University of Iowa College of Pharmacy
Iowa City, IA
Pharmacy Schools | Public Non-Profit
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 16% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a moderate stress level, and felt they did okay.
⭐ 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?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include discussing leadership and extracurricular activities, addressing challenges anticipated in pharmacy school, preparing for the interview, handling communication problems, describing qualities learned from parents, and dealing with conflicts in teamwork and professionalism. Additionally, many respondents referenced the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format and potential nondisclosure agreements during their interviews.
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Discuss any leadership or extracurricular activities you were involved in during your undergrads. Explain how you studied and any academic difficulties during your undergrads.
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Do you feel that you covered everything you wanted to in this interview?
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What challenge do you anticipate in pharmacy school?
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Tell us about a time you had to deal with a communication problem.
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What are three things you looked for when choosing which pharmacy schools to apply to?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Iowa College of Pharmacy discussed various scenarios such as envisioning the future of pharmacy, handling sensitive situations with friends, communication challenges, resolving mistakes, demonstrating creativity, ethical beliefs, qualities in hiring pharmacists, and survival items on a deserted island. The questions ranged from personal experiences like resolving conflicts with coworkers to hypothetical scenarios like navigating to specific locations, indicating a diverse range of inquiries commonly encountered during the interview process.
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What do you think the future of pharmacy will be like?
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If you were with a group of friends and one of them said something insensitive or offensive, what would you do?
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(For people whose first language is not English) what would you do if someone doesn't understand what you've said?
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Tell me how you get from your house to the library
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A time when you made a mistake and how you resolved it? A time when you got a grade which you feel you didn't deserve and what did you do about it?
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult questions asked at University of Iowa College of Pharmacy discussed various scenarios such as communication challenges, ethical considerations, leadership experiences, conflict resolution, creative thinking, and handling differing opinions. Some responses hinted at an MMI format, suggesting nondisclosure agreements may have been in place for certain interview questions.
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Who is someone you communicate well with?
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Tell us about a time you had to use self control.
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All the questions are closely equal in their difficulty.
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How you show your leadership in your experience
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Any problems you faced while working with someone who had a different upbringing that you?
🤝 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 3 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 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.
📍 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.
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 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 Cedar Rapids Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)
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Moline International
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Minneapolis
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Cedar Rapids
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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holiday inn
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days inn
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The Sheraton downtown
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Sheraton
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La Quinta
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 researching the school, practicing interview questions and answers, watching videos, utilizing resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN), and conducting mock interviews. They also focused on understanding pharmacy-related topics, current healthcare issues, and practicing responses to common interview questions to feel more confident and prepared.
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Wrote out questions and answers, practiced delivering answers, watched videos, and researched the school
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SDN, youtube, practice pharmacy questions
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SDN questions, looking up common interview questions, watching YouTube videos, researching the school
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Watching YouTube videos, practicing answering the questions on the SDN school page, asking questions on the SDN forum, researching the schools, and reading Pharmacy Times.
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sdn website
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were consistently impressed by the friendliness and welcoming nature of the faculty, staff, and students, as well as the personalized attention they received during the interview process. Additionally, the innovative and well-designed new pharmacy building was a standout feature that left a positive impression on many applicants.
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The faculty was friendly and offered snacks and water several times. The new pharmacy building was innovative and well-designed.
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The new pharmacy building
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Everyone was really friendly, nice campus
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Welcoming and super friendly people, new pharmacy building that will be finished in 2020,
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Friendly interviewers
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions related to outdated facilities, lack of introduction to the school, long waiting times, rushed interview process, high tuition costs, lack of diversity, and unfavorable weather. Suggestions included updating facilities, providing a more welcoming introduction, reducing waiting times, enhancing the interview experience, addressing tuition concerns, and improving diversity initiatives.
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the current state of the old building
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The classrooms were a bit outdated but it sounds like the new pharmacy building will be really nice
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Small space, old facility. Hope things will change in the new pharmacy building.
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The pharmacy building.. the labs are small and super old! Its not worth the tuition.. Difficult to get residency positions around iowa city.
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There was alot of waiting time inbetween activities.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly expressed that they wished they had known to be less stressed and more prepared for the interview process. They also mentioned wanting more information on housing and the importance of being familiar with current news in the medical field.
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not to stress out a lot
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To be less stressed going into it. Everyone was really friendly and welcoming and wanted you to feel comfortable and ask any questions.
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Shouldn't have been too nervous because the people are so friendly!
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Prepared questions better
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nothing..
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the interview process at the University of Iowa to be welcoming and low-stress, with a focus on getting to know the applicants. Some suggestions included improving facilities, allowing for more natural conversations during interviews, and minimizing distractions during the process.
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There were only about 15 other candidates there. When you arrive, you sit at small round tables and talk with a few current students. Lunch was provided at the end and could be taken to go. The whole process went from 9 to around 1:15.
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Everyone was really friendly
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I love the people but hope the school will do something to improve its facility while waiting for the new building to finish.
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They emphasize a lot on research so if its not in your interest don't bother to apply there..
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Overall, Iowa is a great school. I do have to add, though, that if you're gonna be staying at the Sheraton Hotel, then to get a room that's not on the 2nd or 3rd floor. I stayed on the 2nd floor, and my entire stay was uncomfortable because the pool was right next to my room and it was way too loud all day long.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Overall, applicants feel that the admissions office is doing a great job but suggest providing more personalized and in-depth interactions during interviews. Additionally, maintaining accessibility, efficiency, and responsiveness were highlighted as key strengths.
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Nothing. They've done a great job!
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Maybe a little more time with the interviewers. More customized questions or even follow up questions. A little less boilerplate.
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keep up the good work and efficiency
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They were very easy to access
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