Application Requirements

After you have met our citizenship and academic requirements, the next step will be to apply.

Submit a PharmCAS application

Navigate to PharmCAS and select "Apply Now" to begin your application. You can review information on the PharmCAS Applicant Help Center which gives step-by-step guidance on each section of the application.

We do not have a supplemental application that needs to be completed as part of the submission process at this time.

Pay special attention to the verification status of your application upon submission and note that we will not be able to review it until it is in Verified status. Go to Checking Your Application Notifications and Status to learn more about the various types of application statuses in PharmCAS.

Important

To be considered for admission, it is required that all application materials are submitted on or before our final application deadline each year. Late submissions will not be accepted, and applicants who fail to meet our final application deadline will be automatically denied. We encourage all prospective students to plan accordingly and submit their applications well in advance of the deadline to ensure timely consideration. Deadline information can be found in the PharmCAS PharmD Directory.

Additional PharmCAS Application Resources

• On April 17, 2025, Pharm4Me hosted a Personal Statement Workshop which included valuable insights to help applicants craft a compelling personal statement and strengthen their pharmacy school application. Access the full recording (password: qzu0pw^8).

Request Letters of Recommendation

As part of your application, you must submit a minimum of two letters of recommendation, although we recommend submitting three. PharmCAS will allow you to submit a maximum of four. If you are unsure whether a particular letter writer is acceptable, please contact SOAR.

Acceptable Letter Writers

Acceptable letter writers include, but are not limited to, the following. Please note that no type of letter writer in particular is required.

• Pharmacists
• Professors
• Employers/Supervisors
• Other healthcare professionals
• Mentors
• Academic Advisors

Unacceptable Letter Writers

Unacceptable letter writers include, but are not limited to, the following. If you choose to submit a letter from one of these individuals, you will still need to obtain a minimum of two additional letters from acceptable writers.

• Family members
• Friends
• Clergy
• Politicians

Special Requirements for Certain Letter Writers

In some cases, additional signatures may be required for certain letter writers.

• Teacher's Assistants (TAs) must have their letter co-signed by the Professor directing the course.
• Pharmacy Technicians must have their letter co-signed by a Pharmacist at the same pharmacy.
• Post-Doctoral or Graduate Student Researchers must have their letter co-signed by the Principal Investigator (PI).

If you receive a letter from one of the individuals listed above and another letter from the person who should be co-signing, our Admissions Committee will count both letters as one combined approved letter. You may still need to obtain another accepted letter to meet our minimum requirement of two letters.

Attend an Interview

Interviews are an important and required step of the admissions process. Competitive applicants will be invited to interview in person or virtually in either the fall or winter quarter depending on when their applications are verified and all required materials received. Applicants can expect to be notified approximately a month in advance of each interview session whether they have been invited.

Interview day structure

• Welcome by the Dean and Associate Dean for Admissions and Recruitment
• Presentation about SSPPS
• Breakout groups will then complete each of the following three activities in varying order:
  • 30-minute interview
    • 2-on-1 blind interview with a combination of faculty, alumni, students, or other members of the Skaggs community
    • Questions will generally be related to motivation for the profession of pharmacy, leadership qualities, work/life balance, soft skills, and more.
    • Interviewees will also be given time to ask questions of the interviewers. We recommend coming prepared with topics that are important to you to maximize your interview experience.
  • Student Host Room
    • Informal chats with current students about anything you want to know
  • School tour (if in person)
    • Guided walking tours of our Health Sciences campus by current students

Dress Code

We want to ensure that you feel prepared and confident during your interview at our pharmacy school. We recommend dressing in professional attire. This may include items such as blouses, button-down shirts, slacks, dresses, or skirts. Please don't feel pressured to purchase new or expensive clothing for the occasion - we understand that financial barriers can exist, and we're more interested in getting to know you as a person and a future pharmacist. What's most important is that you present yourself in a way that feels authentic and respectful to you and our community.

If you are interviewing in person, we do highly recommend wearing comfortable shoes as the activities listed above include guided walking tours of our Health Sciences campus.

Interview Dates

For the 2026-2027 PharmCAS application cycle, we will be hosting two in-person and two virtual interview days. To be considered for a virtual interview, please note that you must submit your application by the designated deadline. It is essential to plan accordingly, as no additional interview dates, times, or modalities will be considered beyond these scheduled options. We encourage you to submit your application in a timely manner to ensure eligibility for your preferred interview format, whether in-person or virtual.