Admission Requirements & Procedures

E-mail: pharmd@unthsc.edu
Phone: 817-735-2684
Website: http://www.hsc.unt.edu/education/scp/default.cfm
Physical Location: Student Services Center 1051 Haskell Street, Room 170

Admission into the UNT System College of Pharmacy (SCP) is selective.  Student enrollment is set at 100.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program, an applicant must have participated in the competitive admissions process and must have completed the required coursework outlined below. The minimum overall grade point average (GPA) required for consideration for admission is 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. The Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) is a requirement for admissions. All applicants are encouraged to have a PCAT composite score of 40% or greater when applying. All enrolled students must meet the program’s minimum Health and Technical Standards to participate in the program.

The minimum prerequisite coursework requirements cannot be waived and must be completed or in progress by the posted admissions deadline(s) from regionally-accredited U.S. colleges or universities. Prerequisite coursework must be satisfied with a grade of “C” or higher (2.0 on a 4.0 scale). A single course cannot be used simultaneously to meet more than one course prerequisite. All coursework completed by the applicant will be considered in the admissions process.

Qualified applicants will be provisionally admitted to SCP pending submission of a satisfactory criminal background check, which is administered by a private company and is coordinated by Student Services.  Any provisionally admitted applicant who has been convicted of, or pled guilty to, a felony offense will not be admitted to SCP, since he/she would not be eligible to rotate in community and hospital pharmacies as a pharmacy student. In addition to the criminal background check, students will also have a urine drug screen and an employment verification done prior to matriculation and on a yearly basis thereafter. 

Course Prerequisites

Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) Examination

All applicants are required to take the PCAT within the past three years. The PCAT is administered several times per month in January, July, September, October, and November each year. The PCAT consists of five subtests that contain multiple choice questions (Verbal Ability, Biology, Chemistry, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Ability), plus two subtests of writing samples. Information about the PCAT may be accessed online at www.pcatweb.info/ or at health career advisors’ offices on most academic campuses.

Admissions Procedures

Application

Regular Admission Application

Applicants are required to submit their applications for admission to the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS) online at www.pharmcas.org. Applications must be submitted by January 1. To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the minimum academic requirements. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have permanent U.S. resident status. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, as well as an official PCAT score, must be submitted to PharmCAS. Three letters of recommendation are required and should be written by individuals who are familiar with the applicant’s suitability for pharmacy school, such as a faculty member or advisor or a pharmacist supervisor. A letter from a health professions advisory committee will count as two letters of recommendation. Letters from family members or friends will not be accepted. All letters of recommendation must be submitted to PharmCAS using the PharmCAS-required format.

Early Admission Application

UNT System College of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program participates in the “Early Decision Program” (EDP) offered by PharmCAS.

The EDP is a binding option for applicants who have decided that the UNT System College of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program is their only choice and that they will enroll if accepted. An Early Decision applicant can apply to only one Pharm.D. program. To be admitted to the UNTHSC System College of Pharmacy (SCP) program, an applicant must meet the same requirements listed under the Admissions Requirements for Regular Applications in the Catalog and SCP website listed above. The Early Decision application must be completed by the deadlines posted on the UNTHSC SCP Admission website and provided by PharmCAS. The application process is listed on our website at https://www.unthsc.edu/college-of-pharmacy/application-process/

If your application, transcripts, or fees arrive after the posted deadline, https://www.unthsc.edu/college-of-pharmacy/admissions-deadlines/ PharmCAS will automatically change your file from early decision status to regular status.

You may be offered admission or denied admission. If you are offered admission as an Early Decision applicant, you are obligated to accept the offer and you will not be permitted to apply to other PharmCAS Pharm.D. programs during the current admission cycle. If you are denied admission as an Early Decision applicant, you may apply to other PharmCAS Pharm.D. programs for an additional fee. Refer to the PharmCAS application fee schedule to determine the cost to apply to each additional program.

Prerequisite Verification Form

SCP requires completion of its prerequisite verification form. This form is completed and submitted electronically through a link on the website at https://www.unthsc.edu/college-of-pharmacy/application-process/.  It must be submitted by January 1.

Interviews

Selected applicants will be invited for interview at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) campus, located in Fort Worth. In addition to interviewing, applicants will have an opportunity to meet with a member of SCP leadership team, meet with student ambassadors, and tour the campus.

Selection Factors

The PharmD Admissions Committee seeks applicants who are academically qualified to progress through the curriculum and who show promise of becoming skilled pharmacy professionals. Although an applicant’s entire academic record is considered, this alone does not ensure acceptance. Evidence of personal integrity, maturity, creativity, motivation, dedication, and the ability to work with others are additional factors that will be considered. These qualities and attitudes are evaluated by several means, including letters of reference, the scope and nature of extracurricular activities (including work and volunteer experience), the scope and breadth of prior education and through the interview process. Ability to communicate effectively both in verbal and written format will be considered in the interview and from the PCAT writing sample score, respectively. Motivation to become a pharmacist and prior pharmacy experience will also be considered.

Committee Evaluation of Applicants

Admissions Committee members will rate each applicant as acceptable or unacceptable. Committee scores will be assigned to each acceptable applicant, in order to rank applicants for admission. Scores are assigned to the cognitive (0 - 5) and non-cognitive (0 - 5) values of each applicant; decimal values may be given. Each applicant’s score is the mean of those committee members who scored the applicant. Applicants recommended by the committee will be submitted to the Dean for final determination of admission. Approved applicants will be placed on an acceptance list in rank order based on committee scores. The following variables are assessed when an applicant is scored:

*Contribution to the diversity of the class includes race, ethnicity, or any other unique personal life experience(s), including but not limited to experience abroad, foreign language skills, overcoming adversities and hardships, community service, or previous career experience that will enhance the educational environment of SCP.

Admissions Notification Process

Students will be notified of an acceptance on a rolling basis of the matriculating year. Additional students will be accepted according to rank order by SCP Admissions Committee. If necessary, students will be accepted through orientation week, approximately the second week of August.

Admission in Advanced Standing (Transfer)

Students enrolled in Colleges or Schools of Pharmacy accredited by the Accreditation Council on Pharmacy education may apply for advanced standing in SCP. Candidates must have valid reasons for transfer, have good academic standing in their home institution, meet all requirements of admission into SCP, and be eligible for continuation. Admission is competitive and depends upon availability of space in the professional year of placement.

Requirements

• A transfer request form that is available on the SCP website must be completed and submitted to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs by Oct. 1.
• A letter of academic standing from the Dean or Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the candidate’s home institution must be submitted to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities and all colleges or schools of pharmacy.
• Complete application for admission and prerequisite verification form by January 1.
• The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will review the students’ transcripts and available curricular materials to determine equivalence and will then determine the professional year in the PharmD program in which the candidates will be placed, pending offer of admission.

Selection for Admission as a Transfer Student

Candidates will be interviewed at the UNTHSC campus in Fort Worth. The Admissions Committee will consider an applicant for admission if he/she has completed all requirements and has been interviewed. The Committee will then make its recommendation to the Dean, who will make the final determination.