Pharmacy Scholars Program (PSP)

A four-week program hosted at the University of Michigan, open to undergraduate students and recent graduates who are interested in pursuing a PharmD. PSP equips participants with the knowledge they need to be successful in pharmacy school while highlighting the diverse career pathways a PharmD degree offers.

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: Gain exposure to the preparatory PharmD curriculum, participate in hands-on workshops like compounding, blood pressure and naloxone training, and engage in coursework in pharmaceutical calculations, organic chemistry, biochemistry, Med Chem and PharmCAS 101.
• Explore Ann Arbor & Detroit: Participants will have the opportunity to join excursions, including a tour of the largest stadium in the country, U-M’s football stadium, a visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts, a visit to Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown 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 Monday, November 2, 2026.

• Application Deadline: Monday, February 1, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. (EST).
• Recommendation Letter Deadline: Thursday, February 4, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. (EST).
• Program Dates: TBD

To participate, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a college student or recent graduate 
• 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 Recommendation:
You will be asked to provide two letters of recommendation from your science instructors, including their names, email addresses, titles, and institutions. The application will generate an email sent directly to these two individuals to submit their letters. For your application to be considered for review, you must have at least two submitted letters of recommendation from two science instructors.

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?

No, you must complete at least two Biology courses, or be currently enrolled in the second Biology course.

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, shadowing opportunities with pharmacists, workshops, and mentoring sessions. You will be in session Monday through Friday (typically from 8 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m.), with some weekend activities and excursions.

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

As a participant, you are responsible for ensuring there are no scheduling conflicts during the Pharmacy Scholars Program. Exceptions are rarely made for starting the program late or leaving 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!