Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

Question 1: How many applications do you receive, interviews do you grant, and applicants do you accept in an average year?
We typically receive more than 1400 applications a year, grant approximately 400 interviews, and offer acceptances to seat a class of 120. Visit the competitive candidate profile page for more information.

Question 2: Does it matter that I’m older than your average applicant? 
Definitely not. We find that students of all ages make unique contributions to the class. We encourage applications from qualified applicants regardless of age.

Question 3: Can I transfer into your PharmD program from another PharmD program?
Yes. We do accept transfer applications. Please contact the Admissions office for more information regarding this policy.

Question 4: Do you give preference to California residents?
No. Although a significant portion of our student body is from California, this is merely a reflection of our overall applicant pool.

Question 5: Can international students apply?
Yes we do consider international students. Please keep in mind that any coursework taken out side of U.S. must be submitted to an approved evaluation service for review. For additional international student information, please visit the international student website.

Question 6: Is tuition the same for in-state and out-of-state residents?
Yes. We are a private institution, therefore the tuition assessed is the same for in-state, out-of-state and international students. For more information on tuition, scholarships and loan options please visit the financing my education page.

Question 7: Does WesternU accept PharmCAS letters of recommendation?
Yes, WesternU will only accept letters of recommendation from PharmCAS, and they must be submitted to PharmCAS by WesternU’s application deadline.  For more information, view the PharmCAS Application Instructions on the PharmCAS website.

Question 8: Do you have an early decision process?
No, we do not have Early Decision.

Question 9: How does the committee decide which applicants are offered seats? 
The committee will review all completed applications and select approximately 400 candidates for interview. After the interview, all materials will be reviewed and applicants will be assigned a status: admit, hold or reject. After all interviews are completed (April) alternates will be selected from the hold candidates. At this time all students will be notified by email of their final status. There is no need to call, as applicants will be notified immediately if there is a change in their status. Please visit the competitive candidate profile page for more information about what qualities the admissions committee seeks in a student. You will also find last year’s statistics on this page.

If you were selected as an alternate and will be receiving a bachelor’s degree by the end of the spring semester or quarter, you are encouraged to submit proof of degree received to the Admissions Office by June 1.

Question 10: How and when will I know if I’ve been invited for an interview?

You will be notified by e-mail between September and March, should you be selected for an interview.

Question 11: When are acceptance letters and final notification letters mailed? 
Applicants are usually notified of the committee’s decision within one to two weeks of their interview. All applicants are notified of their final status in mid-August.

Question 12: I am a re-applicant. How may I improve my application or chances of gaining admission?
Take a critical review of your previous applicantion and see if there are any obvious voids. For example, maybe you had one or two low grades that lowered your overall and/or science GPA, or maybe you weren’t involved in community service, or merely forgot to include it on your application. You would be surprised at how much you can learn about the strengths and weaknesses of your application simply by looking at it from an admissions perspective.

It’s important to realize that sometimes there isn’t one obvious thing that you can change to be admitted. Every case is different and every year the competition is different. Above all else, it is important to realize that we receive applications from many highly qualified applicants each year and are only able to accept about 20 percent of that pool. If this is the path you are committed to, then keep trying! Please visit the competitive candidate profile page for more information about what qualities the admissions committee seeks in a student. You will also find last year’s statistics on this page.

Question 13: Can I request an application packet? 
Please visit the apply now page for detailed instructions on how to apply.

Question 1: What are the prerequisite courses for the PharmD program? 
Visit the view requirements page for details.

Question 2: Can I have prerequisite courses in progress at the time of application? How many?
Yes. While we do not have a set number of courses you must have completed at the time of application, we recommend that you have at least 3/4 of the prerequisites completed by the time of application. Doing so will provide, for the admissions committee, a clearer picture of your academic preparation for the program. Should you be accepted, all prerequisites MUST be completed by the end of the spring semester or quarter prior to matriculation.

Question 3: Can I substitute any courses for your prerequisites?
No. The required classes are clearly outlined on the view requirements page and all applicants must complete all prerequisite courses by the end of the spring semester prior to matriculation, in other words, no summer courses are permitted between the application deadline and matriculation for credit.

Question 4: Do you accept A/P credit or College Level Equivalency Program (CLEP)?
We will accept AP credit for any of the prerequisites. However, we do not accept CLEP; pass/no pass, credit/no credit or credit for experiential learning.

Question 5: How will my credit hours be calculated if my prerequisites are in quarter units?
2 Quarters = 1 Semester

Question 6: Is a bachelor’s degree required to apply?
No, however preference will be given to those candidates who have received or will receive a baccalaureate degree by matriculation. Visit the view requirements page for a complete list of requirements.

Question 7: Do you require a minimum GPA to apply? 
No, however, an overall and science GPA of 2.75 is preferred. To get a feel for the competitiveness of the applicant pool, we recommend that you view our class statistics page.

Question 8: How will you calculate and evaluate my GPA during the application process?
Your GPA will be calculated two ways:

• Overall GPA – includes all courses listed on all transcripts
• Science GPA – includes all science courses listed on all transcripts

Question 9: Do you require any standardized tests?
We do not require any standardized tests such as the PCAT or the GRE. However, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for all applicants submitting course work from foreign schools, and all permanent and temporary residents of the United States. A minimum score of 79 for Internet based TOEFL (IBT) or 213 on the computer-based test is required. TOEFL scores must be submitted at the time of application. TOEFL scores are valid for two years. For exceptions, visit the view requirements page.

Question 10: How many hours of work experience are required prior to application?
Applicants are not currently required to have work experience prior to applying to the program, however, it is highly recommended.

Question 11: Can I talk to a counselor about my coursework?
If you’d like to find out whether the courses you’ve taken or plan to take will satisfy the PharmD prerequisites you can:

1. search the prerequisite database by institution.
2. if your courses aren’t listed in the database and you have a few courses in question, you may submit a prerequisite verification form.
3. if your courses aren’t listed in the database and you have numerous courses in question, or simply wish to lay out your coursework, you may instead print and submit an academic worksheet.

By laying out your coursework in relation to our prerequisites, you will be able to determine the courses you may still need to complete. In addition, you will be able to assess your academic performance in the courses (prerequisites) our admissions committee believes are of greatest importance. If the course name does not match the prerequisite title, be sure to include a course description for reference.

Once you receive our assessment, feel free to contact us with any questions you might have.

Question 1: What is the passing rate on the licensing board exam for your pharmacy graduates?
Please visit the Vital Statistics Page for the College of Pharmacy for details.

Question 2: Is it advisable to work while I take classes?
Yes. Pharmacy students are required to complete a minimum of 1500 hours of work experience prior to taking the board exam. Six hundred of those hours will be arranged through the university; the other 900 must be arranged by the student. See a student’s typical week in the PharmD program.

Question 3: How are clinical rotations set up?
Please visit the clinical experiences page for details.

Question 4: Is there an opportunity to do research while attending WesternU?
Yes, students may participate in research with faculty in both the basic and clinical sciences and it is likely that you will be able to find a faculty member who is working on a research project that is of interest to you. We also have state-of-the-art wet labs available for bench research. However, research is usually limited to summer breaks and vacations because of the intensity of the curriculum. Faculty from all programs, are regularly published in prominent journals; students who work with them are also often recognized for their contributions to the research. Visit the research website for more information.

Question 5: When I graduate do I have to take a standardized exam before beginning to practice?
Yes. Graduates must take the NAPLEX and the CPJE exams before practicing. If you are planning to practice outside of California you will have to take the NAPLEX and any other examination required by that state (usually a law examination).

For more information on the NAPLEX exam, go to the National Association of Board of Pharmacy website. For more information on the CPJE, go to the California State Board of Pharmacy website.

Question 6: Do you have any information sessions on campus?
While we would love to have you on campus, we are not currently offering in person tours.  If you are interested, please take a virtual tour of our campus.

Question 7: How can I learn more about the financial aid available to me? 
For more information regarding tuition, scholarships, and loans please visit the financing my education and financial aid pages. .

Question 8: How can I learn more about your PharmD Program? 
Join us for a Preview Day, request information by mail or contact us with any questions you might have.