Close This Window

Western University of Health Sciences

College of Pharmacy

CONTACT
Kathy E. Ford
Director of Admissions for the College of Pharmacy, Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences College of Graduate Nursing and University International Student Advisor
Admissions
309 E. Second Street
Pomona, CA
91766
Phone: 909–469–5335

Email: kford@westernu.edu
Website: www.westernu.edu

Application and Transcript Deadline: November 1, 2010

• ACPE accreditation status: Full Accreditation Status
• Public or Private Institution: Private
• Part of an academic health center? No
• Special Programs Offered: None
• Open House Dates: TBD
• Early Decision Program (EDP)? No

STATISTICS

• Estimated number interviewed for fall 2010 Entering Class:
420
• Estimated number accepted:
190
• Estimated fall 2010 entering class size including early assurance & transfer seats:
120
• Estimated number of early assurance students advancing to the professional program:
N/A
• Estimated number of transfer applicants accepted:
N/A
• Estimated number of out-of-state applicants accepted:
6
• Estimated percent of males in 2010 Entering Class:
28%
• Estimated percent of females in 2010 Entering Class:
72%

CRITERIA

• Estimated average GPA of accepted students:
3.40
• Number of IN-STATE seats available for fall 2011 Entering Class:
Not applicable
• Number of OUT-OF-STATE seats available for fall 2011 Entering Class:
Not applicable
• Number of TRANSFER seats available for fall 2011 Entering Class:
Not applicable
• Minimum overall GPA considered (if applicable):
2.75
• Minimum prerequisite GPA considered (if applicable):
Not applicable
• Minimum composite PCAT score considered (enter N/A if not required):
Not applicable

PREREQUISITES

Number of college SEMESTER HOURS that must be completed at the time of application:
60
Number of college QUARTER HOURS that must be completed at the time of application:
90
Applicants must successfully complete ALL course prerequisites by the end of:
Spring 2011 term

Semester Hours
3
3
8
8
4
4
4
6
3
3
3
3
 

Other clarifying information: The Admissions Committee considers applicants at the time of application with a minimum of two years of college (60 academic semester hours or 90 quarter hours) of pre-pharmacy study at an accredited college or university (exceptions will be made on a case by case basis). Candidates who have received or will receive a baccalaureate degree or who have completed units in excess of the minimum required will be considered more favorably than applicants who have fulfilled only minimum requirements. The minimum cumulative pre-pharmacy and science grade point average (GPA) requirement is 2.75 at the time of application. Grades of C– in any of the prerequisite courses are not accepted.
For additional clarifying information regarding prerequisites, please visit our website at: http://prospective.westernu.edu/pharmacy-pharmd/requirements

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES PHARM D. PROGRAM: 2011 CLASS

Supplemental Application
• Supplemental Application?
Yes
• Supplemental Deadline:
11/01/2010
• Postmarked or Received by deadline:
Postmarked by the deadline
• Supplemental Application fee:
$65.00
• Details to obtain Supplemental Application:
The supplemental application can be obtained at http://prospective.westernu.edu/pharmacy-pharmd/apply.

Tests
• Require the PCAT?
No; PCAT is NOT Required
• Other test details:
• The Oldest PCAT considered:
• Is the TOEFL - TSE required?
Yes
• If TOEFL / TSE is required, please state circumstances for which the test is required.
TOEFL, including essay, is required for all applicants submitting course work from foreign schools. A minimum score of 213 for the Computer Based test or 79 for the Internet Based test must be submitted by March 1 prior to matriculation. Exception: The TO
• Does your institution require other tests or credentials? If so, please list them.
Not applicable
• Is pharmacy-related experience required?
Not required but recommended

Residency
• Is proof of State Residency required?
No
• Other information required for proof of state residency
• Is preference given to state residents?
No
• Is preference given to residents of other states? If yes, please list them.
No
• If preference is given to residents of other states, please list the state abbreviations in the space provided.
• Does your institution require proof of U.S. residency?
Yes
• Does your institution consider foreign citizens?
Yes
• Does your institution consider U.S. permanent residents?
Yes
• Does your institution consider Canadian citizens?
Yes

Foreign Coursework
• Select one of three options for international coursework. This does not apply to Study Abroad programs.
Foreign Transcript Evaluation Report – FTER sent to PharmCAS.
• The deadline date for receiving foreign transcripts, if applicable: MM/DD/YYYY
November 1, 2010
• Are foreign transcripts to be received by, or postmarked by, the deadline date?
Postmarked by the deadline
• Other clarifying information:
Please refer to the website for a listing of approved evaluation services at http://prospective.westernu.edu/pharmacy-pharmd/foreign.

Letters of Reference
• How many letters of reference will your school require?
Three (3)
• Do you prefer to have applicants send references to PharmCAS or directly to your school?
Applicants send references to school (forms provided with supplemental application)
Evaluator Type
Teaching Assistant:
Supervisor:
Professor:
Professor (2nd Sci):
Professor (Math):
Professor (Liberal Arts):
Pre-Health Advisor:
Faculty Advisor:
Politician:
Pharmacist:
Health Care Professional:
Friend:
Family Member:
Employer:
Co-Worker:
Clergy:
Committee Letter:
Notes:
Composite Letter:
Notes:
• If you have selected CR or N/CR for any of the above evaluator types, please post the criteria you use:
Recommendations should be solicited from people who know you well, but that are not related to you. Examples of appropriate recommendations would include professors, academic advisors, mentors, employers, teaching assistants.
R: Required
CR: Conditionally Required
Rec: Recommended but Not Required
N: Not Accepted
N/CR: Not Accepted, unless applicant also sends required letter from professor or advisor; or unless they served as a supervisor or in a professorial role.

Accepted Candidates
• Dates during which interviews are generally held:
December, January, February, March
• Describe your institution's interview process. Limit 100 words. Please add a link for more detailed descriptions:
The interviews are informal in nature. A wide variety of topics related to the profession as well as those of general interest may be discussed. Areas of communication skills, motivation, critical thinking and general knowledge are evaluated by the interview panel. The average interview is approximately 30 minutes in duration. The interview panel may be comprised of the following: admissions committee member, faculty member, Pharmacist and/or current student/alumni of Western University. Interviewees will also be asked to write an essay on topics will be general in nature, not necessarily pharmacy related.
• Acceptance Letter mailed to regular applicants: Date MM/DD/YYYY
• Acceptance Letter mailed to regular applicants: Other Information
Approximately two to three weeks after interview
• Acceptee's response to acceptance offer: Date MM/DD/YYYY
• Acceptee's response to acceptance offer: Other Information
Two (2) weeks from receipt of acceptance letter
• Deposit to hold place in class: Due Date MM/DD/YYYY
• Deposit to hold place in class: Other Information
A $500 non-refundable acceptance deposit is due on the date indicated in acceptance letter.
• Date of new student orientation: Date(s) MM/DD-DD/YYYY
• Date of new student orientation: Other Information
First week of August
• Date of first day of classes and/or matriculation: Date MM/DD/YYYY
• Date of first day of classes and/or matriculation: Other Information
Second week of August
• Requests for deferred entrance considered: List details
No deferments considered

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Enter a description of your program below. Entries must not exceed 2,000 characters including spaces.

Western University's PharmD program offers an innovative curriculum encompassing both academic and experiential learning. The first year integrates the pharmaceutical sciences foundation blocks with laboratory and practice components. Pharmacy practice experiential training begins with the Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiential I (IPPE-I) course , which runs for the entire duration of the first year of study. The first year course consists of two 4-week (4 days/week) clerkships (160 experiential hours, 4 credit hours) that expose the student to community pharmacy practice in two different settings. Every student will complete both components by the end of their first year. During the morning sessions, students are in the classroom studying the pharmaceutical sciences. In the afternoon, they participate in a clinical practice foundation sequence, which focuses on learning and practicing skills related to pharmacy practice.

During the second year and the first half of the third year, course work is delivered in blocks, each of which covers a therapeutic area related to disease states that affect particular organ systems (e.g., GI/liver, renal/pulmonary, endocrine/reproductive systems) or treatment regimens (e.g., infectious disease, oncology). This period encompasses 16 blocks, each approximately three weeks long, with a break between blocks. This total immersion in a subject allows students to focus on one subject before moving on to the next.

The second year IPPE course (IPPE-II) is scheduled during the summer between the second and third years. It consists of a 4-week (5 days/week, 40 hrs/week) clerkship (160 experiential hours, 4 credit hours) that exposes students to institutional pharmacy practice. Moreover, Western University students gain an additional one-half year of advanced experiential training while still graduating in four years. In total, Western University provides 52 weeks of advanced experiential education compared to an average of 42 weeks at other colleges of pharmacy. The clinical training component (IPPE, APPE and AE) comprises 76 credit hours, which is 43% of the curricular requirements. Admission to the College of Pharmacy is a highly competitive process.

While grades are an important measure of academic qualification, they do not, by themselves, guarantee success as a student at Western University's College of Pharmacy or later as a pharmacist. In addition to thorough academic preparation, the college is looking for individuals who also have a good working knowledge of the profession and Western University. Successful applicants also display excellent communication skills and can demonstrate that they are compassionate, dedicated, dependable individuals with good judgment.

Visit our website at http://prospective.westernu.edu/pharmacy-pharmd/welcome for more details, application and interview tips, FAQs, and event details.