Admission
Cedarville University uses a direct entry approach for admission
to the School of Pharmacy. This means that most students
compete for admission to the prepharmacy curriculum as incoming
new students from high school or another university. If they gain
preferred admission as new students, their admission to the final
four years of the professional curriculum is secure, provided they
meet the requirements to continue in the program. This approach
enables students to focus on enjoying their undergraduate
education as prepharmacy students, not competing for admission
to pharmacy school.
Admission to the School of Pharmacy involves two steps. First,
students obtain admission to the University. Second, students
compete for preferred admission to the School of Pharmacy. That
competition begins with an invitation by the Pharmacy Admissions
Committee to apply for admission to the School of Pharmacy.
Those invitations are based upon the following criteria:
1. Declared interest in pharmacy
2. Academic curriculum
3. Cumulative GPA (high school or collegiate)
4. ACT composite and subscores of at least 23 (or SAT
subscores of 530 or higher)(for high school students)
The Pharmacy Admissions Committee begins inviting students
to apply by the first week of October. The application process
involves submitting an essay and scheduling an interview with the
Pharmacy Admissions Committee. Interviews typically begin in
mid-November and continue until the class is full. Final selection is
based upon performance in the interview and on the essay.
Students who do not wish to compete for preferred admission
or who do not qualify for preferred admission as a new student
may still take the prepharmacy curriculum with the approval of
the Dean of the School of Pharmacy. Their eligibility to continue
into the professional-level pharmacy curriculum will be contingent
upon meeting the continuation requirements outlined below.
The School of Pharmacy also encourages students who have
earned undergrduate or graduate degrees elsewhere to apply.
These “postbaccalaureate” students apply directly for admission
to the professional pharmacy program following the procedures
outlined on the School of Pharmacy website. Factors considered
in admission decisions include collegiate grade point average,
PCAT scores, experience in and passion for pharmacy, and the
interview with the pharmacy admissions committee.
Continuation Requirements
To continue as a preferred admission prepharmacy student
and move into the professional portion of the curriculum, students
must meet the following requirements:
1. Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00.
2. Complete all of the curricular requirements (including
the general education language requirements) and any
professional development- or service-related requirements
set forth in the prepharmacy program.
3. Obtain a PCAT score (Pharmacy College Admissions Test)
at the 50th percentile or above.
4. Interview successfully with the faculty of the School of
Pharmacy.
Retention and Progression Requirements
A student must repeat any required course with a grade lower
than “C” in any course that is not a sequence course (General
Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Human Structure and
Function; where a “C-” is permitted as long as a “C+” or better is
earned in the other courses in the sequence). In order to achieve
an overall GPA of 3.00, a student may repeat any course, and
the new grade replaces the previous one. Under the School of
Pharmacy’s repeat course policy, the previous grade earned
remains on the student’s official transcript but it is not calculated in
the student’s cumulative GPA for continuation in prepharmacy or
admission into the professional pharmacy program.
Preferred admission students failing to meet GPA requirements
of a 3.00 after the first semester will be placed on conditional
status. Preferred admission students failing to meet GPA
requirements of a 3.00 after the first year of prepharmacy may
be placed on probation status within the School of Pharmacy.
If, after the next year the student does not meet minimum GPA
requirements, the student may lose his or her preferred admission
status for admission into the PharmD program in the School of
Pharmacy. Students may continue to take prepharmacy course
requirements for competitive application in the PharmD program.
Students may appeal decisions through the student affairs
committee of the School of Pharmacy.
Financial Aid
Prepharmacy students benefit from all scholarship programs
available to other Cedarville undergraduate students. These
scholarships may be used for the first four years of the seven year
curriculum (i.e., prepharmacy plus the first professional year).
Additionally, students who qualify for the preferred admission
pathway may receive a prepharmacy scholarship based upon
financial need and merit.
Career Opportunities
The demand for pharmacists appears to be strong for many
years to come. Current shortages as well as changes and
advances in science and health care will create abundant
opportunities for pharmacy graduates. These opportunities may
include:
• Clinical specialist in cardiology, oncology, nutrition, infectious
disease, diabetes mellitus, psychiatry, etc.
• Community pharmacist
• Compounding pharmacist
• Consultant pharmacist in geriatrics, palliative care, etc.
• Hospital pharmacist
• Long-term care pharmacist
• Managed care pharmacist
• Nuclear pharmacist
• Pediatrics pharmacist
Page
153
2014–15 Undergraduate Academic Catalog
School of Pharmacy
Admission
