Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 27% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview mixed with a moderate stress level, and felt they did okay.
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 common interview questions at medical schools revolved around the qualities and attributes of a pharmacist, experiences demonstrating those qualities, challenges faced in healthcare or pharmacy, teamwork scenarios, handling conflicts, demonstrating professionalism, and motivations for choosing pharmacy and the specific school. While there were diverse questions, the prevalence of inquiries related to pharmacist qualities suggests a focus on assessing applicants' suitability for the profession.
Explain a time where you had conflict with someone and how you dealt with it.
What are the characteristics or qualities of a successful pharmacist, then answer the next question, explain a time that you demonstrated one of those qualities. ***make sure you answer each question one at a time***
Something about what you think of group work and describing if you've ever came across a challenge in a group, and how you addressed/overcame that challenge.
Explain a time when you have to interact with a patient. Explain a time when good listening skills come in use. Explain a time when you interacted with a health care professional.
Tell me about yourself/introduce yourself (it was pretty laid-back; we all said our names, where we're from, what college we graduated from & when, and our degrees).
*Q1- please introduce yourself
*Q2- Why pharmacy?
*Q3- what has been your most surprising health care experience
*Q4- explain a time when you exhibited professionalism
*Q5- group projects are important here at MWU, what do you see as the positives and negatives of group work. More importantly, were there any times when you had a problem while working in a group? If so, what did you do?
If I was Obama's health care advisor, how would I advise him to handle health care in our country. What are current problems in health care and how would I fix them.
Tell me about a time you worked in a team and what were the advantages and disadvantages. What is your most memoriable health related activity? (or something like that)
Why Pharmacy? What are your hobbies and why did you choose them? Tell me about a sudden change and how did you handle it. Tell me one quality that is essential for a pharmacist and how you exemplified it.
Introduce yourself. Why pharmacy? What are some of your hobbies? How do you cope with stress? How do you think you will handle the stresses you may encounter in pharmacy school?
I forget...no really memorable questions here, just prepare for the normal blah questions...they don't end up asking too many since all three applicants take turns answering the same questions.
why pharmacy? how did you get your pharmacy technician job? explain your answer to question 2 on the supp app. the challenge pharmacists question i mentioned before.
what would you do if a group member doesn't pull their share of the work in project. what if you talked to the group member and they dont change their ways; are you a leader or a follower. give an example where you were a follower
Students said most interesting question asked at Midwestern University College of Pharmacy Glendale discussed various scenarios such as how activities prepared them for specific pharmacist traits, their coping mechanisms for stress, their role in a team, and their views on healthcare issues. The interview format appeared to be an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview), potentially involving a nondisclosure agreement, as some responses indicated generic questions or lack of specific details given about the interview questions.
How has (activity) helped prepare you for (trait you described for a pharmacist)
Someone tells you that researchers have already found a cure for cancer, but are keeping it from the world so they can keep their jobs. How would you respond?
Last 2 vaccinations on a deserted island, who would you give them to? There are 7 people, including: a pregnant mother, the contagious source. Okay, now w/o the pregnant mother
Describe your chemistry background. This was weird because they have my courses on file. I transitioned my chemistry background and laboratory classes discussion to my independent research I did in Biology. The interviewer that did research for the university seemed intrigued.
The customary ''writing assessment'' was disguised as a ''survey'' that we were asked to complete while waiting for our interview appointment. Three questions (only 2 of which I remembered), on one side of paper:
1. What can we do to make this interview more enjoying/informative/effective?
2. Has your overall impression of MWU been altered, why/why not?
3. If....something.
Students said the most difficult question asked at Midwestern University College of Pharmacy Glendale discussed a wide range of topics including handling ethical dilemmas, challenges in pharmacy, personal accomplishments, and scenarios related to pharmacy practice. Some respondents mentioned a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, possibly under a nondisclosure agreement, which might explain the variation in questions asked during the interview process.
If you can’t understand a professor what do you do?
How are the jobs of pharmacists different from those of other medical professionals? Please tell us why. (I wasn't sure what they were looking for in this one)
They didn't ask me why I chose MWU. That would be my hardest one because I only visited the campus the day prior to my interview. To answer this in the best way, you have to be genuine.
Last 2 vaccinations on a deserted island, who would you give them to? There are 7 people, including: a pregnant mother, the contagious source. Okay, now w/o the pregnant mother
There are many changes that are going on in Healthcare today. What are some of the problems that you see in pharmacy in the future, and how would you resolve it?
There wasn't a difficult question. However, I was under the assumption I would be asked three questions. I didnt know SDN feedback allows the entry of only three questions. I was asked close to 6 questions.
If you do SDN feedback, there are no hard ones as you will be prepared. Make sure to be ready for last question - Anything else you want us to know about you, want us to remember you by?
The three prompts/questions that were asked during the interview were:
1. Tell us about you.
2. What're your greatest strengths/weaknesses? (with the obligatory follow-up question, ''tell me about that...'')
3. What do you think the biggest challenge for Pharmacy will be?
At the very end one interviewer asked "Tell us one last thing you want us to remember you by." Not too hard but caught me offguard cause I thought the interview was over after I asked a few questions.
Honestly, nothing was difficult. The interviewers started general (tell us about yourself, etc.), and took it from there. The questions were only as difficult as I led them up to be.
Can you explain the mechanism of a Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitor? (I got asked this after they asked me what was the last book I had read and I had just read a Medical Pharmacology book, luckily I knew something about it)
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 utilizing Student Doctor Network (SDN) resources, practicing mock interviews, reviewing common interview questions, and researching the school. They emphasized the importance of practicing answers out loud, seeking feedback, and getting a good night's rest before the interview.
I answered sample list of questions in a word file, practice them, and practice them VERBALLY. So important to practice your responses out loud. This will help make your responses more smooth and natural.
SDN interview feedbacks. Writing down ideas and about myself. It's important that you know who you are before you present your characters and qualities to other people..that's what I've learned this application cycle.
Mock interview with advisor, interviewed myself in the car while driving (maybe not recommended because it's distracting), interviewed with friends and family.
SDN, read my personal statement and supplementals, I had prepared extensively for my previous interview and had gotten over the first-interview jitters by this one.
I looked at every single interview feedback filled out for MWU-CPG, compiled the questions into a word document, and then typed a few thoughts on the ones I thought I'd have trouble with. I looked at the questions the 2 nights before the interview and really thought hard about what I wanted to say..
Applicants were consistently impressed by the friendliness of the staff, faculty, and students, as well as the welcoming and relaxed atmosphere during the interview process. They appreciated the modern campus facilities, the detailed information provided, and the emphasis on student-centered learning, contributing to a positive overall experience.
The friendliness of the panel, having 3rd year students there, asking questions based off previous answers
The faculty and staff were extremely generous and nice. The school's facility is pretty new. Tour was very extensive - got to see the labs, the classrooms, the practice patient rooms, etc.
Friendliness of the staff and faculty members. Impressed with the packet they give you, lots of detailed information! Even included bio about the faculty! The assistant dean's presentation (super nice and charismatic) made me want to attend the school even more, good lunch and provided lots of snacks and refreshments during the wait from interview time to before lunch, beautiful campus and the students there were very friendly and welcoming!
Everyone is so incredibly nice. I loved the fact that the interview was laid-back, and that the interviewers weren't out to get you. I also loved the "Open Door Policy" that this school exhibits -- the professors don't have office hours, but are rather available almost anytime you have a question.
The schools is very new, built only in 1996. So everything, even the oldest building on campus is in great shape. It is in a great location and Glendale is a beautiful place. The whole campus feels very laid back.
Facilities were nice. People were well informed. Like that teachers are very involved with students and have an open door policy. Dean actually personally called me to say congrats. Very unexpected and impressed with that.
Great school, great students/instructors, very kind and caring. Great location, very outdoorsy, large campus with on-campus housing. Lots of other professional programs on site too. They even give you a free lunch and lots of snacks throughout the day too!
Very nice and modern campus, friendly faculty. I like the camaraderie with other graduate health students. Felt like a much more mature crowd than the typical college campus, though still fairly laid-back (ping-pong tables were all over the place, to my delight!).
The day was somewhat organized (despite extensive down time each group had). You can tell they put an effort in trying to organize the day. They even provided breakfast and refreshments while we waited. Also, the staff, faculty, and students I met were nice.
There's a new clinic that they recently completed that's on campus, so lots of hands-on opportunities in the future.
Also they gave us meal vouchers good for $9 in the campus dining hall. I'm usually a cheapskate when it comes to non-essential food items, so that was a pleasant binge.
They had a 3rd year student who ate lunch with us and was very friendly. He answered questions truthfully (no bs) and was a fantastic resource. They are also doing a lot of construction on campus that is supposed to finish up by next year, including a new rec-center, which will be cool.
Everyone was very nice and had positive things to say about the school. There were a lot of people from CA; specifically people from UC Irvine at the interview.
Everyone there is GREAT...I love the school, however the area may not be for some...gotta love the outdoors to go to school there lol..its in the desert.
Very friendly staff/students, newer facilities, seemed very student focused, ping pong/fooze ball tables, cirriculum that made sense, quick program, gave us 8 bucks for lunch which was nice.
They gave me the impression that it was okay to relax and take off your jacket during the ample wait time. My interview group had a lot of fun talking and wandering the campus together.
They sent me a DVD of the school and a few of the students! That was such a pleasant surprise. Breakfast, lunch (I like food :), as well as how friendly everyone was: the interviewers, the administrative staff, the other interviewees...was also impressive. The tour was nice as well. And I couldn't complain about the quick response...I received my letter of acceptance in two weeks!
The campus is beautiful and very supportive of the learning process. The faculty was very nice and welcoming. The Associate Dean gave a very enthusiastic presentation of the school's goals and accomplishments.
The faculty conducting the interviews were laid back and told us that once we had made it this far we really didn't have anything to worry about. They told us that 90% of candidates who got interviews would be accepted into the program.
The campus was new and really nice, and they gave you free lunch. Also, the dean spoke to us, which showed that she is truly interested in the potential pharm students.
everyhting, interviewers made me comfortable that i really enjoyed the interview process. i woudl have given 10 as the stress level if i was only interviewed for 5 minutes. but after that, it was fun.
Everyone was very friendly and warm. They provided breakfast and lunch. They really emphasize an "open-door" policy which is where you can visit a professor and ask them questions at anytime. This is possible because the school is teaching based and not researched based so the professors priority is the students.
The interviewers made the process more conversational instead of question-answer-question-answer, which made my stress level go down.
Lunch was delicious!
The staff at the admissions were very friendly.
They gave us breakfast and lunch! I also liked the fact that there is no silly essay to write. The students we came into contact with were honest and helpful.
Applicants commonly expressed negative feedback regarding the excessive downtime during the interview day, lack of interaction with current students, small campus facilities, isolated location, and unorganized or rushed interview processes. Suggestions included reducing downtime, providing more engaging activities, incorporating more current student interactions, and improving interview timing and organization.
The foreign professor seemed to never like my answers and always asked follow ups
They should have students from different years at their student panel. We only had 2 P1 students who barely started at school so they didn't know how to answer some of the questions.
Felt rushed during my interview because the person before me took longer than their allotted time. I got super nervous towards the end because of this unfortunately... :( The 3 interviewers seemed to be rushing to finish my interview so not sure how that will affect me. Please make more of a conscious effort so that each person gets the same amount of time as everyone else!
Lots of downtime!!! However I was in first interview group so I got it over with, and it lessened my stress level. FA presentation was us watching a video that they handed out.
The down time.. I wish i had known that there would be so much down time.. My interview was the last one since i was in group 4 and it was horrible because i had to wait almost 4 hours just for the interview. it could have been more organized
As others have said, there is some waiting around, but you're in a pretty comfortable lounge area and there are interesting people to talk to. Some people sat by themselves the entire time--prepare to be really bored if this is your approach.
I was under the impression that we would be mingling pretty much all day with current students, but that was not the case. I spent from 8 to 2 mingling among other candidates with a 45 min - 3 on 3 - group interview at around 10am.
The hot weather and how everything was barren. I know Arizona gets hot but it was end of March and already 86 degrees out. The school is still developing but so far all you see is dry land, some buildings, and more dry land. Also, the fitness center is a room that can hold about 4 people max.
The whole day was way too long and pointless. There was a lot of down time. The entire day could have been condensed into just 3 hours. Instead, we got there at 7:45am and didn't start doing anything until 8:30am. The interview lasted 1 hour. We waited for the other group to do their interview for 1 hour (down time). Then, we went to hear financial aid info and campus tour (information that is irrelevant unless you're actually accepted).
My friend was in a different group of interview. She got interviewers who were really mean and anal. They never smiled. When it was time to ask questions, they were still mean and rude. However, my interviewers were very nice. Therefore, I can't say the same thing for my own experience, but I was surprised at how mean they were to my friend and her entire group.
How much FREE TIME we had, they made what could have been two hours an all day thing. Wasn't too thrilled with the interview set up though, only about 10-12 minutes of face time per person in mine :(
Somewhat disorganized presentations, WAY TOO MUCH FREE TIME (we had two hours for lunch), the student who came and talked to us/answered questions really didn't seem like she wanted to be there.
The $750 deposit if accepted. I don't mean to get ahead of myself or anything... but still, that's a lot of bank.
Plus I couldn't really think of many other things that impressed me negatively... I'm sure people usually say weather, but I was raised there so I'm kinda used tot he heat.
There was quite a bit of time where we just ended up sitting around. The other applicants were really friendly and fun to talk to, but just as I had read in other posts it seemed like there was a ridiculous amount of down time for having only 7 applicants at the interview day. If you don't value my time as a potential student what does that tell you about how it will be once I am a student there? Maybe that's a little harsh, but I wasn't terribly impressed with the day's set-up.
Glendale is suburbia, not much out there except for strip malls and miles of stucco houses that all look the same. We didn't get to speak to any current pharmacy students or look at pharmacy classrooms.
Campus was TINY. MINISCULE. DIMUNITIVE. MICROSCOPIC. LITTLE, even.
More irritating was the downtime. Had I known in advance, I would not have shown up until 1/2 hour before the actual interviews. I'm not exaggerating, you have at least a couple of hours to sit on your thumbs.
90 degrees by 10:30 AM, price of tuition and living, I would have liked to talk to some current pharmacy students and see mabey a class in session through a window or something
The campus had grass. Grass does not grow in a desert and it looked tacky. I would have been more impressed with the campus if it had more natural desert landscaping. The facilities were not as nice as I was expecting. Campus felt very isolated and removed from the outside world. It is in the suburbs, which some people might like, but with little in the way of public transportation, driving is a necessity.
After lunch, I felt a little burnt out and ready to go. The excitement of the interview was over, but we still had the Dean's welcome and a financial aid presentation. Although both of these were necessary and very informative, it would have been nice to have the presentations earlier in the day.
Everyone says the down-time, but if you find a few people to talk to the time goes by quickly. Pray you are in the first set of interviews because then the rest of the day is a breeze.
Nothing except the amount you would need each year from loans to go there. WOWZA! But I guess it's okay since you start making $90,000 after you graduate. :-)
after all, the school is sort of in the middle of nowhere, actually in the middle of a desert! and like said be4, not that high-tech compared to schools in the midwest or northeast
We had to sit around and wait for almost 3 hours. THere is a lot of down time- bring something to read! Also, MWU is a very small campus, and there are only two lecture halls where you have all of your classes.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the early end time of the interview day, the need to bring a resume, comfortable shoes for the tour, and to expect downtime after the interview. Suggestions included bringing a pencil for the short essay, being prepared for a group interview format, and bringing entertainment for the waiting periods.
They don't tell you when to stop talking or when you said too little.
That you would have to write in a pretty noisy room. You get a lot of time, but not really a lot of time where it's quiet and you can focus. We had interviews with the PA students and they didnt have an essay so they were talking the whole time.
Interview ends earlier than the schedule. They provide mini-breakfast (yogurt, OJ, water, snacks..) so if you're the kind of person who absolutely needs breakfast, eat something ahead. I was too nervous so I only ate yogurt anyway.
There isn't really any real breakfast (like other people on SDN pointed out) and you do not need to stay for lunch because the financial aid presentation is just e-mailed to you
The resume that you attach to your application is given to the interviewers. If I had know this I would have a sent a concise, 1-page resume. Also, I would not have spent as much time reiterating what they already knew.
Be aware that there is an extemporaneous essay component. Bring a pencil and eraser, because only pens and golf pencils are offered. I would have been able to better answer the essay if I brought a pencil.
I wished that I would have sat in the middle between the two students. Instead, I sat at one end and ended up answering about half the questions first. If I sat in the middle, I would have had time to think about the question.
Was pretty well prepared. Glad that the questions were asked to each person so we weren't fighting to answer first. Group interview not nearly as bad as i thought it was going to be.
I thought a group interview of 3 interviewers (2 faculty, 1 student) on 3 interviewees would make it difficult but it was actually nicer that way. Gives you time to think in between as it's not a situation where you need to compete or interrupt others to get a word in. Instead, they will ask a question, and go around until everyone has had a chance to answer it, then start over with a new question. You're not rushed, and you get to hear how others answered and time to relax and think.
How long it took for me to drive to the airport. had to wait like 4 hours at the airport cause i scheduled my flight so late. thought i would end at 2:30 but we ended at 1:30 and got to the airport at 2:15. My flight was at 6:15 :-(
The email from Midwestern never stated where on campus the admissions office was located. If someone hadn't asked in the pre-pharm thread, I would not have known and would have been running around asking people.
That it was very dry and all you see are cacti and brown shrubs. I'm not bashing the place but coming from southern california, I need/want moisture and more colors.
Lack of organization, lack of acknowledgment and massive downtime. The students were placed in the waiting room of the admissions building and we were left there until the interview started. Arrived at 7:45 am. Interview started at 8:30am.
The amount of financial assistance that they offer. The school is expenisve, but they really try and help you out, I just wish they had more Pharmacy Scholarships available.
I was thinking the cost was somewhere around $34,000 per year for three years, but it's more like $50,000 a year for 3 years...yes, there's the opportunity cost of getting a job a year later if you go to a traditional 4-year program, but this school is not cheap.
They do not have any rotation sites set up in my state at the moment. However, I was told that I would be able to set it up on my own by contacting local hospitals in my home state so that I would be able to come home and do my rotations during the 3rd year. It's not a big deal and I don't mind forwarding information/speaking to local pharmacy directors but I didn't realize that this could be a possible limitation.
I was contacted only 1 week prior to the interview, and I had little time to prepare and make travel plans. I wish that I knew there were more people from my area going- I would have tried to set-up a carpool or something.
That Phoenix is not a place I would ever want to live. If CPG were the only school that accepted me, I'd probably go. . .but would seriously consider waiting another year.
Closed interview, that the interviewers were going to be so relaxed, it was just like meeting 3 new people and carrying on a conversation for a half hour.
I didn't believe people on SDN when they said to bring a book or GameBoy or something to do...I didn't think that would be appropriate for an interview, but it totally was. They were really lax about what you did. I went and played foosball instead! :)
that even though u get the interview, the best students get in first and the rest wait til next year to find if they are accepted or get pulled off the waitlist
The director of admissions told us that we shouldn't worry about our GPA or PCAT, stating, "those scores were good enough to get you to this point."
Actually I found out after the interview that the post-interview survey they had us fill out is used as a writing sample. UGH! It can't weigh too heavily, because I was accepted and am attending Fall '07.
Shouldn't have felt nervouse for the last month. Just relax and tell them whatever comes to your mind BUT do practice for atleast couple of hours day before the interview.
The head admissions counselor was one of the ladies behind the desk in the admissions office. You are being watched at all times. Be extra friendly to EVERYONE!
Applicants generally found the interview process at Midwestern to be a bit lengthy with some downtime but overall a good experience. They appreciated the friendly and welcoming staff, the campus facilities, and the thoroughness of the interview day, although some noted areas for improvement such as reducing waiting times and increasing engagement during downtime.
I really liked the school and the staff. The interview was not as nerve-racking as I thought it would be. They had a really good schedule this time and there was not much down time, or probably I was just talking to my new friends the whole time :).
Essay: What's more beneficial for mankind? Invention of antibiotics or indoor plumbing?
Alternative Essay: What's the best non-religious text you've read? Explain.
I was very impressed by the school. The surrounding area's also nice compared to other places I have been. Well, sales tax of 9.5% is a little bit high though :(
It's not as nerve-wrecking as it might seem -- just be yourself, and be honest during the interview. Let them see the real you -- they only have about 40 minutes to get to know you, so make sure to make the most of it.
The school is very nice, the neighborhood is beautiful, and student affairs is really working to create a better campus environment for its non-commuter students.
This school is a WICHE PSEP participating school.
From what I could tell the interview questions give completely vary from group to group. Some groups got situational questions like "if X happened what would you do?" while others got the types that are reflected on this forum.
Set up= 2 faculty, 1 PS3 student
45 min interview, 10 min for questions at the end
100 word extemporaneous essay involved (bring a pencil and eraser!)
Overall good experience. Lots of downtime, wish they would have made lunch and tour optional since I was from out of town and needed to get to airport.
Wonderful school, amazing and beautiful campus, and caring faculty. They get over 2000 applicants every year and interview about 400 for a class of 130. They start in early June and go year-round, graduating in 3 years! 10 week quarters, 18 units/qtr, and about 2 exams every week and ending with a finals week. The instructors seem to really care that you do well and it shows in their high NAPLEX scores and low attrition rate of 1%. They want everyone to do well. It seems like a great school to prepare you for pharmacy. Good luck!
I do not know how all the interviews are but since our interview was the week right before the adcom meets the turn back time was extremely quick. I found out yesterday and it has only been less then 7 days. Overall the impression that this school left me was great.
This school impressed me so much that I withdrew my apps from Denver and UPac once I got accepted, which was only two weeks after my interview--another positive point.
Arizona is really nice. The food is good (mexican), the weather is nice, there are various other grad programs, ex OD, dental, optometry, other fields. The campus was nice and the drivers dont tailgate!
Everyone's comments have been right on the dot. We are supposed to be there by 7:45am but things do not start until 8:30. Luckily, my group was the first to interview, while other groups either went on a tour or waited around for an hour. Whichever group you were in, it was guaranteed you had at least one whole hour to sit and chit chat or wait anxiously.
The tour was nice, we even got to see the clinic on the other side of the street. The pharmacy department in that clinic, however, seemed quite small.
The cafeteria is only open for lunch. So those who live on campus would still have to take care of breakfast and dinner. That would be a troublesome burden for someone like me who does not cook.
Though there were some gaps in between, they wrapped things up early and we were done by 2pm instead of 2:30.
I interviewed on Friday and by Wednesday of the following week found out I was accepted. I guess it is because mine was the last interview date.
The interviewers were down right hostile. This is my third interview and I walked out of there feeling angry and frustrated. I can handle stoic faces but I can't handle it when they were giving dirty looks like that. You'd think that I just killed their beloved dog or something. My two interviewers were part of the faculty and if this is the way that they treat potential students, then I don't want to even know what it'll be like to ask them for help for one of their classes. Other than that, be prepared to be ignored. They separated everyone into 4 groups: 3 panels. Groups 1 and 2 interview first and groups 3 and 4 goes on a tour and financial aid discussion. This would have been great if groups 1 and 2 could go at the same time but we didn't. Group 1 goes first (8:30am) and group 2 goes at (9:30am). So whoever was in that group arrived there at 7:45 am and sat in the waiting room for 2 hours until they did anything. This experience was so disappointing, it completely turned me off about the school. They need to take notes from their Chicago school.
The day was way too long. Everything was disorganized. I interviewed at their sister university (MWU-CCP) in Chicago and had a better experience because their agenda for the day was much more organized.
Overall it was good, I think the interview are better as a three on one style interview simply because it is hard to completly showcase yourself in the limited time given. They could quite easily shorten the day or add another lecture or two to the agenda so you aren't sitting around as much.
MWU basically gets out-competed by the University of Arizona, Tucson for rotation sites...
(Their assistant-dean told us that they routinely send students to nevada/utah, and that in some instances there was no pharmacist-preceptor at that site! Scary!!)
The 3 on 3 interview style wasn't as bad as I feared. It was actually nice to not have the pressure on me the whole time. Although the dynamic is kind of different, we had to respond to other's answers and we didn't all get the same questions. The interview day was incredibly long, literally hours of empty time.
Overall the interviewers were courteous, as was my co-interviewee. We had sufficient time to answer questions, and it had a conversational tone to everything, minus the fact that pretty much all their questions were scripted...
I thought the interview experience was terrible. Very impersonal. When you are with three other candidates for a ~40 minute interview you really don't have that much time to let the interviewers know who you are. I would much prefer a one-on-one set up or even have three interviewers asking me questions by myself rather than have 3 applicants interview at once, but that's just me. It really changes the feel of the interview having other applicants in there with you.
The interview day ran from 7:45 am until 2:30 pm, so be prepared for a pretty long day. In the morning while we waited to find out our schedules for the day (they split us into 4 groups), we had a chance to speak with 3 current pharmacy students. My group had the tour first, the group interview, and then the financial presentation. Lunch was around noon and the twelve of us ate lunch with the same 3 pharmacy students we had a chance to speak to earlier. It was great hearing first-hand from the students themselves. Ask lots of questions-- this is your time to find out what you want to know!
Overall, the anxiety level dies down as the day progresses. The staff/ personnel were very nice and friendly. The interview itself was a group format: 3 applicants and 3 professors.
Neutral-to-negative. There is no excuse for that amount of downtime. We should have been shown the inside of a classroom and/or lab. We were allowed to peek through a tiny window into a classroom.
They provide a continental breakfast, and $8 (more than enough!) for lunch, so you won't go hungry. The interview itself was a little stressful because it was 3 on 1 (two professors and a student). And they write, so it kind of makes you wonder what it is they want to remember. There was a very long awkward silence after I finished answering every question, and I thought it might just kill me... But I got in, so I guess it went well. Also, I felt that one of my interviewers REALLY didn't like me because he sat there with his arms folded the whole time, but one of the students told me later that he's actually really funny. So I guess I would say, don't judge a book by its cover. They give you a list of all of the interviewers and a mini-biography to read, so I would look that over and ask them questions about what they do at the end of the interview.
I like the fact that Midwestern focuses exclusively on educating health care professionals (pharmacy, OT, PT, Nurse Anestatist, etc.) The program is very well organized. I am very impressed.
Like all other postings, there is a lot of down time. Fortunately our group was sociable and the time went quicker than I imagined. Interview went well...remember to smile and breathe. You are interviewing the faculty just as much as they are interviewing them, make sure you get your questions answered and have fun! (Looks like I will be attending in the fall :) )
The interview itself was only 30 mins but we had to wait around forever. There was also a tour scheduled during the wait time. They provided lunch after the interviews and then there was a message from the dean as well as a financial aid talk.
The interview went well, and everybody was very nice. It starts early in the morning and lasts into the afternoon. Plenty of free time. The tour was not impressive.
don't try to be too funny during the interview. Be relaxed, at the same time be conservative. This state is full of conservative people and they like you if you are conservative.
there were 17 of us. we met in the office of admissions. we got a folder with our schedule for the day and background information on our interviewers. then they broke us up into 2 groups. my group toured the school first. our tour guide was a second year student who was really nice and enthusiastic. then we met back at the office and i was called for my interview. 3 professors interviewed me. they said it wasn't an interrogation, but merely a conversation to get to know me. i still felt like i was being interrogated though. when that was over i breathed a sigh of relief and worked on a survey they gave me to fill out. then we had lunch. then we met with the assistant dean and she spoke to us about the school. that was followed by a meeting about financial aid. then we turned in our surveys back at the office and the day was done!
the morning was normal.. they split you up into 2 groups.. the lunch was good as they gave you a generous voucher. the apartments were interesting.. the on campus apts were very dorm looking whereas the off campus ones were really nice. the people were nice and freindly and the weather was pretty hot but i like that sort of thing. you are in the middle of no where, but hey tht should give u reason to study.
I like the location of Midwestern; I like that it is small and TEACHING focused (although, research is fun too). Everyone was laid back and friendly. I played ping-pong in the cafeteria during lunch. So overall, it was a great day :)
we were separated in 2 groups. As one group was interviewed, the other went for a campus tour. Breakfast was provided ( which was really good), and so was lunch, but I wasn't fond of the food in the cafeteria. After lunch, a financial aid presentation was given and although I was bored in the beginning, I was awakened by shock when I looked at the figure in the tuition fee. So was everyone else in the room. =) Anyway, it was a great experience and I am definitely going there in 2007.
The entire day was a good experience. The interview process was well organized.. breakfast, lunch and snacks were plentiful.. I don't think anyone went hungry the entire day.
Interviewees are broken up into two groups. One group tours the campus while the other is interviewed. Then the groups switch. After all of the interviews are complete, the entire group is given a cafeteria allowance for lunch. After lunch, the Associate Dean gives a presentation outlining the mission of Midwestern CPG. Then there is a 45 minute financial aid presentation. Lastly, you fill out the exit survey. Be prepared for a 7.5 hour day.
the interviewing student was so pretending and he was acting as if he were was the decision maker ....and he was about to tell me that he was born to be a pharmacist....
I arrived at the interivew at 8:00 am and I felt like I was late because everyone was there. We split into 2 groups and one group went to a school tour and another group started the interviews. The student was very helpful and gave us lots of hints about the interviewers and the questions to expect. Expect to have a lot of down time. After the tour, which only lasted 20 minutes, you have about 1-1&1/2 hour to wait either for the interview or for other people to interview. During that time you have to fill out a exit survey, which also serves as your writing sample. There are 3 groups of interviewers and each person gets 30 minutes, no more no less. After the interviews ended at 12 or so, the school hosted lunch followed by intro from the associate dean and a financial aid session. The day ended at 2:15 or so. It was realtively low stress, although I stress easy. Don't be afraid to stand out, they are looking for that. I would advise against wearing a black suit because some faculty said are we at a funeral? By the way, I was accepted and am going there in the fall of 2006.
I got there at about 7:45 and almost everyone was already there. They had a continental breakfast set up. Half of us went on a tour while the other half started their interviews, then we switched. Expect to sit around for 1 1/2-2 hours waiting for your interview. We were fed lunch, then the associate dean and financial aid gave presentations. We were done at about 2:15. The "writing sample" was actually an exit survey that we completed while we were sitting around.
My day began at 8, ended at 2:30. there were only 10 students in my group that day. The admission staffs said that since people don't want to come in for interview right after holidays, that's why there were only 10 of us..Usually, there will be 20-25/group. We started of with interview. There were 2 panel and 3 interviewers in each panel. After interview, everyone went for campus visit, then luch and the Dean came and welcome us. My day was ended with financial aide.
The interviewers I had, they were very nice, made me feel comfortable!!
The day began at 8 am, and each candidate was given a folder with information about faculty members, agenda, and information about Phoenix. Interviews were scheduled throughout the day from 8:30 to 11:30. There were three panels, and each panel consisted of a wide spectrum of professionals. One panel consisted of two faculty members and a preceptor. Another consisted of three professors. The final consisted of one professor, one preceptor, and a pharmacy student. From the information I gathered, the interviewing style varied significantly from panel to panel. One panel concentrated on questions found on this website. Another asked experiential questions like "tell me about a time" type questions. Some had difficult interviews and others had a wonderful experience. It really depends on who interviews you. A lot of people seemed nervous the entire time, and some just did not know what to expect. There was a lot of uncertainty in how people stood after the interview. After the interview we were treated to lunch by the university. Then the Dean gave a presentation on the school. The day ended with financial aid presentation. Expect to get out by 2:30. Expect to find out in 4 weeks.
All in all, it was a good experience.. And guys, whatever you say, never say you want to do RETAIL !!! My friend told me abt this before my interview and it soo true.. RETAIL is a taboo word; if u say retail, then they will think u are just in it for the money and that you dont care abt anything else.. And also, make sure ask them at least 2 good questions at the end... either abt their program or abt the school... make sure its good.. dont ask them stupid stuff like how much the tuition is how the weather is like !!! u are supposed to kno all that by this point..
Good luckkkkkkk
During the interview, I did not feel like the interviewers were very welcoming. They came off as harsh and not all that easy to get along with. The one cool thing about MWU is that it is a 3 year program.
Overall, besides the pre-reqs possibly not fulfilling the requirements, the interview was a great experience. The faculty were very friendly and non-hostile during the interview. It seemed more like a conversation with some of your parent's friends rather than people that are pretty much deciding the future of your career in pharmacy.
We were offered breakfast in the morning. After breakfast, we watched a presentation dealing with tuition and financial aid. Interviews followed and we had two professors that teaches in the pharmacy program as the interviewers. They took the first 20 minutes to ask questions to get to know you better and observe your interacting skills and the last 10 minutes for you to ask them any questions you have. Lunch was served after everybody finished their interviews. All in all, I had a great experience here. I expected the interview to be a lot worse than it ended up being, but this really helped me because I came very prepared.
I arrived at 8AM. There were 16 interviewees that day, including myself. We were given name tags and a folder including an interview agenda, faculty profiles, sample student schedules, and a list of things to do in Phoenix. We socialized as we ate a continental breakfast. I had a blueberry muffin and applejuice. The group was split into morning and afternoon interviews. While one group was interviewing, the other was taking a tour of the campus. The actual interview was 30 min, with a panel of two professors and a student. Be sure to look at everyone when you answer questions. After the last interview, we all ate lunch together, then the Dean asked us if we had any more questions. We were told what the next step would be and when to expect letters. We were dismissed at 1:15 PM. Whatever you do, don't wear black! The admissions counselor made a comment like "To those of you wearing black, I'm sorry, this is not your funeral. This is a happy day."
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested to reduce waiting times during interviews and tours, provide more student interactions, and communicate important details clearly to candidates to improve the overall admissions experience.
None. I actually loved their admission's office. Very efficient with email reply time and very friendly both in person and on the phone
