Springboard 17 - School of Pharmacy

Today’s Presentation • Discuss admissions criteria for the SIUE School of Pharmacy • Help you understand the pre-pharmacy required courses • Help you set goals for earning admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy Program • Introduce the idea of a parallel plan • Provide you with tips for success • Answer your questions

Pathways to Admission Pathway 1: Traditional • Most students enter via this pathway.

• Students will complete the required pre-pharmacy courses in the way that best suits their individual needs.

• Students will apply to the School of Pharmacy one year before the intended start date.

Pathway 2: Conditional Entry Program • Students are selected upon completion of the Meridian Profile in their senior year of high school.

• Students must meet the requirements of the Conditional Entry Program agreement.

• Students will apply to the School of Pharmacy one year before the intended start date.

Admission Criteria • Three GPA calculations: • Overall college GPA • Pre-pharmacy GPA • Pre-pharmacy math and science GPA • Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) • Letters of Recommendation • Interview • Writing Assessment

Pre-Pharmacy Curriculum • General Chemistry (with labs) – 10 hours • Organic Chemistry (with lab) – 8 hours • General Biology (with labs) – 8 hours • Microbiology – 4 hours (requires genetics prerequisite at SIUE) • Physics I – 5 hours • Statistics – 4 hours

Pre-Pharmacy Curriculum • • • • •

Human Anatomy & Physiology – 8 hours Calculus or Calculus for Life Sciences – 5 hours English Composition/Literature – 6 hours Social Science/RA 101 – 6 hours Economics/Communications – 6 hours

Equivalencies at other schools available at: siue.edu/pharmacy/prospective/Curricular_Equivalencies.shtml

Goal Setting Set your goals based upon facts and statistics. Dealing in facts can help take the emotion out of the decisions you make.

Ask yourself the following questions at the end of your freshman year: • What is the average GPA for applicants who are admitted?

• What is your GPA? • What is the average standardized test score for applicants who are admitted?

• What is your standardized test score?

Set Your Goals Now Graduation Year

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

81

81

81

81

82

Cumulative GPA

3.54

3.52

3.52

3.53

3.54

Pre-Pharmacy GPA

3.60

3.56

3.55

3.53

3.56

Pre-Pharmacy Math and Science GPA

3.53

3.48

3.44

3.43

3.45

64

63

58

64

62

Total students

PCAT Score

Set Goals to Meet Deadlines Begin the application process one year before you want to enter the School of Pharmacy.

• Beginning mid-July: Application is available to students • November: Latest PCAT test date that will meet application deadline • February 1: Application deadline • October-March: Interviews and writing assessments • October-March: Students notified of interview status

Keep an Open Mind: Develop a Parallel Plan Learn all you can about pharmacy, as well as other careers and majors.

• Health-care related experience • Volunteer and community service • Work with the Career Development Center • Research pharmacy • The Occupational Outlook Handbook • Job shadow a pharmacist (or other health care professional) • Talk to your academic advisor

Tips for Success • Earn the best grades possible and take as many science courses as your schedule allows before you take the PCAT. • Pre-pharmacy curriculum can be completed in two years.

However, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy has reported that many students enter pharmacy school with at least three years of college work.

• The SIUE School of Pharmacy has expectations for student behavior and performance.

• Professionalism • Involvement • Attention to detail • A willingness to embrace academic rigor

Tips for Success • Go beyond the minimum requirements in every class.

• Choose courses that challenge you.

• Take at least 15 hours each semester.

• Get involved in student organizations.

• The Pre-Pharmacy Association exists to help students interested in pharmacy. Email ccarr@siue.edu from your SIUE email address to request subscription to the Listserv.

• Get involved in your community.

• Take on a leadership role.

Contact Us SIUE School of Pharmacy Office of Professional and Student Affairs We are always willing to talk to students.

618-650-5150 pharmacy@siue.edu 200 University Park Drive, Suite 220

@SIUEPharmacy