Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 96 responses
Score Reference:
9โ10 Exceptional8โ8.9 Very Good7โ7.9 Good6โ6.9 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 areaโs cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
๐ฌ Interview Questions โผ
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about leadership qualities, reasons for choosing pharmacy, personal interests in pharmacy, community involvement, and dealing with stressful situations. Some respondents mentioned a laid-back interview atmosphere with typical questions like "Tell me about yourself" and "Why pharmacy?" However, it's notable that some interviews were in an MMI format, possibly involving a nondisclosure agreement based on responses referencing 'MMI' or 'non-disclosure'.
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy discussed a wide range of topics, including reasons for choosing their undergraduate school, influences on pursuing pharmacy, and post-graduation plans. Some responses mentioned questions related to personal statements and experiences, while others were asked about favorite classes, job duties as a pharmacy technician, and future aspirations. There were no specific references to MMI format or nondisclosure agreements in the provided responses.
Would you like to work for the company you are working for now?
It directly involved information I gave in my personal statement. (Note! all the questions asked were based on my personal statement) How did I deal with stressful situations in a volunteer setting?
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy discussed a variety of topics including self-reflection, career choice rationale, and future aspirations. Additionally, some respondents mentioned a lack of challenging questions or found open-ended inquiries like "Describe yourself" to be particularly daunting.
Nothing seemed to diffucult because it all had to do with my own experiences and there were no suprises. They just wanted you to elaborate and give them an idea on how you deal in stituations, stressful or otherwise.
Anything about your academic record that you would like me know about? (The interviewer hasn't seen any of your application materials besides the essay's that you wrote)
Most respondents had an interview of 40 - 50 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.
No responses
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by researching the school or program, reading information on websites like SDN and the institution's site, reviewing their personal statements, and practicing mock interviews with friends. Many also focused on getting a good night's rest, reading interview feedback, and maintaining a positive attitude.
I showered and shaved and put on a nice suit. That's really all I did to prepare and for this interview that seemed to be enough. No need to stress yourself out.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere of the staff, faculty, and students at the school, as well as the relaxed and conversational nature of the interview process. They also appreciated the enthusiasm shown for the program, the modern pharmacy facilities, and the easy transition to becoming an Ohio resident.
Very kind staff and interviewers. One of my interviewers was a professor and one was the head pharmacist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
The interview was very relaxed and almost conversational. We went over the 30 minute time period for the interview just talking about where a good place to eat for lunch was.
How friendly the staff was, there is NO dress code (you only have to wear your white coat during labs, formal meetings, etc), 100% passing rate on the licensing exam, the mock-pharmacy room, that most students seemed to be involved in one organization or another, and the fact that it is so easy to become an Ohio resident after my 1st year.
Everything! UC is a great and competitive school. Everyone that I encountered the day of my interview was friendly and enthusiastic about their program!
My interviewer was extremely nice and really fun to talk to, and the pharmacy building was actually a lot nicer than I was expecting. Also, they are accepting more students this year than they have in the past
The scene. There was no rigorous activity and the lady that interviewed me was very nice. We talked about me for the first 30 min. (general questions like why pharmacy and where do you see yourself in 10 years) The next 25 min. she took me on a tour of the school and explained the curriculum and where the classes where held. She also took me into one of the labs.
The faculty member made me feel very comfortable and seemed to take me very seriously in what I had to say. He was very excited about the program at UC, was very positve, motivated, and easy going. He also gave me a comprehensive tour of the school.
Nice, no stress setting where you talked casually for the "interview" and then a tour of the school with some more casual talking - nothing rigid or formal.
Applicants frequently mentioned concerns about the outdated facilities, lack of technology equipment, limited food options, and the surrounding neighborhood of the university. They also highlighted issues such as long wait times, unenthusiastic student tour guides, and limited opportunities for specialization in certain areas compared to other schools. Suggestions included updating facilities, improving technology resources, enhancing the campus environment, and providing more diverse academic opportunities.
Their room for P1s is a little old school..but all their technology is up to date and they have a good setup.
The building is a little dated (not so much the actual facilities) and there is currently a ton of construction going on because of the new medical center that is being built across the street. However, it will be beautiful when it is complete.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the quick response time post-interview, the relaxed nature of the interview process, and the lack of need to stress. The feedback suggests that being oneself and staying relaxed during the interview are key takeaways for future candidates.
How fast they would respond after your interview. I found out four days later while reading my e-mail in class. They told our group during the interview that it could be months before we knew.
Applicants generally shared positive feedback about their interview experience, highlighting the friendly and relaxed atmosphere, conversational nature of the interviews, and the opportunity to engage in discussions beyond academic topics. Suggestions included being prepared with questions about the school and its programs, showcasing confidence, and emphasizing conversational skills.
Great experience. I am so happy to be accepted to this program.
It was very good. I was nervous going in but after seeing how relaxed the whole process was I was able to calm down. People there were very nice, the interviewers even prepared a bottle of water for me. I arrived early, and I actually got to interview ahead of my scheduled time, so be prepared for that if you arrive early. It was a positive experience overall.
1st part = 30 minute interview. 2nd part = tour of the school (NO essay/writing assignment). Overall, my experience was GREAT. Cincinnati is one of the oldest pharmacy schools and has an outstanding reputation. My only gripe is that because it is an older school the building is a little outdated. The classrooms and computer rooms are nice and the mock pharmacy room is really big and has a lot to offer. I was really impressed with how happy students seemed to be (based on how many students are involved in pharmacy-related organizations). I would be so proud to attend UC.
I spent about 50 minutes in the actual interview, and then my interviewer gave my parents and me a tour of the school that lasted about 20 minutes. The interviewer was friendly, and seemed to be truly interested in why I choose UC.
The entire interview took about 1 hour. You do an 30 minute interview with a faculty member and then that faculty member takes you on a tour of the pharmacy school. It was a very informal, laid-back interview.
It wasn't a very stressful interview. Him and I basically just talked back and forth so he could figure out what kind of person I am and if I able to keep a conversation going. Try to have a few questions ready about their pharmacy program and if you do that you will be good to go.
The faculty member read through my essays and underlined specific parts of them. Throughout the interview I was asked to elaborate on these points. He then gave me a tour of the college.