Pharmacy Scholars Program (PSP)

A five-week program hosted at the University of Michigan open to undergraduate and graduate students, recent graduates and individuals who are interested in pursuing a PharmD. PSP equips participants with the knowledge they need to be successful in pharmacy school while introducing the many doors a PharmD degree can open.

At PSP, you will:

• Make Important Connections: Attend admissions sessions, hear from a variety of faculty and student guest speakers, participate in one-on-one academic advising, practice your interviewing skills and receive advice on preparing your application for pharmacy school.
• Explore What You Can Do With a PharmD: Learn about the various career paths in pharmacy, shadow current pharmacy professionals, hear from UM alumni and be mentored by current students.
• Get a Glimpse of the Classroom: Be exposed to first-year pharmacy classes, participate in hands-on workshops like compounding, blood pressure and naloxone training, and engage in coursework in chemistry, organic chemistry, math, calculations, biology, biochemistry, genetics and PharmCAS 101.
• Explore Ann Arbor & Detroit: Participants will have the opportunity to participate in excursions including a tour of the largest stadium in the country, U-M’s football stadium, a visit to the FDA site, a scenic Riverwalk in Detroit and more!

Focus on your future in pharmacy, and we will provide housing and a meal plan during your time in Ann Arbor. All PSP participants are required to stay in the residence halls. In addition to providing a stipend, U-M will help arrange and cover airfare to and from Michigan and your home residence or current college/university.

Applications for PSP open on December 9, 2024.

• Program Dates: June 16-July 18, 2025
• Application Deadline: February 18, 2025
• Letter of Recommendation Deadline: February 28, 2025

To participate, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a college student, recent graduate or individual considering a Pharm D currently residing, working, or studying in the United States
• You must have a cumulative and science GPA of 2.8 or higher
• You must have completed the following courses:
  • One year of General Chemistry with lab
  • One year of Organic Chemistry with lab
  • One year of Biology with lab
  • Calculus I
  • One semester of English composition

Our application process is simple and free, but we want to give you a preview of what we ask for.

Education History
We will ask you to outline your education history, including credit hours completed and your cumulative GPA.

Coursework
We will ask you to outline your coursework, including the course number, date of completion and grade you received.

Extracurricular Activities
We will ask you to list any extracurricular activities you have been involved in (sports, hobbies, etc).

Letters of Reccomendation
You will be asked to provide the names, email addresses, titles and institutions of two science instructors to provide a letter of recommendation for you. The application will generate an email that will be sent directly to these two individuals to submit their letters.

You will also be asked to attach:
An unofficial electronic copy of your transcript
Resume or CV

Application Questions:

If I have only taken one biology course, can I still apply?

Yes, you are still eligible.

If I only have one grade combined for my lab and lecture, what do I do?

You can put the same grade in each box.

If I am currently enrolled in a required course and do not yet have a grade to put on the application, can I still apply?

Yes, type “currently enrolled” in the appropriate box(es).

When will I hear back regarding a decision about my application?

Mid-March.

Program Questions:

What does a typical day look like?

A typical day consists of speaker presentations, workshops and mentoring sessions. You will be in session from Monday through Friday with some weekend activities and excursions.

Do I have to remain for the full length of time?

As a participant, it is your responsibility to ensure that there are no scheduling conflicts during the Pharmacy Scholars Program. Exceptions are rarely made for a you to begin the program late or leave the program early.

Am I under any obligation to apply for the University of Michigan’s PharmD program if I attend PSP?

No, there is no obligation to do this — but we think you will love our program!