Pharmacy Scholars Program

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’s 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’s degree at SLU. Through a reverse-transfer, students earn a bachelor’s 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’s 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 “C” 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 Admissions 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 Admission 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.

Minors are not required but can be added to your bachelor’s degree, provided there is enough space in the curriculum. A minor may be chosen, but this choice may also lengthen the time beyond the 3-year accelerated duration of the bachelor's degree. Some common minors include Health Care Ethics, Health Information Management and any foreign language.

Students may apply to other pharmacy schools if they are not admitted to STLCOP in their third year.

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.