Wherever you are on your path to pharmacy school, you’re in the right place to get started. Applying to pharmacy school is more than just meeting requirements—it’s about building a strong, well-rounded application.
This site is for students and alumni to provide step-by-step information and support for:
- exploring the field of pharmacy
- gaining experience
- preparing to apply
- completing the centralized application (PharmCAS)
- interviewing
We are here to help you with your professional school goals!
Applying to Pharmacy School
Gaining experience in the field
Before applying to pharmacy school, it’s important to gain understanding of the profession through hands-on experiences. Shadowing, gaining paid clinical/healthcare experiences, and volunteering in community or healthcare settings not only strengthen your application but also help you confirm your passion for pharmacy and develop essential patient-care skills.
Gaining Clinical and/or Patient Experience for Healthcare Programs
Centralized application service (PharmCAS)
This is where you can learn more about applying to pharmacy schools and also where you go to submit your applications for schools that use this service.
Personal statement
For Pharmacy school applications most schools, including the University of Minnesota, use the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS). PharmCAS is a centralized application service to apply to multiple degree programs offered by schools and colleges of pharmacy. If a school does not use the PharmCAS application service, you will need to go to that school's website for information and directions on how to apply.
The PharmCAS application service typically opens in mid-July of every year.
PharmCAS directions for the personal essay:
Prompt For Pharm.D. Programs: Your Personal Essay should address why you selected pharmacy as a career and how the Doctor of Pharmacy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals.
- Keep your Essay Topic general. Your personal statement will be sent to all PharmCAS programs to which you apply, and so you should not personalize it to any specific program. Once you submit your application, you cannot edit the statement.
Your personal statement should be no more than 4500 characters including spaces (approximately 1 page).
View or download the "Getting Started" worksheet to get started on writing your personal statement!
Interview preparation
Interview preparation & sample interview questions
Student Doctor Network database of interview questions
The Career Center does practice interviews! Contact us to schedule a time, or multiple times, to practice your interview.
You can also book one of our interview rooms for a quiet space to do your virtual interviews with schools.