Cornell student works in lab.

If you’re a current student at Cornell, schedule your appointment with the Associate Director of Dimensions to get started planning your future career in pharmacy.

Prepare for a pharmacy program

Choose a major

  • Biochemistry and molecular biology
  • Chemistry

These majors are good choices and are our most popular for pre-pharmacy since they help satisfy most prerequisites for pharmacy school. However, you may consider another major instead. You strengthen your application if you double major in biochemistry and molecular biology with another major outside of the natural sciences because it sets you apart from other applicants.

Complete your prerequisite coursework

Typical prerequisites include:

  • Biology
  • Principles of chemistry
  • Organic chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Human anatomy
  • Exercise physiology
  • Genetics
  • Microbiology
  • General statistics
  • Molecular biology
  • Cell biology

Not all pharmacy programs require the same prerequisites, so in your first or second year, you should meet with the Associate Director of Dimensions, who can help you research the specific prerequisites needed for your desired programs.

Additional considerations

  • Competitive Grade Point Average (GPA) is a 3.3 or higher
  • Three or more upper level courses are recommended
  • Pharmacy job shadowing
  • Research experience

Take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) endorses the PCAT as the official preferred admission test. The PCAT consists of 192 multiple-choice items and one writing topic which must be completed in approximately four hours.

Apply to pharmacy programs

Before you begin to apply to pharmacy programs, meet with the Associate Director of Dimensions to plan out the steps necessary for applying.

You will also meet with Cornell’s Health Professions Committee. Cornell’s Health Professions Committee will review your application in its entirety and author a committee letter of recommendation.

If you’re interested in learning more about Cornell’s pre-pharmacy program, let us know.

Additional resources