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General Program Information When will the program begin? What degree will be offered? How many students will be in the program? How many years does it take to complete the program? Do I have to be a full-time student? Can I start the program in the spring semester? Is the program accredited? Program Costs What can I expect regarding the costs? Pre-pharmacy Coursework Where may I complete the pre-pharmacy coursework? What's the deadline for completing all my prerequisites? What are the academic updates that are required? Will you accept AP credits to satisfy the pre-pharmacy course requirements? Pharmacy: Admissions When does the application cycle for the incoming class of fall 2011 begin? What is the minimum GPA? How are GPAs calculated? Is the PCAT required? How many letters of recommendation should I submit? Who is required to take the TOEFL or IELTS? Do I need to work in a pharmacy before applying? Are all applicants interviewed? Does Western New England College's Joint Admissions Program or articulation agreements apply to the pharmacy program? I have some more questions. Who do I reach out to? Q:  When will the program begin? A:  The two year pre-pharmacy program began in fall 2009. The pre-pharmacy program is offered by the School of Arts and Sciences, and is designed for learners who do not have any post-secondary education, The School of Pharmacy will begin the professional phase of the pharmacy program in fall 2011 (pending appropriate approvals). Q:  What degree will be offered? A:  Learners will earn the Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.), pending appropriate approval. Q:  How many students will be in the program? A:  The program is being designed so that a cohort of approximately 70 learners will begin the professional phase of the program each fall. Q:  How many years does it take to complete the program? A:  The professional phase of the pharmacy curriculum will take four years to complete. Q:  Do I have to be a full-time student? A:  Yes; learners admitted into the School of Pharmacy must enroll as full-time students. Q:  Can I start the program in the spring semester? A:  No. Learners can only begin the professional phase of the program in the fall. Q:  Is the program accredited? A:  Accreditation will be sought from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). In compliance with ACPE standards, we will seek "precandidacy" status by spring 2011, "candidacy" status by spring 2013, and full accreditation following graduation of the first class. Q:  What can I expect regarding the costs? A:  Tuition for the School of Pharmacy is estimated to be $34,877 for the 2011- 2012 academic year. The total fee amount (including the College comprehensive fee, College student activity fee, and School of Pharmacy technology fee) is estimated to be $2,134. Q:  Where may I complete the pre-pharmacy coursework? A:  Pre-pharmacy coursework can be completed at any accredited college or university. Q:  What's the deadline for completing all my prerequisites? A:  You must complete ALL pre-pharmacy courses with a 'C' grade or higher before enrolling in the School of Pharmacy. All academic updates are due to the School of Pharmacy in August before you can begin classes in the professional program. Q:  What are the academic updates that are required? A:  When you apply via PharmCAS, you are required to list the courses you are taking in the fall semester, as well as the courses you plan to take in the following spring and summer. You should post an academic update with PharmCAS in December when you receive your fall grades. Spring and summer updates should be sent directly to the School of Pharmacy if you are accepted to pharmacy school. Q:  Will you accept AP credits to satisfy the pre-pharmacy course requirements? A:  An unlimited number of AP credits may be used to satisfy pre-pharmacy course requirements for the math and social science requirements. For the physical science requirements (chemistry, biology, physics, and microbiology), a maximum of four classroom/laboratory credits can be earned through AP testing. For more information regarding AP credit requirements and acceptance, please contact the School of Pharmacy Admissions Office or your pre-pharmacy advisor. Q:  When does the application cycle for the incoming class of fall 2011 begin? A:  All applications to the School of Pharmacy will be handled through PharmCAS. The PharmCAS 2010-2011 application cycle (for students beginning the professional program in fall 2011) opened on June 4, 2010. Q:  What is the minimum GPA? A:  The minimum GPA for admission is a 2.80. To be considered for admission, applicants must have a 2.80 overall GPA and a 2.80 pre-pharmacy GPA. Q:  How are GPAs calculated? A:  PharmCAS calculates an applicant's overall GPA using all coursework completed; this value is used by the School of Pharmacy. The School of Pharmacy will calculate an applicant's pre-pharmacy GPA based only on the courses required by the Western New England College School of Pharmacy (67 credits of pre-pharmacy). Q:  Is the PCAT required? A:  Yes, the PCAT (Pharmacy College Admissions Test) is required for all applicants. PCAT scores for tests taken within the last three years will be considered by the admissions committee. Q:  How many letters of recommendation should I submit? A:  A minimum of two letters of recommendation are required and should be submitted on an applicant's behalf directly to PharmCAS; one of these letters must be from a teacher or professor, and the other must be from a health care practitioner (preferably a pharmacist). Up to two additional recommendations may be provided by individuals who can attest to an applicant's abilities and potential to succeed in a School of Pharmacy. Do not have letters of recommendation or other materials sent directly to the School of Pharmacy; these materials will not be included in your application file. Q:  Who is required to take the TOEFL or IELTS? A:  A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) result is required for all applicants (a) who are non-native English speakers, or (b) who completed the pre-requisite classes in a country where English is not the primary language Q:  Do I need to work in a pharmacy before applying? A:  Qualified applicants with pharmacy work experience are preferred for admission. If you do not have pharmacy work experience, you should become familiar with the profession by volunteering at a free clinic or hospital, shadowing a pharmacist, and/or participating in a pharmacy internship. Q:  Are all applicants interviewed? A:  No, applicants will be selected for an interview by the Admissions Committee based on their application materials. Q:  Does Western New England College's Joint Admissions Program or articulation agreements apply to the pharmacy program? A:  No, not at this time. Q:  I have some more questions. Who do I reach out to? A:  To learn more about the admissions process and requirements for the Western New England College pre-pharmacy program, please contact the Admissions Office at 800-325-1122 ext. 1321 or ugradmis@wnec.edu. To learn more about the admissions process for the School of Pharmacy, please contact The Office of Student Affairs at 413-796-2113 or rxadmissions@wnec.edu.