I
am a newly admitted pre-pharmacy student. What do I do? Should
I attend Orientation?
All new students (freshman or transfer)
should attend New Student Orientation at the earliest date possible
to secure your classes. At Orientation TSI(formerly TASP) status
is established and Freshman Advising Stops (placed on all new
freshman) are cleared.
Orientation allows new students to receive
a thorough and comprehensive overview of UH student support
services, placement, prerequisite and core curriculum information,
meet with their college/department advisors, and register for
their courses.
The information received at Orientation
is critical to student success.
Students may access the Dean
of Students' Website at www.uh.edu/dos
and register for an Orientation Conference by printing a reservation
form, completing and faxing to the Dean of Students' Office.
Students may also contact the Dean of Students'
Office at 713/743-5475 (or in person in 252 University Center,
UC 2nd floor) for New Student Orientation registration information.
Make sure you choose a date when the Pre-Pharmacy
advisors are participating. You will find those dates at the
Dean of Students’ Website
or on the College
of Pharmacy Advising Information Web page at www.uh.edu/pharmacy/needadvising.html.
I
am a pre-pharmacy student at another college/university and wish
to take courses for pre-pharmacy, but am unsure what courses will
transfer. What courses will transfer from the college I now attend?
While we can assist you in most cases, the
pre-health or pre-pharmacy advisor on your campus is your most
valuable resource. Your advisor can assist you in appropriate
course selection and locating your local campus resources. An
official evaluation of your transcript is done at the time of
application. You may also contact the university transfer services
office at 713/ 743-9630 for more information. The following
websites will be of great assistance to you.
Trying to determine what courses
apply to Humanities, Visual and Performing Arts, or Social Sciences?
Please refer to the University
of Houston Core Curriculum Web site for details.
Wondering what courses transfer?
Visit the UH Office of Admissions General
Information for Transfer Students Web site or the UH College
of Pharmacy Pre-Pharmacy
Pre-Requisite Coursework Information Web page for additional
information.
We understand that your college or
university may not have ALL the courses required and you may
need to take courses at other colleges/universities. Also, remember
that there is a limit of 66 transfer credit hours from a community
college.
Does
organic chemistry transfer from a community college?
Most
of the time, organic chemistry courses will tranfer from a community
college. However, there are some additional factors to consider.
The UH College of Pharmacy strongly recommends you enroll for
upper level science and math courses at a four-year institution.
Also the student is reminded that a total of 66 hours toward
your major will be taken from a community college transcript.
Which
one of the required core courses is available through the credit
by examination?
You may contact the UH
testing center or go on-line for all courses that apply.
The website is: http://las.uh.edu/uts/default.asp
How does taking an anatomy or physiology course help me?
If you have room in your schedule take an
Anatomy/Physiology course. It will serve you well to have this
for your first year class, Organ Life Sciences. Students who
have taken an Anatomy and Physiology class state they follow
the lecture easier and understand the content better.
If
I take a course at another college and transfer it to UH, I hear
that I only get credit for it and the grade is not included in
my UH GPA. Is this true?
Yes, it is correct that the university will
not include the grades from other colleges/universities into
the UH GPA….HOWEVER, the student is to submit ALL transcripts
to the College of Pharmacy with the application for admission
and the grades are counted for admissions into the College of
Pharmacy.
What scores are needed for
Advanced Placement tests to receive credit for a course?
Please refer to the UH
Office of Admissions' Advanced Placement Credit Web page
for an overview. If applicable, report your scores (at the time
of your UH application) to the UH testing center. A list of
Advanced Placement Credit test subjects can be viewed at http://www.uh.edu/enroll/admis/pdf/AP_credit.pdf.
Is
taking the Introduction to Pharmacy course (PHAR 2200) at UH recommended?
Will it help me get accepted into the college?
The course, PHAR 2200, is a recommended
course to assist you in better understanding of profession and
the UH application process. Taking the course has no weight
in the application process, though the knowledge should assist
you in your career search and during the actual application
process.
I
hear you cannot take Math and Sciences in the summer. Is that
true?
Some students do very well taking a general
Biology or general Chemistry in the summer. However, you would
be wise to speak with your advisor about taking math or science
courses in any summer session. The summer sessions move fast
and are packed with information. You need to have a good foundation
of your courses in order to do well in the pharmacy program.
We tell our students to NEVER take Organic Chemistry in the
summer. Science and math courses taken in the summer before
you enter the pharmacy program will not be accepted.
What
can I do to improve my chances of being accepted into pharmacy
school?
- Keep your grades up and do not take too
many college hours and risk lower grades. The average GPA (grade
point average) of the fall 2004 entering class was 3.5.
- Do not work too many hours while taking
pre-pharmacy courses and risk harm ing your GPA. Remember grades
are averaged, not replaced, when they are repeated.
- Learn now how to balance your time and
money. You will need to have very good study habits and time
management abilities. Because of the rigor of the college and
demanding class schedule, it will be difficult to schedule work.
Most of our students choose not to work if at all possible.
Therefore good budgeting habits now are essential.
- Research your career choice and make sure
you have looked at other options and the pros and cons of each.
- Get work experience that enriches your
knowledge base and will give you a better grasp of knowledge
about the pharmacy profession.
- Keep up to date by viewing our college
admission website regularly.
- Visit the College of Pharmacy early
in your career search to make sure you are on track.
I
made a lower grade than I desired in one of my courses, should
I take it over? Which grade will the Admission Committee look
at?
The committee looks at the overall GPA
and the Math/Science GPA. One course grade which is a “C” would
not affect the GPA greatly. However, grades below “C” are not
acceptable and do affect GPA. The grades are averaged not replaced,
therefore the student must determine if he/she will be able
to achieve a repeating grade of an “A” or “B” in the repeated
course.
PCAT...What
is it?...and more answers
The PCAT Examination (Pharmacy College Admissions
Test) is required. This is similar to an MCAT, SAT, ACT or other
entrance examinations. This exam consists of five basic areas:
Chemistry, Biology, Quantitative Analysis, Verbal Ability and
Writing Ability.
You may find out more information and register
for the exam by contacting 1-800-622-3231 or the Official
Pharmacy College Admissions Test Web site.
When in
my coursework should I take the PCAT?
The PCAT should be taken after most student's
first year in college. However, the student needs to have completed
Intro. to Biological Science I and II with Labs, Fundamentals
of Chemistry I and II with Labs, and Elements of Calculus with
Application or Calculus I. The student does not need to have
completed Organic but should at least be enrolled in Organic
I. For full details on the PCAT visit the Psychologicial Corporation's
official Pharmacy College
Admission Test Web site at www.pcatweb.info.
How
does the UH College of Pharmacy interpret the PCAT scores?
Is my PCAT score competitive? Should I retake the exam?
The
college recommends competitive applicants have PCAT scores greater
than a 75 percent composite score. Each of the five components
of the PCAT are also reviewed, and a score greater than 75 percentile
is viewed as acceptable. Realize that the PCAT is a standardized
exam and the scores are viewed as an indicator of retention
and are not used solely as a final parameter for acceptance
or non-acceptance.
Will
you accept the January PCAT?
We accepted the January PCAT for the upcoming
Fall 2004 enrollment year only. Our new deadline
is February 15. Therefore we may not get your
PCAT scores in time for you to be a competitive candidate. We
have a "rolling admission" process. This means that
we review all completed applications and set interviews on a
first come-first serve basis and admit as such. You are strongly
advised to take the October or November PCAT and apply early.
English
is not my native language and I only moved to the U.S. in the
last two years or so. Obviously, I have some problems with the
language. Do you have any recommendations that can help me get
ready for the verbal part of the PCAT ?
Study Barron's PCAT review book, review
your Engish coursework and books read in history, literature,
etc. The GRE vocabulary study book works well. One student stated
the MCAT English verbal portions assisted him as he tested himself
attempting to reduce his reading time and improve his comprehension.
He also suggested reading complex readings in English, Philosophy,
Art and History...i.e. poetry, religious doctrines and ideas,
art reviews and theory and military strategy..
How
many times can I take the PCAT?
The committee does not determine how many
times a student takes the PCAT or if they need to re-take the
PCAT. The student is advised to look at their score and the
most recent applicant pools' scores and make the decision best
for them.
What
type of work experience should I do? Do I have to be a certified
technician? How many hours is the College looking for?
A student does not have to become
a certified pharmacy technician in order to apply to the College
of Pharmacy. Nor, does this improve a student's chances for admission.
However, should a student desire to have more contact with the
medications and pharmacists, becoming a certified technician allows
this opportunity. A student is always encouraged to volunteer
or work when possible within various pharmacy environments in
order to better assess their decision to become a pharmacist.
In addition, a recommendation from a pharmacist is required and
spending time with pharmacist(s) ensures a valid and hopefully
strong recommendation. There is no specified number of hours required.
Please refer to the Pharmacy Technician
Certification Board Web site at http://www.ptcb.org/
for more information about becoming a certified pharmacy technician.
I'm
thinking about getting involved in pharmacy jobs, but the employer
tells me I need to be certified. How can I get my certification?
To become certified you must attend one
of the programs offered OR study on your own and take the required
exam. You will find information at http://www.ptcb.org. Technician
certification is NOT a requirement for our college admissions.
Should
I work during my professional years?
Our
program is a year-round program which means summer school classes
are required, and generally speaking, because of the schedule,
students are unable to work full time. A great number of students
do not work as they do not find the time in their schedules.
Of those who do work, our students work part time for about
8-10 hours weekly to supplement their income. Some say working
in a pharmacy assists them in better understanding of their
coursework. If you must work full time; do so during the pre-pharmacy
portion of your academic career and attend school part-time.
Doing both full-time could result in grades which are under
the average GPA of our applicant pools.
I
have an International transcript. It has been evaluated by a company
and I have the original evaluation. What do I do next?
SPECIAL NOTE: HAVING AN EVALUATION
DONE BY AN OUTSIDE AGENCY DOES NOT SATISFY UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
REQUIREMENTS. YOU MUST COMPLETE THIS PROCESS.
In order to process and ensure that the proper credit is given
by the International Office of Admissions for the undergraduate
evaluation for courses completed outside the United States.
You will find the guidelines for this on the UH College of Pharmacy
Web page relating to the International
Transcript Evaluation Process.
How
do I become acclimated to a graduate/professional program?
The College of Pharmacy recommends that
students take some coursework at a four-year institution in
order to ease the transition to the doctor of pharmacy program.
This program is quite rigorous and requires full-time student
status as well as a minimum of 35+ hours of study time per week
(not including classes).
I
need help in filling out the Academic Course Resume of the application.
The Resume section should be completed using
your transcript(s) for the information. Here is an example:
| College |
Mo/Yr |
Course
No. |
Title of course |
Sem.Credit |
Grade |
Repeated |
| Univ.
of Kenbay |
8/2000
or Fall 2000 |
ENG
1303 |
English
Composition |
3 |
D |
A |
| Univ.
of ABC |
8/2000
or Fall 2000 |
Chem
141* |
Chemistry
I |
3 |
A |
|
| Univ.
of ABC |
8/2000
or Fall 2000 |
Chem
111* |
Chemistry
I Lab |
1 |
A |
|
*Note that the course
Chem 141 and Chem 111 is a lecture and lab course
Will
my application be accepted if I have courses remaining in the
spring and summer semester when I apply?
Our college only admits students in the
fall semester. When you apply for admission for the fall semester
you may still have courses remaining. You may take courses in
the spring and summer before you plan to enter the College of
Pharmacy that fall semester. However, ALL science or math courses
must be completed no later than the spring semester. Other courses
may be taken in the summer semester. Your acceptance could be
granted pending satisfactory completion of coursework.
How
do I go about getting a good letter of recommendation?
- Some applicants will gain minimum experience
working in a particular practice and then ask for a letter.
While there is no minimum number of hours required, most evaluators
are uncomfortable writing for someone they do not know well.
Get to know the person and let them get to know you.
- Do not ask the evaluator at the 11th hour
for a letter.
- Ask for a "good letter." Some
evaluators may have a hard time saying "no," and will
write a letter that is superficial. It is important that the
applicant ask for a "good letter" and give the evaluator
a way of saying no if s/he is not enthusiastic about writing
for you.
- Begin working on this in your second semester
in college and definitely no later than the fall of your sophomore
year.
- Look for the professor/pharmacist who you
believe you have something in common or they are in a research
or employment environment you are interested in.
- Respect their time.
- Be a positive addition to their time and
life.
What
does the admitted applicant pool look like? Can I get in?
For the fall 2004 class we received 909
applications for 125 spots.
Consequently, the application process is
very competitive. Grade point average is important. The entering
class averaged a 3.5 GPA on both the prepharmacy classes required
and their math/science GPA.
The PCAT Examination (Pharmacy College Admissions
Test) composite score for the entering class averaged 88%.
Approximately 50% of the students accepted
have earned a BS degree or higher upon enrollment.
The average age for the entering class is
usually approximately 25.
Our classes are approximately 60%
female and 40% male. We are a very similar racial mixture to
that seen in the city of Houston, consisting of Asian Americans,
Asian Indians, Mexican Americans, African Americans and Whites,
along with a few other ethnic groups.
What
steps do I take to transfer from another college of pharmacy?
To begin exploring the possibility,
you should begin at the UH College of Pharmacy Web site's Home
Page. You may consider the following factors:
- Review the prepharmacy coursework.
You are required to complete all the prepharmacy prerequisite
requirements.
- After reviewing and establishing
you have completed all prepharmacy courses, please review the
college's requirements. We require the PCAT exam.
- A student must be in good academic
standing from their previous university in order to transfer.
- The College requires an annual comprehensive
competency examination of all students. You would be required
to take and successfully pass the appropriate milemarker examination(s)
prior to enrollment. Additionally, the College departments may
require mastery of an individual course examination.
After you review the coursework
and consider the competency examination requirements, please
contact Dr. Andrea Smesny (smesny@uh.edu)
if you are still interested in transferring. It is a thorough
process, because each pharmacy course completed must be evaluated
by our professor of record that teaches that course. You would
need to provide a course syllabus for each of the courses and
an official transcript. The evaluation process is lengthy; please
allow adequate time.
Am
I exempt from the TOEFL?
You are exempt from the TOEFL requirement
if you:
- Have earned a high school diploma or bachelor’s
degree or higher from an accredited U.S. high school, college
or university.
- Speak English as your native language.
This exemption refers to students from Australia, the Bahamas,
and Belize, the British Isles, and English-speaking Canadian
provinces, the Fiji Islands. Jamaica, Liberia, New Zealand,
Sierra Leone, South Africa, Trinidad, The United States, the
Virgin Islands, the West Indies and Zimbabwe.
If you are an international student, you
will find more information at the
Office
of International Admission Web site.
Keep that GPA UP!
