What is PharmCAS?

by Teresa and Eman, 5.29.13

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/collegesschools/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/schoolpages.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, Non-Science, 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