Pre-Pharmacy
Preparation for Pharmacy School
What is the suggested academic major to follow to
become a pharmacist? A better question to ask is “what are you most
interested in studying”? With your advisor’s assistance you can design a
program that meets the requirements to enter pharmacy school. Students that
have developed excellent writing and speaking skills, possess analytic and
synthetic thinking ability, understand the interpersonal aspects of
medicine, and are enthusiastic life-long learners are desired by most
pharmacy schools. The choice of academic major does not necessarily
determine
your success in being accepted to pharmacy school.
Undergraduate Preparation
The “pre-pharmacy” checklists and a discussion
with your advisor will help you to plan the path that best meets your
academic goals. Certain criteria must be fulfilled for admittance to
pharmacy school. To insure that you follow the best academic plan, you will
want to discuss with your advisor your specific goals and the criteria
required by your school of choice.
Some basic factors common to all pharmacy schools
include:
- Good undergraduate grades (overall GPA of 3.2 minimum)
- Test scores (PCAT - Pharmacy College Admissions Test)
- True interest in profession as demonstrated by shadowing or volunteering
in the field
- Service-related experiences in people-oriented environments – long term
service preferred to short bursts of unrelated service activities
- Exceptional communication skills
- Strong reference letters from professionals who know your character, as
well as, your work ethic. Most schools want to see a recommendation
from a pharmacist.
Tennessee Pharmacy Schools
