Pre-Pharmacy Society- Application Process

April 18th 2012,

To Contact Us: prepharm.cpp@gmail.com

Pre-Pharmacy Society WebsitePre-Pharmacy Society Facebook

Jennifer Nguyen - PharmCas Timeline- Beware of Deadlines

April Registration for PCAT opens (optional) - Computer based

PCAT 2012-2013 Testing DatesJuly 18, 19, 2012September 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 2012January 8, 9, 2013

Early June Ask for Letter of Recs (2+1)Application Opens-Create your account-Apply for a fee waiver (Deadline: Sept)-Apply early! The earlier the better. Many schools have rolling admissions.

September Early Decision Deadline

November 1st

• Submission deadline for most California Schools

• Practice interviewing

Mid-Dec Academic Update- Send Transcripts

Jan - March Complete FAFSA

Personal StatementMax 4500 characters- Do NOT personalize your essay for a particular pharmacy degree institution. - Why you selected pharmacy as a

career

- How the Doctor of Pharmacy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals

- Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals.

- The personal essay is an important part of your application for admission and provides you with an opportunity for you to clearly and effectively express your ideas.

PharmCas • Costs: $150 for first school and

additional $50 for each school afterwards

• http://www.pharmcas.org/applicants/start.htm

• Letters of Rec. – It is Electronic method of submissions– They will send an email to your rec

person.

• Fee Waivers – Deadline ~Sep 1, 2012– Must be received and processed

before you submit pharmcas

• Submitting your PharmCas– It takes a while to process PharmCas,

the closer you submit to Nov. 1st, the longer it will take

• Not all schools use PharmCas- all California ones do. – Example of don’t is Roseman

University of Health Sciences

• Keep track of deadlines– Most schools deadline for both

PharmCas and Supp App. Is Nov 1st midnight eastern time

– Watch out for rolling admission schools

• Submit Transcript soon after the creation of your account. Takes a while to process.

• Read all instructions associated with PharmCas,– Example: Pharmcas transcript forms

are need to submit transcipt

Supplemental Applications

•Each school has their own supp. App, which can include –Additional Essay questions–Resumes–Listing out your prerequisites classes

• Supp app can generally be access on the school’s website.

• Most schools allow you to submit Supp. App. before receiving your PharmCas

• There are fees associated with supp. Apps. – For Ca schools $50-$75

• Have people read over your supp app and personal statement

• For a list of supp. App essay questions, see supp app ppt on website

Western University of Health Sciences

• Essay 200 words or 1200 characters less, Cost $65• What attracts you to a career in Pharmacy? Is there an area of practice

that is of particular interest to you?• Explain what you have done to prepare yourself as a future

pharmacist. • Aside from becoming a pharmacist, what other professional and

personal goals do you have? How do you plan to achieve them?• Identify one social problem in the U.S. that is of concern to you. What

do you believe are some possible solutions?• Name an individual whom you admire greatly. Why?• What are your strongest and weakest personal characteristics? How

have these strengths) and weakness(s) helped or hindered you in the achievement of your goals?

Western University of Health Sciences Conti.

• Describe your participation in extra-curricular activities (campus and/or community) - that you feel may enhance your application. Include all offices and other leadership positions held. If you have not participated, indicate why.

• Describe some of your non-academic interests (e.g., recreational or athletic activities, hobbies, club participation etc.)

• Have you had any academic difficulties that may appear on your transcripts that you would like to explain?

• Please use this space to make any additional personal comments that you think will strengthen your application.

PCAT• Check Out the membership folder for more

study tips• Highly suggested you purchase and take

official practice exams, Form Study groups,• It is a 240 multiple choice with 2 written

portions for 4 hours– Break Down: Writing, Verbal ability, biology,

chemistry, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability

PCAT– Writing Section: 2 essays at 30 minutes each– Quantitative Ability: Basic Math-Calculus – Chemistry: Gen Chem, Ochem, “Basic Biochem”– Biology: Gen bio, Microbio, Anatomy &Physio– Verbal Ability: Analogies, Sentence Completion

Letters of Recommendation

• For PharmCas, the recommenders fill out an online form. You have to tell the people you ask for letter of rec. first. They will receive email notice.

• You want to get around three letters of Rec. including a pharmacist and a professor.

Letter of Rec (LTR) for Ca SchoolsCalifornia Schools Number Letters of Rec

RequiredRequired to Get

California Northstate 2 A health care professional and an academic letter

Touro University Ca 3 One LTR must be from bio/phy science professor who has taught class you were in

Loma Linda 3 One LTR must be from pastor, clergy, or spiritual advisor

UCSD 3

UCSF 3-4

Western University 3

USC 2 One LTR must a faculty member

UOP 2 Pharmacist and Professor

Minimum GPA Requirements for Ca Schools, according to PharmCas

California Schools Minimum Cumm. GPA Average GPA Accepted

California Northstate 2.8 3.29

Touro University Ca 2.75 3.44

Loma Linda 2.75 (prefer 3.0) 3.45

UCSD 3.0 3.6

UCSF 2.8 3.55

Western University 2.75 3.42

USC 3.0 3.6

UOP 2.7 3.5

Any Questions…..

Pre-Pharmacy Society-Interview and Writing Section

TBA

To Contact Us: prepharm.cpp@gmail.com

Pre-Pharmacy Society WebsitePre-Pharmacy Society Facebook

Interview Format

• Group vs Individual • Group: with other students• Individual: professor, pharmacist, almuni,

student • Open vs Closed File• Length of Interview

Group vs Individual

• For instance, Touro University is group interview– Five or so other students will be interviewed at the

same time in the same room with the same interviewers

• For instance, Western U is an individual interview– You will interview by yourself and a couple of

interviewers – Interviewers can be pharmacists, alumni, faculty, and

or students

Length of Interview

• Varies dependent on school– Anywhere from twenty minutes to one hour

Dave Harriman: Closed File vs Open File Interviews

Closed File = All they have is your resume at the most. Common w/ most California schools. Usually the interview is weighed more heavily w/ this style of interviewing.

Open File = The interviewers read through your interview prior to interviewing you. Usually the interview is not weighed as heavily.

. Know what questions to expect and be prepared for the style of the interview. Use SDN interview feedback.

Preparation • Three People you meet at Cal Poly

Pomona, sort of – Dr. Chan Mock Interview– A friend or family member– A stranger

• And an extra, schedule a career center mock interview

• Purchase professional attire • Know your supp app and personal

statement info. • Get Informed about the pharmacy

world – Drug Topics Website, Pharmacy Times, Pharmacy Today, Current Pharmacy Debate Topics.

• Have stories about each of your important experiences: ex. A story about your pharmacy experience

• Student Doctor Network Interview Feedback

• Do not sound rehearsed • Connect with students who

have gone through the process• Talk to Pre-Pharmacy Society

Eboard Members • Prepare questions to ask about

the school, their program, housing, etc

Interview Format Conti.• California Northstate: One professor and one

student/staff separate times• Touro: Group Interview- Around Five or Four people in

a group, two professors and a student, Open file• Loma Linda*: two professors, closed file • UCSD: One student and One professor, open file• UCSF: One professor and One student, open file • UOP: One professor and One student separate times,

Open File- Only have resume • USC: One professor and One student, open file • WesternU: One professor and one student/faculty,

closed file

Common Questions• Tell me about yourself. • Why Pharmacy? Why not medicine, dental…?• Tell me about your strengths and weakness• Where do you think the field of pharmacy is

heading towards?• Tell me about a problem you had while working

on a team and how do you solve it. • What do you know about our school, why do you

want to go here? • Tell me about _________ experience or position • Situation or Critical Thinking Questions

Specific Questions– Questions are taking from SDN Interview Feedback– California Northstate University

• If there was a lady who came in with her husband and both had a certain disease by only one prescription, would fill the prescription twice (if they asked)?

– Loma Linda• If you caught your friend cheating, what would will you do?

– University of the Pacific• What do you think about retail setting for pharmacy? • What do you know about Stockton?

– Touro University California • Do you think pharmacists should be given the right to prescribe medication?

– Western University• Do you know anything about clinical pharmacy?

– USC• What is a problem for pharmacy today?• Describe a situation in which you showed empathy.

– UCSF • What do you think about Obama’s health care reform?

– UCSD• If you were on our side (interviewers), what kind of attributes would you be looking for?• If a patient gave you a hard time at work, how do you deal with it at home? How would you de-

stress?• What do you say to doctors who say pharmacists are not health care provider?

Natasha Ngo Interviews - FAQs

• Also on the table:• What is an issue in pharmacy today?• Do you have any leadership experience? • What do you know about the health care reform?• What does the future of pharmacy look like?• Anything of interest from your application

• Be confident. Sell yourself!• Give examples!!• Build a rapport

Business cards, thank you letters

Interview Dates• California Schools: Not a complete list – Touro U(Cali) 11-12 year: Oct. 6, Oct.27, Nov. 2, Nov.

10, Nov. 17, Nov. 22, Jan. 12,Feb 2, Feb 23, Feb 29 – Loma Linda 11-12: Dec 7, Jan 17, Jan 25, Feb 23–UOP 11-12 year: Oct. 21, Nov. 4, Nov. 18, jan 13, Jan

20, jan 27, Feb 3, Feb 24, Mar. 9–UCSD 11-12 year: Jan. 13, Jan. 14, Jan. 27, Jan. 28,–UCSF 11-12 year: Feb. 10, Feb 4,Feb 10, Feb 17, Feb

2, Jan 27 –WesternU 11-12 year: Dec. 10, Jan. 28, Mar. 3– Cal.Northstate 11-12 year: Sept. 6, Sept. 30, Oct. 28,

Dec 2, Jan 26, Feb 24, April 6, April 20–USC 11-12 year: Oct. 29, Jan. 21, Feb. 25, Mar. 24

Written Section •Most schools have a written section–All Cal. Schools do

• Typically 40 to 50 minutes to write an essay. It could be argumentative essay to informative one. • Topics Range- It could be pharmacy related

or it could be something silly• For example, UCSD: Tell me about two

people you would invite for dinner (living or dead, real or fictional) and why?

After Interview• Depending on the school, there are several

different outcomes. –For example: Western U uses Accepted,

Rejected, Wait Listed, On Hold –USC: Accepted or Active Consideration »Rejection comes after they accepted their

entire class

Cost of Schools

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120000

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Estimated California Pharm Schools Tuition and Fees

Series1

California Pharmacy Schools

Costs (dollars)

Cost of Schools• The costs shown in the graph do not describe

transportation costs, living expensive, and books and supplies.

• For UCSD and UCSF, tuition costs were based on in state students.

• California Northstate and Touro costs: based 12-13 estimated costs and assumed costs do not change for the next four years

• Loma Linda and UCSF costs: based on 11-12 estimated costs and assumed costs do not change for the next four years.

Cost of Schools• Sources:

http://www.californiacollegeofpharmacy.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=57 http://www.llu.edu/pharmacy/spaboutprogram.page http://studentservices.tu.edu/financialaid/cost.html https://meded.ucsd.edu/assets/25/File/StudentBudgets1112SOP.pdf http://registrar.ucsf.edu/registration/fees/pharmacy http://www.pacific.edu/Admission/Graduate-Professional/Pharmacy/Pharm-DTuition-and-Fees.html http://pharmacyschool.usc.edu/programs/pharmd/pharmdprogram/fa/cost/ http://www.westernu.edu/financial-budgets-pharmacy-pharmd

Any Questions…..