1. What is PharmCAS?
by Teresa and Eman,

2. So what is it? It is the Pharmacy College Application Service
An online service that almost all pharmacy schools require for applicants to use, for submitting pharmacy school applications
Very similar to the “common app” you used to apply to UCI and other UC schools.

3. “almost all” Pharmacy Schools require PharmCAS?
Yes. There are about 129 pharmacy school in the US, only 19 don’t use PharmCAS:
CALIFORNIA Schools: ALL 8 OF THEM
Participating Schools: ols/schoolpagesPARTinstitution.htm

4. General Process for applying to Pharm School
1. Complete all required pre-requisites, and meet a school’s GPA requirements.
2. COMPLETE and submit PHARMCAS.
3. Complete the supplemental application, once your pharmacy school invites you to complete it.

5. Why is PharmCAS kind of nice?
Applying to pharmacy school in the ancient times required MAILING:
Each individual transcript from previous schools
Letters of Rec
PCAT scores
Personal Statement, and other applicant info
TO EACH PHARMACY SCHOOL YOU APPLIED TO!
Can you say, “hassle…”

6. Why is PharmCAS kind of nice?
NOW you can combine all your info into ONE APP and simply choose all the Pharmacy Schools you would like apply to straight from the PharmCAS website.
NO MAILING required.
Kind of nice.

7. AWESOME PharmCAS feature:
lpages.htm
ALL GENERAL INFO YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY PHARMACY SCHOOL!

8. Disclaimer
PharmCAS changes every year!
So, let’s get to it.

9. PharmCAS General Anatomy
Applicant Information
Academic History
Transcripts
Additional Information (all experience)
Personal Essay
References and Letters of Recommendation
Pharmacy Designations

11. Applicant Information
Short Bio, Background, Address, Phone Number, Parent or guardian info…
Self-explanatory…

12. Academic History Secondary (High) School PCAT, AP, and IB scores
Colleges previously and currently attended
Coursework (Completed, In Progress, and Planned) from U.S. colleges including Study Abroad
Academic update
Academic Update is a window of time that allows you to update grades on any coursework completed since you originally e-submitted your application. You can only update the coursework section one time when the Academic Update is open. You are not allowed to update your course history at any other time during the admissions cycle. When the Academic Update window is opened, you can only add grades for courses taken during the summer and fall 2012 terms. You can NOT add courses taken in previous years.
CAN ONLY USE ACADEMIC UPDATE ONCE!!!
f you are eligible for Academic Update, navigate to the “Coursework” section. Change any Planned/In Progress terms that now have grades to a Completed Session by clicking on the “Switch to Completed Session” button. Then enter the grade for each course. At this time, you may also enter any new Planned courses for the winter, spring, or summer 2013 terms. Once you are finished adding all of your new courses, you must go back to the Checklist window and click on the “E-Submit Academic Update” button. Remember to arrange for official fall transcripts to be sent directly to PharmCAS as soon as possible.
Once your application is updated and your fall transcripts are received, PharmCAS will verify and send your revised course history and GPAs to your designated pharmacy schools. Your updated GPAs will be available under the “Status” menu option of your PharmCAS application.

13. Transcripts Submit 1 transcript from each college attended
U.S. Transcripts
Foreign Transcripts
An official transcript is one that is issued from the Office of the Registrar, contains an official seal or signature of the registrar, a watermark, and is sent to PharmCAS directly from the Registrar in a sealed envelope. 
To make sure your official transcript is handled properly by PharmCAS, you should print the PharmCAS official Transcript Request Form from the Colleges Attended section of your application and give that to your Registrar's Office to be included with your transcript when it is mailed to PharmCAS. At the same time, you should request an official student copy for yourself to help you complete the online application. Remember, PharmCAS must receive an official transcript from every regionally accredited institution you attended.

14. Additional Information
Extracurricular
Work Experience
Professional Licenses and Certifications
Honors and Scholarships
Publications
Enter related activities you would like your designated pharmacy colleges and schools to review. Do NOT include paid work experience in this section. List activities in order of importance to you. List each activity only once. For instance, if you were on the "dean's list" for more than one term, list that distinction only once. You may list up to 20 activities. If the activity is ongoing, estimate the future end date.
Enter any paid or volunteer work experience. List experiences in order of importance to you. List each activity only once. Do not repeat any activities listed in the previous section. You may list up to 20 experiences. If still employed, leave the end date blank or estimate a future end date if an end date is anticipated.
List any professional licenses or certificates you have earned (e.g., pharmacy technician license).
Type of License or Certificate
Issuing Organization
Date Issued
Expiration Date
You may list up to 3 licenses. While this information is not verified by PharmCAS, individual schools may require official documentation of licensure or certifications listed in this application.
Enter any special academic, service, or activity awards you have received in order of importance to you. List each honor or award only once. You may list up to 10 honors.
Enter any publications you have written, listing them in order of importance to you. List each publication only once. You may list up to 10 publications.

15. Personal Essay
PROMPT: Your Personal Essay should address why you selected pharmacy as a career and how the Doctor of Pharmacy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals. The personal essay is an important part of your application for admission and provides you with an opportunity for you to clearly and effectively express your ideas.
1 page limit (4500 characters including spaces)
Do NOT personalize your essay for a particular pharmacy degree institution. You can NOT make any edits to your personal statement after you have e-submitted your completed application to PharmCAS.

16. Letters of Recommendation
Enter up to 4 evaluators
Evaluators can submit electronic letters of rec or paper references to PharmCAS
PharmCAS will forward your references to all of your designated pharmacy schools, regardless of the school’s preference
**CAUTION: Some pharmacy schools require references to be sent directly to them.
Your college LOR service is able to send your letters directly to PharmCAS

17. Pharmacy Designations
Select which pharmacy schools you are applying to
Option to be an Early Decision applicant
ED deadline: September 4, 2012
May select additional pharmacy schools after you submit your PharmCAS application
Pay appropriate fee for each additional school selected
Can’t apply to a particular school after deadline date has passed

18. E-Submission & Payment
PharmCAS application fees are non-refundable

19. Processing Your Application
PharmCAS verifies all of your courses after they receive ALL of your transcripts, completed application, and fee
Calculates your GPA in semester-based 4.0 grading scale
GPA calculations for: Science, Non- Science, Math, Undergraduate Cumulative
PharmCAS GPA available within 4 weeks from the date you e-submit your app, transcripts have been received, and payment received

20. Re-Applicant Option
If you’d applied before, you can reuse your old application, BUT you:
CANNOT change your past volunteer, work, and coursework
CAN only submit new personal statement and letters of Rec

21. Common Mistakes Spelling errors Entering incorrect grades
NOT LISTING ALL COURSEWORK
Submitting PharmCAS too early or too late
Not remembering what was inputted, then going to an Interview

22. Common Problems Delays in references, transcripts, and PCAT
Different school requirements and deadlines
Submitting too close to the deadline, and then rushing the supplemental app
PharmCAS has a 2-6 week processing time

23. Important DATES from 2012-2013 June, 2012: PharmCAS opens
July, 2012: PCAT Examinations
July 20, 2012: Regular Registration Deadline for September PCAT Exams
September, 2012: PCAT Examinations
November 1, 2012: 1st Regular institutional application deadline (ALL CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS). Fees, Letters of Rec, Transcripts are due in the PharmCAS office. Supplemental Application deadlines will vary, so please check with the school.

24. Important DATES from 2012-2013 Also check:

25. PharmCAS will open sometime Early June.
Check the PharmCAS website from time to time next month to see if its open
Do what you can already
Start that Personal Statement!
Don’t forget about ROLLING ADMISSIONS, which means that the earlier you apply, the better chances you have for getting an interview. NOT ALL pharmacy schools have rolling admissions, but most do.
So just because the deadline is Nov. 1st for CA schools, don’t wait that late!

26. Just…
Start Early and GOOD LUCK! =D