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Admissions FAQs |
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1. About UB SoPPSWhy should I consider applying to UB SoPPS? What makes UB SoPPS unique? UB SoPPS is a national leader in education and research in both Pharmacy Practice and the Pharmaceutical Sciences and is consistently ranked among the top pharmacy schools in the U.S. with an international reputation for accomplishment. We have the second most productive research program in the nation with two Distinguished Teaching Professors and five faculty members who are recipients of the Chancellor's Awards for Excellence. UB SoPPS students also benefit from being able to take the NAPLEX exam and Pharmacy Law Review Series at a convenient location - UB! What is the difference between the programs in Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences? The doctor of pharmacy degree, also called the Pharm.D., is an entry-level professional degree that enables one to work as a pharmacist, interacting with patients and other health care practitioners about medications. It is not an undergraduate degree (such as a B.S. or B.A.) nor is it a graduate degree (such as an M.S., M.B.A., or Ph.D.). The Pharm.D. is a professional degree for pharmacists similar to the doctor of medicine (M.D.) for physicians or a doctor of dental surgery (DDS) for dentists. Whereas, a degree in pharmaceutical science or related discipline does not prepare or permit students to practice pharmacy, but enables one to do drug development and research for the pharmaceutical industry. Where do most of your graduates practice? Pharm.D. graduates find a very favorable job market and easily locate positions in a variety of professional practice sites including community pharmacy, institutional pharmacy, long-term pharmacy, consultant pharmacy, the government and academia across the country. The majority of our graduates practice in the community/ambulatory care setting with very attractive salaries in virtually any state of the country. How do Pharm.D. graduates perform on the NAPLEX (the national licensing exam)? Greater than 95% of our graduates successfully complete the NAPLEX on the first attempt and often score higher than others in our state or in the country! What is the attrition rate of accepted students? Our attrition rate is less than 5%! In general, over 90% of our graduates complete the professional program in 4 years and the remaining 10% in 5 years. What courses will I be completing in the professional program? Our students are active in a number of organizations and are encouraged to present at professional seminars, symposia, and special events. Download the curriculum. How long will it take to complete the Pharm.D. program? Do you offer an accelerated program? Do you have on-line/distance learning, summer, evening, weekend or part-time classes? The overall six-year Pharm.D. program entails two years of pre-pharmacy courses followed by four full-time years of professional study. The Pharm.D. program requires four full-time years of professional study. Courses are scheduled during the day and are available only on-campus during the fall and spring semesters. You must adhere to a set “block schedule,” which is assigned to you each semester. Combined degree programs are also available at UB SoPPS, including a Pharm.D./M.B.A., Pharm.D./J.D., and a Pharm.D./Ph.D., which reduces by one year the usual pattern of the six-year pharmacy program and a two-year M.B.A. program. Where is UB located? UB SoPPS is currently situated on North Campus in suburban Amherst in Western New York, which is the second safest city in the United States! Here are maps and directions. Are tours of the school available? Yes. Tours of the University are offered by undergraduate admissions and tours of the School of Pharmacy are offered by UB SoPPS Admissions and Recruitment. You may schedule a personal visit, or stop by during open house. 2. About UB SoPPS ApplicantsDo you have a preference for certain students? No, all regular applicants are considered equally. UB SoPPS only seeks well-rounded students who are motivated to provide the highest levels of pharmaceutical care. The Admissions Committee reviews the application as a whole: PCAT scores, grades, scholastic preparation, pharmacy experiences, academic recognition or honors, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, oral and written communication, and any additional information provided by the applicant on the application or on the Supplemental Form. What kind of organizations and associations are your students involved in? Our students are active in a number of organizations and are encouraged to present at professional seminars, symposia, and special events. Learn more about student organizations. How many Pharm.D. applicants are accepted each year? UB SoPPS interviews approximately 225 applicants and admits 117-120 students each fall. Do you admit students directly from high school (secondary school)? No. We are a 2/4 program, meaning that students generally complete two years of pre-pharmacy coursework prior to entering the four years of the professional program. We do offer an "Early Assurance" option for students who enroll in the University at Buffalo directly upon graduation from high school, and who have specified "pharmacy" as their intended major. To be accepted to the Pharm.D. program, Early Assurance students must adhere to the Early Assurance requirements and pass an interview. 2.1 Transfer StudentsDo you have a certain limit to the number of transfer students you admit? No, we do not have a limit or quota for the number of transfer students who may be admitted. UB SoPPS does not differentiate between transfer and currently enrolled University at Buffalo students when making decisions regarding acceptance into the Pharm.D. program. I'm not a New York State resident. Will this affect my admission? No. There is no residency requirement for admission. UB SoPPS does not have a policy that limits or favors out-of-state or in-state students. I am a transfer student who still needs to finish the prerequisite courses, how do I apply? If you would like to attend the University at Buffalo to complete your prerequisite courses, please submit the SUNY undergraduate application and indicate pharmacy as your intended major. If you are completing your coursework elsewhere, please refer to UB's online articulation service, called "TAURUS." You can also compare course descriptions using our undergraduate catalog to be sure you take equivalent courses. I am a transfer student who has completed all of the prerequisite courses, how do I apply? Transfer students are expected to meet the same criteria for admission as non-transfer students. Once you complete the Pharm.D. prerequisite courses, you may apply to the Pharm.D. program using the online PharmCAS application. Please be aware that the PCAT exam is mandatory for all PharmCAS applicants, including transfer students. 2.2 International StudentsI'm not a U.S. citizen or legal Permanent Resident of the U.S. ("Green Card holder"). Will this affect my admission? How do I apply? No. Citizenship has no effect on admission into the University at Buffalo or the professional years of our Pharm.D. program. International students are expected to meet the same criteria for admission as permanent residents. Once you complete the Pharm.D. prerequisite courses, you may apply to the Pharm.D. program using the online PharmCAS application. Please be aware that the PCAT exam is mandatory for all PharmCAS applicants, including international students. Also, UB SoPPS requires TOEFL or TSE scores for non-native English speaking applicants. In addition, you must have your foreign transcripts evaluated by World Education Services, Inc. (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc (ECE). This course-by-course report must be submitted directly to PharmCAS by February 2nd . Once your application is complete, the Admissions Committee will review your qualifications and request official transcripts, if necessary. After this preliminary review, you may be asked to apply to the University. See UB's International Enrollment Management website. 3. Minimum Eligibility RequirementsWhat are the criteria for admission? In order to be considered for admission to the Pharm.D. program, applicants must submit a completed PharmCAS application and have the following: Pharm.D. prerequisite courses, and a minimum GPA of a 3.0 in their pre-pharmacy science and math courses. UB SoPPS does not have a minimum Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) requirement however, competitive applicants typically present a percentage of at least 300. In addition, the Admissions Committee looks at scholastic preparation, pharmacy experiences, academic recognition or honors, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, oral and written communication, and any additional information provided by the applicant on the application or on the Supplemental Form. Learn more about the profile of recently accepted applicants. How do pharmacy schools calculate repeated courses? All courses are averaged together, included repeated courses. The repeated grade does not replace the previous grade. Does it matter at which school I take my pre-pharmacy coursework? Early Assurance students must complete their prerequisite coursework at UB. For regular applicants, Pharm.D. prerequisite courses may be taken at the University at Buffalo or at any other accredited institution of higher education. For help with course articulation, UB offers an online articulation service called "TAURUS." You can also compare course descriptions using our undergraduate catalog. Do you accept Advanced Placement (AP) credit for prerequisites? Yes, however we do not accept alternative credit for Biology or Chemistry. AP transcripts must be sent directly to UB SoPPS (not PharmCAS). My school doesn't offer General Biology, what can I take to meet your Biology prerequisite? Select a course that is required of biology majors offered by the Biology Department. You may take Botany, Zoology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Anatomy or Physiology to satisfy the General Biology requirement (the course must have a lecture and laboratory component). Anatomy and Physiology are a part of the Pharm.D. curriculum, so if you take them to meet the pre-pharmacy General Biology requirement, they can not later be used to fulfill the course requirements for the professional years of the program. That is, you would have to retake the Anatomy and Physiology courses are part of the doctor of pharmacy curriculum. Microbiology and Biochemistry are not acceptable substitutes. Is a bachelor's degree required? No, only completion of the Pharm.D. prerequisite courses by the end of the spring semester prior to fall admission are required. However, it is looked upon more favorably. Are there any courses waived for students who enter after having earned a degree? Yes, seven Pharm.D. prerequisite courses are waived for students entering with a degree. These include: Physics II, Calculus II, Statistics, Economics, Social Behavioral Science, English Composition I and English Composition II. Do you give preference to any major? Incoming UB freshmen (Early Assurance applicants) must indicate Pharmacy as an intended major to be considered for the professional program. All other applicants do not need a certain major. UB SoPPS does not have a policy that limits or favors science or arts majors. Do I need to take the PCAT, TOEFL or any other standardized tests? Yes, the PCAT is required for all PharmCAS applicants and is recommended for Early Assurance students - in case they fall below the minimum criteria for Early Assurance, they may apply through PharmCAS. UB SoPPS requires TOEFL or TSE scores for non-native English speaking applicants. It is critical that all students possess the ability to communicate effectively using both the oral and written English language. These competencies will be assessed of qualified applicants through an in-person interview and a written essay. Do I need volunteer activities, extracurricular activities or work experience to be considered for admission? No, experience is not required. However, it is highly recommended to be a competitive applicant. Selection is based on scholastic achievement, aptitude, personal qualifications, and evidence of motivation toward pharmacy. These are judged from the college record, grade point average, the PCAT, letters of reference and evaluation, a supplemental application, and a personal interview. In addition to intellectual and academic competence, the School's admissions committee considers communication skills, leadership ability, community service, health care-related or research experience, and motivation for pursuing a career in pharmacy. What are the minimum PCAT scores considered? UB SoPPS does not have a minimum Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) requirement however, competitive applicants typically present a percentage of at least 300. The average PCAT score of students admitted over the past few years has ranged between 350 and 398. UB SoPPS considers the Percentile Rank (not Scaled Scores). The sum of each item under the Percentile Rank (Verbal Ability, Biology, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, and Chemistry) determines the score (not the Composite score). What SAT or ACT scores do you require? SAT and ACT scores are evaluated by the University at Buffalo's Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Please review the Undergraduate Admissions website or call 716-645-6900 for the most current information regarding acceptable SAT and ACT scores. Learn more about International student requirements here. Note that SAT and ACT scores are generally only required of students entering as freshmen. Transfer students (students who have enrolled in college previously, and are entering with a minimum of 24 college credits) may not have to supply SAT or ACT scores. How long are my PCAT scores good? The oldest PCAT score considered is three years from date of entry. How many times may I take the PCAT? If taken twice, UB SoPPS considers the higher of the two. If taken three or more times, the average of all the scores is considered. Where should I have my PCAT scores sent? When taking the PCAT, you must indicate to Harcourt that they should send your scores to PharmCAS. We will then receive your PCAT scores on your PharmCAS application. EOP students must have their PCAT scores sent directly to UB SoPPS. I completed college/university courses outside of the United States. Will you accept these courses? It depends. English Composition must be completed in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, or New Zealand and approved by the University at Buffalo. After a preliminary review of your application, you may be asked to have your official transcripts sent to UB's International Enrollment Management for evaluation. I completed some of my prerequisite coursework more than 5 years ago. Will they still be considered? Applicants may complete their prerequisites at UB and then apply to the Pharm.D. program, or they may complete their prerequisites at another accredited institution. All regular applicants must complete the equivalent of two years of college coursework and successfully complete all prerequisite courses with a grade equal to or greater than C- by the spring semester prior to fall admission. All applicants must complete their prerequisite courses within 5 years preceding admission. If a prerequisite course(s) was completed before 2004, the applicant must satisfy one of the following options by the end of the spring semester prior to fall admission:
4. Costs, Financial Aid & AwardsWhat are the tuition and fees? The first professional year of the Pharm.D. program is considered undergraduate for the purpose of tuition and fees, regardless of your educational background. The second, third, and fourth professional years of the Pharm.D. program are considered graduate Pharm.D. for the purpose of tuition and fees. After the first year, out-of-state students may obtain residency and qualify for in-state tuition. Learn more about costs, tuition, and fees here. Do you offer financial aid or scholarships? Yes. You may receive detailed information by visiting UB's Student Response Center. UB SoPPS offers competitive scholarships each year to academically talented students from across the world. There is no additional application process - applicants are notified if they are chosen candidates for UB SoPPS scholarships. Many scholarships are available after the P1 year and advertised via email. To be considered for financial aid, please complete the FAFSA. Students are advised to include parental income on the FAFSA. In completing the FAFSA, you must choose an additional year of undergraduate study and not the first year of a professional program since the first year of UB's doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program is at the undergraduate level. 5. Step 1: Initial Application ComponentsHow do I apply to UB SoPPS? If you are an Early Assurance student, simply indicate pharmacy as your intended major either on your initial application at the Undergraduate Admissions website (Learn more about International student applications here) or before the end of your first semester at UB. The Early Assurance Supplemental Application must be submitted by November 1 (available online after September 1). If you are a Regular applicant, once you complete the Pharm.D. prerequisite courses, you may apply to the Pharm.D. program using the online PharmCAS application by February 2. Please be aware that the PCAT exam is mandatory for all Regular applicants. Once your PharmCAS application is complete and received by UB SoPPS, you may then submit the required Supplemental Application and Supplemental Application fee by March 2 . Do I need to submit everything to PharmCAS at the same time? No, you can submit materials as you get them as long as all materials are received by PharmCAS before the application deadline. Your PharmCAS application must be submitted by February 2 and your transcripts and letters must be received by March 2 . You may check the status of your application materials on your PharmCAS application using the status tool. Are letters of recommendation (references) required? How many, and from whom? Yes, three professional letters of recommendation are required. As stated on our PharmCAS School Page, UB SoPPS does NOT accept evaluations from the following: Teaching Assistants, Pre-Health Committees, Politicians, Friends, Family Members, Co-Workers, or Clergy. Each letter must contain a standardized cover sheet including character ratings, which is provided by PharmCAS to the evaluators. All references will be contacted for verification by the UB SoPPS Admissions Staff. Where do I send my Letters of Recommendation? UB SoPPS does not accept letters of recommendation sent directly to the school. You must have your references submit them to PharmCAS. You may check the status of your application materials on your PharmCAS application using the status tool. Can my evaluators submit letters of recommendation before I apply to the Pharm.D. program? No. You may ask your evaluator(s) to write a letter of recommendation, save it electronically, and later submit it during the application cycle in which you are applying. In addition to a letter, evaluators must also submit a character rating sheet, which will be emailed to them by PharmCAS when you apply. Please have your evaluators refer to the List of PharmCAS Questions for Evaluators (http://www.pharmcas.org/applicants/evalquestions.htm) so they can prepare a complete evaluation in advance. When can I apply and what is the application deadline for the Pharm.D. program? The current deadline is February 2 of each year for fall entrance into the professional program. Applicants are advised to apply well in advance of this deadline. Supplemental applications (available directly from the Pharmacy Admissions Office after receipt of the PharmCAS application) also must be completed by March 2 . Can I submit my application before I complete my prerequisites? Yes, you may submit your PharmCAS application if you are currently taking, or plan to take, the Pharm.D. prerequisite courses before the end of the spring semester prior to fall admission. The PCAT may also be taken anytime before the application deadline. Do you accept the January PCAT even though PharmCAS will receive the scores after the February 2 deadline? Yes. We do accept the January PCAT. Please note that it takes 4-6 weeks for PharmCAS to receive your scores. You may check your PharmCAS application to be sure your scores are received. Can I enter in the spring semester? No, we only conduct a fall admissions cycle. No Regular or Early Assurance students will be admitted in the spring. My application was late. Will you still accept my application? No, we will not consider applications that are incomplete or applications that are submitted or postmarked after the deadline. Be sure to check the status tool on your PharmCAS application. I'm a high school student in the U.S. How do I apply? First, apply to the University at Buffalo at the Undergraduate Admissions website. It is important that you indicate pharmacy as your intended major. Second, download the Early Assurance Application Form during your sophomore year between the September 1 and November 1. A paper application will also be available in 112 Cooke Hall. The completed application must be received or postmarked by November 1. To be accepted to the Pharm.D. program, you must adhere to the Early Assurance requirements and pass an interview. What is "Early Assurance?" The Early Assurance Program is available to incoming freshmen who enter the UB directly from high school as intended pharmacy majors. UB must be the first college or university attended when you apply. It is what is known as a two/four program: two years of prerequisite coursework followed by four years in the professional program. These students must complete their prerequisites at UB and adhere to the Early Assurance requirements in order to be considered for admission to the professional program. If you maintain the curricula for the program and pass an interview, you will be offered a seat in the professional Pharm.D. program. To apply, complete the SUNY undergraduate application at the Undergraduate Admissions website and list pharmacy as your intended major - there are no other initial forms or applications required. What high school courses should I take to prepare for pharmacy school? Take as many Biology and Chemistry courses as you can. Is my application reviewed differently if I apply as an undecided (or a different) major as opposed to applying as a pre-pharmacy student? No. In fact, if you would like to be considered for the Early Assurance option, you MUST specify "pharmacy" as your intended major on your application to the University at Buffalo. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions at the University at Buffalo does not use different or special criteria when evaluating intended pharmacy students for admission into the University. Do you accept international transcripts, or do I have to have my transcript evaluated by WES? We do not accept international transcripts. All international students must have their transcripts evaluated by WES or ECE in order to translate the credit system into what is accepted in the United States. 6. Step 2: Supplemental ApplicationIs the Supplemental Application and Fee required? Yes, the Supplemental Application and Supplemental Fee are required in order to be considered for admission. There are no exceptions. Fee waivers may be granted for EOP students. The application will be available August 1 through March 2 . How do I submit the Supplemental Application and Fee? You will be notified via email when we have obtained your application from PharmCAS and instructed to download and follow the directions on the UB SoPPS Supplemental Application. A $50.00 supplemental fee can be paid online or money orders may be mailed directly to UB SoPPS. To pay online using the online supplemental fee payment system, you must have a PharmCAS ID or UB Person Number readily available. Be sure UB SoPPS has received the supplemental materials by the March 2 deadline 7. After Submitting Your Application - Interview ProcessAre interviews required? Yes, on-site interviews are mandatory. However, not all applicants will be invited for an interview. Approximately 250 candidates are selected for an interview and will be invited via e-mail, if selected. Who will interview me? Interviewers include SoPPS faculty, staff, and alumni. Candidates are randomly assigned to interviewers on the day of the interview. What shall I expect for the interview? The interview consists of two parts: an oral interview and a writing test. You will have one 30-minute interview with two faculty, staff, or alumni of UB SoPPS. An assigned topic will be distributed to each candidate to write on for 20 minutes. The interview process will assess the candidate's motivation for pharmacy, understanding of the pharmacist's role in the health care system, potential to be a caring health care professional, ability to work effectively with other individuals and patients, communication skills, writing skills, leadership ability and critical thinking/problem solving skills. Candidates will have an opportunity to meet current students and faculty members and tour the School after the interviews have been completed. How should I dress for the interview? Professional attire is expected. What should I bring to the admissions interview? To participate in the interview process, proof of identification, including picture ID, is required. Pens will be distributed for your writing sample. Refreshments will be available after the interviews are complete. 8. After Submitting Your Application - Admissions DecisionsI really need to know if I've been accepted. When will I find out? We begin reviewing applications in the fall and continue until our class is filled. Generally, our class is filled by April or May for entrance into the fall entering class. Applicants on the wait list may be notified anytime through the end of August. If I am offered admission, how will I be contacted? We will immediately contact you after the admissions committee makes a decision via e-mail. Therefore, it is very important to keep contact information updated. If we cannot reach you by e-mail or mail, we presume you are not interested and we will make an offer to another candidate. Why was I wait-listed? The Admissions Committee initially makes decisions to reject, hold, or accept a candidate before or after interviewing them. It is a very competitive application cycle and we have to deny very good candidates and wait list excellent candidates. Those who were initially selected and offered admission excelled in scholastic achievement, aptitude, personal qualifications, and evidence of motivation toward pharmacy. These are judged from the college record, grade point average, the PCAT, letters of reference and evaluation, a supplemental application, and a personal interview. In addition to intellectual and academic competence, the School's Admissions Committee considers communication skills, leadership ability, community service, health care-related or research experience, and motivation for pursuing a career in pharmacy. The wait list status is not a reflection on your qualifications, but is due to the large numbers of highly qualified students who have applied for admission to the University at Buffalo. The University at Buffalo SoPPS Admissions Committee was impressed by your credentials and knows you would make significant contributions to our outstanding community, which is why we would like you to remain on our wait list. How do spaces in the entering class become available to applicants on the wait list? What are my chances? How many alternates are accepted each year? The number of wait-listed applicants we accept can vary significantly from year to year. Based on the number of candidates rejected or who decline our offer of admission, candidates on hold may be invited for an interview (if they have not been interviewed) and ultimately accepted. Since reasons for declining an admission offer or rescinding an offer are often related to unexpected situations, it is impossible to predict the number of alternates that will be offered admission. While we cannot provide you with information regarding your likelihood of admission, we can assure you that we will work diligently to make admission offers if space becomes available. We anticipate the earliest date that this would occur to be sometime in the middle of May. Where am I on the waiting list? How soon will I know if I am selected? We do not rank the waiting list. After the deadline has passed for admitted applicants to accept, the committee meets to review everyone on the waitlist to determine who will fill the space(s). The waiting list remains open until the end of August. Why was I denied? Every year, qualified students are denied simply because there aren't enough available spaces. We have limited seats available and have to choose the best of the best. Learn more about the profile of recently admitted students. I was denied. May I apply again in the future? Yes. Take advantage of the year to improve your credentials by taking further coursework to improve your GPA, retaking the PCAT, joining professional organizations, holding an office of a student organization, or volunteering or working in a pharmacy. The application cycle for PharmCAS applicants will reopen June 1 - we encourage you to apply early! Note: applicants who reapply are not given special considerations and are reviewed along with the rest of the applicant pool. 9. Living in Buffalo, New YorkHow is the weather in Buffalo? Buffalo enjoys four wonderful seasons, with plenty to do during each of them. Learn more about Buffalo's climate and weather. Where can I find information regarding housing? If you are interested in living on-campus, contact UB Residence Halls & Apartments. For students seeking off-campus housing, Buffalo has many affordable housing options with the convenience of inter-campus shuttles and a metro link to the downtown and suburban areas. Start with these helpful websites: Sub-Board I's Guide to Off Campus Housing, Metro Community News Classified Ads, Buffalo News Classified Ads, and UB Student Affairs. What is there to do in Buffalo? What is it like to live in Buffalo and at UB? Buffalo is a small city with the vibrant cultural life of a much larger urban area. What is the cost of living in Buffalo? In Buffalo, the cost of living is low and the standard of living is high. The cost of living makes the Buffalo metropolitan area among the most affordable in the U.S. with housing costs at 15 percent less than the national average. What hotels are near the campus? There are a number of affordable and comfortable hotels located near the University at Buffalo. Visit http://admissions.buffalo.edu/visit/accommodations.php for a list compiled by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Have another question that is not answered here? Contact us! |
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