NDMU Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

Notre Dame of Maryland University’s School of Pharmacy interview process is known to be open-file and student-friendly studentdoctor.net, reflecting the program’s supportive ethos. The School’s mission emphasizes producing “competent, ethical, and caring” pharmacists who provide quality care to diverse patient populations pharmacyschoolfinder.org, and this vision is woven throughout its curriculum and values. The Pharm.D. program – established in 2009 at Maryland’s first women’s college cnsmaryland.org – prioritizes leadership, service, and professionalism, which are evident in both coursework and community engagement. Admissions evaluators look beyond academics for qualities like communication skills, integrity, and community involvement, so candidates should be prepared to demonstrate alignment with these values. Effective preparation also means staying informed about current pharmacy issues (from expanding pharmacist roles to public health challenges) and being mindful of the application timeline, as NDMU’s rolling admissions cycle extends into late spring each year catalog.ndm.edu.

NDMU conducts a traditional interview (as opposed to an MMI) in which applicants meet with one or more interviewers drawn from the pharmacy faculty or local practitioners catalog.ndm.edu. The interview is open-file, meaning the interviewers review the candidate’s PharmCAS application beforehand catalog.ndm.edu. Students often describe the experience as low-stress and conversational – one survey highlighted the “very relaxed” atmosphere and noted that interviewers seem genuinely interested in accepting the candidate studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. Indeed, multiple faculty or staff may be involved in the questioning, but they create a supportive environment rather than a high-pressure screening studentdoctor.net.

After the interview, the admissions committee reviews each applicant’s full file and the interview evaluations to decide whether to accept, deny, or waitlist; recommendations are then forwarded to the Dean for final approval catalog.ndm.edu. The university does not publish a specific post-interview acceptance rate, but the program’s overall acceptance rate is about 21% of applicants pharmacyschoolfinder.org. Feedback from past candidates suggests that those who reach the interview stage have a good chance if they prepare well – as one student observed, “the interview was very relaxed. They want to accept you” studentdoctor.net.

The School of Pharmacy is guided by a clear mission to educate students to become “competent, ethical, and caring pharmacists” who can provide quality care to diverse populations pharmacyschoolfinder.org. Its dynamic curriculum is designed to foster leadership and lifelong learning through excellence in teaching, service, and scholarship pharmacyschoolfinder.org. The program strives for a culture of professionalism, integrity, mutual respect, and teamwork pharmacyschoolfinder.org. As a private faith-based institution that was the first women’s college in the nation to establish a pharmacy school cnsmaryland.org, NDMU places strong emphasis on social responsibility and inclusivity. Understanding the school’s mission and core values can help applicants frame their experiences and goals in a way that resonates with what NDMU is looking for in future pharmacists.

NDMU’s Pharm.D. program is a four-year professional degree that admitted its first class in 2009, making it a relatively new but innovative pharmacy school cnsmaryland.org. Each class is small (around 55 students), which allows for personalized instruction and a close-knit learning community pharmacyschoolfinder.org. The curriculum includes unique offerings such as the Pharmacy Fundamentals series – for example, a first-year course on Professional Identity that explores pharmacists’ roles and responsibilities (including non-traditional roles and management) catalog.ndm.edu – and a third-year Pharmacy Leadership Development course, reflecting the emphasis on producing pharmacist leaders. The program was originally envisioned with a focus on women’s health cnsmaryland.org, and that commitment to serving specialized patient needs continues to influence electives and community outreach. NDMU’s location in Baltimore provides diverse clinical rotation opportunities, and the college has partnerships aimed at meeting Maryland’s healthcare needs; from the outset, the school aimed to train pharmacists who would serve the local community cnsmaryland.org. Notably, NDMU does not require the PCAT exam for admission, preferring a holistic review of prerequisites and experiences pharmacyschoolfinder.org. Together, these facts paint a picture of a program that values leadership, community engagement, and innovative education – knowledge that candidates can use to their advantage on interview day (both in demonstrating fit and in asking insightful questions).

• What leadership development opportunities do pharmacy students have at NDMU (e.g., involvement in the leadership course or student organizations)?
• Given the school’s origins with a women’s health focus, how is women’s health integrated into the curriculum or experiential learning?
• How do pharmacy students at NDMU engage in interprofessional education or community outreach during the program?

• Expanding Pharmacist Roles in Maryland: Maryland has broadened pharmacists’ scope of practice in recent years. For example, state law now authorizes trained pharmacists to prescribe and dispense contraceptives directly to patients law.justia.com, a development that aligns with NDMU’s emphasis on improving care (particularly in women’s health) and could be a point of discussion in interviews.
• Opioid Crisis and Public Health: The Baltimore/Maryland region has been hard-hit by the opioid epidemic. Pharmacists play a key role in harm reduction (such as providing naloxone) and public health advocacy. Notably, Baltimore City has pursued legal action against opioid distributors and pharmacies, securing major settlements (over $400 million) to address the crisis reuters.com. Awareness of how pharmacists fit into efforts to combat the opioid epidemic demonstrates an understanding of pressing healthcare challenges.
• Provider Status Advocacy: Nationally, the pharmacy profession is lobbying for “provider status” – formal recognition under federal law (Medicare Part B) so pharmacists can be reimbursed for clinical services. This effort remains a hot topic in pharmacy policy uspharmacist.com. Being conversant about provider status and how it could expand pharmacists’ roles (and why that matters) can signal to interviewers that a candidate is engaged with the future direction of the field.

Beyond strong academics, NDMU looks for well-rounded candidates who embody the school’s values. Importantly, the interview itself is designed to evaluate many of these non-academic qualities catalog.ndm.edu. Some key traits and experiences that Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Pharmacy prioritizes include:

• Demonstrated leadership and a commitment to service – aligning with the mission’s emphasis on developing leaders and serving diverse communities pharmacyschoolfinder.org.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills – the ability to clearly express ideas and listen, which is directly assessed during interviews catalog.ndm.edu.
• Professionalism and ethical integrity – shown through behavior and recommendations, reflecting the school’s core values of honesty and responsibility pharmacyschoolfinder.org.
• Cultural competence and empathy – an awareness of and respect for diverse backgrounds, in line with NDMU’s focus on caring for diverse patient populations pharmacyschoolfinder.org.
• Intellectual curiosity and a habit of lifelong learning – evidence of engagement in research, pharmacy work, or other scholarly activities, echoing the program’s aim to instill continual growth and “scholarship” in its students pharmacyschoolfinder.org.

• CAPE Educational Outcomes (2013): NDMU’s curriculum is designed in alignment with national pharmacy education outcomes. The Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education (CAPE) 2013 framework – which underpins ACPE accreditation standards – emphasizes a range of competencies beyond scientific knowledge. Notably, CAPE outcomes highlight personal and professional development areas such as self-awareness, leadership, innovation, and professionalism pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. These are the very attributes NDMU cultivates in its students, so being familiar with the CAPE domains can help applicants appreciate the program’s academic expectations.
• Interprofessional Collaboration (IPEC): Like all accredited programs, NDMU incorporates the Interprofessional Education Collaborative core competencies, preparing students to work in team-based healthcare. Pharmacy students participate in joint activities with other disciplines (for example, scheduled interprofessional education events each year are part of the curriculum) catalog.ndm.edu. The IPEC competencies – which cover values and ethics, understanding of professional roles, interprofessional communication, and teamwork – are emphasized during these activities pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Awareness of these teamwork and communication standards is useful for interviews, as it underscores an applicant’s readiness to collaborate effectively in a healthcare team.

• Motivation & "Why Us": Interviewers frequently explore a candidate’s motivation for pharmacy and interest in NDMU. Expect questions like why you chose pharmacy over other fields, and specifically, “Why Notre Dame of Maryland?” studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. These help the school gauge your commitment and fit for their program.
• Understanding of the Profession: You should be prepared to discuss what the role of a pharmacist entails. For example, past candidates have been asked, “What do you think a pharmacist actually does?” studentdoctor.net, probing their understanding of pharmacists’ responsibilities and the profession’s scope.
• Personal Insight Questions: Interviewers may ask thought-provoking personal or ethical questions to see how you think and what your values are. One reported example was, “What is the purpose of life?” studentdoctor.net – an unexpected, broad question requiring self-reflection. Additionally, students have been asked to talk about challenges they’ve overcome or to describe a failure and what they learned studentdoctor.net.
• Ethical/Behavioral Scenarios: Some questions put applicants in a scenario to assess ethical reasoning or communication skills. For instance, an interviewee might be asked how they would convince a skeptical family member to trust Western medicine in the absence of obvious evidence studentdoctor.net. Being able to articulate a thoughtful, empathetic approach to such scenarios is important.
• Background & Goals: It’s common to be asked about your background and plans. Interviewers have inquired about other schools or career paths you’ve considered studentdoctor.net, your role models in life, or where you see yourself in the future. These questions allow you to highlight your preparation for pharmacy and alignment with NDMU’s values.

• PharmCAS Application Opens – Summer 2025: The PharmCAS application typically becomes available by June or July of the year prior to enrollment (for fall 2026 entry) catalog.ndm.edu.
• Early Decision Deadline – Early September 2025: NDMU participates in PharmCAS Early Decision, so candidates who select NDMU as their sole choice must submit by the early September deadline (usually around the first week of September) pharmacyschoolfinder.org.
• Final Application Deadline – June 1, 2026: NDMU’s final deadline for the 2025-26 cycle is expected to be June 1, 2026 (for reference, the previous cycle’s deadline was June 1, 2025) catalog.ndm.edu. Applying well before this date is advisable since the program uses rolling admissions.
• Letters of Recommendation – Due by Deadline: Three letters are required (one from a science professor and others from appropriate professionals) and must be submitted through PharmCAS by the application deadline catalog.ndm.edu.
• Interviews – Rolling Invitations (Fall 2025 – Spring 2026): Once an application is complete and screened, interview invitations are extended on a rolling basis. NDMU schedules interviews first-come, first-served, and interviews may be offered either on-campus or virtually catalog.ndm.edu. The interview season can span several months until the class is nearly filled.
• Admissions Decisions – Rolling Notifications: After interviewing, decisions (acceptances, rejections, or waitlist placements) are made periodically throughout the cycle catalog.ndm.edu. Accepted applicants are typically required to submit a deposit (NDMU’s is $750) to hold their seat pharmacyschoolfinder.org. Because of rolling admissions, earlier applicants may receive decisions (and possibly fill seats) well before the final deadline.

In summary, thorough preparation for a Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Pharmacy interview involves understanding both the format and the context of the program. This guide has synthesized key information – from the open-file, conversational interview style studentdoctor.net to the mission-driven curriculum and values pharmacyschoolfinder.org – to help applicants align their approach with what the school is seeking. By being knowledgeable about the program’s unique features, staying aware of relevant pharmacy issues, and keeping track of important deadlines, candidates can approach the interview with confidence. Demonstrating that you resonate with NDMU’s values and vision, while conveying your own strengths and motivations, will leave a strong final impression on the admissions committee.