Wherever you are in your journey, we have a dedicated team of Pre-Pharmacy advisors excited to meet with you!
Are you a UW-Madison student
– OR –
a student interested in applying to UW-Madison?
Find out about Pre-Pharmacy advising services and resources at UW-Madison.
Are you a HS student
– OR –
a student attending another university?
Learn about Pre-Pharmacy opportunities and our Early Assurance program.
Advising
Is Pharmacy Right for Me?
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What is Pharmacy?
Pharmacists play a key role in healthcare by preparing medication and educating patients on how to manage complex drug therapies. They are the only healthcare providers whose education focuses on effective and safe medication use. They are also trained to monitor many chronic conditions, provide advice on general health topics, and work in collaboration with other healthcare professionals to serve and care for patients. Pharmacists in pharmaceutical research also fight disease and improve human health through the development of new drugs and participation in clinical research.
The Pharmacy Profession
The resources and tools listed below are an excellent starting point for exploring the pharmacy profession including the many career opportunities available, the expanding roles of pharmacists, and the ever changing field of pharmaceutical care and pharmacy practice. Start investigating your options and make efforts to get in-person experience through job shadowing, conducting informational interviews, volunteering or working in pharmacy. We also invite you to seek career advice from our academic advisors, faculty, current PharmD students, alumni, and employers.
- Pharmacy is Right for Me
– Information about why pharmacy might be a good fit for you, career opportunities, pharmacist roles and responsibilities, why pharmacy matters. - Career Options and Profiles – from American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP)
– Overview of the many specialty areas and unique practice areas for health-system pharmacists. - Career Opportunities in Clinical Pharmacy – from American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)
– Overview of the many career options available to pharmacists seeking clinical opportunities within their scope of practice. - Occupational Outlook Handbook
– U.S. Department of Labor information about pharmacists, the nature of the work, employment, job outlook, and earnings.
Pre-Pharmacy Advisors
How to Prepare for Advising Appointments
- Bring a list of your questions or topics to your advising appointment. Read all emails sent from the SoP and use resources (website, handbooks, guides) to stay informed. Ask questions if you don’t understand an issue or have a specific concern.
- Feel free to discuss academic and non-academic matters with your advisor. Advisors want to get to know you as students and people. Be willing to discuss challenges as well as what’s going well, what you like to do for fun, what are you excited about or want to learn more about! Be open to considering advice from advisors, faculty and other mentors.
- Expect referrals from your advisor. Think of your assigned advisor/advising office as your “home base”. If you feel overwhelmed or experience any challenges, please reach out! Advisors are available to listen, provide guidance and get you connected to the services/resources you need!
PharmD Prospective Student Events
Talk with current PharmD students, meet admissions advisors, and learn about all the opportunities our program offers.