University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy Interview Feedback Summary
Little Rock, AR
Pharmacy Schools | Public Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 24% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
8.5
Above Average
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 60 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 good.
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 good.
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 inquiries about strengths and their relevance to the profession, opinions on current healthcare topics like pharmacist-administered immunizations and social media ethics, as well as motivations for pursuing pharmacy and interest in leadership roles within the academic setting. Some respondents may have experienced an MMI format with a nondisclosure agreement due to the mention of specific questions.
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What are your strengths? How do those strengths apply to being a pharmacist?
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How do feel about social media websites being checked as part of the admissions process? What would constitute as misbehavior on said social media sites?
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How do you feel about pharmacists giving immunizations to patients?
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The first question was a general question about understanding the role of the pharmacist.
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Describe what a pharmacist does and explain why do you think pharmacists are moving toward more hands-on experiences?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy discussed the MMI format, with scenarios involving role-playing and ethical dilemmas. Respondents mentioned a structured interview process with nondisclosure requirements, along with questions about addressing social issues, personal traits, current events knowledge, and pharmacist qualities.
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What I would do if I saw a student signing in another student for attendance that wasn't in class.
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There was a question that involved role playing.
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The most interesting question was the role playing situation.
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Talking to Lauren to calm her down about her situation.
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The mini-interview process was interesting. There were three ten minute interviews. At the beginning of each interview the question or situation was revealed. The candidates were given two minutes to arrange their thoughts before entering the room where the interviewer awaited them. All interviews were filmed.
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy discussed scenarios such as role-playing situations, decision-making as a CEO, and expressing opinions on social issues. These questions were part of an MMI format where respondents had limited time to prepare and may have been under a nondisclosure agreement regarding specific questions.
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The one about being the CEO of Pfizer and deciding who to keep based on 4 characteristics.
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There wasn't any hard questions really. You are given 2 minutes with the situation/topic before you go into each interview room.
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The role playing situation.
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The role playing situation was difficult, it was tough to know how to react.
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Stating my opinion about Facebook and Myspace and stating the reasons why. Stating the reasons part was hard for me.
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 1 person.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had 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?
Many applicants prepared for the interview by practicing sample questions, reading interview feedback on platforms like SDN, and reflecting on their personal strengths. It was common for candidates to seek guidance from online resources and prioritize being themselves and honest during the interview process.
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SDN interview feedback page
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Practiced sample interview questions
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I mostly looked up standard interview questions on the internet, really no perfect way to prepare... just have to be yourself and be honest.
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I used the two minutes given before each interview to think of what I would say to each interviewer
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I did not prepare.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were positively impressed by the welcoming and friendly atmosphere of the school, particularly highlighting the supportive faculty and admissions staff. They appreciated the efforts made to create a relaxed environment during the interviews and the genuine interest shown in each candidate.
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Nuclear pharmacy certification upon graduation
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The school was very impressive, in terms of opportunities and political advocacy for pharmacy. Everyone there made me feel like it was the best place to be.
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The feedback I got from each interviewer about my responses.
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The place where the interviews were held was an interesting place. It looked just like a doctor's clinic. The interviews took place inside the exam rooms.
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The staff was incredibly sincere and helped everyone to be relaxed before the interviews.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants were primarily concerned about transportation issues, particularly the long commute and lack of convenient parking, as well as the lengthy interview process. Suggestions included improving communication about the interview duration, addressing construction-related challenges, and considering alternative transportation options for students.
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location
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The only bad thing I could see was the commute might be a little tough in the future. You have to take a shuttle to get the main building where classes are.
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Some of the questions they asked made me think that I was close to getting off-topic
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I was at the interview for nearly four hours. I was not expecting it to last that long, especially since the actual interview portion only took a total of 45 minutes.
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Construction made it difficult to navigate the area. Parking is difficult to find. The suggested lot for students is far away; a shuttle bus is provided.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known that the interview process was less stressful than anticipated and that they were adequately informed about what to expect. Some applicants also mentioned specific logistical details such as parking availability and timing issues that they wished they had been aware of beforehand.
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The interview was a lot less stressful than I thought it would be.
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Nothing really, they make sure you're aware of everything you need to know.
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That it would take 15 minutes to find a parking spot once I arrived on campus. As for the content of the interview, knowing the questions ahead of time probably would not have helped significantly, since my opinions about Facebook and Myspace would not change much, and the way that I can care about a person also would not change much. As for hands-on experiences and what a pharmacist does, I already knew from shadowing and watching pharmacy interns work with pharmacy managers.
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I wish I had known more about the format of the interviews so I would not have been so nervous.
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That it was going to start late and end quickly. The set time was 30 minutes early, and after an hour and a half, we were done.
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the interview process to be more personality-based and less intimidating than a typical interview, with a focus on creating a relaxed and enjoyable experience. They appreciated the friendly attitude of the faculty and staff, the straightforward questions during the interview, and the information provided about financial aid.
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It isn'r like a typical interview, it's a lot more personality-based than anything.
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Nothing special. This is definitely a great school, and I don't really see any big downsides to it. If you want a ton of different opportunities for pharmacy careers, this seems like the place to go.
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The interviews were actually fun. In the first two I was just talking to a professor, and then a student. With the third interviewer, it made me feel like I was her doctor or pharmacist as soon as I entered the interview room. Since the interviews were one-on-one, I was more able to focus on the only person I was talking to at the time.
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Relax!
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Ms. Orear and Dr. Born help you calm down and relax before your 30 minute interview by talking about sports etc. Then after the interviews, they discussed when the accepted/wait/denied letters would be sent and loan/scholarship information.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest that the admissions office should offer an e-submission option for applications and reconsider the requirement of a money order, allowing for more convenient methods of payment such as personal checks.
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Have an e-submission option for applicants
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The only thing I wish they would change, is the requirement of a money order. It would just be easier for me to send a personal check, but that's really it.
📍 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 0-1 hour 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 less than $100.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Little Rock National Airport (LIT)
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LIT
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Little Rock
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None
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 Staybridge Suites.
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Comfort Inn
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Hampton Inn
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La Quinta
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Staybridge suites
How would you rate the hotel?
Most respondents rated their hotel as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
Most respondents would recommend their hotel.
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
All Responses
| Application Cycle ▿ | Impression | Performance | Interview Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Positively 🙂 | Great | In Person |
| 2016-17 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2015-16 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2012-13 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2011-12 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2011-12 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | N/A | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
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