University of Colorado Denver Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Interview Feedback Summary
Aurora, CO
Pharmacy Schools | Public Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 19% 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
8.3
Above Average
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 373 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 the motivation to pursue pharmacy, reasons for choosing a specific school, ethical dilemmas, significant achievements, qualities of a pharmacist, and challenges in healthcare. Some respondents mentioned being asked standard questions typical of the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, possibly under a nondisclosure agreement, where questions are not disclosed.
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What type of food would you be?
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Tell me about yourself (life/educational background, why pharmacy/how you got into pharmacy, why CU)
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Why do you want to be a pharmacist?
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What is the role of pharmacists?
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What is an important value to you?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Colorado Denver Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences discussed a wide range of topics, including how CU would support their career, handling ethical dilemmas with classmates during rotations, defining diversity, and addressing healthcare challenges. The interviews may have been in an MMI format, as respondents mentioned nondisclosure agreements, but the questions primarily revolved around ethics, personal experiences, healthcare issues, and the role of pharmacists in society.
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How do you think CU will help you in your career
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What do you do if your classmate complains about doing a rotation at a homeless shelter?
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One of your classmates is complaining that their next rotation is at a homeless shelter. How would you respond?
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What does diversity mean to you?
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What does a pharmacist do beside dispensing drugs.
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Colorado Denver Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences discussed various topics including ethical dilemmas, challenges facing pharmacy, personal setbacks, values being challenged, and unique problem-solving approaches. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) as respondents mentioned nondisclosure agreements or multiple ethics-related questions being asked.
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Tell me about yourself and what led you to pharmacy
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Talk about a time you were faced with a difficult problem and how you solved it in a unique/unconventional way
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What is the biggest challenge facing pharmacy today?
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If one of your classmates came up to you complaining about having to go to a homeless shelter for a rotation, what would you say to them.
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When was a time that your values were challenged?
✅ 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 2 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?
Many applicants prepared for their interviews by utilizing resources such as Student Doctor Network (SDN), mock interviews, school websites, and practicing with pharmacists or friends. They focused on reviewing common interview questions, researching the school, and preparing thoughtful responses to demonstrate their knowledge and interest in pharmacy.
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Mock interviews (101 and small groups), practice basic questions, technical questions, present science topics, and public health ethics questions
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SDN
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SDN interview feedback
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SDN forum
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Looking through SDN feedback and doing a mock interview using the questions from SDN feedback
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and professionalism of the faculty, staff, and students at the campus. They appreciated the beautiful and new facilities, the emphasis on inter-professional learning, and the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere during the interview process. Many highlighted the opportunities to interact with current students, the well-structured day, and the overall positive experience at the school.
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Sarah Scoular and Patty. They led the interview sessions and groups flawlessly. Their provided tour of campus was nice.
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The professionalism of the faculty and the students, the campus, and the inter-professional program design
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The idea that all health profession students are in the same classes and you have one particular group of students of varying fields that you stay with all four years.
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The campus and the faculty
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The beautiful campus, the students, and the faculty - they really want you to do well and enjoy your time at their school!
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants were primarily concerned about the negative impressions related to the interview process, unprofessional interviewers, lack of campus tours, safety concerns about the surrounding neighborhood, and unorganized orientation activities. Suggestions included improving interviewer professionalism, enhancing the campus tour experience, addressing safety perceptions of the area, and ensuring a structured and engaging orientation program.
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When you toured the school you could see the pharmacy students suffering inside while every other student group was enjoying the sun outside.
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nothing really
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Toured the campus earlier in the spring. The campus has tons of pear trees, which smell absolutely terrible when they're flowering!
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Nothing that I can think of!
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nothing
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interview process was very relaxed and chill, allowing for ample downtime to interact with other candidates. Some also mentioned the importance of speaking with current students for more genuine insights and being prepared for specific questions about the curriculum during the interview.
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Speak with real students 101 outside of the gazing eye of the faculty. Their insight was more real and genuine than the interviewers and student leaders selected to help the interview. If I spoke to a few real students ahead of time I would not have chosen pharmacy as a profession.
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It’s very relaxed, even the interview
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How much downtime there is. That's not to say you're sitting around bored, but there was a lot of time available to talk with other applicants and review handouts regarding apartments, student orgs, etc.
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That it would have been so relaxed!
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N/A
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the campus and facilities impressive, with positive interactions with faculty and students. The interview process included a variety of components such as a writing test, interview, and group activity, with some mentioning a lengthy day and the importance of being prepared and confident.
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CU’s faculty was nice, obviously. The campus is somewhat modern but dystopian compared to the surrounding area. Research facilities are top notch. Pharmacy is located in the middle of nowhere, segregates from other professional students.
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It’s a top tier program and everything from the campus to the presentations by the faculty prove it
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The day is very laid-back; the most stressful part is the faculty interview, but even then it wasn't that bad.
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Act yourself and you will do just fine. The questions aren't suppose to be tricky. If you work as tech you will answer all the questions with ease.
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The interview was formally supposed to be only 20 minutes, but my interviewer and I just chatted for another 15 minutes since that's when the next candidate was supposed to come for his/her interview. My interviewer was very easy to talk to and made my interview experience less stressful!
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest improving communication, including providing clear and accurate information, reducing wait times during interviews, and enhancing organization to minimize downtime. Additionally, applicants recommend transitioning to online application materials and decision processes to streamline the admissions experience.
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Nothing really
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None
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No suggestions. They have been quite helpful and friendly.
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Try to put the application materials online and have the ability to accept/decline offer online as well.
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Do not yell at the applicants for not bringing their own writing utensil because it was stated in the e-mail. I looked through all my e-mails and it was never mentioned. Continue to providing lodging and housing information.
📍 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 out of 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 airplane to the interview.
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
Most respondents spent more than $500.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Denver International Airport (DEN)
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DEN
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DEN, SEA, BLI
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DIA
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Denver
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Denver International
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 is Marriott, with multiple variations such as Marriott Denver Airport at Gateway Park, Mariot, and Marriott.
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Belcaro Motel
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Bradford Homesuites Denver Tech Ctr
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Cambria Suites
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Comfort Inn
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Crestwood 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?
N/A
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I stayed relatively close by with a friend who goes to school. Of course my friend is a school spirit shill so gauging the university correctly was difficult.
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