Impact of a Pharmacy Student Organization on the Admissions Experience and Student Professional Development

Objective. To evaluate the impact of a program which integrated student pharmacists into the admissions process on pharmacy school candidates' perceptions of the program and on participants' professional development. Methods. An anonymous survey regarding the pharmacy school admission process was sent to candidates following their visit to campus and interviews from fall 2014 through spring 2017. A second survey of all student pharmacists enrolled in January 2018 was conducted to assess the impact of a student-led organization, Pharmacy Student Ambassadors (PSA), on their professional development. Results. The response rate for the survey completed by candidates was 66% (335/504) and the response rate for the survey completed by enrolled student pharmacists was 50% (166/330). Almost all of the candidates were satisfied with the admissions process (96%, 322/335). They cited the welcoming and friendly environment and opportunity to interact with student pharmacists as the best aspects of the admissions process. In the survey of enrolled students, the majority of PSA volunteers agreed or strongly agreed with statements regarding their organization's influence on professional development (76%), enhancing communication skills (77%), self-reflection (78%), and feeling respected and valued (73%). Furthermore, the majority of student pharmacists agreed or strongly agreed that participation in the PSA positively impacted their own admissions process (87%), made interviewees more at ease and comfortable (88%), increased their knowledge and understanding of the culture in the program (82% and 75% respectively), and influenced their personal decisions to attend the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy (63%). Conclusion. Student pharmacist involvement in the admissions process was correlated with pharmacy school candidate satisfaction and contributed to enrolled students' positive perceptions regarding their professional development.