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USask Pharmacy Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

Last updated: September 2025

Table of Contents

Overview

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Pharmacy and Nutrition PharmD admissions interview and its context. It covers the interview process and format (recently shifted to a remote video format from traditional in-person panels) pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca, the college’s mission and values that frame its expectations admissions.usask.ca, and key facts about the PharmD program itself. We also review relevant healthcare policy topics – from Saskatchewan’s expanding pharmacist scope of practice saskatchewan.ca to national pharmacare discussions – that could arise in conversation. In addition, the guide discusses the non-academic qualities and competency frameworks (e.g. national professional standards) the school emphasizes pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca, highlights common themes in past interview questions (such as motivation for pharmacy and ethical scenarios) programs.usask.ca studentdoctor.net, and outlines the important timelines for the 2025-2026 application cycle pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca.

Interview Format

The PharmD admissions interview format at USask has evolved in recent years. In the past, interviews were typically conducted in person with a panel of interviewers (often about three people) and tended to be conversational in tone studentdoctor.net. These were usually open-file interviews, meaning the interviewers had access to the applicant’s application information during the conversation studentdoctor.net. Currently, however, the college uses a personal video interview format – there are no face-to-face interviews at all, as applicants instead respond to prompts through an online video platform pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca. This recorded one-way interview replaces the traditional live panel; candidates record timed responses to predetermined questions on camera, allowing remote evaluation.

In the video interview process, each applicant faces the same standardized prompts, and evaluators focus solely on those responses – essentially a closed-file approach, since your interviewers (or raters) only see your recorded answers, not your full application. The style remains professional but is meant to be conversational in delivery; you speak on camera as if speaking to an interviewer, though there is no interactive dialogue. Performance in the interview is critical to admissions: even a very high academic achiever (e.g. an 80% average student) can fail to gain admission if their interview or situational judgement test performance is poor pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca. Conversely, a strong interview and CASPer (critical skills test) score can elevate an applicant with a lower GPA pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca. With approximately 90 PharmD seats available each year pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca, the post-interview acceptance rate is roughly on the order of one-in-three (this can vary by applicant pool and year). In summary, the interview is a key opportunity to differentiate yourself beyond academics, and the move to a video format has maintained, not diminished, its importance.

School Mission and Values

The College of Pharmacy and Nutrition’s mission is “to develop skilled and caring pharmacy and nutrition professionals and scientists, and to create knowledge through excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, outreach and engagement for the health of individuals and communities.” admissions.usask.ca This mission highlights the school’s focus on producing graduates who are not only competent but also compassionate and community-minded. In alignment with the mission, the college emphasizes core values of professionalism and integrity. Pharmacy students are expected to uphold respect for others, honesty, empathy, and a strong sense of responsibility pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca. These values form a thread through the program – and interviewers will be looking for evidence that an applicant shares the school’s commitment to caring, ethical practice and lifelong learning.

Program Description and Facts

The University of Saskatchewan offers a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program, a four-year professional degree that replaces the former Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (as of 2017) pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca. Entrance into the PharmD requires at least two years (60 credit units) of university prerequisite coursework, so it is not a direct-from-high-school program admissions.usask.ca. The curriculum integrates fundamental pharmaceutical sciences with clinical practice skills – “pharmacy encompasses the art and science of preparing and distributing medications, along with providing essential drug and health information to the public” admissions.usask.ca – preparing students to collaborate with patients and other health professionals in optimizing therapy admissions.usask.ca. The college admits roughly 90 students per year into PharmD, and the program is fully accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) through 2026 pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca.

One hallmark of USask’s PharmD is its extensive experiential learning. Over the course of the program, students complete about 40 weeks of supervised practice experiences in a variety of settings admissions.usask.ca. These rotations include community pharmacies and hospital placements, as well as specialized experiences that could involve research labs, clinical specialties (e.g. psychiatry), or the college’s own Medication Assessment Centre admissions.usask.ca. State-of-the-art facilities support this hands-on training – for example, the college’s Apotex Pharmacy Practice Centre is a modern simulation lab that allows students to develop patient care skills in a realistic environment (and to train alongside other health science students) admissions.usask.ca. The college also boasts a very active student body: pharmacy students participate in a Pre-Pharmacy Club and initiatives like Pharmacy Awareness Month outreach, and a robust Pharmacy and Nutrition Students’ Society organizes social, athletic, and professional events admissions.usask.ca. These program features are great to be aware of for your interview; they not only illustrate what makes USask’s PharmD unique, but can inspire thoughtful questions for you to ask your interviewers – for instance, you might inquire about how the rotations are structured, opportunities to pursue research or special interests, or how the college fosters student involvement and community service.

Policy Topics Relevant to the Program

It’s valuable for applicants to understand the broader healthcare and pharmacy policy context in Saskatchewan and Canada. Locally, Saskatchewan has been a leader in expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice. Pharmacists in the province have been authorized to prescribe for minor ailments since 2011, and over time the government has broadened this authority to cover around 30 minor health conditions as of 2023 saskatchewan.ca. Recent additions, for example, allow pharmacists to prescribe treatments for issues like nausea in pregnancy and recurrent cold sores (herpes) saskatchewan.ca. The Health Minister has highlighted that enabling pharmacists to practice to their full scope improves patient access to care saskatchewan.ca. This means that as a student and future pharmacist in Saskatchewan, you’ll be training for an evolving role – from administering vaccines and ordering lab tests, to independently managing minor illnesses – which could very well come up in interview discussion. Being aware of these provincial policies shows that you understand the environment in which you will practice.

On a national level, universal pharmacare is a prominent policy topic that intersects with pharmacy. There is ongoing debate and planning in Canada to ensure all citizens have access to necessary medications regardless of income. In fact, a federal advisory council has recommended implementing a universal single-payer pharmacare program to achieve the goal that prescription drug access be based on need, not ability to pay canada.ca. An applicant who can thoughtfully discuss such issues – for instance, the implications of national pharmacare for patients and pharmacists, or pharmacists’ roles in public health (like during the opioid crisis or pandemic vaccination efforts) – will demonstrate an awareness of the healthcare landscape. While you won’t need deep policy expertise, familiarity with key issues and how they relate to pharmacy can help you stand out as a well-informed candidate.

Non-Academic Selection Criteria

Academic excellence alone is not enough to gain admission – USask’s selection process places significant weight on non-academic factors. The college is looking for candidates who possess strong personal attributes and professional potential. In particular, the situational judgement test (Casper, called the Test of Critical Skills) and the interview are designed to assess qualities like communication, ethical reasoning, empathy, problem-solving, teamwork, and professionalism pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca. In the final selection, the Admissions Committee chooses those who not only have solid grades but who “most aptly display a motivation for and understanding of a career in pharmacy”, as well as critical thinking skills and maturity pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca. Notably, USask does not require or consider reference letters or extracurricular resumes in its admissions – instead, your character and experiences need to come through in how you perform on Casper and in the interview pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca. This means that while there isn’t a formal point system for having, say, leadership positions or volunteer hours, those experiences can still be very important: they give you concrete examples and insights that you can draw upon in your interview responses pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca. For instance, involvement in community service, student leadership, or research can help demonstrate the qualities of empathy, initiative, and curiosity about the profession, but it’s up to you to convey those connections during the interview. Above all, the school wants to see evidence of a well-rounded, conscientious individual who is ready to uphold the responsibilities of a healthcare professional.

Relevant Competency Frameworks

The PharmD program at USask is aligned with national competency frameworks that define what pharmacists need to know and be able to do at entry-to-practice. The college explicitly references the Professional Competencies for Pharmacists at Entry to Practice in Canada (developed by NAPRA, the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities) pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca. These competencies cover areas such as patient care, product distribution, communication, professionalism, health promotion, and collaboration. Throughout the program, students are trained and evaluated against these standards to ensure they will be practice-ready upon graduation. Indeed, to become a licensed pharmacist in Canada, graduates must pass the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Qualifying Exam, which tests both knowledge and clinical skills pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca. During your interview, you may not be asked directly about “NAPRA competencies,” but being aware of them can be useful – it’s the blueprint of a pharmacist’s skill set. When you discuss your strengths or experiences, connecting them to competencies like teamwork, ethical decision-making, or lifelong learning can subtly show that you understand the professional expectations of pharmacists.

Themes Among Past Interview Questions

While specific interview questions can vary from year to year (and you won’t be asked about academic content or drug chemistry in this interview), many common themes tend to appear. One consistent theme is motivation for pharmacy – you should be ready to clearly explain why you want to become a pharmacist programs.usask.ca. Expect a question along the lines of “Why pharmacy?” or “What interests you about the pharmacy program at USask?” and be prepared to convey your genuine interest and understanding of the profession. Another frequent theme is a discussion of the qualities of a good pharmacist or healthcare professional programs.usask.ca. The interviewers may ask, for example, “What characteristics do you think are important for someone in pharmacy/health care?” or “What does being a professional mean to you?” Answering these questions well involves reflecting on traits like integrity, empathy, communication, teamwork, and accountability – and ideally giving examples of how you embody or appreciate these traits.

Beyond those foundational questions about your career choice and values, interviewers often delve into situational or ethical scenarios to gauge your judgment. You might be presented with a hypothetical dilemma (for instance, encountering a patient conflict or a scenario testing your honesty) and asked how you would respond. Such questions align with the attributes measured by Casper – e.g. ethics, empathy, problem-solving – and they are meant to see you “think on your feet” about real-world issues pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca. Some past candidates have also reported being asked about current events or issues in healthcare during their interviews studentdoctor.net. For example, an interviewer could ask your opinion on a recent healthcare news story or a policy change affecting pharmacy. It’s a good idea to stay up-to-date on general healthcare news (provincial or national) as you approach interview day, so you can confidently discuss something if prompted. Finally, be prepared for a few questions about you – these might include standard interview prompts like “Tell us about a challenge you overcame,” “What is your greatest strength/weakness?”, or “How do you handle stress?”. Such questions allow you to showcase personal attributes like resilience, self-awareness, and time management. Throughout the interview, the overarching theme is that the school is assessing how well your experiences, reasoning, and demeanor fit with the qualities of an effective pharmacist and the college’s mission.

Timelines and Deadlines (2025-2026 Cycle)

The application and interview cycle follows a strict timeline. For the Fall 2026 intake (2025-2026 admissions cycle), key dates are as follows pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca:

Conclusion

Preparing for the University of Saskatchewan’s pharmacy interview means understanding what the school values and how you can demonstrate that. By familiarizing yourself with the interview format (a recorded video response format) pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca and reflecting on the mission of the college to serve the community through skilled and caring practice admissions.usask.ca, you’ll be able to frame your answers in a way that resonates with your interviewers. Remember to draw on your own experiences to illustrate your commitment to pharmacy and to stay informed about the profession and healthcare environment. In doing so, you will show that you are not only a strong candidate academically, but also a future pharmacist who embodies the qualities and awareness that the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition cultivates.