Prospective Pharm. D. Student

Admissions & Application Information

The PharmD program is offered full-time, day-time only and admission is highly competitive. To be considered for admission, students must:

1. Complete the PharmCAS application at www.pharmcas.org. You must e-submit your PharmCAS application and arrange for PharmCAS to receive all official college transcripts before December 1, 2009. PharmCAS will not release applicant information to the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy until all transcripts, from each and every institution attended, are received and verified. You must e-submit your PharmCAS application by midnight on December 1, 2009.
   Please note: If you are currently taking pre-pharmacy courses, you must report your fall 2009 term grades to PharmCAS by the deadline set by PharmCAS. In addition, official transcripts reporting fall term grades must be submitted to PharmCAS by the deadline. When updating information on PharmCAS, such as fall term grades or other information, you must click the "Submit" button on the PharmCAS site or your information will not be updated. You will be informed of the PharmCAS Academic Update deadline after you've completed the application process.
   
   
2. Take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). For more information and to register for the PCAT, visit www.pcatweb.info. Scores should be submitted directly to PharmCAS (code: 104) and cannot have been taken prior to January 2008. Please note: Students who plan to enroll in September 2010 may not take the January 2010 PCAT unless it is a reattempt. Students should take the PCAT in June, August or October 2009.
   
   
3. Print and complete the University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy application. This application will be available online on August 1, 2009 and must be postmarked on or before December 1, 2009.
   
   
4. Complete the University of Cincinnati application online. This application will be available online on August 1, 2009. There is a $40 application fee for the University of Cincinnati application. You must submit the application online by midnight on December 1, 2009.
   
   
5. Submit three letters of recommendation through PharmCAS. We suggest that the letters come from your employer (hopefully a pharmacist), an academic instructor, and/or someone of your choosing. We will not accept letters of recommendation from politicians, friends, family members, co-workers or clergy. Letters of recommendation must be submitted to PharmCAS by midnight on December 1, 2009.
   
   
6. Complete (or be in the process of completing) an undergraduate pre-pharmacy curriculum that is equivalent to UC's pre-pharmacy curriculum. The minimum cumulative college GPA considered is 3.0.
   

International Applicants

International applicants must have foreign transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (WES) and arrange for the evaluation to arrive to PharmCAS before December 1, 2009. International students who are non-native English speakers must demonstrate English proficiency by submitting a TOEFL score to PharmCAS (code 8246) before December 1, 2009. To be considered for admission, international students must achieve a TOEFL score of 250 (computer-based) or 100 (internet-based). International students may also demonstrate English proficiency by earning a degree (bachelor's or master's) from an accredited college or university in an English speaking country.

International students who are admitted to the University will be contacted after admission with instructions on obtaining an I-20. Contact UC's International Student Services Office only after you are admitted. Do not contact them before you receive an admission letter.

Admissions Timeline

Selection Process

All applications that are complete and received by the December 1 deadline will be carefully reviewed for admission consideration. To be considered a qualified candidate, applicants should have a strong academic background (as demonstrated by cumulative college GPA and PCAT scores); a demonstrated history of leadership and involvement in community service, student affairs, and professional affairs; strong essays and personal statement; and a broad knowledge of the pharmacy profession. Qualified candidates will be invited to campus for an interview.

Interviews

Interviews are invitation-only and are conducted by two College of Pharmacy faculty members. Interviews are usually 30-45 minutes in length and are followed with a student-guided tour of the College of Pharmacy. The applicant assumes all expenses for attending the interview. While we make reasonable efforts to schedule the interview at a convenient time, applicants are expected to make themselves available to participate in the interview.

Notification of Admission

Notifications of admission are mailed via postal mail around April 1. Letters will be mailed to the preferred mailing address indicated on the PharmCAS application. Students will receive one of three letters: selected for admission (admitted), not selected for admission (denied), or placed on the alternate list.

Alternate List

Students who are placed on the alternate (waiting) list will be assigned a number, which represents the place they are on the alternate list. If, before classes begin, an accepted student decides not to attend the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, we replace them with the next available student on the alternate list. Once classes begin, applications for alternate list students whose number was not reached are cancelled. The alternate list is for the current admission cycle only. If a student wishes to re-apply in subsequent years, they must complete and submit their entire application again.

Tips for Applicants

• Check PharmCAS often to follow the progress of your application materials.
• Be aware of deadlines and be sure to complete your application by the deadline.
• Take the essays seriously. Type essay responses and answer the questions thoroughly and concisely. Be sure to have someone review your essays before submitting them.
• Ask your references to document information in support of your application which is not demonstrated by items such as GPA and PCAT scores.
• Begin your PharmCAS application early, and aim to submit it on or around Thanksgiving to avoid missing the December 1 deadline.