Pitt Pharmacy School Interview: Format, Writing Task and Dates
What happens at the University of Pittsburgh pharmacy school interview, how you get one, and how it decides your offer.
Pitt Pharmacy interviews PharmD applicants by invitation, on Zoom, from September through March. The interview is 30 minutes with two faculty members, and invited applicants also complete a Pitt-specific writing assessment. Time with current students and school leadership is not scored. The committee reviews applications within two weeks of the interview and admits on a rolling basis.
Key facts (2027 entry)
- Format
- A 30-minute individual interview with two faculty members, plus a required Pitt Pharmacy writing assessment.
- Online or in person
- Online. All interviews are held on Zoom.
- When
- September through March, by invitation only. Pitt's PharmCAS profile says interviews are typically on select Saturdays.
- Not scored
- Time with current PharmD students and school leadership is not part of the interview evaluation.
- Who is interviewed
- Applicants picked after holistic review. A 3.0 prerequisite GPA and a 3.0 science and math GPA are expected.
- Decisions
- Applications are reviewed within two weeks of the interview, and decisions come by email through PharmCAS.
- Class size
- A target of 120 students in each year.
What happens on the interview day
Everything happens remotely on Zoom. The scored parts are the interview and the writing assessment.
- A meeting first. Before the interview, you meet one-on-one with a member of the PharmD Admissions Team online. It covers prerequisites, interview logistics and the writing assessment.
- 30 minutes, two faculty. The interview is a 30-minute individual interview with two faculty members.
- A writing assessment. Invited applicants must complete a Pitt Pharmacy-specific writing assessment. You get its link and password at the pre-interview meeting. Pitt does not publish its length or format.
- Students and leaders. You can meet current PharmD students and school leadership. This is not part of the interview evaluation.
Use the unscored time. Since the student session is not scored, ask what you really want to know about classes, rotations and life in Pittsburgh.
How offers are decided
Pitt admits open pool applicants on a rolling basis, starting in October.
- Two-week review. The committee reviews applications within two weeks of the interview.
- Email through PharmCAS. Decisions are sent by email through PharmCAS, so keep your PharmCAS contact details current.
- Deposit. Admitted students pay a nonrefundable $200 deposit to hold their place.
How you get an interview
The PharmD Admissions Committee reviews every applicant holistically. It looks for sound scholarship, community involvement, leadership and communication skills.
- GPA of 3.0. A C or better in pre-professional courses, a prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or more, and a science and math GPA of 3.0 or more.
- Three letters. Two must come from college or university faculty who taught you in the classroom.
- No tests. Pitt does not require any standardized tests.
- Observation hours. Pharmacy observation hours are recommended but not required.
- No home-state edge. Pitt gives no preference to state residents or to colleges in Pennsylvania.
Dates and other details
Pitt has no priority deadline, so applying early simply puts you in line sooner for rolling review.
Dates for 2027 entry
- September 2026 to March 2027. Zoom interviews, by invitation.
- October 2026. Rolling admission decisions begin.
- March 1, 2027. Final application deadline.
Other routes and the program
The PharmD takes four years. Pitt runs an Early Assurance route, the Pharmacy Guarantee, for high school students applying to Pitt for first-year admission.
How to prepare
Thirty minutes with two faculty is a focused conversation, so prepare clear stories and practice writing under time pressure.
- Match the four qualities. Have an example for each thing the committee looks for: scholarship, community involvement, leadership and communication.
- Practice short essays. Pitt does not describe the writing task. Practice writing a clear, organized response to a pharmacy or ethics prompt in about 20 to 30 minutes.
- Use the pre-interview meeting. Ask about anything unclear in your prerequisites or the day's logistics, so nothing surprises you later.
- Rehearse on Zoom. Check your camera, light and sound, and look at the camera when you answer.
Talk to both faculty. Answer the person who asked, but bring the other interviewer in with eye contact.
Practice questions
Questions in the style of a Individual interview (online) station, written for applicants to University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). They are practice questions, not the school's own. Open one for what a strong answer does.
Tell me about your involvement in your community. What did you do, and what did it teach you about the people pharmacists serve?
Describe one role in detail and link what you learned to pharmacy practice.
You are a pharmacy intern. A new prescription is for a drug listed as an allergy on the patient's profile, so you call the clinic. The doctor yells at you to stop wasting time and hangs up. What is your next step?
Stay calm, keep the patient safe, and follow up through the right channel without escalating emotionally.
A fellow pharmacy student on rotation is copying text straight from an online encyclopedia into their patient care plans so they can leave early. How do you address this?
Talk to the classmate first, explain the risk to patients and to them, and know when to involve the preceptor.
A patient with diabetes tells you in confidence they have been buying insulin meant for pets because they can't afford their prescribed insulin. How do you respond?
Respond without judgment, explain the danger, and help them find affordable options.
You are a pharmacy student on your first day of rotation. The lead technician tells you to stay out of the way and just fold boxes. How do you handle this?
Show humility and helpfulness first, then find a good moment to ask how you can learn.
You've worked in a research lab. Why become a pharmacist instead of a scientist who develops new medicines?
Show what draws you to patient care specifically, while valuing what research taught you.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Pitt pharmacy interview online?
Yes. All Pitt Pharmacy interviews are held remotely on Zoom, from September through March.
How long is the Pitt PharmD interview?
It is a 30-minute individual interview with two faculty members.
Does Pitt Pharmacy have a writing assessment?
Yes. Invited applicants must complete a Pitt Pharmacy-specific writing assessment. Pitt does not publish its length or format.
When does Pitt send PharmD decisions?
The committee reviews applications within two weeks of the interview, and decisions are sent by email through PharmCAS. Admission is rolling from October.
Does Pitt require the PCAT?
No. Pitt Pharmacy does not require any standardized tests.
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.
- Pitt Pharmacy: PharmD Application Process · read October 24, 2026
- Pitt Pharmacy: Open Pool Applicant · read October 24, 2026
- Pitt Pharmacy: Apply to the PharmD Program · read October 24, 2026
- PharmCAS: University of Pittsburgh program profile (2027 entering class) · read October 24, 2026