Shenandoah Dunn Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

Shenandoah University's Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy emphasizes a student-centered approach and a mission of producing compassionate, ethical pharmacy leaders. The Pharm.D. program offers both a traditional in-person pathway in Winchester, Virginia, and a pioneering online hybrid option, leveraging a location near the D.C. metro area and cutting-edge technology for learning. Students benefit from initiatives like the iMLearning program (providing a MacBook and iPad) and guaranteed scholarships for all accepted students. The admissions process is holistic – looking beyond academics to qualities such as leadership, service, and communication – and uses a rolling interview schedule, resulting in a conversational, low-stress interview experience for most applicants. This guide will examine the interview format, the school's mission and values, program highlights (with potential questions to ask), relevant policy issues, non-academic criteria valued by the school, key competency frameworks in pharmacy education, common themes from past interview questions, and the 2025–2026 application timeline.

The Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy conducts a traditional interview rather than an MMI. Interviews are typically one-on-one or one-on-two conversations: most candidates meet with a faculty member accompanied by a current pharmacy student. The sessions usually last about 30–45 minutes and are described as friendly and relaxed in tone. Interviewers often engage in a conversational style instead of rapid-fire questioning, helping applicants feel at ease.

Notably, Shenandoah's interview is closed-file, meaning the interviewers do not have access to the applicant's academic records during the interview. This format encourages discussion focused on the candidate's experiences and motivations. In addition to the formal interview, a typical interview day includes a short writing sample exercise and an overview tour of the pharmacy school facilities. Admissions offers are made swiftly after the interview – the admissions committee meets frequently, so well-qualified candidates often hear back within days of their interview. While exact post-interview acceptance rates aren't published, the prompt turnaround and rolling admissions suggest that a strong interview performance can lead to an acceptance soon afterward.

Shenandoah's pharmacy program is grounded in a mission to "educate and inspire compassionate and ethical leaders in interprofessional, patient-centered care". In alignment with this mission, the school upholds core values inherited from the university, including collaboration, diversity and inclusion, empathy, innovation, leadership, lifelong learning, professionalism, scholarship, and service. These principles shape the culture and expectations of the program. Interviewers may look for evidence that applicants share or respect these values – for example, discussing experiences in teamwork, community service, or leadership roles can demonstrate a fit with the school's emphasis on ethical, service-oriented patient care.

The Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy offers a distinctive Pharm.D. program with flexible pathways and a focus on practical experience. Key features of the program include:

• Pathways: Two fully accredited pathways – a campus-based program in Winchester (located at a regional medical center) and an online hybrid pathway launched in 2024. Both pathways maintain the same curriculum standards and outcomes, with the online option combining asynchronous coursework, periodic live sessions, and a few on-site visits each semester.
• Class Size and Learning Environment: Approximately 60–75 students in each on-campus cohort with a tight-knit 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Classes emphasize interprofessional learning and teamwork, preparing students to work alongside doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
• Technology Integration: All pharmacy students participate in SU's iMLearning program, receiving a MacBook, iPad, and Apple Pencil to support a modern, technology-enhanced education. This ensures familiarity with digital tools for patient care and pharmacy practice.
• Dual Degrees and Specializations: Shenandoah offers several dual-degree opportunities – for example, PharmD/MBA (Business Administration), PharmD/MPH (Public Health), and even a PharmD/MS in Pharmacogenomics & Personalized Medicine. These options allow students to tailor their education toward interests in business, public health policy, or research in personalized medicine.
• Student Support and Outcomes: Every accepted Pharm.D. student receives a scholarship (amount varies) to help offset tuition costs. The program's graduates achieve strong outcomes, such as a 90.5% residency acceptance rate for those pursuing post-graduate residency training (Class of 2023), reflecting the school's support in career development.

These distinctive features of Shenandoah's program can provide excellent talking points during an interview. Demonstrating knowledge of the program's offerings and strengths shows genuine interest. It also allows candidates to ask informed questions that go beyond the basics and engage the interviewers.

Potential Questions to Ask at the Interview

• How does the new online hybrid pathway ensure that students receive the same quality of education and experiential training as the on-campus pathway?
• What opportunities do Pharm.D. students have to participate in interprofessional education or collaborate with other health programs at Shenandoah University?
• I see that all students are provided with an iPad and MacBook as part of the iMLearning initiative. How is technology integrated into the curriculum and clinical training?
• Could you tell me more about the dual-degree options, such as the PharmD/MPH program or the MS in Pharmacogenomics, and how students balance those alongside the Pharm.D. coursework?
• What support does the School of Pharmacy offer for students interested in post-graduate residencies or specialized career paths (for example, mentorship, rotations, or networking related to residency preparation)?

Awareness of healthcare policy issues is important for prospective pharmacists, and Shenandoah's location and curriculum encourage engagement with these topics. Regionally, in Virginia, there is active discussion about supporting community pharmacies and regulating Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). For instance, the state legislature considered the "Save Local Pharmacies Act" (SB875), aiming to use a single state-contracted PBM for Medicaid – a move projected to save millions and help local pharmacies stay competitive. Being informed about such local initiatives shows an understanding of the pharmacy business environment and patient access issues in the school's home state.

On a national level, the pharmacy profession is advocating for an expanded role in healthcare delivery. After the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists delivered over 200 million vaccinations and took on greater clinical responsibilities, which has fueled efforts to grant pharmacists "provider status" (formal recognition and reimbursement for clinical services). Candidates should be familiar with ongoing national debates about pharmacists' scope of practice – for example, laws in various states allowing pharmacists to prescribe certain medications (like contraceptives) or to provide testing and treatment for minor ailments. Given Shenandoah's mission of patient-centered care and its PharmD/MPH option in public health, topics such as public health policy, health equity, and access to care might also come up. Students in the program are likely exposed to advocacy through professional organizations, bolstered by the proximity to Washington, D.C., which can offer opportunities to attend pharmacy conferences or legislative events. Showing awareness of these broader issues and the ability to discuss how they impact pharmacy practice can signal that an applicant is future-oriented and engaged with the profession's evolving role.

Beyond grades and prerequisite coursework, Shenandoah looks for well-rounded candidates who embody the qualities reflected in its core values. The admissions committee employs a holistic review process, meaning that leadership experience, community service, communication skills, and other personal attributes weigh heavily in decisions. In particular, evidence of empathy and ethical behavior, teamwork and collaboration, and commitment to serving others can distinguish an applicant – these traits map directly to the school's values of compassion, collaboration, and service. Experience in the pharmacy or healthcare field is also beneficial: while not strictly required, having volunteered or worked in a pharmacy can demonstrate dedication to the profession (and many successful applicants obtain letters of recommendation from pharmacists or healthcare professionals as a result). The program's emphasis on innovation and scholarship suggests that intellectual curiosity and any research or problem-solving experiences will be viewed favorably as well. Overall, Shenandoah seeks students who are not only academically prepared but also show the professionalism, initiative, and civic engagement that will enable them to become "compassionate and ethical leaders" in pharmacy.

As an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program, Shenandoah's curriculum aligns with national pharmacy education competencies. The school's outcomes are informed by the Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education (CAPE) educational outcomes and the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners (JCPP) Pharmacists' Patient Care Process (PPCP), among other frameworks. The CAPE outcomes (most recently updated in 2013) emphasize not only foundational scientific knowledge but also essential skills and attributes for pharmacists – including being a collaborator, an innovator, and a leader in healthcare teams. These mirror Shenandoah's own focus on teamwork, creativity, and leadership in its values. Likewise, the PPCP has been integrated into Pharm.D. training nationwide (and into ACPE standards since 2016) as a systematic approach to patient-centered care. Students learn to Collect patient information, Assess the data, Plan individualized therapy, Implement the plan, and Follow-Up (Monitor/Evaluate) – key steps in the pharmacist patient care process. Familiarity with these competency frameworks is useful for interview preparation, as candidates may be asked about how they approach patient care or teamwork; referencing a known framework like the PPCP can demonstrate both knowledge and a commitment to practicing pharmacy in a structured, professional manner.

Feedback from previous Shenandoah interviewees suggests that the school's interview questions cover a range of personal, ethical, and professional topics. A common theme is motivation for the pharmacy career – many applicants report being asked the classic "Why pharmacy?" question to explain their interest in the field. Another theme involves understanding the role of pharmacists and one's future goals: for example, one interview included a creative question about the candidate's "dream project" as a pharmacist, probing what impact or innovation they hope to pursue. Interviewers have also inquired about how pharmacists contribute to their communities, which tests an applicant's grasp of the profession's societal role. Ethics and integrity are frequently assessed: candidates might be asked to describe a time they faced an ethical dilemma or disagreed with a coworker over a matter of ethics, reflecting the school's focus on ethical leadership. Additionally, applicants should be ready for other behavioral questions (e.g., how they handle stress, work in teams, or resolve conflicts), as well as discussion of their application or experiences, since the closed-file format means you'll need to bring up relevant experiences proactively. The overall trend from past interviews is that Shenandoah's questions are thoughtful and geared toward understanding your character and preparation for a pharmacy career, rather than obscure clinical trivia.

The application cycle for Fall 2026 entry follows the PharmCAS nationwide timeline. The PharmCAS application typically opens in July (July 2025 for this cycle), and Shenandoah's final application deadline is June 1, 2026. However, because Shenandoah operates on a rolling admissions basis, it is advantageous to apply well before the final deadline – the admissions team begins reviewing applications and inviting strong candidates to interview as soon as files are complete. In fact, interviews at Shenandoah start early in the cycle: for example, one applicant who submitted their PharmCAS materials in mid-September received an interview invitation by early October and interviewed later that month. Interview sessions continue through the fall and spring until the class is filled, but slots may become limited later in the cycle as offers are made. Decisions after each interview are rendered quickly (often within a week) due to frequent admissions committee meetings.

Accepted students in the 2025–2026 cycle benefit from a relatively flexible response timeline. Shenandoah requires a $1,000 enrollment deposit, but unlike many programs that demand this deposit within 2-4 weeks of acceptance, the School of Pharmacy allows admitted students until around April 2026 to secure their seat. This means applicants can interview early and still have several months to make a final decision. Nonetheless, candidates who are certain about attending are encouraged to submit their deposit earlier to reserve their place in the class. Key dates to remember include the application deadline (6/1/2026) and the start of classes in Fall 2026; it's wise to confirm any additional school-specific dates (such as for financial aid or orientation) in the official admissions materials as the cycle progresses.

In summary, thorough preparation and self-reflection are essential for a successful interview at Shenandoah University's Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy. By understanding the program's format and expectations, embracing the school's mission of compassionate leadership, and staying informed about both program details and broader pharmacy issues, candidates can confidently demonstrate their fit for the Pharm.D. program. Each aspect of this guide – from the interview structure and school values to curriculum highlights, policy awareness, and common interview themes – is meant to help applicants connect their own experiences and goals with what Shenandoah is looking for in future pharmacy professionals. Good luck with your interview process!