Moving more than eight hours away from home to attend the University of Waterloo was a major change for Luca Roy (CAP 2025). As an only child raised in a close-knit family, the transition broadened his horizons and opened the door to new opportunities. Attending the Conditional Admission to Pharmacy (CAP) program in the Faculty of Science offered a supportive pathway to help him navigate both university life and his future in pharmacy.
“It was a big change moving far from my family in Sault Ste. Marie, living on my own and starting university,” says Roy. “However, being in CAP immediately surrounded me with like-minded individuals that I could easily connect with, allowing me to meet new people and to try new things.”
Beyond a pathway toward pharmacy, CAP gave Roy an immediate sense of belonging. A key benefit of the program is the lookbook students receive, which introduces students to peers in their cohort as well as upper-year mentors.
"It was really helpful being able to recognize faces during orientation and in my classes," says Roy. "The CAP lookbook provides opportunities to start conversations and make connections right away."
That sense of connection continued throughout the year through events and peer mentorship. For Roy, having a built-in network made pursuing pharmacy feel less daunting.
"You know you're not alone in your journey," he says. "There are other people following the same path as you and encouraging each other along the way.”
Students in CAP build a foundation in pharmacy before applying to Waterloo’s program. The program sets students up for eligibility for a PharmD interview, if all CAP requirements are met, and helps them build a network early on in their academic journey. That foundation transformed an intimidating transition into a supportive and engaging experience for Roy. It encouraged him to try new things by getting involved beyond the classroom.
Read more about Roy on the School of Pharmacy's website.