PharmCAS Community

The suggested text below was developed in collaboration with the PharmCAS Advisory Committee and is intended to assist participating colleges and schools of pharmacy with any public announcements they will make regarding the change to the PharmCAS early decision process. A Word version of the form is also attached. Please send any thoughts or questions to cas@aacp.org.

2020-2021 (UPCOMING) ADMISSIONS CYCLE

PharmCAS Instructions [Statement will be in addition to the current ED instructions]
"Notice to Future Applicants: Early decision will no longer be available in PharmCAS beginning in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle for applicants applying for fall 2022 enrollment."

Text for Colleges/Schools that Will No Longer Participate in Early Decision in 2020-2021
"The [school/college] will no longer participate in the PharmCAS early decision process beginning in the 2020-2021 admissions cycle for the fall 2021 entering class. Therefore, applicants who planned or were advised to apply via early decision should apply early in the admissions cycle as regular applicants instead. The 2020-2021 PharmCAS application will open in mid-July 2020."

Text for College/Schools Participating in Early Decision in 2020-2021
"The [school/college] will participate in the PharmCAS early decision process during the 2020-2021 admissions cycle for fall 2021 entering class. Notice to Future Applicants: Early decision will no longer be available in PharmCAS beginning in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle for the fall 2022 entering class. Therefore, all future applicants for the fall 2022 entering class or beyond should plan to apply early as regular applicants instead."

Rationale for Change [Suggested response to any questions.]
"PharmCAS will no longer offer early decision beginning in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle for the fall 2022 entering class. The change is intended to promote a more inclusive admissions process that enhances the ability of all applicants to choose the best Pharm.D. degree program to meet their needs and goals, and to support the efforts of participating colleges and schools of pharmacy to recruit and enroll a diverse and qualified pool of students. Contact PharmCAS at info@pharmcas.org with any further questions about the application process."

2021-2022 (FOLLOWING) ADMISSIONS CYCLE

PharmCAS Instructions [Text will be in lieu of the current ED instructions and is subject to change.]
"Early decision is no longer offered as an option in PharmCAS. Applicants are encouraged to apply to their designated Pharm.D. degree programs early in the admissions cycle. Some colleges or schools of pharmacy may give preference to applicants who apply earlier in the cycle. Please visit the PharmCAS School Directory to learn more."

Text for All Colleges/Schools in PharmCAS
"Early decision is no longer offered as an option in PharmCAS. Applicants are encouraged to apply early in the admissions cycle to improve their chances for admission."

Optional Language for Colleges/Schools: FYI - AACP is exploring options to facilitate the ability of colleges and schools in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle to designate a "priority" (preferred) deadline in addition to their official (enforced) PharmCAS deadline. The purpose of the priority deadline would be to encourage applicants to apply earlier in the cycle. More information will follow as it becomes available.
"Applicants who apply by the [college/school's] priority deadline on [date] will be given preference in the admissions review process."


------------------------------
Libby J. Ross, MA
Senior Director of Student Affairs
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
703-739-2330, x1009
Lross@aacp.org
------------------------------

Original Message------

The suggested text below was developed in collaboration with the PharmCAS Advisory Committee and is intended to assist participating colleges and schools of pharmacy with any public announcements they will make regarding the change to the PharmCAS early decision process. A Word version of the form is also attached. Please send any thoughts or questions to cas@aacp.org.

2020-2021 (UPCOMING) ADMISSIONS CYCLE

PharmCAS Instructions [Statement will be in addition to the current ED instructions]
"Notice to Future Applicants: Early decision will no longer be available in PharmCAS beginning in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle for applicants applying for fall 2022 enrollment."

Text for Colleges/Schools that Will No Longer Participate in Early Decision in 2020-2021
"The [school/college] will no longer participate in the PharmCAS early decision process beginning in the 2020-2021 admissions cycle for the fall 2021 entering class. Therefore, applicants who planned or were advised to apply via early decision should apply early in the admissions cycle as regular applicants instead. The 2020-2021 PharmCAS application will open in mid-July 2020."

Text for College/Schools Participating in Early Decision in 2020-2021
"The [school/college] will participate in the PharmCAS early decision process during the 2020-2021 admissions cycle for fall 2021 entering class. Notice to Future Applicants: Early decision will no longer be available in PharmCAS beginning in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle for the fall 2022 entering class. Therefore, all future applicants for the fall 2022 entering class or beyond should plan to apply early as regular applicants instead."

Rationale for Change [Suggested response to any questions.]
"PharmCAS will no longer offer early decision beginning in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle for the fall 2022 entering class. The change is intended to promote a more inclusive admissions process that enhances the ability of all applicants to choose the best Pharm.D. degree program to meet their needs and goals, and to support the efforts of participating colleges and schools of pharmacy to recruit and enroll a diverse and qualified pool of students. Contact PharmCAS at info@pharmcas.org with any further questions about the application process."

2021-2022 (FOLLOWING) ADMISSIONS CYCLE

PharmCAS Instructions [Text will be in lieu of the current ED instructions and is subject to change.]
"Early decision is no longer offered as an option in PharmCAS. Applicants are encouraged to apply to their designated Pharm.D. degree programs early in the admissions cycle. Some colleges or schools of pharmacy may give preference to applicants who apply earlier in the cycle. Please visit the PharmCAS School Directory to learn more."

Text for All Colleges/Schools in PharmCAS
"Early decision is no longer offered as an option in PharmCAS. Applicants are encouraged to apply early in the admissions cycle to improve their chances for admission."

Optional Language for Colleges/Schools: FYI - AACP is exploring options to facilitate the ability of colleges and schools in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle to designate a "priority" (preferred) deadline in addition to their official (enforced) PharmCAS deadline. The purpose of the priority deadline would be to encourage applicants to apply earlier in the cycle. More information will follow as it becomes available.
"Applicants who apply by the [college/school's] priority deadline on [date] will be given preference in the admissions review process."


------------------------------
Libby J. Ross, MA
Senior Director of Student Affairs
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
703-739-2330, x1009
Lross@aacp.org
------------------------------

Dear Hershey:

Thank you for sharing your concerns. As a point of clarification, the rationale statement was created in response to feedback from the PharmCAS Advisory Committee and is intended to facilitate the ability of colleges and schools to respond to any applicant questions they might receive about the policy change. By offering standardized language, we intended to minimize this burden on our members, as well as minimize the chance that an institution might use language that would increase our level of risk. AACP will not include the rationale statement in any PharmCAS instructions or website, and does not anticipate that applicants will press for more details about the change. As staff, I understand your concerns and agree that all colleges and schools in PharmCAS should exclude the rationale statement from their public announcements and materials. 

Thank you again,
Libby

------------------------------
Libby J. Ross, MA
Senior Director of Student Affairs
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
703-739-2330, x1009
Lross@aacp.org
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-05-2020 10:43
From: Hershey Bell
Subject: Early Decision Statements

If I can just be a thorn in the side for a moment,

So, if a school decides to PARTICIPATE in early decision in the coming cycle, that statement regarding the rationale for ending early decision does make the school look all that favorable (taking an action, which in the opinion of PharmCAS, is against motherhood and apple pie).

I would suggest that the rationale NOT be provided until the year of the decision for ALL.  If any individual school decides to end early decision this year, they can, on their own, explain their rationale to their applicant pool.

Make sense?

Hershey S. Bell, MD, MSMedEd, FAAFP

Professor, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean

LECOM School of Pharmacy

Erie, PA and Bradenton, FL

814-860-5168

The purpose statement of the LECOM School of Pharmacy is "We care for our students and ensure their success!"

My new EP "San Ysidro" debuted on all major music services January 14, 2020! SUPPORT THE LECOM SCHOLARSHIP FUND BY PURCHASING mp3s of any of my music at the Nimbit music fundraising site (search "Hershey Bell" and visit my "Store") or for a CD COPY OF "San Ysidro", you can order at this link!  Thank you for your support of the LECOM Scholarship Fund!

ALL PROFITS FROM SALES SUPPORT THE LECOM SCHOLARSHIP FUND!

Original Message------

The suggested text below was developed in collaboration with the PharmCAS Advisory Committee and is intended to assist participating colleges and schools of pharmacy with any public announcements they will make regarding the change to the PharmCAS early decision process. A Word version of the form is also attached. Please send any thoughts or questions to cas@aacp.org.

2020-2021 (UPCOMING) ADMISSIONS CYCLE

PharmCAS Instructions [Statement will be in addition to the current ED instructions]
"Notice to Future Applicants: Early decision will no longer be available in PharmCAS beginning in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle for applicants applying for fall 2022 enrollment."

Text for Colleges/Schools that Will No Longer Participate in Early Decision in 2020-2021
"The [school/college] will no longer participate in the PharmCAS early decision process beginning in the 2020-2021 admissions cycle for the fall 2021 entering class. Therefore, applicants who planned or were advised to apply via early decision should apply early in the admissions cycle as regular applicants instead. The 2020-2021 PharmCAS application will open in mid-July 2020."

Text for College/Schools Participating in Early Decision in 2020-2021
"The [school/college] will participate in the PharmCAS early decision process during the 2020-2021 admissions cycle for fall 2021 entering class. Notice to Future Applicants: Early decision will no longer be available in PharmCAS beginning in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle for the fall 2022 entering class. Therefore, all future applicants for the fall 2022 entering class or beyond should plan to apply early as regular applicants instead."

Rationale for Change [Suggested response to any questions.]
"PharmCAS will no longer offer early decision beginning in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle for the fall 2022 entering class. The change is intended to promote a more inclusive admissions process that enhances the ability of all applicants to choose the best Pharm.D. degree program to meet their needs and goals, and to support the efforts of participating colleges and schools of pharmacy to recruit and enroll a diverse and qualified pool of students. Contact PharmCAS at info@pharmcas.org with any further questions about the application process."

2021-2022 (FOLLOWING) ADMISSIONS CYCLE

PharmCAS Instructions [Text will be in lieu of the current ED instructions and is subject to change.]
"Early decision is no longer offered as an option in PharmCAS. Applicants are encouraged to apply to their designated Pharm.D. degree programs early in the admissions cycle. Some colleges or schools of pharmacy may give preference to applicants who apply earlier in the cycle. Please visit the PharmCAS School Directory to learn more."

Text for All Colleges/Schools in PharmCAS
"Early decision is no longer offered as an option in PharmCAS. Applicants are encouraged to apply early in the admissions cycle to improve their chances for admission."

Optional Language for Colleges/Schools: FYI - AACP is exploring options to facilitate the ability of colleges and schools in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle to designate a "priority" (preferred) deadline in addition to their official (enforced) PharmCAS deadline. The purpose of the priority deadline would be to encourage applicants to apply earlier in the cycle. More information will follow as it becomes available.
"Applicants who apply by the [college/school's] priority deadline on [date] will be given preference in the admissions review process."


------------------------------
Libby J. Ross, MA
Senior Director of Student Affairs
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
703-739-2330, x1009
Lross@aacp.org
------------------------------