Prospective Pharm. D. Student

Program Application Process

Applications start through PharmCAS (www.pharmcas.org) and should be submitted June-December of the year preceding the Fall Quarter you wish to enter. The final deadline for submission of application materials is December 1, 2008 . All documents should be submitted as described in the directions that are a part of the application packet. Complete the Graduate Application and James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy application as directed on the PharmCAS and UC James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy (pharmacy.uc.edu) website. To guarantee consideration applications must be received before the published PharmCAS deadline (usually early January). Each applicant must have a “realistic plan” to complete all of the prepharmacy requirements prior to the start of the next Fall Quarter. On-site personal interviews of the qualified applicants are conducted by invitation only.

After an in-depth evaluation of applicants a decision to admit, reject, or pend will be transmitted to the applicant during the month of April. Applicants who are admitted during the “first round” will have until April 15th to confirm their admission. Applicants who are pended have until April 15th to submit additional academic and personal information to supplement their application. Following another in-depth evaluation, “second round” decisions will be formally issued around May 1st. The number of “second round” offers is dependent on the number of confirmed students generated from “first round” offers. Depending on attrition, students on the “alternate list” may be admitted right up until the start of the academic year if space becomes available. All students that are offered admission must confirm their acceptance and pay a confirmation fee to secure their admission. This confirmation fee is non-refundable and is applied to autumn term tuition.

Selection:
Selection is based on an in-depth evaluation of applicants utilizing both academic and non-academic criteria. Although the cumulative QPA is considered to be a measure of academic ability, the evaluation takes into account performance in science lecture courses and compares it to performance in non-science courses. The most recent academic performance of applicants is viewed as being more indicative of ability, and is given more weight than earlier performance. Performance in Organic Chemistry and Physics lecture courses is also considered to be important as it is predictive of performance in the professional program. A seven-year “statute” of limitation is used to determine acceptability of prior math and science courses. All prepharmacy requirements must be taken for academic credit (no pass/fail) and must be completed with a grade equivalent to or better than a “C”. Completion of the prepharmacy requirments does not guarantee admission.

Non-academic interests and activities are also taken into consideration. Such things as demonstrated leadership; involvement in community affairs, student affairs, and professional affairs; written and verbal communication skills; and the basis for a decision to pursue a career in pharmacy are considered. Activities and involvement are analyzed, and extenuating circumstances which might explain compromised academic performance are also taken into consideration. Particular attention is focused on what the applicant has done and how they have contributed or made a difference, and not just being a “member” of a club or organization. The manner in which ideas are presented during telephone conversations, interviews, personal conferences, and written responses on the application or in letters or email is also taken into consideration.

The Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) is required for admission consideration. Applicants may take the test during testing dates during the calendar year before admission. Have test scores sent to PharmCAS (code 104). Late or incomplete applications are not accepted. See http://www.pcatweb.info for more information about the PCAT. Note that for students wishing to enroll in the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy in September 2008 or later, the PCAT must be taken during the June, August, or October 2007 testing dates; we will not accept the January PCAT test starting with the January 2008 PCAT.

The evaluation process ultimately generates a decision to admit, place on the alternate list, or deny admission. The final disposition of each applicant is issued around May 1st.

Suggestions for applicants:
Take the application process seriously and "put your best foot forward". When filling out the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy application you should type your responses or make certain to write very neatly. Present yourself in as positive a fashion as possible. Realize that you are responsible for supplying all information necessary to have a complete file for evaluation. Consider preparing a rough draft of your application and revising your responses before making the final submission.

Individuals you select to write letters of recommendation should document information in support of your application which otherwise would not be known.

The James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy will issue invitations for interviews to applicants who are viewed as the top candidates. Because of the large number of applicants and the limited space in the class, it is impossible to interview or admit all applicants. Therefore applicants should consider applying to several different pharmacy programs.

A list of accredited Colleges of Pharmacy is available online at the American Association of College of Pharmacy website: www.aacp.org.

Beyond Application:

• Interviews. We conduct on-campus interviews with qualified candidates. These interviews are usually conducted by two members of our admissions committee, however a third committee member may sit in on an interview as an observer. Interviews are usually 30-45 minutes in length, but sometimes they're as short as 10 minutes or as long as 90 minutes. Interviews are generally followed with a tour of the College of Pharmacy and a meeting with currently-enrolled students. The applicant assumes all expenses for attending the interview. While we make reasonable efforts to schedule the interview at a convenient time, the applicant is expected to make themselves available to participate in the interview should they be invited.
• Update of information. If requested, an applicant's Winter, Spring, and Summer term transcripts must be sent directly to the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy when they become available. Winter, Spring, and Summer transcripts should NOT be sent to PharmCAS.
• Timeframe for decision. We send out notification of admission decisions in mid-March and again in mid-May. In March, students will receive one of three letters: 1> We've selected you for admission (admitted), 2> We have not selected you for admission (rejected), or 3> We have not yet made a final decision about your application (pending). Students who are given a status of "pending" in mid-March have the opportunity to supplement their application with additional academic and non-academic information before we make our decision in mid-May. In May, pending students receive one of three letters: 1> We've selected you for admission (admitted), 2> We have not selected you for admission (rejected), or 3> You're on the alternate list (waiting list).
• Alternate list. Students may be assigned a number on an alternate list. If, before classes begin, an accepted student decides not to attend the University of Cincinnati 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.
• Confirmation and fees. Accepted students are sent an acceptance letter and confirmation form. Once the decision to attend the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy has been made, applicants complete & return the confirmation form with a non-refundable $250 deposit (check or money order made out to "University of Cincinnati") to secure their spot in our program. If the admitted student attends the College of Pharmacy, the $250 is applied as a tuition credit.
• Conditional & unconditional admission. Until admitted students complete all of their pre-pharmacy requirements, their admission is considered to be conditional. Once we verify that the student has completed all pre-pharmacy requirements and complied with other pre-admission requirements, their acceptance becomes unconditional. If a conditionally-admitted student does not complete the pre-pharmacy requirements before professional pharmacy classes begin, they forfeit their admission status.
• Summer orientation. In late June, we host an orientation day at the College of Pharmacy to provide admitted students with HIPAA training, acclimate them to the College of Pharmacy, prepare them for their summer shadowing experience, and to assist with questions students may have as they embark on their professional Pharmacy education. This summer orientation is also the first time classmates get to meet in person. Attendance at this orientation is suggested but not mandatory.
• Medical history and immunization requirements. After admission and prior to enrollment in the program, students must schedule an appointment with East Campus Health Services to establish a baseline health and immunization record. Students must comply with the requirements set forth by East Campus Health Services.
• Summer shadowing program. After acceptance and prior to enrollment in the program, accepted students are required participate in a mandatory summer shadowing program which places them in a variety of pharmacy settings with assigned preceptors for a total of 16 hours. Participation in and completion of the summer shadowing program counts for a percentage of a final grade in one of the first professional year classes.
• Mandatory orientation. We host a mandatory orientation program during the two days before classes begin in the Fall. Dress business-casual and come prepared with a notebook and writing instrument. Both days are filled with introductions, informative presentations, and workshops. Student identification badges are issued at this orientation event. Participation in and completion of this orientation program counts for a percentage of a final grade in one of the first professional year classes.
• White coat ceremony. The College of Pharmacy hosts a white coat ceremony the evening before classes begin. Family members are invited to observe admitted students transition into a professional pharmacy program, symbolized by the awarding of the student's first white lab coat.
• Intern licenses. Once classes begin, students will be given information, forms, and instructions on how to register as a pharmacy intern. In Ohio, students cannot register as interns until they are enrolled (attending) a college of pharmacy.