PharmD Early Assurance

An Early Pathway to Your PharmD

The Early Assurance (EA) program provides a structured pathway to the UW–Madison Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program for those students who are:

• Able to demonstrate a clear goal to become a pharmacist in the Early Assurance application essay question
• A current high school senior (or recent high school graduate) admitted to one of the 13 Universities of Wisconsin with a minimum 3.5 high school GPA at the time of EA application

– OR –

• A full-time, first semester college student attending one of the 13 Universities of Wisconsin with a minimum 3.5 high school GPA at the time of EA application

Benefits of Joining the Early Assurance Program

Early Assurance students can concentrate on their pre-pharmacy coursework and engage in co-curricular activities with the confidence that their place in the UW–Madison PharmD program is secured. Additional benefits include:

• Assurance of PharmD admission upon meeting Early Assurance eligibility requirements
• Access to extra support and goal-oriented preparation for successful entry into the PharmD program
• Personalized academic, admissions, and career advising
• Opportunities to connect with faculty, alumni, and current pharmacy students

Early Assurance Program Requirements

Working with their campus advisor and an assigned UW–Madison School of Pharmacy EA program advisor, students must complete/satisfy all requirements of the Early Assurance program before entry into the Doctor of Pharmacy program:

1. Meet with the assigned School of Pharmacy EA program advisor once per semester.
2. Complete prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C at the time of PharmCAS application submission with no more than a combination of two C’s or drops/withdrawals in all prerequisite course attempts.
   • Prerequisite coursework can be satisfied through AP/IB test credits in accordance with the policies at the Universities of Wisconsin campus you attend.
   • Prerequisite coursework can be satisfied via college credits earned during high school if they meet transferability requirements and the grade policies noted above.
3. Take no more than two prerequisite courses outside the Universities of Wisconsin campuses, excluding transfer credits earned before obtaining a high school diploma.
4. Maintain a full-time course load (minimum 12 credits) during fall and spring semesters.
5. Remain in good academic standing and free of academic or non-academic misconduct sanctions.
6. Meet program eligibility requirements within two to four years while enrolled at one of the 13 Universities of Wisconsin campuses (two years minimum).
7. Submit a PharmCAS application by November 1 (Priority Deadline) of the year before entering the PharmD program. Early Assurance students do not need to submit letters of recommendation to PharmCAS. Be sure to address the PharmD admissions selection criteria throughout your PharmCAS application.
8. At the time you submit your PharmCAS application, you must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2. This GPA includes:
   • Grades replaced due to your university’s academic or grade replacement policies.
   • Grades from up to two courses taken outside of a Universities of Wisconsin campus.
   • Note: For students who graduate from high school in 2025 or later, college courses completed during high school will not be included in the cumulative GPA calculation.
9. Successfully complete the PharmD admission interview during the application cycle for which you will begin the PharmD program. Interviews must be completed by the last priority interview date in each cycle. A successful interview confirms you addressed the PharmD admissions selection criteria as well as exhibiting the professionalism required to be a student pharmacist.
10. Meet program eligibility requirements in no less than two and no more than four years while enrolled at one of the 13 Universities of Wisconsin.

If a student fails to meet the eligibility requirements, they will be notified of their dismissal from the Early Assurance program. However, they remain eligible to apply to the PharmD program through the traditional PharmD admissions process.

International Early Assurance Applicants

The Early Assurance (EA) program is a pathway, not a direct admission, to a Universities of Wisconsin campus or the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy. For international applicants, the Early Assurance (EA) program requires first-year/freshman admission to one of the 13 Universities of Wisconsin campuses, fulfillment of campus-specific international student requirements (including F-1 visa), and completion of all pre-pharmacy prerequisites at that campus.

The UW-Madison School of Pharmacy issues the I-20 after PharmD admission, after meeting all PharmD admission conditions. Students with over 12 international credits are ineligible and must apply through the traditional PharmD admissions process.