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Best Pharmacy School Personal Statement Examples

Check out top 4 sample statements.

Pharmacy school personal statement examples demonstrate that pharmacy school applications require many different documents to adequately assess you as a potential candidate. In addition to looking at your CV , transcripts, letters of recommendation , and any other required materials, most pharmacy programs ask you to submit a personal statement. After gathering so many materials together, a one-page essay may seem like a trivial item to check off on your application to-do list, but beware of treating the personal statement too lightly! Gaining admission to a graduate pharmacy program certainly requires top grades, competitive test scores, and glowing letters of recommendation from referees who know you well, but these aren’t the only components that admissions committees take into account when evaluating your profile. 

Keep in mind that most pharmacy school applicants already have stellar academic records, impressive test scores, and fantastic recommendations. These sorts of accomplishments are important, but are more or less a given in the application process. Furthermore, grades, test scores, and other people’s perceptions of you and the quality of your work are insufficient to determine if you are up for the challenge of the rigors of pharmacy school and the work that follows graduation. With something as serious as pharmacology, it is crucial to determine whether who you are would make you a good fit for the profession. Your knowledge, experiences, and attitudes all play a key role in deciding if you would thrive as a pharmacy student, and eventually, as a pharmacist serving your community. With so many applicants each cycle, admissions officers need some way to gauge these factors in order to narrow the applicant pool down to those they would like to speak to in person, or these days, over the internet. This is where the personal statement comes in! Keep reading to determine what a pharmacy school personal statement measures and how to create one that will make you stand out from other applicants.

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Article Contents 24 min read

4 pharmacy school personal statement examples.

Three days after my thirteenth birthday, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. The next twelve months were the toughest in my life, but this experience also gave me something I am forever grateful for—an unwavering passion for pharmacy. I always accompanied my mother to her chemotherapy sessions, where I performed plays for her and the other patients, trying to make them smile. I took an immediate liking to the pharmacist, who returned repeatedly to ask my mother how she was feeling; he explained in detail how these chemo drugs worked and how they interacted with others she had been taking. I listened raptly, entranced by the seemingly magic properties of this medication. It was difficult to watch my mother lose her hair and become frail, but she ultimately made a full recovery, thanks to the wonderful team of medical professionals and to these life-saving drugs. While I lost the naivety of youth that year, I gained a profound new sense of purpose. I was inspired to become a hospital pharmacist and to help patients in times of extreme uncertainty and pain.  

Anyone who has ever faced a challenge has probably heard about the deflating nonexistence of a “magic pill” solution. Want to lose weight? There’s no magic pill for that. Trying to learn a new language? No dice. Hard work is always touted as the solution, and rightly so. As a preteen who struggled with confidence, I desperately yearned for a magic pill solution that would make me the bubbly, carefree girl surrounded by laughter in the cafeteria. Instead, the only bubbly aspect of my lunchtime break was the gurgling, broken faucet inside the girl’s restroom. Though unaware of it at the time, the bathroom was not a refuge from the scary, hormonal social scene of junior high, but from my ever-increasing social anxiety. As for a magic pill to rid me of that affliction? I think you know the answer to that.

Though there may not have been a magic pill to rid me of my mounting social anxiety, hard work seemed like an unlikely solution, too. For months, I put on a happy face, trying to convince myself that there was nothing to fear in locker-side conversations and that my worth was not determined by what a group of gangly middle-schoolers thought of me. Eventually, my parents took me to see a psychiatrist, and after many sweaty-palmed conversations, I was diagnosed with social anxiety and handed a prescription for anti-anxiety medication. Of course, the medication I received was no miracle, but with other coping mechanisms, my world began to seem a little more welcoming. Gradually, I interacted with peers more, who became friends. I still had to work hard in therapy, but the capsules I took in the morning each day removed my constant, debilitating worry.

Without the shadow of anxiety darkening my every social interaction, I felt as though I was beginning to become the version of myself I always wanted to be. Years later, I actually was the girl surrounded by laughter in the high school lunchroom. More importantly, though, I took my first chemistry course and discovered my passion. The ways that elements on the periodic table could combine to create entirely new substances fascinated me. I realized that, just like myself, the world around us is in a constant state of flux, with elements combining, reacting to forces, and continuously changing. As I changed from a high school chemistry novice to a university student, one thing remained constant: my passion for chemistry. Delving into how chemistry can be used as a tool inspired me to pursue it as a major, and I worked in various labs on campus investigating how different combinations could be put to use to solve problems, just like my psychiatrist helped me find ways to deal with my social anxiety.

Through my lab work on campus, I grew close with Dr. Johnson – the principal investigator in a campus lab and a faculty member in the pharmacy program. One evening, as we were locking up the lab, Dr. Johnson asked me if I had ever considered becoming a pharmacist. Initially hesitant, I finally accepted Dr. Johnson’s offer to facilitate a shadowing opportunity with one of his former colleagues. My first day in the pharmacy was overwhelming. The rattling of pills in bottles served as the backdrop to the near-tangible pressure of making sure no life-threatening mistakes occurred. I was intimidated by the responsibility, but excited by the chemical interactions that the pharmacist discussed with me. This was the ultimate problem-solving chemistry I had been seeking! 

After months of shadowing a pharmacist, I was convinced that I wanted to pursue a career in pharmacy. My experiences with Dr. Johnson and his colleague piqued my interest in what seemed like a never-ending field of discovery. Elements combining, reacting to forces, and continuously changing, but in the human body! Figuring out the puzzles of chemical reactions had always been intriguing, but knowing that I could combine that with helping people recover from sickness, manage chronic disease, or even find the strength to leave the middle school bathroom and have lunch with other students was empowering. The medication I took as a preteen may not have been a magic pill for my social anxiety, but there was certainly some magic in it. I look forward to putting in the hard work to bring that magic to others as a pharmacist. (724 words)

‘I want to do more than just counsel on the proper use of Levothyroxine’ was what I told my father when he asked me what kind of pharmacist I wanted to be. He died shortly after, and it saddens me to think that I cannot tell him now how my vision has evolved. Now, besides being someone in charge of educating patients about their medications, I see pharmacists as scientists who design and produce medicines, evaluate lab results and drug interactions for the benefit of the patient, act as a trusted link between doctors and their patients and, ultimately, impact patients’ lives and contribute to their wellbeing. Pharmacists need to be team players, good communicators, detail-oriented problem solvers, and culturally sensitive professionals, and these are some of the characteristics that I have developed through different endeavors.

As the captain of my soccer team in high school, I was put in charge of leading the team both in and outside of the game. On the field, I acted as a mediator between the players, coach, and referee. Successfully guiding players on the strategies dictated by the coach required excellent communication skills. In my team, I was not only a player; I was a key decision maker and a motivator. Making tactical decisions while supporting everyone in their position showed me the true meaning of being a team player and taught me how to handle pressure well. When I look back at those times and think about the titles we won for our school, I know that the characteristics I developed while I led my team to victory will be put to use when I have to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals in the future.

In college, while volunteering at a local pharmacy in my hometown, I helped the pharmacist handle prescriptions and dispense a variety of medications. It became clear to me that following a methodical approach and paying great attention to detail were essential in pharmacy. I made it a point to learn from him, and with time, I found myself being thorough, accurate, and organized not only at the pharmacy but at school as well. I also sought to understand both the cause and the effect of a situation, which is an ability that has guided everything I have done since then, including my research work and my academic activities as a Biology major. Seeing the pharmacist interact with patients was truly rewarding. I watched as he explained the treatment, potential side effects, and desired outcomes to them while evaluating the interactions between the drugs they were taking in order to avoid any harm. This showed me that, besides being a problem-solver and having analytical abilities, pharmacists need to be empathetic and care for their patients. Very soon I found myself interacting with people who visited the pharmacy and exercising the same skills the local pharmacist possessed.

This interaction with people helped me refine different characteristics that I bring with me to this new journey. One of the most significant is, perhaps, the cultural awareness that I developed in my shadowing work at the university hospital. Having a patient who does not speak the language, calming them down, and finding a translator, for instance, or understanding how different cultures view certain health practices and looking for ways to respectfully adapt to them has allowed me to learn and practice cultural sensitivity, which is crucial in a multicultural society, such as in Canada, where the population is becoming more diverse. By seeing pharmacists in action in the university hospital setting, I gained insight into the every-day lives of healthcare professionals who work with patients from every background imaginable. Moreover, I also came to realize the pressure to which pharmacists are exposed when the correct medication has to be provided with extreme urgency. Working under pressure is something I do well since my soccer days, so instead of deterring me, this motivates me.

If anyone were to ask me today about the kind of pharmacist I want to be, I would have a much stronger answer than the one I gave to my father many years ago. I want to be the kind of pharmacist that uses their knowledge, skills, and compassion to improve their patients’ health and one that works with other health care professionals to maximize health outcomes. Furthermore, I want to have patients trust me enough to let me become involved in their lives as I guide them on their medications and help them improve their quality of life. Besides all this, and on a much more personal level, I want to be the kind of pharmacist that will make my father proud. (781 words)

“Why would you want to be a pharmacist?” was the question my father asked me when I shared my decision to pursue pharmacy school. This was a question I had asked myself many times as I solidified my decision to pursue this dream. I shared my experience standing in line at a local pharmacy to fill a prescription. This was something I did every month, and not an experience that I had given much thought, however; when I saw the person in line in front of me experience great distress at learned the price of her daughter’s prescription, I realized that not all patrons had the same experience as me. To many, a trip to the pharmacy may be filled with questions over how their medications will affect their body or their ability to afford groceries for the month. The woman in line was worried about the high prescription price in light of other expenses in providing for her family. As I saw the pharmacist assist her in finding a less costly alternative, and the ease come over the woman as she learned that her family would be alright, I had my first glimpse into my future profession as a pharmacist. 

This day sparked my interest in attending pharmacy school, but also a desire to further explore what it meant to be a pharmacist. While donating blood to the Red Cross, I learned of the growing need for pharmacist volunteers, with many underserved communities necessitating additional support. As I was giving blood, I talked with a current pharmacist volunteer, ‘Samantha,’ who recounted her responsibilities to me when I expressed an interest in wanting to learn more. ‘Samantha’ explained why she felt pharmacists made wonderful volunteers in the community. She reflected that pharmacists have the knowledge to make an impact and valuable experience conversing daily with people of all backgrounds. As I talked with ‘Samantha,’ I thought about my own capacity to strike up a conversation with people I had not met before. I recalled that my friends often joke about how I could talk to anyone about anything, a trait I admire in myself. Everyone is skilled in different ways, but my ability to talk to anyone I come across will be an asset to my future as a pharmacist. I look forward to new experiences every day and speaking with new patrons to get to know their needs and concerns. In addition, I hope to volunteer in my community as a pharmacist to expand the number of people I can impact with my loquacious disposition as I guide them towards safe medication use. 

With the personality to be a efficacious pharmacist, I looked to build my experience in the healthcare profession. I secured a volunteer position aiding a hospital pharmacist in educating health professionals on drug side effects. I was responsible for designing educational posters for use in counseling patients about their medications. I was eager to use my artistic talents to help people seeking to understand their prescriptions, like the woman in line ahead of me at the pharmacy. As I designed posters, I asked my friends and family to look at my drafts and provide feedback. I asked if the information was conveyed in a clear, approachable way and I learned that what is clear to one person – such as myself – can be viewed differently by another person with a different background or set of life experiences. As a pharmacist, I will utilize educational materials that have gone through arduous testing to ensure they can deliver the necessary information, but I will also aim to understand community members’ experiences and how this may impact their understanding and outlook towards their medication.   

I explained to my father that, to me, pharmacy is about conversation. As patrons share with you why they have come in to the pharmacy that day, or what is troubling them, it is important to truly listen. This is the starting point for the conversation needed to understand their concerns, provide appropriate medication, and educated them as to how best proceed. Although my friends joke about my ability to talk to anyone, this is a trait that will go far in serving my community as a pharmacist. (702 words)

Here're some more tips for your interview:

Pharmacy school personal statements are a crucial aspect of your application because they help to separate you from the crowd of other accomplished applicants. After all, grades, test scores, and letters of recommendation only go so far in presenting who you are and your talents and strengths. Even a CV does not reveal enough about you and your experiences to adequately reflect your ability to succeed in pharmacy school and beyond. Imagine trying to measure a candidate’s level of motivation or ability to persevere through adversity by looking at his or her GPA! Luckily, you have the power to present the strengths and qualities that would make you an incredible future pharmacist and make your case for admission through your personal statement.

Essentially, this short essay asks you to reflect upon who you are, what led you to want to study pharmacology specifically, and why you would be great at it. Most pharmacy programs in the United States use a central application portal called PharmCAS (Pharmacy College Application Service) to distribute application materials like transcripts, test scores, and personal statements to individual university programs. Personal statements for PharmCAS must be 4500 characters or less, including spaces. It is crucial to draft a personal statement that is within the character limit because the online portal will not allow you to save or submit a personal statement that exceeds 4500 characters. As you prepare to write your personal statement, be sure to verify that your program(s) of choice use PharmCAS for receiving application materials. If you find that your university does not utilize PharmCAS, check the program’s website for specific instructions regarding the character or word limit for personal statements.

Canadian pharmacy program application expectations differ from school to school. The University of Toronto’s PharmD program, for example, does not require a personal statement of any kind.  

A common mistake that pharmacy school applicants make is relying upon cliches to discuss their motivations for pursuing a career as a pharmacist. Cliches read as tired and don’t reveal anything meaningful about an applicant. Moreover, many personal statement cliches like expressing a desire to “help people” are so vague that they fail to address an applicant’s desire to study pharmacology precisely. There are a multitude of careers that help people: teachers, doctors, non-profit workers, and more. Similarly, a fascination with science applies to any number of medical professions, researchers, scientists, and so on. In your personal statement, you must clearly express why you want to go to pharmacy school specifically.

Additionally, admissions officers want to ensure they admit only those applicants who demonstrate their capability of handling the demanding course work as well as possess the correct attitude and motivation to pursue a career in pharmacy. You’ve probably heard that past behavior is one of the best predictors of future behavior, and for good reason. For instance, if you have already persevered and exhibited your resilience, work ethic, and determination in past experiences, chances are you will exhibit those same skills in a pharmacy program, no matter the challenges you may face. Showing your skills through relevant anecdotes and relating them to core attributes you possess that will ensure your future success as a pharmacist goes a long way to separate you from an already qualified pool of applicants.

Pharmacy personal statements also assess the value you will add to your matriculating class, the program, and the institution overall. You want to prove you are a mutually beneficial fit for your pharmacy program of choice. As you craft your personal statement, you will likely need to create several versions that cater to each of the institutions to which you plan to apply, highlighting the attractive elements of each program that motivated you to apply and explaining how you would thrive in such an environment and contribute to the program’s culture and mission. Prove that the school would be missing out on an exceptional candidate if you were not offered admission!

How Are Pharmacy Personal Statements Structured?

Although each program has different requirements, pharmacy personal statements are generally around a page long, or 4500 characters for most applications in the United States, and should be structured similar to a traditional, academic paper. Your personal statement should have a clear introduction, a body composed of about 2-3 paragraphs, and a marked conclusion. It is important that you transition well among each of these elements to enhance the flow and overall readability of your statement. The logical progression of your ideas should also be well-defined so that admissions officers can easily follow your train of thought. Keep in mind that each individual reading your personal statement will be looking at many, many personal statements in any given sitting, which can get exhausting. Make their jobs easier by ensuring that your statement is easy to read and makes your points both concisely and clearly. Given the myriad personal statements each admissions officer must review, your statement must be quite unique and engaging in order to stand out and be memorable.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not the best choice to start your statement at the beginning by working on the introduction. Part of the reason you should avoid starting with the introduction is because an introduction typically sets the stage for what you discuss in the body of your statement. If you don’t have the content of the body prepared, it is unlikely that you will be able to craft an appropriate introduction. Rather, you want to plan out the body of your statement first by creating a rough outline of the topics you wish to address in your statement to give the reader an overview of what led you to pursue pharmacy school, as well as the experiences and qualities that would make you an excellent addition to the program of your choice, and ultimately, a great pharmacist. Utilizing an outline to plan out your response also takes a bit of the pressure off of you as a writer so that you are not focused on making every single sentence perfect until you have a general idea of where you are going with your statement. After you have the “bones” of your statement planned out via an outline structure, begin to add the “meat” little by little, gradually expanding your outline with more substantial content, including anecdotes that serve as evidence or justification for the claims that you make.  

Pharmacy personal statements are an opportunity to show the admissions committee your personality, values, and goals. With this in mind, think carefully about which experiences you want to emphasize and the skills and values you want those experiences to illustrate. “Illustrate” is a key word here; be sure to show your readers what you mean instead of telling them. For example, don’t just say you are a lifelong learner. Show your readers evidence that demonstrates you are a lifelong learner by narrating and reflecting upon experiences in which you were continuously eager to learn new information. One of the most important tips to remember as you plan the outline for and later write your pharmacy personal statement is to be true to yourself. When applicants communicate what they believe admissions committees want to hear, or in this case read, their inauthenticity is blatantly evident. Being genuine not only serves you in the short-term by creating a personal statement that reads as truly authentic, which is always more convincing and impactful, but it is to your benefit in the long run as well. After all, pharmacy school is 4 years long, which isn’t exactly an insignificant time commitment. You should aim to gain admission into a program that wants you for who you truly are and the potential you’ve demonstrated, and the only way of guaranteeing this is to show who you truly are through your personal statement.

Once you have crafted a full outline, begin to write a rough draft of your body paragraphs. At this point, you still do not need to worry about choosing the best words or making sure that the stylistic elements of your body paragraphs are top notch. Focus on getting your thoughts out on paper in a way that makes sense and flows well in terms of a logical progression of ideas. So, how many experiences should you write about in your personal statement? While there is no concrete number you should aim for, do be selective about which experiences you choose to include. Think quality over quantity. Essentially, as you answer the question “Why do you want to be a pharmacist?”, trace the origin of your interest in studying pharmacy through each stage of its development. Given the 4500-character limit, at least for most pharmacy programs in the United States, you will have to limit your discussion to two to three experiences, depending upon the level of depth of your discussion of each experience.

Which kinds of experiences work best? Keeping in mind that the experiences you decide to address and the way in which you write about them should be authentic to you, aim for experiences that involve exposure to the field. Of course, exposure to pharmacy can come in many forms! Perhaps you were exposed to pharmacy and the positive impact it can make in people’s lives through your own use of prescribed pharmaceuticals to treat a chronic illness, which inspired you to learn more about how medications work. Or, maybe you were considering a career in either medicine or pharmacy, decided to shadow physicians and pharmacists alike to accrue more knowledge about the day-to-day responsibilities of each profession, and found yourself enamored with your pharmacy shadowing experience. In any case, make sure that you are specific about which aspects of your experience were particularly influential in your developing desire to study pharmacy and what convinced you that you would make a great pharmacist yourself!

Once you have completed your rough draft, take a day or so away from your statement so that you can achieve mental distance from your writing in order to review it with fresh eyes the next time you read it. With this new perspective, revise your body paragraphs, choosing the strongest vocabulary possible to convey your meaning. Remember, though, that it is important to be authentic, so don’t abuse your thesaurus! Work on strengthening the wording of your statement and try reading it out loud to see how well each sentence fits together. Rinse and repeat.

Tip #1: Be authentic.

The personal statement should explain why you want to study pharmacy, so your discussion of this should be true to your experiences. Instead of writing what you think would be appealing to admissions officers, present a genuine account of why you want to be a pharmacist and the experiences that led you to that conclusion. Inauthenticity is actually quite easy to detect, so it is always preferrable to be authentic.

Tip#2: Start early.

The strength of your personal statement is crucial, and with limited space to show the admissions committee who you are and why you are passionate about becoming a pharmacist, you will likely go through many drafts before you arrive at the final product. In order to accommodate multiple rounds of edits and give yourself time to gain mental distance from each draft before revising again, you must start early.

Tip#3: Get expert feedback.

Notice that we suggest expert feedback, not just feedback in general. Everyone can give you an opinion on the strength of your pharmacy school personal statement, but only a select few can give you constructive criticism that will actually serve to improve your statement. Trusted professors, pharmacist mentors, or admissions experts like the ones at BeMo are all great choices to give you informed and insightful advice.

Tip#4: Be concise.

Since you have limited space to convince your reader that you are passionate about pursuing pharmacy and would make an excellent future pharmacist, every word counts. Recount your experiences in a succinct manner so that you can maximize your character count and include valuable reflections that will demonstrate how strong of an applicant you are!

Tip#5: Avoid cliches.  

While it can definitely be tempting to rely upon commonly used motivations for pursuing pharmacy school like “to help others” or “to give back,” leaning upon these cliches will only hurt your application. Even though part of your motivation for becoming a pharmacist may genuinely be to help others, you need your statement to stand out. If hundreds of other applicants express the same sentiment, your sincere altruism may be lost in the crowd of other personal statements communicating the same thing. Further, helping others and giving back can be achieved in various careers. Your job is to convince the reader that you want to make that impact through pharmacy.

If you are applying to pharmacy schools in the United States, check out PharmCAS’ website to see if your program utilizes this application service.  If so, your personal statement will be restricted to 4,500 characters, including spaces.  If not, check out the program’s website to discover that school’s specific personal statement requirements.

On the other hand, if you are applying to pharmacy schools in Canada, you will need to go directly to that school’s website to see its specific requirements.  Some programs don’t require a personal statement at all.

No, some schools like the University of Toronto don’t require a personal statement or essay of any kind.  Double check the website(s) of your program(s) of choice to see what the specific requirements are.

Unless directed otherwise by your program of choice, your pharmacy personal statement should be structured like a traditional academic essay.  Include an introduction, 2-3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion.  Please see above for further details.

Overall, your personal statement should answer the question “Why do you want to be a pharmacist?” or “Why do you want to go to pharmacy school?”  Your answer to this question should show your reader why you want to pursue this career instead of telling them.  Show your desire to become a pharmacist by discussing key experiences that sparked your interest in pharmacy and developed that interest into a true passion.  Include experiences that exposed you to the profession, whether that is as a patient, working as a pharmacy assistant, or shadowing a pharmacist.

Although it may seem illogical, your introduction should be one of the last things that you write.  The introduction of your personal statement must introduce the content that appears in your 2-3 body paragraphs, so it makes sense to write your body paragraphs first in order to know which content you are introducing.  In order to capture your reader’s attention from the very beginning of your personal statement, the first sentence of your introduction should employ an opening hook that uses some sort of creative element to generate interest in your statement.  Opening hooks often use relevant quotes, pieces of dialogue, or vignettes of a particularly impactful experience to “hook” the reader and make them more invested in the document before them.  Following your opening hook, you should discuss the significance of it, whether that is how a quote relates to your life or an explanation of the significance of the situation described in your vignette.  Finally, your introduction should establish your interest in pharmacy and set the stage for the more substantial content that will follow in subsequent body paragraphs.

The conclusion of your personal statement should not just be a summary of the content covered.  Rather, it should be comprised of reflections upon the experiences you’ve described, draw connections among your experiences, and/or discuss future goals in the field of pharmacy.  Make sure that the last sentence of your conclusion leaves the reader wanting to know more about you.  How memorable your statement is depends heavily on your last sentence, so you should use a creative approach as you did with your opening hook.  Some applicants find it useful to refer back to their opening hook in a creative way.  Try out different endings and see which works best with the statement you’ve written!

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How to make your pharmacy application stand out, (and avoid the top 5 mistakes that get most rejected).

Writing the Personal Statement for Pharmacy School: A 5 Step Checklist

You’ve likely written a personal statement at some point in your life. Perhaps while applying to your undergraduate program, some of your schools required you to include an essay describing your achievements, yourself, and what you hope to accomplish in your time at their university. Similarly, many pharmacy programs will require you to write a personal statement for their application. 

This, however, is different. You will be able to highlight your relevant accomplishments and address why you want to become a pharmacist to stand out truly . With so many applicants during each cycle, admissions officers use this personal statement to gauge whom they wish to speak with for an in-person interview.

At this phase of the application journey, you've narrowed down the pharmacy schools you’re applying to. Your transcripts are in, letters of recommendation are ready, and it’s time for your pharmacy personal statement. The good news is that, unlike undergraduate applications that sometimes have different prompts, you must answer for various schools; your one pharmacy school personal statement will be sent to every program through your PharmCAS application . That also leaves an exciting challenge: Even if you have a favorite, you must consider how you want to write this personal statement, as it shouldn’t be tailored toward one specific school. 

1) Determining the Narrative

When writing a pharmacy school personal statement, the most common pitfall students experience is the need for more effort placed into their writing. While your grades may be exceptional, and your letters of recommendation prove that your student-teacher relationships are healthy and you are a pleasure to have in class, having a generic pharmacy personal statement doesn’t differentiate you from other qualified applicants. If all applicants have already covered the first two things, the personal statement may be the shining piece of the application. For most students, writing this statement will be the most challenging part of the application process. 

Begin to formulate your narrative. Lay out the structure and the different sections. There’s no specific format that pharmacy schools are looking for, so make this personal statement unique to yourself. As mentioned, the “cookie cutter” approach to this part of the application is where most students stumble. Use your time wisely and start early . Additionally, you can easily find a sample personal statement on various websites to help structure your thoughts. However, remember that these should be used only as samples and that you shouldn’t rely on them to format your statement.

2)Crafting a Unique Story

Each pharmacy school program wants students who demonstrate tenacity, which will help them succeed in their respective programs. One way to approach writing your pharmacy school personal statement is from the point of view of the admissions committee. Anyone charged with reading thousands of applications will focus on specific questions that signal a level of quality about the rest of the personal statement.

First, what's the reason that this student is choosing pharmacy as their career? Are they doing this for income or a genuine interest in providing the best care for patients? Does the applicant demonstrate a thoughtful understanding of their strengths and weaknesses? Do their ideals align with the mission statement of the school of pharmacy? Each reviewer may concentrate on different questions, but they want to see you feel a personal drive for a career as a pharmacist . Place yourself into the seat of an application reviewer and formulate different questions you could ask students. Try answering these questions and see how genuine your answers are. How you answer may decide if you want to continue to pursue this pharmacy school path.

3) Focus on Your Opening

One universal method many writing courses teach you is always to have a solid opening statement. I'd like you to please use this as an opportunity, to begin with a personal story about why you decided that pharmacy is the right career for you or maybe an inspiring quote that has always resonated with you. The reviewer may have reviewed several applications, so your first few sentences should stand out. You want to be able to make an impression from the beginning while showing an earnest drive to spend a career as a pharmacist.

Once you’ve effectively engaged the reviewer, it’s time for the “meat” of the personal statement. What do pharmacy application committees genuinely want to hear? 

4) Getting to Know You

They want to learn more about you before meeting in a live interview. Tell your own story succinctly but without cutting corners. Briefly describe how you learned to overcome obstacles like that to better yourself and those around you. Sure, you can write about your most relevant academic accomplishments. But go beyond that.

Discuss how certain clubs and organizations have helped you progress through your undergraduate experience and how those organizations may have led you to pursue the path of pharmacy school. Highlight the leadership positions you may have held in college that have helped mold you into the leader you see yourself as today. After setting those up, discuss the skills you’ve acquired to help you in pharmacy school and how they’d make you a better pharmacist.

When you mention your relevant academic studies, please keep repeating the pharmacy college admission test (PCAT) scores or the 4.0 GPA you achieved. The committee has this information before them as they read; they don’t need to be reminded.

Talk in detail about your relevant work experiences, such as research or a part-time job in a pharmacy. Discuss how these different work experiences furthered your commitment to the profession. Identify what aspects of the pharmacy setting may have attracted you and what you have learned from these experiences. Some students come into this part of the application process without work experience. That’s okay. You can highlight any volunteer work related to healthcare or pharmacy. 

5) Close with Confidence

Finally—and we can’t stress this enough—keep your writing professional. You’re making an impression on a professional committee, and as much as you want to make your statement sound lighthearted, remember that the reviewers’ time is at a premium for reviewing the essays and interviews in the next round.

Be succinct, direct, and human.

Remember to keep our advice top of mind:

The goal of your personal statement is to showcase why you would be the ideal pharmacy student and why your traits/qualities reflect those of a pharmacist.

Be as authentic as possible when detailing why you want to be part of the PharmD program. 

GPA and PCAT scores can only get you so far. Your personal statement is a chance for you to stand out in front of the other applicants who apply to the same pharmacy program as you. 

Remember, perfecting the personal statement takes time and your admission may depend on how much effort you ultimately put into your writing.

Hong Chen, PharmD

My name is Hong Kui Chen and I am a graduate of The Ohio State University Pharmacy Class of 2022. I am currently working as a clinical research associate at Medpace, Inc, a contract research organization based in Cincinnati, Ohio. My work mainly consists of traveling to various sites around the country and providing protocol training on new clinical trials or monitoring data. While I enjoyed the traditional pharmacy role of working in retail or hospital, I wanted to expand and pursue this non-traditional role to see how clinical trials operate. I have a passion for being able to impact patients in a grand scale and even though I don’t have the 1-on-1 patient interaction, the work that I do can have long lasting contributions to overall patient health. 

Opinions and information published by the author here on PharmDDegree.com are of my own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of my employer.

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PharmCAS Admission Requirements

On this page:, prerequisite courses.

All undergraduate prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better by the end of the summer semester prior to fall matriculation. Prerequisite courses do not have to be completed prior to application.

Prerequisite course requirements Applicants may complete their prerequisites at UB and then apply to our PharmD program using PharmCAS, or they may complete their prerequisites at another accredited institution. To complete prerequisite courses as an undergraduate at UB, apply directly to  Undergraduate Admissions  or  International Admissions .

All undergraduate prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better by the end of the summer semester prior to fall matriculation. All science and math courses, including repeat courses, are included in the GPA.

The Admissions Committee reserves the right to rescind an offer of admission if grades at or below C+, including R (resigned), W (withdrawn), or U (unsatisfactory), are received in more than one course in the same terms during the fall, winter, spring, or summer semesters prior to fall matriculation in the PharmD program.

Five-year policy All prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the summer and prior to fall matriculation within 5 years preceding admission.

Five-Year Policy

All applicants must complete their prerequisite courses within five (5) years preceding admission. If a prerequisite course(s) was completed earlier, the applicant must satisfy one of the following options by the end of the summer semester prior to fall matriculation (the first summer semester is preferred):

• Complete one full time (at least 12 credit hours) semester (fall, spring, or summer) including two junior or senior level science courses (typically 300, 400, or higher level at a four-year institution) earning a grade equal to or greater than C-. At least one science course must have a lab.
• Complete two part-time (at least 6 credit hours) consecutive semesters (fall, spring, or summer) including all junior or senior level science courses (typically 300, 400, or higher level at a four-year institution) earning a grade equal to or greater than C-. At least one science course must have a lab.
• Exemptions to this policy are possible for those on active military duty. Please contact the Office of Admissions for additional information.
• If you have never done so, all prerequisite courses must be successfully completed with a grade equal to or greater than C- by the spring semester prior to fall admission. In this case, options (a) and (b) do not apply.
• graduated with a BA or BS degree within the last 3 years and,
• prerequisite courses were successfully completed with a grade equal to or greater than C- by the spring semester prior to fall admission within the last 8 years and,
• you have completed junior or senior level science courses with lab (typically 300, 400, or higher level at a four-year institution) earning a grade equal to or greater than C- within the last 5 years.

Use the  PharmCAS Course Subject List  as a guide for science courses. Our preferences include science courses grouped within (1) Biology & Other Life Sciences, (2) Inorganic Chemistry, (3) Organic Chemistry, (4) Physics, (5) Biochemistry, (6) Microbiology, and (7) Other Biomedical or Pharmaceutical Sciences courses.

Summer courses Complete prerequisite courses by the end of the summer prior to fall entry into the PharmD program.

Equivalent/transfer courses UB SPPS does not articulate courses or evaluate transcripts. To find equivalent courses, please refer to  UB’s Course Equivalency Guide (CEG)  or refer to the course descriptions on  UB’s undergraduate catalog . AP or IB exam credit articulation is acceptable. See  Alternative/Exam Credit .

UB Curriculum/General Education UB students must also complete the  UB Curriculum  prior to fall matriculation in the (P1) first professional year of the PharmD program. PharmCAS candidates attending other undergraduate institutions should adhere to any General Education requirements of their home campus.

Do you attend a college in the State University of New York (SUNY) or City University of New York (CUNY) system? View our  Advising Guides  to learn which courses you should take as part of your undergraduate degree to satisfy UB SPPS prerequisite courses. 

Reference Letters, Experience, Essay and Interview

Reference Letters A minimum of two (2) professional and/or academic letters of reference (evaluations) must be received by PharmCAS. We do  not   accept letters from the following: teaching assistants, politicians, friends, family members, co-workers or clergy.

Experience Experience is not required, however, you are expected to be able to demonstrate your motivation for pharmacy.

Consider volunteering or shadowing at a pharmacy, hospital, nursing home, medical office, or other related health care facility or organization. Understand how professionals interact with patients and their colleagues, assess your dedication to the field, and gain valuable interpersonal and leadership skills. Consider becoming a member or leader of a club or organization.

UB students can engage in research through the Experiential Learning Network .

Personal Essay Your personal essay is considered carefully by our Admissions Committee.

Convince the reader of your desire for a career in pharmacy by including events that strongly influenced or matured you, special attributes that make you an asset to the field, a unique reason to pursue pharmacy, or areas of interest within the profession. Ask your evaluators, peers, advisors, counselors, friends and family to read your essay to critique the content, grammar and spelling.

Interview Selected applicants will be contacted by email for an invitation to interview.

The admissions interview process is a mutual selection process where students have the opportunity to assess their compatibility with UB SPPS, and where we can assess the student's skills and abilities.

Students who have an immediate family member* who is an alumnus of our school (PharmD or Pharmaceutical Sciences) are guaranteed an interview by the Admissions Committee. Applicants supply this information on their PharmCAS application and may alert us by emailing  [email protected] .

*Includes a person's parents, spouses, siblings, children. It can contain others connected by birth, adoption, marriage, civil partnership, or cohabitation, such as grandparents, great-grandparents, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, aunts, uncles, siblings-in-law, half-siblings, cousins, adopted children and step-parents/step-children, and cohabiting partners.

Additional PharmCAS Program Requirements and Recommendations

• Academic Integrity All UB students are expected to uphold standards of academic integrity. As a result, students are responsible for knowing what constitutes an act of dishonesty, and a lack of awareness is not considered an excuse. At UB, academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:  https://www.buffalo.edu/academic-integrity/about/violations.html . PharmCAS applicants must adhere to the  Applicant Code of Conduct . The Admissions Committee reserves the right to rescind a PharmD offer of admission if students do not uphold standards of academic integrity. Students who do not demonstrate these proficiencies and attributes will not be eligible for admission.
• Communication Skills It is critical all students possess the ability to communicate effectively using both the oral and written English language. Written communication skills will also be assessed in a standardized manner.
• Technical Standards Review our  Personal Attributes and Capabilities Essential for Admission, Progression and Graduation for our PharmD degree.
• Licensing Requirements See important information on student intern permits and pharmacy practice licensing requirements .
• Mandatory Professional Licensure Disclosure See important information on Mandatory Professional Licensure Disclosure .
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Non-Discrimination Policy UB SPPS is committed to a nondiscriminatory admission policy and philosophy. Review our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Non-Discrimination Policy .
• Transportation Policy Student Pharmacists are responsible for providing their own transportation throughout professional years 2*, 3 and 4. Students are made aware of this policy pre and post admission through SPPS websites. Transportation to and from experiential rotation sites is the responsibility of each student pharmacist. The school cannot guarantee that students will be placed at rotation sites accessible from UB transportation. The City of Buffalo does have public transportation but it does not cover the entire 90 mile radius allocated for Experiential Education training sites. The Experiential Education Office cannot give site preferences to students who lack transportation. Therefore, a personally owned vehicle is the preferred mode of transportation for all students. There are transportation alternatives (e.g., ride share), but due to distances they may be expensive, and students should budget appropriately. *IPPE rotations begin immediately in July after having successfully completed the P1 year, and therefore transportation will be needed during the summer between P1 and P2 years.  Revised and approved by the Student Success and Engagement Committee, July 2024.   Review our Transportation Policy.
• In-State Residency Tuition In order to qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you are required to provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months prior to your semester start date. If accepted, you will need to upload 3 documents to qualify for the in-state tuition rate. See  Verifying New York State Residency  for more information. 

Students who do not demonstrate these proficiencies and attributes will not be eligible for admission.

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Applying to pharmacy school

Applying to pharmacy school can be complicated, but we are here to assist!  Advisors at Health Professions & Prelaw Advising can help you develop your best strategy and troubleshoot problems you encounter in your application.  Make sure to attend one of our Personal Statement Writing Workshops so you can get started early on your application essay.

The PharmCAS application  #

Applicants apply to pharmacy schools through an electronic, centralized application administered by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy called PharmCAS . Once you complete your PharmCAS application, it will be processed and sent to all the pharmacy schools you select to receive it. Nearly all schools and colleges of pharmacy in the United States participate in PharmCAS.

For the PharmCAS application, you will create your own User Name and Password that will allow you to create your electronic application. You can log in, fill out part of the application, and save your changes before logging out. Once you are satisfied that everything is accurate and complete, you submit it electronically and it is sent to PharmCAS for processing. the PharmCAS has four sections to it.

In this section, you provide background information about you that ranges from contact, demographic, and social-economic status information to infractions of the law or school conduct policy.

On the PharmCAS application, you will fill out information regarding every college course you have taken, so you will need to refer to transcripts from every college or university you have attended, whether during high school, summers or after you received your bachelor’s degree. You will also need to order official transcripts from all of the colleges and universities you have attended to be sent to the application service. At IU Bloomington, you can order your transcript from Student Central . PharmCAS will not process your application without all of your transcripts. You can check the status of your online application to see if your transcripts have been received. PharmCAS will verify that you have entered your coursework correctly on the application by matching your application against the transcripts from the colleges and universities you have attended. After PharmCAS processes your application, they will send it to the schools you have selected to receive it.

The PharmCAS application includes a section where you can provide information on experiences such as pharmacy-related experience, health care experience, employment, and extracurricular activities. Shadowing a pharmacist would be included here. Achievements include scholarships, awards, and publications. Next, you will enter any licenses or certifications.

You will type or cut and paste the personal statement into this section. It can be up to 4,500 characters including spaces (approximately one single-spaced page). The admissions committee will read your essay to learn why you want to become a pharmacist. An effective approach is to write about the series of events in your life that have led you to pharmacy. What started you on the path toward the goal of becoming a pharmacist, and what kept you on that path once you started, even at times when it wasn’t easy? Drawing material from your prehealth journal  can provide useful insights and help bring your writing to life.

Make sure to attend one of the Personal Statement Writing Workshops offered by Health Professions & Prelaw Advising to help you begin a draft of your essay. Schedule an appointment with a HPPLA advisor for feedback on a draft of your essay.

Letters of recommendation #

Pharmacy schools require that you submit letters of recommendation written by others on your behalf along with your application. Letters of recommendation can provide admissions committees insight into your personal qualities. Recommendation letters can tell them about your communication and interpersonal skills, and your readiness for pharmacy school. Developing relationships with your professors is an important part of your intellectual growth and will help you obtain strong letters of recommendation.

Pharmacy schools vary in their requirements for letters of recommendation and PharmCAS will allow you to submit four letters as part of your application. Most pharmacy schools will require a minimum of three letters of recommendation. The Purdue University College of Pharmacy requires two letters of recommendation. Consult the individual pharmacy school websites for information on the recommendations each school requires, or review the PharmCAS website's page on supplemental requirements .

Letters of recommendation are sent to pharmacy schools directly from the recommenders through the PharmCAS application system. For more information, please refer to the application instructions on the PharmCAS website.

Program Materials

In addition to the above items that are required for submitting your PharmCAS application, some pharmacy schools will require additional materials. These materials could include additional essays, a resume, or a form listing prerequisites.

Interviews #

Before admitting you, pharmacy schools want to meet you in person. The interview helps schools evaluate personal qualities they can’t observe directly in your written application. Selected applicants are invited for an interview. You should prepare carefully for this crucial component of the admissions process.

Pharmacy schools use interviews to gain insight into how you would interact with patients. Schools also use the interview to assess factors such as motivation and ability to cope with conflict. They want to know how likely it is you would take a spot if they offered one, so it is important that you express your enthusiasm and sincere interest in the school!

In a job interview, the most important question for your interviewer is probably, “What can this person do for our organization?” For your interviewer at an pharmacy school the most important question may be, “Would I trust this person as a pharmacist?” One of your most important goals is to demonstrate you have the ability to connect with others on a personal level.

To prepare, review your personal essay and activities listed on your application. It’s helpful to practice responding to interview questions (obtain a list of questions in the HPPLA office). You may be asked situational ethics questions that require you to think through how you would respond when faced with difficult decisions as a healthcare provider. Study the school’s curriculum via its website and prepare to ask questions about the school’s program in the interview.

Make sure to attend one of the HPPLA-sponsored Interview Skills Workshops in the fall semester and schedule an appointment with a HPPLA advisor for a mock interview.

On this page...

• The PharmCAS application 
• Letters of recommendation

Pharmacy School Personal Statement Tips

Many programs require a personal statement as part of the pharmacy school application. This is essentially an essay that addresses why you want to be a pharmacist, and how your personal background and achievements support this goal. This writing sample provides the only opportunity to express yourself in writing to differentiate your application from your competitors. A significant effort should be made to have the best possible personal statement that addresses the interests of the admissions committee.

• How to write a pharmacy school personal statement

PharmCAS provides general guidance on how to craft a personal statement. Each year, they provide a prompt that directs the topic of the statement. They recommend that applicants do not tailor their writing to one program, because you will only be permitted to submit one personal statement per application cycle. PharmCAS will send this statement to all programs to which you are applying that year.

For many applicants, the personal statement will be the most difficult part of the application preparation. Applicants know this is important, so they may overthink it or suffer from writer’s block. A useful exercise before you begin writing is to think about the answers to the following questions:

• Why do you want to be a pharmacist? You should demonstrate a genuine interest in the profession and helping people.
• What experiences have prepared you to be successful in this career?
• What qualities do you most admire in pharmacists? Can you demonstrate that you have these same qualities through your academic achievements or work experience?
• What makes you stand out as a unique candidate? Do you have real-life experience? Have you volunteered in health care settings?
• Is there any deficiency in your application that you want to proactively explain? This may be your only opportunity to explain any low grades, gaps in education, or suboptimal PCAT scores. However, do not make excuses; own your mistakes and show how you have learned from them.

The personal statement should address the topics that you think are the most important to paint a picture of you as a successful pharmacy student.

The personal statement should address the topics that you think are the most important to paint a picture of you as a successful pharmacy student. Mission statements of the schools to which you are applying can help direct your writing, but you should keep the statement general enough that it can resonate with the admissions committees of any program.

Ultimately, the personal statement is a story that will show the admissions committee that you are a unique person who is worth more than their GPA and PCAT scores. The statement should be an authentic representation of your story and give the reader a glimpse into what you would be like as a pharmacy student and professional. The text should show, not tell, the reader what you bring to the table. A strong opening is important: Grab their attention with a relatable anecdote or quote.

One approach to writing the statement is to brainstorm all the questions above, taking notes as you think of the answers. Then, sketch an outline of the statement that will help get the juices flowing. Try to write the first rough draft in one setting, not worrying about the exact words. You can go back later to refine wording, add details, and revise. Lastly, you should proofread the statement multiple times. Essays riddled with grammatical errors and typos send a message to the reader that you do not pay attention to detail , which is an important skill for pharmacists. Consider having another person who is unbiased proofread it. Numerous companies offer professional essay proofreading and editing services, such as Scribd .

• What does a school look for in a personal statement?

Each program is looking for well-rounded students who are likely to succeed at their institution. They do not expect all students to be the same.

Each program is looking for well-rounded students who are likely to succeed at their institution. They do not expect all students to be the same. Diversity is desirable, so don’t pretend to be something you are not because you think it is what they want to hear. Admissions committees can see right through disingenuous statements. Content that schools may be looking for include the following:

• Is this person applying to pharmacy school for the right reasons? You won’t be happy or motivated in a job that you are doing only for money, job security, or to meet someone else’s expectations.
• Do they understand the job and its demands? Speak to any relevant experience you have working, volunteering, or shadowing pharmacists.
• Has the applicant demonstrated personal growth in the years leading up to their application? If your grades improved in the last year, you can explain that it shows your commitment to education and renewed work ethic. If you took on new extracurricular responsibilities or work assignments, highlight any leadership skills you’ve developed.
• Is the essay organized and clearly written? Communication skills are important for pharmacists, because they communicate with customers, physicians, and insurers daily.
• Has the applicant explained any weak points in their application? Admissions committees realize that life can be messy. Be honest if personal circumstances affected your grades or PCAT scores. Make it clear that you’ve moved past these circumstances and they won’t impact your ability to be a successful pharmacy student. However, don’t make excuses for shortcomings that don’t have a good explanation.
• Do they demonstrate a “fit” for the values of the program? Use anecdotes to demonstrate that you live their values and mission.

Learn More about Pharmacy School Requirements by State

• AR Arkansas
• CA California
• CO Colorado
• CT Connecticut
• DE Delaware
• IL Illinois
• KY Kentucky
• LA Louisiana
• MD Maryland
• MA Massachusetts
• MI Michigan
• MN Minnesota
• MS Mississippi
• MO Missouri
• NE Nebraska
• NH New Hampshire
• NJ New Jersey
• NM New Mexico
• NY New York
• NC North Carolina
• ND North Dakota
• OK Oklahoma
• PA Pennsylvania
• RI Rhode Island
• SC South Carolina
• SD South Dakota
• TN Tennessee
• VA Virginia
• WA Washington
• DC Washington, DC
• WV West Virginia
• WI Wisconsin

• What should you avoid in a pharmacy school personal statement?

Admissions committees have numerous applications to review. You want to make sure every sentence in your personal statement adds value and has no chance of leaving a negative impression. Here are examples of things to avoid:

• Don’t repeat your transcript and PCAT scores. They already have these in their file. Essay word counts are limited, so make the most of every word of your essay to provide new information.
• Don’t write off topic. Tell your story directly and concisely. Going off on a tangent or adding words just to make it appear longer will distract from the message you are trying to convey.
• Don’t include irrelevant academic achievements. No matter how proud you are that you won the geography bee in fifth grade, it isn’t relevant to your aptitude for success in a pharmacy career.
• Do not plagiarize. This is a major sin in academia. It will get your application tossed to the “no” pile without a second thought.
• Avoid clichés. Cue eye roll from the admissions committee who is forced to read hundreds of statements, many with poor attempts to use clichés or humor.
• Do not talk about controversial topics. The essay should be professional. Topics like religion, personal emotions, money, and politics have no place in the workplace.
• Don’t have grammatical errors or spelling mistakes. Hire a professional editor to proofread your writing, or use a do-it-yourself tool, such as Grammarly .

Pharmacy school personal statement examples

Personal statements are one of the most important components of your application. They are your only opportunity to show the admissions committee that you are more than your GPA and PCAT score. This is your chance to stand out from the crowd. The quality of your essay will be determined by how much work you put into the writing. Several examples of essays from students who were accepted to pharmacy programs can be found on the internet at sites like Studential and Applytouni . Reading these can give you an idea what a good statement looks like before you begin writing your own.

• Additional Resources:
• Pharmacy School Directory
• Pharmacy School Letter of Recommendation Tips

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• Washington State University

The WSU Doctor of Pharmacy program evaluates admissions applications through a holistic review process by giving balanced consideration to academic record, evaluations, personal and professional goal statements, and life experiences.

How to Apply

Pharmcas application, the interview, financial aid, international students, transfer admission policy, next deadline.

October 1, 2024

Quick Links

• Pre-Pharmacy Requirements

Apply to the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS) through the PharmCAS national application service for pharmacy schools.

Admissions Team

[email protected]

509-368-6605

Book an admissions advising appointment

Application Deadlines

Fall 2025 enrollment, need a pharmcas voucher.

For more details on deadlines, visit the PharmCAS deadlines webpage. Not ready to apply for the Doctor of Pharmacy program yet? Consider our Save-A-Seat program.

Application Options

Early admissions.

Deadline: October*

Interview Dates: Sept– Nov

• Guaranteed scholarship
• Early access to financial aid
• Notice of acceptance, denial, or need for more info within one week of your interview
• Secure a seat at your location of choice

Regular Admissions

Deadline: January*

Interview Dates: Dec – Mar

• Eligibility to receive remaining scholarships

Late Admissions

Deadline: June*

Interview Dates: Apr – June

• Eligibility to receive remaining scholarships after Early and Regular Admissions candidates

Note: Early and Regular Admissions applicants receive priority on location preference and scholarships.

*Precise deadline dates can be found above or on the PharmCAS deadlines website.

Applications may be completed and submitted beginning mid-July. First priority is given to Early Admissions applicants and proceeds to Regular Admissions applicants on a rolling basis. The number of interviews available is limited so apply early to reap the benefits of Early Admissions. If PharmCAS does not receive all required materials and transcripts, they will not release your application to WSU for review.

After your application, official transcripts and fees are received. Allow up to four weeks for PharmCAS to process your application.

The PharmCAS application deadline indicates the date your application and all materials must be received in the PharmCAS office.

PCAT Scores

The PCAT is not required and will not be used in the admissions scoring process.

Grade Point Averages

To be considered for admission your preferred overall GPA and your science GPA as reported by PharmCAS must be 2.7 or higher. If your GPA is lower but you have extenuating circumstances that you believe should be considered, you may write a letter to explain. Letters of explanation will be requested after the PharmCAS application is submitted. They should be addressed to the Admissions Committee, and be sent to [email protected] as a Word document or PDF.

Essay Questions

During your PharmCAS application you will have 2 essay sections to complete: the personal essay and the professional goals statement. One of the biggest things to keep in mind is that there is no correct answer to these questions. We just want to better get to know you. This is your chance to tell your story and let your personality shine.

Personal Essay

Professional goals statement, letters of recommendation.

We require 2 letters of recommendation from evaluators who can speak to your professional character, accountability, and notable experiences, such as a professor, teaching assistant, employer or volunteer supervisor. More than 2 letters is not required, but students can submit as many as 4.

Evaluators should speak to your adaptability, empathy, ethics, intellectual ability, interpersonal relations, judgement, leadership, reliability, and communication skills. We recommend a supervisor, pharmacist or other health care provider you have worked with submit an evaluation. We also suggest that you obtain an evaluation from an academic source that can speak knowledgeably about your academic history. A letter from a pharmacist is not required but highly encouraged.

Recommendations are NOT ACCEPTED from family members, clergy, friends, politicians, fraternity or sorority advisors, personal health care providers or high school faculty/advisors, career services, or reference letter centers.

Transcripts

In PharmCAS you will be asked to send official transcripts from all institutions that you have attended.

Gaining Pharmacy Experience

Criminal background checks.

If you are offered admission to the PharmD program, you will receive an email request from PharmCAS for information to allow a criminal background check. Be apprised that the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission can refuse to issue you a license to practice in the state of Washington due to a felony conviction.

WSU will not automatically or unreasonably deny an applicant’s admission or restrict access to campus residency based on an applicant’s criminal history. While public institutions may or may not deny your admission based on a criminal record, you may not receive board approval based on a felony record. Since a board-approved internship licensure is required to complete the experiential portions of the professional curriculum, you would not be able to academically progress successfully beyond the first professional year.

If you have a criminal conviction on your record you may not be able to complete your degree, regardless of whether WSU grants you admission to the PharmD program.

Qualified candidates will receive an email invitation to participate in an admissions interview based on when your application is received and selected campus preference. All interviews are conducted virtually.

Admissions decisions will be made on a rolling basis, according to the specifics of each application.

You may apply for financial aid as soon as the FASFA is open for the cycle in which you are applying even if you have not yet submitted your application to WSU. FASFA applications filed by the priority date will receive first consideration. The earlier you file your FAFSA, the more options for aid you will have. If you have any questions about financial aid please contact [email protected] or Student Affairs at 509-358-7534.

School code: 003800

Alaska and Nevada Residents

If you are an international student you are required to complete a foreign transcript evaluation and send this evaluation directly to PharmCAS and take the TOEFL or IELTS exam. International students are strongly encouraged to apply by the regular admissions deadline in January.

International transcripts must be evaluated by the World Education Service (WES) on a course-by-course basis and include all transcripts. The complete report must be submitted to and received by PharmCAS by the application deadline. Upper division coursework, including organic chemistry, human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and biochemistry, should be completed at a regionally accredited institution in the US.

Syllabi for all international prerequisite courses completed must be submitted as PDFs in English and include modules covered, learning outcomes, course description, and course assessment. Applicants from a country that utilizes and supplies consolidated marks sheets must submit individual marks sheets.

If you complete pre-pharmacy coursework at a non-US based institutions and are not a native English speaker, you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency Requirements or be eligible for an exception.

TOEFL/IELTS

Minimum TOEFL scores required are a 90 internet based, or 250 computer based; or minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or higher. Minimum TOEFL sub scores required: Reading 20, Writing 22, Speaking 22, and Listening 20. Exam date must be within one year of application.

Exceptions to English Language Proficiency Exam:

• Applicants may be exempt if they have completed a BA or BS degree in a native English-speaking country.
• Applicants may be exempt if they have completed a minimum of 25 semester/45 quarter credits of equivalent prerequisite coursework from an accredited U.S. based institution.
• Applicant may be exempt from testing requirement if they come from a country where English is the official mode of instruction. Documentation confirming English mode of instruction is required.

The college may consider students who have previously attended another professional pharmacy program. Only students in good academic standing will be considered (proof of academic standing will be required). Students who have been decertified, or asked to leave their original program due to academic deficiencies, are not eligible for transfer into the WSU program.

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PHARMCAS essay

• Thread starter rx2017
• Start date Sep 3, 2012

Full Member

• Sep 3, 2012

The Recoverer

Poppin' bottles.

rx2017 said: I was just wondering if anyone could tell me, if it's possible to turn in the same essay from last year application into this year's PharmCas application. Also, is there a system that check to see if you plagiarized, because it would be horrible to get caught plagiarizing my own work. Click to expand...

I wont be applying til next year, but does the topic for the personal essay of your school of choice appear on PharmCAS or in the school website? Ive intensively searched the school website and cant find a topic to write about in my personal statement. :/  

FelixRx said: I wont be applying til next year, but does the topic for the personal essay of your school of choice appear on PharmCAS or in the school website? Ive intensively searched the school website and cant find a topic to write about in my personal statement. :/ Click to expand...

• Sep 12, 2012

I actually got accepted last cycle with my PS, so I think I'll just make minor changes and resubmit it  

If you feel comfortable answering...Where did you get accepted and why did you decline?  

I was wondering if I could write some things about why Im more competitive this year in my personal statement? Because it really doesn't ask that question.  

• Sep 13, 2012

rx2017 said: I was wondering if I could write some things about why Im more competitive this year in my personal statement? Because it really doesn't ask that question. Click to expand...

gotgame740 said: I actually got accepted last cycle with my PS, so I think I'll just make minor changes and resubmit it Click to expand...

PharmaT said: If you feel comfortable answering...Where did you get accepted and why did you decline? Click to expand...

rx2017 said: I always wondered - would the plagiarism filter catch your essay for... plagiarizing yourself?? Click to expand...

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How Your Social Media Accounts Can Affect Your Ivy League Applications

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Yale University

Could a meme you posted years ago shatter your dreams of attending Harvard? Can Columbia admissions officers read your Instagram comments? Does Stanford really care about the red solo cups in the pictures from your homecoming afterparty?

The answer to these questions is yes . Responsible and conscientious online behavior is necessary for students in every stage of their development—but it is particularly critical for those applying to college. While many students may assume that what they post online is their own private business, publicly accessible profiles are just as visible to admissions officers at top schools as they are to students’ peers. This means that the public content you post on Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, or YouTube could be fair game in the holistic review process at Ivy League and other prestigious institutions.

On the one hand, students should note that admissions officers have multiple commitments in their jobs, and many of them do not routinely review applicants’ social media profiles. Admissions decisions are primarily based on the formal materials you submit—essays, activities lists, recommendations, transcripts, supplements, and extracurriculars.

However, your social media presence is not entirely off their radar. Top colleges are seeking to educate the next generation of engaged, informed, and responsible civic leaders. Your online behavior is a reflection of your character and values, not to mention a testament to your ability to follow a school’s code of conduct, reflect its values, and develop into the kind of leader they want to graduate.

A 2023 study conducted by Kaplan found that 67% of admissions officers “believe that checking out applicants’ social media posts on apps like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X, and Threads to learn more about them is “fair game” to help them make decisions about who gets in.” The study also found that just under one-third of admissions officers surveyed had actually done this, which, though a smaller fraction, is not a negligible number of admissions personnel.

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As social media becomes increasingly important in students’ socialization and personal expression, it likewise becomes more important in admissions committees’ eyes. The percentage of admissions officers who believed social media to be “fair game” in admissions considerations has risen 10% over the last five years alone, according to Kaplan. The survey further found that social media, when considered by admissions officers, had a primarily negative impact on students’ chances of acceptance.

What Do Admissions Officers Look For On Students’ Social Media?

On the one hand, social media can serve as a means of vetting students for inappropriate, illegal, or inadvisable behaviors. Admissions officers may also check your social media to see if it aligns with the narrative you’ve presented in your application, particularly if something raises concerns—such as inconsistencies in your achievements or red flags regarding your behavior. One student had her admissions offer revoked from the University in Rochester in 2017 after the school learned that she had lied about which high school she attended on her application, Inside Higher Ed reported.

More than any other Ivy, Harvard has frequently made headlines for uncovering students’ abuses of social media. In 2019, Parkland shooting survivor Kyle Kashuv had his admission to Harvard revoked after racist comments he made resurfaced online, per a U.S. News & World Report piece. Likewise, in 2017, the school rescinded 10 students’ offers of admission over racist and sexist remarks made online, The Harvard Crimson reported. But Harvard is hardly the only school to do this—numerous colleges rescinded acceptances in 2020 over students’ racist online posts, The New York Times noted. Students should therefore be mindful about what they share on their personal accounts, as well as in group chats, on others’ pages, and on digital forums. If something you want to say has even the potential to be offensive or harmful to a person or group of people, you should refrain from saying it — or delete it.

This is particularly important if a student has used social media as a part of their application hook or core activities in high school. Perhaps you have written a blog, spread awareness through social media campaigns, shared video essays on YouTube, or created an online community around a shared interest—whether you link to your social media accounts in your application or not, referencing online initiatives of this kind can increase the likelihood of admissions officers searching for your profiles. In this case, it is all the more critical that you ensure that neither you nor anyone affiliated with your accounts have shared anything you would not want admissions officers to see and factor into your admissions evaluation. On the other hand, developing these social media accounts in a positive, professional, and strategically minded way can leave admissions officers with a more positive and dynamic understanding of your digital citizenship, thereby enhancing your application profile.

Should Students Link To Their Social Media Accounts On College Applications?

Generally speaking, students should only include professional social media accounts that are pertinent to their college admissions candidacy on their applications.

The social media accounts that students use for their private social lives should remain in private mode to ensure such information is not unintentionally broadcast to admissions officers or future employers. Additionally, if a student has concerns about whether any online content could be perceived as irresponsible or out of sync with a university’s values and code of conduct, do not include a link on the application.

That being said, if students have used social media as a tool for advocacy, research, networking, a passion project, or other positive initiatives, it may benefit their application to include a link to their profiles in their applications. While your resume and activities list offer limited space to describe your achievements and demonstrate your leadership in your community, a social media account curated toward your hook or activities can add color and dimension to your application. If you have used social media in conjunction with a passion project, linking your account can also go a long way in conveying your work’s reach and impact. This could be especially pertinent to students applying in the arts who have used social media as an online portfolio housing their performances and other creative work.

Ultimately, while it’s unlikely that your social media accounts will make or break your application, it’s crucial to curate them thoughtfully. Admissions officers are not necessarily searching on those platforms for reasons to reject you, but your social media posts have the potential to reinforce or undermine your application.

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