Admissions

Applications for Fall 2010 are now open!

**PLEASE NOTE**
The October 17th PCAT test was the final exam date applicable for Fall 2010 admissions.

The basic steps in our application process are listed below.  Be sure to check out this handy application checklist (pdf) to help you in this process.

1. Take the PCAT exam, submit scores to PharmCAS.
2. Submit an application to PharmCAS, the national application service.
3. Submit three letters of reference to PharmCAS.
4. Submit all college transcripts to PharmCAS (minimum GPA* of 3.00 required, OR 3.2 over the most recent 60 semester credits).
5. Submit the College of Pharmacy Supplemental Application.
6. If invited, interview with a faculty member of the College of Pharmacy.

For an update on available interview spots and open seats, please visit our Admissions Statistics page. 

Below is more detailed information regarding our application process.

Application Process for 2010 Admission
About the Admissions Process
Application Materials
Supplemental Application
Required Documents
GPA Requirements
Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT)
Prerequisites *New prerequisites for Fall 2010
Interviews
Transfer applications
Requirements for Admitted Students

 
Application Process for 2010 Admission

• The college operates a rolling admissions process.  Please note that "rolling admissions" means that we accept and review applications on a continual basis beginning when the supplemental application becomes available in August of each year. 
• Applicants who submit their application earlier will have priority in selection.  Positions in the college and interview spaces will become limited or completely full closer to the deadline. 
• Applicants who have a PharmCAS GPA* of 3.00 (or 3.2 over the most recent 60 sem. credits) qualify to apply. 
• The College of Pharmacy’s supplemental application must be submitted by February 17, 2010 (see more information under Supplemental Application below). To allow for PharmCAS processing time, applicants must submit their PharmCAS application in the fall, or at least six weeks in advance of the deadline. The college may stop accepting applications before the deadline if all interview spaces are filled.

 
About the Admissions Process

The admissions process is the same for both the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses.  Applicants are asked to indicate which campus they will accept an offer from on Interview Day, if invited to interview.  Please research each campus before attending Interview Day.  Information on each campus can be found on the Choose Your Campus and subsequent links. 

The Admissions Committee consists of eight faculty members and five students from both the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses.  The committee reviews all applications of applicants who are selected to interview with the college and makes all decisions regarding admissions according to the college's selection criteria.

 
Application Materials

Applicants must submit the following applications. 

1. PharmCAS Application: Application Materials are available from PharmCAS: www.pharmcas.org .  All college transcripts, letters of reference, and PCAT scores are sent to PharmCAS. Applicants who are re-applying need to resubmit all application materials.  Application materials do not carry over from one year to the next.
   

2. Supplemental Application:  https://secure.ahc.umn.edu/pharmacy/app/ph_login.cfm

   Applicants who have submitted their PharmCAS application will be able to access the University of Minnesota Supplemental Application once their grades have been verified by PharmCAS and their PharmCAS application has been mailed and received by the college.  Applicants can see the status of their PharmCAS application by logging in to their PharmCAS account.

   The supplemental application questions for 2010 are listed below.  Applicants can prepare their essays ahead of time.  In order to access and submit the supplemental application, applicants must FIRST submit a PharmCAS application, have transcripts verified by PharmCAS, and have their application sent to our college's admissions office by PharmCAS.  The supplemental application cannot be made available to applicants until the college receives their application from PharmCAS.  Applicants must allow at least six (6) weeks for PharmCAS to process an application and deliver it to us.  The supplemental application deadline is February 17, 2010.

Supplemental Application Questions for Fall 2010 Admission:

1. You have already listed your leadership, volunteer, and extra curricular experiences on your PharmCAS application.  Describe the contribution you made that was most meaningful to you.   (1,000 characters maximum including spaces)
    
2. The profession of pharmacy is undergoing significant changes.  What will be your unique role in the profession 10 years from now?  (1,700 characters maximum including spaces)
    
3. Provide an example of when you chose to take responsibility for enhancing or improving an initiative or program.  What was the initiative?  Why did you choose to do it?  What worked well and what did not?  (1,000 characters maximum including spaces)
    
4. Our admissions committee will consider diversity factors including but not limited to academic background, professional background, race/ethnicity, geographic diversity, first generation college student, challenging or disadvantaged background, and ability in multiple languages.  Discuss how you will contribute uniquely to the diversity in our Pharm.D. program and the pharmacy profession.  (1,700 characters maximum including spaces)
    
5. Optional:  Please provide any additional comments or information you would like the Admissions Committee to consider during the review of your application. (e.g. causes of any academic difficulty or additional qualifications not already noted).  (1,700 characters maximum including spaces)
    
6. For applicants reapplying to the Pharm.D. program ONLY:  Please describe how you have changed and strengthened your application to our Pharm.D. program.  Include all relevant academic, work, volunteer, personal and pharmacy experience. (1,700 characters maximum including spaces)
    
7. Optional: 
   Peters' Scholarship for Future Practitioners in Underserved Communities. This scholarship is awarded by the Admissions Committee to incoming students with the best and most feasible plans for practicing with medically underserved populations in Minnesota upon graduation. This scholarship awards $5,000 total for four years, $20,000 total.
   
   OR
   
   Peters' Rural Scholarship.  This scholarship is awarded by the Admissions Committee to an incoming student with the best and most feasible plans for practicing in a rural underserved area in Minnesota upon graduation.  This scholarship awards $2,500 for four years, $10,000 total.
   
   Indicate which scholarship you are applying for, and why you believe yourself to be a suitable recipient of this scholarship by indicating your future plans for pharmacy practice and describing the population you intend to serve.  (1,700 characters maximum including spaces)

 
Required Documents

• Application form submitted to PharmCAS - the national application service (available at www.pharmcas.org).
   
• Official transcript from each college attended (submitted to PharmCAS) - an overall PharmCAS GPA* of at least 3.00 (or 3.2 over the most recent 60 sem. credits) is required.
   
• Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) score with writing subtest. When you register for the PCAT, be sure to have a score report sent to PharmCAS (code 104).
   
• TOEFL score (if required) submitted to PharmCAS.
   
• Three recommendation forms, available from and submitted to PharmCAS. The college seeks letters of reference from people who know you well in a professional or academic capacity, such as college instructors and work or volunteer supervisors.  The college DOES NOT accept letters of reference from friends, family members, and members of the clergy. Please note that we will accept four recommendations from applicants who choose to submit four.
   
• College of Pharmacy Supplemental Application and $75 non-refundable application processing fee.
   
• University of Minnesota Financial Certification Statement (required only of international applicants).

 
GPA Requirements

Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.00, OR 3.20 over the most recent 60 semester credits to qualify to apply. PharmCAS calculates the overall GPA for each candidate. This GPA may not exactly match the GPA(s) reported by your college or university. For more information on how PharmCAS calculates your GPA, please review the PharmCAS instruction manual.

 
Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT)

Applicants must submit a PCAT score with a scored writing subtest.  PCAT exams offered since June 2005 have included this subtest.

• Pearson Education, Inc. administers this exam. You can find more information on the PCAT from this website: www.pcatweb.info.
• Future PCAT test dates are the following:  August 22, and October 17, 2009.  Do not plan to take the January 23, 2010 PCAT for the 2010 admissions cycle - results from that exam will not be received before our deadline. 
• Applicants must send PCAT results to PharmCAS (code 104).

 
Interviews

Once your application is complete, your file will be evaluated by the admissions committee.  The highest-ranking applicants according to our selection criteria will be notified of a scheduled interview date and time. Please clear your calendar to accommodate our interviews. Interviews will be held on Fridays on the following dates in 2009/2010: October 23, November 20, January 22, February 5, February 19 and March 5.

 
Transfer Applications

Applicants wishing to apply to transfer to the Pharm.D. program from another college of pharmacy must apply as an entry-level applicant through PharmCAS (according to the procedures explained above).  If the student has completed the equivalent of required courses at another college of pharmacy, those courses will be waived. The Sr. Associate Dean of Professional Education, in consultation with the Director of Student Services, evaluate transcripts and syllabi of courses completed at an accredited College of Pharmacy.  Courses that meet or exceed the University of Minnesota’s required courses are waived.  The transfer student can request to waive further courses in accordance with the college’s Course Waiver policy.