Topics of Frequently Asked Questions

General

What is the doctor of pharmacy?

The doctor of pharmacy, commonly called the PharmD, is the professional degree for pharmacists. It is neither an undergraduate degree nor a graduate degree but rather a degree similar to a doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of dental surgery (DDS). This means that you are not required to complete an undergraduate degree program before being admitted to a PharmD program (although many of our students have). After earning a doctor of pharmacy degree and successfully passing a licensure exam, you are eligible to practice as a pharmacist.

How long does it take to complete the PharmD program?

The prepharmacy coursework can be completed in two years, and the professional program is usually completed in four years. Ten months of the professional curriculum is spent working in the field under the direction of other pharmacists.

What is the grade point average of admitted students?

The average GPA of admitted students is 3.5 (on a 4.00 scale).

Do you accept out-of-state students into your program?

Yes, but because we are a state-supported school, no more than 18 percent of an entering class is from out of state.

How many students apply to the PharmD program? How many are accepted?

Approximately 850 applications were received this past year. We accepted 155 students into the program.

What factors are considered in a student's admission to the PharmD program?

Admission to the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy is competitive. The School of Pharmacy Admissions Committee considers each applicant and makes all admissions decisions. The committee considers your academic performance, your PCAT exam score, how well you did in your interview, and all the written information you submitted with the application. If you have additional information that you want the committee to consider, you should put this information in writing and include it with your Phase II application.

What is the Elizabeth City State University partnership?

Launched in fall 2005, the UNC/ECSU Doctor of Pharmacy Partnership Program allows us to enroll an additional ten to fifteen students each year in our PharmD program. These students are based at Elizabeth City State University. This partnership was created with the goal of increasing the number of pharmacists practicing in North Carolina, particularly in underserved populations and in underserved areas such  northeastern North Carolina.

If you would like to be considered for admission to the program on the ECSU campus for fall 2009, you should follow our standard application procedure and note your campus preference on the School's supplemental application. This form will be available on our Web site by August 1, 2008.

The first students were enrolled in the PharmD program through this partnership with ECSU in the fall of 2005. For additional information about the UNC/ECSU Doctor of Pharmacy Partnership Program, send inquiries to pharmacy_admissions@unc.edu. Click here for information about the Elizabeth City State campus.

What are the differences between the Chapel Hill– and Elizabeth City–based options for the PharmD program?

The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy offers just one PharmD program, but students have the choice of completing the program on either the Chapel Hill campus or at a satellite campus at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU). No matter the campus, pharmacy students receive the same education. Admission criteria and curriculum requirements for PharmD degree completion are the same for students on both campuses. However, there are some differences in how they receive their education and in other details.

All students pay the same tuition and fees. Chapel Hill–based students pay all of their tuition and fees to UNC-Chapel Hill while ECSU-based students pay tuition to UNC-Chapel Hill and fees to ECSU. Students receive financial aid (when eligible) from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Most of the required coursework in the PharmD program is taught by faculty on the Chapel Hill campus. However, the instruction can be delivered in either direction (from Chapel Hill to Elizabeth City or from Elizabeth City to Chapel Hill).

ECSU-based students remain on the ECSU campus for the first three years of instruction in the PharmD program, with the exception of orientation and special events. They participate in PharmD classes through realtime video teleconference (VTC). VTC classes may be supplemented with Web-based instruction and/or instruction by faculty at ECSU, and students at ECSU have a variety of opportunities to interact with faculty and advisers on both campuses. Students on both campuses have access to professional electives taught by School of Pharmacy faculty. Additional elective courses are selected from courses available on the campus of residence or those available on-line from either campus. Students from both campuses complete the experiential component of the program through the AHEC system.

Some students may prefer the smaller class size at ECSU (currently fifteen to twenty students versus 140 students at Chapel Hill) or the relaxed atmosphere of its smaller campus and coastal community. While the Chapel Hill campus offers easy access to a major medical and research center and established community-based pharmacy practices in urban and suburban settings, the Elizabeth City area offers unique opportunities to participate in the development of innovative hospital and community-based pharmacy practices in a rural setting.

Prerequisite Coursework

Does it matter at which school I take my prepharmacy coursework?

Generally, no. However, the School of Pharmacy does consider the rigor of the institution where the courses were completed, along with the number of courses taken at the same time. The School of Pharmacy does not accept credit for coursework unless the institution is a U.S.–accredited institution of higher learning. Applicants whose education is from institutions of higher learning in Canada are also accepted. Please be sure to check the transfer equivalency Web site to make sure that you are taking the correct courses.

Does it matter what size academic load I carry during my prepharmacy coursework?

We recommend that applicants carry a full academic load (i.e., 15 to 16 credit hours) per semester and suggest taking a minimum of three science courses each term. This gives you a chance to preview what is in store for you in pharmacy school, which is a full course load that cannot be taken part time. At the same time, this gives us a better opportunity to evaluate your chances of success in pharmacy school.

If I have credit from a foreign college or university, how can I have this coursework evaluated?

Individual departments within the University must evaluate courses from schools outside of the United States and Canada. The School of Pharmacy does not and cannot evaluate courses for transfer credit. Click here for evaluation of foreign credit policy and procedures (you will need to have Acrobat Reader installed). This process takes some time, so plan well in advance.

What if a grade of less than C minus is received in a math or science prerequisite course?

Grades below C minus are not acceptable, and you should repeat the course with a goal of achieving at least a B.

Must I have completed all required courses before I apply?

No. However, all math and science courses must be completed before enrolling in the School of Pharmacy, and students must present a grade of C minus or better in these courses. There can be no exceptions to this rule. It is highly recommended that applicants complete all math and science prerequisite courses by the 2009 spring semester. Applicants who have already completed or will complete math and science prerequisites by the end of the spring semester (before enrolling) will be given first priority for admission.

If I take coursework after submitting my application, how will the School of Pharmacy know this?

You should update your PharmCAS application. This information will be forwarded to us.

Admission Testing

Is the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) required for admission? When should I take the PCAT?

Yes, the PCAT is required for admission. This test is given in June, August, October, and January. We highly recommended that applicants take the exam in June or August and no later than October for the 2009 admission cycle. Students taking the exam for the first time in January 2009 will be considered for wait-list status only. Click here for 2008-2009 test dates.

How should I prepare for the PCAT?

A set of sample examination questions is included in the registration booklet. To receive a registration booklet, contact:

The Psychological Corporation
PSE Customer Relations – PCAT
55 Academic Court
San Antonio, TX 78204-8969
1-800-622-3231
www.pcatweb.info

Commercial preparatory books are also available through most university bookstores. If you have a previously identified weakness in one or more of the five test areas (reading comprehension, verbal ability, chemistry, biology, and mathematics), you should concentrate on improving your skills before taking the test.

What is the minimum acceptable PCAT score?

There are several scores reported on the PCAT score report. The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy reviews all the scores but reports the composite percentile rank. Applicants should strive to achieve a composite percentile rank above 70 percent. The average PCAT composite percentile rank score of students admitted in the past few years has been 85 percent.

How long are my PCAT scores good?

There is no limitation on the length of time scores are valid. However, we prefer that scores are no older than three years.

How many times may I take the PCAT?

There is no limit to the number of times that you can take the PCAT. However, we suggest a maximum of four attempts.

Health and Safety Issues

Are there any health requirements for pharmacy students?

Because pharmacy students are health-care workers, the School of Pharmacy requires you to complete immunizations designed to protect you from blood and air borne pathogens. In addition to the University vaccination requirements, you must be fully immunized against hepatitis B. This is a three-injection series that takes six months to complete. All students must have completed this series prior to the first day of classes. With this in mind, it will be necessary to complete this series PRIOR to finding out if you have been accepted to the School of Pharmacy. In addition, you must provide evidence of varicella immunity and complete a TB skin test dated after April in the year you will be beginning school. No student will be allowed to begin classes in the School of Pharmacy unless they provide verification that they meet the vaccination and immunity requirements of our program. Finally, you must purchase and maintain a health insurance policy for the duration of enrollment. For your own safety and for the safety of your patients, there can be no exceptions to these rules. Click here for more information. If you have any additional questions, please contact the Office of Student Services immediately.

Previous Experience

Do I have to have a degree to apply to the School of Pharmacy at UNC?

A degree is not required for admission into the School of Pharmacy. An individual may enter our program after successful completion of the prerequisite courses. Some applicants will already have completed an undergraduate or even a graduate degree before attending pharmacy school. If you have a bachelor’s degree, you are not required to complete the general education coursework.

Effective fall 1999, students who transfer with an AA or AS degree and who followed the common curriculum as outlined by the North Carolina community college system, will satisfy the general college requirements for admission with the following exceptions: foreign language, PE, and the prerequisite math and science courses required for pharmacy admission (this is assuming all course requirements are completed in the North Carolina community college system).

Do I have to have worked in a pharmacy to be accepted to the School of Pharmacy at UNC?

It is not a requirement for admission that you have worked in a pharmacy prior to beginning school. However, applicants who have substantial pharmacy or health-care experience typically fare better during the interview sessions because they know more about the profession. If you do not have any pharmacy experience, consider volunteering, shadowing a pharmacist, or speaking extensively with a variety of health-care providers before your interview session.

Do I have to apply to Undergraduate Admissions as well as the School of Pharmacy?

No. Applicants applying to the School of Pharmacy must submit an application through PharmCAS (Phase I) and a supplemental application (Phase II) through the School of Pharmacy.

Applying for Admission

When do I apply to the School of Pharmacy?

The deadline for fall 2009 applications (Phase I and Phase II) is November 1, 2008. This includes receipt of the application fee, residency confirmation (if claiming North Carolina residency) and signature sheet. Applications postmarked after November 1, 2008, will NOT be accepted for fall 2009 entry. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Phase I (the PharmCAS application) for fall 2009 can be completed beginning June 2, 2008.
Phase II (the supplemental application) for fall 2009 will be available starting August 4, 2008 and should be completed after completing Phase I.

How will I know that my application has been received and is complete?

You may check the status of your phase I application through PharmCAS at any time. It is highly recommended that you send the required supplemental application documents (Phase II) via certified mail so you will know that it’s been received.  Please do not contact the Office of Student Services to see if your application is complete. You will receive notification via email once your file is processed and complete.

When will I be notified of acceptance?

After your application is complete and you have been interviewed, the Admissions Committee makes its decision. Admission decisions cannot be made without PCAT scores. All acceptances are conditional upon you completing your remaining prerequisite science and math courses with scores of C minus or better and provide the required health documentation. Applicants are usually notified of the admission decision no later than mid-March.

Interviewing

Is an interview required for admission into the pharmacy program?

Yes. Interviews are scheduled December through early March and are a very important part of the admission process. Students seeking admission to the ECSU campus will interview on the ECSU campus.

Who will interview me?

A combination of faculty, staff, students, and alumni will participate in your interview session. Generally, two people will interview each applicant. You are encouraged to bring questions for your interview.

How should I dress for the interview?

Professional dress is required. Jeans, shirts without ties, shorts or skirts well above the knees, tennis shoes, etc. should not be worn. You must remember that this is a professional environment and you should dress accordingly.

Letters of Recommendation

Should I submit letters of recommendation when I apply?

No, we no longer accept separate letters of recommendation. However, all applicants are required to submit two statements of recommendation using the form available on the PharmCAS Web site. The Admissions Committee will review only the recommendations submitted through PharmCAS.

Who would be the best person to ask for a recommendation?

The best person to write a statement of recommendation for you is someone who knows you very well and can comment on the characteristics that will make you a good pharmacist. Employers are an excellent source of recommendations. Political figures and alumni will not impress the Admissions Committee unless, of course, they know you well. We do not accept recommendations from family members and current students in the PharmD program.

Financial Aid

Is financial aid available through the School of Pharmacy and the University?

Yes. Click here for more information regarding scholarships, grants, and loans.

How do I apply for financial aid?

All students may apply for financial aid through the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid. The priority deadline is March 1 of each year. Information can be found at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Note that all financial aid for students on both campuses originates from the Chapel Hill campus and students should designate UNC-Chapel Hill when completing FAFSA information. Requests for financial aid through ECSU cannot be honored and will slow or disqualify you for an aid package at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Miscellaneous

Will I complete my pharmacy practice experiences (clerkships) in the Chapel Hill area?

All students will be placed in one of the ten Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) across the state of North Carolina for ten months of professional experience. Although you will have some input into this process, most students must leave the Chapel Hill area for the entire last year of study. Note that marriage or owning a home in the Chapel Hill area does not give you preference for local assignment.

Is a laptop computer required/recommended?

The School of Pharmacy does not have a laptop computer requirement. However, we do recommend that all students have access to a personal computer (Pentium 4 chip minimal) with high speed Internet access. Microsoft Office 2003 and antivirus software are recommended as well, but you will be able to purchase these at a reduced rate through the University at the beginning of classes. Click here for information about computer initiatives.