PharmCAS is a centralized application service on the web to apply to pharmacy school (http://www.pharmcas.org). It is important to keep in mind this is only one portion of your entire pharmacy school application. This application can be tedious to fill out. Ideally, you should start at least 3-6 months before the application deadline.
How to Prepare PharmCAS Application
- First you will have to create a PharmCAS account and obtain a PharmCAS ID number.
- Make sure you fill out the application as accurately and complete as possible.
- Application will include: applicant information, transcripts, extracurriculars, work history, licenses or certifications, honors or scholarships, publications, and personal essay.
- Send in your transcripts early to PharmCAS to avoid delays and missing deadlines.
- Be sure to have your PCAT and TOEFL scores be sent directly to PharmCAS.
- Letters of Recommendations should be submitted online through PharmCAS. Keep in mind some schools will require additional letters of recommendations sent to them directly.
Tips
- Proof read entire application before submitting
- Fill out the entire list for extracurricular activities and work history. This shows you have been committed to volunteer work and been contributing to society all of your life, not just the past few years.
- Start early! This application can be a pain filling out and you will forget some things the first time you start.
- Write your personal essay in Microsoft Word and not in the PharmCAS application. This will provide you time to write and improve on the essay over the next few days or weeks or months.
- Give your letter of recommendation writers sufficient time (at least 1 month). Do not ask 6 months in advance as they will forget.
I hope the recommendations above will help guide, motivate, and inspire you to achieve your goals. Follow my blog for more tips and advice on how to become a pharmacist. What are your experiences? Please comment below and share your thoughts.