Campbell CPHS Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

Campbell University’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences (CPHS) Doctor of Pharmacy program emphasizes a mission-driven approach and a structured interview process. The interview day features a multi-mini interview format with several short one-on-one interviews and interactive components stage.pharmcas.org, reflecting the school’s commitment to holistic evaluation. Campbell’s mission of developing “servant leaders in a Christian environment” cphs.campbell.edu underscores values like service, compassion, and teamwork, which are woven into the program’s culture and expectations. The PharmD program boasts over 30 years of training history, consistently high licensure exam pass rates, and innovative dual-degree options cphs.campbell.edu cphs.campbell.edu. Applicants should also be mindful of current healthcare issues (such as rural health needs in North Carolina cphs.campbell.edu) and the non-academic qualities Campbell seeks (leadership, community service, etc. cphs.campbell.edu) as they prepare for interviews. This guide synthesizes key information about the interview format, school mission and values, program highlights, relevant policy topics, selection criteria, competency frameworks, common interview question themes, and important dates for the 2025–2026 application cycle.

Campbell’s PharmD interviews are conducted in a structured yet applicant-friendly format. According to the university, interview days include a welcome session, an interactive group activity, lunch with current students, a student Q&A panel, and five individual faculty interviews of about 15 minutes each cphs.campbell.edu. This setup is essentially a Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) style process stage.pharmcas.org, where each one-on-one interview functions as a short station to assess different qualities. Interviews may be attended either in-person or virtually, giving flexibility to applicants cphs.campbell.edu.

The interview style is generally conversational and designed to put candidates at ease. Past candidates have described the atmosphere as moderately low-stress (average interview stress) studentdoctor.net, with most interviews being one-on-one discussions studentdoctor.net rather than high-pressure interrogations. Interviewers typically have access to the applicant’s file (open-file format) studentdoctor.net, meaning they may know your academic background and experiences during questioning. While specific post-interview acceptance rates aren’t officially published, one source suggests an overall program acceptance rate around 27% pharmacyschoolfinder.org pharmacyschoolfinder.org. This implies that a substantial proportion of those who reach the interview stage are offered admission, given the program’s class size (around 95–100 students) and rolling admissions process.

Campbell’s PharmD program mission is rooted in service and leadership. The mission statement declares that the College will “develop servant leaders in a Christian environment who will advance the profession of pharmacy by improving the lives of others through innovative practice, education, research, and service” cphs.campbell.edu. This reflects a faith-informed commitment to compassion, ethical practice, and community improvement. The broader CPHS mission similarly focuses on transforming students into professionals prepared to meet diverse healthcare needs in an interprofessional, Christian setting cphs.campbell.edu.

The college’s core values further illuminate what qualities Campbell fosters. The Doctor of Pharmacy program highlights values such as Team, Innovation, Communication, Inquiry, and Respect cphs.campbell.edu. Likewise, CPHS places importance on traits like collaboration, humility, resilience, diversity, and innovation in its educational philosophy cphs.campbell.edu. These mission and value statements signal that Campbell values students who are team-oriented, service-driven, open to continual learning, and respectful of others. In an interview context, understanding these principles can help candidates appreciate the kind of community and professional ideals they are expected to uphold.

Campbell’s PharmD program is a well-established and outcomes-focused pharmacy curriculum. Founded in 1985, it was one of the first pharmacy programs in North Carolina outside the state university system, and it has over 30 years of history producing competent pharmacists pharmacyschoolfinder.org. The program is known for strong performance outcomes: Campbell pharmacy graduates have achieved first-time North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) pass rates that consistently exceed national averages cphs.campbell.edu. In addition, Campbell ranks highly in placing graduates into post-graduate residencies, with match rates above the national norm pharmacyschoolfinder.org. These indicators speak to the quality of education and preparation students receive.

The PharmD program also offers a range of unique opportunities and support systems. Students benefit from caring faculty who maintain an open-door policy and a friendly, tight-knit campus environment cphs.campbell.edu. There is a dedicated emphasis on serving rural and underserved communities in healthcare, aligning with the university’s service mission cphs.campbell.edu. Campbell provides dual-degree programs that allow PharmD students to earn an additional degree such as an MBA, MS in Public Health, MS in Clinical Research, or MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences concurrently cphs.campbell.edu. The curriculum itself is innovative, utilizing a block schedule with integrated clinical applications and focusing on teamwork and communication skill development cphs.campbell.edu. Students have access to robust clinical rotations at renowned healthcare institutions cphs.campbell.edu, and the college boasts numerous student achievements including winning national pharmacy skill competitions (e.g., ACCP, ASHP, APhA competitions) cphs.campbell.edu. All of these features illustrate the program’s commitment to producing well-rounded, practice-ready pharmacists.

These program highlights not only define the student experience at Campbell, but they also provide excellent talking points for interviews. Interviewers often appreciate when candidates have done their homework about the school. For example, an applicant might ask about Campbell’s efforts in rural healthcare (given the school’s dedication to serving underserved areas) or inquire about how the dual degree programs are integrated into the PharmD curriculum, demonstrating interest in the school’s offerings cphs.campbell.edu cphs.campbell.edu. Candidates could also bring up Campbell’s strong NAPLEX results or residency match success and ask how the program supports students in achieving those outcomes cphs.campbell.edu. Showing curiosity about these distinctive aspects underscores a genuine enthusiasm for Campbell’s program and helps an applicant stand out as well-informed.

Healthcare and pharmacy policy issues form an important backdrop for discussions in pharmacy school interviews. Campbell’s focus on community and service means that regional and national health trends are highly pertinent. Being aware of key policy topics for the school’s context (North Carolina and the broader U.S.) can help applicants engage thoughtfully if such subjects arise during the interview. Some relevant topics include:

• Rural healthcare access – North Carolina has many rural areas with healthcare shortages, which ties into Campbell’s emphasis on training pharmacists to serve underserved communities cphs.campbell.edu. Interview questions or discussions may touch on how pharmacists can help bridge healthcare gaps in rural regions.
• Expanding pharmacist roles – Recent policies have expanded pharmacists’ scope of practice. For instance, federal PREP Act provisions that allow pharmacists to provide immunizations and other services have been extended through 2029 ncbop.org, reflecting a trend toward pharmacists taking on more clinical responsibilities. Understanding such developments shows awareness of the evolving pharmacy landscape.
• Ethical healthcare dilemmas – Controversial issues like physician-assisted suicide or stem cell research are national policy debates that pharmacists may confront. Past Campbell interviews have included questions about these topics studentdoctor.net, indicating that candidates might be asked to discuss their perspectives on ethically challenging scenarios in healthcare.
• Diversity and cultural competence – Serving diverse patient populations is a priority in healthcare. Interviewers may probe how candidates would handle situations involving people of different backgrounds or beliefs studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. This relates to national discussions on health equity and the importance of cultural competence among healthcare providers.

Other broad issues such as the opioid epidemic, healthcare insurance access, or pharmaceutical pricing might also be worthwhile for an applicant to consider, as they are widely discussed in the field. While it’s impossible to predict every policy question, staying informed on these kinds of topics enables candidates to demonstrate a mature understanding of the context in which pharmacists operate. Showing awareness of current healthcare challenges and reforms can underscore an applicant’s readiness to engage with the profession’s real-world issues.

Beyond grades and test scores, Campbell University evaluates pharmacy applicants on a range of non-academic qualities. Understanding what the admissions committee is looking for can help candidates present a well-rounded picture of themselves. Key non-academic selection criteria at Campbell include:

• Community service orientation – Demonstrated commitment to service is highly regarded. The admissions committee looks for evidence of volunteering, community service, or mission work, aligning with Campbell’s focus on servant leadership cphs.campbell.edu.
• Leadership experience – Involvement in leadership roles (such as in student organizations, work settings, or community initiatives) is valued as a sign of initiative and responsibility cphs.campbell.edu. Campbell specifically evaluates leadership through work experience and extracurricular involvement.
• Pharmacy or healthcare experience – While not formally required, having experience in a pharmacy setting (work or shadowing) is strongly recommended for applicants cphs.campbell.edu. Such experience shows dedication to the field and can help candidates speak more concretely about their interest in pharmacy.
• Communication and interpersonal skills – Strong people skills are essential for pharmacists. Campbell assesses these through the interview and letters of recommendation, looking for teamwork, empathy, and the ability to communicate effectively with patients and colleagues cphs.campbell.edu. An applicant’s personal statement and interview interaction often reveal these qualities.
• Diversity and cultural awareness – The program values building a diverse student body cphs.campbell.edu, so unique personal backgrounds or experiences working with diverse groups can be a plus. The ability to appreciate and learn from differences is consistent with the school’s inclusive values and the needs of a diverse patient population.
• Research and innovation – Though not explicitly required, involvement in research or other scholarly projects can strengthen an application. Campbell’s mission includes advancing pharmacy through innovation and inquiry cphs.campbell.edu, so a student who has pursued research or scientific projects may resonate with the school’s academic ethos.

Campbell employs a holistic admissions review, meaning these non-academic factors are considered alongside academic metrics to gauge an applicant’s overall fit for the program cphs.campbell.edu. During the interview, candidates should be prepared to discuss their experiences in these areas (for example, describing a leadership role or volunteer work they have done) as evidence of the qualities they would bring to the program. Showing strength in service, leadership, communication, and other such areas helps demonstrate alignment with Campbell’s values and the kind of pharmacist the school aims to train.

The PharmD program at Campbell is guided by specific competency frameworks and learning outcomes that reflect the skills and attributes students are expected to develop. These outcomes are aligned with national standards for pharmacy education and provide insight into the program’s educational priorities. Notably, Campbell outlines two overarching program goals for PharmD students upon graduation:

• Providing high-quality, inclusive, evidence-based patient-centered care in collaboration with patients, prescribers, and interprofessional team members cphs.campbell.edu. (This goal corresponds to ensuring graduates can deliver effective pharmacy care and work well in healthcare teams.)
• Demonstrating continual personal and professional growth, adaptability, and a commitment to lifelong learning as the pharmacy field evolves cphs.campbell.edu. (This goal highlights the importance of professionalism, self-improvement, and flexibility in one’s career as a pharmacist.)

These institutional outcomes mirror broader competency frameworks in pharmacy education. For example, the Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education (CAPE) outcomes and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) standards emphasize similar domains: patient care, medication therapy management, health care teamwork, communication, ethics, and continuous professional development. Campbell’s focus on inclusive patient-centered care and lifelong learning cphs.campbell.edu is directly in line with those national standards. For interview preparation, this means candidates should understand that the program expects future pharmacists to not only have strong knowledge and clinical skills, but also to be committed to teamwork, ethical practice, and growth. Being conversant with these professional competencies can help applicants frame their responses in a way that resonates with the program’s educational objectives (for instance, discussing how they have exemplified teamwork or how they plan to keep learning in their career).

While Campbell’s interview questions vary year to year and specifics are often kept confidential (especially with the use of MMI scenarios), applicants have reported recurring themes in the types of questions asked. Understanding these themes can guide candidates in reflecting on relevant experiences beforehand. Common themes that have emerged from past interview feedback include:

• Personal motivations and “Why Pharmacy” – Interviewers frequently probe an applicant’s reasons for choosing pharmacy and why they are interested in Campbell in particular. Candidates might be asked to "tell me about yourself" or explain what led them to pursue a career in pharmacy studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. These questions assess passion for the field and fit with the school.
• Ethical and situational dilemmas – Campbell tends to include scenario-based questions that evaluate moral reasoning and professional ethics. For example, past interviews have posed dilemmas related to academic honesty (like a classmate cheating) or controversial healthcare issues (such as views on physician-assisted suicide or stem cell research) studentdoctor.net. Responding to these requires thoughtful consideration of ethical principles and communication of one’s reasoning.
• Handling challenges and weaknesses – Questions about time management, dealing with stress, or learning from failure are common studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. Applicants might be asked to describe a time they faced adversity or failed at something and how they responded. Such inquiries gauge resilience, self-awareness, and problem-solving skills.
• Leadership and teamwork experiences – Given the school’s emphasis on leadership, interviewers often ask about instances where candidates have worked in teams or taken on leadership roles. Scenarios might involve conflict resolution or collaborating with someone different from oneself studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. These questions help determine an applicant’s interpersonal skills and ability to function in group settings (mirroring the interprofessional nature of healthcare).
• Diversity and cultural competence – In line with Campbell’s values, interviews have featured questions about interacting with people from different cultures or beliefs studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. For instance, an applicant could be asked how they would handle treating or working with someone whose background is very different from their own. This theme assesses open-mindedness and the ability to provide respectful care to diverse populations.
• Knowledge of the profession and future outlook – Candidates are sometimes asked about current issues in pharmacy or where they see the profession heading in the future studentdoctor.net. This could include questions on the evolving role of pharmacists (for example, the impact of provider status or technology in pharmacy). Interviewers want to see that applicants have an informed perspective on the field they plan to enter.

These themes show that Campbell’s interviewers evaluate both the character and the awareness of their applicants. From personal drive and integrity to communication and foresight, the questions cover a spectrum of attributes important for a future pharmacist. By reflecting on experiences related to these areas (without memorizing scripted answers), candidates can approach the interview ready to discuss themselves and the profession thoughtfully. Every interview is unique, but being prepared for these general categories can boost an applicant’s confidence in navigating the conversation.

For those applying to Campbell’s PharmD program in the 2025–2026 admissions cycle, it’s crucial to keep track of the application timeline. The cycle dates and deadlines are as follows:

• July 10, 2025 – PharmCAS application opens for Fall 2026 entry (the first day you can submit your application) cphs.campbell.edu.
• November 3, 2025 – Priority Application Deadline (Early Acceptance) cphs.campbell.edu. Applicants who apply by this date receive priority consideration and are eligible for Campbell’s Early Acceptance merit scholarships (e.g., $10,000 Dean’s Scholarship with a 3.2+ GPA, $15,000 with 3.5+ GPA) stage.pharmcas.org.
• June 1, 2026 – Final Application Deadline on PharmCAS cphs.campbell.edu. All application materials must be submitted by this date for Fall 2026 enrollment consideration.
• Rolling admissions: Campbell uses a rolling admissions process cphs.campbell.edu. This means applications are reviewed and interview invitations are extended continuously throughout the cycle. Offers of acceptance are made to strong candidates on an ongoing basis, potentially filling the class before the final deadline. Applying early in the cycle is advantageous, as it ensures you can be considered while spots (and scholarship funds) are still available cphs.campbell.edu.

Interview dates are typically scheduled periodically once the application cycle opens, and they can occur as early as the late summer or fall after an application is submitted. It’s wise for applicants to submit their materials well in advance of deadlines to secure an interview slot and to show enthusiasm. Additionally, after receiving an acceptance, admitted students must pay a seat deposit (Campbell’s deposit has been around $500, with a reduced rate for certain scholarship recipients) stage.pharmcas.org stage.pharmcas.org. Orientation for the new PharmD class usually takes place in the first week of August, just before classes begin stage.pharmcas.org. Keeping these dates in mind will help applicants stay on track from application through matriculation.

In summary, thorough preparation for the Campbell University CPHS PharmD interview involves a blend of knowing the school and knowing yourself. By understanding Campbell’s interview format and what the admissions committee is looking for, applicants can better anticipate the experience and align their mindset with the program’s expectations. Equally important is familiarity with the school’s mission, values, and distinctive offerings – from its service-oriented culture to its academic strengths – as these inform the context of many interview questions. Staying informed about current pharmacy-related issues and reflecting on one’s own experiences in service, leadership, and teamwork will enable a candidate to engage in a meaningful dialogue during the interview. With careful preparation and an appreciation of what makes Campbell’s pharmacy program unique, applicants can approach their interviews with confidence and convey why they would be a great fit for the Campbell PharmD community.