April 28, 2008

Beyond required coursework and PCAT preparation, the timeline for the application process begins about 1.5 years prior to expected matriculation.

The following is a general guideline - check with each of your institutions of choice for specific timelines.

April       May           June      July        August       Sept./Oct./Nov./Dec.        Jan/Feb./March/April

                                 «----Submit Applications to Schools of choice -----»                                       «---- Receive Supplementary Applications -------»                                      «----------------------Interviews------------------------»

                                                                  «---------------Admissions decisions ----------------»

http://www.aacp.org/Docs/MainNavigation/InstitutionalData/6871_School_Narratives_PSAR.pdf

June 1st PharmCAS opens. Mid July UCSF Supplemental Application opens. November 1st PharmCAS Application + UCSF

Supplemental Application Due December to January Interview invitations sent January to February Interviews held at UCSF. Send

updated fall transcripts. March to April Admission decisions are sent. July 1st Deadline to submit Spring transcript. August 1st Deadline to submit Spring transcript with

degree posting.

Who to ask ◦ Note restrictions from certain schools--pharmacist,

science professors, etc. Make sure it will be a STRONG letter Ask early!-At least two months in advance Prepare packet for your recommender; some

recommenders will ask for specific documents: ◦ Transcripts◦ Personal Statement◦ Resume

Thank you cards afterwards Where to submit letters: PharmCAS vs. Letter

Service

GPA Restrictions based on PharmCAS Refer to PILLS website

◦ Grid with prerequisites is a good template◦ Make sure you to check to see if it's up to date◦ www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~pills

Plan schedule accordingly ◦ Sample officer schedules on PILLS website

UC courses vs. community college courses

Look for info days, open house School mailing lists Visit the schools Ask the students about student life and

recruiters about school information◦ Student panelists and pharmacy school admissions

coordinators at NCPPS Know what is special and unique about each

school and program ◦ UOP: 3 years◦ Touro: 2 years rotation

Know why you want to attend!

Begins June 2008 for Fall 2009 enrollment

Checklisto Arrange for PharmCAS to receive a separate official

transcript from each college you attendedo Letter of Recommendation can be sent electronically or as a

paper referenceo PharmCAS Evaluation Form must be printed and attached to

paper referenceso Send your PCAT, TOEFL and TSE scores to PharmCAS if

neededo Deadline based on Eastern Timeo Schools may have rolling deadline or a set deadline

o For more Information and a step-by-step checklist, visit www.pharmcas.org

Arrange for PharmCAS to receive a separate official transcript from each college you attended

Some schools may request transcripts be sent directly to them

Always send updated transcripts to PharmCAS or the schools when available

Transcripts sent to PharmCAS require an attached Transcript Request Form (each form is unique)

Required by most out-of-state schools◦ Not required by any California schools

Registration Fee: $125◦ Testing dates (2008): June 21, August 23, October

18◦ Exam is 4 hours long

For more Information visit: www.PCATweb.info

240 multiple choice questions◦ Each item will be accompanied by four choices. 

2 writing assignments◦ 30 minutes each

Sections:◦ Part 1: Verbal Ability section contains 48 items.

◦ Analogies, sentence completion◦ Part 2: Biology section contains 48 items.

◦ General biology, microbiology, anatomy, physiology◦ Part 3: Chemistry section contains 48 items.

◦ General and organic chemistry◦ Part 4: Reading Comprehension section contains 48

items. ◦ Comprehension, evaluation, analysis

◦ Part 5: Quantitative Ability section contains 48 items ◦ Calculus, geometry, algebra, pre-calculus, probability and

statistics

Counted as P/NP, not calculated into GPA Varies from School to school

UCSF pharmacy.ucsf.edu/go/ap,

USC Does not accept CLEP courses Will consider AP credit for those with BA degrees. Recommend applying AP credit to elective credit in undergraduate program

instead of waiving the pre-pharmacy requirements. AP Score of 4 or 5 may be used toward the first quarter or semester of a one-

year series of pre-pharmacy courses like general biology/physics/chemistry, calculus or English.

AP credits do not satisfy economics, psychology or statistics. Please submit all Advanced Placement scores to the Office of Admission and

Student Affairs.

Send by November 1st. Official Copy vs. Personal Copy UCSF send official copy of AP score by

using code 4794 directly from ETSUCSD send official copy of AP score to school of pharmacy address (b/c they do not have a code)USC send personal photocopy of AP scores to school of pharmacy address

In addition to PharmCAS, most schools require a supplemental application specific for their own school

Each school has different dates when supplemental application is available and different deadlines

Formats differ May submit online or mail paper supplemental Sample supplemental applications available on

some school’s websites. Format and questions do not change much from year to year.

Check individual schools websites for specifics. It may change each year.

Celebrate! You are one step closer to your goal Arrange for accommodations:

transportation/hotels Buy Interview Clothes – look professional and

well groomed Research the school website/ visit the school /

talk to the people of the school Review your application essays Practice! (career center, friends, family, your

stuffed animals)

Check In & Orientation On-site essay

◦ Timed vs. untimed◦ Essay question vs. summarize article

Interview◦ Open file vs. closed file◦ Panel vs. one-on-one◦ Test communication skills

Campus Tour / Meeting current students

Tell us about yourself. Why pharmacy? Why our school? What kind of pharmacy experience do you have? Give an example of time where you have been a leader. What are the positives and negatives in pharmacy right now? How would you handle a physician who did not trust your

judgment or take your advice because you were not an MD? How are you unique and what qualities would you bring to

our school?

Find more Interview Questions at Student Doctor Network (www.studentdoctor.net)

Interview Reviews◦ Student Doctor Network◦ http://share.studentdoctor.net/interviewpharm/school_pick.aspx◦ UCLA Pre-pharmacy Club

http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/uclaprepharm/resource.html Mock Interviews

◦ Career Center◦ UCSF PhAMLI

Strategies for conquering 50 Common Interview Questions◦ http://bhuvans.wordpress.com/2006/08/19/50-common-

interview-qa/v