NSU Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

Nova Southeastern University’s Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy (NSU COP) interview preparation involves understanding each aspect of the program and admissions process. This guide provides a comprehensive synthesis of key elements: the interview format and what to expect, the school’s mission and values, and the Pharm.D. program’s distinctive features and opportunities. It also covers pertinent pharmacy policy issues relevant to NSU’s region, the non-academic qualities the school values in applicants, the competency frameworks that shape the curriculum, common themes from past interview questions, and important application timelines for the 2025–2026 cycle. Together, these sections give prospective students a well-rounded understanding of NSU’s College of Pharmacy and how to align their preparation with the program’s expectations.

For the 2025–2026 cycle, NSU’s College of Pharmacy is conducting interviews virtually, via Zoom pharmacy.nova.edu. The interview day typically includes a private one-on-one or panel-style interview with faculty members pharmacy.nova.edu, allowing the admissions committee to get to know each candidate personally. Past applicants have reported a mix of interview styles: some describe a traditional conversational format, while others noted elements of a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) approach in their experience studentdoctor.net. It is not explicitly stated whether NSU’s interviews are open-file or closed-file, so candidates should be prepared to discuss details from their application if relevant. Exact post-interview acceptance rates are not published, but with a rolling admissions process in place, interviewing early in the cycle can be advantageous pharmacy.nova.edu.

NSU’s College of Pharmacy has a mission focused on developing “inclusive leaders in the science and practice of pharmacy” who will improve health through discovery, innovation, advocacy, and optimal patient care pharmacy.nova.edu. In alignment with this mission, the college’s vision emphasizes leadership, innovation, and diversity in education, practice, research, and service to advance community health pharmacy.nova.edu. These guiding principles permeate the program’s culture, highlighting the importance of patient-centered care, community engagement, and forward-thinking leadership in pharmacy. Being aware of NSU’s mission and core values helps applicants understand the school’s expectations and can frame how they discuss their own goals and experiences during the interview in a way that resonates with the college’s ethos.

NSU’s Pharm.D. program offers a range of distinctive opportunities and resources that make it stand out. Below are some key program features and facts:

• Multiple campuses: The Pharm.D. program is offered at the main Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus and in San Juan, Puerto Rico, enabling students to train in diverse health care environments and communities pharmacy.nova.edu.
• On-site pharmacy facilities: NSU is the only pharmacy college in the U.S. that operates both a full-service community pharmacy and a full institutional (hospital) pharmacy, providing students with unique hands-on practice experience during their studies pharmacy.nova.edu.
• Global engagement: NSU hosts a robust Travel Study Program – the largest international study program among U.S. pharmacy schools – and in 2011 established the first World Health Organization Collaborating Center in Consumer Health Informatics pharmacy.nova.edu. These give students opportunities for international learning and research exposure.
• Dual degrees and specializations: Pharm.D. students have options to pursue concurrent degrees (such as a Pharm.D./M.B.A., Pharm.D./M.P.H., or M.S. in Health Informatics) or a concentration in Project Management, equipping them with interdisciplinary skills alongside their pharmacy training pharmacy.nova.edu pharmacy.nova.edu.
• Commitment to diversity: NSU’s College of Pharmacy ranks among the top in graduating minority pharmacists (14th nationwide for African American Pharm.D. graduates and 1st for Hispanic graduates) pharmacy.nova.edu. Over one-third of its alumni practice in South Florida’s communities, reflecting the school’s diverse reach and impact.

These distinctive features not only highlight the program’s strengths but also provide great talking points during an interview. For instance, an applicant interested in global health might ask about opportunities in the Travel Study Program or research at the WHO Collaborating Center, while someone excited by clinical practice could inquire how students gain experience in the on-campus community pharmacy. Showing curiosity about NSU’s unique offerings demonstrates to interviewers that you have done your research on the program and are enthusiastic about how it aligns with your interests.

Pharmacy practice is influenced by healthcare policies at the state and national level, and being aware of these issues can provide useful context. In Florida and the broader U.S., several policy topics are particularly relevant to NSU’s program and its future pharmacists:

• Expanded pharmacist scope of practice in Florida – A 2020 state law authorized pharmacists to enter collaborative practice agreements with physicians for managing chronic conditions and to test and treat certain minor ailments floridahealth.gov floridahealth.gov. Ongoing legislative discussions (for example, proposals to limit pharmacists’ authority in managing some cardiac conditions) show that this expanded role is still evolving floridapharmacy.org.
• Telepharmacy and remote dispensing – Florida has considered legislation to allow remote pharmacy dispensing by technicians with minimal on-site pharmacist supervision floridapharmacy.org. This raises debate about innovation versus patient safety, illustrating how technology is challenging traditional pharmacy practice models.
• Provider status and reimbursement – There is a push to formally recognize pharmacists as healthcare providers so they can be adequately reimbursed for clinical services. In Florida, for instance, provider nondiscrimination bills seek to ensure pharmacists are compensated for services like immunizations and chronic disease management on par with other providers floridapharmacy.org. Nationally, pharmacy organizations likewise advocate for Medicare recognition of pharmacists’ patient care services.
• Pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) regulation – Efforts are underway in many states (including Florida) to increase transparency and fairness in how PBMs reimburse pharmacies floridapharmacy.org. These policies aim to support independent pharmacies and reduce drug costs for patients by curbing practices that may disadvantage pharmacies or inflate medication prices.

Staying informed about such issues can be beneficial in the interview. If asked about the future of pharmacy or current challenges in healthcare, being able to reference relevant policy trends (like those above) shows that you are engaged with the profession beyond the classroom. It demonstrates awareness of the broader context in which pharmacists practice – a quality that professional programs value in future health care providers.

Like many pharmacy schools, NSU uses a holistic admissions process, looking beyond GPAs and test scores to the qualities and experiences that each candidate brings. The program’s mission signals an emphasis on leadership, innovation, advocacy, and service pharmacy.nova.edu, so applicants who have demonstrated these attributes tend to stand out. This can include leadership roles in student or community organizations, significant volunteer service or community engagement, research experience or other evidence of innovation, as well as pharmacy or healthcare work exposure. Such non-academic factors give the admissions committee insight into an applicant’s potential to contribute to the NSU community and the profession, aligning with the college’s goal of graduating future pharmacists who will be leaders and advocates in health care.

NSU’s Pharm.D. curriculum is built around nationally recognized competency frameworks that guide pharmacy education. As an ACPE-accredited program pharmacy.nova.edu, NSU meets the standards set by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, ensuring that graduates attain the essential knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes required for practice. These standards are closely tied to the educational outcomes defined by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (such as the CAPE outcomes). For example, ACPE Standard 4 emphasizes key personal and professional development skills – including professionalism, self-awareness, leadership, and innovation pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – which aligns with NSU’s mission-driven focus on cultivating pharmacy leaders. Additionally, NSU incorporates the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process (a stepwise approach to patient-centered care) into its training and expects students to achieve core Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) by graduation. Familiarity with these frameworks can give applicants insight into the program’s educational philosophy and the competencies they will be expected to develop.

Feedback from previous NSU interviewees (for instance, on Student Doctor Network) suggests that the school’s interview questions cover a broad range of themes. While individual questions will vary, common topics tend to include:

• Motivation for pharmacy and fit with NSU: Interviewers often inquire about why the applicant chose a career in pharmacy and why they are interested in NSU’s program in particular studentdoctor.net. This gives candidates an opportunity to share what inspires them and to show they understand what NSU has to offer.
• Academic challenges and resilience: Questions about handling academic difficulties may come up, such as explaining a low grade or how one manages a demanding course load studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. The aim is to assess perseverance and the ability to learn from setbacks in an intensive program like pharmacy school.
• Understanding of the profession: Interviewers may probe an applicant’s awareness of the pharmacy field by asking about current issues or the role of pharmacists in healthcare. For example, past candidates have been asked about the impact of pharmacists on society or to distinguish between different pharmacist roles studentdoctor.net, gauging how well-informed and passionate the applicant is about the profession.
• Ethical or scenario-based questions: Some interviews include hypothetical situations or ethical dilemmas to evaluate critical thinking. Candidates have reported prompts like designing a pharmacy or responding to a specific healthcare scenario studentdoctor.net, which require thinking on one’s feet and applying personal values and problem-solving skills.
• Personal qualities and experiences: Expect questions that explore an applicant’s personal attributes beyond academics – for instance, leadership, teamwork, or time management. Interviewers might ask for examples of leadership or a time you worked through a conflict, to understand your interpersonal skills and self-awareness in practical contexts studentdoctor.net.

Recognizing these themes can help applicants reflect on relevant experiences and perspectives beforehand. Rather than memorizing answers, it’s useful to think about stories or examples from your own life that relate to each of these areas. That way, you can deliver genuine responses that show introspection and fit with the qualities NSU is looking for.

The 2025–2026 admissions cycle for NSU’s Pharm.D. program follows the standard PharmCAS timeline. The PharmCAS application opens on July 10, 2025 pharmacy.nova.edu, and because NSU uses rolling admissions, submitting earlier in the cycle is in an applicant’s best interest pharmacy.nova.edu. The final deadline to submit the application is June 1, 2026 pharmacy.nova.edu. Interview invitations are extended on a rolling basis as applications are reviewed, and interviews (conducted via Zoom) take place throughout the fall, winter, and spring. After interviewing, strong candidates may receive an offer of admission in the weeks following their interview, and admitted students will then proceed with instructions for enrollment and orientation for the Fall 2026 entering class.

In conclusion, thorough preparation for an NSU College of Pharmacy interview involves understanding both the program itself and the wider professional landscape. By familiarizing yourself with the interview format, the school’s mission and values, the unique facets of NSU’s Pharm.D. program, relevant policy issues, the qualities the school seeks, and the common question themes – as well as keeping track of upcoming deadlines – you can approach the interview with confidence. This comprehensive awareness will enable you to engage in a meaningful dialogue with your interviewers, articulating why you are an excellent fit for Nova Southeastern University’s program and how you plan to contribute to its community and the pharmacy profession.