Xavier helps save spots for future pharmacy hopefuls

    Exceptional high school seniors considering a career in pharmacy now have a unique opportunity to get a leg up on their professional education through a new program being offered by Xavier University of Louisiana.
    Xavier is the only college in the state – and one of a handful nationwide – to offer the option new Contingent Admit Program (CAP).
    Students can apply for admission into the College of Pharmacy as seniors in high school. Those who qualify and are accepted into the CAP will be guaranteed a seat in the professional pharmacy program if they satisfactorily complete all of their pre-requisite courses in two years.
    Previously, all applicants for the four-year professional program were required to complete the same requirements either at Xavier or another college before they would even be considered for admission into pharmacy school.
    “This is a significant step that takes some of the anxiety out of the admissions process,” said Dr. Kathleen Kennedy, dean of the Xavier College of Pharmacy. “Students in the Contingent Admit Program will know exactly what is expected of them, allowing them to focus on what is really important – their academic work – with the assurance of enrollment in the pharmacy program.”
    To be considered for contingent admission, high school students must have a minimum composite ACT score of 23 (or equivalent SAT score) and a minimum cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.3 (on a 4.0 scale) in a college-preparatory curriculum.
    They also will need to submit an online application, a personal statement and two letters of reference from their high school math or science teachers. An on-campus personal interview also is required.
    Once admitted into the program, students must take 66 hours of prescribed courses and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in the pre-pharmacy curriculum. They also will be required to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) in the fall semester of the second year.
    Students admitted to the program who do not maintain the requisite GPA will be withdrawn from the program but may still apply for admission into the college along with the remainder of the class.
    Pharmacy graduates receive a Pharm.D. degree, providing access to roles in the healthcare industry. Pharmacy practice settings include retail pharmacies, hospital and clinics and long-term care facilities. Pharmacists also work in the pharmaceutical industry, state and federal government, academia, research organizations and a variety of other professional settings.
    For more information on the program, including application deadlines, visit the Xavier website at http://www.xula.edu/cop/contingent.php or call 520-5397.
    The Xavier College of Pharmacy, one of only two pharmacy schools in the state (UL-Monroe is the other), is one of the top producers of African-American pharmacists in the country. The program, however, has always been open to qualified students of any race or ethnicity.