From acing your prerequisites to crafting a compelling personal statement, this guide will walk you through the key steps to turning your pharmacy school dreams into reality.

Craft a Compelling Personal Statement

Your personal statement is a crucial part of your pharmacy school application. It's your chance to talk about who you are, what you value and why you're passionate about pursuing a career in pharmacy. A strong personal statement should answer these questions:

• Who are you?
• What do you value?
• Why are you interested in pharmacy school?
• How have you prepared for pharmacy school?
• What academic or volunteer experiences led you to apply or sparked your interest in this field?
• Why do you want to attend VCU School of Pharmacy?
• How will you contribute to the incoming class?
• What life experiences have shaped you?

Letters of Recommendation

Choose recommenders who can speak about your interest in pharmacy, character and experiences. Letters should give our admissions committee a good understanding of your interest in pharmacy and your character, aptitude and/or extracurricular experiences. Request a letter from a faculty member, former employer and current health care professional who can speak to who you are and why you are a good fit for our program.

Highlight Your Extracurricular Activities

Our most compelling applicants are those who can demonstrate a genuine interest in helping others. While health care-related experience is not required, it can significantly enhance your application. Regular volunteering and active participation in student organizations demonstrates your commitment to service and teamwork. Consider the following experiences to strengthen your application:

• Volunteering at local hospitals or clinics
• Participating in community service projects
• Joining health-related student organizations
• Shadowing a professional pharmacist
• Working as a licensed pharmacy technician

Apply Early

Applying early boosts your chances of admission, as our school uses a rolling admissions process. This means we review and make decisions on applications as they are received. As spots fill up, it becomes increasingly competitive to secure a place. By submitting your application early, you demonstrate your enthusiasm and preparedness and can take advantage of the greater availability of open spots. Additionally, early applicants often have more time to address any potential issues or additional requirements that may arise during the application process.