Application Process

The pre-pharmacy requirements can typically be completed in two years. These courses can be in progress while completing the application and progressing through the admission process. All pre-pharmacy requirements must be completed with a grade of C- or better. Advanced Placement (AP) courses taken in high school may be used to fulfill pre-pharmacy requirements.

Total Pre-Pharmacy Credits: 56

*Examples of an advanced science elective include: Physics II, Physiology, Anatomy, Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, or other advanced science courses.

General education electives

General education electives can come from a wide variety of courses, including but not limited to: Literature, History, Philosophy, Theology, Fine Arts, Creative Arts, Foreign Language, Social Sciences, Anthropology, Communications, Political Science, Physical Education, etc.

Students completing pre-pharmacy coursework outside of Concordia have no university common core requirements. Students completing pre-pharmacy coursework at Concordia are expected to complete the university's common core requirements. These common core requirements fulfill the pharmacy school's general elective requirements.

Pre-pharmacy course equivalency guides

Concordia University Wisconsin works with students individually to create course equivalency guides for the school in which they’re fulfilling the pre-pharmacy course requirements. Contact us at pharmacy@cuw.edu for a course equivalency guide or for an individual transcript evaluation of pre-pharmacy coursework.

Concordia University Wisconsin requires two letters of reference to be submitted directly to PharmCAS. References should be able to speak to your academic performance, understanding of the pharmacy profession, and/or character.

Choose references who know you well in professional and/or academic settings, such as professors, supervisors, advisors, or pharmacists. Reference letters are reviewed to assess your:

• Character
• Communication skills (written and oral)
• Academic ability
• Motivation and understanding of the pharmacy profession
• Commitment to community service

At Concordia University Wisconsin, our Interview Day is just as much about you getting to know us, as it is about us getting to know you. Interview Day is a half-day program, where you’ll meet faculty, staff, and current students in the CUW School of Pharmacy. You’ll complete a writing sample and interview.

Preparing for the Interview

The interview is a critical component of the admission process. Being prepared for the interview is just as important as preparing for a final exam. Lack of preparation will show in your interview and can oftentimes lead to an unfavorable admission decision.

Take advantage of the accessibility of CUW’s admission team. These professionals can be vital to helping you prepare.

Be prepared to answer these questions:

• What is the pharmacist’s role as a member of the health care team?
• Why do you want to become a pharmacist?
• Why do you want to attend Concordia University Wisconsin’s School of Pharmacy?
• How have you been involved in community service, volunteer, and leadership activities; and how does this relate to the role of a pharmacist?

The interview is your opportunity to show how you are uniquely qualified for admission. As you prepare for your interview, think about your “story.” How did you decide that you want to be a pharmacist? Did you have a defining moment that solidified your career path? If so, what was it? Chances are, no one else will have that same story; that's what makes you unique!

While your interviewers are not allowed to review your PharmCAS application prior to interviewing you, you should be open and honest about any shortcomings that may appear on your PharmCAS application, such as a bad semester/year, a failed class, repeated classes, lack of community service or pharmacy experience, etc. Being open and honest regarding your record demonstrates the trust necessary in the profession of pharmacy and is viewed positively in the interview.

Interviewing Tips

1. Be professional. Make sure you’re presenting yourself in a professional manner with proper business attire (not business casual). Arrive on time with a few minutes to spare so that you’re relaxed and composed before your Interview Day begins. First impressions matter.
2. Communicate effectively. During your interview, your communication skills will be under the microscope. Be sure to practice good verbal and nonverbal communication by using appropriate language, making good eye contact, listening, and answering questions thoroughly but concisely. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions!

International students interested in applying to Concordia University Wisconsin must:

• Complete the PharmD application process through PharmCAS.
• Have foreign transcripts evaluated by a foreign evaluation service, as described on the PharmCAS website, and submitted to PharmCAS.
• Submit a TOEFL or IELTS score to PharmCAS if previous coursework was completed in a language other than English. CUW accepts a minimum score of 79 on TOEFL and 6.5 on IELTS.
• Complete the pre-pharmacy course requirements. Foreign pharmacy international coursework may partially or fully satisfy the pre-pharmacy course requirements, at the discretion of the Director of Admissions.

Students who have received an undergraduate or graduate/professional degree from a recognized school of pharmacy outside of the United States may obtain a license to practice pharmacy in the United States by either 1) taking the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEC) and completing the requirements of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, or 2) successfully completing a Doctor of Pharmacy program at an accredited school or college of pharmacy in the U.S., and meeting state requirements for licensure.

Students who hold a pharmacy degree from a recognized school of pharmacy outside of the U.S. and are admitted to the PharmD program at Concordia University Wisconsin will be placed into the first year of the program but may be considered for advanced standing at the discretion of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy may consider admitting a student with previous academic credit from an ACPE-accredited School of Pharmacy in the United States.

Transfer candidates must complete the following required steps in order to be considered for admittance:

• Complete PharmCAS Application during the cycle year to which you will start the program.
• Two letters of recommendation submitted through PharmCAS.
• A letter from the Dean or Associate Dean for Academics of previous/current pharmacy school explaining the circumstances related to the student’s departure. Failure to demonstrate “good standing” at the previous/current pharmacy school may disqualify the candidate.
  • If a student earned PharmD credit or attended multiple pharmacy schools in the U.S., they are required to have a letter from the Dean of each school.
  • This letter may not be one of the two letters of recommendation, although the student may ask the Dean or Associate Dean for Academics to provide a recommendation letter as a separate letter.
  • This letter must be sent directly from the Dean or Associate Dean for Academics to pharmacy@cuw.edu.
• An essay that addresses the following related to your transfer.
  
  • The reason for the transfer
  • Difficulties encountered at the previous or current pharmacy school
  • Status of good standing at the previous or current pharmacy school
  • Explanation of withdrawal or dismissal
  • Plan for success at Concordia
  • Current academic and professional (work) status.
  • This essay may not be the personal statement that is provided on your PharmCAS application.
  • This essay must be sent directly by the transfer candidate to pharmacy@cuw.edu.

All transfer inquiries are encouraged to contact pharmacy@cuw.edu or 262-243-2728 to discuss the overall strength of their application.

Review of Transfer Applications

Following the submission of all required materials, the application will be holistically reviewed for interview consideration. If invited, the candidate must go through the interview process. Following the interview, the Admissions Committee will review the application materials, writing sample, and interview notes. From there, an admission decision will be made.

The Process to Determine Advanced Standing

Following the Admissions Committee decision, should the student be accepted, the Deans' Office will develop an academic plan for the student's progression into the PharmD program.

• The accepted student must submit syllabi (electronically preferred) for any courses that they wish to have considered for transfer (advanced standing) credit to the Dean’s Office.
  • Should you be admitted, to have any consideration of advanced standing, the syllabi for these courses must be submited by August 1st prior to matriculation.  
  • The Deans' Office will consult corresponding Concordia School of Pharmacy course coordinator(s) and/or request additional information and/or documentation from the student regarding their previous coursework (e.g. syllabi) in formulating this plan.
• A majority of the coursework for the Concordia University PharmD degree must be completed at Concordia University Wisconsin. In other words, less than half of the 148 credits required to receive the PharmD degree may be transferred in, but a transfer student must complete at least 75 credits while enrolled at Concordia University Wisconsin in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.
• Room permitting, the student may be admitted off-cycle if advanced standing allows such admittance.

All academic plans for admitted students with advanced standing will be submitted by the Deans' Office to the Curriculum Committee for approval prior to the plan being finalized and communicated to the student by the Deans' Office.

Academic background

Your academic background that we review includes:

• GPA: Your cumulative college-level GPA will be considered, as well as a breakdown of your science and non-science GPA, as calculated by PharmCAS. Although repeated and failed courses are noted, having a small number of repeated and/or failed courses does not exclude you from consideration.
• Course selection and load: You’re encouraged to demonstrate your ability to succeed in a rigorous PharmD curriculum by taking a full-time load in your pre-pharmacy coursework. In addition, if your schedule permits, take upper-level science courses above and beyond the required pre-pharmacy courses.

Communication skills

A pharmacist must be able to communicate clearly in many different settings, with a wide variety of people. Because of our focus on training patient-centered pharmacists, we seek applicants who demonstrate the ability to communicate complex ideas both in their written work and in their interpersonal interactions.

Your communication skills will be assessed through your PharmCAS Personal Statement, as well as your interview, if invited.

Pharmacy experience

Experience can be obtained in a variety of ways, including working as a pharmacy technician, shadowing or volunteering in a pharmacy, or interviewing pharmacists to learn more about the profession.

No matter how you get experience, the most important thing is to have first-hand involvement in pharmacy settings so you have an understanding of the profession. Your pharmacy experience will be assessed through your PharmCAS application, letters of reference, and interview, if invited.

Motivation and understanding of the profession

When you enter pharmacy school, you begin your commitment to the pharmacy profession. Before you begin this commitment, it’s important to have a broad understanding of the pharmacy profession and health care in general.

Concordia identifies applicants who are positively motivated in their pursuit of a career in pharmacy and who fit the mission of developing pharmacists who are servant leaders. Your motivation for pursuing pharmacy and your understanding of the profession will be assessed through your PharmCAS Personal Statement and interview, if invited.

Service, leadership, and volunteer activities

We seek candidates who have demonstrated significant time in developing themselves as servant leaders in extracurricular activities, service organizations, or religious communities. These experiences do not have to be health care or pharmacy-related but should be recent commitments, as well as commitments that have spanned a longer period of time.

Your commitment to service, leadership, and volunteer activities will be assessed through the PharmCAS application, letters of reference, and interview, if invited.