³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏing to Pharmacy School
Pharmacy programs require various prerequisites for admission and consider a variety of clinical and non-clinical experiences. This typically includes:
- A bachelor's degree
- Specific prerequisite coursework
- Standardized test scores
- Clinical and non-clinical experiences
Become a Pharmacist:
Check the directory of accredited programs to search for information about admissions requirements for the school(s) to which you plan to apply:
Many pharmacists choose to continue their schooling to pursue a certification in a , such as:
- Ambulatory Care Pharmacy
- Oncology Pharmacy
- Critical Care Pharmacy
- Infectious Diseases Pharmacy
- Cardiology Pharmacy
- Pediatric Pharmacy
- Psychiatric Pharmacy
- Geriatric Pharmacy
- Solid Organ Transplant Pharmacy
- Managed Care Pharmacy
What major should you choose? You can major in anything and apply to pharmacy school. Admissions requirements vary from school to school, so you should do your research to make sure you have a plan to meet all of the requirements needed for your schools of interest. The Health Pathways page provides information about health-related programs at ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ. This is a good place to start exploring options to make sure you've chosen your best fit major.
How to Build a Competitive Application
- A minimum GPA, typically at least 3.0 but many programs have an average GPA of 3.5 or higher for admitted students
You'll apply through a Centralized Application Service, or CAS. The link below explains how GPAs are calculated:
| Pharmacy |
The PCAT has officially been retired and there is currently no pharmacy school admissions test to take its place. Pharmacy Schools have pivoted to more of a holistic approach.
Shadow:
Is pharmacy right for me? and
Become a pharmacy tech:
Volunteer at a hospital, request to volunteer in the pharmacy:
- Hampton Roads/Coastal Virginia Hospitals
- , , and are all hospital groups with great volunteer programs, some right down the street from ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ.
- Interested in opportunities on the peninsula? Check out Sentara’s Williamsburg. location or .
- Live outside of Hampton Roads? Check your local hospital’s website for information about volunteer opportunities and how to apply!
Research
Research experience, either as an undergraduate or during a gap year can be a great way to hone your analytical skills and can help to strengthen your pharmacy school application. As a R1 research institution, there are many opportunities on campus to gain research experience as an undergraduate. Look up faculty in the College of Sciences, Ellmer College of Health Sciences, Ellmer School of Nursing, and Joint School of Public Health and reach out to professor(s) whose research matches your interests.
Leadership
Join a club or organization and volunteer for a leadership position
Unique Life Experiences
- Multilingual
- Study Abroad or travel outside of the US
- Military
- Work full time
Common Prerequisites
| Common Prerequisite Courses | Course Numbers | |
| General Biology I & II w/ labs | BIOL 121N/122N | BIOL 123N/124N |
| Anatomy & Physiology I & II w/labs | BIOL 250 | BIOL 251 |
| Microbiology | BIOL 293 and BIOL 294 required prerequisites for BIOL 316/317 | BIOL 316/317 |
| General/Inorganic Chemistry I & II w/ labs | CHEM 121N/122N | CHEM 123N/124N |
| Organic Chemistry I & II w/labs | CHEM 211/212 | CHEM 213/214 |
| Biochemistry | CHEM 441 | |
| College or University Physics I & II w labs | PHYS 111N or PHYS 231N | PHYS 112N or PHYS 232N |
| Math (Calculus) | MATH 103M or 102M -> MATH 162M -MATH 163 prerequisites depending on placement | MATH 211 |
| Statistics | STAT 130M | |
| Behavioral Science courses |
PSYC 201S SOC 201S |
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| Economics |
ECON 201S |