Pre-Pharmacy Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a BioHealth Sciences/Pre-Pharmacy major at OSU if I want to go to pharmacy school? No. You can declare any major as long as you take the prerequisite courses for the pharmacy schools in which you are interested. The BioHealth Sciences major with the Pre-Pharmacy option includes the most common of these courses. However, many of the prerequisites are also included in other majors such as Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Nutrition.

Can I still meet with a pre-pharmacy advisor if I am not in the BioHealth Sciences major? Of course! We are more than happy to discuss options in pharmacy with any OSU student regardless of major. Please call (541)737-3875 or stop by 225 Nash Hall to make an appointment.

Which prerequisite classes do I need to take? Each pharmacy school has its own set of prerequisite courses, which you must complete before entering the program. The most common prerequisites are general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, physics, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, calculus, writing, and communication. You can find out the specific courses required by each pharmacy school using the PharmCAS School Directory. The prerequisites for Oregon State’s Pharm.D. program are posted at here and are included in the BioHealth Sciences major with the Pre-Pharmacy option.

Should I retake a prerequisite class in order to get a better grade? It depends on your individual situation (what grade you received, how long ago, etc.). PharmCAS will average together the grades from both your first and repeated attempts when calculating your GPA. Individual pharmacy schools may have their own policies for considering repeated courses. Some pharmacy schools may also require minimum grades for their prerequisites (usually C or C-). If you are still unsure, discuss this question with your advisor.

I have questions about Oregon State’s Pharm.D. program. Where can I find answers? Check out the College of Pharmacy’s website for information on their Pharm.D. program. You can also contact the College of Pharmacy at [email protected] if you have questions about this specific program.

Does OSU have a pre-pharmacy club? Yes! The Pre-Pharmacy Society is an organization for OSU students in all majors who are interested in the field of pharmacy. Activities include monthly meetings, guest speakers, field trips, social activities, community service and other activities. Join the Facebook group under the name "Oregon State Pre-Pharm society" or subscribe to the “ppharm” listserv at lists.oregonstate.edu to find out more.

What should I be doing now to prepare for pharmacy school? Completing the prerequisite courses and obtaining high grades (A’s and B’s) should be your first priority throughout your undergraduate career. Get to know your professors by visiting office hours since you will need some of them to write you letters of recommendation for pharmacy school. Gaining experience in pharmacy (see next FAQ) is also a good idea in order to confirm that this is the right career path for you. It’s also never too early to start researching pharmacy programs and narrowing down where you want to apply. As you near the end of your prerequisite courses, start planning your application process (i.e. when you will take the PCAT, finalizing your list of schools, obtaining letters of recommendation, etc.).

How do I gain experience in pharmacy as an undergraduate? Job shadowing, informational interviewing, volunteering, and work experiences are all great ways for undergraduates to gain pharmacy experience. When looking for places to volunteer or pharmacists to shadow or interview, use your connections first. Do you know anyone who is a pharmacist? What about the pharmacy where you and/or your family fill prescriptions? Do you know other health care providers who might be able to connect you with a pharmacist? Consider gaining experience in retail pharmacy as well as another setting such as a hospital. Some pre-pharmacy students choose to obtain their pharmacy technician’s license in order to work part-time or volunteer at a pharmacy. Pharmacy technician programs are available at several community colleges and private colleges in Oregon. Gaining experience working with diverse populations in a variety of health care settings can also enhance your application to pharmacy school.

Pharmacy Careers and Programs What can I do with a Pharm. D. degree? The Pharm. D. degree provides the education required to become a licensed pharmacist. Pharmacists work in a variety of areas including community practice, academic pharmacy, public health services, pharmacy management, hospital practice, managed care pharmacy, pharmaceutical research, and consultant pharmacy. Find out more about career options in pharmacy on the AACP Student Center website.

How many years of school does it take to become a pharmacist? Obtaining a Pharm. D. degree requires four academic years (or three calendar years) of professional study. To become fully licensed pharmacists, Pharm. D. graduates fulfill requirements for the state in which they wish to practice. This process requires graduates to take one or more licensure examinations. Some students also choose to complete an optional residency training program or pursue additional graduate study after completing their Pharm. D. degree.

What is a dual-degree program? Dual degree programs allow pharmacy students to pursue a supplemental degree along with their Pharm. D. Common dual-degree programs combine the Pharm. D. with Ph.D, MBA, Master of Public Health, or Master of Science degrees. Other less common dual options include M.D., J.D., and Master of Public Affairs degrees. Dual-degree programs are designed for students who want to pursue other fields of study in addition to pharmacy or who desire to go into pharmaceutical research.

How can I learn more about pharmacy school? The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Student Center is a good place to start: http://www.aacp.org/pharmacycareers.

Applying to Pharmacy School What criteria do pharmacy schools consider when making admissions decisions? Pharmacy schools may consider some or all of the following: your GPA and grades, coursework taken, PCAT scores, relevant experience (especially health care experience), personal statement, letters of recommendation, and personal interview. Schools vary on the factors used and the weight given to each factor. This is a great question to ask at when speaking with pharmacy school admissions representatives.

What type of grades do I need to get into pharmacy school? Admission to pharmacy school is relatively competitive. To give you an idea, below is the academic profile of the students admitted to PharmCAS-participating schools in the 2010 application cycle.

Average Science GPA 3.23 Average Non-science GPA 3.57 Average Math GPA 3.31 Average Cumulative GPA 3.36 Average Composite PCAT: 54th percentile

For the OSU College of Pharmacy, the average pre-pharmacy science GPA of admitted applicants in recent years has been 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale). At Pacific University, the average GPA for accepted students in Fall 2014 was a 3.4. Other school-specific admissions statistics can be found on the PharmCAS School Directory.

Do I need to complete my bachelor’s degree before entering pharmacy school? Most pharmacy schools only require that you complete the prerequisite courses before entering the Pharm. D. program. This can usually be done in three years of undergraduate study. However, finishing your bachelor’s degree will likely make you more competitive candidate for admission to pharmacy school. Some pharmacy schools may require or prefer applicants to have bachelor’s degrees.

How do I apply to pharmacy school? The majority of pharmacy schools utilize PharmCAS, a centralized application service which allows applicants to fill out one application that is sent to multiple schools. In addition, most schools ask that students complete a supplemental application and submit it to the school directly by a specific deadline. More information about the application process can found on the Preparing to Apply section of the PharmCAS website. For pharmacy schools that do not use PharmCAS, applicants apply to the school directly by following the application instructions listed on the individual school websites.

When should I apply to pharmacy school? The pharmacy application cycle begins in the summer when PharmCAS opens and ends the following fall when new students enter PharmD programs. The earliest students can apply is the summer before the year that they will finish the prerequisites for the PharmD program(s) where they wish to apply. Most students on a typical four year plan apply the summer prior to senior year. Then they complete their prerequisites senior year, graduate in spring, and (hopefully) begin pharmacy school in the fall. This typical timeline may or may not be right for you. Consider when you want to begin pharmacy school, whether your grades and experience are competitive enough at this point to gain admission, and whether you feel ready to apply. The PharmCAS application typically opens in mid-July. The exact application deadlines are school-specific and generally vary from November to March for entry the following fall. For Early Decision applicants, the deadline is typically early September.

Should I take the PCAT? As of 2015, 88-percent of pharmacy schools in the U.S. require the PCAT. The two pharmacy schools in Oregon, Oregon State University and Pacific University, are among those who do not require the PCAT. When deciding whether or not to take the PCAT, consider the schools to which you will be applying. If you are unsure, you may want to take the test in order to keep your options open.

When is the PCAT offered? The PCAT is usually offered in July, September, October/November and January of each application cycle. Check the PCAT website for specific dates. The July and September administrations of the test are easily accommodated by most pharmacy schools. The January administration may fall after the application deadlines of some schools.

Should I study for the PCAT? Yes! The PCAT covers content from courses such as General Chemistry, Biology, and Organic Chemistry that you will likely need to review. It is recommended that you begin to study 2-3 months prior to your exam date. Options for test preparation include study guide books, official practice tests, and test prep courses. Only use study resources written for your test year (not old editions) as the PCAT content changes slightly from year to year. Starting in the 2016-17 application cycle, the PCAT will incorporate new passage-based questions in the science sections. It will be especially important to use new editions of PCAT study materials at this point to prepare for these new question types.