1. What are the minimum GPA and PCAT score requirements?
There is not a minimum GPA of PCAT score requirement. We recommend at least a 2.75 GPA in your prerequisite courses to be competitive. For applicants with at least a 3.0 prerequisite GPA or higher, the PCAT is optional. For applicants below a 3.0 prerequisite GPA, we recommend that you take the PCAT to strengthen your application.
2. How many letters of recommendation?
We require three letters of recommendation, but we recommend to complete four. We do not require the letters be from a specific person, but most students pick a professor, a pharmacist, advisor, work supervisor, or somebody hey are involved with in the community to complete the recommendation.
3. What other experiences should I list on my application?
We encourage you to list any of your recent relevant experiences. Examples include pharmacy or healthcare experience, work experience/employment, involvement in a student or community organization, membership on an athletic team, military experience, or other extracurricular experiences. You should also list any honors, publications, or research experience. Most experiences should be within the past 5-10 years, depending on where you are at in your educational journey.
4. Can I complete my prerequisites at a community college?
Yes, you can complete your prerequisites at any accredited institution in the United States, including community colleges.
5. Are prerequisites completed outside of the United States acceptable?
No, we are unable to accept any prerequisite coursework completed outside of the United States.
6. Do you accept online prerequisite coursework?
We require that your prerequisite science courses be completed in a seated classroom under normal business operations. Due to Covid 19 restrictions we are accepting online coursework. We can accept hybrid science courses with an online lecture as long as the lab is in a seated classroom. The non-science courses can be completed online.
7. Do you have a time limit on the prerequisite coursework?
Yes, we have a five year time limit on your science prerequisite coursework only. There is no time limit on your non-science prerequisite coursework. We can waive the five year time limit on your science coursework if you are currently working as a pharmacy technician or another appropriate field in the sciences. Questions about the time limit? Contact us!
8. When is the application deadline?
PharmCAS sets the application opening and closing dates. Typically, the application opens up mid-July prior to the year you are planning to start. The application typically stays open until March. The first deadline is the Early Decision deadline (you can apply to one school Early Decision; priority review from PharmCAS and school, we reserve first interview sessions for Early Decision). That deadline is the first week of September. Most schools work on rolling admissions. The earlier you apply in the cycle, the better!
9. Should I apply to both campuses?
Our two campuses are listed separately in PharmCAS. You may apply to one or both of the campuses. If you have a preference for one campus, you only need to apply to that campus. If you are unsure about your preference, you can apply to both campuses. The interview qualification is the same, regardless of campus. If you apply to both campuses and are offered an interview, you have the option to interview at both campuses.
10. What happens after the interview?
Interview scores are added to each candidate’s application and are reviewed comprehensively. Decision letters are typically mailed within the next week with one of the following decisions: accepted, denied, or waitlisted. Candidates then have 10 business days from the date on the letter to pay the $100 non-refundable seat deposit.
11. Do you host any accepted student events?
Absolutely! We love to invite our accepted students back to campus before they begin pharmacy school. Previous events included bowling, cookouts, and “day in the life of a pharmacy student” experiences. We encourage accepted students to attend these events to meet their new classmates, current pharmacy students, and faculty.
12. Is there financial aid available?
Yes, there is financial aid available for pharmacy students. Jenn Pearson, Associate Director for Financial Planning, (j.pearson@wingate.edu) is your primary contact for financial aid questions.