Required courses
View a list of required courses for pre-professional programs in the Course Catalog
Pre-pharmacist
Pharmacists dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about using the medications. Pharmacists who work in hospitals or clinics advise medical staff on the selection and effects of drugs. They also plan and monitor drug schedules for patients. Pharmacists may evaluate the success of drug therapies for hospital patients. In addition, they counsel patients on how to properly use prescribed drugs while in the hospital and after they go home.
Pre-pharmacy timeline
- Meet with a pre-pharmacy peer advisor and your academic advisor
- Begin basic science courses (pre-calculus, general chemistry, introductory biology, etc.)
- Join campus student organizations and/or start one (i.e. Pre-Pharmacy Club)
- Get tutoring if you need it!
- Seek and begin volunteer/ community experience and continue throughout your undergraduate years
- Choose a major, if you haven't already done so
- Explore all health career options
- Start becoming familiar with requirements for various programs
- Seek summer internships, research experience, shadowing hours, and/or other opportunities
- Research schools in which you are interested (utilize PharmCAS Pharm.D. School Directory to start)
- Attend the University Professional and Graduate School Fair
- Make a list of schools you are interested in and research them thoroughly
- Find out the earliest date to submit an application
- Prepare for and take PCAT, if necessary
- Reality check: What are your chances? GPA? Activities? PCAT scores?
- Apply to schools (anytime from late spring through mid fall)
- Consider taking valuable electives: biochemistry, genetics, communication, microbiology, ethics, foreign language
- Ask people to write letters of recommendation
- Investigate WICHE opportunities for financial aid
- Retake PCAT, if necessary
- Confirm that you meet graduation requirements
- Confirm letters of recommendation or find alternates if necessary
- Complete secondary applications if necessary
- Prepare for interviews
- Apply for WICHE if applicable
- Confirm your commitment
- Seek honors & scholarships for graduate school
- Send appropriate people thank you notes and inform them of your success or future plans