Interviewing for Medical School and/or schedule a mock interview appointment with a Career Center counselor.
Knowledge of the Pharmacy Profession	Before applying to pharmacy school, be sure to find out what the profession is all about. There are many ways of doing this: 1) Talk to pharmacists, pharmacy students, pharmacy faculty and pharmacy school representatives 2) Gather information about the pharmacy profession (See Pharmacy Resources) 3) Attend pharmacy school Information Days and Campus Tours 4) Become involved in PILLS, Cal's prepharmacy student organization (See Pharmacy Resources) Admissions committees expect you to have researched the pharmacy profession and know some of the issues pharmacists currently face. Additionally, the admissions committee will want to know specifically why you are pursuing a career in the pharmacy profession.
Pharmacy Experience	As an undergraduate student, it is impossible to gain experience as a pharmacist. In order to practice pharmacy in the state of California, you must be licensed by the Pharmacy Board. Therefore, students are encouraged to do one or more of the following to gain exposure to pharmacy: 1) Shadow or observe a pharmacist 2) Conduct an informational interview with a pharmacist 3) Volunteer, intern, or take a summer job in a pharmacy or health care setting Internship Opportunities in Health & Medicine Tang Center UCSF Volunteer Services Department. Call (415) 353-1196 for information. Getting exposure to the pharmacy profession can make you a competitive applicant and help you to begin to identify what skills, values and interests you enjoy in this profession.

Entering Class Statistics of California Pharmacy Schools
(Information obtained from the Pharmacy School Admissions Requirements - PSAR)

Fall 2003
Institution	Total Enrolled	Mean GPA	Application to Enrollment Ratio	Age Range
Loma Linda	44	3.34	5.7:1	21-61
UCSD	26	3.6	19:1	22-33
UCSF	123	3.41	14.4:1	20-52
UOP	Not Reported	3.34	6.17:1	19-50
USC	196	3.34	3.7:1	22-25
WHS	120	3.24	7:1	19-41
Touro (2005)	100	3.11	N/A	21-42

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