Prior to applying for admission to pharmacy school, prospective applicants should have completed the following requirements for pharmacy schools:
- 2 semesters of Introductory Biology (BIOL 107 & 108)
- 1 semester of Microbiology (BIOL 304)
- 1 semester of Anatomy (BIOL 365/365L or BIOL 214 & 215)
- 2 semesters of General Chemistry with lab (CHEM 130 & 131)
- 1-2 semesters of Organic Chemistry with lab ([CHEM 329, 330, 331, & 332] or CHEM 320 – depending on your major)
- 1 semester of Statistics (STAT 190)
- 1 semester of Calculus (MATH 198)
- 1 semester of Physics with lab (PHYS 185 or PHYS 195)
- 1 semester of English Composition (ENG 190)
- 1 semester of Public Speaking (COMM 170)
Some schools have additional requirements and/or strong recommendations for courses. Information and data about specific schools and their requirements, as well as other valuable advice, may be found on the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy admission requirements site.
Grades and Course Load
The detailed academic record is the prime indicator of an applicant’s talent, performance, and judgment. In general, admissions committees like to see evidence that you can do well while carrying a substantial course load (15-17 credit hours), but remember: you must establish a very good GPA and it may be very difficult to do so with a heavy course load. Pharmacy schools look for A’s and B’s in classes overall, as well as a strong science GPA. Faced with the prospect of a C, some students will want to withdraw (W) and try for a higher grade later. More than two W’s indicates a lack of judgment and an inability to handle difficult situations. Remember, course withdrawals must be recorded on pharmacy school applications, so this is something to discuss with your advisor.