So I’ve just finished my application to Pitt with the Pre-Medicine Intended Major so that I could apply to their Medicine GAP. However, lately I’ve also been interested in their Pharmacy GAP as well because I could see myself in either field (I planned to specialize in Pharmacology if I ended up going down the medical school route). My question is that given the hyperselectivity of the Medicine GAP, is there also a way to apply to the Pharmacy GAP as well? Any answers will be appreciated, thanks!
For pharmacy GAP you have to indicate “prepharmacy” on the application. For medical GAP you have to indicate “premed or bioengineering” on the application, to be considered.
Both have different requirements to keep the guarantee.
Pharmacy requires you to take the prerequisites, take the PCAT, have a 3.25 GPA.
Medical requires a 3.75 GPA to keep GAP I believe which can be difficult to attain as premed or bioeng.
Also pharmacy GAP is limited to first 50 applicants who meet criteria.
Med GAP is dependent on invitation and interview process. You had to apply by Nov 15th to be considered for it.
And I think only 10 or so students out of 500 get it.
What I would do is call the school and find out if it is too late for med GAP consideration (I don’t know if you had to apply by Nov 15 or have all materials in by that date), and also find out if all 50 some pharmacy GAP spots have already been given out (my D applied in August to make sure she would get a spot).
Bottom line, I think the pharmacy GAP is easier to attain and keep than the medical GAP, as long as there are still spots left.
And if it’s too late for med GAP, then hopefully you still have a chance for pharmacy guarantee.
If you already submitted your application, see if you can still switch it to pharmacy, but talk to someone first about your options.
Ideally you should visit Pitt and set up an appointment with each department to see where you could best realize your academic goals.
If you are sure that pharmacy is what you want, then having the GAP is invaluable. My D only has to apply to one pharmacy school, Pitt, which saves lots of time and money.
@EXwire, I encourage you to contact our office to discuss the GAPs: 412-624-7488 or oafa@pitt.edu.
One important factor that may influence your choice: to be considered for the medicine GAP, we must have everything (application, application fee, transcript or self-reported academic record, and test scores) by today in order to review you for the medicine GAP.
The Pharmacy GAP does not have a strict deadline, but if you are interested you must contact our office if you did not indicate “prepharmacy” on your application.
Thanks to everyone for your answers! Just some clarification though: I’ve already submitted my application with all the Medical GAP prerequisites before the deadline, so that shouldn’t be a problem.