General Information
- How many spaces are there in the School of Pharmacy for first-year students? How many people will apply?
- How many years does it take to complete the Pharmacy program?
- What is the tuition fee?
- As a Pharmacy applicant can I secure a space in one of the UW residences?
- Can I arrange to go on a tour of the School of Pharmacy?
- Why does your program start in January?
- What are some examples of potential co-op jobs for Pharmacy students?
- What is the difference between a Pharmacist and a Pharmacy Technician?
- What is the difference between Pharmacy and Pharmacology?
- What graduate study opportunities in Pharmacy exist at UW?
1. How many spaces are there in the School of Pharmacy for first-year students? How many people will apply?
The School of Pharmacy currently plans to admit 120 students into each first year class of the program. The application process is competitive, as we typically receive approximately 600 applications each year.
2. How many years does it take to complete the Pharmacy program?
The BScPhm program is a four-year professional degree program. More specifically, it runs over a course of 44 months. To be considered for admission to the Waterloo School of Pharmacy, a minimum of two years of university-level study is generally required. The pre-Pharmacy years are typically taken through a Faculty of Science, although this is not an absolute requirement as long as the specific prerequisite courses are successfully completed.
3. What is the tuition fee?
Current information about tuition and incidental fees can be found here. A number of financial institutions offer low interest lines of credit for Pharmacy students. There are also bursaries and scholarships available for financial assistance. During the paid co-op work terms, students earn money to help cover the costs of their next academic term.
4. As a Pharmacy applicant can I secure a space in one of the UW residences?
Since all Pharmacy students have been previously enrolled in university, they are considered 'second entry'. While Pharmacy students are not guaranteed a space in residence at the main Waterloo campus, there are a limited number of these residence spaces accessible to Pharmacy students each year. The main campus in Waterloo is located about 5 km from the Downtown Kitchener Health Sciences Campus and is accessible by public bus transportation. Most students choose to live in off-campus housing which can be found in closer proximity to the Health Sciences Campus. Waterloo has a very active Off-Campus Housing office that is working to help students find suitable accommodations near the new facility.
5. Can I arrange to go on a tour of the School of Pharmacy?
Tours of the Pharmacy building are typically held in conjunction with the Open Houses held in November and March. Due to the heavy use of the building, tours cannot generally be arranged at other times. For information about the Open Houses, please check the University's website at: http://findoutmore.uwaterloo.ca.
6. Why does your program start in January?
After lengthy consultation with industry and education representatives nationally and internationally, the School of Pharmacy decided to take advantage of Waterloo’s long standing tradition of excellence in co-operative education and initiate Canada’s only co-op Pharmacy program. As result of this decision, much thought went into the timing of the first work term and the conclusion was that the first work term should take place in the fall term after completing two academic sessions. The sequence of academic and work terms makes it desirable to retain the January start date for subsequent admission cycles.
7. What are some examples of potential co-op jobs for Pharmacy students?
- Community pharmacy practice, working with licensed pharmacists, in settings such as a retail pharmacy or a family health clinic
- Institutional pharmacy practice, working with licensed pharmacists in hospitals, specialty facilities, or long term care institutions
- Working at national, provincial, or local pharmacy organizations such as professional associations or regulatory agencies
- Working with federal or provincial government agencies in the areas of drug approvals, health policy, or health informatics
- Working across the country, the continent, and the world, as we will support and encourage international co-op work experience initiative
8. What is the difference between a Pharmacist and a Pharmacy Technician?
A Pharmacist is a university-trained health professional. Practicing Pharmacists are licensed by a provincial regulatory body (e.g. Ontario College of Pharmacists) as health care providers who are held accountable for the skills required to ensure a patient receives optimal drug therapy. To become licensed, one of the requirements is that the candidate be a graduate of an accredited Pharmacy degree program.
A Pharmacy Technician is typically community or business college-trained in the technical aspects of drug distribution in a community or hospital pharmacy practice site. These health professionals complete the ‘mechanics’ of the acquisition/distribution of drugs through a pharmacy, including the administrative aspects of documentation and third party billing. In Ontario, and some other provinces, Pharmacy Technicians can take responsibility for dispensing functions, freeing up the pharmacist to focus on direct patient care through the application of their therapeutic knowledge.
9. What is the difference between Pharmacy and Pharmacology?
A degree in Pharmacy (available from only ten universities in the country) provides the academic preparation required to become licensed as a Pharmacist.
Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their actions within the body. Pharmacology is a component of the university Pharmacy program, and other Science degree programs. A degree in pharmacology on its own would not fulfill the academic requirements to become a licensed Pharmacist. A pharmacologist typically holds a graduate degree, and conducts research.
10. What graduate study opportunities in Pharmacy exist at UW?
The School of Pharmacy is pleased to offer a broad-based Master of Science in Pharmacy program that offers courses and research opportunities in various Pharmacy disciplines. At this stage we do not offer a PhD program, however the graduate studies curriculum will be developed as Faculty are appointed and their own graduate research programs evolve. For more information, please see the Graduate section of our website.
Admissions
- How and when do I apply for admission to the BScPhm program at the University of Waterloo?
- Must I write the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)?
- I am a high school student who is applying for my first year of university this coming year. Does it matter which university I choose, or which stream/program of study I choose, if I want to eventually apply for the Pharmacy program at UW?
- I am thinking of starting in a professional program such as Nursing or Engineering, can I still apply to Pharmacy?
- I'm choosing courses for my Grade 12 university-preparation year. Which courses should I choose?
- Which subjects must I include in my first year of university?
- As a 'mature student' will I receive special consideration?
- Can I apply to the UW School of Pharmacy from an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT)?
- I have completed more than two years of undergraduate studies, will I have an advantage?
- I have already completed several years of university. Can I get advanced standing and start in second year?
- Can I apply directly to an upper year if I am transferring from another school of Pharmacy?
- Must I provide my high school transcript?
- How will my secondary school grades (OAC/Grade12U or equivalent) be used for admission consideration?
- Is it necessary that I take a full course load every term in order to be considered for admission?
- The 'Academic Requirements' section indicates that a minimum cumulative university average of 75% is required for the application to receive consideration. Since there are far more applicants than spaces available is it actually necessary to have an 'A' average to be competitive and gain admission?
- What subjects could I use to satisfy the Social Science and Humanities course requirements?
- If I have not taken all required courses, could I complete any missing courses in the summer session prior to admission?
- I finished my degree some time ago, will this be a disadvantage?
- When will I be notified of the decision on my application?
- If I apply one year and am not admitted, will I have a better chance of being admitted the next year?
- How will the different admission criteria be weighted?
- Are repeated attempts of specific courses included in admission assessments?
- How are courses at another university evaluated for equivalency?
- How is course equivalency confirmed?
- If I do not receive an invitation to an interview does that mean I am not admitted?
- What happens at the interview?
- How important is the Pharmacy Admission Profile?
- How important is the Reading Comprehension/Writing Test?
- How important is the Interview?
- How important is the Letter of Reference? What happens if I do not have a Pharmacist as my referee?
- Do I have to go to UW to be accepted into the UW Pharmacy program?
- How does the Admissions Committee deal with courses that are graded on a credit/no credit (CR/NCR) basis?
- Do you accept students from other provinces or other countries?
1. How and when do I apply for admission to the BScPhm program at the University of Waterloo?
Applications for the January 2011 class opened on September 10, 2009 and will remain open until January 31, 2010. To access the on-line application visit the the “Admissions Process” section.
2. Must I write the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)?
No. UW’s School of Pharmacy does not require the PCAT as part of the application procedure. All applicants will be required to complete an on-line Pharmacy Admission Profile to give the Pharmacy Admissions Committee important information about their motivation and suitability for the profession. Candidates that are selected for the second stage of the admissions process will be invited to the campus to participate in an interview and they will complete a Reading Comprehension/Writing Test at the time of their interview.\
3. I am a high school student who is applying for my first year of university this coming year. Does it matter which university I choose, or which stream/program of study I choose, if I want to eventually apply for the Pharmacy program at UW?
You can attend any recognized university. You must ensure that the courses you have taken or are about to take are equivalent to the required UW courses as listed in the Academic Requirements page. Be careful to choose the appropriate courses in cases where more than one first year course is offered. UW is structured as a semester-based system where our courses are one term (4 months) in length. Each requirement listed on our website is expressed in those terms. It will be important for you to ensure that the university degree program you choose has sufficient flexibility to complete the 4 one-term humanities/social science course requirements. Students choosing to apply to UW for their undergraduate science program are generally advised to select Life Sciences (Biology, or Biomedical Science, as the subject of major interest) or Honours Science. These UW degree programs offer sufficient flexibility in course selection to allow for completion of the Pharmacy prerequisite courses within two years.
New for 2010: The Conditional Admission to Pharmacy (CAP) program is an exciting opportunity for top high school students to be pre-admitted into the Pharmacy program. Please check out the CAP section for further details
4. I am thinking of starting in a professional program such as Nursing or Engineering, can I still apply to Pharmacy?
You may apply with a background in any degree program, provided that you successfully complete the courses listed as prerequisites for Pharmacy admission consideration. That said, the courses required for admission are not normally part of the core curriculum in other professional programs and it may not be possible to include the required courses as electives, in an already busy timetable.
5. I'm choosing courses for my Grade 12 university-preparation year. Which courses should I choose?
You will need to ensure that you meet the admissions requirements for a Bachelor of Science program at the university you wish to attend. These admission requirements do vary from school to school but it would be in your best interest to take a range of courses to ensure that you have as broad a perspective as possible. You would be well-advised to include Advanced Functions, Calculus and Vectors, Biology, Chemistry and English as a minimum. For admission requirements to the Faculty of Science at UW, visit UW's Find Out More site.
6. Which subjects must I include in my first year of university?
You will need to carefully review the first year courses required for the degree program you are about to begin and also the required courses for Pharmacy admission. Prior to applying to the UW School of Pharmacy you must normally be enrolled in, or have completed, all of the prerequisite courses. You may take as many years as necessary in your undergraduate program to do so, and a significant number of applicants will have completed their BSc degree at the time of admission. A list of the required courses for admission to Pharmacy is found on our website. This list is subject to annual revision, and is finalized by early summer before the next cycle of applications begins.
7. As a 'mature student' will I receive special consideration?
No. As this is a professional program you will be expected to meet the same minimum admission requirements as all other applicants. These standards are outlined on the School of Pharmacy website.
8. Can I apply to the UW School of Pharmacy from an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT)?
No. Applicants with exclusively a community college background are not admissible to the Pharmacy program. The prerequisites for our program must be met through University-level study.
9. I have completed more than two years of undergraduate studies, will I have an advantage?
No. All applicants who meet the minimum admission requirements will be treated equally.
10. I have already completed several years of university. Can I get advanced standing and start in second year?
No. All applicants will be considered for Year I. There are some very specific courses throughout the 4 year curriculum that are only available as part of the Pharmacy program at UW. You may, however, be eligible for transfer credit for a very limited number of courses in the Pharmacy curriculum. Under such circumstances you would generally be required to take an elective course of equivalent weight to that for which you received transfer credit.
11. Can I apply directly to an upper year if I am transferring from another school of Pharmacy?
The UW School of Pharmacy does not admit any students, including those enrolled in Pharmacy programs at other institutions, to advanced standing into an upper year of the program. This is due in part to potential timetable conflicts and because each year of our program requires completion of courses that are unique to our curriculum.
12. Must I provide my high school transcript?
No. Your high school transcripts are not required for the application process. The exception is high school students that are applying for the CAP program, as the conditional admission from high school is partially based on Grade 12 academic performance.
13. How will my secondary school grades (OAC/Grade12U or equivalent) be used for admission consideration?
The School does not require your high school transcripts, nor use the grades obtained for secondary school credits in the calculation of any averages for admission consideration. The exception is high school students that are applying for the CAP program, as the conditional admission from high school is partially based on Grade 12 academic performance.
14. Is it necessary that I take a full course load every term in order to be considered for admission?
It is not absolutely necessary to take a full course load (5 lecture courses per term) each semester of study. However, applicants will be at a disadvantage if there are no clearly defined semesters of study which include a full course load. It is therefore highly recommended that you complete your university studies with a full course load in most, if not all, semesters.
15. The 'Academic Requirements' section indicates that a minimum cumulative university average of 75% is required for the application to receive consideration. Since there are far more applicants than spaces available is it actually necessary to have an 'A' average to be competitive and gain admission?
Although 75% is the published minimum university average required to be included in the initial pool of eligible applicants, the average required for consideration in the final selections may be higher than that. However, the UW program is focused on attracting students who perform sufficiently well academically while also demonstrating passion and aptitude for the profession of Pharmacy. Thus, students with superior academic performance may be denied admission if the rest of their application is weak, and conversely, applicants that just meet the minimum GPA may be offered admission if the balance of their application is very strong. There is no grade which will guarantee admission. Admission is granted based on a number of factors including your GPA, Admission Profile, Letter of Reference, Interview and Reading Comprehension/Writing Test.
16. What subjects could I use to satisfy the Social Science and Humanities course requirements?
For admission to the UW School of Pharmacy you will need to present at least four one-term courses (of 4 months each) at the university level. Please refer to the Academic Requirements section for further details and restrictions on acceptable courses.
Although not a comprehensive list, the following represents the broad range of courses that can be used to fulfill the requirements for Social Science or Humanities courses: Anthropology; Chinese; Classics; Croatian; Drama; Dutch; Economics; English; Fine Arts; French; Geography; German; Greek; History; Italian; Italian Studies; Japanese; Jewish Studies; Korean; Latin; Music; Native Studies; Peace and Conflict Studies; Philosophy; Polish; Portuguese; Political Science; Psychology; Religious Studies; Russian; Sexuality, Marriage and Family; Sociology; Spanish; Speech Communications; Spirituality and Personal Development; Ukrainian; or Women’s Studies.
17. If I have not taken all required courses, could I complete any missing courses in the summer session prior to admission?
Courses completed between the end of May and the beginning of the Pharmacy program the following January cannot normally be used to meet the admission requirements and will not normally be considered by the Admissions Committee. Students who have completed all required courses will have a competitive advantage. In all cases, all of the required courses must be completed before you can commence the Pharmacy program. Applicants who are missing required courses at the time of application should have a clear and feasible plan for completing them.
18. I finished my degree some time ago, will this be a disadvantage?
Possibly. It is preferable for applicants to have a current understanding of relevant course material. Courses taken more than 10 years ago may be subject to additional review.
19. When will I be notified of the decision on my application?
All applicants to the UW School of Pharmacy will receive notification of their application status in early April. Some will be invited to an Interview as the second stage in the admissions process while others will receive notification that they have been denied admission. The Interviews will take place in early May, and final admission decisions will be communicated to applicants by mid-June. See the "Admissions Process" section of our website for specific dates.
20. If I apply one year and am not admitted, will I have a better chance of being admitted the next year?
There is no advantage or disadvantage to applicants based on the number of times you apply to the UW School of Pharmacy. Each year there is a separate admissions process through which you are evaluated against the applicants who are applying with you. It is your performance against this cohort, and the admission criteria, that determines your admissibility.
21. How will the different admission criteria be weighted?
The relative weight of the defined elements of the admissions process is determined by the Admissions Committee and is not publicly available. Generally speaking, an Offer of Admission will not be made to a student who underperforms on any component of the admissions process. No specific information will be passed back to the applicant regarding their individual performance within the process.
22. Are repeated attempts of specific courses included in admission assessments?
Yes. The Admissions Committee will review all academic attempts for prerequisite courses including the course load (expected that 5 full year or 10 semester course credits are ‘normal load’). The School does not recommend that ‘mark upgrade’ attempts be made once the passing grade is achieved.
23. How are courses at another university evaluated for equivalency?
Equivalency is determined through a detailed review of course outlines, number of hours in lecture/lab, prerequisites, textbook, etc. versus the University of Waterloo course. You are advised to confirm the equivalency assessment with the School of Pharmacy’s Undergraduate Advisor. We maintain a database of equivalencies for ease of responding to individual inquiries, but are restricted from making this publicly available at large.
24. How is course equivalency confirmed?
Course equivalency is confirmed once an admission offer is made. In completing the Admission Profile, applicants are required to self-report which courses they have taken to fulfill the academic requirements for admission. The Registrar’s Office and School of Pharmacy will assess the submitted information. The Admissions Committee will generally only offer admission to those applicants who meet the minimum standards of all elements of the admission process. Conditional offers of admission, for students missing one or more courses, may be considered.
25. If I do not receive an invitation to an interview does that mean I am not admitted?
Yes. The initial screening of applicants will be based on academic performance (the GPA, as confirmed by official transcripts), the Pharmacy Admission Profile, and the Letter of Reference. It is expected that 240 students will be interviewed for the 120 spaces in the program. It is likely that a small group of applicants will be placed on a waiting list, and subsequently invited for an interview in the event that another applicant declines their offer to participate in the second stage of the admissions process.
26. What happens at the interview?
The specifics of the interview process continue to be refined, and will be provided to applicants who successful pass the initial screening. The interviews will take place in early May, and they will be approximately a half hour in duration. The format will be panel-style, involving teams of faculty members and practicing pharmacists. The purpose of the interview is to explore personal qualities and skills such as communication, leadership, initiative, confidence and critical thinking. The interviewers will not be informed of the applicant’s GPA, and the academic performance will not normally be further considered after the candidate reaches this second stage of the admissions process. A Reading Comprehension/Writing Test (RC/WT) is also administered at the time of the interview. Specifics about the interview and the RC/WT are provided at the time of invitation.
27. How important is the Pharmacy Admission Profile?
The Pharmacy Admission Profile is an integral part of the admissions process. When properly completed, it provides the Admissions Committee with insights into the applicant’s personal qualities, extracurricular accomplishments, and motivation for a career in Pharmacy. It also includes a table by which the students will demonstrate their self-assessed compliance with the academic requirements for admission.
28. How important is the Reading Comprehension/Writing Test?
The RC/WT is an integral part of the admissions process. It assists the Admissions Committee in assessing the applicant’s capacity to comprehend relatively complex written material and communicate their understanding of the subject matter through a writing exercise.
29. How important is the Interview?
The interview is a critical component of the admissions process, for those candidates selected for one after the initial screening phase. Candidates whose performance is unsatisfactory in the interview will not receive an Admission Offer.
30. How important is the Letter of Reference? What happens if I do not have a Pharmacist as my referee?
The Letter of Reference is an important component of the admissions process, as it should help the Admissions Committee understand the applicant’s suitability for a career in Pharmacy. References from Pharmacists are likely to offer better insights into the applicant’s fit for the profession, and are therefore preferred. Those from other health professionals likely to be familiar with the role of Pharmacists (i.e. Physicians and Nurses) are also acceptable.
31. Do I have to go to UW to be accepted into the UW Pharmacy program?
No. The UW School of Pharmacy invites qualified applicants from all accredited universities and UW students do not receive special consideration for admission. Experience has shown, however, that some students find it challenging to meet all of the academic requirements when studying at other institutions, particularly if they have only completed two years of study. The exception is high school students that are admitted to the CAP program, as these exceptional students must attend UW for their first two years of study.
32. How does the Admissions Committee deal with courses that are graded on a credit/no credit (CR/NCR) basis?
UW’s School of Pharmacy has a comprehensive admissions process designed to attract the most qualified and promising candidates to the School. In order to assess each applicant on a level playing field, it is important for the Admissions Committee to receive comparable information from each applicant. In regard to post-secondary transcripts, the Committee prefers that each course be assessed on a letter or numeric grading scheme, such that the student’s grade point average (GPA) can be calculated.
Where courses are ONLY offered on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NCR) basis, the course will be excluded from the applicant’s GPA.
In cases where the student has ELECTED to choose a CR/NCR course assessment, for any course that is submitted in fulfillment of the School’s specific academic requirements, the Admissions Committee will interpret the CR as the lowest percentage grade that resulted in the awarding of the CR status. For example, if the CR was assessed based on achieving “a final mark of at least 60%”, the course will be assigned a value of 60% for purposes of calculating the applicant’s admission average(s).
In cases where the student has ELECTED to choose a CR/NCR course assessment, for courses other than those that are submitted in fulfillment of the School’s specific academic admission requirements, the course will be excluded from the applicant’s GPA.
In order to fairly apply this practice, the applicant will likely be required to provide additional supporting documentation. The Admissions Committee will need to understand whether the CR/NCR course assessment was optional, and what threshold grade was used as the basis for the CR assignment.
33. Do you accept students from other provinces or other countries?
Yes. We admit the most qualified applicants regardless of their place of residence. Out-of-province and international students are encouraged to apply if they believe they are qualified.
Conditional Admission
- What is the CAP program?
- Why was the CAP program developed?
- What are the benefits for students admitted to the CAP program?
- Do I have to attend Waterloo to be accepted into the CAP program?
- What undergraduate Science program must I take at Waterloo in order to qualify for the CAP program?
- How many places are available in the CAP program?
- What are the eligibility criteria for high school students to be admitted to the CAP program?
- How do I apply for CAP status?
- Which grades are considered for decisions on CAP status?
- When and where are the interviews conducted for the CAP program?
- How do I maintain my CAP status?
- What happens if I don’t fulfill the criteria to maintain my CAP status?
1. What is the CAP program?
The Conditional Admission to Pharmacy (CAP) program is an opportunity for outstanding high school students to be pre-admitted to the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy. Normally, applications to the Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (BScPhm) degree program are considered from university students who have completed at least two years of undergraduate science. With the CAP program, high school students can receive a conditional offer of admission to the School of Pharmacy, to begin the BScPhm program in their third year of university studies. Specific criteria must be met in order to maintain CAP status.
2. Why was the CAP program developed?
The CAP program has been developed to provide a clear path for outstanding high school students to achieve their goal of becoming pharmacists.
3. What are the benefits for students admitted to the CAP program?
High school students who are accepted into the CAP program will have the security and comfort in knowing that, provided they meet the conditions for maintaining their CAP status and are successful in the interview process in second year, they are assured a place within the BScPhm program at the University of Waterloo. With CAP status, students will be able to participate in some social and educational activities organized by the School and the Waterloo Society of Pharmacy Students (SOPhS). This will enable students in the CAP program to learn more about the degree program and the profession of Pharmacy. In addition, School of Pharmacy staff will act as resources to CAP program students, to guide them toward successful admission into the Pharmacy program.
4. Do I have to attend Waterloo to be accepted into the CAP program?
Yes. All students who are admitted into the CAP program must take their first two years of science studies at Waterloo. If students choose to attend another university for their pre-Pharmacy studies, they will be eligible to apply for the School of Pharmacy in the usual manner.
5. What undergraduate Science program must I take at Waterloo in order to qualify for the CAP program?
Students who are in the CAP program must complete the academic requirements for admission to Pharmacy by the end of the Winter (January – April) term of their second academic year. Waterloo undergraduate science degree programs which allow students to meet this condition are: Life Sciences – with Biology as the Subject of Major Interest; Life Sciences – with Biomedical Sciences as the Subject of Major Interest; or Honours Science. Students are responsible for ensuring that, when selecting electives from within these degree programs, they take all of the courses required for admission to Pharmacy by the end of Year Two. Academic advisors will provide guidance and support in this regard. If students decide to enrol in programs other than those listed above, they will be eligible to apply for the School of Pharmacy in the usual manner.
6. How many places are available in the CAP program?
Currently, 24 seats are reserved for CAP students in the BScPhm program. The next group of CAP students will be admitted to pre-Pharmacy undergraduate science studies commencing in September 2012, and this group will then begin the Pharmacy degree program in Jan 2015.
7. What are the eligibility criteria for high school students to be admitted to the CAP program?
- ≥ 90.0% high school admission average, as calculated for the Faculty of Science
- Fulfill course requirements for admission to the Faculty of Science (any Grade 12 U English, Grade 12 U Advanced Functions, Grade 12 U Calculus and Vectors, and any 2 of: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Mathematics of Data Management, Physics; and any other Grade 12 U or M course)
- Demonstrated leadership, community involvement, and work experience
- Expression of interest in the profession of Pharmacy, via personal statement in the CAP Admission Information Form
- Two letters of reference: one academic (teacher, principal, guidance counselor); one from employer or volunteer agency
- One-on-one (or small group) interview with representative(s) of the School of Pharmacy
8. How do I apply for CAP status?
Applying for CAP status is a two step process:
- Apply for admission to Waterloo through the OUAC website, for a science degree program that will allow you to meet the academic admission requirements within two years (i.e. Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or Honours Science)
- Apply for conditional, pre-admission to the School of Pharmacy through a separate application process available through the CAP Program section of this website, and pay the required fee. [Note: achieving CAP status is a separate decision from admission to the Waterloo Faculty of Science for the pre-pharmacy degree program]
9. Which grades are considered for decisions on CAP status?
High school grade 12 marks, up to the second semester mid-term grades or interim grades for full-year courses received in April each year, are considered for initial screening in regard to the CAP selection process. Students must have an academic average of at least 90.0%, based on the top six grade 12 marks including any courses that are required for admission to the Waterloo Faculty of Science. If a student is accepted into the CAP program, the student’s final admission average, upon completion of high school, must remain at or above 88.0% in order to retain their CAP status. Students who do not meet this 88.0% final average requirement will not retain their status in the CAP program, but will still retain their offer of admission to the Faculty of Science (assuming they meet all conditions related to that offer of admission). Students in this situation will then be eligible to apply for the Pharmacy program with the rest of the non-CAP students as early as their second year of university studies.
10. When and where are the interviews conducted for the CAP program?
The CAP interviews, for a select group of applicants, will take place in Kitchener on a rolling basis, as applications are reviewed. The last interviews will take place over the dates of May 11 - 13, 2012. Only those applicants who participate in the interview process will be considered for admission to the CAP program, as this is an important component of the selection process.
11. How do I maintain my CAP status?
- Achieve a final admission average of ≥ 88.0%, including any courses required for admission to the Faculty of Science at the University of Waterloo; and
- Enrol at Waterloo for the first two years of a science degree program, with a full course load each year of 5.0 units (10 lecture courses), exclusive of any associated labs; and
- Successfully complete, within the first two years of study, all of the courses required for admission to the School of Pharmacy, with a cumulative average of at least 75.0% and a special average (based on the required courses) of at least 75.0%; and
- Provide evidence of completion of at least 200 hours of (paid or volunteer) experience related to pharmacy by the end of the first (Fall) term of Year Two; and
- Continue involvement and leadership in extracurricular activities in your first two years of university; and
- Complete a CAP Update form at the end of Year One, so that the School of Pharmacy can monitor and provide feedback on your progress; and
- Achieve satisfactory performance on the Pharmacy admission interview and Reading Comprehension/Writing Test, conducted at the end of the Winter term of Year Two; and
- Complete the CAP Intent to Register form in Year Two, to confirm your intention to join the BScPhm program in Year Three.
CAP students who meet ALL of the above requirements will have their place assured in the BScPhm program.
12. What happens if I don’t fulfill the criteria to maintain my CAP status?
Students who do not meet the requirements for maintaining their CAP status will be withdrawn from the CAP program. Providing they meet the requirements to progress in the science degree program they are registered in, students can continue their studies toward completion of a Science degree. They would still be eligible to apply to the School of Pharmacy as would any other candidate who does not have CAP status, as early as their second year at Waterloo. Such students’ applications will be considered using the same selection criteria as is applied to the rest of the applicant pool.
