Pre-Pharmacy Path

SUNY Plattsburgh has 3+4 program with the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in the Pharm.D. program at their Albany campus.

After successfully completing three years at SUNY Plattsburgh, you will matriculate into ACPHS and begin pharmacy studies. After the first year at ACPHS, 20 credits will transfer back to SUNY Plattsburgh to complete a bachelor’s degree in biology. Students will normally complete the Program in seven years, saving one year of tuition at SUNY Plattsburgh.   

1. Initial application to the program will be made to SUNY Plattsburgh.
2. Students will enroll in this program by declaring a biology major either at the time of admission to SUNY Plattsburgh or early enough in their study at SUNY Plattsburgh to permit them to complete all degree requirements in a reasonable time (see below). 
3. The program requires seven years of full-time equivalency study. For the first three years will be at SUNY Plattsburgh, and the last four years will be ACPHS.
4. While students are enrolled at a either campus they will be personally and independently responsible for applicable fees at the other institution on a per use basis. 
5. Students in the program will make a formal application to ACPHS by December 1 in the fall semester of their third year at SUNY Plattsburgh and will be evaluated for admission.
6. This is not a guaranteed entrance program. Students may be eligible to matriculate at ACPHS once they have met the following requirements:
   1. completion of at least 90 credits at SUNY Plattsburgh with an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 (only grades of C- or above will count towards the  90 credits);
   2. completion of the required pre-pharmacy courses at SUNY Plattsburgh, (see below)
   3. successful completion of the interview at ACPHS
   4. completed the PCAT with a satisfactory score.
7. Students who have been admitted to ACPHS as part of the program will receive a bachelor of science from SUNY Plattsburgh once they have met all of the requirements for completion of the degree at SUNY Plattsburgh.
8. Students will complete their requirements for a Doctor of Pharmacy once the prescribed requirements of that ACPHS program have been met.

3 Year Path at SUNY Plattsburgh for 3+4 Programs

• General Biology (BIO101, 4 credits with lab)
• Microbiology (BIO203, 4 credits)
• General Genetics (BIO305, 4 credits with lab)
• Communicating Biology (BIO380, 3 credits)
• General Chemistry I & II (CHE111 & CHE112, 8 credits with lab)
• Physics for Life Sciences I (PHY103 4 credits with lab)
• Statistics (MAT161, 3 credits) or Biostatistics (BIO333, 3 credits)
• Calculus I (MAT221, 3 credits)
• General Psychology (PSY101, 3 credits)
• Other courses in humanities and sociology, depending on the program (9 credits)

We have articulation agreement with SUNY Buffalo for their pharmacy program that can significantly shorten the time it takes to become a pharmacist.

This program is designed to allow qualified students to apply to the SUNY Buffalo School of Pharmacy after their sophomore year and enter their pharmacy program after 3 years in the B.A. in biology program at SUNY Plattsburgh. This has the advantage of saving one year’s tuition to SUNY Plattsburgh.

This program accepts college juniors. After the first year at SUNY Buffalo, 20 credits will transfer back to SUNY Plattsburgh to finish your bachelor’s degree. This is a typical pharmacy program, completing the degree in four years. In total, you will complete a bachelor’s degree at SUNY Plattsburgh and a Pharm.D. degree at SUNY Buffalo in seven years.

SUNY Buffalo will consider for conditional acceptance into the first year of instruction all students who have successfully completed the SUNY Plattsburgh portion of B.A. of biology degree (approximately 103 credits) provided the following conditions have been met:

• The satisfactory completion of the SUNY Plattsburgh portion of B.A. of biology degree curriculum with a minimum total GPA of 3.5 and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in all science and math courses.
• Each prerequisite course must successfully be completed with a grade equal to, or greater than, a C by the end of the summer semester prior to fall admission.
• Submit an application through the Pharmacy Application Service (PharmCAS) during the fall of their junior year, no later than October 1 following these steps: http://pharmacy.buffalo.edu/departments-offices/admissions-advisement.html
• Take the PCAT (Pharmacy Admission Test). The PCAT is required for all PharmCAS applicants. University at Buffalo does not have a minimum PCAT score requirement; however, competitive applicants typically present a score of at least 300. The score we consider is the Percentile Rank (not Scaled Scores) using the sum of each item under the Percentile Rank (Verbal Ability, Biology, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, and Chemistry) to determine the score (not the Composite Score). If taken twice, we consider the higher of the two. We will not accept any PCAT test over three years old. We do accept the January PCAT even though PharmCAS will receive the scores after the February 1 deadline. A minimum score of “3” must also be obtained on the written essay component of the PCAT. A maximum of two (2) test administrations will be allowed.
• Receive a favorable letter of recommendation from the SUNY Plattsburgh Committee as a part of the 3 required PharmCAS letters of recommendation.
• Meet the University at Buffalo Pharm.D. Supplemental Application and Application Fee deadline of March 1.
• Maintain the appropriate moral and ethical standards necessary for admission and for the eventual attainment of professional licensure.

Upon invitation, the University at Buffalo will also require a formal interview with designated interviewers as part of the Pharm.D. admissions process. Information regarding this requirement will be provided following the receipt of all application documents.

Selection is based on scholastic achievement, aptitude, personal qualifications, and evidence of motivation toward pharmacy. These are judged from the SUNY Plattsburgh record, grade point average, the PCAT, letters of reference and evaluation, a Supplemental Admission Application, and a personal interview. In addition to intellectual and academic competence, the School’s Admissions Committee considers communication skills, leadership ability, community service, health care-related or research experience, and motivation for pursuing a career in pharmacy.

All students enrolled in the Pharm.D. program must submit a Criminal Background Check (CBC) and a Drug Screen from a vendor approved by UB SoPPS at the student’s expense. The CBC is due within 15 days of the acceptance confirmation email. Drug Screens will be assigned randomly throughout the four years in the professional program.

At the end of the first and second years at SUNY Plattsburgh, participants must submit an official transcript of grades to the Pharm.D. Admissions Committee. Their performance in the program will be evaluated and they will receive a written or electronic response informing them of their status. Failure of a participant to achieve or maintain these standards will result in his or her removal from the program. Unsuccessful application or discontinuance following acceptance will not preclude direct application to the University at Buffalo through its PharmCAS application process and will not be considered in any future admissions review process.

A candidate in good standing will have the option of spending the fourth year of the program at SUNY Plattsburgh to complete a baccalaureate degree rather than at the University at Buffalo in the first year of the Pharm.D. program. Choosing this option will necessarily extend the length of the program to eight years. During the fourth year at SUNY Plattsburgh, a participant must maintain the same academic standards as specified for the first three years in order to remain in good standing.

The Bachelor of Arts/Science in Biology will be conferred by SUNY Plattsburgh to students enrolled under this agreement after successful completion of the first year study at SUNY Buffalo.

Should a candidate enrolled in the pre-professional program at SUNY Plattsburgh not be accepted to complete his or her final undergraduate requirements at SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Plattsburgh will provide a seamless alternative for that student to satisfy all of the remaining requirements for the undergraduate degree.

The same provision will be made for students who are conditionally accepted to continue their studies at SUNY Buffalo but fail to satisfactorily complete their first year of study.

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) is the nation’s largest medical college and is the only academic health center in the osteopathic profession.

Physicians and administrators at the Millcreek Community Hospital saw the growing demand for more physicians and opened LECOM in 1992. With the college and the hospital as the core of a highly innovative medical education system based in Erie, Pa., LECOM has strived to add to the quality of life of our neighbors by bringing total health care to the community. The college brought a new concept in medical fitness and wellness to Erie, built a network of physician offices and has started construction on a senior living center that is introducing a new model of health care for older adults.

LECOM offers innovative and affordable education in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and dental medicine. From campuses in Erie and Greensburg, Pa. and Bradenton, Fla., LECOM provides student-centered pathways to prepare the next generation of health care professionals.

Learn more about the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy

There are two Pharm.D. tracks with LECOM. One track is a 3+4 Track. The successful applicant will spend 3 years at SUNY Plattsburgh and then matriculate into LECOM. After the applicant’s successful first year of classes at LECOM, 20 credits will transfer back to complete their bachelor’s degree at SUNY Plattsburgh. The applicant will then finish the pharmacy degree at LECOM.  The “3+4” track is typically utilized by the highly motivated student who wishes to enter medical school before receiving an undergraduate degree.

The second program is a traditional 4+4 Track, with guaranteed admission to LECOM after completion of a bachelor’s degree at SUNY Plattsburgh if academic and professional standards are maintained. 

Application to enroll in these programs may occur prior to matriculation at SUNY Plattsburgh; i.e., as a high school senior, or after matriculation at SUNY Plattsburgh. A student interested in the “3+4” track should apply to enroll in the program as part of their application to SUNY Plattsburgh but must be enrolled in the program prior to starting their second year at the SUNY Plattsburgh. 

Application to LECOM for these programs is initiated by an inquiry through a link on the LECOM portal. 

An applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or have an F-1 VISA; they may not have already earned a four-year undergraduate degree. 

Fulfillment of these criteria will be awarded with a letter of provisional acceptance.  An applicant is considered to be officially enrolled in the EAP as of the date shown on the provisional letter of acceptance.

Applicants rejected prior to matriculating at SUNY Plattsburgh may reapply for the EAP after completing at least 30 credit hours of undergraduate coursework. At that time, if their cumulative overall GPA is at least 3.4 and their cumulative science GPA is at least 3.2, their application will be reevaluated. Once more than 65 credit hours of undergraduate credits are earned, they are no longer eligible for the EAP and must apply as a traditional applicant.

SAT and/or ACT and GPA Requirements

An official SAT and/or ACT score is required to participate in the EAP.

3+ Track

• SAT Composite Score ≥1340; or
• ACT Composite Score ≥ 28; and
• High School Un-Weighted GPA ≥ 3.7

4+ Track

• SAT Composite Score ≥1240; or
• ACT Composite Score ≥ 26; and
• High School Un-Weighted GPA ≥ 3.5;

The SAT and/or ACT score must be from a single exam; i.e., we do not super score. LECOM will not accept SAT or ACT scores earned after a high school diploma has been received.  The following formula is used to convert a percentage grade to a GPA: 𝑮𝑷𝑨 = ((% 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆)/𝟐𝟎) – 𝟏

Interviews

Except for the affiliated institution’s standard admissions interviews, all interviews will be conducted by LECOM and must be in-person; either on a LECOM campus or at an off-campus location designated by LECOM. Videoconferencing and phone interviews are not acceptable.

For more details, please contact Dr. Slish, [email protected]

In order to enter pharmacy school in your fourth year, you will need to complete all of your major, cognate and General Education requirements before leaving SUNY Plattsburgh. This requires you to take between 16 and 18 credits per semester. This load can be lightened by taking some classes in the summer and winter sessions.

3 Year Path at SUNY Plattsburgh for 3+4 Programs