Pre-pharmacy Coursework
Applicants must complete all 90 semester hours of pre-pharmacy coursework with a grade of C or higher (C- or below is not acceptable) by the end of the spring term prior to their first fall term in the School of Pharmacy. Due to the increasingly competitive nature of the applicant pool, individuals who have completed all pre-pharmacy courses prior to applying for admission may receive some preference. Online math, science and public speaking courses will NOT be accepted. Failure to complete the coursework satisfactorily will result in withdrawal of the admission offer.
GPA
The minimum overall GPA requirement for applicants to the PharmD Program is 2.5 overall and 2.75 in the sciences at the time of application. The average GPA of our admitted students is typically around 3.4. Competition is typically the strongest among out-of-state applicants.
PCAT
The Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) is required and considered in the admissions process for the School of Pharmacy. The PCAT must have been taken within the last three years and no latter than October of the year of application for December 1 deadline applicants, and August of the year of application for Early Decision applicants. Composite scores over the 50th percentile is preferred but not required.
Recommendations
Three (3) recommendation forms are required as part of the PharmCAS application. Letters submitted in lieu of completing the form will not be accepted. The applicant should seek recommendations attesting to his/her academic performance (academic recommendation) or on the applicant's professional skills and potential for success in a rigorous professional degree program (professional recommendation).
Transcripts
All transcripts must be submitted to PharmCAS regardless of the age or transferability of courses. The admissions committee considers all coursework completed and derives a cumulative GPA from all colleges and universities attended. Failure to reveal all transcripts will result in disqualification. Once admitted, official transcripts from all previous colleges and universities (including other University of Colorado campuses) attended must be submitted directly to the School of Pharmacy. All transcripts must be received in a sealed envelope from the institution. Updated official transcripts must be provided as soon as each subsequent term is completed.
English Proficiency
Excellent oral and written English communication skills are necessary prerequisites for admission to the school, success in the program and competent practice in the field of pharmacy. The CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy requires all applicants for whom English was not (or is not) the primary spoken language at home to receive an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) by telephone. The interview is conducted by the school’s English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor, who is an American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) certified Oral Proficiency Tester in English, typically prior to the on-campus admissions interview. However, applicants may also be identified at any point in the on-campus interview process and be referred for a subsequent OPI. Any applicant born in a foreign country where English is not the native and primary language, or born/arrived in the US speaking another language at home until entering school, should consider that English is not their primary language and identify this on admission materials in order to receive an OPI. Due to the rigorous communicative demands of the Pharm.D. program, the minimum English oral proficiency admission standard is “advanced low” according to the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Guidelines for Speaking. Applicants rated at an oral proficiency level below “advanced low” via the OPI are disqualified from the pool of applicants considered for admission.
On-site Interview
The onsite interview process is designed to assess the applicant's knowledge of the profession, communication and ability to perform in a positive, professional manner when working with others. In addition to an individual interview, the candidate will write an essay on an assigned topic, and will be observed in a problem-solving group activity to further assess interpersonal communication skills. To be considered for admission, applicants must participate in the onsite interview process.
Confirmation Deposit
Approximately two weeks after receiving a letter of acceptance, applicants must submit a $1,000 confirmation deposit to hold their position in the entering class. This is a one-time only deposit and will be returned as a credit in the first semester of matriculation. If the student withdraws after enrolling in the School of Pharmacy, it will be refunded minus any debts to the university.
Criminal Background Check
Because the curriculum includes direct patient care activities, the School of Pharmacy requires each pharmacy student to maintain a current State of Colorado Pharmacy Intern License while participating in the pharmacy curriculum. Consequently, each admitted student must submit a waiver and pay for a criminal background check.
Correspondence methods
The School of Pharmacy reserves the right to choose to correspond with our applicants via e-mail, phone or by U.S. Postal Services. It is incumbent upon the applicant to ensure a current email, phone and postal address is currently on file. The School of Pharmacy cannot be held accountable if the candidate does not receive or respond to application or admission related correspondence.
E-mail messages generated by the School of Pharmacy and related services may be sent simultaneously to multiple applicants. To avoid missing important e-mails, turn the "Spam" or "junk" email filters off during the application cycle or periodically check your Spam/junk e-mail file for the School of Pharmacy related messages.