Pharmacy

Who are pharmacists?

Pharmacists are healthcare professionals who focus on the safe and effective use of medication
Types of pharmacists
- Community or retail pharmacists, the most type of pharmacist, dispense medication from within retail establishments like drug stores and grocery stores, and as a result often have a more customer service and commercial focus
- Hospital pharmacists work within hospitals to allocate medications and often have more complex clinical responsibilities

What is pharmacy school?

Pharmacy school is a program that provides the necessary professional education and training for students to become pharmacists
Most programs are four years in duration, although some may be a short as two or three years
In the United States, students graduate with a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), while European institutions instead grant a Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm.)

What are the costs associated with pharmacy school?

Pharmacy school tuition varies, but most programs cost about $45,000 per year
In-state tuition at public schools is often cheaper (~$20,000)
For a list of tuition and fees at different U.S. pharmacy colleges, visit the American Association of Colleges web page on Pharm.D. programs.

How competitive is pharmacy school?

Pharmacy school admissions are highly competitive
The average GPA for an admitted student is ~3.4. For a complete list of average GPAs for admitted Pharm.D. students, click here.
Most pharmacy schools expect high scores on the PCAT or on the TOEFL. For a list of which schools require testing, visit the PharmCAS application service website.

What can I do to ensure that I’ll be a competitive pharmacy school applicant?

Demonstrate academic success in biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics courses
Score highly on the PCAT
Have rigorous volunteer or paid experience in a pharmacy or health-related setting
Look for pharmacy experience
- For more information on pharmacy technician training experience, visit the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.

How do I apply?

General Timeline
- Applications open in the summer
- Apply in the fall/winter
- Interview in the fall/winter
- Matriculation in the summer
Components
Transcript/Coursework
- Admissions requirements vary by school, but can be found here provided by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)
- The Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) is required by a vast majority (85%) of pharmacy schools
  - It includes five subsections
    - Writing: students write an essay on how to solve a social, cultural, political, scientific, or health issue
    - Biological processes
    - Chemical processes
    - Critical reading
    - Quantitative reasoning
- Personal statement that explains your career goals/interests and how they are related to pharmacy/medicine
  - For more information on constructing an effective and convincing personal statement, read this article written by the Director of Health Professions Advising at Princeton University.
- Letters of recommendation, especially from research mentors and course instructors
  - For more information about selecting appropriate recommenders, visit the University of Maryland’s Health Profession Advising Office’s web page on letters of recommendation.
- Interview Tips
  - Demonstrate your personality, creativity, and motivation for applying to a pharmacy program
  - Demonstrate strong verbal communication skills
  - Be able to describe all items from your application, especially your research and/or pharmacy experience
  - Ask specific questions about the pharmacy experience

Resources for Pharmacy School Applicants

Internship opportunities
- For pharmacy technician training experience, visit the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
Service Opportunities
- Visit the Reed-Yorke Health Professions Advising Office for more information on local and national volunteer opportunities.
Clinical Opportunities
- Visit the Reed-Yorke Health Professions Advising Office for more information on shadowing, scribing, and EMT opportunities.