Are you a fourth-year pharmacy student planning to apply for a managed care pharmacy residency this December? Do you feel overwhelmed about how to narrow down which programs to apply to? When I was in your shoes, I struggled with the same questions. So I want to share what I looked for when making my decisions.

In this post, I’ll walk through five things you can evaluate on your own without needing direct conversations with the program or company.

Residency Program Structure

Since I didn’t learn about managed care pharmacy until my fourth year, I prioritized programs with strong rotational structures. I wanted exposure to all the major aspects of managed care, including formulary management, therapy criteria development, specialty pharmacy, clinical programs, quality, fraud/waste/abuse, market management, PBMs, and more.

My goal was to complete a residency that gave me a solid foundation in managed care principles and prepared me for long-term success as a future managed care pharmacist.

Elective Rotation Options

I also valued programs that offered flexibility with electives, whether through a set list of options or the freedom to choose rotations that aligned with my interests. For me, electives weren’t about locking down a career direction; they were about exploring areas while I still had the “I’m a student/resident” card to play.

You may never get another chance to rotate through certain specialties, so I wanted to take full advantage of that flexibility.

Staffing Requirements

Some programs require extra staffing outside of the typical residency schedule. Because work-life balance was one of my top goals after pharmacy school, I eliminated programs that expected significant weekend or evening staffing. For me, heavy staffing requirements were a clear dealbreaker.

Program Location

Location was another big factor. I knew there were certain states I would (and wouldn’t) move to. If a program was in a place I wasn’t comfortable living, I didn’t apply.

I also looked closely at programs offering hybrid or remote structures. Having completed both remote internships and APPE rotations, I felt confident I could thrive in those environments, so they stayed on my list.

Pay

Finally, I considered pay in relation to location. If a program in a high cost-of-living city offered the same stipend as one in a more affordable area, that was an easy “no” for me. I knew my worth and wanted compensation that aligned with both the environment and the value I could bring to the program.

Final Thought (Part I)

These were just a few of the factors I prioritized when choosing which programs to apply to. In my next post, I’ll share my thoughts on program accreditation, retention rates, and program culture/dynamics.

Remember: even though it may feel like programs hold all the power, you’re also interviewing them. Don’t lower your standards or compromise on what matters most to you in a residency program.