Admissions processes in North American pharmacy schools: To what extent are characteristics of practice success measured?

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The goal of preparing competent pharmacy practitioners starts with the admissions process, whereby skills and abilities can be screened to identify those individuals with a strong potential for success. This study sought to describe the admissions processes of top pharmacy schools in North America and identify the extent to which characteristics associated with professional success are measured. METHODS: An observational survey design was used to collect information to help characterize the admissions processes of 60 pharmacy schools. Online and centralized Pharmacy College Application Service data of admissions requirements were confirmed and further details were collected through a telephone or email cross-sectional survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Online data indicate that every school (n = 60) requires prerequisite courses; 53 (88%) consider grade point average (GPA) and 45 (75%) consider the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). Most schools utilize interviews during admissions (94%), with 67% using a personal interview, 20% the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI), and 7% a combination of both. Of 60 schools contacted, 42% completed the survey. Most schools (92%) assess critical thinking and professional motivation; the personality traits of agreeableness and conscientiousness were considered by 83%. Personal interview was the most frequently cited method for assessing applicant characteristics. CONCLUSION: Current admissions practices in the top North American pharmacy schools are varied and continue to rely on traditional components including GPA, PCAT, and interviews. However, there is also a movement toward using standardized and validated measures of non-cognitive aspects potentially more predictive of success in pharmacy school and subsequent practice.