An evaluation of the pharmacy college admissions test as a tool for pharmacy college admissions committees

The purpose of this study was to determine the capacity of the PCAT to pred ict success in pharmacy school. T-tests were used to test for differences i n mean PCAT scores by gender, race and native language. Regression analysis was used to explain first-quarter pharmacy GPA utilizing pre-pharmacy GPA and PCAT scores as the independent variables. T-test results yielded statis tically significant differences in mean PCAT scores between groups on all t hree demographic variables. The adjusted R-2 values for the regression mode l (N=360) explaining pharmacy GPA using PCAT and pre-pharmacy GPA together (R-2=0.353) were the best indicators. The analysis of average pharmacy GPA by PCAT decile showed that below a composite percentile score of 40, the av erage first-quarter GPA fell below 2.0. PCAT used in combination with pre-p harmacy GPA is meaningful in assessing applicants to pharmacy school. Appli cants with PCAT composite percentile scores below 40 should be given partic ularly careful attention.