Other Majors at Drake
Admission Information
Applying to the Professional Program after completing Pre- pharmacy requirements from another major at Drake.
Students who are admitted to Arts & Science out of high school or who are current Drake students are encouraged to review the following questions and answers regarding application to the pharmacy program.
1. I am a current Drake student and want to enter the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (CPHS). When should I apply for admission?
Current Drake students who wish to enter the CPHS should complete an PharmCAS application in their sophomore (second) year according to the published deadline - January 4th. A supplemental form also needs to be completed and sent to the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences by January 4th. You can access the Supplemental Form at www.pharmcas.org on the Drake University School web page.
2. How do I apply for admission?
An application must be submitted through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS), which is a centralized, Web-based system that begins operations in 2003. You may apply to several pharmacy schools by submitting one application to PharmCAS. All transcripts, including Drake transcripts need to be sent to PharmCAS. The Supplemental Application is also required (found on the PharmCAS Drake University web page). A PCAT is recommended, but currently not required for Drake Students who have completed all math/sciences courses at Drake (A PCAT will be required of all students applying for admission for Fall 2010).
3. What courses should I take at Drake to be considered for admission to the CPHS?
Prospective pharmacy students take most of the same courses required of a student majoring in biology, chemistry, or biochemistry, cell and molecular biology. Required science and math courses include two semesters of biology, one semester of microbiology, two semesters of general (inorganic) chemistry, two semesters of organic chemistry, one semester of calculus, and one semester of statistics. All pre-pharmacy science courses must be completed by the end of the spring term of the sophomore year. The pharmacy currriculum at Drake is located in the Programs of Study area.
Drake Curriculum requirements met in other Drake colleges and schools are accepted by the CPHS. Other schools of pharmacy may have different course requirements.
4. What should I major in?
You should choose a major according to your own interests. It is important not to limit yourself in your first years of study because they are intended to be a time to explore a variety of subjects and to assess your skills. Many students are interested in studying pharmacy because they like science and want to help people. In actuality, becoming a pharmacist is just one career path that combines these interests. The pharmacy profession is broad, with positions ranging from research and regulatory work to marketing, advertising, and other business avenues. Since gaining admission to a school of pharmacy is difficult everywhere, all students should develop a career plan after taking advantage of all of Drake's resources, including the Career Center. As it is recommended for students who apply to medical school, we suggest that students have an alternative plan so that they have considered options if not admitted to pharmacy at Drake.
5. What are Drake's admission requirements to enter the CPHS?
Admission requirements are determined on a yearly basis. Currently, the minimum grade point average required for admission consideration is 3.0, and this is a good benchmark for the future as well. The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) will be required of Drake students who apply for the Fall 2010 academic year. An interview is offered to qualified candidates, and an essay is written as part of the interview process. Letters of recommendation are not required.
6. Is it difficult to be admitted to the PharmD program at Drake?
Yes. It is difficult to be admitted to all schools of pharmacy, and Drake is no exception. Pharmacy is a high-interest program, and, combined with the fact that there is a shortage of pharmacists and there are around 100 accredited schools of pharmacy in the U.S., there is currently great demand for the program. Each school of pharmacy cannot educate more students than the number recommended for that school by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education.
Another reason why admission is highly selective is because the pharmacy curriculum itself is very rigorous and test-heavy. At the end of six years of study, students must sit for a battery of qualifying examinations in order to earn a license to practice pharmacy.
7. How many students are accepted to the PharmD program at Drake each year?
Drake University can accommodate only 110 students in each level of its professional program. Many of these slots are taken by students who are already enrolled in the pre-professional program in the CPHS and who are meeting the guarantee criteria for progression into the professional program. As a result, the number of available slots differs each year. Available slots are open to all other applicants.
8. Are my chances greater of being admitted to the CPHS if I am a current Drake student?
Although chances are not greater of being admitted in the future to the CPHS if you are a Drake student, there are some advantages. The PCAT is required of applicants from other institutions because it allows the CPHS faculty to evaluate the quality of coursework completed elsewhere on a uniform basis. Since CPHS faculty are familiar with Drake's science, math, and general course offerings, there is no need for current Drake students to sit for the PCAT. Most schools of pharmacy do require this test for admission consideration.
9. Should I still attend Drake if I wasn't admitted into the CPHS pre-pharmacy program?
Yes! Students chose Drake for a wide variety of reasons: size, location, student-faculty interaction, extracurricular opportunities, internships, affordability, quality of education, and many more. Consider the factors that are important to you and whether Drake is the best match of your personal and academic interests. Students should attend Drake because they wish to be a Drake student for these reasons, not to study pharmacy.
Students can get a head start on exploring related career fields in pharmacy and other sciences by taking advantage of the resources in the Career Center. The Center has specific reference materials geared toward students who are thinking about careers in science and strongly encourages first year students and sophomores to explore all of their options by working with their staff. Students often learn that their interests in science and in working with people are easily transferred to other career paths, including those in the broader pharmacy profession.
Please note: Admission requirements to the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences are subject to change. Students should check Drake University's Web site each year to learn about current policies.
Click here to return to Admissions Information