Admissions

NOTE: The deadline for 2008 Admissions has passed.  The application for entry to the PharmD program in 2009 will be available in June.

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 transcripts to PharmCAS (minimum GPA* of 3.00 required).
5. Submit the College of Pharmacy Supplemental Application.
6. If invited, interview with a faculty member of the College of Pharmacy.

Below is more detailed information regarding our application process.

Application Deadlines for 2008 Admission
About the Admissions Process
Application Materials
Required Documents
Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT)
Interviews
Requirements for Admitted Students

Application Process for 2008 Admission

The college will 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 for admission. 
- The final deadline for submitting PharmCAS application materials will be February 1, 2008.  The College of Pharmacy’s supplemental application must be submitted by February 15, 2008.  Applicants who submit their PharmCAS application closer to the February 1 deadline may not be able to access the Supplemental Application before the February 15 deadline (see more information under Supplemental Application below).  Applicants are encouraged to submit their PharmCAS application in the fall, or several weeks advance of the deadline at a minimum.
- The college may stop accepting applications before the deadline if all interview spaces are filled.  In 2007, the college filled its spaces and stopped accepting applications that were submitted in late January.

About the Admissions Process
The admissions process is the same for both the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses. Applicants must indicate on their application which campus they will accept an offer of admission from. 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
PharmCAS Application: Application Materials are available from PharmCAS: www.pharmcas.org.
Supplemental Application:  Applicants who have complete their PharmCAS application, had their transcripts verified by PharmCAS, and have had their PharmCAS application delivered to the U of M by PharmCAS can fill out their supplemental application.

The supplemental application questions for 2008 are given below.  Students 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.  This entire process takes several weeks, so remember to plan ahead. Applicants who wait until February 1 to submit their PharmCAS application may not be able to access the Supplemental Application before the February 15 Supplemental Application deadline.

Applicants who are re-applying need to resubmit all application materials.  Application materials do not carry over from one year to the next.

Supplemental Application Questions for 2008: 
1. You have already listed your leadership, volunteer, and extra curricular experiences on your PharmCAS application. Describe in the space below the contribution you made that was most meaningful to you. Please include the time commitment, offices held, and/or programs developed.  (1,700 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. 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. (1,500 characters maximum including spaces)

4. 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)

5. 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)

6. Optional: Peters' Scholarship for Future Practitioners in Underserved Communities. In the space below, please indicate why you believe yourself to be a suitable recipient of this scholarship.  It is awarded by the Admissions Committee to incoming students with the best & most feasible plans for practicing in medically underserved communities in Minnesota. (1,500 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
• College of Pharmacy Supplemental Application form and $75 nonrefundable application processing fee
• University of Minnesota Financial Certification Statement (required only of international applicants)

*Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.00, OR 3.20 over the most recent 60 semester credits to qualify for admission. 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 visit their website: https://portal.pharmcas.org/gpas.html#Q1

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.

• Harcourt Assessment administers this exam. You can find more information on the PCAT from this website: www.pcatweb.info.
• Future PCAT test dates are the following:  June 23, August 25, and October 20, 2007.  The PCAT will also be offered on January 19, 2008, but due to the nature of rolling admissions, applicants should not plan to use this test date for applying for entry in 2008.
• The PCAT is offered in Minneapolis and Duluth.
• 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. Interview will be held on the following dates:  October 12, November 16, January 11, January 25, February 8, Februrary 22.