Southwest Baptist University

Pre-Pharmacy Program

The College of Science and Mathematics


This page contains statistical information and other data provided to me by pharmacy schools and a variety of other sources to be used in advising pre-pharmacy students. Although I make every attempt to be factual, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of all data contained on this page. It is provided here for students to consider as they plan their pre-pharmacy studies at Southwest Baptist University. Also, toward the end of the page is an exhaustive list of Internet Resources for Pre-Pharmacy Students.

PRE-PHARMACY TOPICS DISCUSSED ON THIS PAGE INCLUDE:

PHARMACY

A pharmacist [bachelor of science in pharmacy or doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.)] provides health services through the dispensing of drugs and a knowledge of drugs and their effects on people and animals. The bachelor of science degree is granted upon completion of five years of study beyond high school. The doctor of pharmacy requires approximately two additional years. The essential difference between the two degrees is the amount of clinical pharmacy training the students receive in hospitals and other health care settings. The following information is pertinent to students wishing to pursue pharmacy as a career (bachelor of pharmacy or doctor of pharmacy).

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES USUALLY REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION:


COURSE CREDITS
English (ENG 1113, 2213) 6 hrs.
Biology (BIO 1114, 1124) 8 hrs.
General Chemistry (CHE 1115, 1125) 10 hrs.
Math through Calculus I (MAT 1195) 5-9 hrs.
Organic Chemistry (CHE 3304, 3314) 8 hrs.
Physics (PHY 1114, 1124) 8 hrs.
Social Sciences and/or Humanities 9-13 hrs.

ADDITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE COURSES USUALLY RECOMMENDED:

COURSE CREDITS
Human Anatomy and Physiology (BIO 2204, 3304) or
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (BIO 3335)		 5-8 hrs.
Microbiology (BIO 3314) 4 hrs.
Analytical Chemistry (CHE 3345) 4 hrs.
Biochemistry I (BIO 3364/CHE 3364) 4 hrs.
Biochemistry II (BIO 4104/CHE 4104) 4 hrs.
Mathematics [through Calculus II (MAT 2254)] 9-13 hrs.

AVERAGE UNDERGRADUATE GPA OF SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS:

3.2 (1991 average). For the 1996 entering class and the UMKC School of Pharmacy, the mean GPA was 3.258. For The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, the 1996 entering class had an average GPA of 3.48.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE:

50% of applicants have 0-2 years of college; 37% have 3-4 years of college; 15% have bachelor's degrees; 1% have graduate degrees.

UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR:

Most students do not complete a major or degree program before entering a pharmacy school. The prerequisite courses a pre-pharmacy student must take before application and admission are usually specified by the pharmacy school.

ADMISSIONS TEST REQUIRED:

Varies among schools; most require the PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test). For more information on the PCAT contact The Psychological Corporation, 555 Academic Ct., San Antonio, TX, 78204-2498, 1-800-622-3231

PCAT SCORES REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION:

Data on national mean scores are not available; check with individual schools of pharmacy. For the 70 students accepted in 1996, the UMKC School of Pharmacy entering class PCAT averages in all categories were 60th-70th percentile.

APPLICATION SERVICE USED:

None.

TYPICAL PHARMACY SCHOOL ADMISSION FEES:

$50-$100

APPROXIMATE TUITION COSTS PER YEAR:

Nationally, for 1991-92:

TYPE OF SCHOOL AVERAGE TUITION
Private Schools $10,000 (resident)
Public Schools $2,516

The St. Louis College of Pharmacy tuition was approximately $11,000 for the 1996-97 year. The UMKC School of Pharmacy entry-level pharm.d. program had in-state tuition of $7,202 per year and out-of-state tuition of $15,442 per years for 1996. Note, however, that annual starting salaries of pharmacists in the midwest are $32,000 - $50,000 per year.

LENGTH OF TIME TO OBTAIN DEGREE:

2 years at SBU plus 3 years at the pharmacy school for the bachelor of science in pharmacy; 2 additional years for doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.). States have varying requirements for internships leading to licensure.

AVERAGE INDEBTEDNESS UPON GRADUATION:

National figures not available; check with individual schools.

A TYPICAL TIMETABLE FOR PRE-PHARMACY ADMISSIONS APPLICATIONS:

Most applications to pharmacy schools are begun in the SPRING of the FRESHMAN YEAR:

  1. FEBRUARY--Begin a systematic preparation for the PCAT. Obtain study materials and commit a minimum of 2-4 hours per week in study and preparation. Periodically reviewing old exams from completed science courses is also a very useful supplement to this preparation.
  2. AUGUST--Start a file with the SBU Pre-Health Committee by completing the Pre-Health Committee forms. When your file is established with the Pre-Health Committee, evaluation forms will be sent to all science faculty and any non-science faculty selected by the student.
  3. AUGUST-SEPTEMBER--Obtain application forms and information from the pharmacy school(s) selected. Schedule and complete an interview with the SBU Pre-Health Committee. It takes the Pre-Health Committee approximately 4-6 weeks to circulate evaluation forms, interview the student, and prepare a letter of recommendation. DO NOT wait until October to try to obtain a letter of recommendation or you may not be able to meet the application deadline set by the school(s) of pharmacy.
  4. SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER--Register to take the PCAT.
  5. OCTOBER-MAY--Complete application forms by the deadline set by each school. Completing the applications will require transcripts from all schools attended and letters of recommendation.
  6. NOVEMBER--Take the PCAT. The PCAT may be repeated in February if necessary.
  7. MARCH-APRIL--Interviews at the schools of pharmacy.
  8. MAY--Notification of acceptance/rejection by the schools of pharmacy.

SBU ACCEPTANCE RATES:

According to data available to the chairman of the SBU Pre-Health Committee, no SBU student has applied to a school of pharmacy in the last ten years.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST:

Involve yourself in activities which will improve your nonacademic credentials:

  1. Do volunteer and/or paid work at a health facility.
  2. Participate in an externship program.
  3. Participate in campus activities (e.g., Student Government Association, sports, clubs, etc.).
  4. Participate in community activities (e.g., volunteer work).
  5. Participate in church activities.

Involve yourself in activities which will improve your academic credentials:

  1. Participate in undergraduate research and/or independent studies, especially those leading to a scholarly publication.
  2. Participate in the honors program.
  3. Enroll in writing-intensive courses to improve your communication skills.

WHY SBU?

As a student selects a school for his undergraduate education, a basic question to be answered is "Why go to SBU and not someplace else?" There are a number of factors about SBU that should be considered in answering this question:

  1. SBU is committed to Christian, higher education. The primary purpose of the SBU faculty is academic excellence, with Christ as the focal point of all activities, both in and out of the classroom.
  2. SBU has a history of success. SBU graduates applying to professional schools are accepted at a high rate. Once in professional schools, the performance of SBU's graduates has been outstanding.
  3. Most upper-level classes at SBU are small (usually less than 20-25 students). This has a number of important results. Closer interactions between faculty and students will occur at SBU than at most other institutions. You will get to known everyone "up close and personal." Life-long friendships will be established with both the faculty and other students because you will have many of the same classes. Individualized, one-on-one attention, assistance, instruction and counseling are available from the SBU faculty. Students do not have to push through a maze of graduate students, teaching assistants and secretaries to meet with their professors.
  4. SBU has a Pre-Health Committee, consisting of three faculty from the departments of biology and chemistry. This committee is dedicated to preparing and sending out those SBU students who wish to become pharmacists. The SBU Pre-Health Committee provides a number of services to the pre-pharmacy students. Some of these services are listed below:
  1. Information and assistance about pharmacy schools, pharmacy school catalogs, admissions policies, grade requirements, application procedures, PCAT, preparing letters of recommendation, etc., are provided.
  2. Under the guidance of the SBU Pre-Health Committee, students can spend time observing and working with local physicians. The SBU Pre-Health Committee has working relationships with many Bolivar-area physicians such that, free of charge, students may spend time with these physicians and educate themselves about their potential careers in medicine.

INTERNET RESOURCES FOR PRE-PHARMACY STUDENTS

SELECTED PHARMACY SCHOOL HOME PAGES

PHARMACY ASSOCIATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS

OTHER INTERNET RESOURCES