Direct Admission Program

High school seniors and ETSU freshmen: Start your pharmacy career now.

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Interested in health care, but not sure which path to choose? As a pharmacist, you can work on the front lines of health care in a variety of areas, making an impact with patients in a highly-respected profession that U.S. News and World Report 2018 ranked among the top 20 best-paying careers. With the Direct Admission Program at East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, you can get started on your pharmacy career as early as high school.

Overview

Pharmacy Direct Admission Program is for high achieving students who desire a career in pharmacy.  The program provides an assurance of admission into Gatton College of Pharmacy for high school students choosing to attend ETSU.

Eligibility

High school seniors applying to ETSU, and ETSU freshmen, are eligible to apply. No minimum high school GPA or ACT is required; however, competitive applicants will score in the range of 25 on the ACT and have GPAs around 3.75. Gatton College of Pharmacy recognizes that grades and test scores are only small aspects of applicant's overall ability to succeed as a student pharmacist and later excel as a practitioner, and as such encourage students desiring to become pharmacists and interested in attending Gatton College of Pharmacy to apply.

Application Process

Admission to the Pharmacy Direct Admission Program is a competitive selection process involving competitive applicants.  Application to the program is in addition to the application for admission to ETSU and is submitted directly to the college of pharmacy.   The application period is October 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020. Select applicants shall be invited for an in-person interview with members of the Admissions Committee in April, 2020. Committee decisions shall be communicated to interviewed candidates by end of April, 2020.

Matriculation into PharmD Program

Applicants accepted into the program receive a conditional acceptance that allows them to matriculate into the PharmD program without going through the traditional admission process. Final matriculation is contingent upon satisfying all program requirements, including:

  • Satisfactory completion of all PharrnD prerequisites with a minimum grade of C
  • All prerequisite coursework must be taken at ETSU unless an exception is granted
  • Maintain continuous enrollment as full-time student
  • Maintain specified GPAs
  • Participate in select personal/professional development

Matriculation Timeframe

Program participants may begin the PharmD curriculum as early as the end of their second year of undergraduate education but could delay entry to complete additional coursework or degree, if desired.  Students entering ETSU with AP or dual-enrollment credit hours may be able to shorten the timeframe.  Students delaying entry must continue to meet program standards.