Pre-Pharmacy

As confirmed each year in Gallup’s annual 'Honesty and Ethics' poll, pharmacists are among the most trusted and respected of professionals. Since customers, administrators, and medical colleagues all depend on their knowledge and communication skills, it should come as no surprise that students seeking admission to pharmacy school will be required to excel in many areas during their undergraduate career.

Morris Advantages

At the University of Minnesota Morris, more than a dozen students are accepted into pharmacy schools on average each year, thanks to these advantages.

Pharmacy Schools

Morris graduates receive the education necessary to go just about anywhere, but some frequent pharmacy school destinations include:

  • Butler University
  • Creighton University
  • North Dakota State University
  • University of Minnesota, Duluth
  • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Opportunities in Pharmacy

The corner drug store is just one option. Possible careers in pharmacy include:

  • Community, clinic, or hospital pharmacy
  • Chain pharmacy or administration
  • Disease management
  • Product and protocol development
  • Public health
  • Teaching and research
  • Federal work (Food and Drug Administration)
  • Military or Veteran's Affairs pharmacy

Preparing for Pharmacy School

Students hoping to pursue a career in pharmacy should take advantage of all the strengths the University of Minnesota Morris has to offer.

The University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy is conveniently located on two campuses: Duluth and the Twin Cities. Each year, they admit 150 students, with 100 on the Twin Cities campus and 50 on the Duluth campus. The average overall GPA for the Fall 2018 incoming class was 3.41, and the average PCAT composite score was 73%. The University of Minnesota PharmD program does not have minimum GPA requirements or PCAT scores to apply.

All applicants interested in attending the University of Minnesota PharmD program must complete prerequisite courses. For more information about these courses, please visit pharmd.umn.edu. Although a bachelor's degree is not required to apply, about 90% of incoming students have a bachelor's degree.

“Which major should I choose?” 

While pharmacy schools do not require any particular major, most successful pre-pharmacy students major in chemistry, biology, or biochemistry, owing to the number of courses in those fields that are required for admission or in preparation for the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) test. At the University of Minnesota Morris, we have prepared three different options for the pre-pharmacy student.

  • Biology major
  • Chemistry major
  • Biochemistry major

Be aware that pre-pharmacy students will need to demonstrate strength in the following subjects:

In addition, the College of Pharmacy offers several courses that can help undergraduates prepare. Morris students may register for these online courses as multi-institutional students.

Applying to Pharmacy School

Applicants to the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy must apply through the national application service, PharmCAS. Many other institutions also use this service; check with each school for specific application requirements.

The PharmCAS application process opens in July and begins with the following steps. Be aware that the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy has rolling admissions. Applications are reviewed in the order received and become limited as the year proceeds.

  1. Take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) exam and submit scores to PharmCAS.
  2. Submit an application to PharmCAS.
  3. Submit three letters of reference to PharmCAS.
  4. Submit all college transcripts to PharmCAS.

Once your PharmCAS application is submitted and verified, the University of Minnesota will review your application to ensure all required materials have been submitted. Once your application is complete, you will be invited for an interview. All applications with a complete and eligible application will be invited for an interview.

After your interview, the admissions committee will review your application holistically based on the selection criteria. Learn more about the selection criteria.

"Tell me more about the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)."

  • The test takes about 4 hours to complete
  • It is typically offered in July, September, October, November, January, and February
  • PCAT subsets:
    • Writing
    • Biological processes
    • Chemical processes
    • Critical reading
    • Quantitative reasoning

For more information about a career in pharmacy, visit the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.