I will be starting my pre-pharmacy reqs this fall. I am taking General Chemistry and Biology this year. I have problems deciding between physics (two semesters) and anatomy/physiology (Fall)/ Microbiology(Spring). I know that I wiil need all these classes completed for admission to a pharmacy program; however, since I am planning on taking the PCAT in October 2006, which sequence would be more helpful in preparation for the test? Physics? Or Anatomy/Microbiology?
Thank you for the input.

I will be starting my pre-pharmacy reqs this fall. I am taking General Chemistry and Biology this year. I have problems deciding between physics (two semesters) and anatomy/physiology (Fall)/ Microbiology(Spring). I know that I wiil need all these classes completed for admission to a pharmacy program; however, since I am planning on taking the PCAT in October 2006, which sequence would be more helpful in preparation for the test? Physics? Or Anatomy/Microbiology?
Thank you for the input.

Physics is not covered at all on the PCAT. Of all the undergrad courses you will take, anatomy/physiology and orgo I are possibly the two most useful for the exam. Since you're not planning on taking the PCAT until next October, you might want to get your Physics done and out of the way early and then take the other courses closer to the exam date. It's really helpful to have the material fresh in your mind!

Thank you so much for your reply.

I am a little bit confused at this point. I was planning on finishing my pre-reqs in two years, taking genchem this year (F'05) and organic -- the next (F'06). Ideally, I would like to be enrolled in a pharmacy school during F'07.
To do so, I need to take the PCAT in October 2006, before I am done with organic chemistry.
Was anyone able to complete their pre-reqs in two years and start their pharmacy program during the third? If so, is it possible to do well on PCAT not having completed organic?

Thank you.


Physics is not covered at all on the PCAT. Of all the undergrad courses you will take, anatomy/physiology and orgo I are possibly the two most useful for the exam. Since you're not planning on taking the PCAT until next October, you might want to get your Physics done and out of the way early and then take the other courses closer to the exam date. It's really helpful to have the material fresh in your mind!

If you use a good review source and study hard over a period of time -- don't cram -- you can definitely score well on the PCAT without having all your pre reqs complete. The organic chemistry that is covered are the basics from orgo I, not orgo II, so you'll be in good shape taking the PCAT in late October '06 while your organic chemistry is fresh in your mind. Take your biology/gen chem courses seriously now -- lock down the fundamentals -- and you'll be ready to go. :)

I took the PCAT in June. I had already taken GenChem I and II, Micro, and A & P. I'd had two weeks of Organic I.

Thank you to everybody for being so helpful.

More questions about the test. Is one penalized for taking it multiple times? I know that for the GMAT, all your scores for tests taken in the past five years get reported to business schools. Is this the case for the PCAT as well? If so, do schools look at the best score or maybe an average of all scores?
Also, I saw several people on this board stating that they took the test in June, but when I look on the official PCAT site, they only display January and October dates. I would assume that taking the test in June would increase one's chance of admittance, is it so?

Thank you.

I believe that if you have taken the PCAT 4 times or more that PharmCAS may average out all of your scores. Not at all sure on this, I would check it out.