Oregon State University College of Pharmacy
Corvallis, OR
Pharmacy Schools | Public Non-Profit
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
How did the interview impress you?
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?
Many interviewees were asked situational questions related to pharmacy scenarios, such as handling prescription mishaps, addressing patient refusal based on religious beliefs, and resolving conflicts among team members. Additionally, questions about personal characteristics of a good pharmacist, career motivations, stress management, and academic achievements were commonly explored, indicating a focus on assessing candidates' problem-solving skills, ethical judgment, and suitability for the pharmacy profession.
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Situational question about prescription mishap
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Situational question about veganism
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What characteristics make you a good pharmacist?
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Tell me about yourself. What steps have to taken toward choosing a career in Pharmacy? How will you make an impact as a pharmacist?
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What would you do if a diabetes patient doesn't want to follow a recommended diet due to fasting for religious reasons?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at Oregon State University College of Pharmacy discussed a variety of topics such as veganism, pharmacists' duty to the community, personal hobbies, opinions on the healthcare system, and hypothetical scenarios like receiving a talent from God. The interviews seemed conversational with some generic questions, while a few respondents mentioned an MMI format, potentially involving a nondisclosure agreement.
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The veganism question
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The second one - about the pharmacists duty/obligation to the community.
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What do you like to do for fun? (not an interesting question, but you can come up with an interesting ans)
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Everything was conversational. Its´s like meeting an acquintance and telling him or her what your goal in life is and what led you through this pathway. how was your school etc.
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Surprisingly, I was only asked very generic questions about myself, my interest in pharmacy and my future plans.
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at Oregon State University College of Pharmacy discussed a wide range of topics such as end-of-life care decisions, future challenges in the pharmacy profession, opinions on smoking regulations, and personal accomplishments. The interview format may have been an MMI with potential nondisclosure agreements, as some responses hinted at standardized questions and job interview-style inquiries interwoven with academic queries.
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Prescription mishap
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The one about closing the business (question 3)
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I felt that all the questions were pretty difficult to answer.
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Suppose you're a pharmacist and a drug was prescribed for a terminally ill patient. The drug is extremely expensive and has many negative side effects, but would extend their life by a few months. What are your opinions about end of life care in this situation?
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What do you think would be a problem in the pharmacy profession 25 years from now?
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
📍 On-Site Experience ▼
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by Admissions staff personnel
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents rank the facilities as below average.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 2-3 hours traveling to the interview.
What was your primary mode of travel?
Most respondents traveled by automobile to the interview.
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
Most respondents spent between $101 and $200.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Portland International Airport (PDX)
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portland
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Portland International Aiport
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PDX
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Eugene
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EUG
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
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Ramada
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Nite Inn Motel (Eugene)
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Hilton Inn
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Hilton Garden Inn
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Econolodge Willamette River
How would you rate the hotel?
Most respondents rated their hotel as average
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
Most respondents would recommend their hotel.
What is your ranking of this school's location?
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?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by utilizing resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN), talking to current students or pharmacists, researching pharmacy issues, and conducting mock interviews. They also focused on reviewing their own experiences, considering situational questions, and familiarizing themselves with the school's curriculum and student life.
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SDN
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Reading the SDN interview feedback for OSU. Reviewing my own application/ experiences and thinking about what I have learned from them and how I can apply them in different situations. (most interview questions happened to be situational questions)
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SDN, talking to current/former students and my pre-pharm advisor. Also googled a bunch of current healthcare/pharmacy issues (which ended up being unnecessary).
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SDN, google
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SDN. Talked to interns about their interview.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the welcoming and friendly environment created by the staff, faculty, and students, making the experience low stress and enjoyable. They highlighted the sense of community and support, as well as the campus facilities and opportunities provided, such as volunteer programs and experiential learning.
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The warming environment and the faculty
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Everyone from the staff, students, and other applicants were extremely nice and welcoming. The entire experience was low stress and they even made a point in saying that they are only trying to get to know each applicant as a person and they are not intending to make you nervous or feel stressed.
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The overall program and their focus on taking care of their students. Also, many volunteer opportunities are offered through the school - major focus on societal health.
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Nice campus, friendly faculty
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Everything. Admissions staff was incredibly friendly, the entire thing was very low stress. The talk that Angela gave at the start of the interviews made me want to go there even more so.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about older buildings, parking difficulties, rushed interview processes, and the lack of social opportunities during the application process. Suggestions included improving facilities, addressing parking issues, allowing for more time between stages of the application process, and enhancing the interview experience to alleviate stress and repetition.
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nothing
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Nothing.
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Nothing really... the buildings are a bit old. Campus is beautiful though.
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The interview (MMI format) felt a bit rushed and the followup questions were somehow repetitive.
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Nothing really
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Many applicants wished they had known about the MMI format of the interview, the time constraints for certain sections, the casual and friendly nature of the interviewers, the short duration of the entire process, and the importance of preparation for tough questions related to ethics. They also highlighted the significance of being punctual, dressing appropriately, and being familiar with the location to avoid any last-minute stress.
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How quickly 7 minutes can go by
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The interview is MMI format (which I prefer), so knowing that would've calmed my nerves ahead of time.
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Nothing.
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The interview took longer than expected
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That you are only allotted 15 minutes to write the essay.
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the interview process at the school to be welcoming and relaxed, with a focus on personal experiences and qualities. Many appreciated the quick response times for admissions decisions and the opportunity to engage with faculty and current students during the interview day.
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Great school. They get back to you very, very quickly on whether or not you got in. I found out ~3 hours afterwards. That might have had something to do with being part of the early decision group though.
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The pharmacy staff will give you a [optional] tour of just the pharmacy bldg, which isnt too big. Lasts maybe 20 min. Then you can go to the admin bldg across the street and sign up for a campus tour, which are every hour. I recommend doing the tours. The campus is great.
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Before your interview just relax they are really nice and the interview is not bad at all. They will split the group up in half. The first half will work on the writting and the other half will go to the interview. They give 30min. for the writting which is a opinion question related to pharmacy.
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Interview @ Corvallis. They suggested to come 30 mins before 8:30. They don´t offer free breakfast since the whole interview day is really quick. But you will get so much information. Around 9:30 you will get to interview the pharmacy students. Then you will meet the faculty who will most likely interview you. By 10-11 am You will be then divided in half. 1st half will have interview while other half will write an essay. Then you´re done. I suggest that if you are out-of-state to come the day before the interview and explore the campus. There´s 2 airport one in Portland and in Eugene. Portland is 90 mins away from Corvallis while Eugene is only 40 mins away. I took Eugene Airport where you can either rent a car or take a shuttle (www.omnishuttle.com).
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My interview took place at the Corvallis campus. There were a few minutes to chat with other perspective students and when everyone was present, the group was divided in two. Half went to have their interviews, while the other half stayed in the room to write the essay. Overall it wasn't nearly as stressful as I thought it would be. The interview felt more like a conversation with a new acquaintance, rather than someone grilling me over my personal statement.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should provide clear and detailed information about off-campus and on-campus housing options, as well as financial aid opportunities to support prospective students.
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Information about Off or On Camus Housing & Financial aid.
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