Become a Strong Applicant

Some (not all!) applicants start planning for pharmacy school in high school. If you’re a high school student and you’re interested in being a pharmacist, here is our advice for you:

Take your time and give the field of pharmacy a thorough review! There are lots of ways to practice pharmacy and the more you know about it, the more clear you’ll be about your unique interests by the time you apply.

Learn more:

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High School

  • Consider taking AP, IB, or College in the Schools courses that will meet our prerequisite requirements. (The prerequisite requirements represent a few years of undergraduate college coursework.)
  • Explore the field of pharmacy and look for healthcare-related work or volunteer experiences.
  • Plan to join pharmacy and healthcare-related clubs and student groups during your time in undergraduate college/university.

Research pharmacy

  • Develop a broad understanding of the field of pharmacy - there are many ways to practice pharmacy! A good place to start is our Minnesota Pharmacy Careers Exploration Center. You can also visit the Pharmacy is Right for Me site.
  • Take the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Career Pathway Evaluation which will provide suggested areas of pharmacy based on your unique interests and preferences; do in-depth research on those career paths
  • Ask a pharmacist in your community for an informational interview and learn what their days are like practicing pharmacy (and then ask if they have a colleague practicing in another area of pharmacy with whom they can connect you!)

Experiences

  • Find job shadowing opportunities with pharmacists in different fields. If you connect for a job shadowing opportunity with one pharmacist, when you’re done, ask them if they have a colleague in a different area of pharmacy with whom they’d be willing to connect you.
  • If job shadowing opportunities aren’t available, ask a pharmacist for an informational interview. When you’re done, ask if they have a colleague in a different area of pharmacy with whom they’d be willing to connect you.
  • Apply for a job in a pharmacy! Depending on the laws and rules governing pharmacies in your state or country, you may be able to get a job as a pharmacy technician. Although it's not a requirement, our average incoming student has about 2 years of full- or part-time experience working in a pharmacy. It's a great way to gain patient-care experience and learn about the field.

Extracurricular activities

  • Join the pre-pharmacy or pre-health careers club your first year! If there isn’t one, explore how you can start one!
  • Find job shadowing opportunities with pharmacists in different fields. If you connect for a job shadowing opportunity with one pharmacist, when you're done, ask them if they have a colleague in a different area of pharmacy with whom they'd be willing to connect you.
  • If job shadowing opportunities aren't available, ask a pharmacist for an informational interview. When you're done, ask if they have a colleague in a different area of pharmacy with whom they'd be willing to connect you.

Volunteer

  • Find a volunteer activity you love - then stick with it! Demonstrating commitment is always great.
  • Some hospitals offer volunteer opportunities, which gives you a glimpse into healthcare fields.
  • Volunteer activities need not be healthcare related. If you love working with animals, go for an opportunity in an animal shelter (we offer an elective in Veterinary Pharmacotheraphy). If you love working with kids, find tutoring or mentoring opportunities (we offer an elective in Pediatric Drug Therapy)!
  • Bonus: find leadership opportunities within your volunteer activities!

Leadership

  • Look for leadership opportunities in volunteerism, work, the classroom, or in student groups.
  • Long-term volunteerism may provide opportunities, such as training new volunteers, or performing more advanced volunteer work.
  • Many students groups at colleges and universities have leadership positions, such as president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, etc.
  • If you work full- or part-time, discuss leadership opportunities, whether in projects or initiatives or among colleagues, with your supervisor.
  • Take on a leadership role within the classroom or lab; connect with your instructor on ways to lead discussions, projects, etc.

Preparation Timeline

Apply for Fall 2024 Apply for Fall 2025
Experiences Consider volunteer and leadership experiences, and work opportunities in health care related fields as early as your first year in college. Keep it up as you apply to demonstrate your commitment! Consider volunteer and leadership experiences, and work opportunities in health care related fields as early as your first year in college. Keep it up as you apply to demonstrate your commitment!
Prerequisites Confirm that you are on track to complete the prerequisites. Complete all prerequisites by August 1, 2024. Start taking prerequisites now if you haven't already. Complete all prerequisites by August 1, 2025.
PCAT Register to take the exam between now and January 2024. The PCAT is optional. No PCAT testing dates will be offered during the 2024–2025 admissions cycle or beyond.
PharmCAS Start your application as early as July 13, 2023. Submit your application no later than March 1, 2024. Start your application as early as July 2024. Submit your application by the tentative deadline of March 1, 2025.
Minnesota Program Materials (in PharmCAS) Start working on our program essays as early as July 2023 and finish no later than the final deadline. Start working on our program essays as early as July 2024 and finish no later than the final deadline.
Evaluations Starting now, make strong connections with instructors, supervisors, or volunteer leads. Starting now, ask key people to be your evaluators and provide letters of recommendation. Starting now, make strong connections with instructors, supervisors, or volunteer leads. Starting in spring/summer 2024, ask key people to be your evaluators and provide letters of recommendation.