Frequently Asked Questions

Academics
Previous Experience
- Do I have to have a degree to apply to UACP?
- Do I have to have worked in a pharmacy to be accepted to UACP?
Admissions Testing
Applying for Admission
On-Campus Interview
Letters of Recommendation
- How many letters of recommendation are required?
- Who would be the best person to ask for a letter of recommendation?
Financial Information
Health and Safety Issues
- Do I have to have health insurance before I can attend UACP?
- Are there any health requirements for pharmacy students?
On Campus
General

Academics

What is the Doctor of Pharmacy degree?
The Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD) is awarded in recognition of highest level of professional education in pharmacy. With advanced training in clinical and patient-centered care, the PharmD graduate is well prepared to assume an active role as a drug therapy specialist.

How long does it take to complete the PharmD program at UACP?
It takes three years to complete UACP's program.

How does UACP cover everything in just three years?
UACP utilizes Blocks and Modules to help students focus on and master each area before moving on to other studies.

What is the minimum GPA considered?
Students must achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5/4.0 or its equivalent in order to have their applications considered for admission.

Do you accept out-of-state students into your program?
Yes, although preference is given to students applying from the Appalachian regions of Virginia, Tennesee, West Virginia, and Kentucky.

How many students apply to the PharmD program? How many are accepted?
For the Class of 2010, we received over 958 applications for 68 seats.

What prerequisites must I have before applying to UACP?
Details about academic requirements are available in the Admissions section.

Does it matter at which school I take my pre-pharmacy coursework?
All pre-pharmacy study and prerequisites must be either completed at an accredited college or university in the United States, or coursework taken at a non-United States-accredited institution must be evaluated by either World Educational Services or Josef Silny & Associates. Applicants submitting coursework from non-English speaking foreign schools who have not earned a "B" or better in the English Composition and Speech prerequisites must achieve a score of at least 550 on the paper-based or 213 on the computer-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and must submit these scores with their applications.

If I have credit from a foreign college or university, how can I have this coursework evaluated?
Detailed information about having coursework evaluated is available in the Admissions section, along with information about the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

What if I have a grade lower than “C” in a math and science prerequisite course?
UACP requires a grade of “C” (or its equivalent) or better in all prerequisite courses.

Must I have completed all required courses before I apply?
You do not need to have completed all prerequisite courses before applying to UACP. However, all prerequisites must be completed by June 1st (the end of the spring semester) of the year of enrollment.

If I take coursework after submitting my application, how will UACP know this?
You should update your PharmCAS application. This information will be forwarded to us.

Previous Experience

Do I have to have a degree to apply to UACP?
You are not required to earn a bachelor’s degree in order to apply to UACP. The PharmD degree requires at least 2 years of undergraduate study and most pharmacy students complete 3 or more years of college before starting a pharmacy program. UACP does give preference to students who have earned a bachelor’s degree. Individuals who hold a bachelor’s or other advanced degree must still complete all 3 academic years of the accelerated professional pharmacy program at UACP.

Do I have to have worked in a pharmacy to be accepted to UACP?
Work experience is not required for admission to UACP. It is, however, strongly recommended that all applicants work in the field as a technician through employment, shadowing, or volunteer work. Candidates who have prior experience in a pharmacy environment generally perform better during the on-site interview than candidates without experience.

Admission Testing

What is the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)?
The Pharmacy College Admission Test ( PCAT), an exam developed by PsychCorp, a brand of Harcourt Assessment, Inc. is a specialized test that helps identify qualified applicants to pharmacy colleges. It measures general academic ability and scientific knowledge necessary for the commencement of pharmaceutical education. The PCAT is constructed specifically for colleges of pharmacy and measures general ability and scientific knowledge in six areas: verbal reasoning, reading comprehension, biology, chemistry, quantitative ability, and writing.

Is the PCAT required for admission?
Prospective students must submit at least one set of PCAT scores at the time of application. Students should request that PCAT scores be sent directly to PharmCAS using Code 104 and NOT to UACP. Please visit the Admissions page for more information.

How do I register for the PCAT?
To register on-line for the PCAT or to request your scores to be sent to UACP, contact Harcourt Assessment or visit the PCAT Website.

Harcourt Assessment
Customer Relations-PCAT
19500 Bulverde Road
San Antonio, TX 78259
1-800-622-3231
www.pcatweb.info
scoring_services[at]harcourt.com

When should I take the PCAT?
The PCAT is administered by Harcourt Assessment three times per year: in June, October, and January. We recommend that applicants take the PCAT in either summer or fall so their scores can be sent to PharmCAS and their applications completed as quickly as possible.

How should I prepare for the PCAT?
We recommend that you use a PCAT study guide to prepare for the examinination and take the PCAT Practice Test offered by Harcourt Assessment. Information about the practice test may be found at http://tpc-etesting.com/pcatopt/.

What is the minimum acceptable PCAT score?
UACP considers the candidate’s composite percentile score in the admission process and considers only the highest score if more than one test result is submitted. The minimum composite PCAT score required to receive serious consideration is the 50th percentile.

How many times may I take the PCAT?
There is no limit to the number of times an applicant can take the PCAT.

Applying for Admission

How do I apply to UACP?
Details about the application process are available in the Admissions section.

When is the application deadline at UACP?
The deadline for both applying through PharmCAS and for submitting the UACP Supplemental Application is March 3, 2008. An early application recieves stronger consideration.

What is PharmCAS?
PharmCAS allows students to submit a single application to apply to multiple PharmD programs. Applicants to UACP are required to use PharmCAS. Visit the PharmCAS website for more information.

How will I know that my application has been received and is complete?
If you wish to see that your file is complete with PharmCAS and has been forwarded to UACP, you can log in to your PharmCAS application and check the Status menu option. Please do not contact UACP with questions about your PharmCAS application.

We strongly suggest that you send the Supplemental Application to UACP via certified mail. We must have both applications by the March 3 deadline. Due to the volume of materials that we receive, we are unable to verify receipt of individual applications. However, we will notify you once your file is processed and complete.

When will I be notified of acceptance?
After your application is complete and you have been interviewed, the Admissions Committee makes its decision. Admission decisions cannot be made without PCAT scores. All acceptances are conditional on your completing remaining prerequisite science and math courses with a grade of "C" or better.

What does rolling admissions procedure mean?
Rolling admissions means that the admissions committee at UACP reviews and decides on applications as they are received until there are no openings left in the entering class. Therefore, an earlier application receives stronger consideration.

Can my parents call to find out the status of my application or speak with the Director of Admissions?
No, we are not allowed to disclose application information to anyone except the applicant.

On-Campus Interview

Is an interview required for admission into the Pharmacy program? When do interviews take place?
After evaluating candidate files, the Admissions Committee will invite selected candidates for on-campus interviews. Interviews take place between October and April. More information can be found here.

Who will interview me?
A panel typically consisting of at least one UACP faculty member, one student, and one pharmacist interviews candidates.

How should I dress for the interview?
Professional dress is appropriate for the personal interview.

Letters of Recommendation

How many letters of recommendation are required?
UACP requires 3 letters of recommendation. For more information, including how to submit your letters, please visit the PharmCAS website or the Admissions page.

Who would be the best person to ask for a letter of recommendation?
This institution requires an evaluation from both a science professor and a pharmacist. UACP does not accept evaluations from friends, family members, co-workers, or politicians.

Financial Information

Is federal financial aid available for attending UACP? Scholarships? What banks can I get loans through?
UACP cannot offer Title IV federally funded financial aid until the accreditation process is complete, but there are a limited number and range of scholarship loans available. Visit here for details.

Do you have an estimate of the cost of living while attending UACP?
Yes, that information is available in the Tuition & Fees section.

How much are books each year? What books do I need? Where can I buy them?
Books will cost approximately $1000 per year at UACP. You can purchase your books from the retailer of your choice, or through the UACP Joint Organization Committee (JOC) at reduced pricing. A current list of required books and information about the JOC book sale is available here.

When are tuition and fees due?
The Seat Deposit is due within 10 business days of notification of acceptance to the College. This fee is refundable up to $500, and is deducted from the Fall Semester tuition in your first year of attendance. The remainder of the tuition for the Fall Semester is due on the first day of enrollment. The schedule for remaining tuition payments can be found in the Tuition & Fees section.

Health and Safety Issues

Do I have to have health insurance before I can attend UACP?
You must have health insurance to attend UACP, and be able to provide proof of your coverage. More information can be found here.

Are there any health requirements for pharmacy students?
Yes. All students must provide documentation of the following immunizations before matriculation:

MMR: Measles (Rubeola) vaccine without immune globulin after 1967, which includes 2 doses after 12 months of age, and at least one month apart. The second dose should be received after 1980. Mumps immunization or documentation of the disease within your lifetime. Rubella immunization or positive titer in your lifetime.

Tetanus-diphtheria: Td booster within the past 10 years. The student should substitute Tdap for one booster of Td. A 2-year interval since the last Td is suggested.

Polio: Complete OPV series.

Hepatitis-B: Students must show documentation of the first two of the three shots upon admission to pharmacy school. Before entering Early Pharmacy Practice Experience, students must provide documentation of the third shot.

Varicella Zoster (Chicken Pox): Varicella vaccination or documentation of disease in lifetime.

PPD testing: 2-step Mantoux baseline and annually thereafter. PPD testing shall be an annual requirement unless there are other circumstances requiring more frequent testing. Students with a positive PPD test will be required to show proof of a chest x-ray and a statement from their physician confirming the results of the chest x-ray. Information regarding any necessary treatment must be provided.

NOTE: It is the responsibility of the student to have all immunizations completed and forwarded to UACP prior to matriculation.

On Campus

How do I get to UACP?
Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI) is closest to UACP. Visit the Contact Us section for more information and driving directions.

Is there a library on campus? What are the hours? What books are available?
Yes, more information is available on the library's website.

Is housing available on campus? Nearby? Who do I call to get my utilities connected? Phone, cable, Internet, power, gas, etc.?
You will receive details about housing and other residency information when your Seat Deposit has been received.

What student organizations exist at UACP?
UACP has active chapters of the American Pharmacists Association, National Community Pharmacists Association, and the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists. UACP also has a very active Student Government Association and Phi Delta Chi Professional Fraternity, and is working to establish other social and professional organizations.

What are UACP's policies about tobacco, drugs, and alcohol?
Details can be found in Section X of the Student Handbook.

Is there a dress code for classes? For rotations?
Yes, please refer to the professional guidelines or your Student Handbook .

Am I required to bring a laptop with me?
Yes, you must bring a laptop that meets the minimum specifications.

General

Is UACP accredited?
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) has certified the University of Appalachia to operate in Virginia, and approved the formal use of the name "University of Appalachia," as well as UACP's right to confer the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. The University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy is seeking accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

Can I get a student enrollment Visa while attending UACP?
UACP does not currently have INS approval to issue F-1 student Visas. You must have a permanent resident Visa to attend.

Where are the sites for the experiential program located?
Our sites for the Early Pharmacy Practice Experience are primarily located within a 100-mile radius of UACP. Sites for the Core and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience are located across the United States.