Requirements For Pharmacy Acceptance

[unit18]

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Hello everyone, I live in BC Canada. I am in gr.12 and plan to attend UBC Pharmacy after first year in university.

I was just wondering exactly what it would take to get into pharmacy school. I have excellent highschool grades and first year doesnt scare me. It is the volunteering/experience part that im a little worried about. Do schools weight volunteer work heavier than grades and PCAT score?

I was looking into a shadowing opportunity or working as a tech, however I am not sure what the difference is and what kind of qualifications are required to be allowed to work in a pharmacy... Any help would be greatly appreciated..

 

[JWirawan]

I think grades are important, however having an experience in a pharmacy would definitely help. I think most people who applied to pharmacy schools would have atleast a bit of experience, even shadowing helps.

 

[Katherinex]

Not sure if unit18 is still here...

Good grades are important, but so are the other parts of your application. I know a few students with 4.0+ GPA who still got rejected (no volunteer). I think it's important to show that you are somewhat well-rounded. But it's so wonderful to see that you have confidence going into university.

It's a good idea to contact an advisor, and check out the UBC pharm website.

I recently got into UBC pharmacy with 3.9 GPA (all the pre-reqs) and 88% on the PCAT. I've been volunteering since grade 10 - nursing home (over 4 yrs), hospital (2 yrs), community center (over 2 yrs), and exec in school clubs (over 2 yrs). As you can see, no actual pharmacy exp. but I guess that didn't matter too much.

Depending on the pharmacy, you may not need any type of formal education to be a tech. A friend of mine volunteered at a pharmacy for about 2 yrs, and the owner offered her a job as a tech. I also know a first year UBC pharm student who's working as a tech right now.

GOOD LUCK!
//katherine

 

[soccerdude604]

I got accepted after completing my first year at science this year and my advice is to start volunteering like mad. Many of my friends had high GPAs but were rejected b/c they didn't demonstrate that they cared about helping others. It's also hard to gauge how well you'll do in University b/c almost everyone entering UBC science f/ high school easily has a 4.0+ GPA. One year and 34 credits of science later the class average is 67%. I did a ton of volunteer work when i was younger. Been volunteering at UBC hospital and working at research labs since grade 10 and i'm working as a summer student this year at the Brain Research Center.

Stats if you want them...

4.0+ GPA first year science
99 pcat

Competition is tough but if you work you'll be fine