Applying

Opens July 14, 2020

Applicant Selection Criteria

Enrollment in the College of Pharmacy is limited and competitive.  Applicants are considered on the basis of performance on the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT), interview performance (more information here), and their academic transcripts.  The committee uses the following criteria in the evaluation of candidates for admission:

1. Completion of the pre-pharmacy requirements with no grade less than "C";
   • Due to the extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Louisiana Monroe College of Pharmacy (ULMCOP) acknowledges that many institutions have implemented a Pass/Fail grading system for the Spring 2020 semester. ULMCOP will accept ‘P’ grades earned during this time as acceptable minimum grades for prerequisite coursework. Along with the UL System, ULMCOP defines a ‘P’ as a C or better in an undergraduate course.
2. A preferred pre-pharmacy, cumulative, and math/science grade-point average of at least 2.5 (uncorrected, based on a 4.0 system, + and - grade designations are not recognized) in all previous coursework undertaken, exclusive of developmental courses, whether passed or failed at all institutions of attendance;
3. A PCAT composite score that is competitive with the applicant pool (no minimum; however, applicants are encouraged to retake the exam if the composite score earned is <30).  Due to exam cancellations and limited testing capacity resulting from COVID-19, the PCAT will not be a requirement for the 2020-2021 admission cycle.
4. Relative applicant ranks are also considered based on math/science GPA, pre-pharmacy GPA, and highest composite PCAT. This rank score may be adjusted based on a rubric that takes into account a variety of factors such as receipt of four-year degree, health care work experience, positive letters of recommendation, and other criteria as agreed upon by the Admissions Committee.

Please note: 

• ALL pre-pharmacy requirements must be completed two weeks prior to the first day of class in the pharmacy program.
• For the 2021 admission cycle, the College of Pharmacy will accept the best PCAT (composite score, percentile rank) attempt for two years prior and up to and including the February 2021 PCAT test date. 

Application Process and Instructions 

Early Decision Deadline:

PharmCAS and ULM supplemental application due: September 8, 2020

Early Decision is encouraged if ULM is your first choice for pharmacy school. Applicants will be notified of admissions decisions no later than October 23, 2020.  

Regular Decision Deadline:

PharmCAS and ULM supplemental application due: May 1, 2021

All students are encouraged to apply July-September, well before the posted deadlines.  

Application Process

Step 1: Complete PharmCAS application by deadline above

Step 2: Complete ULM supplemental application at time of PharmCAS application

Step 3: Complete interview, if invited

Step 4: Complete PharmCAS academic update window

Step 5: Admission decision and requirements 

Step 6: Accepted applicants complete ULM undergraduate application

Step 1: Complete PharmCAS application by deadline

All students are encouraged to apply by the early decision deadline (deadlines shown above) before interviews are held. You must submit an online application through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS). Detailed instructions for submission of your application, 3 letters of reference, and PCAT scores, are available on the PharmCAS site.  All materials should be submitted directly to PharmCAS.   

Our class begins filling quickly after the October interviews. We continue interviewing in November, January, February, March, and April, unless all seats are filled before this point. Please note that PharmCAS requires 4-6 weeks to verify academic records before your application is forwarded to ULM or any other college of pharmacy. Check your PharmCAS account regularly to verify all materials were received (PCAT, letters of reference, transcripts verified, etc.). Without a verified PharmCAS application, PharmCAS will not release your file and you cannot be considered for admission.

Step 2: Complete ULM supplemental application

Applicants must complete the linked supplemental application and mail the submission receipt with the associated fee of $75 by May 1, 2021. Fees may be paid by check or money order only. Please note that your application packet will be considered incomplete and you will not be invited for an interview until these items are received by the school, so earlier submissions will be necessary in order to participate in early interviews. We recommend that you submit this application at the same time that you e-submit your PharmCAS application. 

Step 3: Complete interview, if invited

Only competitive applicants are invited to interview. Interviewees will be invited via email approximately 2 weeks in advance of the below 2020-2021* interview dates.   

Early Decision Interviews: September 25, October 9 and/or October 16, 2020

Regular Decision Interviews: November 13,2020; January 15, February 26, March 19, April 23, May 28, 2021

*All interview dates are tentative.  

Step 4: Complete PharmCAS academic update window in early December

Students should submit updated transcripts immediately after December exams during the Academic Update Window (beginning December 15) to ensure the Admissions Committee receives the updated information by early-January to be considered for a January, February, March, April or May interview. As stated above, PharmCAS will require 4-6 weeks processing time before individual colleges receive the updates, so please submit this as soon as possible after finishing fall semester coursework. 

Step 5: Admission Decision and Requirements

Students will be notified of their admission decision via email within two weeks after their interview date. Notifications will be given regardless of decision; i.e., acceptance, waitlist, or no offer. Admission offers will be considered conditional until applicants have met several requirements (criminal background check, final transcript submission, coursework completion, acceptance of technical standards,  etc.). The majority of admission decisions are made by April each year.  

Applicants are required to accept or reject an admission offer within 14 days of its receipt. Students must also submit a nonrefundable pharmacy activities fee of $200 within that time period. This fee covers all extracurricular expenses for the entire 4-year period of pharmacy school.  

Step 6: Complete ULM undergraduate application

Current ULM students may skip this step. Accepted applicants who do not already attend ULM must apply for general admission to the university online.  The same is true for admitted ULM undergraduates who will have completed a degree before beginning the pharmacy program.  Choose the undergraduate transfer application (not the graduate application) and indicate pre-pharmacy as your major. Questions about this portion of the admission process should be directed to 1-800-372-5127.  

Questions? Contact Dr. Laurel Sampognaro.