Maryland Pharmacy School Interview (UMSOP): Format and Dates
What happens at the University of Maryland pharmacy school interview, how you get one, and how it decides your offer.
The University of Maryland gives invited PharmD applicants two one-on-one interviews: one with a current PharmD student and one with a School of Pharmacy faculty member. An online option is offered. Interviews and offers are rolling, so applying by the January 4, 2027 priority deadline gets an earlier review and priority scholarship consideration.
Key facts (2027 entry)
- Format
- Two interviews, each with one interviewer: a current PharmD student and a School of Pharmacy faculty member.
- Online or in person
- Maryland offers an online interview option.
- When
- On a rolling basis. Last cycle, Maryland described rolling interviews from October through May.
- Who is interviewed
- Applicants the Admissions Committee invites after reviewing their application.
- Deadlines
- Priority: January 4, 2027. Final: April 1, 2027. A supplemental application is also required.
- Tests
- No PCAT or other standardized test is considered.
- Class size
- 108 students started in the last entering class.
What happens at the interview
Maryland runs two separate one-on-one interviews. It does not publish how long each one lasts or what is asked.
- A PharmD student. One interview is with a current PharmD student.
- A faculty member. The other is with a School of Pharmacy faculty member.
- Online option. Maryland offers an online interview option. Its 2024 workshop told applicants to get ready for a hybrid interview by checking camera, speakers, microphone and background.
Two different listeners. A student may care most about how you would fit in class and teams. A faculty member may push on your reasons and your readiness for a hard program.
How offers are decided
Admission offers are made on a rolling basis, like interviews. The deposit you pay depends on when you get your offer.
- Before March 1. A partial deposit of $200 is due within two weeks of the offer.
- After March 1. The total deposit of $968 is due, within two weeks of the offer if you are admitted after March 1. Deposits are not refundable.
- No residency preference. Maryland gives no preference to state residents in admission, though tuition is lower for them.
- Classes start August 16, 2027. All prerequisites must be done before you start.
How you get an interview
The Admissions Committee reviews each application and then invites candidates to interview. Applications are reviewed and interviews held on a rolling basis.
- GPA of 2.75 or higher. Both your overall GPA and your science GPA must be at least 2.75. A 3.0 prerequisite GPA is recommended.
- 60 credits, no degree needed. Only prerequisites are required, and a bachelor's degree gets no special consideration. Courses can be in progress when you apply.
- Two letters. At least one should come from a professor who knows you well. The other can be from a professor, colleague or supervisor.
- A supplemental application. You complete it on Maryland's website. There is no extra fee.
- Suggested extras. Pharmacy or other work experience, leadership or service, upper-level science and an extra letter can strengthen an application but are not required.
Apply early. Maryland tells applicants to apply early for priority review, and priority scholarships go to those who apply by January 4, 2027.
Dates and other routes
These are Maryland's published dates for fall 2027 entry. The events are chances to see the school before you interview.
Dates for 2027 entry
- November 7, 2026. In-person fall open house in Pharmacy Hall. Tours of Pharmacy Hall are also listed for November 4 and December 4.
- January 4, 2027. Priority PharmCAS deadline and the cutoff for priority scholarships.
- April 1, 2027. Final PharmCAS deadline.
- August 14, 2027. All prerequisite coursework should be complete.
Other routes
3:4 agreements with several local universities let students finish a bachelor's degree and the PharmD in seven years. Maryland has no early assurance program.
Students transferring from another pharmacy school do not apply through PharmCAS and start in the first year. Dual degrees pair the PharmD with a JD, MBA, MPH, MS or PhD.
How to prepare
Maryland's 2024 admissions workshop gave its own interview advice. Research the school's website, practice mock questions out loud, and book a mock interview with your career center.
- Use STAR. The workshop taught the STAR method: situation, task, action and result. Use it for every story about something you did.
- Know why Maryland. Students rotate at sites like the University of Maryland Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, NIH and the FDA. Name the ones that fit your goals.
- Prepare for the student. Your student interviewer is in the program now. Show you know the curriculum and ask a real question about student life.
- Speak clearly. The workshop's feedback checklist asked whether answers were clear and whether the speaker sounded prepared, professional and confident.
Practice questions
Questions in the style of a Two one-on-one interviews station, written for applicants to University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). They are practice questions, not the school's own. Open one for what a strong answer does.
Why become a pharmacist and not a physician, if what you want is to help patients get well?
Show what is distinct about the pharmacist's role and respect both professions.
A fellow pharmacy student on your hospital rotation is copying text straight from an online medical encyclopedia into their patient care plans so they can finish early and leave. How do you address this?
Talk to the classmate privately first, explain why it matters for patients, and escalate only if it continues.
You are shadowing in a hospital pharmacy. A vial the pharmacist has just checked and signed off as insulin looks to you like heparin, and a nurse is about to take it up to the floor. What do you do?
Speak up at once and politely, even as an observer, because stopping a possible error matters more than rank.
A uniformed police officer comes to the counter and asks you to confirm whether a specific person has been filling prescriptions for psychiatric medications at your pharmacy. What do you do?
Stay polite, protect the patient's privacy, and bring in the pharmacist rather than confirming anything yourself.
A patient picking up new specialty medications is visibly shaking. They say they just got a frightening diagnosis from their doctor and are too overwhelmed to take in anything about the medicines. What do you do?
Slow down, acknowledge the shock, cover only what is essential today, and set up a follow-up.
If the pay and schedule were no better than in other health jobs, why would you still want to become a pharmacist?
Show a reason that does not depend on money, backed by an experience.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Maryland pharmacy interview online?
Maryland offers an online interview option. Its 2024 admissions workshop told applicants to be ready for a hybrid interview.
Who interviews you at Maryland's PharmD program?
You have two one-on-one interviews, one with a current PharmD student and one with a School of Pharmacy faculty member.
When are Maryland pharmacy interviews?
On a rolling basis after the Admissions Committee reviews your application. Last cycle, Maryland described interviews from October through May.
Does Maryland require the PCAT or a bachelor's degree?
No to both. Maryland considers no standardized tests, and only 60 credits of prerequisites are required.
What GPA do I need for Maryland pharmacy?
At least 2.75 overall and 2.75 in science. A 3.0 prerequisite GPA is recommended.
Sources
Official pages only, read on the date shown. Schools change their process every year, so check the school's own page before you apply.
- University of Maryland School of Pharmacy: PharmD Admissions Process · read October 25, 2026
- University of Maryland School of Pharmacy: PharmD Prospective Students · read October 25, 2026
- University of Maryland School of Pharmacy: PharmD FAQs · read October 25, 2026
- University of Maryland School of Pharmacy: PharmD Admissions Events · read October 25, 2026
- University of Maryland School of Pharmacy: Admissions Workshop slides (PDF, 2024-25 cycle) · read October 25, 2026
- PharmCAS: University of Maryland program profile (2027 entering class) · read October 25, 2026