Student Profiles
Did You Know?
Over the last 4 years, 61.3% of Miami undergraduate applicants have been accepted to medical schools, compared to a national average of 45%.
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for Healthcare Education
at Miami University
Preparing for a Career in Pharmacy
Once you have decided to pursue a career in pharmacy, you should:
- Familiarize yourself with general advice for students considering healthcare careers (general advising page).
- Familiarize yourself with the information on this page.
- Visit the following website for more information:
- American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)
- Learn more about the the national organization representing the interests of pharmacy education and educators and its commitment to excellence in pharmacy education.
- Visit the bulletin board opposite room 112 Pearson Hall for announcements of upcoming Miami Pharmacy Club meetings.
- Try to attend the meetings of and consider joining the Miami Pharmacy Club. This student-run organization is there to help you attain your goal of becoming a pharmacist.
- Contact Dr. Michael Robinson (robinsm5@MiamiOH.edu,
(513) 529-2353, 256 Pearson Hall ) for any questions you might have about a career in pharmacy.
Coursework
Pharmacy School Requirement - Miami Equivalent
- English (1 year)
- ENG 111, 112
- Calculus (1 semester)
- MTH 151 or 153, MTH 251
- Statistics (1 semester)
- STA 261
- Biology (1 year)
- ZOO 115, 116
- Microbiology (1 semester)
- MBI 201
- Physiology (1 or 2 semesters)
- ZOO 305
- Comparative Anatomy (1 semesters)
- ZOO 201
- Inorganic Chemistry (1 year)
- CHM 141, 142 and CHM 144, 145
- Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry (1 year)
- CHM 241, 242 and CHM 244, 245
- Physics (1 year)
- PHY 171, 172
- Quantitative Analysis/Analytical Chemistry (1 semester)
- CHM 363,364
Additional Requirements
Many schools do not require all of these courses. Others may require or recommend additional courses or training in areas such as:
- biochemistry
- microeconomics
- interpersonal communication
- technical writing
Because requirements are not standardized, it is very important to contact every school of interest.
Admission to pharmacy schools is competitive and schools choose among many qualified applicants. Evaluation of candidates is based on largely objective criteria. A high overall GPA and sciences GPA are important. Other important factors are:
- competitive Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) scores
(if required by the schools to which you are applying) - strong letters of reference
- evidence of leadership potential as demonstrated by a few carefully chosen extracurricular activities
- well-developed interpersonal skills
Applying to Pharmacy School
Many schools require application through the PharmCAS (Pharmacy College Application Service), a centralized application service for applicants applying to colleges and schools of pharmacy.
Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)
Many (but not all) schools require the PCAT, which is given three times each year (October, January, and April). Most students take this in April of their junior year and they make retake the exam without penalty.