Frequently Asked Questions
Application Process and AdmissionsStudents/Applicants
Curriculum/Schedule
Working
Tutoring and Academic Services
Miscellaneous Topics
Application Process and Admissions
Q: When is the application deadline?
A: December 1 of the year prior the fall when you desire to begin pharmacy school.
If December 1 falls on a weekend, the deadline will be the following Monday.
PharmCAS applications must be submitted by the December 1 deadline. All transcripts through the fall semester should be sent to PharmCAS when the semester is completed.
December 1 is considered to be a postmark deadline for the supplemental application and letters of recommendation. If you are hand carrying them to us, they must be delivered to the Office of Student Services by 5:00 p.m. on December 1. We do not currently accept the application or the letters of recommendation via FAX or e-mail as the signature(s) must be original.
Q: Do I really have to send copies of ALL my previous college transcripts to PharmCAS?
A: YES. We require official transcripts from every post-high school institution/college/university attended. This includes colleges:
- attended many years ago
- that are unaccredited technical or other trade schools
- where no pre-pharmacy coursework was taken
- in which the credits are listed as transfer units on another transcript
- where no courses were ever completed for a letter grade (pass/fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades were awarded, "withdraw" grades are recorded or a course was audited)
- where all courses taken have since been retaken at a different college
- who awarded college credit for coursework taken in high school
Q: I did very poorly in my previous college courses but it was a long time ago. Do you count old courses or repeated course work?
A: Yes. We consider all course work, regardless of age or transferability in calculating a cumulative grade point average for all applicants. Although we understand some older credits may have been retaken, we still consider the entire college career for all applicants. This can certainly work both for and against candidates but we feel it is important for us to see the breadth of the candidate's entire college performance.
Q: Do I need to submit transcripts to the School of Pharmacy?
A: Yes. Once you are accepted into the program, request official transcripts to be sent to the Office of Student Services. If you are still taking courses in the spring, you can wait to request that transcript as soon as you complete that semester.
Q: If I have taken college course work outside the U.S. do I still need to have an official copy of my transcript sent directly from the college?
A: YES. We understand that having transcripts sent from other countries can be difficult and time-consuming; however we require that they be evaluated and sent the evaluation sent to PharmCAS prior to the admission deadline of December 1. If you have completed coursework outside the U.S., please begin working on this early! If you are admitted to the School of Pharmacy, we will require you eventually to send the original transcripts and the formal evaluation to the school. These transcripts are required even if the coursework does not apply toward the pre-pharmacy requirements.
This applies even if your transcript is in a language other than English.
You must also have a translation and a course-by-course evaluation performed by a certified U.S. agency. One such agency is World Education Services.
Q: Do I have to submit my recommendations on the PharmCAS recommendation form? My college has a service for obtaining recommendations and they will only provide letters.
A: YES. PharmCAS does not accept letter services.
Q: Do I really need to travel to Denver for the on-site interview?
A: YES. The faculty of the SOP believe that it is important for us to meet with you in person in order to assess your knowledge about the field of pharmacy, commitment to pharmacy practice and desire to complete your studies here. We expect you to be as selective about where you complete your professional studies as we are about who will study at the CU SOP. We do not admit students who are unable to attend the interview.
In addition, we believe that oral and written communication, problem solving ability and interpersonal skills are essential for the successful pharmacy student and future practitioner. The interview process provides a way for us to assess these skills as well.
Q: How important is the interview process?
A: The interview can literally "make or break" an applicant. It can give an applicant with a less competitive GPA a chance to shine or expose an academically competitive applicant's lack of communication skills or desire to become a Doctor of Pharmacy.
Q: If you received my supplemental application before I submit my PharmCAS application, is that acceptable?
A: YES. Although we will not create a file for you until we receive your PharmCAS application, we will keep all of your documents and match them with the application as soon as possible. It is best to send in your supplemental application early, so we can create a file quickly. Most applicants tend to procrastinate; therefore, any documents sent on or near the December 1 deadline will arrive along with hundreds of others, thus slowing the filing/matching process.
Students/Applicants
Q: How many students do you accept to each class?
A: We expect to admit 150 students to each class from a pool of about 1300 candidates. Each applicant pool determines the competitive nature of admissions for each year.
Q: Do you give preference to Colorado residents?
A: We accept more Colorado residents than non-residents of Colorado. Since the non-resident pool is much larger for non-residents, the chances of being admitted if you are a resident are much higher.
Q: What is the ratio of resident to non-residents admitted into the program?
A: We usually admit about 80% residents of Colorado to our program.
Curriculum/Schedule
Q: I already have a degree in a related field; must I take all the courses in the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum?
A: YES. The curriculum must be completed in its entirety. We do not "transfer" courses taken as a part of any other program, including other pharmacy schools, toward the SOP PharmD curriculum.
Q: Is there a way to complete the Doctor of Pharmacy program in less than 4 years?
A: NO. The SOP curriculum is designed so that courses are only offered in sequence and must be taken in the prescribed order. The curriculum is full-time and each entering class advances through the program as a cohort.
Q: Will I get summers off?
A: There are no courses offered in the first 2 summers between the first professional year (P1) and second professional year (P2) and third professional year (P3). However, in the fourth professional year (P4) clerkships begin in the summer immediately following the P3 spring semester. The P4 clerkships continue for one calendar year, ending the following May. PharmD Curriculum
Q: What does a typical semester course schedule look like?
A: Course schedules vary from semester to semester, so we recommend students plan by assuming they will be involved in either class or study from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Working
Q: How many hours per week do most students work?
A: Most students work 10 or 15 hours per week. However, some do not work at all during the fall and spring semesters, while a few may be able to handle more than 15 hours per week and still keep up with their studies. The CU SOP expects class and schoolwork to be the top priority of students. If a student works full-time during the first two summers, he/she can easily complete the 400 intern hours needed to fulfill their state requirement for licensure.
Q: How and when can I get a pharmacy intern license?
A: Once an student has matriculated into the program following sucessful completion of the Introduction to Pharmacy courses, he/she is elegible to apply for an intern license from the State Board of Pharmacy, found at www.dora.state.co.us/Pharmacy/Int/licensing.htm.
Q: How can I find an intern position?
A: Information about intern positions is forwarded to current students via e-mail. The annual Pharmacy Career Fair, held each fall, also provides great opportunity for prospective and current students to "network" and gain leads for positions.
Tutoring and Academic Services
Q: Are there tutoring services available to students?
A: Tutoring is available to students through the Office of Student Services and through the Student Assistance Office. Peer tutors are paid by the SOP to assist classmates who are having difficulty adjusting to the rigors of the program.
Q: What if I have trouble academically?
A: The SOP has an academic assistance program that identifies students having difficulty as early in the program as possible. Although faculty members and the Office of Student Services monitor student progress, it is imperative that students accept responsibility for their own learning. The details of the academic assistance program and advancement policies are found in the Student Bulletin.
Miscellaneous Topics
Q: Where do students live? How can I find a roommate?
A: It is optimal for students to live near the campus. Many students find housing in one of the apartment buildings, duplexes or houses within a few blocks of the campus. This alleviates the need for finding parking near the SOP, puts the student to close proximity to the library and other campus resources and is conducive to getting involved with the campus community. The Student Assistance Office keeps an updated database of current apartment listings and assists with roommate matching. Websites such as www.denver.citysearch.com (select "real estate") can be useful resources as well.
Q: Where do students park?
A: Ah, the challenges of urban campus parking. New students who expect to drive to campus are encouraged to put their names on the waiting list for a parking permit upon acceptance of an offer of admission. Although there is generally a waiting list for individual parking permits, carpool permits are always available. Therefore, it is a good idea to save gas, promote clean air and get a parking permit sooner by carpooling. For a list of parking lots, permit information and a parking map, visit the campus Facilities Operations.
Q: Are there any student clubs and organizations?
A: YES. The SOP and the UCD campus are home to many student organizations. The SOP hosts local chapters of the following organizations:
Academy of Students of Pharmacy
Colorado Society of Health Systems Pharmacists Student Chapter
National Community Pharmacy Association
Pharmacists for Christ
Phi Delta Chi
Phi Lambda Sigma
Rho Chi
Student Council
Student National Pharmacuetical Association (SNPhA)
In addition, campus-wide organizations, such as Student Senate and the Outdoor Club, provide additional opportunities for students to get involved in extracurricular activities. Information regarding campus-wide student organizations and activities may be obtained from the The Student Assistance Office .
Last updated: 8/06/08