So what is it?
It is the Pharmacy College Application Service
An online service that almost all pharmacy
schools require for applicants to use, for
submitting pharmacy school applications
Very similar to the “common app” you used to
apply to UCI and other UC schools.
“almost all”
Pharmacy Schools
require PharmCAS?
Yes. There are about 129 pharmacy
school in the US, only 19 don’t use
PharmCAS:
CALIFORNIA Schools: ALL 8 OF THEM
Participating Schools:
http://www.pharmcas.org/collegesscho
ols/schoolpagesPARTinstitution.htm
General Process for
applying to Pharm School
1. Complete all required pre-requisites, and
meet a school’s GPA requirements.
2. COMPLETE and submit PHARMCAS.
3. Complete the supplemental application, once
your pharmacy school invites you to complete it.
Why is PharmCAS kind of
nice?
Applying to pharmacy school in the ancient times
required MAILING:
Each individual transcript from previous schools
Letters of Rec
PCAT scores
Personal Statement, and other applicant info
TO EACH PHARMACY SCHOOL YOU APPLIED TO!
Can you say, “hassle…”
Why is PharmCAS kind of
nice?
NOW you can combine all your info into ONE
APP and simply choose all the Pharmacy
Schools you would like apply to straight from the
PharmCAS website.
NO MAILING required.
Kind of nice.
AWESOME PharmCAS
feature:
http://www.pharmcas.org/collegesschools/schoo
lpages.htm
ALL GENERAL INFO YOU WANT TO KNOW
ABOUT EVERY PHARMACY SCHOOL!
Disclaimer
PharmCAS changes every year!
So, let’s get to it.
PharmCAS General
Anatomy
Applicant Information
Academic History
Transcripts
Additional Information (all experience)
Personal Essay
References and Letters of Recommendation
Pharmacy Designations
Applicant Information
Short Bio, Background, Address, Phone Number,
Parent or guardian info…
Self-explanatory…
Academic History
Secondary (High) School
PCAT, AP, and IB scores
Colleges previously and currently attended
Coursework (Completed, In Progress, and Planned)
from U.S. colleges including Study Abroad
Academic update
Transcripts
Submit 1 transcript from each college attended
U.S. Transcripts
Foreign Transcripts
Additional Information
Extracurricular
Work Experience
Professional Licenses and Certifications
Honors and Scholarships
Publications
Personal Essay
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.
1 page limit (4500 characters including spaces)
Letters of Recommendation
Enter up to 4 evaluators
Evaluators can submit electronic letters of rec or
paper references to PharmCAS
PharmCAS will forward your references to all of your
designated pharmacy schools, regardless of the
school’s preference
**CAUTION: Some pharmacy schools require
references to be sent directly to them.
Pharmacy Designations
Select which pharmacy schools you are applying to
Option to be an Early Decision applicant
ED deadline: September 4, 2012
May select additional pharmacy schools after you
submit your PharmCAS application
Pay appropriate fee for each additional school selected
Can’t apply to a particular school after deadline date has
passed
E-Submission & Payment
PharmCAS
application fees are
non-refundable
Processing Your
Application
PharmCAS verifies all of your courses after
they receive ALL of your transcripts,
completed application, and fee
Calculates your GPA in semester-based 4.0
grading scale
GPA calculations for: Science, NonScience, Math, Undergraduate Cumulative
PharmCAS GPA available within 4 weeks
from the date you e-submit your app,
transcripts have been received, and
payment received
Re-Applicant Option
If you’d applied before, you can reuse your old
application, BUT you:
CANNOT change your past volunteer, work, and
coursework
CAN only submit new personal statement and
letters of Rec
Common Mistakes
Spelling errors
Entering incorrect grades
NOT LISTING ALL COURSEWORK
Submitting PharmCAS too early or too late
Not remembering what was inputted, then going
to an Interview
Common Problems
Delays in references, transcripts, and PCAT
Different school requirements and deadlines
Submitting too close to the deadline, and then
rushing the supplemental app
PharmCAS has a 2-6 week processing time
Important DATES from
2012-2013
June, 2012: PharmCAS opens
July, 2012: PCAT Examinations
July 20, 2012: Regular Registration Deadline for
September PCAT Exams
September, 2012: PCAT Examinations
November 1, 2012: 1st Regular institutional
application deadline (ALL CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS).
Fees, Letters of Rec, Transcripts are due in the
PharmCAS office. Supplemental Application
deadlines will vary, so please check with the school.
Important DATES from
2012-2013
Also check:
http://www.pharmcas.org/advisors/calendar.htm
PharmCAS will open
sometime Early June.
Check the PharmCAS website from time to time next month to see if
its open
Do what you can already
Start that Personal Statement!
Don’t forget about ROLLING ADMISSIONS, which means that the
earlier you apply, the better chances you have for getting an
interview. NOT ALL pharmacy schools have rolling admissions, but
most do.
So just because the deadline is Nov. 1st for CA schools, don’t wait
that late!
Just…
Start Early and GOOD LUCK!
=D