PHARM.D. ADMISSIONS
Application Process to the PharmD Program
The fall 2009 admission cycle will open June 1, 2008. PharmCAS applications must be submitted online before midnight EST December 1, 2008. All Supplemental Applications must be postmarked no later than December 1, 2008. Mailing your mandatory Supplemental Application with a delivery confirmation is recommended to ensure proper delivery.The PCAT exam is now a required part of out application process!
Application Deadlines
Applicants with Previous Degrees
International Applicants
Foreign Transcripts
Below is a detailed outline of every step in the entire process. Please read everything carefully!
Step 1: Meet our Minimum Eligibility requirements
- Meet the Grade Point Average Requirement
- Meet the Academic Prerequisites
- Verifying your Prerequisite Course Work
- Transfer Guide to Colorado Colleges and Universities
- Computer Literacy Requirement
- PharmCAS Application (This link will take you away from the UCD School of Pharmacy website)
- Supplemental Application (Microsoft Word Document) (Adobe PDF File) All applicants to the UC Denver School of Pharmacy must submit a Supplemental Application. Please submit it in either Microsoft Word or PDF formats in addition to the PharmCAS application. A $50 fee is required with the Supplemental Application.
- Early Admissions [August 31st Deadline] (This link will take you away from the UCD School of Pharmacy website to the Early Decision link at PharmCAS website.)
- PCAT (PCAT results should be sent to PharmCAS not the School of Pharmacy!)
- Transcripts
- Letters of reference forms (Now submitted directly to PharmCAS)
The application process is closed for the 2008 class; the 2009 class application process starts on June 1, 2008.
Step 3: If invited, participate in our interview process.
On-site Interview: All candidates invited for an interview must attend the interview in person. Telephone interviews are granted in extenuating circumstances only but are discouraged because they do not allow either the admissions committee or the candidate the opportunity to fully assess the appropriateness of the program. The on-site interview process is designed to assess the applicant's knowledge of the profession, maturity, 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 complete a quantitative skills quiz. In order to further assess interpersonal communication skills, candidates will be observed in a problem-solving group activity. To be considered for admission, applicants must participate in the on-site interview process.
Secondary interviews for non-native English speaking candidates: If English is not your first language, we may require a secondary telephone interview to assess your English communication skills.
- Applicants must complete an application from www.PharmCAS.org and a Supplemental Application.
- New students are only admitted into fall term of each year.
- The deadline for application and all application materials is December 1 of the year prior to which admission is desired.
- To be eligible, candidates must have a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 as calculated by PharmCAS as of the December 1 deadline. A minimum of 2.75 is required for pre-pharmacy course work.
- Although a 2.5 GPA is the minimum for eligibility, most applicants who were invited for an interview for fall 2006 had well above a 3.3 GPA.
- New application and recommendation forms must be submitted for each year of application.
PCAT Test Date |
Special Registration Deadline: |
Standard Registration Deadline: |
Registration Cancellation Deadline: |
Late Registration Deadline: |
For paper Registration Form and request for Non-Saturday Administration, Special Accommodations, and/or Special Testing Location—the Friday, 10 weeks prior to the test date |
For online registration only—the Friday, 6 weeks prior to the test date |
7 days (5 business days) prior to the Late Online Registration Deadline |
For online registration only—the Friday, 2 weeks prior to the test date |
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All registration deadlines are by 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the dates listed. |
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Please note that the last PCAT test date for consideration for the fall of 2009 will be the October 18, 2008 test. We cannot guarantee consideration if a later exam is taken. Your application will be considered incomplete if we do not receive a PCAT score by December 1, 2008. |
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We will not consider:
- Incomplete applications. (Applications are not complete until 1) thePharmCAS application is e-submitted with all materials by 11:50 PM EST and 2) the Supplemental Application is received by the School of Pharmacy, Office of Student Services postmarked on or before December 1, 2008.)
- Late applications will not be accepted
One final note: Although the deadline for the PharmCAS application is December 1, 2008, a candidate who e-submits on or near the deadline may find that we cannot consider an application until it has been verified by PharmCAS and delivered to the UC Denver School of Pharmacy. In some instances, it may take up to six-weeks for PharmCAS to verify and deliver an application. If the UC Denver School of Pharmacy does not receive the application from PharmCAS by mid-January, we cannot guarantee full consideration of the application. Therefore, it is in the candidate’s best interest to complete the application well in advance of the deadline. .
- Pre-pharmacy Coursework: Applicants must complete all pre-pharmacy coursework prior to their first term in the School of Pharmacy. Due to the increasingly competitive nature of the applicant pool, individuals who have completed pre-pharmacy courses prior to applying for admission may receive some preference. Candidates should have at least one semester of organic chemistry completed by the end of the fall semester.
- Failure to complete the coursework satisfactorily will result in withdrawal of the admission offer and selection of an alternate candidate.
- Colorado Transfer Guides
- Recommendations: Three (3) recommendation forms are required. Recommendation forms are sent directly to PharmCAS either online or by mail. Letters sent directly to the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy will neither be considered nor returned.
- Confirmation Deposit: Approximately two weeks after receiving a letter of acceptance, applicants must submit a non-refundable $200 confirmation deposit to hold their position in the entering class. This will become the one-time only deposit required by the University when the applicant enrolls in the fall. This deposit will be applied to the last semester tuition bill. If the student withdraws after enrolling in the CU SOP, it will be refunded minus any debts to the University.
- The School of Pharmacy reserves the right to choose to correspond with our applicants via email, phone or by US postal services. Email messages generated by the School of Pharmacy and related services may be sent simultaneously to multiple applicants. 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.
Some email providers use filters to prevent users from receiving "Spam" (unsolicited, junk email). Email filters may interpret an email from the University of Colorado as “Spam" and automatically delete a message to you about the status of your application. To avoid missing important emails, turn the "Spam" or "junk" email filters off during the application cycle. If your email provider does not allow you to turn the filter off, you may have access to a "junk mail file" that archives all messages identified as sent to multiple addresses. Periodically check your Spam/junk email file for the School of Pharmacy related messages. If you do not currently have an email address or are unable to turn off the Spam/junk filters described, please establish a new email account.
Students With Previous Degrees
Increasingly, applicants have completed a substantial amount of coursework in excess of the minimum pre-pharmacy requirements, often culminating in a bachelor's or advanced degree. Candidates who have completed more than the minimum coursework may be more competitive; however, a previous degree is not the sole criterion used in selecting candidates for admission. Applicants must have a competitive GPA regardless of the number of hours completed prior to application. In addition, completion of any previous degree does not exempt a student from any of the prerequisites.Transfer Students From Another Pharmacy Program
The University of Colorado School of Pharmacy has a very unique and integrated curriculum; therefore, students wishing to transfer from another school or college of pharmacy must meet all pre-pharmacy admission requirements. We do not offer advanced standing regardless of previous course work or background. If offered admission, candidates must complete the entire four-year course of study.International Students
Students in the United States on a non-immigrant visa, specifically referring to the student (F) or exchange (I) visa are referred to as international students. Scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are required with the application unless English is the student's native language. To be eligible, these applicants must score 550 or higher on the written (paper and pencil) test, 213 or higher on the computer-based test, or 79-80 on the new internet TOEFL test.The United States government requires all international applicants to provide proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses before a formal letter of admission - or the form for obtaining a visa - will be issued. All application materials (PharmCAS, Supplemental Application and Letters of Recommendation) must be submitted. If selected for admission to the CU SOP, international students need to submit the Request Student I-20 for Foreign Applicants. This form is available for download from July-December of each year (the application period); it can also be obtained from the Office of Student Services.
We do not offer advanced standing regardless of academic background, degrees earned or prior training. If offered admission, candidates must complete the entire four-year program. No credit from any other pharmacy programs (U.S. or non U.S.) is granted toward fulfilling the degree requirements.
Foreign Transcripts
A certified course-by-course transcript evaluation with grade equivalencies from a certified U.S. agency is required for the PharmCAS application. Please see list of evaluation services. The transferability and acceptance of coursework fulfilling the pre-pharmacy requirements will be determined on a case by case basis. Providing a certified English translation of transcripts originally in another language may assist in this process. Course descriptions and course syllabi may also be required. Note: English and public speaking coursework taken in a country where English is not the native language may not be applied toward the pre-pharmacy requirements.International Pharmacy Degrees
Students holding a BS or higher degree in Pharmacy from another country may want to consider taking the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination, which could entitle you obtain a license to practice pharmacy in the U.S. Please call the FPGEC at (847) 698-6227 or write to them at: 700 Busse Highway, Park Ridge, IL 60068. If you wish to enter the CU SOP and are offered admission, candidates must complete the entire four-year program. No credit from any other pharmacy programs (U.S. or non U.S.) is granted toward fulfilling the degree requirements.Summer Enrichment Program
Recognizing the value of diversity in the student body, the CU SOP seeks qualified individuals for the pharmacy program who contribute to the cultural diversity of the CU SOP, are economically or educationally disadvantaged or are first generation college students. Prospective students interested in the Summer Enrichment Program should plan to have all pre-pharmacy coursework completed prior to the summer semester in order to be eligible. Only candidates who have submitted a completed application will be considered for the Summer Enrichment Program.Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT)
The CU SOP will require the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) for the application cycle beginning fall of 2008. You can find information online: http://harcourtassessment.com/haiweb/Cultures/en-US/Harcourt/Community/PostSecondary/Products/pcat/pcathome.htm, call the Psychological Corporation at
1-800-622-3231
(M-F, 8:30-5:00 CST) or write: 555 Academic Court, San Antonio, TX 78204.
Criminal Background
The University of Colorado School of Pharmacy requires each pharmacy student to maintain a current State of Colorado Pharmacy Intern License while participating in the pharmacy curriculum because the curriculum includes direct patient care activities.In addition, students must submit a waiver and pay at $65 fee for the school to perform criminal background checks on incoming students. If any circumstances exist that would change a student's criminal record during their tenure at the School of Pharmacy, students are required to inform personnel in the School of Pharmacy Office of Student Services as soon as possible. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to assess each application on an individual basis.
Foreign Transcript Evaluation Services
World Education Services, Inc.P.O. Box 745 Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113-0745
(212) 966-6311
Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
International Educational Consultants
P.O. Box 248233
Coral Gables, FL 33124
(305) 666-0233
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
P.O. Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470
(414) 289-3400
International Education Research Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 66940
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 390-6276
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
Foreign Education Credential Services
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 520
Washington, DC 20036-1135
(202) 296-3359
Last updated: 6/23/08