Apply to Pharmacy School

There are three general steps in applying to pharmacy schools: the primary application, the secondary application, and the interview.

• Sample Application Timeline
• Applying to Health Professional Schools Webinar
• Pharmacy Is Right For Me: Tips For Pharmacy School Applicants

1. Primary applications

• Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS)
• Opens in mid-July. 
• Includes a personal statement (4500 characters)
  • Prompt: "In this section, write a personal essay that addresses why you selected pharmacy as a career and how the Doctor of Pharmacy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals."
• Once the application is complete, PharmCAS forwards it to whichever schools the student has designated.
• Application fee is about $175 for the first program designation and $60 for each additional program designation.
• For schools with rolling admission, submit your primary application as early as possible.

2. Secondary applications or supplementary forms are specific to individual schools. Schools may include these applications in the PharmCAS application. Other schools may send these applications after they have received the PharmCAS application. Both frequently request additional information, essays, letters of recommendation, and/or fees. Some schools may even screen applicants before the applications or forms are sent out.

Note: Most pharmacy schools participate in PharmCAS. Students interested in applying to other schools must complete each of their prospective schools’ individual applications. For these schools, the application process consists only of Steps 2 and 3.

3. Interviews: After reviewing the primary and secondary applications (or supplementary forms), pharmacy schools invite promising applicants to interview. Applicants are responsible for all costs incurred while interviewing, including airfare, lodging, ground transportation, professional attire, and meals.

• Interview Information
• Sample Interview Questions
• Health Professional School Interview Room Reservation Request: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many health professional schools are conducting their interviews online. Applicants can submit a reservation request for a private space with wifi access on-campus.

Background Check: Prior to official acceptance, schools usually contact a background check on accepted students. Thus, please ensure that you conduct yourself professionally at all times. A record of misconduct may result in the residence of acceptance by schools.

Re-applicants: Many applicants may not be admitted to the professional school that they desire on their first try. However, if and when you choose to re-apply, there are many things to consider before re-submitting another application in the following cycle.

• Reapplicant Information
• Non-Traditional Applicant Information

Tips:

• The more you know about a school, the better your chances of being accepted.
• Many application questions can be answered by reading the PSAR.
• Contact individual schools’ admissions offices to find out how they handle:
  • Advanced Placement (AP) credits
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) credits
  • College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) credits
  • Military credits
  • Courses taken at a community college
  • Non-US coursework
  • Courses taken for credit/no credit instead of a grade
  • Residency issues
  • Time limits for prerequisite science courses

Please note that if you are retaking courses because pharmacy schools may not accept Advanced Placement (AP), online, or community college credit, your financial aid and/or scholarship status may be affected.