If you have questions about admission into the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy PharmD program, please take a look at our frequently asked questions first. Our contact information can be found at the bottom of this page.

Topics of Frequently Asked Questions

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

Is there an accelerated or bridge program for individuals with a related degree?

No, we do not have an accelerated program. To join our program, you must commit to four years of full time coursework upon completion of required prerequisites.

Who can receive the BS in pharmaceutical sciences?

PharmD students who do not have a bachelor’s degree will be awarded a bachelor of science in pharmaceutical sciences undergraduate degree at the end of their third professional year (PY3) if they have completed all University and UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy prerequisite courses. Students in this category simultaneously work towards a BS in pharmaceutical sciences and a PharmD.

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?

We admit approximately 20 percent of the entering class annually from out of state.

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

Approximately 700 applications were received this past year. We accepted a total of 164 students (140 in Chapel Hill, 7 in Elizabeth City, and 17 in Asheville) into the program for the class entering fall 2011.

Does the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy print PharmD admissions brochures or paper applications?

We do not print PharmD admissions brochures or paper applications.

May I make an appointment to speak with the admissions manager?

We are not able to meet with applicants or future applicants individually. However, we invite you to come to one of our information sessions to learn more about our prerequisites and the application process. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions of current students, take a tour of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, and meet faculty and staff. Please see http://www.pharmacy.unc.edu/admissions/pharmd/how-to-apply/info-sessions for more information.

If you cannot attend an information session, we do offer live streaming video of some of the session (along with live chat) on our Web site. Check www.pharmacy.unc.edu/tv for a schedule. We also invite you to contact us at pharmacy_admissions@unc.edu if you have additional questions. We recommend that you read our list of frequently asked questions before you contact us.

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

Admission to the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy is competitive. The UNC Eshelman 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 difference between a doctor of pharmacy and a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences?

The PharmD program results in the Doctor of Pharmacy degree, which is the professional degree for pharmacists practicing in a retail, hospital, clinical, or ambulatory care environment. The PhD program is designed for those interested in a research career. For more information on our programs, please check http://www.pharmacy.unc.edu/programs.

Do you have a satellite campus?

We have two satellite campuses in addition to the Chapel Hill campus, one in Elizabeth City and one in Asheville. Please refer to our Web site for individual campus information.

What are the differences between the Chapel Hill, Elizabeth City, and Asheville campuses?

The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy offers one PharmD program; however, students have the option of completing the program on the Chapel Hill, Elizabeth City, or Asheville campus. Admission criteria and curricular requirements are the same for students on all campuses. However, there are some differences in the method of instruction on the campuses.

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

ECSU and Asheville based students remain on their perspective campuses 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 real-time video teleconference (VTC). VTC classes may be supplemented with Web-based instruction and/or instruction by faculty at ECSU or Asheville. Students have a variety of opportunities to interact with faculty and advisers on all campuses. Students on both campuses have access to professional electives taught by UNC Eshelman 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 or Asheville (fifteen to thirty students versus 140 students at Chapel Hill) or the relaxed atmosphere of its smaller campus and vicinity.

Where can I find a list of the PharmD prerequisite courses?

You can find the list of prerequisite courses at http://www.pharmacy.unc.edu/admissions/pharmd/prerequisites/courses/courses.

Where can I find instructions on how to evaluate my prerequisite courses?

You can find instructions on how to evaluate your prerequisite courses at http://www.pharmacy.unc.edu/admissions/pharmd/prerequisites/transfer-equivalency.

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

Generally, no. However, the UNC Eshelman 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 UNC Eshelman 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 http://www.pharmacy.unc.edu/admissions/pharmd/prerequisites/transfer-equivalency 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?

Have your foreign course(s) evaluated by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. You can find a list of members at http://www.ncaces.org/members.htm.

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 UNC Eshelman 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 2012 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 UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy know this?

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

If I already have a baccalaureate degree, do I need to fulfill the General Education prerequisites?

No, you only need to make sure you have completed the math and science prerequisites with a grade of C minus or better.

Does UNC accept my AP, IB, or CLEP scores for prerequisites?

Yes, UNC Chapel Hill will accept AP, IB, and CLEP scores for some courses. Please visit http://www.admissions.unc.edu/Academics/Credit/ to see what scores UNC Chapel Hill will accept.

If you are interested in part-time enrollment and/or already have a baccalaureate degree, you must take additional courses as a part-time student through Continuing Studies located at the Friday Center. You can find information on the Friday Center at http://www.fridaycenter.unc.edu/ .

My school does not have anatomy and physiology together in a one-semester course. Instead they are divided between anatomy and physiology, or between areas of the body. Which courses should I take?

If your courses are divided between anatomy and physiology, you should take anatomy with lab to fulfill the anatomy and physiology prerequisite. A physiology course with lab will not fulfill the anatomy and physiology prerequisite. If your courses are divided between two sections of the body, you should take both courses with lab.

Please refer to the UNC transfer course equivalencies Web site at https://www.unc.edu/sis/adm/xfereq.htm. It is important to note that it is the student’s responsibility to make sure they are taking the appropriate course for transfer.

May I take a calculus course other than an equivalent of Math 231 or 241 in order to fulfill the calculus prerequisite?

Unfortunately, we can only accept a course that is equivalent to Math 231 or 241.

Do courses other than the equivalents to Statistics 151 or 155 fulfill the statistics prerequisite?

Any pure statistics class may be used, including statistics for the behavioral sciences. Keep in mind that we cannot allow you to use a course other than a statistics course, even if it has a strong statistics component.

I took some of my prerequisites at an institution other than UNC Chapel Hill, and some at UNC Chapel Hill. Do I need to take Analytical Chemistry or Physics II?

You may take either of the two courses. You do not need to take both. It is important to note that Analytical Chemistry (241/241L) must be taken at UNC Chapel Hill to receive credit.

My institution does not offer lab sections for some of the lower level science courses. What should I do?

Lab sections are required for courses with a lab on our prerequisite list, therefore you will have to find an institution to take them. You may want to consider a community or technical college near you.

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

The PCAT is required for admission. We highly recommended that applicants take the PCAT in the summer or fall of the year they are applying. Students taking the exam for the first time in January of the year they are planning to enroll will be considered for wait-list status only. Click here for 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 and subscores above 50% on each section. The average PCAT composite percentile rank score of students admitted in the past few years has been 80-85 percent.

How long are my PCAT scores good?

We prefer that scores are no older than three years and will not consider scores prior to 2007.

How many times may I take the PCAT?

There is a maximum of five times.

I took the PCAT for the first time in September. Will I still be able to apply to the PharmD program for the following fall, even though the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy may not receive my PCAT scores before the application deadline?

You may still apply to the PharmD program if you take the PCAT in September. We have accounted for this in our admissions schedule. However, everything else in your Phase I and Phase II application must be complete and submitted by the deadline in order for us to accept your application.

Where can I find a list of the PharmD health requirements?

You can view the PharmD health requirements at http://www.pharmacy.unc.edu/admissions/pharmd/prerequisites/health-requirements.

What are the health requirements for PharmD students?

Because pharmacy students are health-care workers, the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy PharmD program 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 UNC Eshelman 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 UNC Eshelman 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.

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

A degree is not required for admission into the UNC Eshelman 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 UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy?

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 UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy?

Applicants to the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy do not have to apply to Undergraduate Admissions. All applicants submit an application through PharmCAS (Phase I) and a supplemental application (Phase II) through the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.

When do I apply to the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy?

The application deadline for entry in fall 2012 (Phase I and Phase II) is November 1, 2011. Submit your application as soon as possible o ensure earlier review by the Admission Committee. Please note that PharmCAS requires 4-6 weeks to verify an application before it is forwarded to individual schools of pharmacy.

Phase I (the PharmCAS application) can be completed beginning June 4, 2011.
Phase II (the supplemental application) for fall 2012 will be available starting August 1, 2011, and should be completed after Phase I. Applications submitted after November 1, 2011, will NOT be accepted for fall 2012 entry. There are no exceptions to this rule.

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. Upon submission of the Phase II application, you can login to PharmCAS and check the status menu option. Updates will be sent weekly to PharmCAS from the UNC Eshleman School of pharmacy.

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 offers are conditional based on completion of your remaining prerequisite science and math courses with scores of C minus or better. You must also provide the required health documentation. Applicants are usually notified of our admissions decision no later than mid-March.

Is an interview required for admission into the pharmacy program?

Interviews are scheduled October through February and are a very important part of the admission process. Students seeking admission to the ECSU or Asheville campus will interview on the individual campus. Applicants who submit their application earlier will increase their chance of being invited for an interview earlier in the admission process.

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.

Should I submit letters of recommendation to the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy when I apply?

No, we do not accept separate letters of recommendation. 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 or current students in the PharmD program.

If I submit more than the maximum number of letters of recommendation for my PharmD application, will all of them be reviewed?

The maximum number of references PharmCAS will accept is three. Please do not submit additional letters of recommendation directly to the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.

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

You will find helpful information available on financial aid from the UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid, including links to financial aid resources. It is important to note that PharmD students who do not have a bachelor’s degree are awarded undergraduate financial aid for the first three years in the PharmD program (PY1-PY3) while they are simultaneously working towards a BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a PharmD degree. During the fourth year of the PharmD program, financial aid is awarded at the graduate level.

The School of Pharmacy offers approximately $330,000 in competitive scholarships, awards, and grants each year. Students become eligible for these following the completion of their first year in the PharmD program. Students will receive information about these financial aids during their first year in the program.

How do I apply for financial aid?

All students 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 all campuses originates from the Chapel Hill campus and students should designate UNC-Chapel Hill when completing FAFSA information. Requests for financial aid through ECSU or UNC Asheville cannot be honored and will slow or disqualify you for an aid package at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Can international students qualify for financial aid?

As an international student applicant, you are required by United States federal regulations to certify that you have sufficient funds to pay for your expenses at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for the entire length of your studies and will be asked to complete an “International Student Financial Certificate” at the time of admission. Students who hold I-151 or I-551 Alien Registration Cards can be considered for need-based federal and institutional funds.

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 eleven 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 UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy does not have a laptop computer requirement. However, we do recommend that all students have access to a personal computer with high-speed Internet access. For more detailed information about Carolina Computing Initiatives, go to http://cci.unc.edu/index.htm.

Should I work while I am in the PharmD program?

We typically recommend that students do not work for the first year to adjust to our program. However, we do have students that must work and we recommend no more than 10-15 hours a week. It is important to note that our coursework is very challenging, and you would be taking at least two classes with labs every semester.

How do I establish North Carolina residency for tuition purposes?

For information and a guide for students interested in applying for resident tuition status, please go to the following Web site: http://regweb.unc.edu/residency/index.php . It is very important to note that this is a guide and completion of all items on the “list” will not guarantee classification as a resident for tuition purposes.

How do I contact the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy regarding questions about admission into the PharmD program?

You may send an email to pharmacy_admissions@unc.edu or call the Office of Student Services at (919) 966-9429.