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Planning Your Pre-Pharmacy Preparation
“Historically, the functions of the pharmacist centered on the preparation and provision of a drug product to a patient. However, in recent times, the scope of the pharmacist’s activities has expanded to include consultation with physicians and other health professionals. . . ; selecting an appropriate dosage form for a given patient; determining the dose and dosage schedule; preparing the medication for administration to the patient; providing information about the medication to the patient; advising the patient to assure the medication is used correctly for maximum effectiveness; and monitoring the patient to prevent or detect harmful side effects. . . . The pharmacist is the most accessible member of the health care team. A pharmacist is often the first health professional with whom patients will confer regarding a health question and is likely to be the final one with whom patients consult about their medications and their use.” Pharmacy School Admission Requirements, 2005-2006
Course Requirements:
Each pharmacy school may have slightly different admissions criteria. In addition, these requirements for admission can change from year to year. Thus, applicants should make it a priority to contact all the schools and colleges to which they are interested in applying as early in their undergraduate career as possible and to refer to the detailed listings of each school in the Pharmacy School Admissions Requirements booklet printed each year by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
General requirements
Nearly all optometry schools require at least one year of the following subject areas: Biology w/lab, General Chemistry w/lab, Organic Chemistry w/lab, and General Physics w/lab. Most optometry schools also require one or two semesters of Calculus and English, and one semester of Human Anatomy and/or Human Physiology. A course in Human Anatomy is not currently offered at Lake Forest College; pre-pharmacy students should arrange to take this course at another institution, possibly during a summer session, preferably at an institution with a rigorous curriculum.
Specific requirements
Many schools require at least one semester of the following courses: public speaking, economics, and critical thinking, as well as courses distributed through the humanities and social sciences.
Recommended elective courses include: Cellular Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry, and Psychology courses.
In most cases, pharmacy schools require a cumulative science and pre-pharmacy GPA of 2.5.
PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test):
Many of the 91 colleges of pharmacy require the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), the American College Testing Assessment (ACT), and/or the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) of all applicants.
This PCAT will assess verbal ability, reading comprehension, quantitative analysis, biology, chemistry, and writing.
The PCAT is typically offered three times per calendar year, in approximately January, June, and October.
Information about the PCAT is available online at www.pcatweb.info This website will allow you to register for the test and view or download the Candidate Information Booklet which also provides access to electronic practice exams. You may contact the testing program via mail or phone at:
Harcourt Assessment
Customer Relations – PCAT
19500 Bulverde Road
San Antonio, Texas 78259
1-800/622-3231
PharmCAS:
At least 43 pharmacy institutions require applicants to submit their materials via PharmCAS, a centralized application service. Applicants who apply through PharmCAS will submit a web-based application including biographical data, colleges attended, academic coursework, work experience, extracurricular activities, and a personal statement. For schools that participate in PharmCAS, official transcripts and PCAT scores are usually submitted directly to PharmCAS rather than to the individual schools. Supplemental applications and letters of recommendation are submitted later after invitation from individual schools. For more detailed information you should contact PharmCAS directly:
Pharmacy College Application Service
19 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472-4403
PharmCAS Hotline: 617-612-2060
Email: info@pharmcas.org
Web Site: www.pharmcas.org
Shadowing a Pharmacist:
While a letter of evaluation from a practicing pharmacist is not required, taking the opportunity to get to know the profession on a more sophisticated level is strongly encouraged. A significant clinical experience with a pharmacist will likely strengthen your personal statement, as well as better prepare you for your future studies.