Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences School of Optometry Interview Feedback Summary
Worcester, MA
Optometry Schools | Private Non-Profit
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 42% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school as average compared to other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most rank this school as average compared to other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools revolve around the motivations behind pursuing pharmacy, study habits, career goals, preparation for programs, strengths and weaknesses, and specific interest in the institution. Some interviews were conducted in an MMI format, with questions tailored to assess stress handling and critical thinking skills, potentially under a nondisclosure agreement.
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Do you have any pharmacy experience?
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Why MCPHS? Why Pharmacy?
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How did you come to want to pursue pharmacy?
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Why Pharmacy?
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my previous experience in pharmacy
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences School of Optometry discussed various topics such as time management, future goals, personal hobbies, and reasons for pursuing pharmacy. The interviews seemed to follow a standard format with questions about qualifications, career aspirations, and personal interests, though some respondents mentioned a scenario involving being chosen for a spot among many applicants, indicating a potential MMI format with nondisclosure agreements in place.
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This an accelerated 3-year program, what do you think makes you qualified to keep up in a program like this?
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none
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How do you manage your time?
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If there was one spot left and you were up against 300 ppl, why should we pick you?
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where do u see yourself in 5years what are you hobbies
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult questions asked at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences School of Optometry discussed a wide range of topics including traits of a good pharmacist, handling a rigorous program, bad grades explanation, readiness for an aggressive program, reasons for choosing pharmacy, and future career goals. Some responses mentioned an MMI format, suggesting possible nondisclosure agreements, while others highlighted questions related to grades, career choices, and personal attributes.
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What are traits that make a good pharmacist and do you think you have those traits?
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None
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Essay is the most challenging part of the interview, but definitely not that difficult.
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There was none.
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explain bad grades...but it worked out
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 1 person.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by researching the school, reviewing interview feedback on SDN, talking to current students or pharmacists, and practicing typical interview questions. Many also emphasized the importance of being honest, asking questions, and dressing professionally during the interview process.
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I researched the school thoroughly and came prepared with questions to ask that showed my prior knowledge of the school and the field of pharmacy.
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sdn
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Reviewing SDN surveys
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sdn and mcphs
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SDN/ School website
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were positively impressed by the friendliness and welcoming nature of the admissions staff, faculty, and interviewers, as well as the modern facilities and technology available at the school. Many appreciated the conversational and low-stress interview atmosphere, as well as the emphasis on creating a supportive and inclusive community for students.
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My interviewer was very nice, gave me lots of clarification about the program and field during my interview. She made it clear that I can ask questions at any point during the interview. She also did a lot of talking which made me feel comfortable as I wasn't the only one talking the entire time.
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The interviewer was an older woman - she was super nice!
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The facilities, staff and curriculum
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The admission staff and the interviewer was really nice! They made you feel welcome and the interview was more like a conversation than interrogation. The interview day was very structured and organzied.
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faculty, cultural diversity
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the small campus size, limited resources such as the small library, high tuition costs, lack of campus atmosphere, and the surrounding area of Worcester. Suggestions included improving facilities, expanding resources, lowering costs, and enhancing the overall student experience both on and off-campus.
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I was told that 3-year accelerated PharmD students don't match for residency as easily as 4 year students.
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N/A
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The surrounding areas can be a bit dodgy in places
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none
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the weather
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known about the short duration of the interview, the proximity of the hotel to the campus, the relaxed and stress-free environment, and the availability of food and drinks. They also mentioned the importance of managing time efficiently, preparing for stress-related questions, and being cautious about the pronunciation of the city's name.
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That the interview would only take 10ish minutes. I also didn't know that the essay portion would be RIGHT after the interview.
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How laid back everyone would be. It was very stress free.
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None, everything was expected.
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i wish i knew i could walk from my hotel to the campus cos i ended up paying $10 for parking.
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I wish I knew that they had food and juices for us already
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally shared positive experiences regarding their interviews at the school, with many finding the process straightforward and low-stress. They appreciated the friendly interviewers, convenient location, and opportunities to ask questions during the interview and tour. However, concerns were raised about the intensity of the program, high tuition costs, and some negative feedback from current students, suggesting a need for more transparency and information about the school's academic rigor and student services.
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Good experience, was told at the end of the interview that she would make a recommendation on my behalf to the board. Got my acceptance two days later.
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It was very straightforward and low-stress.
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A financial aid session and a Q&A session given by current students will be nice.
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just be confident and speak the truth, dont be trying to rehearse waht u practiced just stay calm and speak naturally.
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parking is easy, location is very easy to get to
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested including a financial aid session and a Q&A session with current students during the interview day to provide a student perspective and information on financial aid. Additionally, they recommended having more faculty involvement in the interview process and providing better directions to the school.
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The only thing I would add to make the interview day more thorough will be to include a financial aid session and then a Q&A session with current students. This way, the applicant will have a feel of the school from a student's perspective and also know more about the financial aid situation for the program. Other than that, I think the interview was very organized and efficient.
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None
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Library too small..... Student housing not impressive
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It would be nice to also have a student on-hand to either provide tours or to be a step along the interview process. Probably isn't possible, since everyone has class during the day, but I would have liked a current student's perspective.
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They should get more faculty members as part of the whole interview process. For example, interviewees should be able to meet more faculty members for interactions.
📍 On-Site Experience ▼
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Faculty member
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are out of state students.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 7+ hours traveling to the interview.
What was your primary mode of travel?
Most respondents traveled by airplane to the interview.
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
Most respondents spent more than $500.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
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BOS
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Boston
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Boston Airport
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Boston International Airport
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Boston Logan
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
The most commonly mentioned hotel among the responses is **Crowne Plaza**.
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Baymont Inn in Auburn, MA
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Crown plaza
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Crowne Plaza
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Crowne Plaza about 5 or 6 blocks away...great location.
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Hampton Inn
How would you rate the hotel?
Most respondents rated their hotel as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
Most respondents would recommend their hotel.
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
All Responses
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