Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 21% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a moderate stress level, and felt they did well.
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
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.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools revolve around the applicant's motivations for pursuing pharmacy, their strengths and weaknesses, experiences in the field, ability to handle challenging situations, and their fit with the program. Many respondents mentioned questions related to cultural awareness, ethical dilemmas, future goals in pharmacy, and specific scenarios like dealing with difficult patients or colleagues. Additionally, there were references to the MMI format in some responses, which may have involved questions under a nondisclosure agreement.
The faculty member was interested primarily in my pharmacy-specific experiences. She seemed to appreciate the conversation-style interview instead of question-answer. Specifically: How often do you actually see the pharmacist interacting with patients/counseling?
The student interview was slightly awkward; he didn't really give me the ability to hold a conversation, and each answer I gave made him look slightly uncomfortable, which then started to make me uncomfortable. Specifically: What kind of volunteering have you done?
Since I am bilingual, the professor asked if in the case that I was admitted into the school, I would be interested in becoming a TA for their pharmacy Spanish course.
Why didn't you apply to Pharmacy school if after completion of your pre-requsites instead of completing the degree if you knew you wanted to go to pharmacy school?
Asked me casual questions in a conversational manner about my pets. Discussed how some extra classes I have taken and how that is helpful in pharmacy school. The whole interview flowed like a conversation.
Students said most interesting question asked at Mercer University College of Pharmacy discussed a wide range of topics including personal interests, ethical scenarios in pharmacy practice, leadership qualities, future career goals, and challenges faced in the field. While some responses hinted at MMI format and nondisclosure agreements, the common themes revolved around personal experiences, problem-solving skills, motivations for pursuing pharmacy, and interactions with patients and colleagues.
What do you like to do outside of work and school?
Between both interviewers, those were the only questions I was asked.. like I said, more of a conversation. Depends on how well you can conversate with a stranger, luckily I have that down.
What has been the most challenging thing you've faced in pharmacy? (This was interesting because it made me think pretty hard; being a tech isn't really challenging at all, and I felt there were many more character-defining moments in other fields that were better/easier to talk about.)
I wasn't asked much that I didn't expect.
-Why pharmacy?
-Why Mercer?
-What will you do with your degree?
-Do you have questions for me? (HAVE QUESTIONS TO ASK! If you are a volunteer oriented person, ask about volunteer opportunities that Mercer offers. Big +)
A patient presents a prescription to you with (what you consider to be)an improper drug or dose (too high, low, adult med written for child, etc.)...what would you do?
In a clinical setting, How would you define the relationship between a pharmacist and other health care proffessionals? Something like this, I can't remember the exact phrasing.
Nothing wierd, just the questions that you would expect. Why Pharmacy, Why Mercer, Why you.
There were many different interviewers, so it might depend on who you get.
Students said most difficult question asked at Mercer University College of Pharmacy discussed the challenges facing pharmacists today, personal strengths compared to classmates, and hypothetical scenarios involving ethical dilemmas. The interview format may have been an MMI with some respondents mentioning nondisclosure agreements; other common questions included specialty preferences, views on health care reform, and scenarios involving patient care decisions.
What is your knit(?) that you can bring to this coming class? I didn't understand what he asked so he said "what make you different from the other classmates?" It was difficult to me because I wasn't sure what he was getting to at first (he admitted he wasn't sure how to ask it either(??)) then I was like "should I repeat my strength??" it was confusing to me...
Student- "What are your limitations"--a question that can be easily rehearsed but I blanked for a few moments"
---She also asked a couple of hypothetical questions
There were really no difficult ones. Honestly, with both the student and the professor- it was more conversational. Some people definitely do have it be more Q & A, I guess it depends on you and the interviewer//how you get along?
Do you have any questions for me? (I had prepared about 10 questions, and asked others that popped into my head spontaneously. By the end of the interviews, I had EVERYTHING I wanted to know about Mercer answered... so I had to start recycling questions a bit. >.>)
Any regrets about your Academic profile?
I hate the word regret, so I didn't know how to answer this without sounding like I am dismissing their question.
Honestly, the most difficult thing was to just talk about yourself. It was the whole, ''before we start the expected questions, why don't you just tell me a little bit about yourself'' deal.
what do you NOT like about pharmacy?
(that was the one that took me 5 seconds to think about.. coz i read thru this website, and copied down all the questions and prepared answer for each one of them.. this one was new!)
First asked whether or not I had pharmacy experience, which is no. Then:
''Since you have no pharmacy experience, what do you think separates you from other candidates and why should Mercer choose you over someone with more pharmacy experience.''
Contined from above... What if the doctor insisted that you fill it anyway, regardless of possible dangers to patient (When I responded that I would call the doctor to verify or change the script)?
What would you do if your you had to do something in your profession that mildly went agains your personal values? Do you think that personal and professional values can be seperated, and if so, should they be?
What happen when on a job, you were asked a question that did not know the answer to or a situation in which you did not know the solution to the problem.
All of the questions were basic and straight-forward. I guess the most difficult task was explaining my time-management approach since I can't really explain how my whole process works--it just kind of does.
at the beginning of the whole thing. they sat everybody down in this room like 'the apprentice' with the big table and huge chairs and the dean came and asked everybody to say why they wanted to go into pharmacy.
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by reading through the Student Doctor Network (SDN) feedback, reviewing their application materials, researching the school, and practicing common interview questions. They also emphasized the importance of being relaxed, getting enough sleep, and having questions prepared for the interviewers.
I knew the general gameplan for three questions: Tell me about yourself, why pharmacy, why mercer. Was never asked "Why pharmacy" the interviews led elsewhere.
Honestly, I didn't prepare for this interview. I've already done 2 interviews this semester, and I went with that information. However, I would recommend getting some information on Mercer itself, and making sure you know why you want to go there
Read up about the school on their website. Talked to students that go to the school. Practiced questions such as: why pharmacy? why mercer? why pick me over all the other applicants?
I drove up to Atlanta the night before to make sure that I was able to get to Mercer on time. Luckily, my cousin lives up there so I was able to stay with her.
Advice:
-Think about your answers to the obvious questions that they will ask.
-Prepare an ''about me'' introduction in case they ask you to ''tell us about yourself.''
-Have questions to ask them.
-Know what sets Mercer apart from other pharmacy schools so that it shows you've done your research.
-There is no reason at all to be nervous about this interview. It is not in the least bit intimidating. (This is coming from the biggest bundle of nerves you will ever meet)
Looked at this website, and looked at Mercers website. I also thought of questions to ask them, because EVERYONE there asks you if you have any questions
studied my applications, looked at sdn feedback, reviewed in detail the school's program of study, made a list of questions that I wanted to get answered during the visit
Read Mercer's site, read this one. My advice is to read over all the interview questions you find on this feedback site and prepare for all of them and you'll do great.
Thought of potential questions and answers, talked with Pharmacists at work, asked advice from my professors, and asked someone who had interivewed there the previous year.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and welcoming atmosphere of the faculty, staff, and students at Mercer University. They appreciated the genuine interest shown in them during the interview process, the beautiful campus, and the strong sense of community and support among the school members. Many also highlighted the school's unique programs, opportunities for growth, and the emphasis on patient care.
session was very informative and everyone was very friendly
The admissions office/staff, students, and the professor were all very welcoming, excited about the school, and focusing on you. They seem to want to make sure you make the best decision for you.
The staff and faculty were unbelievably friendly. Despite the very professional atmosphere, they made it seem very relaxed and comfortable. Also the student assistants were wonderful.
The faculty and students seemed to enjoy Mercer and they have alot of opportunities such as the International Pharmacy Rotation, Mission trips, and the Advance Clinical Pharmacy Track. The experience itself was very organized and I left having received a good idea of how I would like Mercer as a student.
Everything. The student tour guides were extremely nice as were the faculty and dean. The campus was beautiful and did not seem like it was in downtown ATL. It was in a nice area of town. It has EXCELLENT hospital sites for rotations. Loved it.
Campus is very pretty and near ATL. Faculty and students are friendly, both my faculty interviewer and student tourguide were incredibly nice. Homey feel to the campus. Scholarships are available. International rotations program. The Dean stayed throughout the process
How thorough their interview process was! I really got the feel that they cared about who entered. They have a well established program where you can really learn A LOT. There is a lot of opportunity for growth on this campus if you take advantage of it. Research/clinical/community/everything you can think of. The campus was in a FOREST, complete with nature walk around the area. It felt very isolated from big-city stress, and smelled lovely!
The admissions committee and all the faculty are really interested in helping you with whatever you may need. Any question you need answered, and concerns, its all about support and I really like that. Campus is picturesque, calm and quiet.
Everybody was so nice. Ms. Jordana Stephens Berry remembered speaking to me on the phone and emailing me. And Ms. Melva Lord remembered me from my undergrad days.
Everyone was very nice, helpful and friendly. A very welcoming atmosphere. School is small and there is a lot of interaction with professors. Classes seem to be on a block schedule, lots of time to study.
Their dean of student affairs announced that their first-time pass rate for the NAPLEX and Juris exams was greater than 98% for the most recent class. This is quite a bit higher than older statistics posted on the Web. Everyone involved with the interview process was very friendly and open to answer questions.
I liked Mercer's small campus. It's unlike other pharmacy schools in that it is not as upscale and high class as you would expect which made me, a very simple girl, feel much more at home. It seems like the students are close and like everyone knows everyone.
The low-key feeling that the interview had. We had a mixter at the end where some of the faculty, students, admissions committee and applicants could talk and get their questions are answered.
The campus was extremely calm and quiet. Everyone seems focused and on the same page. Much better than a noisy hospital or large campus. Plus due to the fact that it is in Atlanta it was surprising to see such a respite away from the busy downtown area.
Everything! I loved the campus and their curriculum. The entire interview was casual and relaxed yet professional. I had just come off a bad interview the week before and it was nice to have such a great experience at this one.
Everyone was very nice and made me feel very comfortable and it was easy to relax. I loved how many students were there to talk to. All of them were very enthusiastic about Mercer so I could tell that it is a great school.
Everyone you meet is really enthusiastic but not in a fake way. They seem to care a lot about making sure that you make it through the program. Campus body is very diverse (or so I've heard - didn't see too many students).
Students were all very frienly and seemed to love the school, (not just the tour guides), nice campus, faculty approachability, quality of residency placement opportunities, dean and staff appeared to be interested in the students as individuals
Even though the school was very small, the facilities really impressed me. There is a campus-wide wi-fi, and everything looked new and well kept. I guess those are the benefits of having a small, well-funded school.
Every representative from Mercer was helpful, kind, and easy going. The interview process was very calm, and pleasent. They really allow you to be yourself.
The staff was so friendly and nice. They took a lot of stress away by having us meet everyone for about 2hours and going on the tour. Once we were relaxed we went on the interview. The Dean was there the whole time talking to the students as well as the advisor. They were extremley friendly and approachable.
The energy levels of the students and their overall strong interests in the school and pharmacy overall. Diversity of the staff. Up-keep of the facilities.
Applicants were commonly unimpressed by the small and dated campus facilities, lack of engagement from some staff members, traffic congestion in the area, high tuition costs, and limited exposure to campus life during the visit. Suggestions included improving facilities, enhancing staff involvement, providing more comprehensive tours, and addressing traffic issues for a more positive applicant experience.
At the beginning of the interview process, there was a presentation with info about the school, which included information about the next steps after being accepted--I don't think this should have come before the interviews.
Small and old campus. Library is not open late. A few staff seemed to be more interesting in talking with other students even though I struck the conversation first, I felt ignored...Some people gave you their email addresses but when you wrote them, they never answered.
i didn't feel like i got a good sense of what campus life is really like (i felt like i saw just what they wanted us to see); wish there was a chance to meet more professors (only met the professor who interviewed me); no food, just water
some of the buildings were small and in places unsightly. cafeteria was very small and expensive. these were menial issues however, the entire experience was fantastic.
the student interview. my student was more nervous than i was. she/he was fidgity and ran out of questions to ask me. she/he also tried tricking me into saying something completely horrible so she/he could hold it against me.
The Dean and Admissions coordinator, they weren't as receptive as I presumed. SMALL campus. Library is small and closes at 9 or 10pm. Tuition is expensive since private school.
Nobody really had a defined personality; they were all just generally nice and hospitable. It made me wonder if they were actually sincere...
The campus is so small! I wonder if it'd be difficult to transplant myself into a community of only about 1000 people and do well!
Nothing. Mercer was a beautiful campus, the class size was just right. They had professors that care about helping the students. Ms. Gilbreath, who sets up the 3rd and 4th year internship was perfectly nice and willing to explain the whole process.
The facilities. I felt that the campus was not up to date. The auditoriums do not have video recording capabilities, only audio. The lab was also behind the times. For having 145 pharmacy students per class, the campus was not up to par.
The cost. I don't really understand how people are paying close to $26,000 per year. Although I absolutely loved the campus, I am going to choose two state universities over this one just due to cost alone.
School is near the I285/I85 exchange, Atlanta traffic sucks... Left the interview at 4:30 and spent over an hour in traffic... only went 15 miles during that time...apparently this is typical. School is secluded, you would never know it was in the middle of Atlanta... normally this would be a good thing, but using public transport is out of the question... you could not live here without a car. Too bad for a big city like Atlanta.
Overall nothing negative, though I wish the tour was longer b/c I wanted to see the on-campus housing and the gym..but we didn't have enough time for all of that.
For some people it might seem negative that the campus is small and seperate from the main campus. I personally loved this though. The campus is beautiful, surrounded by trees, and you can actually hear yourself think.
Applicants commonly expressed a wish to have known ahead of time that the interview process at Mercer University was more conversational and relaxed than anticipated, with a focus on networking and mingling. Additionally, many applicants advised future candidates to familiarize themselves with Mercer's program and research opportunities prior to the interview.
it is all conversational and not really a question and answer kind of interview
Mingle with other applicants, presentation, tour, talk with a group of Mercer staff/students (think networking atmosphere very laid back), 1 on 1 with student interveiw, and 1 on 1 with faculty interview.
For future interviewees just make sure that you know as much as you can about the Mercer experience. They have a lot of information on their website so when they ask the inevitable "Why Mercer", you can give a great answer, specifically about Mercer's program.
During the meet and greet, there were only two other students and me. This means you need to have something to talk about or you will look silly. However it was low pressure and fun, and no one handed out business cards like other SDN reviews have said.
The Dean and A.c. Jordana will be swamped with other potentials trying to get their face remembered. And that they seem slightly jaded by the whole process. Everyone gives out their business card (even students), and I feel like if you get more that would show yourself that you are better at communicating and networking.
How stuffy the school was... =) It was VERY professional, which could be looked at negatively or positively. All of the students seemed ridiculously happy with their choice to attend, but they also seemed a bit competitive and higher class (stuffy in personality, if they had any personality at all).
Nothing. If you read the reviews posted on this site from the most recent application cycle (August 2007 on), you will not be surprised on interview day.
You have to mingle with everyone at the end. Get in there and dominate the conversation because the whole point of this part of the interview is to see if you have a friendly personality, and can hold conversation.
There were 15 of us interviewing and we all sat in a big conference room while we wait for everything to begin. When the dean came to introduced himself, he also asked all of us to introduce ourself and say why we were there. I wasn't prepare to tell EVERYONE why I was there. I was expecting only one-on-one. But it wasn't a big deal. Very casual. And also, beware of Atlanta's traffics! It is highly unpreditable.
I felt really prepared. There was nothing I wish I would have known. If I hadn't read this feedback forum I would have been a little thrown off by having to state reasons for wanting to be a pharmacist in front of the group!
I over prepared for my interview. I was asked Why Pharmacy and Why Mercer and that was it for "hard questions". Be prepared with alot of questions b/c with both my interviews they asked me if I had questions.
That there were cabs parked outside the train station that I could have found right away, but I came out the wrong exit =(. Also, the school has an interesting block system, where you have 3 weeks of one class, take the final for it, then go on to the next one, in blocks, rather than having like 4 finals in one week as is traditional. It sounds like a really cool system.
Applicants generally found the interview process at Mercer to be well-organized, friendly, and not very stressful. They appreciated the conversational and relaxed nature of the interviews, the opportunity to interact with faculty and students, and the overall positive atmosphere of the school. Suggestions included being prepared with questions, engaging with everyone during the mingling session, and showcasing enthusiasm for the school.
The session started with an informational meeting with the director of admissions and then split into an interview with a faculty member (closed) and director of admissions (open). There was a tour of the pharmacy building with a student ambassador then gathered with director of admissions to discuss what to expect after the interview. It ended with a tour with all the student ambassadors of the campus. Decisions were made two days later.
Overall, not a very stressful process. Small cohort of students for each interview date, starts with a presentation about the school, then a student lead tour, then rotations through a student interview, a faculty interview, and a 'group discussion'/group interview with admissions and more students. Everyone is very friendly!
Very impressive from start to finish! I was accepted and painfully had to turn it down as another school provided a different type of experience I wanted out of my pharmD program. However, I would reccomend Mercer to everyone who wants to live in the city!
Be relaxed. Where nice, professional clothing. Make sure you ask plenty of questions and mingle during the mingling session. Interact with others even if you just laugh along with the crowd.
I first took a tour of the school, then had an interview with one of the faculty. She asked about three questions which took ten minutes and the rest of the time she asked me if I had any questions. So come with questions in mind! Very laid back, felt very conversational. Then had a social meeting with some other interviewees, mercer students, jordana and the associate dean. Make it a point to talk to jordana and the dean! They are very nice and easy to talk to so dont be scared! Afterwards, had an interview with a student who asked a few more questions but was very friendly and willing to answer any more questions I had. Once again, very conversational! Mercer is an amazing place!
The best interview experience. No essay made it even better (other schools take note please). Get your face known (make YOU stand out) because you are talking to lots of different people.
there were two 30 minutes interviews, one with a professor and one with a student. then there was a half hour set aside for us to mingle with students, the associate dean, and someone from admissions (this was a little awkward at first).
there were only 15 of us interviewing and we split up into 5 groups for the campus tour (lots of opportunities to ask questions, but you start to run out after a while).
LOVED it. Very laid back and they are awesome. Consists of an hour introduction to the school, then a 10 min break, the a tour, then 3 segments-
1/2 hour interview w/ faculty, then with student, then a meet and greet w/ maybe 10 people (students, Jordana, Dr. Bartlett)
This is set up as a set of 3 interviews - one alone with a faculty, one alone with a P4 and one meet and greet with the Dean, 3 current students and Jordana (forget her last name, sorry).
Interview session consisted of a small group tour in which students could interact with a current pharmacy school student. Three interview segments were held, one in which students mingled with various faculty and current students. Two other interviews were with a member of the faculty and a current pharmacy student. Very relaxed! Just like having a conversation with somebody, stress-free!
i love this school. I received a letter that I had been put on the alternate list and three days later, I received a call that I had been accepted. I am so happy and cant wait to start. Class of 2013 here I come.
I LOVE that Mercer is so close to Atlanta. Lots of fun stuff to do in that city. Students were super nice in explaining the block schedule of classes, answering any questions about the program or their experiences. The interview is 3 blocks 30 min each: one with a student, one with faculty member, and a social time. The social with the Dean, A.c., and other potentials is the hardest part because you don't know anyone and have to make a nice impression.
Mercer is on a block schedule, which means you seem to have quite a bit of time free to work or volunteer; there are many opportunities for you! Missionary trips, international rotations (1), research, specialization, etc. Most of the people interviewed were YOUNG; sophomore in college type young... which, to me, showed an air of innocence and inexperience in the world. I'm surprised how many people without a BS were even considered, actually.
Seems like a VERY quality school.
Atlanta is pretty far away from the school itself; I found the cheapest transportation to take to the school was by the marta train/bus system. BUT, it was well worth staying in Atlanta to see what the city itself had to offer and what the culture was like.
The campus itself also seemed a bit aged; this is not state-of-the-art in regards to facilities, but it seems like it's adequate.
Because Mercer is such an established school, many applicants want to go to school there. Be ready to explain what makes you unique, and how you will make an impact at Mercer. This pharmacy school has been around for over 100 years. In California we view Mercer as the UCSF of the east, so if you get in here you are so lucky! This school impressed me so much!
Interview agenda consisted of a welcome and introduction session, a tour guided by a student, one-on-one interview with faculty member (closed file) 30 minutes, mingling session with admissions staff & students for 30 minutes, and 30 minute interview session with another student.
The day starts of with you and the other 15 or so interviewees being informed about the university by Dr. Bartling, Ms. Berry, and Ms. Lord. Then you go on a tour of the campus with a student guide. My guide was a P3 student but most were P1's on this day. After that you have a 30 minute session where you are either being interviewed by a student, a member of faculty, or are part of a "mingling" session in the main room. It was a great experience and everyone makes you feel welcomed. I really want to go to mercer after visiting and meeting much of the faculty, staff, and some students.
Excellent; although I was extremely nervous, everyone was very friendly, talkative, and curious. They organize it so that the whole process is low stress & the time flies by.
Do realize that there will be 15-20 other candidates during your interview. The dean of student affairs and his staff talk for close to an hour. You get short break before breaking up into a smaller group for a 30 minute campus tour with a student (most of the student representatives were P2 on this date). After the tour you will rotate for three different interviews. Two of the interviews are 1-1 with either a faculty member/alumni and then by a student. The third interview is when you meet back in the conference room to 'mingle.' Make no mistake; this is just as important as your 1-1 interview. Make sure you talk to everyone in the room, including your fellow candidates. Be sure to prepare questions for your interviewers.
The interviews themselves were good. I had a P4 student instead of a faculty member and a P3 student for my student interview. The P4 did a good job of conducting a faculty-type interview. The P3 student and I just sat around and talked about Pharmacy School in general. He occasionally threw in a few of those questions he was ''supposed'' to ask, but we pretty much just talked. The mingling session was entirely too short for what they wanted to happen. They want each student to talk to Dr. Bartley and Jordana. However, when you have 10 students trying to get as much time as possible with both individuals, it is difficult to get anything done, especially when there are current pharmacy students in there talking to you as well.
They have all the interviewees sit in a giant conference room around a table and go around and have everyone introduce themselves. You have to tell the group a little about yourself and also why you chose pharmacy. Be ready to talk in front of a large group of people and have a well-thought out answer. You don't want to have the same answer as everyone else in the room.
When we arrived, the group of us (20 or so) sat in a large conference room around a big table. The dean and several other important people gave us an introduction to Mercer, told us about the day, and gave us an opportunity to ask questions. Then I was taken (with a smaller group of 4 others) on a tour of the campus by a P2 student who was really cool. This was an opportunity to ask the questions you don't want to ask important people (How much free time do you have? What is there to do in Atlanta? Etc.); this person was not an interview (or a spy or anything like that). Then there was a 30 minute interview with a faculty member or alumni that was pretty informal. It seemed to me like the type of conversation I have with anyone when they ask my major and why and about me. After that interview I had a student interview with a P1 student which was pretty much amazing. It was the same type of questions, and it was beneficial to me because he already had experience at Mercer so I got to learn thing from him. The last thing we did was return to the conference room for 30 minutes and ''mingle'' with everyone. Unfortunately, I didn't realize until 15 minutes had passed that mingling time had started; I was under the impression that we were going to take our seats again, but we didn't. That was it. Talk to the important people, to the current students, and to the other applicants. The experience was wonderful.
Overall it was a great experience. Everyone is very nice and welcoming. The program is very good and I learned about many opportunities available to students.
- no essay during interview
- 1v1 interview w/current student 20 min
- campus tour w/current student
- 1v1 interview w/current professor 20 min (closed file)
- group mingle w/fellow candidates and faculty/staff (make sure and speak a variety of people: fellow candidates, current students, and faculty/staff)
overall, i feel my stats are just average..that interview might've helped me. i didnt think i did so well at first, coz i felt i talked too much, so they might think im not being serious or professional. to be honest, during the interview.. i wasnt nervous.. coz i see them as people who were just trying to get to know me.. thats all.. there was absolutely NOTHING to worry about. another thing was, i actually talked alot about my friends (some pharmacy students), football, and my family during the interview.. so for those of you who are going to the later interviews.. dont be nervous at all.. the people there are very nice..
Overall it was great. There was a student and faculty/alumni interview. I ended up getting a really tough alumni who definitely put it to me when she came to questioning and seriously doubted how I did at the interview. We were in this very small room that you could literally hear a pin drop in and she was completely straight faced and quiet even after I finished an answer as to suggest that I shouldn't have stopped yet, which was sort of awkward. The student interview went fantastic and it was like a general conversation. Most people said they had opposite experiences and the student interview was hard. I did end up getting accepted to Mercer however, so I am assuming she was testing me to see how I would react under pressure. I went into the interview not nervous at all but she did a really good job of turning that around really quick!
The key is to mingle and meet as many people as you can while other people are getting interviewed. They will hold most of the people in the conference room and there will be faculty and administrators there. Go around and introduce yourself and briefly speak to every one of them!
There were 3 interviews. One interview with a student, one with a member of the faculty and one as a mingle session with the dean and some other members of the admissions committee. The whole interview took 3 hours.
I really enjoyed this interview. I felt I connected with each interviewer and we often ended up off subject talking about something unrelated to Mercer or Pharmacy.
In the end I must have impressed them because I got my acceptance letter a week later! :)
All of the interviewees sit at a large table, introduce themselves, then you listen for about 1 hour about the school, programs, block schedule, etc. Then you go on a 30 minute tour of the campus and after that you rotate between a 30 minute interview with a student, a professor, and you mingle for 30 minutes with interviewees, students, and professors. There is no writing sample.
It was a great experience. As stated with previous interviews, the key is to mingle with the Pharmacy students and staff members as well as the other students interviewing. You will be one of about 20 students all interviewing at the same time. The key is to be yourself and ask questions. The entire proces takes 3 hours. You have a brief introduction of the program, a tour of the school, two 15 minutes interviews (one with a faculty member and the oter with a student), 15-minute writing sample, and about 30 minutes to mingle with faculty, students, and other interviewees. I was really impressed with the school and the interview process. It was actually an enjoyable experience. (This is from a person who HATES inteviews!)
The day started with a brief introduction about the program from the dean. Then we had some time to interact with current students, followed by the tour and finally faculty and student interviews. We also had to write a short essay before leaving.
Flew down the night before, weather was nice. The interview lasts 3 hours. The first hour you sit at a table with the other interviewees, introduce yourself. Dr. Bartling talks with Jordana for about an hour. Then you tour the campus, interview with a student, and interview with the faculty. They go by extremely fast. The whole 3 hours seemed to fly by.
It was a great experience even for being my first ever pharmacy school interview. I think the key to having a good interview at Mercer, is be prepared with questions, act very impressed and enthused with the school (but not over-the-top), talk to everyone there (every person you talk to is taking mental notes about you so you want to positively interact with as many people as possible), and dress appropriately. It worked for me!
Overall, I was much more impressed with the school than I expected to be, with the exception of facilities. All the people seemed to be super nice. I came away feeling that there would be a lot of positive faculty-student interaction at the school.
Informative and pleasant. Entire thing lasted about three hours (One hour intro. and round table discussion/Q&A session, 30 minute tour of campus, 30 minute interview, 30 minute student interview, and 30 minute "mingle session").
Overall it went well. Its 3 hours, but it goes by really quickly. There is a 15 min writing prompt, choose which question you wish to address - "Define professionalism and how it applies to your life," "What would you do if you caught a friend cheating" When you get there all interviewees are put in a room, then Dr. Bartling and Jordana come in and speak. You go around the table and introduce yourselves. Then after they tell you about the school, you mingle with the others while you wait for a student to come take you on a group tour of 3 or 4. After the tour, you have an interview with a student, then go for your writing session. You then wait to be called for your interview with a professor. Its very casual conversation. Just have questions to ask them to show your interest in the school as well as in pharmacy.
Overall, it was a good experience. It was somewhat nerve-wracking as it was my first pharm school interview, but they work very hard to keep it low-key and relaxed.
Group introductions with other interviewees and introduction to the dean and staff. Then we split up and toured the campus with a student. This was a good chance to ask student lots of questions. Then a one-on-one interview with a faculty member. Then a one-on-one interview with a P3 student. Then a sample essay on an ethical topic (see the most difficult question asked, above), then open time to mingle, talk with dean, etc.
Overall, it was a good one. There were 15 of us and we all got to talk while we wait in a conference room. The first part was the dean and staffs telling us about Mercer's programs, scholarships, ect. Then: 1) Introduce ourselves. 2) In group of 3 we were assigned to a 2nd year student for the campus tour. 3) One-one-one interview with a second year student. (15 minutes or less) 4) 15 minute writing prompt. 5) Wait, chat with everyone until your faculty interviewer calls you up. This is about 30 minutes long. Everything went very fast. I was glad of the tour and the chatting in between b/c it helps you to relax a bit. Everyone is very nice and you can see that the students really like being at Mercer. My interview was at 9AM, by 12:30 we were done.
Everybody seems nice and welcoming.
Here's how they evaluate you for admission:
- 35% PCAT Score.
- 15% GPA.
- 15% Interview.
- 35% personal statement, recommendations, background...
PCAT is considered very important at Mercer.
The average PCAT score for Fall 2006 was 86% so far.
Average GPA 3.7
Never say that you want to save/help the people.
Never exaggerate!!
Only doctors save the people/world/ect.
The pharmacist COUNSELS the patient about drug information.
First we all sat around a table where we were introduced to the dean and head of financial affairs. Then were broke up into groups and toured the school with P2 students. After that, we went to a faculty interview, student interview, and finally had to write an essay in 15 min. Don't fret.
I was very nervous the day before but because you are there for so long, you become comfortable. The interview starts at 9am and there where 16 people the day I was there. We went around the room and said why we all wanted to be a Pharmacist. The admissions people talked to us about what to expect and gave some statistics. We were then split up into groups of three and given a tour of the campus. From there you have a one on one with a professor and a one on one with a student. There is a 15 minute writing assignment after that. PS. I just received my acceptence letter yesterday.
It was overall a very stress-free interview! Think of it as a way to find out whether the school is right for you...ask a lot of questions! As others have mentioned, the format is general introduction/overview of the program/financial aid/housing, followed by a short campus tour. Then come the writing prompt (15 mins), student interviews (15 mins) and faculty interviews (30 mins)!
It was really cool. First you come in, sit down at a large table in the interview room with about 20 other interviewees. The dean comes in to talk about the school, certain financial aids, and asks everyone to introduce themselves. It's a nice icebreaker. After that, students are separated into groups of 3 for a tour with first or second year students. Then, you get pulled out to either the formal interview, the student interview, or the writing section. Somewhere between all of these, you have time to mingle in the main interview room with other students and faculty. It's important to note that you are being judged as you mingle with the faculty, I found out that it was actually a key part of the interview, so make sure you don't stand in the corner alone. Get in there and talk it up. That was pretty much it. It was a great interview, albeit very tiring to stay completely alert for 3 hours, which was how long the whole process took. I got my acceptance in the mail this morning (12/15). =D
Overall, the experience was a very good one! I was way more nervous than I needed to be. I checked in, sat in a room with a group of individuals at a big table. The Dean came in with members of the adcom and spoke to us. Then we were asked to go around the room and introduce ourselves and give our reason for wanting to become a pharmacist. We then broke into groups of three, were given a short tour by a P2, had a 30 minute interview with a faculty member, a 15 minute interview with a P2 student and then a short writing assessment on a topic relating to pharmacy. The topics are somewhat ethical but general. The whole process lasts 3 hours and it goes by quickly! I received my acceptance letter today!
Overall, the interview process was very enjoyable. They do a great job of making you feel comfortable. Just be yourself, and don't act phonie (boy are the phonie ones easy to spot!)
Walk in and get a nametag, sit in a conference room with the 14 or so other interviewees, Associate Dean and Associate Admissions Director come in and talk for about 50 min about Mercer, its history, you interview, etc. Then you break up into groups of three and take a tour with a first year pharmacy student. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions, as it is very laid back. Then you take turns, one person goes to an interview with a P3 or P4 student, one goes to the writing section, one goes to the Faculty interview. The student interview is nothing to worry about, they're just trying to get to know you. The writing section is pretty short, also nothing to worry about. The Faculty interview is a little more formal, but if you are relaxed its still no big deal. Everything was very laid back and relaed for me. Great atmosphere. ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS TO EVERYONE. EVEN THE SAME QUESTIONS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
You start out seated in a room with all of the applicants. Everyone introduces themselves, and then you listen to info about the campus/pharmacy program for about an hour.
After that, you go on a tour with a student for a half hour.
When you return, the group is divided into three groups. One group goes to a candidate interview (one-on-one, closed file), one group mingles with the admissions staff (open). The last group does an ineterview with faculty/alumn (one-on-one, closed file). Then you rotate, 1/2 hour each.
Dont Stress! Honestly, these people are very freindly and pleasant. Just be yourself let them get to know you.
They no longer do the written portion as of this year.
First, there was an introduction done by the admissions dean, his assistant, and a financial aid officer. Then students were taken on tours by a pharmacy school student (there was only two people in my group). After that, the interveiwees were split into three groups. One group had faculty interviews for about 30 minutes, one group stayed in the conference room and "mingled" with the admissions dean, his assistants, and Mercer students for 30 minutes. The third group had a 15 minute interview with a student, and then did a 15 minute writing assignment.
I arrived about an hour and a half early and there were already about 4 students waiting for the interview to begin. At the start of the interview all of the interviewees were seated around a large conference table and received a quick orientation on the school, admissions criteria, the area, and financial aid. After about an hour all of the students were split and sent on a tour with different Pharm. students. After the tour each student rotated between a 15 minute interview with a Pharm. student, 15 minute writing assignment, 30 minute informal conversation, and 30 minutes interview with a professor. I was amazed at how quickly the interview went, so make sure you talk yourself up as much as you can because there's not a lot of time.
The whole process lasted 3 hours.
1. Walked in the administrative building and was handed a name tag.
2. Had a group presentation by the Dean of Adminsions for about 50 minutes.
3. Divided into groups of 3 and went a tour of the campus with a first year student. During this time you could ask questions.
4. Had to write a sample essay. There were two questions to pick from. The first was "You have caught someone cheating in your Organic Chem class, what do you do?" and the other was "Define Professionalism in your terms and tell hos it effects your daily life". You had 15 minutes to do it in.
5. Had a small, personal interview with a third year student. I really enjoyed this because you could ask a lot of questions and get a true feel of the school.
6. Went back in the room where the presentation was at and informally talked with the Dean of Adminsions, his assistant, and fellow applicants. This was very laid back and mostly just conversational.
7. Had a 30 minuted personal interview with a falcuty member. My interviewer was very nice and made you feel very comfortable. The interviewer knows nothing about you (closed-file), so this is your time to shine.
All in all, it was a great experience and nothing to be frightened of. Just walk in with a postive I-can-do-it attitude and you'll do great!
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested implementing Saturday interview dates, providing adhesive nametags to avoid damaging clothing, using email for communication to reduce paper waste, and continuing the hospitable and informative interview process.
If possible, I would have liked to see Saturday interview dates.
This process from applying to acceptance was top notch. They layed out the process in detail and stuck to that process. The admissions office did a great job marketing the school! The student representatives did a great job of answering questions openly and honestly.
