Meeting: PharmCAS Workshop
Date: May 21, 2014
Time: 7:10 - 7:46 PM
Location: LSA 1022
Speakers: Candace Matsunaga, Erin Lee, Shirley Ly
Officers Present: Erin, Jessa May, Shirley, Alyssa, Raya, Cerise, Danny, Connie
Announcements
 Fundraiser: The Melt
o Tuesday, May 27th, 4-9PM
o 500 1st Street, Davis
o Flyer will be posted on website
 Accepted Student Panel
o Wednesday, May 28th, 7:10PM
o LSA 1022
 Lights, Camera, Action! A Night at the Oscars
o Saturday, May 31st, 7:3 – 9PM
o LSA 1022
o Must RSVP by May 28th
 UCSF Pharmacy School Information Day
o Saturday, May 31st, 9AM – 3:30 PM
o UCSF
o Registration deadline: May 26th
 UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences OPEN HOUSE
o Friday, June 20th, 1PM – 3:30PM
o UC San Diego
o Deadline to RSVP: June 9th
th
 12 Annual UC Davis Pre-Medical & Pre-Health Professions National Conference (Early
Registration)
o Saturday, October 11th – Sunday, October 12th
o 8AM – 4PM
o UC Davis
o Early registration is $35 until June 2nd
 Mentorship Programs
o Touro University COP Connect Mentorship Program
o California Northstate University Mentorship
o Applications at www.davispharmacyclub.com
About the Speakers
 Candace Matsunaga
o Pre-Pharmacy Peer Advisor
o E-mail: cmmatsunaga@ucdavis.edu
o Advising hours
 Monday 2-4PM, Wednesday 3-4 PM
o Drop-Ins
 Wednesday 2-4PM
o All appointments in 111 South Hall
 Pre-Pharmacy Club
o E-mail: ucdprepharmacy@gmail.com
o www.davisprepharmacyclub.com
 Transcript subject codes link
 CA supplemental essay questions
 CA pharmacy school pre-requisites

Meeting minutes
PharmCAS: Basics
 What is PharmCAS?
o Pharmacy College Application Service – centralized application for pharmacy
schools/colleges
 Can apply to multiple schools using one application
 Checklist/instructions for application process
 Can check status of application materials online
o www.pharmcas.org
o Will open mid-July this year
 Do you have to use PharmCAS?
o Yes, all students applying to a PharmCAS school must use PharmCAS
application process
 PharmCAS directory lists all participating schools
 “School Information” link on PharmCAS website
o Some schools do not use PharmCAS
 How to sign up
o www.pharmcas.org
o Click on “Your Application”
 “PharmCAS application login”  “Create new application”  Fill out form
and agree to abide by Applicant Code of Conduct
 First and last name, e-mail, username, password, security
question and answer
 Fees
o Base fee: $150
o $55 for each school
o Once you e-submit PharmCAS, you will receive several payment options
 Application will not be processed until payment is received
 PharmCAS application fees are NON-REFUNDABLE
 Online by credit card or money order
 Note: Once you’ve selected money order as preferred payment plan,
you cannot switch to credit card payment
 Fee Waivers
o Granted on first-come, first-serve basis
o Qualification for fee waiver based on income/parent’s income
o If you receive fee waiver, you can apply to ONE PharmCAS school for free
 Will expire in 45 business days if not applied to your application
 E-mail
o Check spam/junk mail for PharmCAS or pharmacy school related messages
o Add the email addresses:
 info@pharmcas.org
 donotreply@webadmit.org
 Anything from the *@sendgrid.me domain and
donotreply@webadmit.org
 Application
o Applicant Info
 Biographic, Background, Personal Data, Parent or Guardian Info
o Academic History
 Secondary (High) School, Tests, Colleges Attended, Coursework, Future
Enrollment Plans
o Additional Info
 Extracurricular, Work Experience, Professional Licenses and
Certifications, Honors and Scholarships, Publications
Personal Essay
Privacy Statements
References
Pharmacy Designations
 Transcripts
o Print out transcript request form
o Can order transcripts via SISWeb
 Select Student Services and Financial Aid Tab  Student Records 
Order Official Transcript
 Follow directions
o Can also order transcripts in person
 Office of University Registrar, 12 Mrak Hall
 Photo ID, Addresses
o Transcripts are free for UC Davis students
o PharmCAS can take up to 5 weeks to process
 Extracurricular Activities
o List in order of importance
o Club/organization
o Research Positions
o Internships/Events
o Brief Description
o Hours – Total/Weekly
o Start Dates and End Dates
 Work Experience
o List in order of importance
 Employer
 Position Title/Brief Description
 Hours – Total/Weekly
 Start and End Dates
 Honors and Scholarships
o List in order of importance
o Award name
o Organization
o Date received or awarded
 Personal Essay
o Prompt: Your Personal Essay should address why you selected pharmacy
as a career and how the Doctor of Pharmacy degree relates to your
immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal,
educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals.
The personal essay is an important part of your application for admission
and provides you with an opportunity for you to clearly and effectively
express your ideas.
o Do not personalize essay for a specific institution
o Cannot make edits to Personal Essay after submitting completed application
o Use text-only word processor (e.g. Notepad) to write your essay, then copy and
paste into text box on PharmCAS
o Limit: 4500 characters, including spaces
o Save and review your essay
 Coursework
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Most tedious but important part of PharmCAS
Make sure grades match school
Completed Courses
 Course titles (SISWeb), Course prefix (Transcript Code)
o Planned/In Progress
 UC Davis, community college(s)
o Use your transcript
 Official course names and numbers
 OR look at transcript codes and SISWeb course names online
 www.davispharmacyclub.com
 “Links”  “UC Davis Transcript Subject Codes”
 DO NOT USE SISWEB SUBJECT CODES
o PharmCAS will add in AP units for you if indicated on transcript
 Send in official AP score report to pharmacy school you will be attending
if planning to use AP courses to complete pre-reqs
o Arrange for summer/fall transcripts to be sent directly to PharmCAS as soon as
available
o Cannot make edits to coursework section until Academic Update window is open
 Can only update coursework ONCE during Academic Update
o Courses originally reported as completed cannot be modified
o PharmCAS will not verify/report updated course history until these steps are
completed:
 Switch newly completed courses for summer and fall terms to complete
and enter in grades
 Update planned courses through May
 Click on e-Submit button to send updated courses to PharmCAS
 Arrange for updated transcripts to be sent directly, if not previously
submitted
 Designations
o Pick school(s): List of schools
 Can add/delete
o Be sure you meet minimum GPA requirement and/or category GPA for the
school
 Reference Letters
o Letters of recommendation = references
 Pick someone who can write you a strong letter
 Different schools require different letters
 Standard = 1 pharmacist, 1 professor, 1 choice
 Enter up to 4 names and contact (email AND phone number) on
PharmCAS information
 LORS must be submitted electronically
 Alert your evaluator to watch out for automated email from
PharmCAS with the subject “PharmCAS Reference Request”
from noreply@pharmcas.org
 Give amply time for letter-writers and follow up with them
o Tips
 Give time frame for your letter writer
 Give them a pseudo-deadline (e.g. tell writer to submit letter by
July 1st)
 Give these to letter-writer in person:
 Cover letter (include deadline and other application details)
 Transcript
 Resume
 Personal Statement
 Any other Supplemental Information
 Send additional references directly to your pharmacy school
 Final step
o E-submit
 Pay fees, add additional schools, remember academic update and
transcripts
o Most CA pharmacy school deadlines are NOVEMBER 1st
Supplemental Applications
 What are they?
o Specific for each school
o Opportunity for each pharmacy school to learn more about you beyond
PharmCAS
o Showcase activites, character, passion in greater detail
o Why do you want to attend OUR school?
o Any extenuating circumstances?
o Can be completed before or after submitting PharmCAS – meet the school’s
deadline
 Supplemental Application tips
o Make timeline of deadlines for each school
o Find out what is required for each supplemental
 Resume?
 Copy of Pharm Tech license?
o Update your resume
o Many answers can be used interchangeably between supplemental essay
questions for multiple schools
o Have your resume and supplemental applications checked
 SASC writing specialists/tutors, pharmacy school mentors, South Hall
personal statement specialists, PEERS
o www.davispharmacyclub.com
 “Links”  “Supplemental Essay Questions”
 Compiled supplemental essay questions for most CA and some
out-of-state pharmacy schools
Rolling, Semi-Rolling, and Non-Rolling Admissions
 Rolling Admissions
o Special consideration given to applicants who submit applications earlier in the
cycle than later
o Earlier submission  Earlier interview  Greater chances of admission
o Later submission  Less spots available  More competitive
o Class is filled continuously throughout whole cycle
o Schools: California Northstate, Loma Linda, Touro, USC
 Semi-Rolling Admissions
o UOP
 Tier One: June 1 – August 1
 Tier Two: August 2 – September 1
 Tier Three: September 2 – November 1
 Acceptance status 1-2 weeks after interview
o Western University
 Start reviewing applications in November, first interview date in early
December
 Acceptance status 2-3 weeks after interview
 More interview invitations sent out as spots are available
 Non-Rolling Admissions
o Applications are viewed after set deadline (e.g. Nov 1 st)
o All interview invitations sent out at once
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Final review after all interviews are done
Schools: UC San Francisco, UC San Diego
Interviews
 Why interviews?
o Allows school to assess:
 Verbal communication skills, motivation to pursue pharmacy, critical
thinking, maturity, fit for the school
o Allows YOU to assess:
 Student and faculty dynamics, environment and facilities, learn more
about the program, if the school is right for you
 Preparing for interviews
o Look at studentdoctor.net
 “Interview feedback” – specific questions that previous applicants were
asked at each pharmacy school + survey of experience
 http://schools.studentdoctor.net/schools/?view=pharmacy
o Know yourself
 Review personal statement, resume, and supplemental applications
o Research:
 Positives of each school
 Healthcare reform (SB 493, Healthcare/pharmacy challenges)
 Pharmacy Times
o Prepare questions to ask
 Examples:
 Opinion/experience with a particular feature of the
school/program?
 What is the interaction between professors and students?
 What research options does the program offer?
o Don’t make answers sound rehearsed
o Mock interviews (HSA, Pharmacy school friends, etc.)
 Message Points
o Who are you? Why do you want to be a pharmacist? Why are you a good fit for
the program?
 Common questions
o Tell me about yourself
 School, major, activites/leadership, hobbies
 Don’t mention anything you don’t feel comfortable talking about
 Aim for less than 45 seconds
o Why pharmacy?
o Why our school?
o Strengths and weaknesses
o Qualities of a good pharmacist
o Leadership experience
 Tutor, leading a team
o Pharmacy/Healthcare challenges
o Why not medicine?
o Areas of pharmacy you are interested in
o Situational questions on working in teams, resolving conflict
 Fillers
o Don’t use:
 Umm, uh, like, excessive nodding
o Good fillers:
 That’s a good question, thank you for asking that, thank you Dr.____
 ABC’s of answering questions
o Answer question
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 Be concise and stick to the topic
o Bridge to the message points
o Conclude on a positive note
Before the interview
o Make travel/housing arrangements
o Wear professional attire
 First impressions make a difference
 Maybe wear something that stands out
o Review flashcards of common questions
o Have breakfast
o Know where you’re parking
o Arrive 30-45 minutes before scheduled time
o Greet everyone pleasantly, enthusiastically
 Your “interview” starts when you step into the building
Tips
o BE YOURSELF
o Firm handshake – before and after interview
o Eye-contact
o Be confident, conversational, and friendly
o Relax and smile
o Sit up straight
o Be aware of gestures
o It’s ok to ask for clarification
o Ask questions (2-3 questions) that convey interest in the program
o Thank them at the end
o Other parts of the interview
 Essay, campus tour, info session, student chatroom
After the interview
o Follow-up with a thank you email
 Remember interviewer’s name and Google their email address after
 OR ask interview day coordinator
o Waiting game
o Acceptance
 Most schools require a deposit to secure your spot ($100-$2,000) due
about 2 weeks after acceptance
Points to remember
o Professionalism: social media, email/phone etiquette, entire interview process
o First Impressions: voice tone, facial expressions, posture, appearance
 Ladies
 Skirts should not fall above the knee; choose neutral color
 Pants should be a neutral color as well
 Heels should not exceed 2 inches
 Gentlemen
 Tie should match shirt and not attract too much attention
 Black or neutral colored slacks
 Dress shoes that match pants. Don’t wear white socks.
Interview summary for each accredited CA pharmacy school
o Open file: interviewers have application on hand and will most likely ask
questions pertaining to application
 USC, UCSD, Touro, CNU, Western, Loma Linda
o Closed file: interviewers do not have application on hand; you are an open book
 UOP, UCSF, Western, Loma Linda