Pre-Pharmacy Preparation

Here is a guide of recommended courses that students could take at Michigan Tech in preparation for pharmacy school. This is not an exhaustive list. You are responsible to check with the schools you wish to apply for specific requirements.

Students should also check with the individual schools if they intend to use AP or Community College Credits to see if those are accepted. Although you can select any undergraduate major, most pharmacy schools require specific courses. You need these prerequisites in order to apply.

The required courses can be different at different schools. These requirements may also differ if you are applying with two years of college rather than a four-year degree. You must research the specific admissions requirements for the schools you apply to.

Students are encouraged to use PharmD School Directory to check admissions requirements for specific pharmacy schools. But also check directly with the individual schools.

Some pharmacy schools require the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) as an entrance exam. 

The PCAT is offered as a computer-based test and occurs on one or more dates in July, September, October, November, January, February, and March. Register to take the PCAT. 

• PCAT Candidate Information Booklet
• PCAT FAQs
• Kaplan Test Prep
• Official PCAT Practice Tests

Kaplan Test Prep Discounts

Many pharmacy programs have a minimum cumulative GPA requirement. Most programs require at least a 2.5 GPA or more to apply to their program. On average, students who get into pharmacy school have a GPA of 3.5 or more.

Apart from your prerequisites and PCAT score, most pharmacy schools require one to four letters of recommendation, a written personal statement or essay, and if selected, an in-person interview.

Most pharmacy schools also either encourage or require applicants to have volunteer or paid experience working with patients in a pharmacy and/or health-care setting.

The professional association for pharmacy is AACP (American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy).

Most schools go through a centralized application called the PharmCAS (Pharmacy College Application Service). Application opens in July with deadlines ranging from November through March.