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College of Pharmacy

Prospective Students

General F.A.Q.'s

What does the admitted student class look like? Can I get in?

For the fall 2023 class, we received 383 applications for 125 seats. Consequently, the application process is very competitive. Grade point average is important. The Fall 2023 entering pharmacy class prerequisite GPA range was 2.56-4.0 GPA. Their math/science prerequisite GPA range was 2.33-4.0 GPA.

  • Approximately 50 percent of the students accepted have earned a B.S. degree or higher upon enrollment.
  • The Fall 2023 entering class ranged in age from 18-36 years of age.
  • Our classes are approximately 67 percent female and 33 percent male. Our diversity reflects the Greater Houston area, consisting of Asian-Americans, Asian-Indians, Latinos, African-Americans and Caucasians, along with a few other ethnic groups.
The Admissions Committee will review completed applications received by May 1, 2024. All incomplete applications will not be reviewed, therefore we strongly encourage all items to be submitted by the deadline.

Will my application be processed if I have courses remaining in the spring and summer semester when I apply?

Yes. When you apply for admission, you may still have courses remaining. You may take courses in fall 2023, spring 2024 and summer 2024 semesters before you plan to enter the College of Pharmacy in the fall 2024 semester. However, ALL science or math prerequisite courses must be completed no later than the spring 2024 semester. Non-math/science courses may be taken in the summer 2024 semester.

You must update course grades and send in updated transcripts into PharmCAS during their Academic Update process.

The Admissions Committee will review completed applications received by May 1, 2024. All incomplete applications will not be reviewed, therefore we strongly encourage all items to be submitted by the deadline.

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 Fall 2023 entering pharmacy class prerequisite GPA range was 2.56-4.0 GPA. Its math/science prerequisite GPA range was 2.33-4.0 GPA.
  • 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 while in pharmacy school. Most of our pharmacy 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.
The Admissions Committee will review completed applications received by May 1, 2024. All incomplete applications will not be reviewed, therefore we strongly encourage all items to be submitted by the deadline.

When I was younger, I got into a little trouble with the law. Will this prevent me from becoming a pharmacist?

It depends. It is important to disclose this information within your PharmCAS application. The student should be aware that a criminal background check will be completed by all admitted students to the College of Pharmacy. The State Board of Pharmacy and many health care organizations and institutions require criminal background checks. Currently, enrolled students in the College of Pharmacy professional program must annually (and at other times as requested in writing by a hospital or health care organization) satisfactorily complete (submit and pay for) a criminal background check and/or drug screening from an approved vendor prior to participating in Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience and/or Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience assignments at these sites. Students will be personally responsible for obtaining background checks and drug screenings (including costs).

Students with disqualifying criminal conviction(s) and/or drug screening results as determined by a hospital/healthcare organization may be prevented from undertaking Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences and/or Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences that are required to complete the pharmacy program at the University of Houston. The inability to complete pharmacy practice experiencies will prevent the student from satisfactorily completing the degree requirements of the UH College of Pharmacy Pharm.D. program.

Will getting a bachelor’s degree improve my chances of getting in?

Because a bachelor’s degree is not required to get into our program, we do not give preference or an advantage to students who have one. It is us up to the student to decide and weigh out the pros and cons of obtaining a bachelor’s and the importance of it, if they decide to do so before beginning their PharmD program.

In our program, we have a mix of students who have bachelor’s degrees and students who just completed their prerequisite courses. For the incoming class of fall 2023, exactly 50 percent had a B.S. degree or higher upon enrollment.

What major should I choose?
We encourage students to choose a major in a science related discipline. Many science related majors have the same requirements we do. However, students can choose any major. One major is not preferred over the others for admission purposes.

How many volunteer/community service hours are required?

A minimum of twenty-five (25) volunteer/community service hours are required for admission consideration. Students should have a consistent amount of volunteer/community service hours to be a competitive applicant. Volunteer activities do not have to be in the health care area, and can be whatever type they choose, as long as it is non-paid and clearly benefits the community at-large. This volunteer/community service must begin at the onset of the applicant's college career.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic has hampered in-person volunteering, below are some volunteer opportunities that may not require in-person contact. Note: The following links are to external websites and UH/UHCOP is not responsible for the content contained on these sites.

The Admissions Committee will review completed applications received by May 1, 2024. All incomplete applications will not be reviewed, therefore we strongly encourage all items to be submitted by the deadline.