Drake CPHS Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

The following guide provides a comprehensive overview of what to expect and how to prepare for an interview with Drake University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (CPHS) Doctor of Pharmacy program. It covers the interview format and structure, the school’s mission and values, key aspects of the PharmD program, and relevant healthcare policy topics in Iowa and beyond. Non-academic qualities that Drake emphasizes in applicants are discussed, along with the competency standards the program adheres to. Common themes from past interview questions are highlighted, and a timeline of important application dates for the 2025–2026 cycle is included. Together, these insights offer a framework for understanding Drake’s expectations and context to help applicants approach their interview with confidence and informed awareness.

Drake’s PharmD interview process is known to be structured yet conversational. Most interviews are one-on-one sessions about 20–30 minutes long studentdoctor.net, with a single interviewer meeting one applicant studentdoctor.net. The format has generally been closed-file, meaning interviewers do not have extensive prior knowledge of the candidate’s application details studentdoctor.net. This setup allows the discussion to focus on getting to know the applicant through questions about their experiences and motivations. Notably, some interview cycles have incorporated elements of the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format studentdoctor.net. In those cases, applicants may rotate through short scenario-based stations (often under a non-disclosure agreement) studentdoctor.net, testing skills like ethical reasoning or communication in a timed setting. Overall, candidates should be prepared for a personable interview experience that might blend traditional questions with scenario prompts, reflecting Drake’s balanced approach to evaluation.

Drake CPHS’s mission and values provide insight into the qualities and goals the school prioritizes. The college’s mission is “Preparing today’s learners to be tomorrow’s health care leaders,” and its vision imagines “a diverse community of learners leading the way to a healthy world” drake.edu. In practice, this means Drake emphasizes creating healthcare professionals who are well-rounded, collaborative, and future-oriented. Graduates are expected to be liberally educated professionals dedicated to serving patients, their profession, and the community drake.edu. CPHS places a premium on excellence and leadership across education, service, and scholarship drake.edu. The school’s core values underscore this philosophy, highlighting collaboration, collegiality, entrepreneurial leadership, innovation, professionalism, and a student-centered focus drake.edu. An awareness of these guiding principles is useful in interview preparation – it helps candidates align their narratives with Drake’s ethos. For instance, demonstrating a commitment to community service or an ability to work well in teams would resonate with the value of collaboration and service to the community that Drake champions drake.edu.

Drake’s PharmD program is a four-year professional degree (following at least two years of prerequisite undergraduate coursework) that combines rigorous academic training with practical experience. The program prides itself on a personalized education and extensive hands-on learning opportunities in Des Moines, Iowa’s capital city pharmcas.org. Being located in a capital and urban center provides students with exposure to diverse pharmacy practice settings – from community and hospital pharmacies to industries and healthcare policymaking – aligning with the college’s aim to develop “entrepreneurial leaders” in pharmacy pharmcas.org. The curriculum balances theoretical knowledge with real-world applications; notably, Drake reports near-100% placement rates for its pharmacy graduates over decades catalog.drake.edu, reflecting strong practical preparation. Students also have opportunities to pursue dual degrees and special concentrations: Drake offers six dual-degree options (such as MBA, MPA, MPH through a partner, MSLD in leadership, JD law degree, etc.) and even a concentration in Diabetes Care pharmcas.org. These options allow students to tailor their education to specific interests like healthcare leadership or public health. Such distinctive features can be great talking points during an interview – for example, an applicant might inquire how the Diabetes Care concentration is integrated into clinical rotations or ask about experiences of students pursuing a dual degree. By familiarizing themselves with the program’s offerings and achievements, candidates can demonstrate genuine interest in Drake’s PharmD program and how its unique strengths match their career goals.

Pharmacy and healthcare policy issues form an important backdrop for discussions in any pharmacy school interview. At Drake (and broadly in Iowa), certain policy topics are particularly pertinent. One current issue is pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform: Iowa recently considered legislation to regulate PBMs due to concerns about how their practices affect local pharmacies and drug pricing axios.com. This reflects a wider national conversation on making medication pricing more transparent and fair. Another important topic is the expansion of pharmacists’ scope of practice. Iowa has been progressive in empowering pharmacists – for example, by exploring telehealth initiatives to improve rural healthcare access timesdelphic.com and enabling pharmacists to provide services like immunizations and patient counseling in underserved areas. Telepharmacy and telehealth services have grown, especially post-pandemic, as seen in Drake’s partnership projects aimed at connecting rural patients with care through technology timesdelphic.com. Nationally, candidates should also be aware of debates on provider status for pharmacists (gaining recognition and reimbursement as healthcare providers under laws like Medicare) and ongoing discussions about drug affordability and access. These policy themes are relevant to Drake’s context and could surface indirectly in interview scenarios or conversations. Being conversant with how such issues impact pharmacy practice in Iowa and the country shows an interviewer that the candidate is an informed future health professional.

Like many PharmD programs, Drake uses a holistic admissions approach, meaning that beyond academic metrics, the admissions committee carefully considers personal qualities, experiences, and attributes of each applicant. In fact, once applicants reach the interview stage, the focus is on these non-academic factors. Drake explicitly evaluates interviewees on several key areas of personal strength drake.edu drake.edu. These include demonstrated leadership and potential for future leadership roles, a strong desire to learn and continuously improve oneself, and a sense of professionalism in demeanor and ethics drake.edu. Communication skills and interpersonal abilities are also crucial – interviewers look for a genuine personality and the ability to articulate thoughts clearly, since pharmacists must effectively educate and empathize with patients pharmacyforme.org. Additionally, having a “general understanding of pharmacy” is important pharmacyforme.org; this doesn’t mean an applicant must know everything about the field, but they should have done enough exploration (through work, volunteering, or research) to confirm their commitment to a pharmacy career. Drake’s mission-driven emphasis on service suggests that community involvement or volunteer experiences can be a plus as well drake.edu. Overall, traits such as leadership, communication, ethical professionalism, and service orientation are highly valued. Candidates can prepare by reflecting on experiences that highlight these qualities in themselves, as these are likely to be the kinds of examples they’ll be asked to discuss during the interview.

The PharmD program at Drake is built around national standards for pharmacy education, which ensures that graduates develop all the competencies needed for contemporary practice. Foremost, the program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) drake.edu. ACPE accreditation signifies that Drake’s curriculum meets rigorous requirements in areas like biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences, clinical sciences, and practice-based learning. In practical terms, students are trained to achieve competencies in patient care (such as reviewing medication therapies and counseling patients), medication dispensing and safety, interprofessional collaboration, communication, and professional ethics – all of which are mandated by ACPE standards. Additionally, Drake’s educational outcomes align with the Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education (CAPE) outcomes, a framework used by pharmacy programs nationwide. The CAPE outcomes (most recently updated in 2013) emphasize domains such as foundational knowledge, practical skills, communication, professionalism, and innovation. For example, Drake’s focus on “entrepreneurial leadership” and service in its mission echoes CAPE’s emphasis on leadership, self-awareness, and social responsibility as key elements of a pharmacist’s professional development. While applicants aren’t expected to recite these frameworks, understanding that Drake’s program consciously develops these competencies can help in phrasing answers. It shows awareness that becoming a pharmacist isn’t just about academic knowledge but also about meeting professional competencies – something Drake will be assessing during the interview and throughout the program.

Reports from previous Drake interviewees suggest a range of question types, all aimed at drawing out an applicant’s motivations, personality, and critical thinking. Several common themes have emerged from past interviews:

• Motivation for pharmacy and career choice (for example, a classic question is why the applicant wants to pursue pharmacy) studentdoctor.net. Expect to articulate why you are drawn to the pharmacy profession and possibly why Drake’s program is a good fit for your goals.
• Personal qualities and uniqueness – interviewers often ask something like "What is one thing you would want the admissions committee to remember about you?" studentdoctor.net. This invites you to highlight a unique strength or experience that sets you apart.
• Leadership and problem-solving experiences – candidates have been asked to "Name a time when you were in a leadership position, faced with an obstacle, and what you did to solve it" studentdoctor.net. Questions like this probe your ability to take initiative and navigate challenges, reflecting Drake’s interest in leadership potential.
• Values and personality questions – some quirky or open-ended prompts have been reported, such as choosing a historical or famous person to meet and explaining why studentdoctor.net. These kinds of questions help interviewers see your broader interests and what qualities you admire, offering insight into your values and character.
• Challenges and resilience – it’s common to encounter questions about overcoming difficulties. For instance, you might be asked about the hardest class you’ve taken and how you managed to get through it, or about a difficult life lesson you’ve learned studentdoctor.net. Drake uses these inquiries to gauge perseverance, self-reflection, and the ability to grow from setbacks.
• Ethical or decision-making scenarios – some interviews have included situational questions that test judgment. A reported example was describing a situation where you had to make a tough decision and what outcome you reached studentdoctor.net. This aligns with an MMI-style approach and helps assess your ethical reasoning and problem-solving under pressure.

It’s worth noting that Drake’s interview may evolve year to year – they can incorporate new questions or formats – but these themes (motivation, personal fit, leadership, values, challenges, and ethics) have been a consistent focus. Preparing examples and reflections related to these areas will help you confidently navigate most questions that come your way without relying on memorized answers.

For those applying to enter Drake’s PharmD program in Fall 2026, it’s crucial to keep track of the application timeline. Drake uses the PharmCAS application system and operates on a rolling admissions basis drake.edu. Below are key dates and milestones for the 2025–2026 cycle:

• July 2025 – The PharmCAS application typically opens by mid-summer for the new cycle (exact date varies year to year). Once the application portal is open, candidates can begin submitting their PharmCAS application and Drake-specific questions drake.edu.
• Rolling Review – Drake starts reviewing applications and extending interview invitations as applications come in (rolling admissions) drake.edu. It’s advantageous to apply early in the cycle; the admissions committee will fill interview slots and offer acceptances on an ongoing basis until the class is full drake.edu.
• Interview Phase – Interviews are conducted throughout the fall, winter, and spring, given the rolling nature. Drake holds admissions interview days periodically (both virtual and in-person options are available) drake.edu apply.drake.edu. Interviews continue until the P1 class is filled, so timing can vary, but many interviews take place in the months following application submission (e.g., fall and early winter for those who apply by then).
• Final Application Deadline – June 1, 2026 – This is the last date by which PharmCAS applications must be submitted for the 2025–26 cycle pharmcas.org. Drake does not offer an ‘early decision’ or priority deadline; all applications submitted by the final deadline will be considered, though waiting this long is not recommended if spots may already be filled pharmcas.org drake.edu.
• Admission Decisions – Because of rolling admissions, some applicants will receive acceptances as early as a few weeks after their interview, while later interviewees may hear closer to spring. Accepted students are required to submit a $350 tuition deposit to hold their seat in the class (this deposit is non-refundable) pharmcas.org. The admissions office will provide details and a deadline for the deposit in the acceptance letter, typically a few weeks after the offer.
• Matriculation – August 2026 – The incoming class will begin coursework in late August 2026, which is the start of Drake’s fall semester. For reference, the first day of classes for the Fall 2026 term is set for August 24, 2026 pharmcas.org. Prior to this, there may be orientation activities or a white coat ceremony (Drake often holds a Blue Coat Ceremony as a welcome to professional students). Applicants who are accepted should be mindful of any summer requirements or orientations leading up to matriculation.

Staying on top of these deadlines and responding promptly to interview invitations or acceptance offers is very important. Since Drake’s process is rolling, an early application can not only secure an earlier interview but also possibly an earlier decision. Regardless, ensure all materials (transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.) are submitted well before June 1, 2026, to avoid any last-minute issues. Being aware of the timeline will help you plan and reduce stress during the admissions process.

In summary, preparing for a Drake University CPHS PharmD interview involves understanding both the school and the broader context of pharmacy. By reviewing Drake’s interview format and being aware of its mission-driven culture of leadership, service, and collaboration, you can appreciate what attributes the school seeks in its students. The guide covered the distinctive features of Drake’s program – like its dual degrees, experiential focus in Iowa’s capital, and commitment to innovation – which not only help you anticipate discussion topics but also inspire thoughtful questions to ask your interviewers. We also highlighted current pharmacy policy issues relevant to Drake’s region and the profession at large, as well as the non-academic qualities (communication, professionalism, motivation, etc.) that Drake emphasizes during the selection process. Familiarizing yourself with typical interview question themes ensures you have reflective examples ready for topics ranging from personal motivations to ethical scenarios. Lastly, keeping track of the 2025–2026 application timeline and deadlines will enable you to navigate the process smoothly. By integrating these insights into your interview preparation, you will be well-equipped to present your best self and to engage meaningfully with the interviewers – demonstrating not only your fit for Drake’s PharmD program but also your potential to thrive as a future pharmacy professional.