Pharmacy Scholars Program
The Pharmacy Scholars Program is an exclusive opportunity for qualified incoming Saint Louis University freshmen to gain a guaranteed interview to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program at St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) and access an accelerated pathway to completing both their bachelor鈥檚 degree and their Pharm.D.
The program allows students working toward a bachelor's degree at SLU to apply for admission into the first professional (P1) year of the Pharm.D. after three years of undergraduate study. Courses taken as part of the P1 year will reverse transfer to Saint Louis University and fulfill senior-level degree requirements for the bachelor's degree.
provides a challenging learning environment where pharmacy students can explore a variety of practice settings, develop medication expertise, and become leaders in the profession and their communities. The curriculum focuses on preparing students to provide interprofessional, evidence-based, patient-centered care in any practice setting, achieving positive drug therapy outcomes for patients.
Through this unique partnership between two of St. Louis鈥� most prestigious educational institutions, students seeking careers as pharmacists may take advantage of both the outstanding undergraduate education available at Saint Louis University and the innovative
Apply to the Pharmacy Scholars Program
Eligibility Requirements
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, weighted or unweighted, as reported on the high school transcript at the close of the junior year.
- Completion of at least three years of high school math and science; four years of each is highly recommended.
- Submit two letters of recommendation.
- At this time, only students who pursue a degree in biology or health sciences are eligible for the Pharmacy Scholars program.
Application Process
Interested students should complete the Pharmacy Scholars application located in their Billiken Gateway portal no later than Dec. 4 of their senior year of high school. Students must also select biology or health science as their major of choice on the general SLU application or Common Application.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Students in the Pharmacy Scholars Program are guaranteed an early interview for admission into the Pharm.D. Program, but University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis reserves the right to deny admission if academic and nonacademic requirements are not met.
Yes! Students in the program can integrate the bachelor鈥檚 degree into the Pharm.D. Courses in the first professional (P1) year at University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis fulfill senior-year requirements for the bachelor鈥檚 degree at SLU. Through a reverse-transfer, students earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree from SLU at the end of the P1 year and a Pharm.D. from University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis after completing the professional program.
Currently, only students who pursue a degree in biology or health sciences are eligible for the Pharmacy Scholars program.
No, students may only become a Pharmacy Scholar as an incoming freshman to SLU (must apply by Dec. 1 of their senior year of high school). Transfer students or current SLU students desiring to pursue a career in pharmacy can follow the pre-pharmacy track to fulfill requirements that would make them eligible to apply to any pharmacy program.
Some Pharmacy Scholars will change their minds about the accelerated program entirely. Some withdraw from the program to explore completely new interests, while others remain on their original bachelor鈥檚 degree path but pursue different post-baccalaureate options upon graduation. Remember that there is no penalty for withdrawing from the Pharmacy Scholars Program, but applying to become a Pharmacy Scholar is an opportunity that you only have as an incoming freshman. If you withdraw from the Pharmacy Scholars Program, you will have to apply to the pharmacy program at University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis through the traditional application process, with no advanced admission consideration.
Once accepted as a Pharmacy Scholar, students are expected to maintain full-time enrollment at Saint Louis University and to meet the following requirements:
- Pursue an approved degree and complete all Health Sciences or Biology and Pharm.D. prerequisite courses.
- Maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and a 3.0 cumulative math and science GPA.
- Maintain a 鈥淐鈥� or higher in all courses.
- Obtain shadow experience or work experience in a pharmacy setting.
- Attend various meetings with their faculty mentor in the Health Sciences or Biology Programs.
- Attend an informational session and tour at University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis prior to their junior year at SLU.
- Complete the online application through University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis online admission application portal. University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis Office of 91制片厂s will work with students accepted to the Accelerated Program to assist them with submitting their application to the Pharm.D. program.
- Complete the Pharmacy College 91制片厂 Test (PCAT) exam no later than July of the year of admittance to University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis.
Yes. Pharmacy Scholars are encouraged to study abroad. Pharmacy Scholars will work with their undergraduate academic advisor to determine a time that is most optimal for study abroad.
In keeping with their high level of academic achievement, students who wish to become Pharmacy Scholars are encouraged to take Advanced Placement and/or advanced credit courses in high school whenever possible. These courses will count toward the degree as determined by the University admission standards; however, it is recommended that biology, chemistry and physics be taken in sequence at the University for appropriate pre-requisites.
Pharmacy Scholars enjoy many additional program benefits, including:
- One-on-one advising with an academic advisor assigned to their specific undergraduate program.
- Participation in University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis student organizations and campus events.
- Opportunity to work with a faculty mentor at University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis.
Questions?
Julie Miller, Recruitment Specialist, Doisy College of Health Sciences
julie.miller@health.slu.edu
314-977-2570
Dr. Julie Thole, Assistant Professor of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences
julie.thole@slu.edu
314-977-3902