For Entry Level Pharm.D. Applicants

General Admissions Information

All communications regarding entrance for professional studies in pharmacy at the University of Arkansas should be addressed to the Registrar, College of Pharmacy - #522, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205-7122.

Applications are accepted no later than February 1 of each year for the class entering the following fall semester.  A $50.00 record analysis fee that is neither refundable nor credited toward registration fees must accompany this application.  The completed application should be mailed to the Registrar, College of Pharmacy - #522, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205-7122.  A complete list of dates for the current admissions cycle is found on this website.

Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT)
The Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) is required of all applicants and a minimum composite percentile of 30 is required for consideration of application. Because of changes in scoring the PCAT and the addition of a written essay to the exam, all applicants for the fall 2008 class must take the PCAT on or after June 25, 2005.  The test is given at several locations throughout the state and information may be obtained from the Psychological Corporation website: www.pcatweb.info.  The PCAT may be taken more than once at the discretion of the applicant.

Selection
All applicants with a grade point average of 2.50, or above, on their overall college record, a minimum composite percentile of 30 on the PCAT and a minimum grade of “C” in each of the pre-pharmacy course requirements, are eligible for consideration for admission to the College of Pharmacy.  No applicant interview will be scheduled until the application folder is complete.  All applicants with completed folders will be invited for a personal interview.  Selection of students will be made on the basis of the applicant’s previous scholastic and aptitude records, personal interview, recommendations, essay and PCAT scores in comparison with those of other applicants.  Applicants must have completed at least eight hours of General Chemistry I and II (six hours of lecture and two hours of lab) and four hours of Organic Chemistry I (three hours of lecture and one hour of lab) with a grade of “C” or better by the February 1 application deadline.  All prepharmacy courses must be completed and official transcripts received by July 15.

Residency
The College of Pharmacy is authorized to accept a limited number of nonresident applicants provided that clear ties to the state of Arkansas can be demonstrated by the applicant.  All applicants will be required to complete a Residency Evaluation Form.

Acceptance
Regular meetings of the Admissions Committee will begin after the deadlines for submission of applications.  All applicants will be notified of the disposition of their application in April.  If an applicant has been accepted, he/she may be denied admission prior to or at the time of enrollment if (1) he/she fails to keep his/her file current; (2) the grade point average shows a significant drop or the applicant receives a grade of “D” or “F” in any course during the spring semester or summer session; (3) information is received indicating that his/her character is such that he/she is not suited for the responsibility and privileges found in the practice of pharmacy.  If an applicant is not admitted and desires to make application in subsequent years, the applicant may re-apply and pay the $50.00 record analysis fee with each application.

English Proficiency
Any applicant not born in the United States or a country where English is the official language must furnish proof of English language proficiency and academic skill proficiency by March 1st for consideration for admission for the fall semester.  This requirement includes all applicants regardless of citizenship or visa status.

English proficiency is demonstrated by presenting a score of a least 80 on the internet-based international Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) including a minimum of 20 in each of the following areas:  Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening.  These scores must be earned within the past two years.  Information on testing sites and scheduling may be obtained from the TOEFL website: TOEFL.org.   Tests must be scheduled from two to four weeks in advance with the results sent to the College of Pharmacy fifteen (15) working days after the exam is taken.  TOEFL scores must be received by March 1 of the application year.

International Students

International students must meet the appropriate English Proficiency requirements listed above.  An applicant who is not a citizen of the United States must follow the normal admissions procedure, including requirements pertaining to applicants whose first language is not English. 

International applicants must also meet the requirements to be considered a resident of Arkansas for purposes of admission to the UAMS College of Pharmacy.  A student on any temporary visa, including an F1 visa, will be classified as a foreign student and hence a non-resident of the state of Arkansas for purposes of admission.  An applicant must submit a copy of their resident alien or permanent resident card with their application and present the original to the Registrar at the time of interview.  Please note that residency status at an undergraduate Arkansas institution for purposes of tuition does not imply that the applicant would be considered a resident for purposes of admission to the College of Pharmacy.

Since only the professional courses are taught on the UAMS campus, applicants will first have to meet the requirements for enrollment and be enrolled at an accredited undergraduate institution.  Credit for degrees or coursework earned at a foreign institution may be granted by an accredited undergraduate institution.   This credit must appear as specific course equivalents on the undergraduate transcript.

Pre-Pharmacy Requirements

Courses which do not meet the Humanities Elective requirement are courses in: Health, Physical Education, Business, Science, Military Science, Education, Studio courses in Art, Music or Theater, Computer Science, Agriculture or any remedial course. 

No course can be used to satisfy the requirements in more than one area.   University declared exemptions from certain courses, e.g. English Comp I and/or II, or other courses which may be pre-pharmacy requirements, do not mean the UAMS College of Pharmacy pre-pharmacy requirement has been satisfied.  Admission to the College of Pharmacy requires sixty-nine hours of specific transfer credits and unless credits in semester hours are given on a transcript, students will still have to meet the pre-pharmacy requirements of transferable hours for admission to the College of Pharmacy. 

This is a general guide only — the specific course numbers which meet these requirements vary from school to school.  A specific list of courses that meet the pre-pharmacy requirements at our major Arkansas feeder schools is available on our website under the Entry Level Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Admissions section, “Pre-Pharmacy” area.   Please contact the Registrar’s Office with any questions concerning pre-pharmacy requirements.