Pharmacy School Interview Experience + Questions

I applied to a total of 5 Pharmacy Schools for the 2016-2017 cycle (The admission for Class of 2021). I have shared my interview experience below along with the questions that I was asked during the interviews.I hope they will help. Disclaimer: those questions were gathered from my own personal interview experience from each school and do not represent each of the school that I interviewed with.

11/04/2016

California Northstate University

Address: 9700 W Taron Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95757

Phone: (916) 686-7400

Accreditation Status: Accredited

Supplemental fee: $50

Deposit Amount: $250

Interview Style: Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)

Interview Invitation Date: October 13, 2016

Interview Date: November 4, 2016 8:15AM

Acceptance Email Date: November 21, 2016

This was my first pharmacy school interview so I was extremely nervous. However, Northstate has one of the most doable interview despite that they have MMI. There were a total of 20 or so applicants interviewing on the date of my interview.

· 9- 9:15AM Welcome- Dean/ Administration

· 9:15AM- 9:40AM Presentation: experiential education, research, and student affair

· 9:40-10:50AM Team Based Learning and Program Curriculum: (TBL) is an important part of their curriculum. They had us read an article on stoke and asked us to take an individual test then a group test. Finally, they had us answer those questions as a group and everyone in the group had to stand up and answer the questions. The main purpose of this this is to make sure you will enjoy TBL if you were a student there.

· 10:15AM -11AM: Break and MMI prep

· 11:00AM-11:30AM: Writing assessment: the prompt was on dress code. Northstate requires their student to dress professionally. The question asked what is your view on dress code in professional school? Also, whether it is necessary to have a causal day for students where they don't have to dress professionally for a day every week.

We were split into group A and B. I was in-group B so I had Student lead Q&A question first.

· 11:30AM-12:00PM: We were able to ask all the questions we wanted to ask to the student. There were total of 3 students on the panel.

· 12:00-12:30PM: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI): This was probably the most nerve-racking part of the day. A current student took you and one other applicant to a hallway, where he placed us in front of two different faculty’s office. There was a question in front of the profession’s window outside. We were given 3 mins (I believe) to read the question and think about an answer before we can knock on the door to go in. Don’t worry about too much! It was like going to a professor's office hour. Once you’re inside the professor will ask you to answer the question that was posted outside and they have a chance to ask you anything they would like within the 10 mins period. Some of the questions were: Why pharmacy, why did you choose to apply to Northstate, tell me about your research, and tell me the time you faced an ethical dilemma.

· 12:30PM-1:30PM: Lunch with faculty and current student: To my opinion, this was the best part. For lunch, try to sit with a faculty or current students to ask any questions you might have. I was able to sit with one of the professors that had just finished interviewing me.

· 1:30PM-1:50PM: Financial aid resources: This was the most depressing part of the day. They informed us about their high tuition and they do not participate in government loan. They have loans with private lenders instead. Since the time was so short, a lot of people did not get their questions answered.

· After the financial aid resource, there was an optional campus tour. The interview day ended at around 2:15/ 2:30PM

11/18/2016

University Southern Calfornia (USC)

Address: University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089

Phone: (323) 442-1369

Accreditation Status: Full Accreditation

Supplemental fee: $0

Deposit Amount: $1,000

Interview Style: 2 on 1. (I had one faculty + one current student)

Interview Invitation Date: October 31, 2016

Interview Date: November 18, 2016 11AM

Acceptance Email Date: December 8, 2016

My interview time started at 11:30AM and everyone arrived there 30-50 minutes earlier. There were about 60 to 70 applicants. Right after we checked it, we had lunch with faculties and professors outside of the building. There were two distinguished faculties who sat on my table. I do not believe they evaluate you at the lunch table, but it’s always good to impress current faculty by being an active listener and ask questions.

Open file interview: The interviewers have your personal statement, resume, and transcript in front of them. MUST KNOW YOUR FILE WELL!

1.Why USC?

2.Why Pharmacy?

3.How will you become a leader at USC?

4.How do you management your time?

5.Describe a time you work in a group?

6.Describe a time your work in a group and one person doesn’t work well with others?

7.Give an example when you use your creativity to solve a challenging problem?

After my interview, I have Group Session with a long time professor and a current student along with 10 other applicants. The purpose of the group session is to let you ask any questions you might have about school and make sure USC is the right fit for you. Again, I do not know if they evaluate you in-group session, but still be in your best behavior and try your best to stand out from the crowd.

Before I had my essay written portion, we had a snack break joined by current students and professors. The essay was on a dilemma situation whether you as a doctor would inform your patient about the cost of an expensive procedure or not. There was no right or wrong answer as long as you support your position. We were given 40 minutes to write the essay I believe.

Finally, I had the campus tour last. Compared to WesternU and Northstate, USC has the longest campus tour because they show you where around the medical school and hospital are located at as well.

12/10/2016

Western University (WesternU)

Address: 795 E 2nd St #1, Pomona, CA 91766

Phone: (909) 706-3730

Accreditation Status: Full Accreditation

Supplemental fee: $65

Deposit Amount: $500

Interview Style: 2 on 1. (I had one faculty + one retired faculty)

Interview Invitation Date: November 29, 2016

Interview Date: December 10, 2016 8:30AM

Acceptance Email Date: January 9, 2017

I arrived early and checked in. My group of applicants was brought into a large classroom where we were offered some light breakfast. Before the actual orientation started, the current student came in and chatted with us and asked if we had any questions. It was not a formal Q&A session, but it was good because we were to ask question individually.

Next, we had an introduction, where the assistant director informed us the advantages of attending WesternU. Next, we were brought into a large break room with plenty of refreshment in the front. It turned out that I had my interview first. How it worked was that the professor would come into the large break room to find you or call your name then you have your interview.

Interview Questions:

1. Tell me about yourself

2. At Wagner pharmacy, your boss implemented a change that you do not see is beneficial. What would you do?

3. How do deal with stress?

4. How do you manage your time?

5. You discussed about SB493, what is something new about the field of pharmacy?

6. Where do you think the direction of pharmacy is going towards?

7. Tell me about your research and the projects you have been working on?

8. You mentioned the importance of patient adherence. What would you do if a patient is not adherent to his or her medication?

I was asked about the above questions during my interview. I talked to the other applicants and seemed like everyone was asked very different questions. One applicant received generic questions. (Why pharmacy, strength/ weaknesses, etc.) The other person had a situational question. Question: You’re a pharmacist in a spaceship in a galaxy and you only have a pill that is enough for one person. Would you give the medication to the astronaut, the mechanical engineer, or the captain? Please explain your answer)

After the interview, I had my writing assignment. We were given 40 or so minute to do it. The prompt was: What is the greatest threat to the environment today? Lunchtime just like USC, they gave us a lunch box. The financial aid office came to speak as we ate. The Optional campus tour started from their advanced classroom to their outdoor buildings. They only showed us the college of pharmacy instead of the entire WesternU.

01/20/2017

University California of San Francisco (UCSF)

Address: 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143

Accreditation Status: Full Accreditation

Supplemental fee: $80

Deposit Amount: $100

Interview Style: Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)

Interview Invitation Email Date: December 12, 2016

Interview Date: Friday, January 20, 2017

Acceptance Email Date: March 13, 2017

At the UCSF's interview, all the applicants signed a non-disclosure form for UCSF. Therefore, I can not share the MMI questions I had on here. However, I can say that definitely practice MMI by going on online and looking up mock questions. I can say that even though I practiced before going to interview, the first moment I walked to the first door to interview with an actor was quite intimidating. I will share some of the questions I have found online and post it below. My tip for you to practice MMI is to try to exposure yourself to different scenario and put yourself in the situation. Relax, breath, and have fun! I admit that the one hour we had MMI was probably one of the most stressful interview I had been to, but it is fun and rewarding at the end of it.

I think MMI is a great way to interview applicants because it eliminates any type of biases that an interviewer can have on the applicant. When I was at the interview, the admission director, Joel, stated that an interviewer can have an instant connection and will more likely to favor an applicant if he or she conducted research in the same field as the applicant. I definitely agree with Joel. As a result, use MMI as an advantage since it eliminates any type of biases that an interviewer can have on an applicant.

https://multipleminiinterview.com/mmi-questions/

01/28/2017

University California of San Diego (UCSD)

Address: 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093

Accreditation Status: Full Accreditation

Supplemental fee: $105

Deposit Amount: $100 ($200 for 2017-2018 Applications)

Interview Style: 2 on 1. (I had one faculty + one current student)

Interview Invitation Email Date: November 29, 2016

Interview Date: Friday, January 28, 2017

Acceptance Email Date: May 30, 2017

UC San Diego was my last pharmacy school interview. Thus, I was the most relax out of all the interviews I had been. In terms of the structure of interview, UCSD was one of the least structured. Upon checking in with the front desk, all the applicants were taken to a classroom where the Dean of the school introduced himself and gave a brief speech about the school program. After that we were informed that we will be called to go to a different room for interview based on the group number we received. While you wait for the interview, you have the opportunity to write your essay. There was no time limitation for the essay as long as you finish your essay before you leave for the interview. Once you have finished your interview, you can return back to the room to work on your essay more or you can go to a different room to ask any questions you have about the school to a current student. At the room, you have the option of going on a school tour. The interesting thing is that you can leave once you have completed your essay and your interview. However, I strongly encourage your to stay to go on the tour and ask the current student if any questions about the school.

Interview Questions:

1. Why do you want to be a pharmacist?

2. What was the hardest time of your life and how did you overcome it?

3. What are some of your leadership experience?

4. What are some of your extracurricular activities?

5. What did you do to relieve stress?

6. How did you manage your time?

7. How to deal with a difficulty time?

8. Do you have any pharmacy experience?

9. Do you plan on joining any organizations once you're in pharmacy school?

Essay: You were walking at the parking lot and about to take your Organic Chemistry final. a students trips and falls and his forehead started to bleed. What do you do? You had 5 min left before your final starts

*CA Schools that have rolling admission: University Southern Calfornia (USC), WesternU, University of Pacific (UOP), and Chapman University.*

At the end, I decided to chose UC San Diego because of its smaller class size (usually around 60 students per class), inter-professional curriculum with the medical students in P2 year, P/NP system, cost, and location. At the end of the day, it is important to choose a school where you think you will fit the best. I did not choose schools based on their rankings, but rather which school would fit me the best. I would suggest taking the advantage of the interview day and learn as much about the program as possible.