College of Pharmacy Admissions

General Information and FAQs

General Information

The College of Pharmacy at Rosalind Franklin University is located in the north suburbs of Chicago, IL. Situated approximately 30 miles north of downtown, we enjoy the diversity of both city sidewalks and the surrounding state forests and greenbelts. Easy access to the city is available via the Chicago Metra or Pace systems. Convenient on-campus housing is available to new and continuing students of the pharmacy program.

Development of the College of Pharmacy, the newest addition to the Rosalind Franklin University family, began in early 2009. On January 24, 2011 the College of Pharmacy was awarded Pre-candidate status from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

The College desires to enroll students who present evidence of strong preparation for a career in pharmacy paired with bold leadership and initiative. The College of Pharmacy at Rosalind Franklin University will has innovative technology readily available to use from the classroom to the laboratory. The College uses the E*Value-portfolio system to track students' introductory and advanced experiential education courses. The E*Value-portfolio allows students to showcase the scope of their work done on a wide variety of introductory and advance practice experiences.  Opportunities range from traditional community and hospital clinical rotations to experiences in public health, academia, and the pharmaceutical industry.  These will all prepare our students for careers in multiple settings.

Our commitment to graduate healthcare training starts with our students studying side by side with their colleagues from multiple health professions. The interprofessional curriculum at the College of Pharmacy at Rosalind Franklin University mirrors that of the professional environment where pharmacists interact with physicians and multiple healthcare providers on a daily basis. Our training prepares you to be a confident and inventive leader in all aspects of pharmacy practice.

We welcome your questions as a potential student. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about becoming a member of the College of Pharmacy.

Rosalind Franklin University has a non-discriminatory policy and encourages all academically qualified candidates, regardless of age or sex, to apply for admission. We seek to enroll students of every race religion and national origin. Being a private institution, RFUMS can provide an equal opportunity for admission to residents of every state without restrictions. Qualified persons are not subject to discrimination on the basis of disability.

FAQ

Still have questions? Call or email us at 847-578-3204 or Pharmacy.Admissions@RosalindFranklin.edu

• Requirements
• Candidacy
• Application timeline
• Exams (PCAT)
• Recommendations
• Personal statement
• International candidates
• Interviews
• Specialty
• Residency
• Salary & careers
• What's unique about RFU?

1. What are the minimum requirements I must meet?
   
   The College of pharmacy requires that all applicants have taken the PCAT and obtained a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale), and a minimum science GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale).
   
   Students completing 60 semester hours of college or university credit may enter the Pharm.D. program, providing they meet all other considerations for admission. Applicants should obtain a C or better in all prerequisite courses.
   
    
2. How can I become a competitive candidate?
   
   Competitive candidates will have some knowledge of what it means to be a pharmacist, either through work or volunteer experience. Evidence of preparation for a career in healthcare through community service, club or organization leadership, or work experience is also important in the review of your credentials. Competitive candidates will be able to express what the value of teamwork means to them.
    
3. When should I apply?
   
   Candidates interested in being considered will submit their application via the central application system: www.pharmcas.org. The College opened applications through PharmCAS in July of 2011. Candidates are encouraged to apply early. 
   
   PharmCAS materials must be received no later than March 1, 2012 and Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFUMS) must receive the supplemental application no later than May 1, 2012 for on-time consideration.
    
4. Do you require the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT)?
   
   Yes. All candidates seeking admission to the College of Pharmacy will be required to take and submit official scores from the PCAT when completing the PharmCAS application.
   • Please use Institution code 104 when sending scores to PharmCAS.
   • It is recommended that candidates take the PCAT on or before October 10, 2011.
   • PCAT exams scores which are older than June 2008 will not be considered in the 2011-2012 admission cycle.
   • Applicants who are not native speakers of English will be required to submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to PharmCAS.
   
    
5. From whom will you accept letters of recommendation?
   
   The Admissions Committee requires a minimum of two letters of reference (recommendations/evaluations). Letters should come from professors, employers, supervisors, or pharmacy professionals, who are typically required to provide more information about applicant’s characteristics than personal acquaintances.
    
6. What are you looking for in my Personal Statement?
   
   The Admissions Committees is interested in each applicant’s personal characteristics such as effective communication both orally and in writing, motivation to be a pharmacist, maturity, and interest in serving others. The applicant is encouraged to seek out experiences (paid or unpaid) that will help them confirm pharmacy as their career choice. Personal qualities are assessed through the information the applicant provides in the application essay, letters of reference and the interview. The personal statement essay provides the applicants an opportunity to describe the process and experience that led to application to pharmacy school. The essay should include other academic and life experiences which helped develop the candidate as a person. The personal profile reveals your thoughts about your strengths as a person as well as areas of personal development you believe you need to improve. The essay should communicate your motivation, goals, circumstances, and experiences related to a pharmacy career.
    
7. Do you accept applications from international candidates?
   
   Yes.
   
   
   1. Do I need to submit my TOEFL scores? Yes. An official score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of any applicant who does not hold US citizenship or permanent residency. This test must have been taken within the last two years and scores must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (www.toefl.org) to PharmCAS Institution code 8246. This requirement may be waived at the University’s discretion for the following:
      • Applicants who have been full-time students in a United States college or university for at least two consecutive years
      • Applicants from countries in which English is the primary language
   2. International Transcripts An official copy of your foreign transcripts must be sent to both the Office of Admissions for the College of Pharmacy at RFUMS and to PharmCAS . Your evaluation should contain a course-by-course report. Reports will be accepted from WES (World Education Services, Inc.) and ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.).
       
8. When do you conduct interviews?
   
   The College of Pharmacy seeks to enroll 70 students each year. Interviews are expected to begin in September, 2011 and continue through July, 2012.
    
9. What is the scope of practice and can I specialize?
   
   Pharmacists have many opportunities for practice, research and public health. Visit our Career Paths for Pharm.D. Our students will be exposed to educational experiences that cover community pharmacies, hospitals, educational institutions, laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, managed care organizations, and home healthcare.
    
10. Should I plan to do a residency?
    
    About 15% of graduates go on to pursue residency training after graduation. Graduates of the RFUMS College of Pharmacy can expect faculty mentors to advise them of their individual needs to participate in a residency.
     
11. What salary can I expect to make as a pharmacist in the Midwest? What jobs are available to me after graduation?
    
    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage-and-salary of pharmacists in May 2006 was $94,520. The middle 50 percent earned between $83,180 and $108,140 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $67,860, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $119,480 a year. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of pharmacists in May 2006 were:
    
    
    • Department stores $99,050
    • Grocery stores $95,600
    • Pharmacies and drug stores $94,640
    • General medical and surgical hospitals $93,640
    
    According to a 2006 survey by Drug Topics Magazine, pharmacists in retail settings earned an average of $92,291 per year, while pharmacists in institutional settings earned an average of $97,545. Full-time pharmacists earned an average of $102,336, while part-time pharmacists earned an average of $55,589.
    
    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean salary in 2006 of pharmacists in Illinois was $102,300 and in Wisconsin, it was $109,350. The median salary of pharmacists in the Chicago area was $104,000 in 2008.
     
12. What sets the College of Pharmacy apart from other schools in the Midwest?
    
    Our commitment to providing students at RFUMS with an interprofessional scope of training, focusing on the needs of the modern patient, is what sets us apart. Take a look for yourself – call today to schedule a visit.