Tips for Applicants and Prospective Students
Preview Day
This is an afternoon session (1:00 - 4:00 pm) providing detailed information on the profession of pharmacy, the college curriculum, admissions, student life and college tours. The college holds Preview Day every fall and spring semester on both the Duluth and Twin Cities campuses. Fall 2009 Preview Days were held on October 10 in Duluth and October 24 in the Twin Cities. Registration for spring Preview Days will be posted in late fall 2009.
Pharmacy Admissions Information Sessions
The admissions counselors for the College of Pharmacy hold sessions that provide information about pharmacy career options, in-depth detail on the admissions process, and tips on putting together a competitive application. The sessions are designed for people at any point in the preparation process. Anybody can come, you do not need to be a U of M student.
Upcoming sessions:
Twin Cities Campus 
(Health Careers Center, 2-565 Moos Tower)
Friday, Nov. 13 ~ 10:30 - 12:00 pm
Wednesday, Dec. 2 ~ 12:00 - 1:30 pm
Are you Interested?
To start receiving email communications about the Pharm.D. program, complete the Record of Interest Form. Emails will be sent several times a year to invite you to College of Pharmacy events and provide admissions updates.
Prepharmacy Club
Prepharmacy clubs provide pertinent information to its members on the profession of pharmacy, and how to navigate the admissions process. Check out the Twin Cities Campus Prepharmacy Club and the Duluth Campus Prepharmacy Club.
Writing Personal Statements and Interview Skills
The Health Careers Center on the Twin Cities campus offers short courses on the following: Personal Statements for a Health Program and Interviewing for a Health Program. The courses are free for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities students, reduced cost ($25) for all Duluth, Crookston, and Morris students and alumni, and only $35 for all others. For more information visit the Health Careers Center website: http://www.healthcareers.umn.edu/events/.
Tips on Putting Together a Competitive Application to the College of Pharmacy
- Be on track to complete a Bachelor's degree. For admission for fall 2009, 87% of admitted students had a Bachelor's degree, and only 6% completed the prerequisites in two years with no degree.
- It takes more than just good grades to be admitted into the College of Pharmacy. For fall 2009 admission, 41% of applicants with an overall GPA of 3.8 - 4.0 were not admitted.
- Be sure to have experience in volunteering, community service, extracurricular and/or leadership roles. Examples: Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, fraternities/sororities, tutoring, band/choir, academic or social clubs, team sports.
- Obtain pharmacy experience. This can show the committee that you have firsthand knowledge of the working life of a pharmacist. For fall 2009, the average admitted applicant had 2 years of pharmacy or healthcare work experience. Examples: your local community pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical care, hospital pharmacy, pharmaceutical research lab. This experience can be working experience, job-shadowing, volunteering, or informational interviews.
- Have references from a health professional, an employer, and a third from another area of your life. All references must be from individuals that know you in a professional or academic capacity, no personal contacts.
- Study abroad, learn about health care in different countries, learn a foreign language and learn about the cultural differences of patients. Students on the Twin Cities campus can visit the Learning Abroad Center for more information.
- Research the profession. Read about Pharmaceutical Care, learn about the direction that the profession is going and be prepared to discuss this. Shadow pharmacists working in different roles and learn about the profession from them.
- The Admissions Committee expects community service & volunteerism to be part of a lifestyle, not just part of an application. List only genuine volunteer service on the application. "Padded" volunteer/extracurricular experience often goes discounted by the admissions committee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is my GPA calculated?
We use the GPA calculated by PharmCAS. This GPA includes all post secondary courses, including those repeated. International coursework is not included in the PharmCAS GPA, however the college's Admissions Committee carefully investigates international coursework on a case-by-case basis. Please visit the PharmCAS instruction manual for more information on GPA calculations.
Does the College require the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)?
Yes, the college does require all applicants to take the PCAT, it must include the PCAT writing subtest, and it must be completed before the admissions deadline.
When should I begin applying?
Since the college uses rolling admission, applicants should apply as early as possible in the application cycle. PharmCAS applications become available at the beginning of June and the College of Pharmacy Supplemental Application becomes available in late August. Applicants should not, however, submit an application that clearly lacks sufficient coursework or other experience as it pertains to the admissions criteria. In past years the college filled all of its positions by mid-February.
Can I go to pharmacy school part time or in the evening?
The Pharm.D. program is offered only full time and classes are offered only during the day, once per semester.
What if I am missing prepharmacy courses at the time of application?
At the time of application, prepharmacy courses must either be completed and appear on a transcript or be listed as planned coursework that will be completed before enrollment in the fall.
What is the job market for pharmacists?
Employment prospects are excellent in the pharmacy profession. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for pharmacists will continue to increase into the 21st century. Visit the Pharmacist overview in the Occupational Outlook Handbook for more information on job outlook and earnings at: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos079.htm#outlook