Prospective Students
Choosing the PharmD Program at Rutgers ensures an education designed for the demands of 21st-century pharmacy practice and distinguished by the endless opportunity of New Jersey’s powerhouse academic health center. We welcome applications from high school students, students transferring credits from other schools, and students who already hold bachelor’s or advanced degrees.
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Interested in graduate study? Find information tailored to your research interests by exploring our four world-class graduate programs.
High School Students
Ours is one of the few 0-6 programs in the country, allowing students to enroll in the Rutgers program directly from high school and earn a PharmD in six years. Students who successfully complete two years of pre-professional study move seamlessly into the four years of professional study leading to the doctoral degree.
Applying to the PharmD Program
- Early Action: November 1
- Regular Action: December 1
Students interested in our seven-year BS/PharmD program, offered in partnerships with Montclair State University, Saint Peter’s University, and Stockton University,apply directly to the partner school of their choice.
Requirements for Admission
Applicants are to complete the following courses in high school:
- 4 years of English
- 2 years of one foreign language
- 3 years of mathematics (algebra I, algebra II, and geometry)
- 1 year of biology
- 1 year of chemistry
- 5 other academic courses (physics recommended)
Beyond these basic requirements, advanced coursework that challenges you as a student reflects well in your admissions review. Consider advanced placement courses, honors courses, and additional coursework in core curricular areas. Going beyond the basic requirements demonstrates to admissions officers your ability to manage intensive course credit loads.
Class rank relative to your peers at your high school is considered, weighted by the strength and difficulty of your coursework. Extracurricular activities, work experience, community service, and other indications of a well-rounded applicant are taken into consideration.
Although no specific minimum SAT/ACT score is required, as at all colleges, the higher your score, the better your chances. Ultimately, we are interested in students who have challenged themselves academically, socially, and culturally and are able to balance multiple responsibilities.
Additionally, if you are interested in applying to the PharmD/MD Dual Degree Program, MCATs are waived if you submit SAT or ACT scores when applying to the School.
Conditional Admission
Questions About Admission
AP Credits
Transfer Students
Build on the coursework you already have, whether you are transferring from another Rutgers school or from another college or university. We welcome applications to our PharmD program from students at two- or four-year colleges who have completed at least 12 credits of college-level coursework. Transfer students are accepted into the four-year professional program only after completion of all preprofessional coursework.
Applying to the PharmD Program
Apply by February 1 of the year of expected fall enrollment. Students who are currently or were previously enrolled at Rutgers should review information on school-to-school transfer and on reenrollment, respectively.
Students who are currently or were previously enrolled at Rutgers should review information on school-to-school transfer and on reenrollment, respectively.
Requirements for Admission
Applicants for transfer (including degree holders) are expected to have the following courses completed:
- General Biology I & II (w/lab)
- General Chemistry I & II (w/lab)
- English composition I and II
- Calculus I
- Organic Chemistry I & II (w/lab)
- General Physics I & II (w/lab)
- Integrated Organ Physiology or Anatomy & Physiology I & II
- Introduction to Microeconomics
- Basic Statistics for Research
- Humanity/Social Science electives (5)
- Psychology/Sociology elective (1)
Understanding the Admissions Review
The admissions review looks at the courses you have already completed and those that remain to be taken. During this review, your previous coursework is evaluated for equivalency with the requirements of the two-year preprofessional program. Depending on your specific circumstances, between 66 and 73 credits must be earned in PharmD prerequisite courses for entry into the first professional year of the program.
Academic performance is also evaluated, with consideration given to the strength of your academic program as well as grade trend, cumulative GPA, and number of credits completed. GPAs should be 3.5 or above; semester course loads should involve 16 to 18 credits. We also consider qualitative factors such as extracurricular activities; community, volunteer, or military service; honors and awards; letters of recommendation; and personal statements; among others.
The most promising applicants are invited for an on-site interview. The number of transfer students that can be admitted is determined by the number of spaces available, the number of applicants, and the quality of the applicant pool.
Evaluation of Your Coursework
- Gather together the course descriptions of each course you have taken.
- Submit the course descriptions to Undergraduate Admissions [LINKS TO: https://admissions.rutgers.edu/] when you apply. The material can be mailed and will be added to your file.
- Gather together the course syllabi from each course you have taken and have them ready to send to the Office of Academic Services here at the pharmacy school. We may need to review the syllabi if there are any questions as to equivalency.
You can conduct your own rough evaluation of coursework by reviewing course descriptions in the Rutgers catalogs [LINK TO: http://www.rutgers.edu/academics/catalogs] and comparing them with courses you have taken.
Coursework from Community Colleges
Coursework from Foreign Pharmacy Schools
Questions About Admission
Transferring from New Brunswick/Piscataway
Transfering from Rutgers-Newark
Transfering from Rutgers-Camden
Rutgers Students
All school-to-school (currently enrolled) and re-enrollment (previously enrolled and graduates) applicants within Rutgers
(currently enrolled students graduating in May should use the re-enrollment application)*
Degree Holders
Have you completed a bachelor’s or graduate program in a field other than pharmacy? Leverage your degree into a rewarding new career in pharmacy. As a degree holder, you apply and are evaluated for admission as a transfer student, as outlined above.
All students, regardless of prior degrees obtained, must complete the PharmD prerequisite courses before admission to the four-year professional program. All four years of full-time professional study must be completed at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy in order to earn the PharmD degree.