Becoming a competitive PharmD applicant
We look for candidates who are thoroughly prepared academically and mentally to complete the PharmD curriculum with success.
To help prepare for the program and apply successfully, review the information and admission tips below.
Class of 2026 Profile
Curious how you match up with enrolled Concordia Pharmacy students? Here are the stats and averages of our most recent P1 class.
- Average GPA: 3.25
- Average SCI GPA: 3.02
- Average PCAT: 61 (10% of class submitted a PCAT)
- Average Age: 24
- Percentage of Female Students: 63%
- Percentage of Male Students: 37%
- Percentage of URM* Students: 10%
- Percentage of Diverse** Students: 23%
- Percentage of First-Generation Students: 17%
*URM = Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and/or Pacific Islander
**Diverse = Any non-white student
Applicant Pool 2021-2022
Here are the stats and averages of the whole applicant pool
- Average GPA: 3.14
- Average SCI GPA: 2.93
- Average PCAT: 44 (17% of applicants submitted a PCAT)
- Average Age: 24
- Percentage of Female Applicants: 62%
- Percentage of Male Applicants: 38%
- Percentage of URM* Applicants: 19%
- Percentage of Diverse** Applicants: 44%
- Percentage of First-Generation Applicants: 25%
*URM = Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and/or Pacific Islander
**Diverse = Any non-white applicant
Academic background
Your academic background that we review includes:
- GPA: Your cumulative college-level GPA will be considered, as well as a breakdown of your science and non-science GPA, as calculated by PharmCAS. Although repeated and failed courses are noted, having a small number of repeated and/or failed courses does not exclude you from consideration.
- Course selection and load: You’re encouraged to demonstrate your ability to succeed in a rigorous PharmD curriculum by taking a full-time load in your pre-pharmacy coursework. In addition, if your schedule permits, take upper-level science courses above and beyond the required pre-pharmacy courses.
Communication skills
A pharmacist must be able to communicate clearly in many different settings, with a wide variety of people. Because of our focus on training patient-centered pharmacists, we seek applicants who demonstrate the ability to communicate complex ideas both in their written work and in their interpersonal interactions.
Your communication skills will be assessed through your PharmCAS Personal Statement, as well as your interview, if invited.
Pharmacy experience
Experience can be obtained in a variety of ways, including working as a pharmacy technician, shadowing or volunteering in a pharmacy, or interviewing pharmacists to learn more about the profession.
No matter how you get experience, the most important thing is to have first-hand involvement in pharmacy settings so you have an understanding of the profession. Your pharmacy experience will be assessed through your PharmCAS application, letters of reference, and interview, if invited.
Motivation and understanding of the profession
When you enter pharmacy school, you begin your commitment to the pharmacy profession. Before you begin this commitment, it’s important to have a broad understanding of the pharmacy profession and health care in general.
Concordia identifies applicants who are positively motivated in their pursuit of a career in pharmacy and who fit the mission of developing pharmacists who are servant leaders. Your motivation for pursuing pharmacy and your understanding of the profession will be assessed through your PharmCAS Personal Statement and interview, if invited.
Service, leadership, and volunteer activities
We seek candidates who have demonstrated significant time in developing themselves as servant leaders in extracurricular activities, service organizations, or religious communities. These experiences do not have to be health care or pharmacy-related but should be recent commitments, as well as commitments that have spanned a longer period of time.
Your commitment to service, leadership, and volunteer activities will be assessed through the PharmCAS application, letters of reference, and interview, if invited.