Texas A&M Health Sciences Center Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy Interview Feedback Summary
Kingsville, TX
Pharmacy Schools | Public Non-Profit
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⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
8.0
Above Average
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 182 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 Mixed
< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school 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
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include scenarios related to ethics and teamwork, personal strengths and weaknesses, study habits, reasons for choosing pharmacy, qualities of a pharmacist, and hypothetical situations. Several responses mentioned an MMI format, indicating a structured interview process, potentially involving a nondisclosure agreement regarding specific questions asked.
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You are working in a group project. You noticed one of your team members is failing to show up to the group meetings and they are not contributing anything to the project. You confront them and him/her tell you that they have a illness. They tell you that they are getting medical tests for this illness and tell you to not tell any of the group members about this illness. What do you do in this situation?
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Tell me about yourself.
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What would you do if you didn't get into pharmacy school?
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What are your strengths and weaknesses
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Describe how you would study on the day to day bases
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at Texas A&M Health Sciences Center Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy discussed a wide range of topics, including receiving feedback, dream magazine covers, historical figures for conversation, embarrassing moments, and preferred animal transformations. Additionally, questions about career choices outside of pharmacy, handling rejection from pharmacy school, important pharmacist attributes, opinions on diversity, and the impact of acceptance to multiple schools were commonly raised during the interviews.
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The ability to provide feedback is important for peers. Tell me about a time where you received feedback and the challenges of giving feedback and receiving that feedback.
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Who do you want to be on the cover of Time Magazine.
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Which historical figure would you like to have a conversation with?
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What was your most embarassing moment?
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None. The most interesting part was watching the three interviewers interrupt one another and talk over each other.
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at Texas A&M Health Sciences Center Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy discussed a wide range of topics, including personal challenges, ethical scenarios, future plans, and adapting to the local community. Some respondents mentioned challenging situational questions like prioritizing patient care, while others found questions about weaknesses and working in a small town to be tough. Additionally, references to MMI format and nondisclosure agreements suggest that the interview process at times included scenarios with nondisclosure requirements, possibly related to an MMI setup.
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Why should we choose you?
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Tell us about a time when you encountered difficulties in a class and how you overcome that problem
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If you don't get into pharmacy school, where do you see yourself in 10yrs?
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How would you adjust to the small town life in Kingsville?
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standard
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 3 people.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had a closed file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
The most common feedback and suggestions shared by applicants for interview preparation include conducting mock interviews, researching the school's website and interview questions, practicing answers to potential questions, and utilizing resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN) for additional guidance and insight. It is also recommended to dress professionally, prepare responses to questions listed on the school's website, and engage in mock interviews with family or peers to enhance readiness and confidence.
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Mock interview and research
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I looked at the website and went over questions. This wasn't my first interview so I had a little experience going in.
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Mock interviews, the questions provided by the college's website.
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Looked at the pre-questions and just practiced
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SDN, mock interviews
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were consistently impressed by the friendliness and warmth of the staff, the beauty and modernity of the campus facilities, and the emphasis on community and student support. Many highlighted the welcoming atmosphere, the dedication to improving the local community, and the professionalism of the faculty and staff as key positive aspects of their experience.
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The thing that impressed me positively is how friendly the staff members are.
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Their dedication to the community of Kingsville was awesome and heartwarming. Kingsville is mostly a rural area that seems to not have that much money. What this program does to improve the living environment and promote awareness in this community really attracted me to this program. The faculty/staff were also very nice, the pharmacy building and surrounding university were also very nice, and this program looks like it's heading in a good direction. (they kept bragging about how they were a top 50 pharmacy school after graduating only three classes) There was also no essay section, they pulled that from your pharmcas essay and PCAT essay.
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The friendliness of the staff and interviewers.
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The professionalism, and how relaxed everyone made it seem, I stopped worrying about 5 minutes in
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Campus was beautiful and the staff was friendly and welcoming. The dean was hilarious, and the admissions office was more than willing to help during and after the application process.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants were commonly unimpressed by the location of the school in Kingsville, feeling it lacked excitement and cultural opportunities. Some suggested offering more engaging activities or resources to make up for the limited options in the area.
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The think that impressed me negatively is being disconnect with the school because there was no tour to see if this is a good campus for you.
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At first the area, but I realized that this program is so involved in helping and improving life in Kingsville and South Texas, so this actually became a positive. There was a time where we had to sit through a 15-20 minute powerpoint with no speaker. I thought that was strange...
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None!
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Like most have already mentioned, Kingsville doesn't exactly seem like the most exciting place to spend the next four years. However, I come from a small town similar to Kingsville, and when free time is available, you find creative means for entertainment and get to know your peers better in the process.
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Everything but the building, but especially the written portion of the interview. Shouldn't PharmD applicants be literate?
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Most applicants wished they had known more about the interview schedule and the opportunity to interact with fellow applicants and staff beforehand. They also highlighted the importance of being oneself during the interview process and engaging with the school to assess the fit both ways.
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I wish I knew the schedule for the day.
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Being yourself really helps during the interview.
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Relax and take the opportunity to get to know your fellow applicants, staff, and current students.
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That the population of Kingsville is under 26,000 (1/2 the size of the university I graduated from)
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That I would be interviewed with fellow classmates from my university. Could have made the trip MUCH cheaper.
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the interview process to be relaxed, well-organized, and conversational, with friendly staff and faculty. Some appreciated the brief nature of the interview, while others felt that certain aspects like multiple interviewers or cramped spaces were stressful.
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When I did my interview, there was no essay, and just be you when you interview. Know about the research you are working on or the organization you are a part of. They will ask question about it.
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This is an awesome program. I love everything about it. The interview process was relaxed and well-organized. The faculty/staff and students were nice and helpful. The facilities looked nice.
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The best interview so far!
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This one-one interview was one of my favorites. I had great interviewers, and it honestly seemed more like a casual conversation which really helped calm my nerves.
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Having three people interview one applicant for thirty minutes will yield unsatisfactory results both all parties involved. It is cramped, uncomfortable, and more stressful than the interviews of pharmacy schools that are ranked in the top fifteen. The faculty running the day's activities mentioned at least ten times that the college is "accredited." After the fifth time this became embarrassing to listen to.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office provide campus tours, clarify application requirements, reduce the number of interviewers, and allow for more time during interviews to discuss accomplishments. They also mentioned the importance of making the application process more comprehensive and enhancing communication with applicants.
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One suggestion for the admissions office is giving the students a tour of the campus and the school of pharmacy.
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Good job!
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none
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Reduce the number of interviewers to two rather than three
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Clarify some things like minimum GPA (pre-reqs, cumulative?)
📍 On-Site Experience ▼
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are in state students.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 4-6 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 Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP)
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Continental Express
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Corpus Christi
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
The most commonly mentioned hotel among the responses is:
- Super 8
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Best Inn
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Best Western
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Budget INN
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Hampton Inn
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Holiday Inn
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 are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
All Responses
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