REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES

The Graduate Admission Plus Degree (GAPDP) Program is especially designed for students who have expressed an interest in pursuing a career in pharmacy. The GAPD Program offers a smooth transition for students enrolled at Mercer's College of Liberal Arts (CLA) in Macon to be granted admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree program at the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (COPHS) in Atlanta. The GAPDP student, upon graduation from high school, will enroll and complete three years and a minimum of 90 semester hours at CLA and then enroll in the four-year Pharm.D. curriculum at COPHS. Upon successful completion of the first professional year at COPHS, the CLA will award the Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree. Students enrolled in the GAPD Program are not required to submit a supplemental application fee, tuition deposits, or matriculation fee prior to registration at COPHS.

GAPDP students planning to enter the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences are required to participate in the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS). There is a fee that the student has to pay to PharmCAS, just like all normal applicants. All other fees associated with admission are still waived. It is the student's responsibility to contact the pre-pharmacy advisor (currently Dr. Nancy Dopke), in the College of Liberal Arts on Macon campus regarding GAPDP status. It is also the student's responsibility to submit the following materials during the summer between sophomore and junior years at CLA:

A completed PharmCAS application, including the submission of official transcripts, PCAT scores, and letters of reference to PharmCAS.
A completed supplemental application form (no supplemental application fee required), used to establish a file on each GAPDP student
A recent photograph (required of all applicants)

Upon receipt of these materials by the Student Affairs and Admissions Office, the student will receive official notification of Acceptance to the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Following completion of the second year at CLA, the GAPDP student's record will be evaluated to monitor completion of pre-pharmacy courses and to verify the student's grade point average. During the third year, the GAPDP student's record will be reviewed following both fall and spring semesters. In addition to completing all pre-pharmacy coursework, the following requirements apply to the GAPDP student:

The GAPDP student must make satisfactory progress in the pre-pharmacy and major curriculum at CLA. Upon evaluation of the student's record at the end of the second year, the COPHS Student Affairs and Admissions Office will determine the student's standing and completion of deficiencies. In order to continue GAPDP status, the student must earn and maintain an overall GPA and math / science GPA of 3.0. If either GPAs have fallen below the 3.0 level at the end of the second year, Guaranteed Admission status will be cancelled. Throughout the third pre-professional (junior) year, the student must also sustain a cumulative average and cumulative math / science average of at least 3.0. If these GPAs have fallen below the 3.0 level at the end of the fall semester or spring semester of the third year, Guaranteed Admission status will be cancelled. Grades in all coursework attempted are included in the computation of the overall GPA. Grades for the pre-pharmacy core and major math / science courses are included in the math / science GPA calculation. Grades of "C" or above must be earned in all pre-pharmacy courses. A grade of "D" or "F" is not acceptable for transfer of a pre-pharmacy requirement, but will be calculated into the grade point average.
All pre-pharmacy and major coursework (90 semester hours) must be completed at CLA. Attendance at another post-secondary institution while participating in the GAPD Program is prohibited. Additionally, all pre-pharmacy coursework must be completed by the end of the spring semester of the junior year.
GAPDP students are required to obtain a minimum composite percentile score on the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) by the end of spring semester of their junior year. You will need to have the PCAT scores sent to PharmCAS (School Code 104).
The GAPDP student must participate in the academic advising, career seminar, and and orientation programs provided jointly by the pre-pharmacy advisor at CLA and the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions at COPHS. Attendance at two of the programs, one scheduled at CLA each fall and one held at COPHS each spring, are mandatory.
During the fall of the junior year, the GAPDP student will participate in an admissions interview with program faculty. This interview will serve as an opportunity to check the progress of pre-pharmacy requirements, answer any questions that have arisen, and assist with plans for transitioning into the professional curriculum. This interview is mandatory for all GAPDP students. After successful completion of the interview, a formal acceptance letter will be sent to the GAPDPP student.
It is essential that the student keep in contact with the Student Affairs and Admissions Office as outlined above. Failure to do so will indicate a lack of interest in pursuing the Doctor of Pharmacy degree and in maintaining the special GAPDP status. If you have any questions or problems, please don't hesitate to call us and talk about it.
Any student who does not qualify for the GAPD program, or loses GAPDP status, may apply for admission following the normal procedure.

We hope this program will continue to generate much enthusiasm by providing a means for Mercer CLA students to be assured of a future position in the Mercer University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

ADVANTAGES OF THE GUARANTEED ADMISSION PLUS DEGREE PROGRAM

Admission to pharmacy school is extremely competitive. During the past five years, the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences' applicant pool has ranged from 1,349 to 2,213. Students must meet high standards to be selected for one of the 145 available positions in each entering class. Considering these statistics, there are several positive features of the Guaranteed Admission Plus Degree (GAPDP) Program. The number of applicants who have bachelor's degrees continues to increase. One of the greatest advantages of the GAPD Program is that it allows Mercer students the opportunity of obtaining a Bachelor's degree upon completion of the first professional year in the Pharm.D. degree program. Additional advantages are:

Students may apply for admission to the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at any time after earning 60 semester hours of undergraduate pre-pharmacy credit at the College of Liberal Arts. This means that a freshman may make plans to attend pharmacy school without competing with other applicants for a position.
The GAPDP student benefits from academic advising, career seminar, and orientation programs provided jointly by the pre-pharmacy advisor at CLA and the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions at COPHS.
The pharmacy school supplemental application fee ($25.00), tuition deposit ($475.00), and matriculation fee ($25.00) are waived for the GAPDP student.

In order to earn and continue GAPDP status, the student must maintain an overall cumulative GPA and math / science GPA of 3.00 and must obtain a minimum score on the PCAT. The average overall cumulative and math/science GPAs for students accepted through the normal admissions process are above 3.50. The average PCAT composite percentile score for students accepted through the normal admissions process is 86.

The advantages of this program make participation appealing for those who have selected a pre-pharmacy curriculum and would like to continue their education on the professional level at Mercer University.

Click here for the GAPDP curriculum.