Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pharmacy For you?
For career information, please check the AACP website.

Application

Is there a minimum Cumulative GPA requirement for applying to the Pharm.D. program? 
Yes, see Application Criteria for more information.

What is the minimum grade requirement for the Prerequisite GPA?
No, there is no minimum grade required for each prerequisite class. See Application Criteria for more information.

I cannot afford the application fee. May I have it waived?
To approve a fee waiver we need documentation from your Financial Aid Office that the fee would be burdensome.

My recommender wants to send in his own letter and not use the PharmCAS Recommendation Forms. Is this ok?
No. The PharmCAS Recommendation Form is required. All letters of recommendation and PharmCAS Recommendation Forms must be sent to PharmCAS. Letters or recommendations sent directly to our office will not be accepted.

What if I have already submitted the maximum number of three letters of reference to PharmCAS and still need to submit an additional to meet your criteria?
If it is the case that you have already filled the maximum capacity that PharmCAS allows for letters of reference, please contact our office well before the deadline to request consideration for submitting additional letters of reference. Please note that you will need to submit a request; depending on the situation, some requests may not be approved.

Do I really need to submit all my transcripts?
Yes. Applicants need to submit all collegiate level transcripts directly to PharmCAS, including running start, college in the high school, military transcripts, technical college transcripts or community college coursework taken for personal enjoyment. Applicants who do not submit all college level transcripts will be disqualified from the admissions process. If an offer of admission has already been extended, it will be rescinded if additional transcripts are discovered.

What if the PharmCAS system does not recognize my school because it is not accredited?
If PharmCAS is not able to process a transcript from a college that you have attended, please contact our office for specific instructions on what to do.

I am worried that if I submit my application too early the admissions committee will overlook my Autumn term grades and/or PCAT scores.
It is highly advisable to submit your application as early as possible. We understand that applicants' information with regard to Autumn term grades and PCAT scores may be updated after an application is submitted. We will wait to review your application until your Autumn grades and PCAT scores have been posted by PharmCAS. We do not make final decisions until all admissions information has been submitted and reviewed.

I am confused about when I should submit my transcripts to PharmCAS.
All transcripts for academic work completed prior to Autumn 2009 must be sent to PharmCAS by the January 5, 2010, 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time deadline. Autumn 2009 transcripts must be sent to PharmCAS as soon as available following the end of Autumn term. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to disqualify applicants who do not request transcripts prior to the application deadline.

Applicants who have attended or received credit from a college or university which evaluates coursework through narrative transcripts rather than assigning numerical or letter grades must send an official narrative transcript to both PharmCAS and the UW School of Pharmacy. Please send narrative transcripts early, these transcripts require additional processing and review.

How will I know if my Supplemental Application has been received or not?
The UW School of Pharmacy Office of Academic and Student Programs will send an email notification for receipt of the Supplemental application. This email only indicates that the application has been received. Supplemental Applications will not be reviewed until the PharmCAS application has also been received. Hand-delivered Supplemental applications will not be reviewed at the time of delivery.

How do I know if my application is complete or not?
Once we have received your UW School of Pharmacy Supplemental Application and we have received your PharmCAS application, we send out a "status email" which states which parts of the application we have received and if the application is considered complete or incomplete. Please be aware that we process a high volume of applications during Admissions and as a result, it may be several weeks before you receive this status email.

I have had some extenuating circumstances that affected my grades. Should I tell you about this?
Yes. You may disclose such information in the UW School of Pharmacy Application labeled Essay 2: Optional Essay, which allows you to provide any additional information you would like the Admissions Committee to consider.

Interviews

When do interviews start?
Interviews typically start in late January/early February and run through April. 

When will I know if I get an interview?
We contact applicants by phone or email and applicants may hear from us anytime between January and April. 

When are final decisions made?
The bulk of decisions are made at the end of the interview process, usually at the end of April or early May.

Prerequisites

Will there be any prerequisite changes in the future?
Prerequisite changes effective for application 2011: Microeconomics will be required (3-5 quarter credits or 3-4 semester credits).

Biochemistry is not required but is highly recommended. For example, UW Biochem 405/406 or 440/441.

Am I required to take a lab with my microbiology course?
Yes. All science courses must have labs.

May I take a prerequisite course as pass/fail?
No. Prerequisites cannot be taken as pass/fail, if there is there is an option to receive a numerical grade.

I will only have one prerequisite left when the pharmacy program begins in the fall. May I take this course after I start the Pharm.D. program?
No. ALL prerequisite coursework must be completed by the end of Spring term before matriculation into the Pharm.D. program. Please note that we cannot accept any prerequisite courses taken over the Summer quarter before matriculation.

Are the prerequisites accepted if they are from a combination of two schools?
The Admissions Committee highly recommends that sequence courses (General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry) be completed at one institution. You may take your prerequisites at different schools, however, you need to be careful with sequence courses, e.g., biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry. If you begin a science series at one school and finish at another, it is possible that all of the required components of the course descriptions may not be met with the result of not satisfying the pre-requisite. If you have questions about course sequence completion, please contact the School of Pharmacy Office of Academic and Student Programs.

How do I know that my courses will count towards your prerequisites?
We can accept courses which cover all topics listed in our course descriptions for the prerequisites. The Admissions Committee suggests that applicants check with our admissions staff if there are questions regarding acceptability of any particular course. See the website for course descriptions.

May I take a Human Anatomy/Physiology course for my Biology Prerequisite?
The biology prerequisite coursework must cover Cell Biology, Vertebrate Zoology, Genetics, Evolution and Plant Biology. Additional biology coursework, including Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics and Anatomy and Physiology may be considered toward meeting the biology prerequisite if coursework is at the 300-level or above taken at a University.

May one course satisfy both my Humanities and Composition prerequisite?
No. A course may count toward a Humanities OR Social Science requirement, but not both.

Must I complete all my prerequisites before I apply?
No. Students who have not completed the prerequisites may apply, provided they will complete any remaining prerequisites by the end of Spring term prior to their matriculation into the program.

What courses may I count to satisfy my humanities or social sciences electives?
The UW transfer guide is very helpful in identifying courses taken at Washington community colleges that meet these requirements. Please also note that with an Associate's degree from a Washington Community College which has a transfer agreement with the UW, the distribution category used to satisfy the community college's requirement will be honored. Please check our website on prerequisite course descriptions.

How may I confirm that I am taking the right courses to satisfy your prerequisites?
The School of Pharmacy has a list of the minimum required UW prerequisite courses. See Prerequiste Information for further clarification. Please feel free to contact the advisors at the School of Pharmacy if you have any questions.

I took my courses ten years ago. Does this matter?
The Admissions Committee strongly recommends completion of mathematics and science courses within the last five years. Upon transcript review, you may be advised to retake courses completed over five years ago.

If I have a Bachelor's Degree, do I have special consideration?
No. Increasingly, students have completed a substantial amount of coursework in excess of the minimum prepharmacy requirements. Applicants who have completed more than the minimum coursework may be competitive, however, a prior degree is not the sole determinant of a successful applicant. Applicants must complete 90 quarter or 60 semester credits of specific prepharmacy courses before matriculating into the program. For the class which entered in Autumn 2007, 66% had earned a Bachelor's Degree before beginning the program.

If I have already taken human anatomy courses, do I still need to take it in the pharmacy program?
Once you have been accepted into the program, you are free to request a waiver. The waiver process is done directly with the course instructor. Typically, a student will be required to discuss and present their course syllabus, notes, tests, and any other information the instructor may require. Please be aware that our anatomy/physiology course in the Pharm.D. Program is an advanced-level, three-quarter series taught with cadaver labs. It is very rare that students are able to waive this course. 

If I have already taken Biochemistry, do I need to take the Biochemistry series in the Pharm.D. Program? 
The Pharm.D. Core curriculum requires that students take two quarters of Medical Biochemistry (Medchem 450, Medchem 451) in the program. In the past, students who have previously taken two quarters or two semesters of biochemistry, were able to use the grades they received in their biochemistry course and waive Medchem 450 and Medchem 451. The School of Pharmacy recommends that students take the Medchem 450 and 451 series because the focus is more of a  medical biochemistry course rather than a general biochemistry course. This waiver may change, please contact the office if you have questions. 

What type of major do you suggest before entering into the program?
There is no specific major that we suggest. Students should make the most of their undergraduate education while completing their prerequisites.

PCAT

In regards to the PCAT, what range of scores do you consider acceptable for admission to the program.
The areas covered on this exam are Biology, Chemistry, Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. For the 2008 Admissions Process, the Admissions Committee required a minimum of a 60% on the Chemistry portion and a minimum of a 25% in the other 4 sections. For the entering class of 2004, the average Chemistry PCAT score was a 92% and for the entering class of 2005 the average Chemistry PCAT score was an 86%.

Please note that the Admissions Committee reserves the right to change minimum score requirements from year to year.

I have taken the GRE or MCAT, are these scores acceptable in place of the PCAT?
No. The School of Pharmacy will not accept any substitute admission test for the PCAT.

Non-Washington Residents

If I completed the prerequisite coursework outside the State of Washington  how can I tell if the courses I have taken or plan to take will satisfy the UW School of Pharmacy's prerequisites? 
You may check the course description website to compare the courses taken. If you are still unclear as to if your courses will fulfill our prerequisite requirements, you may request a transcript review from our admissions staff. To request a transcript review please fax your unofficial transcripts to 206 616 2740. Please provide your name and email address on the fax cover sheet. If you have questions about this process, please contact our office staff at (206) 543-6100.

How may I gain residency in Washington?
You may review the UW site regarding residency. If you have any questions you may email them or call (206) 543-5932. 

Where can I find information about housing at the University of Washington?
You may contact the Housing & Food Services Office by email or phone (206) 543-4059. 

What is the tuition for Non-residents for the Pharm.D. Program?
Non-resident tuition for the academic year 2007-2008 is $26,098. For more information, you may visit the tuition website.

Financial Aid

When should I apply for financial aid?
You should complete the FAFSA form the January preceding the year you intend to begin a Pharm.D. program, i.e., January 2008 for Fall Quarter 2008 entry. Learn more about financial aid at the UW.

I would like information about what type of aid is available for pharmacy students.
There are a limited number of scholarships available to our students, as most students who qualify for financial aid are awarded loans. Typically awards from the UW or School of Pharmacy are based on need. A student will not be considered for need-based financial aid until they are admitted to the UW School of Pharmacy and have applied for financial aid through the FAFSA. For types of aid available, please contact the UW Office of Student Finacial Aid at (206) 543-6101 or the School of Pharmacy at (206) 685-2715.

What is the tuition rate for the PharmD Program?
Tuition rates can be found on line at: http://www.washington.edu/admin/pb/home/opb-tuition.htm

International Applicants

I am an internationl student, can I apply to the UW School of Pharmacy?
International applicants who hold permanent resident visa or asylee/refugee status are eligible to apply to the UW School of Pharmacy. Students holding visas other than these designations are ineligible to apply.

Is there any way to waive the PCAT exam if the country where I live does not offer it?
No. All students must take the PCAT. If it is not offered in your country contact PCAT about special arrangements at 1-800-622-3231.

I am a foreign student who wants to apply for admission to the School of Pharmacy.
International students who hold permanent resident visa or asylee/refugee status may apply to the UW School of Pharmacy. Any courework taken in a foreign country must be evaluated by one of the following evaluation companies: Educational Credentials Evaluations, the World Education Services, or Educational-Perspectives. For an application, please visit their websites. International students may need to provide course descriptions and syllabi in order to determine equivalency of prerequisite coursework. ECE's phone number is (414) 289-3400, WES's phone number is (212) 966-6311, and Educational-Perspectives phone number is (312) 421-9300. The application to the Pharm.D. Program is the same for all applicants. Please note that evaluations of foreign courses must be sent to PharmCAS and original foreign transcripts must be sent to the UW School of Pharmacy. All science, math and English composition coursework must be completed in a community college, college, or university within the United States.

Do International students need to take the TOEFL?
No. We no longer require the TOEFL.

I am a licensed pharmacist from another country. Do you know any web sites that might help me.
International students who hold an 5-year undergraduate pharmacy degree may consider taking the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination in lieu of pursuing the Pharm.D. degree progam. Information on the FPGEE can be found at: www.nabp.net

International students should also contact the Washington State Board of Pharmacy to find out what needs to be done after taking the FPGEE. Their phone number is (360) 236-4826 or visit their website.

The Pharm.D. Program

Is the Pharm.D. offered as a part-time program?
No. The program is designed for full-time students with the vast majority of courses (including all required courses) occuring between 8 am and 6 pm. These courses, with the exception of the fourth-year practicums, are only offered on the Seattle campus.

Is the Pharm.D. offered as an online or distance program?
No. The Pharm.D. program requires students to be present on campus to attend courses and participate in laboratory.

How long is the entry-level Pharm.D. Program?
The Pharm.D. program is a full-time, four-year program. A minimum of two years undergraduate prerequisite work is required prior to admission.

I am sitting for the WA Pharmacist Law exam. Help!
We have a web site that might help you. http://depts.washington.edu/pharm543 You may also want to contact the Washington State Board of Pharmacy.

I have taken a pharmacy elective course before being admitted to the School of Pharmacy at the UW. May I receive credit toward graduation requirements for this course?
No. Students are typically not given credit for courses taken before entering the UW Pharm.D. program.

The Pharmacy Technician Programs

Does the UW School of Pharmacy offer a Pharm Tech Program?
No. 

Which schools offer a Pharmacy Technician Program?
Below is a list of colleges around the Washington area. Please check with each school for information on their pharmacy technician program. Please be aware there may be other schools that also offer the pharmacy technician program not on this list.

Apollo College, Portland OR
Apollo College, Spokane Bryman College, Renton
Clark College, Vancouver
Clover Park Technical College, Tacoma
Columbia Basin & Job Corp, Moses Lake
Edmonds Community College, Edmonds
Eton Technical Institute, Everett, Federal Way, Port Orchard
Grays Harbor Community College, Aberdeen
North Seattle Community College, Seattle
Pima Institute, Seattle
Renton Technical College, Renton
North Idaho College, ID
Spokane Community College
Tacoma Community College, Tacoma  

Do the courses in a Pharmacy Technician Program fulfill the prerequisites in the Pharm.D. Program?
The Pharmacy Technician Program courses do not fulfill prerequisite courses in the Pharm.D. Program. 

Do I need to be a certified pharmacy technician get into the program? You are not required to be a pharmacy technician to get into the program. Although experience is not required, it is helpful for applicants to have some pharmacy experience either as a technician, volunteer, or other pharmacy work experience.