Application Dates and Process

Important Application Dates for Pharm. D. Candidates

  • For Program Starting: Fall 2025
  • All applicants must 
  • PharmCAS Application Portal for fall 2025 admission open date: July 11, 2024
  • Application Deadline: June 2, 2025

Pharm.D. Application Process

  • All verified applications undergo a preliminary review for minimum admission requirements, after which qualified applicants will be invited to participate in an interview. All interviews are by invitation only. 
  • Limited Merit Scholarships are available to new incoming Doctor of Pharmacy students who have demonstrated strong academic achievement. Scholarship recipients will be notified at the point of acceptance.
  • SWAG视频 communicates all status updates, notifications, and admission decisions via email.

For specific academic dates, please view the SWAG视频 Academic Calendar.

Please Note: As of 09/01/2020, the College of Pharmacy was renamed the School of Pharmacy and merged into the Westbrook College of Health Professions.

Pre-Pharmacy Admission

For Pre-Pharmacy Admission visit Undergraduate Admissions to find details on admissions criteria for the two (2) year Pre-Pharmacy undergraduate program.

Events

Requirements

Application

The SWAG视频 School of Pharmacy participates in the . All applicants are required to apply online through this service.

The SWAG视频 School of Pharmacy utilizes a holistic approach in the evaluation of applicants, with the goal of identifying candidates with unique strengths, experiences, and perspectives.

Degree Requirement

All candidates must complete a minimum of two (2) years of pre-professional coursework from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or international equivalent (minimum total of forty (40) semester or sixty (60) quarter credits).

  • All applicants are required to submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Official transcripts should be sent directly to . Please refer to the application for additional information and instructions.

GPA Requirement

  • Overall GPA of 2.75 or higher is preferred, as calculated by PharmCAS (inclusive of all coursework taken with no forgiveness for retakes).
  • Prerequisite GPA of 2.75 or higher is preferred, as calculated by SWAG视频 using the best grade received (if there is repeated coursework).

Prerequisite Coursework Requirements

Course SubjectCourse CreditsCourse Details
Cellular Biology4 semester or 6 quarter credits
  • Lab Required
Human Anatomy or Anatomy & Physiology I3 semester or 4.5 quarter credits
  • Lab Not Required
Physiology or Anatomy & Physiology II3 semester or 4.5 quarter credits
  • Lab Not Required
  • Animal Physiology and Exercise Physiology are not acceptable to fulfill this requirement.
General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II8 semester or 12 quarter credits
  • Labs Required
Organic Chemistry I4 semester or 6 quarter credits
  • Lab Required
Organic Chemistry II, Biochemistry, or Genetics3 semester or 4.5 quarter credits
  • Lab Not Required
Physics I or Statistics for Life Sciences3 semester or 4.5 quarter credits
  • Lab Not Required
College Calculus or Pre-Calculus3 semester or 4.5 quarter credits
  • College-Level course required
English Composition3 semester or 4.5 quarter credits
  • College-level course required
Social Science3 semester or 4.5 quarter credits
  • Course can be in Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Anthropology, or Political Science
General Education3 semester or 4.5 quarter credits
  • Course can be in any discipline except for science and/or math

Additional Recommended Courses

  • Microbiology
  • Public Speaking
  • Behavioral Sciences (e.g. Psychology)

Additional Important Prerequisite Coursework Considerations

  • All prerequisite courses must be successfully completed with a grade of C or better (C- grades are not acceptable).
  • All math and science courses should be completed within ten (10) years of anticipated enrollment into the SWAG视频 Doctor of Pharmacy program. Courses beyond the ten (10) year limit will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee on a case-by-case basis.
  • AP credit is accepted to fulfill prerequisite requirements, as long as the course, subject, and credits are broken down and detailed as transfer credit on the applicant's undergraduate transcript.
  • All courses must be successfully completed with official transcripts submitted to the SWAG视频 Office of Graduate Admissions & Recruitment prior to starting the program.
  • After application submission, official transcripts for coursework and/or degrees completed in the fall term should be submitted to PharmCAS for verification during the fall period.
  • All planned or in-progress coursework (including prerequisite coursework) must be listed on the PharmCAS application at the time of application submission; not doing so will result in the applicant not meeting all admissions requirements and therefore will not be eligible for admission review.
  • Online courses, such as those offered through as well as online courses from other regionally accredited U.S. colleges or universities are acceptable with program approval.

Standardized Tests

The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) is not required for admission.

Letters of Evaluation

Two (2) letters of evaluation are required as part of the application and no more than four (4) will be accepted - submitted directly to PharmCAS

  • We encourage at least one (1) letter from a faculty or pharmacist who can speak to the applicant's ability to be successful in a doctoral-level graduate program and/or work experience.
  • Letters from friends or family members are not acceptable.

Experience Hours

  • All experiences should be listed directly in the PharmCAS application.
  • Healthcare-related experience is recommended, but not required.

Personal Statement

  • Please refer to the PharmCAS application for specific writing prompts and additional information.

Interviews

Interviews are required for admission:

  • Qualified applicants will be contacted and invited to interview by the Office of Graduate Admissions & Recruitment.
  • Interviews are conducted by invitation only.

International Applicants

International applicants and those with foreign degrees and coursework are required to satisfy the following additional requirements:

  • Official credential evaluation by , confirming degree and grade equivalency to that of a U.S. bachelor鈥檚 degree. The completed credential evaluation should be sent directly to PharmCAS. Please refer to the International Admissions section of the SWAG视频 website for more information.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate written and spoken fluency through the successful completion of a SWAG视频-approved English language proficiency test for graduate students.
  • Applicants should refer to the English Language Proficiency page on the SWAG视频 website for specific information on acceptable tests, minimum score requirements, and test score submission instructions.

Other Requirements

Prior to matriculation, accepted and deposited students will be required to complete the following compliance requirements:

  • Completion of physical examination with proof of up-to-date immunization status. Please refer to SWAG视频鈥檚 Student Health Center for detailed information.
  • Satisfactory completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen prior to matriculation, as well as periodically throughout the program (as required by clinical affiliations).
  • All students must be able to meet all Academic and Technical Standards of the pharmacy profession.

All materials submitted as part of the application become the property of SWAG视频 and will not be returned or released to anyone, including the applicant. This policy includes letters of reference, primary and secondary applications, personal statements, transcripts, and other supporting materials.

Policy exceptions

  • Policies are established to ensure fair and consistent admissions practice for all applicants to the university and its programs.
  • All criteria presented in this summary are subject to change per professional accreditation requirements, changes in curriculum and/or other institutional standards, and clinical affiliation requirements.
  • Exceptions to existing admission policies are rare and made only when it is deemed necessary and appropriate to maintain fair and consistent practice for all candidates, not individual candidates.

Transfer credit

  • Transfer credits may be awarded to students who transfer to SWAG视频 from another Doctor of Pharmacy program.
  • The Director of Academic Affairs in the School of Pharmacy, with input from program faculty, will review courses and award transfer credits on a case by case basis.

Experiential learning

  • No credit will be awarded for experiential learning.

Pharm.D. Admissions FAQ

How can I find out about the status of my application to SWAG视频鈥檚 Doctor of Pharmacy program?

You will receive an email confirming receipt of your verified application from the Office of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment. All communication from Graduate Admissions and Recruitment will be sent to the email address listed on your PharmCAS application. If you wish to check the status of your application please email the Office of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment.

Does state residency play a role in SWAG视频鈥檚 Doctor of Pharmacy admissions?

There are no quotas for Maine or New England students. Prospective students from all geographic regions are encouraged to apply for admission.

Can I update or make changes to my Pharm.D. application post-submission?

Yes, updates can be made post-submission. Experiences can be added, but edits of previously submitted information is not allowed. Coursework can be updated during the Academic Update Period from mid-December to mid-February.

I am reapplying to SWAG视频 PharmD. What do I need to do?

Applicants reapplying to the SWAG视频 Doctor of Pharmacy program need to resubmit all application materials for any new cycle in which they apply, including: primary CAS application, transcripts, letters of recommendation, written statements and responses, fees and payments, and any additional required documentation. Applicants should also actively update their experiences, extracurricular activities, clinical involvement, and volunteering each cycle as well, to reflect the most up-to-date engagement.

The SWAG视频 School of Pharmacy* participates in the Pharmacy College Centralized Application Service (PharmCAS). All applicants are required to apply online through this service.

The director of academic affairs, assessment, and accreditation in the School of Pharmacy*, with input from program faculty, will review courses and award transfer credits on a case by case basis.