Pharmacy

The following items are needed to complete your application: 

• University application or the Common Application
• High school transcripts
• Aptitude test scores are optional. ACT and/or SAT
 

ONU accepts AP and college credit from institutions all over the country. Students who have completed AP or college coursework in General Chemistry 1 + 2, Calculus, Statistics, English Composition and 2-4 general education courses (ex: Introduction to Psychology, Public Speaking, Macroeconomics) could be eligible for a 5 year track.

Interested students are encouraged to contact the Admissions Coordinator to review completed courses and for assistance in senior year course selection.

The college welcomes transfer students to its pharmacy program. Transfer admission opportunities are available into the first and second years (of six) for well-prepared students. Exact placement is based on the number of credit hours and types of courses the student has taken. To learn more about transferring into a pharmacy career at Ohio Northern University, please contact Mary Parker in the Pharmacy Admissions office (m-parker@onu.edu; 419-772-1051).
 
Required courses to be considered for transfer admission into the second year of the program:
 • General Chemistry 1 (with lab) (5 credit hours)
 • General Chemistry 2 (with lab) (5 credit hours)
 • Calculus 1 (3 credit hours)
 • Physics (3 credit hours)
 • Statistics (3 credit hours)
 
At least 12 credits in general education courses distributed among these broad category areas:
 • Social science (psychology or sociology) (3 credit hours)
 • Aesthetics (3 credit hours)
 • English composition (3 credit hours)
 • Speech (3 credit hours)
 • Human thought and culture (humanities) (3 credit hours)
 
Courses (as indicated above) must have been completed at a regionally accredited college/university with a C grade or better for transfer. Chemistry courses must be completed at an American Chemical Society (ACS)-accredited college or university. If courses are completed at a non-ACS-accredited institution, credit may be awarded based on satisfactory performance on an ACS standardized exam to be administered by the ONU chemistry department. Math and science courses must be completed no more than six years prior to the anticipated date of matriculation.
 
External applicants are encouraged to apply by April 1. Following application review, selected applicants will be invited to campus for a personal interview, which is required for admission consideration.
 
There are no course prerequisites for admission consideration, and the PCAT is not required. Financial aid is available to all transfer students.
 
A College of Pharmacy campus visit is highly recommended. Register online.
 
If you have additional questions about transfer opportunities, please contact:

Mary Parker
Coordinator of Admissions

Raabe College of Pharmacy

Ohio Northern University

Ada OH 45810
m-parker@onu.edu

419-772-1051

419-772-3554 (fax)

Candidates with an undergraduate degree will not be required to complete the ONU general education requirements, but must have successfully completed the following courses for admission into the four-year PharmD degree option:

Candidates without an undergraduate degree will be required to complete the ONU general education requirements, and courses may transfer to ONU to complete those requirements. Candidates must have successfully completed the following courses for admission into the four-year PharmD degree option:

ONU requires a minimum of 60 semester hour credits of post-secondary coursework to be completed prior to matriculation. Each prerequisite course must be completed with a grade of “C“ or better, and must be completed by the summer prior to enrollment. AP Coursework may fulfill prerequisite requirements. A cumulative minimum higher education GPA of 2.75 is preferred.

Application is through PharmCAS 

No PCAT is required!

PharmCAS application will require all higher education transcripts and a letter of recommendation.

Once your application file is complete, it will be evaluated in the following three categories:

• Aptitude: GPA is considered for all applicants (high school and/or college GPA depending on program). For 0-6 direct entry PharmD applicants ACT and/or SAT scores are optional but may be considered if the applicant wishes. 
• Achievement: high school or college record, essay, recommendations
• Activities: out-of-classroom interests, including volunteer service and jobs

After a College of Pharmacy evaluation, selected applicants will be invited for a personal interview, which is required for admission consideration. On-campus interviews are preferred, but virtual interviews are available as well. Interviews for both 0-6 direct entry and four-year degree option programs will take place on specified dates throughout fall and early winter. Applicants selected to participate in the interviews will be notified of these dates and the process for arranging the personal interview. Students will be notified of an official admissions decision shortly after their interview.

PMBS applicants should complete the University or Common application, and forward official high school transcripts. ACT and/or SAT scores are optional.

Unlike traditional paths that require you to spend two to four years completing undergraduate prerequisites before applying to pharmacy school, ONU offers a true 0-6 Direct Entry Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. High school seniors are admitted directly into the professional program from day one. You will start taking pharmacy-specific courses and engaging in patient care experiences during your freshman year. As long as you maintain our academic progression standards, your seat in the professional phase is guaranteed—no stressful re-application or PCAT exam required!

• Actionable Step: Select the "0-6 Direct Entry PharmD" option when filling out your freshman application via the ONU portal or the Common App.

We offer flexible entry pathways tailored to your academic background. If you have completed significant AP credits or college coursework (like General Chemistry, Calculus, and Statistics), you may qualify for our accelerated 5-year track. If you are a transfer student or already hold a bachelor's degree, you can apply directly to our 4-Year PharmD option.

• Actionable Step: If you have prior college coursework, submit your application through PharmCAS (the centralized pharmacy application service) to have your prerequisites evaluated for the 4-year path.

Yes. Unlike most undergraduate programs at ONU that use a standard rolling admission review, the Raabe College of Pharmacy requires a personal interview for all PharmD applicants. This interview is a requirement of our national accreditation agency. It features a 30-minute conversation with two evaluators (faculty members and/or current students) and gives us a chance to assess your communication skills, empathy, and passion for healthcare.

• Actionable Step: Submit your online application, essay, and transcripts early so our admissions team can review your file and invite you to an upcoming on-campus or virtual Interview Day.

To complete your application file for review, first-year applicants must submit:

1. A completed online application (ONU App, Common App, or Coalition App).
2. An official high school transcript (submitted directly by your high school counselor).
3. A personal essay and up to two letters of recommendation.

• Note: Letters of recommendation and essays are unique requirements for the College of Pharmacy and are evaluated under our "Achievement" criteria.
• Actionable Step: Ask a teacher, employer, or pharmacist who can speak to your academic strengths and character to write your recommendation letters well ahead of winter deadlines.

Good news: the PCAT is not required for any of our pharmacy pathways! Furthermore, ONU is completely test-optional for first-year admissions. Your student can apply without submitting ACT or SAT scores. If they choose a test-optional track, the admissions committee will holistically evaluate their file using their high school GPA, the academic rigor of their science and math courses, their essay, recommendation letters, and out-of-classroom leadership activities.

• Actionable Step: If you feel your standardized test scores strongly reflect your academic abilities, feel free to submit them, as we are happy to consider them alongside your GPA.

If you love medicine and lab science but don’t want to go into direct patient care as a retail or clinical pharmacist, our BS in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences (PMBS) is the perfect alternative. This four-year undergraduate degree is heavily anchored in laboratory research, preparing students for high-paying careers as corporate scientists in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and life sciences industries, or for entry into medical and graduate schools.

• Actionable Step: Read through the PMBS curriculum guide on our department page to see how it differs from the clinical PharmD track.