- General Questions
- Prerequisites
- Admission Requirements
- Admission Procedures
- Interview
- Transfer Students
- International Students
- Financial Aid
- Legacy Information
- Dual Degrees
Where do most of your graduates practice?
40-50% practice in community pharmacy. 32% go on to receive post graduate training (post-graduation training is a residency, fellowship, or PhD program). 11% work in hospital pharmacy. The average number of students that have gone into industry over the years equals 1% or less. 2% go into health services, 4% go into managed care.
Who does well in your PharmD program?
25% of our program is made up of experiential coursework. Students who typically do well are not only those with focused and dedicated study skills but also have a strong ability to translate book knowledge into practical application and good communication skills
What makes the PharmD program at the University of Maryland exceptional?
One of the most intriguing aspects of our program is our diversity - our diversity in our students, in our faculty, and in the opportunities that exist here. Electives make up 20% of our curriculum, which allows students to focus their pharmacy education on their specific areas of interest. We are a top-ranking program, have a commitment to direct patient care, and instill a strong sense of leadership in our students. Our faculty is involved in practice and research in a variety of areas. We have an extremely high retention rate of 99%, and therefore, make every effort to assist students with matriculation. We work with students very closely and provide a great deal of support. Our students are assigned to working groups, which translates to a strong campus community. Finally, on average, they have secured 4 job offers before they even graduate.
What is the best advice you can give me regarding my application?
Most students are denied because their application is incomplete, they have missed the deadline, they didn’t follow directions, or because they do not meet minimum requirements. The best thing you can do to remain competitive is to research the PharmD program in advance. Make sure your prerequisites are complete or will be complete before the start date of classes, ensure that your timing of the PCAT exam corresponds with our deadlines, and follow directions regarding deadlines and procedures. In addition, it would be helpful to involve yourself in the field of pharmacy through student membership in a professional organization or work experience. Finally, do your research about our program and stay abreast of current events in the field to prepare for your interview.
I read on your website that all biology and chemistry prerequisite courses must be taken within the past 5 years and the rest of the prerequisites within the past 10 years. Are there any exceptions to this rule?
If you are working in a science or health related field then the time requirement can be waived depending on successful PCAT scores (over 60th percentile in biology and chemistry). The time requirement is counted from the most recent coursework taken - so, for example if you took Biology 101 more than 5 years ago but you have taken higher level coursework in Biology and/or Chemistry, the coursework is current. However, there is no waiver for actually taking the courses.
Are prerequisites from a 4-year institution viewed more favorably as compared to courses from a community college?
Students with a bachelor’s degree are not given any special consideration over students who have only completed the prerequisites. Our admissions committee views the applicants equally.
I am taking my prerequisite courses at a community college and they do not offer Biochemistry. What should I do?
Biochemistry is no longer a prerequisite requirement.
Your prerequisites state that I must have 8 credits of Organic Chemistry, 8 credits of Chemistry and 8 credits of Physics. The college I attended only had 3 credit physics courses and therefore only have a total of 6 credits in physics. Will this meet your admission requirement of having 8 credits in physics?
No, you must meet the minimum credit hours for all prerequisites. You must take another course in order to meet the 8 credit minimum. This rule applies for all prerequisite courses. You must have completed the number of credits that we require in all courses.
Do I have to complete the prerequisite courses before the application deadline?
No. All courses must be completed by the time students enter school. Therefore, you can continue taking courses in the Spring and Summer before the Fall semester of entering the School of Pharmacy. When applying through PharmCAS, indicate courses planned or in progress.
What type of classes are accepted for humanities prerequisites?
Humanities coursework would be anything that is not related to hard math or sciences. For example, History, Psychology, Geography, Music, Art, Computer Science and Speech, etc. Keep in mind that you must take one course in speech communications and one course including microeconomics.
How many credits do the courses in economics and speech have to be?
There is not a specific amount of credits required for the speech and economics course, as long as a course has been taken for credit.
Will a course in macroeconomics meet the economics requirement?
No, the course must either be a general economics course that includes both micro and macro-economics, or a course that focuses only on micro-economics. Faculty want students to enter with knowledge in microeconomics.
Do you accept AP courses for prerequisites?
Yes
Minimum PCAT scores
The minimum acceptable PCAT scores are set based on the discretion of the Admissions Committee and can change at any time. However, successful applicants typically have at least an overall score in the 80th percentile and a biology and chemistry score in the 60th percentile.
What PCAT does the University of Maryland take - the highest or the most recent?
We take the highest PCAT score based on Composite percentage.
Do you have a minimum GPA for acceptance?
No student will be admitted to the University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy with a GPA lower than 2.5. The average GPA of accepted students is 3.3.
Is it an admissions requirement for applicants to have had work experience in the field of pharmacy?
Work experience is not a requirement for admission to the PharmD program. However, it can show a commitment to the field of pharmacy or can demonstrate the well roundedness of an applicant
Can one of my three letters of recommendation be from a teacher’s assistant (TA)?
The UMB School of Pharmacy will not accept letters of recommendation from a TA. You must get three letters from previous or current faculty members or supervisors.
I uploaded the wrong letter of recommendation onto PharmCAS and it won’t let me upload another, what should I do?
You will need to contact PharmCAS directly and request that they remove the letter of recommendation in order to create space for the letter of recommendation that you want to be uploaded.
I missed the August PCAT exam due to illness, death in the family, Mapquest gave me wrong directions, traffic was bad, or to no fault of my own?
If you missed the August PCAT exam we will take your previous scores as long as they are not more than 2 years old. Unfortunately, if you never took the exam before there is nothing that can be done. The January PCAT test will not be considered for the regular admission cycle because the Admissions Committee will have already reviewed the applications and begun the interviewing process by the time of the exam. Our policies are in place to ensure fair treatment of all applicants. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Is a bachelor’s degree required for admissions?
No, only the two years of prerequisites are required for admission to the PharmD program. In addition, students with a bachelor’s degree are not given any special consideration over students who have only completed the prerequisites. All applicants are on a level playing field.
What does Early Decision mean?
Early decision is a legally binding contract in which the applicant only applies to one school, and if accepted is committed to attend that school. The deadline for our early decision is September 3rd. Please follow the same process for early decision as you would for regular decision with the exception that you must indicate on your application that you are interested in being considered for early decision. If you are not accepted into the school under the early decision program then your application will automatically be deferred to the regular decision process and there is nothing more you need to do.
Do you have rolling admissions?
The University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy no longer has rolling admissions. No application will be reviewed or given consideration before the application deadline.
How competitive is it to gain admission into your program?
The University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy is ranked 9th in the nation. For the 2008-2009 school year, we had 1000 applicants and 160 students were admitted into the program.
I have attended several schools, which grades will be considered when my application is reviewed?
Initially, the GPA that is considered in meeting the minimum requirements is the cumulative GPA calculated by PharmCAS. Once your application is under review emphasis will be placed on the grades you received in prerequisite courses. The Admissions Committee will look at patterns, i.e., whether you were full or part time, working in conjunction with school, etc.
I had one academically weak semester; will this greatly affect my chances for admission?
It is not unusual for students to have one bad semester. The Admissions Committee will be looking carefully at each and every application and when a very strong student has a weak semester the assumption is typically that there were extenuating circumstances that semester.
Do you take the August PCAT for Early Decision? The scores are submitted after the deadline.
Yes. We take the August PCAT scores for Early Decision even though they are submitted to our office after the deadline. Please indicate on PharmCAS that you intend on taking the August PCAT.
When can I expect to hear a decision from the admissions committee?
The admissions committee will be notifying accepted candidates by letter in April. Please do not call the school as the letters will be mailed within 24 hours of the decision. The staff in the office will not know the status of your interview.
How many people apply to the PharmD program and how many are accepted each year?
There were 1000 applicants for the 2008 academic year. About half of those applications were not considered due to missing information or not meeting the minimum requirements. We will interview approximately 300 candidates and offer acceptance to 160 applicants.
Do you give preference to MD applicants?
No, all applications are given equal consideration. However, it is important for us to have a diverse class and the state from which applicants come will be taken into consideration after the interview process.
Will I be given special consideration if I submit my application early?
No application will be reviewed until the application deadline.
After applying, can I call you to inqure about the status of my application?
Please do not call the admissions office to inquire about the status of your application. No application is reviewed until the deadline date. If you applied in October then the status of your application is that it is waiting for review. If it is between January and February then your application is under review. If it is March or April then the Admissions Committee is making decisions on interview invitations. We will notify candidates of interview invitations, acceptance, or denial as soon as we know; there is nothing more our office will be able to tell you.
After applying, can I call you to inquire if you’ve received my application?
Please do not call the Admissions Office to inquire if we’ve received your application. Log on to PharmCAS to ensure that you have submitted your application specifically to University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, your PCAT scores, three letters of recommendation, and your application fee. If you have submitted correctly, then we have received your application. You may, however, inquire if we have received your supplemental application and fee.
Can I enter at the spring semester?
We only conduct a fall admissions cycle. No regular or transfer students will be admitted in the spring.
Do you have a wait or hold list?
Yes, the Admissions Committee will initially make decisions to reject, hold, or interview a candidate. Based on the number of candidates rejected after the interview or who decline our offer of admission, candidates on hold may be invited for an interview and ultimately accepted. Candidates may also be placed on hold after the interview until the Admissions Committee has the opportunity to interview all desirable candidates and receive confirmation from candidates who have accepted or declined an offer of admission. Every year students are accepted who were on hold status at some point in the process.
May I apply again in the future?
Yes, re-application is strongly encouraged. Every year, qualified students are denied because there simply aren’t enough available spaces. Take advantage of the coming year to increase your chances of success in the future through making your application more competitive. This can be done through taking further coursework, studying for the PCAT, taking a PCAT preparation course, joining a professional organization as a student member, holding an office of a student organization, or volunteering or working in a pharmacy.
Do I need to submit everything to PharmCAS at the same time?
No, you can submit materials as you get them as long as all materials are received by PharmCAS and you indicate to PharmCAS that your application is complete before the application deadline
My application was postmarked a day late. Will you still accept my application?
No, we will not consider applications that are incomplete or applications that are submitted or postmarked after the deadline
Is it okay to send my PCAT scores directly to the school?
No, when taking the PCAT you must indicate to Harcourt that they should send your scores to PharmCAS. We will then receive your PCAT scores on your PharmCAS application. If you forget to do this when you take the exam, you must contact Harcourtj to request your scores be sent to PharmCAS. We will not review your PCAT scores if you ask Harcourt to send your scores directly to UMB, or you mail your score report directly to our office. This will make your entire application incomplete and you will not be considered for admission.
What should I bring to the admissions interview and how can I prepare?
You will need to bring a valid form of ID and a pen or pencil for your essay. You will have three interviews: one with a student panel, one with a panel of faculty members, and a group interview with other applicants. In preparation, you’ll want to ensure that you have the time, location, and directions to your interview in advance. Also, you’ll want to take potential traffic and finding a parking spot in consideration when planning your travel. Interviews will not be rescheduled for applicants that are late or miss their interview. During your interview you will be evaluated on communication skills, maturity, motivation for pharmacy, and problem solving. Spend some time considering your answers for typical interview questions, visit our website and learn about our philosophy of education, background of faculty members, and the mission and values of our school. Finally, stay abreast of current events and research in the field.
Is every applicant interviewed?
No, it is not possible for the admissions committee to interview all applicants. After the application deadline the Admissions Committee will meet to review the applications and decide which students will be interviewed.
How many do we interview?
We will interview approximately 300 candidates and offer acceptance to approximately 240 students in admitting a final class of 160 applicants.
I called to schedule my interview but another engagement, vacation, or event has come up. Can I reschedule an interview?
You must make every effort to attend your admissions interview as they will not be rescheduled for the above reasons. Below are the only reasons for which interviews will be rescheduled and appropriate documentation will be required:
a. Medical emergency or illness
b. Conflict with religious observances
c. Conflict with a professional exam
d. Conflict with a college course exam
How should I dress?
You should dress in professional attire.
Do you offer an advanced standing program (transfer students)?
Occasionally, transfer students will be admitted to the program after going through the admissions process along with the regular decision applicants. Transfer students must have a 3.0 GPA from their current pharmacy school and a persuasive reason for changing schools. In addition, only one year of the PharmD curriculum can be waived for transfer students. However, only the individual coursemasters have the authority to allow a course to be waived. Therefore, transfer students can only be accepted into the second year of the PharmD program and credit will only be given upon the approval of Coursemasters.
I am a transfer student. Do I need to complete and pay for both the Transfer and the Supplemental application fees?
Yes
Do you offer financial aid for International Students?
We do not provide financial aid for international pharmacists. International students can get very little and when offered is mostly in the form of loans, therefore, collateral is necessary.
Do you accept international students?
Yes, international students should consult our web page that provides specific information for application.
Do I have to have my transcript evaluated by WES?
Yes, all international students (regardless of the official language of the country of origin) must have their transcripts evaluated by WES to translate not only the language but the credit system into what is accepted in the United States.
Do I have to take the TOEFL exam?
All international students must take the TOEFL exam and Proficiency is proven by an official TOEFL score of at least 550 paper-based, 213 computer based, and 80 internet-based.
Does the UMB School of Pharmacy offer any scholarships?
There is a small amount of money available to students each year. There has never been a student who could not attend due to inability to pay. Please visit the UMB Financial Aid page for detailed information.
When should I complete the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is available for completion in January. It is desirable to apply as soon as possible as federal funds are distributed on a first come first served basis.
Who qualifies as a Legacy applicant?
A legacy is any applicant to the Doctor of Pharmacy who has a parent, grandparent, or sibling that is a University of Maryland School of Pharmacy alumnus. Individuals that do not qualify as Legacy applicants are spouses of University of Maryland School of Pharmacy alumni, or relatives of alumnus from other Pharmacy schools. If you qualify, please indicate by checking the Legacy box on the Supplemental Application.
What is the admissions process for a Legacy applicant?
The admissions process is the same for a Legacy applicant. However, Legacy applicants are guaranteed an admissions interview. This policy does not guarantee admission into the program. Admission decisions are based on several factors including prior academic performance, Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) scores, and the results of the admission interview.
What are the Dual Degree programs UMB offers?
Currently there are several dual degree programs offered: PharmD/PhD, PharmD/JD, PharmD/MPH, and PharmD/MBA.
How long does a Dual Degree program take to complete?
The dual degrees have different timeframes depending on the degree program. Often times, it takes anywhere from one to four years in addition to the PharmD four year program. Click here to find out entrance requirements for the different programs, and contact people for more information.