Pharm.D. Degree, UT and Me

W. Renee’ Acosta, R.Ph., M.S.Assistant Dean for Admissions and Advising

Clinical Professor

Health Outcomes and Pharmacy Practice

LPPA Fall 2015

Key Points aboutPharmacy School Admissions

• Pre-pharmacy major• Pre-requisites

– Online college course work– Community college course work– UT policy on simultaneous enrollment

• Myths in the application process

What should be my pre-pharmacy major?

• ANY pre-Pharmacy major is OK.• Most common are Biology & Chemistry.

Do my pre-pharmacy courses have an expiration date?

• For UT, NO!• For other PharmD programs, you need to

check!

Keys to the pre-requisites

• All science / math courses should be for science majors.• You need English comp and a literature course.• Your genetics course should cover cell & population

genetics.• Pre-requisites do not have to be complete to apply, but

they do to matriculate.• There are some core / flag graduation requirements for UT.• Students are strongly encouraged to have all core/flag

requirements done before matriculation EXCEPT those that are taught in the Pharm.D. program.

Online & community college courses?

• Both online and community college courses are fine.

• HOWEVER, IF you wish to take one of the above while enrolled at UT that term you MUST get prior approval from your advisor!

Myth

• The PharmD program only cares about GPA and PCAT scores, not about passion for or experience in pharmacy.– Not true!– Yes, the average GPA and PCAT are high, but– Virtually all admitted students have significant amounts

of pharmacy work experience, community service experience, and organizational experience.

GPA of enrolled students

PCAT composite scores enrolled students

Work and service experience

• While NOT required, direct PHR work experience as a CPhT is valuable and helpful.

• Volunteering & community service show your true heart!– Especially sustained service

Myth

• Communication skills don’t matter as admission criteria.– No one is admitted to the PharmD program without

communicating effectively during interview weekend.– The committee has denied folks with a 4.0 GPA and

99% on the PCAT because during the interview they did not communicate effectively OR did not convey a real interest in helping other people.

– Ethical scenario – team activity– MMI = multiple-mini interviews

Myth

• Language skills don’t matter as admission criteria.– Not true!– Writing achievement and potential are

evaluated specifically • by the PCAT writing score

– And by your grades in English comp and literature

MMI http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2013/02/021313-vetmed-

admissions.html

MMI http://school.med.nyu.edu/md-admissions/mmi-faqs

Myth

• Letters of recommendation don’t matter to the admissions committee.– Letters of recommendation from Pharmacists are the

gold standard for admission!– It is a red flag if someone indicates that they work in a

pharmacy and do NOT have a letter from a pharmacist.

PharmCAS and UT Supplemental Application

PharmCAS – required4-6 weeks for school to receive

UT Supplemental Application – required15-20 minutes to complete

Academics + Professional

• Academic ability – Pre-req GPA >2.8 (2015 mean =3.5)– PCAT >70% (2015 mean = 86%)– Grades in advanced science courses

• Knowledge of and passion for pharmacy – Essay– Letters of recommendation– Interview experiences

Real work experience

• Health care –Especially in pharmacy–Have contact with patients!–Learn about health care policy &

medications• Customer service jobs also helpful

Pharmacy work experience

• Understand at least one type of pharmacy experience

• Have real insight about the issues facing the profession

• Know something about medications

Meaningful service

• Organizational activities• Community service and

volunteering• Where you actually DO

something!

Serving in the community

•Care enough about helping others that you do it….a lot

Discipline

• 60 hour “work” week [academics, work, and service]

• such discipline is the key to success

Applicant Pool

GPA for Each Entering Class

Degrees of entering class

Residence of entering class

Ethnicity of entering class

Gender of entering class