Interview and Admission Process

Interview Selection Process

An interview is required as part of the UW School of Pharmacy PharmD Admissions process. After a preliminary assessment of the applicant pool, the most-qualified applicants are invited for an interview in Seattle with members of the PharmD Admissions Committee. Admissions preference is given to residents of Washington State and residents from states participating in the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Pharmacy Student Exchange Program. Applicants who meet or exceed GPA and PCAT minimum thresholds are not guaranteed an interview. Offers of interview are dependent upon the size and competitiveness of the applicant pool.

Interview Process

The interview is an extremely important part of the PharmD Admissions Process. During the interview, applicants are evaluated in a variety of areas including motivation, verbal and written communication skills, personal attributes, critical thinking and decision-making abilities, knowledge of the profession of pharmacy and issues affecting health care. Highly considered qualities are integrity, maturity, responsibility, humanitarianism, compassion, leadership and the ability to overcome personal or social adversity. The purpose of the interview is to give the applicant an opportunity to demonstrate these attributes through their answers to carefully-considered and well-planned probing questions.

Pre-Interview Writing Skills Assessment

The School of Pharmacy includes a Pre-Interview Writing Skills Assessment as part of the PharmD Admissions Process since the production of organized and coherent writing on demand for reports or correspondence is a common feature of professional life. On the day of interview, applicants will have 30 minutes to plan and write one essay. The essay question does not presuppose specific knowledge of pharmacy. Typically, there is no “right” course of action or position. The audience for writing is the Doctor of Pharmacy Admissions Committee. The On-Site Essay will be evaluated within the following parameters: organization, development, style and tone, and facility with written English.

ADMISSION PROCESS

Offer of Admission

Interviewed candidates are ranked comparatively on criteria that include: academic preparedness, excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills, a high level of motivation and aptitude for the PharmD program and the profession and strong critical-thinking ability and decision-making skills. Highly considered qualities are integrity, maturity, humanitarianism, compassion, leadership, and other personal characteristics.

Generally 86 applicants are offered admission each year. A ranked wait list of 25 – 30 students is established. Applicants placed on the wait list will be notified of an offer of admission as space becomes available. The wait list will remain active until the first day of classes in Autumn Quarter. Applicants who were placed on the wait list but did not receive an offer of admission must reapply and complete the entire application process again for consideration of admission in subsequent years. Due to limits on enrollment, the School of Pharmacy cannot admit all qualified applicants.

Offers of admission are contingent upon the successful completion of any remaining prerequisites, eligibility to become licensed as a Washington State pharmacy intern, review of the Conviction/Criminal History Information Form and satisfactory results from the Criminal Background Check.

Completion of Prerequisites and Submission of Transcripts

All prerequisites must be completed by the end of Spring term of the year of admission. The Doctor of Pharmacy Admissions Committee expects that academic performance in completion of remaining prerequisites will be consistent with an applicant’s earlier record and will meet the standards established by the Admissions Committee. Failure to maintain these standards may result in withdrawal of an offer of admission. In order to complete the admissions process, students who are offered admission must submit directly to the School of Pharmacy, Office of Academic and Student Programs, official, sealed transcripts for ALL academic work completed.

Criminal History Information Form and Background Check

Admission to the School as well as retention in the Doctor of Pharmacy Program requires that students undergo a criminal background check. The criminal background check is in accordance with Washington State Law (RCW 43.43.830 through 43.43.842) which requires that all individuals who have access to children under 16 years of age, those with developmental disabilities, or vulnerable adults, must disclose background information concerning crimes and offenses against these populations.

Doctor of Pharmacy students must also complete a Conviction/Criminal History Information Form to disclose criminal history involving drug-related crimes, proceedings related to vulnerable populations, Medicare-Medicaid/Healthcare-related crimes and any other general conviction information (excluding parking tickets and traffic citations). Commission of such crimes may prevent placement in certain experiential practicums, thus potentially preventing a student from completing the requirements for graduation.

In addition, students must report any actions taken by a licensing authority (e.g. Board of Pharmacy or other agency) against a professional license (pharmacy intern or technician license or other health-related license). Actions taken prior to admission to the School must be disclosed at the time of offer of admission. The Admissions Committee will consider disclosure on an individual basis and may request additional information from the applicant in the course of review for offer of admission.

Any applicant who does not consent to this self-disclosure or background check cannot be extended a formal offer of admission.

Notification of the Washington State Board of Pharmacy of Admission to the PharmD Program

Upon satisfactory completion of remaining prerequisites and satisfactory review of the Conviction, Criminal History Information Form and Criminal Background Check, admission to the PharmD Program is finalized. The School of Pharmacy Office of Academic and Student Programs will notify the Washington State Board of Pharmacy with the names of individuals admitted to the Doctor of Pharmacy Program. This notification allows the student to apply for a Washington State pharmacy intern license, which is required for program completion.

Immunization Policy

Students accepted to the Doctor of Pharmacy Program are required to meet the University and Health Sciences immunization requirements. The University of Washington Health Sciences Center requires that its students, staff and faculty show documentation of protection against a number of vaccine-preventable diseases. All students entering the Doctor of Pharmacy Program must provide proof of immunity to measles (rubeola), mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis and varicella (chicken pox). In addition, annual tuberculosis screening (PPD) is required. Please contact the School of Pharmacy for more information.

The UW Health Sciences Center and the School of Pharmacy Immunization Policy requires payment of a one-time Health Fee. For entering Pharmacy students, this fee is $475 and is attached to the first-year course, Pharmacy 500. This fee is required of all entering students regardless of immunity status at the time of entry into the School of Pharmacy. The fee provides for a number of services including immunizations and record-keeping and communication to the student’s school/program regarding compliance status prior to and during placement at clinical sites. This fee also provides for post-exposure assessment, diagnostic lab testing and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medications according to CDC guidelines for students who sustain a schoolwork-related (i.e., clinical site experience) exposure to blood-borne pathogens).

Orientation

Students accepted into the Doctor of Pharmacy Program will be required to attend a week-long orientation which will be held during the week prior to the start of classes in Autumn Quarter.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition rates and fees for the 2007–2008 academic year (Autumn, Winter, Spring Quarter) are:

• Resident: $13,454 per year
• Non-resident: $26,098 per year
• Additional fees include the one-time Health Sciences fee of $475 (noted above), lab fees of $40 per lab, and practicum fees of $10 per practicum.

For current tuition information, please contact UW Student Accounts at 206–543–4695. For the most current pharmacy tuition rates, please visit the tuition website.

Financial Aid Information

Federal Financial Aid
To be eligible for federal financial aid through the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA), an individual must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or other eligible non-citizen and be admitted to the University in a degree or certificate program. Priority consideration is given to students who submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Federal Processor’s Office by the February deadline. For more information on loans, forms, procedures and deadlines, please contact the OSFA at 206–543–6101 or email at osfa@u.washington.edu.
Website: www.washington.edu/students/osfa

School of Pharmacy Financial Aid
The School of Pharmacy also offers a limited number of scholarships and grants. These funds are awarded each year on the basis of demonstrated need, scholastic achievement, professional motivation and leadership potential. Prospective applicants should contact the Office of Academic & Student Programs for additional information.