South University Pharmacy Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

South University’s School of Pharmacy offers an accelerated three-year PharmD program in Savannah, Georgia southuniversity.edu catalog.southuniversity.edu, known for its small, close-knit learning environment. The interview process is typically a traditional open-file format where one candidate speaks with a panel of interviewers (often two people) studentdoctor.net. Students consistently describe the interview atmosphere as welcoming and conversational studentdoctor.net, with most rating the stress level as average studentdoctor.net. The school’s mission emphasizes collaborative, patient-centered care and lifelong learning catalog.southuniversity.edu, and its admissions approach is holistic – valuing communication skills, integrity, and other personal attributes alongside academic achievement catalog.southuniversity.edu.

This guide provides insight into the program’s mission and values, details about the interview format and expectations, and highlights of South University’s distinctive program features (such as the “enhanced” three-year curriculum and an optional dual PharmD/MBA pathway). It also outlines current pharmacy policy issues relevant to the region and country – from pharmacy benefit manager reforms to expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice – since staying informed on these topics is important for interviews. In addition, the following sections describe the non-academic qualities South University seeks in applicants, the competency frameworks (like the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process) that shape the curriculum, common themes from past interview questions, and key dates for the 2025-2026 admissions cycle (including a November 1, 2025 priority deadline and a final deadline of May 1, 2026) southuniversity.edu.

South University’s pharmacy school interviews are generally conducted in a traditional format rather than strictly using Multiple Mini Interviews. Most candidates have a one-on-one interview session with a small panel (often two interviewers), and these interviewers have access to the applicant’s full file (an open-file interview) studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. The tone of the conversation is usually friendly and low-pressure – past applicants describe a comfortable, conversational experience studentdoctor.net, and most rated the interview’s difficulty as moderate (average stress) studentdoctor.net. In some cases, the interview day has included scenario-based questions resembling an MMI station (with a nondisclosure agreement for those scenarios), but these are integrated into the overall process rather than a separate MMI-only format studentdoctor.net. Because admissions offers are made on a rolling basis catalog.southuniversity.edu, many interviewees who perform well receive acceptances, although the exact post-interview acceptance rate is not publicly disclosed.

The South University School of Pharmacy’s mission is “to prepare pharmacists for life-long learning in the practice of collaborative patient-centered care, and promote excellence in teaching, scholarship and service.” catalog.southuniversity.edu This statement highlights the program’s core values: a commitment to continuous learning, teamwork in patient care, dedication to service, and excellence in education and scholarship. These values hint at the kind of attributes the school appreciates in its students. For example, an interviewer may inquire about times you’ve collaborated with others in a healthcare setting or served your community, which ties directly to the mission’s focus on teamwork and service. Showing that your own goals and experiences align with the school’s mission can subtly demonstrate your fit with the program during the interview.

South University’s PharmD program is ACPE-accredited and distinguished by its accelerated three-year curriculum (students study year-round) southuniversity.edu. It is one of only four pharmacy schools in Georgia and among the few in the country with an “enhanced” year-round curriculum structure catalog.southuniversity.edu. Class sizes are relatively small, which contributes to a close-knit campus atmosphere and strong faculty support studentdoctor.net. Notably, the PharmD cohort begins each year in June (earlier than traditional fall-start programs), allowing students to complete the degree on an expedited timeline.

In addition to the intensive core curriculum, South University offers unique opportunities for its pharmacy students. For example, eligible PharmD students can concurrently enroll in a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration program, enabling them to earn an MBA alongside the PharmD southuniversity.edu. The PharmD curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for practice nationwide – it meets licensure requirements for all U.S. states except Arkansas and South Dakota southuniversity.edu. The school often refers to its program as having an “enhanced” curriculum catalog.southuniversity.edu, suggesting there are innovative or expanded learning elements beyond a standard pharmacy program (students might learn more about what “enhanced” entails by asking faculty for specifics).

Being knowledgeable about the program’s features also allows you to ask informed questions during your interview – a great way to demonstrate interest. For example, you might consider asking questions like:

• What support systems are in place to help students succeed in the accelerated three-year PharmD program? southuniversity.edu
• How do students integrate the concurrent MBA in Healthcare Administration with the PharmD coursework, and how many students choose to pursue this dual-degree option? southuniversity.edu
• In what ways does the curriculum incorporate collaborative, patient-centered care (as emphasized by the school’s mission)? catalog.southuniversity.edu
• South University refers to its PharmD as an “enhanced” curriculum – what unique features or opportunities make it enhanced compared to a traditional program? catalog.southuniversity.edu

Pharmacists are affected by healthcare policies at the state and national level, and being aware of these issues can enrich your interview conversations. In the Southeast region (and nationally), some key policy topics relevant to pharmacy include:

• Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Reforms: States in the South have begun implementing regulations on PBMs to protect patient access and independent pharmacies. For instance, Arkansas recently banned PBMs from owning or operating pharmacies apnews.com, and Alabama enacted laws to curb certain PBM practices like low reimbursements to local pharmacies apnews.com. These steps reflect a broader national push to increase transparency and fairness in how PBMs manage prescription drug benefits.
• Expanded Pharmacist Scope of Practice: Many states are expanding pharmacists’ roles in direct patient care. New laws now allow pharmacists to prescribe or dispense certain medications without a physician’s prescription – for example, New Jersey recently joined 17 other states (and D.C.) in permitting pharmacists to provide hormonal contraceptives directly to patients apnews.com. This trend toward granting "provider status" to pharmacists (allowing them to perform more clinical services) is likely to influence practice in Georgia and was accelerated by the recognition of pharmacists’ contributions during the pandemic.
• Workforce and Healthcare Access: Community pharmacies nationwide have faced pharmacist staffing shortages and heavy workloads, leading some major chains to reduce pharmacy hours or temporarily close for walkouts apnews.com. In Georgia, which has large rural areas, pharmacists often serve as critical healthcare access points. Discussions about improving working conditions, supporting pharmacy staff, and utilizing pharmacists to fill gaps in primary care are all relevant policy considerations for the profession.
• Opioid Crisis and Public Health: The opioid epidemic remains a serious public health issue across the country and in Georgia. In 2024, opioid misuse and overdose were estimated to have cost Georgia around $81 billion in economic impact axios.com. Pharmacists are on the front lines of this crisis through prescription monitoring, patient education on opioid safety, and dispensing of naloxone. Interviewers might raise questions about how pharmacists can help address opioid abuse or other public health challenges, emphasizing the importance of this topic.

South University takes a holistic approach in evaluating applicants, looking beyond academics to the qualities and experiences that predict success in pharmacy. According to the program’s admissions criteria, the school considers factors such as strong communication skills (both written and verbal), critical thinking ability, integrity, dedication and motivation, as well as personal character and maturity catalog.southuniversity.edu. These non-academic attributes are assessed through elements like the personal statement, letters of recommendation, resumes, and the interview itself. In fact, the admissions committee may even consider applicants with grades below the usual minimum if they have “significant evidence of academic and professional potential” demonstrated by their career or personal accomplishments catalog.southuniversity.edu. Leadership roles, community service, research experiences, and other extracurricular achievements can all showcase an applicant’s dedication and potential beyond what can be seen in grades alone.

South University’s PharmD curriculum is aligned with the key competency frameworks in pharmacy education and practice. Notably, the program teaches the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process – students learn to collect patient information, assess and analyze the data, create individualized care plans, implement them, and then follow up to monitor outcomes southuniversity.edu. The school’s learning outcomes also emphasize domains like communication, professionalism, leadership, and even business management southuniversity.edu. These competencies mirror national standards (such as the CAPE educational outcomes and ACPE accreditation standards) that all pharmacists are expected to meet. In the interview, you may not be asked about “CAPE outcomes” explicitly, but you could be asked questions that relate to these competencies – for example, how you approach problem-solving, your experience working in teams, or how you demonstrate ethical and professional behavior – all of which tie back to the frameworks guiding the program.

Reports from previous applicants suggest that South University’s interviewers tend to cover a broad range of topics. Many students have encountered ethical or situational questions – for instance, being asked how they would handle discovering a classmate cheating, or what they would do if faced with an accident or emergency scenario studentdoctor.net. Personal and behavioral questions are also common: interviewers have asked about strengths and weaknesses, times when the applicant showed empathy or leadership, and how they overcame challenges or stress in the past studentdoctor.net. Additionally, it’s typical to discuss motivations and goals (such as “Why do you want to be a pharmacist?” or “Why do you want to attend South University?”) studentdoctor.net. Interviewees have also noted that current healthcare issues might come up for discussion, to gauge one’s awareness of the pharmacy field. Understanding these recurring themes can help you mentally prepare relevant examples and thought processes (without memorizing scripted answers), so that you’re ready to tackle whatever specific questions come your way.

Applying early and keeping track of deadlines can improve your chances in the rolling admissions process. South University admits one cohort of PharmD students per year, with the program beginning in June, and application review occurs on a rolling basis until the class is filled. For the 2025-2026 admissions cycle, the key dates to remember are as follows:

• Priority Early Application Deadline – November 1, 2025 southuniversity.edu
• Final Application Deadline – May 1, 2026 southuniversity.edu
• Admissions Decisions Finalized – June 2026 southuniversity.edu
• Classes Begin – June 2026 southuniversity.edu

Overall, thorough preparation and understanding of these topics will help you approach the South University School of Pharmacy interview with confidence. By familiarizing yourself with the program’s format and values, staying informed about important pharmacy issues, and being mindful of the application timeline, you can focus on presenting your best self to the interviewers. Remember that the interview is a two-way process – it’s not only for the school to evaluate you, but also for you to learn more about the program – so come prepared to engage in a meaningful conversation about your fit for South University’s PharmD program.