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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 18% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did okay.
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 455 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional8–8.9 Very Good7–7.9 Good6–6.9 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 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 role models, leadership experiences, motivations for pursuing pharmacy, knowledge of the field, contributions to pharmacy, challenges in the profession, differentiation from other candidates, and specific interest in the interviewing institution. Respondents also mentioned questions related to personal attributes, work experience, extracurricular activities, research, and potential challenges in pharmacy, with some interviews potentially following an MMI format and including nondisclosure agreements.
why pharm, why usc, tell me about yourself. (This was literally one question which I answered 2/3 of it part and he just cut me off and asked another question).
Why did you want to go into pharmacy instead of other health care profession? What aspects of pharmacy that you like and that you dont like or what would you like changed in the pharmacy field within a couple years from now? Tell me about your work experience? (especially if you work in a pharmacy, they totally wanna know about that). What do you think of pharmacists in your local store? How about academically? What school you go to and major? What are your club involvement? Have you done research?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Southern California School of Pharmacy discussed a wide range of topics including personal experiences, career goals, pharmacy challenges, and unique situations. While some respondents mentioned standard questions like "Why Pharmacy?" and "Tell me about yourself," others noted questions related to specific experiences, future aspirations, and ethical scenarios. Additionally, there were references to MMI format interviews, suggesting a structured approach with potential nondisclosure agreements in place.
The questions were the usual ones that you would expect such as: Why Pharmacy? Why USC? Tell us about yourself...BUT a lot depends on your answer to these questions so be very careful what you say. The first one is usually ''Tell us about yourself'' and I suggest you choose your answer carefully on this one since it pretty much sets how the rest of your interview goes. They build on your answer to this question and ask more questions based on the information you gave them. If they give you a hard question, don't look at it as if they are trying to give you a hard time. They just want to know YOU and how much you know about the field of pharmacy as well as USC. Remember that you are competing against the best of the best and so you must up your game at this school. You have to show them that you are passionate about your chosen field and that you know for sure what you're getting yourself into. Good luck and remember to breathe....:)
As a teaching assistant, what do you do when a student asks you a question you don't know?
I do not do any research, yet he asked me these questions:
What are some methods you can use to determine protein structure?
How do changes in DNA affect the cell?
Nothing interseting. I got someone who asked very basic questions: why did you chose pharm school? Tell me about yourself. Tell me about your e.c.'s. Challenges in the present and future? etc. How do you plan to deal with these challenges. Do you speak spanish (I said I was working in a spanish speaking enviormen in my esssay) They make you submit a 300 word essay for the interview and thats all the info the interviewer has on you. I told them I knew a lot about SC after working for an alumnus so they asked me what I knew about the school. ANd they asked me what other schools I have applied to. And "tell us what you want us to remember you by." Beaucse I made many specific referances to my work exp. (i.e. diabetic care) they asked if I knew what area of pahramcy I wanted to go into?
what kind of food do cambodian-chinese people prepare? the interviewer didn't know cambodian-chinese people, like myself, existed. it's cool tho bc it was a good ice breaker.
The professor that interviewed me asked me a question regarding something pertaining to computers. I think it was to see how well I would react to something i wasn't expecting.
"you said you like microbio; tell me what you'd like to do with microbio and pharmacy"...what the feezy? oh hell no! but it's aight...i aint no chump!!! i answered it, some what...
Nothing really spectacular. Very conversational. One falculty and one student. Very relaxed. They always want to know why pharmacy. Other questions include research experience, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, pharm experiences, etc.
Nothing really interesting. They just wanted me to tell them about myself because they didn't know anything about me because they didn't look at my file.
Students said the most difficult question asked at University of Southern California School of Pharmacy discussed various topics including leadership experiences, cultural differences in patient care, motivations for pursuing pharmacy, ethical scenarios, and challenges facing the pharmacy field. The interview format may have involved Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) given references to nondisclosure agreements, with questions also covering personal traits, future goals, and unique contributions to the profession.
Based on your leadership experience, what is one thing that you did wrong, that you wish could go back and do it differently? (I got stuck on this one)
the essay! you have to read an article and then summarize it..but the article content was actually difficult to understand---something about medical devices and the failure of FDA to enforce certain protocols--i really don't know how I managed to get through it..lol..im assuming the articles are different for each interview group so u cant really prepare for it.
You obviously don't have any clinical experience. What makes you think you'll be a good candidate for clinical pharmacy (he asked me in a really condescending tone).
What do you want us to know about you? (i answered w/ my traits of humor and comradery). They followed up with, How do these traits relate to you being a pharmacist? (I think he was just doing this to give me a hard time, he did a lot of that)
Nothing really difficult. Just be prepared to talk about yourself. They really didn't ask any technical or situational question. All the questions were about me.
Why did you only apply to 3 schools? Are you that confident you will get in? What if you don't get accepted this year?
If you get into ucsf, will you still go to usc?
I was asked some organic chemistry questions. I told them that I was a chemistry department tutor and the professor taught o-chem, so he quizzed me on that.
mmm...the questions that were asked were pretty much questions that you think would be asked...but like i heard someone who was asked to convert liter to ml and then to mg or something of that sort, but during my interview, nothing funky.
A tie between "What don't you like about pharmacy?" and "Why don't you want to go into medicine instead?". sheesh that was a toughie!
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.
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 utilizing resources such as Student Doctor Network (SDN), practicing with mock interviews, and researching the school and current pharmacy-related topics. They emphasized the importance of being genuine in responses, avoiding memorization, and seeking feedback from peers or professionals to enhance their preparation.
Thought up a list of potential questions they could ask and wrote answers for them. Researched pharmacy and healthcare reform. Tried NOT to memorize everything but to have a general idea of what to say.
I did two mock interviews with friends and a health professional. Researched info on healthcare policy (i.e. the current Health Reform) and in relation to pharmacy
Mock interviews with the career center, my advisor. Talked to previous students in the field. Relaxed and got good sleep. Made sure I had plenty of time to get ready.
Read SDN. I also copied the questions and answered them myself. It's good to be prepared and to have an idea of what you're going to say. Don't memorize though. You don't wanna sound rehearsed. You want to come across as honest, sincere, and confident about your responses.
I read SDN and went over my essays. Remember not to memorize exactly what you want to say. Just know what you what to say and let it flow out naturally during the interview.
read up on sdn, re-read my app, researched the school, read current events in health/pharmacy, practiced questions, made a list of experiences/extracurriculars/qualities that i wanted to incorporate/highlight
studentdoctor forums, read the school website and just made up mock interview questions...prepared for the most general and basice questions...like the ones i mentioned above
just thought about the ins and outs of the pharmacy i volunteered at, thought of some common questions they might ask, read up some industry mags to get a feel for controverail and important issues relating to pharm, and read up on my undergrad research.
I re-read my PharmCAS personal statement and the USC supplementary application. I brushed up a bit on current issues in pharmacy by reading websites online and the SDN PharmD forum.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and welcoming attitude of the faculty, staff, and students at the school. They appreciated the organized and relaxed interview process, the emphasis on networking and community, and the pride and enthusiasm displayed by current students. Suggestions included continuing to emphasize the school's positive atmosphere and maintaining the high level of support and friendliness for future applicants.
It was very organized and I was able to speak to faculty, alumni, and current students.
the integrated style of their school-large degree of collaboration with students of other medical disciplines, also how happy everybody seemed who was already admitted at the school
Friendliness of staff and students! P1's talked to you in groups before your session starts and it's very relaxing! They tell you about their journeys in pharmacy and were really helpful with all our questions. Most of them thought they weren't going to get in but they were probably just saying that so we can relax..but it worked :)
When you arrive there is a bunch of current Pharmacy strudents waiting to talk to you. TALK TO THEM! Dont just sit there to help you. They are really friendly and are there. Also before you do your interview you get a chance to talk to the dean who is really cool and helps make you laugh. He really calmed me down.
The interviewers were not intimidating. They were amicable. It seemed as if they really just wanted to get to know you and see how much of your passion for the profession can be conveyed in the interview.
First-year students were in the lobby to chat with you before the interview and answer any questions you had. They were very friendly and went up to you (as opposed to you having to find them). Also, the interviewers were very friendly and did not interrogate me at all. They were there to also tell you about the program and what they had to offer.
The level of professionalism of students, the eagerness of pharm students in networking with me, the helpfulness of the students, the enthusiasm of the students
How friendly the faculty, pharmacy students, and fellow interviewees were. Interview was not too long or too short, although it did move along quickly.
The school gives you many opportunities to speak to current students and learn about the program. Also the presentation before the interview was very helpful,
I was very stressed but once you go there they take care of that. By the time of your interview, you are stress free and my faculty interviewer was really nice.
Lots of school spirit. They emphasize how much more they were getting out of their education than, say, people going to the UCs. But I guess you get what you pay for, right?
The students involvment. Right when you get there, there were a lot of students there talking to you and trying to calm you down. It made me feel very welcomed and not as stressed out. Everyone is very friendly and are trying to get to know you.
Both interviewers were very friendly. The students that went to the school seemed to enjoy being there. The teachers all seemed personable and caring about the students there.
EVERYTHING. damn, who knew people could be so nice. the interviewers were so nice like-a you wouldn't believe. wow. i just had a ball talking to the faculty member and the student interviewer; it was a great experience and i wish all schools were as cool as USC. that's why i want to be a TROJAN MAN. ya damn right.
student volunteers were very friendly and happy to be there; coordinators gave a group pep-talk beforehand to relax us and give last-minute interview tips; also had us all introduce ourselves to break the ice
both the faculty member and the 2nd year student who interviewed me were very very nice. They really just wanted to get to know you and find out who you really are. Just be yourself and be confident and dont let them know that you're nervous on the inside. Both of them take on a great pride as a USC member, and its very infectious.
The students were very friendly, seemed to be genuinely content, and not competitive at all. The students, along with the staff, try to make you feel as welcomed as possible. There is a lot of pride behind USC.
Everyone was extremely nice and helpful in making you feel welcome and less anxious about the interview. Lots of emphasis on the importance of network.
The entire process was very organized. Pharm students were there an hour before our scheduled time to mingle with us. The Director of Admissions even spent ~20 minutes with us to give us an overview/pep talk. There were so many students involved in the process and they were all volunteers who chose to take time out of their schedule to be with us.
The faculty were very informal. USC really takes care of it's students and the students love their school. Lots of Trogan pride. Also, there's a commitment to community service. I happened to be on campus a day early and the School of Pharmacy was holding a Kid's Day event. Also, the Chairman of Admissions gave us a pep talk so we would be less stressed out prior to the interview.
my interviewees were very nice. While you were waiting, there were pharmacy students mingling, telling u to relax. A very encouraging inspirational pep talk before the process begins by a faculty member.
The number of pharmacy students available to talk to the interviewees and the pride that these students had in their school. Also, they tried to make the interviewees as comfortable as possible.
the students and the director are very friendly and helpful. the school is very big on the whole networking. overall, the school and the students were great.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the location of the school, the surrounding area, the rushed nature of the interview process, lack of a formal tour, and a perceived lack of engagement from interviewers and current students. Suggestions include providing more time for interviews, offering comprehensive campus tours, and ensuring a more welcoming and informative experience for candidates.
They built up the interview to be a conversation and very relaxed but the interviewer was very hard to read and it was more professional than just a normal conversation. I definitely could not tell how the interviewer liked my answers and honestly I don't know how I did. I'm hoping for the best!
The area around USC wasn't that great, the parking cost, no tour, the feeling of being rushed during the interview, the cocky attitude of some of the students
The interview was supposed to be 20 min long, but my interviewers were extremely unprofessional and very rude. Unfortunately, I am one of the few who had a bad interview experience. It's really about luck- who you get as your interviewer. Before my interview, the faculty member and graduate student had their own side conversation and did not acknowledge me even though I tried to join the conversation. Then before I knew it, my interview was rushed and it was only 15 minutes long.
They did not let me ask questions in the end, due to time. When the graduate student walked me to my essay after the interview, she caught me offguard by asking me why I would even consider USC over UCSF and UCSD. When I answered, she seemed not to care about what I had to say. The interview gave me a really bad impression of the students/faculty that make up this university.
they didnt' really give a tour on the day of the interview. but i got one an info session previously. also didnt try to give us any info regarding the school...but i guess everything is online...
It has nothing to do with the school but I was just so surprised at how many students had already finished their undergrads. I was wondering if anyone just went to pharmacy school right out of college anymore.
interview itself was only 20 minutes, and my interviewers had a timer so they only asked me questions for 15 minutes and gave me 5 minutes to ask them questions. I felt it was too short for them to get to know me.
Current students greeted us, but I felt it was forced. Professor I interviewed with was really tearing apart any answers i gave. Also, whenever I would look him in the eye, he would look away ( a twitch maybe?)
Very rushed, only 2.5 hours long, no Tour, very impersonal. I suggest you take out a few moments of your own time after the interview session and tour the facilities yourself.
Some pharmacy students present at the question and answer session seemed like they had better things to do. It made me wonder if they wanted to be there or if they were forced to be there.
the student interviewer and faculty interviewer seemed very rude. The student pulled out his cellphone from his pants pocket at the end of the interview and looked at the time to say it's over. The faculty member kept looking at me like I was a liar and seemed offended when I asked him a question. It felt more like an interrogation.
How fast the interview was. My interviewers seem not interested in my talk and don't want to be there. They worried about 20 min time frame so much that they were cleaning up the desk while I was talking.
The other applicants. So many stereotypical A-type overstressed "pre-meds" (even though it was for pharmacy). It made me not want to go to USC if these would be my future classmates. Where are the "well-rounded" applicants that actually have people skills?
The fact that there wasn't a tour of the campus. I would have liked to be able to konw what buildings were what. Also, the interview was incredibly short. It seemed like it was only 5 minutes long.
The tuition is tough to swallow. I didn't get to meet Matt Leinart or Reggie Bush, which really disappointmed me. I thought they'd be there to welcome me. Damn.
the location...and personally, I thought the whole emphasis on networking was too much for me...it seemed like they turned the pharmacy profession into business! (well, partly it is but I was looking for something more sincere...well, I mean this is LA so I guess that's how it is- no offense to LA people-I live in LA as well)
i did not like the way a professor and a student, which sit next to me, interview me. I feel very arkward talking to one person and forgot that the student is sitting next to me.
the actual interview was unprofessional, uncomfortable, and extremely stressful (see comments). the essay section, although easy, is not an adequate assessment of writing skills or critical thinking abilities
the writing test screwed me over. Like I summarized it but like not completely in my own words so they'll probably like dock me off a whole lotta points for not following instructions. follow directions people!!!
The interview was very brief. You have to sell yourself in a very short amount of time. There was also no time for a tour. The whole day seemed rushed.
I did not like the essay portion - I don't know it was just weird to me! They give you a paragraph and give you 5 minutes to take notes on it - BUT the sheet you take notes on has ten lines on it and you can only write 5 words on each line (weird?). Then they take away the paragraph and you have 15 minutes to state the main point(s) and summarize the paragraph (you could not add new ideas). I wasn't sure how much I was supposed to write from a 6-7 sentence paragraph. :-(
how unhappy the current pharm. d students seemed. All they do is study and don't ever seem to socialize. If you just want to be studying all the time, then this school if for you. Plus the essay structure was very different in that you didn't write an essay answering a question. You had to read a paragraph from an article and then summarize it in a matter of 20 minutes. I did not like this at all because the article did not even make much sense to me and I had no real time to work on it.
the area around the health sciences campus is really ghetto. by ghetto i mean not one half-decent neighborhood to live in anywhere nearby. anywhere. and a far cry from UCSF and UCSD's hip and happenin locations. especially UCSF's with all those cool restaurants and neighborhoods nearby and the GREAT view of the GG bridge. why couldn't they have at least built this at the main campus?
My interviewer was somewhat cold and made some comments that bordered on rude. The whole "Trojan Pride" thing was very strong and almost intimidating. The campus is small and surrounded by a marginal neighborhood.
Many applicants wished they had known ahead of time about the short duration of the interviews, the importance of being concise in their answers, and the relaxed atmosphere of the interview process. Suggestions included bringing mints, preparing for a brief writing sample, and not overstressing about the process. It was also recommended to be clear and concise in responses, arrive early but not too early, and ensure a good night's sleep before the interview.
The "classic" style interview was limited to 10 minutes. I ran out of time answering the last question.
The professor cuts you off if you start answering a question too long. They want you to be very brief but thorough and concise in your supporting examples/answers.
The location of the campus was hard to find if you don't know the area well. There were no signs on where the pharmacy building is, so I walked around the medical campus for a good 10 minutes before I found out where everyone was.
Well it didnt really affect me but I think that you should not get there too early. I didnt know there was going to be interview sessions before and after me. So if you are there too early you get to see all those people cycle through and it will make you nervous and feel overwhelmed. I talked to this guy and he said he had seen three cycles before our interview and he was so nervous it was ridiculous.
That they were going to ask me specific questions about my experience working at a pharmacy. The faculty interviewer grilled me on that one. she kept on saying, ''oh, volunteering there for a summer is not that long....so it was only 2 months.. blah blah.''
Take the questions seriously even if they are easy because a lot depends on your answers. Also remember that the competition is tough ''up your game.'' GOOD LUCK!
I was really nervous the night before the interview!! But, remember you will do fine. If I can do it and get accepted, you can too! Please be confident in yourself.
That all the PharmD students/faculty members were really nice and laid-back...I was really nervous before going in but the presentation before the interview helped a lot. I was stress-free by the time I met up with my student interviewer...the entire interview process seemed like one big conversation...and 20 minutes were done before I knew it.
That the LA freeway system can be intimidating. The 10 east doesn't specify itself as east, so if you're heading North on the 5, take the second 10 that you see. Oh, and don't stress too much boys and girls. There will invariably be a tough interview or two out of the whole interview group, but almost all the students I chatted with after were very satisfied by how easy-going the interview was.
I can't emphasize enough how important sleep is. Make sure you get a good night's sleep before your interview. All of your preparation will be pointless if you can't think straight. Trust me.
rumor has it that you're not supposed to incorporate anything in your essay that wasn't found in the original passage you read. i didn't know about it but still got in. so i don't know how true this rumor is.
The interview days is really short and structured and there is nothing to do in the immediate area of the school afterwards. I would have booked an earlier flight home.
Applicants generally found the interview process at USC to be less stressful and more relaxed than expected. They emphasized the importance of being oneself, preparing well, appearing confident, and engaging in conversations during the interview. Some mentioned feeling rushed during the day, while others highlighted the friendly and welcoming atmosphere created by faculty and students.
My interview was open file, they have read through it and I saw marks and comments. They asked some questions based on my essays but asked their follow up questions based on my responses. My interviewers were so friendly, I had a faculty member and a 2nd year student. We went off topic and it was very conversational. They rushed at the end because of our side conversations and had to ask some last minute questions to fill out on their evaluation sheet. They were just awesome and I wasn't nervous at all. Don't stress out too much and to be yourself.
USC was my first interviewing experience ever, and it was nerve racking. I had a professor who was not a pharmacist, so that threw me off from the beginning. The interview felt really rushed, and I felt that I wasn't able to tell everything about myself and give a full evaluation. The student lounge was great since we got to talk to first year students who knew the program and was able to tell us how it was. There was a welcoming seminar where they tried to get us to relax, but I felt that it made everyone more nervous since for most of us, we were the first group to go for the USC interview. It made me more nervous. Everything felt extremely rushed during the day, and I didn't like the atmosphere that some of the students provided. I felt that there was some cockiness for going to USC, which is good, but I don't like it shoved up my face about it. Other than that, USC is a good school.
Very efficient process. 2 hours long. Chatted with first years cause I came ~half hour early. Short intro by admissions director. 20 minute interview. 5 minutes to read article, 15 minutes to summarize it. Q&A with the 3rd years. Biggest thing I learned from my interview experience was that the student body involvement is huge and you can make a ton of connections while you're there. Biggest advice: be prepared for all the common questions and know yourself/background well, so you can focus on appearing confident, talkative, and happy to be there.
none. Just be yourself and relax! Pharmacy school isn't the only thing in life! If you can relax and talk like you are having an intellectual conversation, then you are good!
Overall it was a great interview experience. Everyone (the faculty and students) make you feel really welcome, like you belong there. The students do a good job of selling the school, and they are very helpful with all questions!
Strong pharmacy program, obviously academically difficult. Was told 5% of student fail classes-overwhelming first two years. Very nice to see that USC places externships near your home or on your driving route to school. Classes begin sharp at 8AM (pop quizzes daily), mandatory attendance, very strong push for all students to participate in pharmacy related groups and community outreach.
Everyone in that time slot will have the interview at the same time with different interviewers. Well, I was fortunate to have 2 interviewers who were super nice and I felt I did really well. Afterward, the writing prompt was given. I felt that I did horrible on the writing portion b/c I didn't finish it. However, I think the writing portion is to see if you can write plain English and following direction. Therefore, the interviewers determine if you get in or not b/c I was accepted. =)
The students and the professors seem cool. The dean is funny. The interview had very low stress. Maybe because I winged it, I did not feel nervous and did alright just by being myself.
i thought i would for sure get rejected from usc b/c my gpa is not stunning nor am i am a very competitive applicant (almost all the interviewees were from ucla)...i also thought this was my worst interview compared to the other school interviews i attended--I felt my interviewer did more of the talking than I did...so honestly--i really don't know how i got in...i felt like i totally got lucky on this one :P
my interview was worse than any other interview i had for pharm school, and i had several. i also busted out a horrible joke to break the ice and i really regret it. they laughed but i wished i hadn't been so chummy. the interview was more like a conversation so it flowed pretty well, but it feel like they were playing good cop-bad cop with me. also, the writing portion was tougher than other schools. it's after the interview so it made me even more nervous. i assumed i wouldnt get accepted, but i got in!! i found out a week ago... ;0). Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to the maddness. you just have to keep your fingers crossed.
The school is great people say it isn't worth the big name but I definetly disagree. Everyone was very warm and it made the experience enjoyable for me.
Overall process was no more than 2.5 hrs. I like how it was brief and got straight to the point. No tour given and i dont think the tours should be mandatory. Try walking around for 30 min in heels!!! no thanks.
My interview was at 9 am. parking around that time was easy and cheap. If you park on the streets it's only 25 cents for 1 hour (and the meter takes dimes and nickels) so don't park in the parking structure which is $6 or $8. the building was easy to find and they served us coffee, water, and hot chocolate. Then you get to chill and talk to other fellow interviewees and current students. An orientation is given by Jim who is so funny and charismatic. He really calms you down. Then students come in to take you to your interview room which is upstairs in the faculty offices. After the interview is the essay portion which is just to summarize an article. 4 students then come in for q&a. You can then leave or stick around to ask the students more questions.
It was a lot more relaxing and stress-free than I expected. You first go into a room where one of the faculty (Jim Granderson) just talks to you about what is going to happen during the day. After some introductions, the first-years show you to your interviewers. I didn't really believe what people wrote when they said that their interview was like a conversation, but I can tell you it really was. During the interview, I was only asked about four questions. The rest of the time, we just built upon what I said or what they said. But this really depends on the interviewers you get, which is out of your control. After that, you go back downstairs to write your essay. Then some students come into the room to answer any questions you have. Overall, it took about 2 hours.
My faculty interviewer and student interviewer were very nice. The entire interview was a normal conversation. Behave casual and confident and you will be fine.
It's always going to be nerve wrecking when you interview so just accept that but at the same time, prepare yourself so that you will be ready for any question that might come your way. Remember that they just really want to get to know you so you want to present yourself confidently and in the best light possible using your accomplishments. This is not the time to be modest...tell them what you've done and what you plan to do in the future. It might just secure you a seat in this very tight competition. May the force be with you..j/k. Good luck!
It was okay, the professor I interviewed with didn't make it easy. He really picked me apart during the interview. And I had trouble maintaining eye contact when he would always look away while i'm talking.
This was my first interview and it was nice. I seemed to connect a bit with the interviewer. I had a lot to talk about with my research, and he grilled me on it for quite some time. After he knew that I had an interview at UCSF, that was when things got a bit interesting. He began talking about his experience in San Francisco and how he graduated there with his Pharm.D/Ph.D. It seemed that there was nothing that I could say to convince him that I would choose USC, and it seemed like he was encouraging me to go there after I was done responding with my intent to go to USC. Overall, my interview experience was much better than I could have imagined.
The only suggestion that I want give to future interviewees is that you shouldn't be so nervous. You're there to advertise yourself to the staff and student so that they can recommend you to the admission committee. So if you're nervous, it's not going to help you. I would also recommend that you should know yourself VERY well. Know how to draw examples from your personal life and relate that to their questions (when it's possible). Lastly, remember to SMILE.:-) Try not to be so tense.
stayed at friend's apartment, 30 minute drive to school, parked on biggy street (surprisingly cheap 25 cents per hour), got there at around 8 a.m., P1 student greeters made calmed me down by talking to me, answered most of my questions about curriculum, etc. My interview was at 9 a.m., the admissions officer gave a 20 minute spiel about the school and what we were to do that day. Went to interview which lasted 20 minutes, went to take a timed essay (20 minutes), 20 minute pharm student Q and A, done
Ok candidates, I am a sc graduate, class of 04 and I want to let all of you guys know that sc is a good school but it is starting to change. I hate to see people thinking sc is what it used to be in the 90s. San Diego will be what sc was many years ago. I still love sc but you guys need to know there are other options. I have to give credit to the ones who are aware of the hype, but all schools have pride in themselves. In the real world once you get your license, it does not matter where you graduated from. So just have fun with it.
ok, the faculty interviewer was in a bad mood from the start and the student just wanted to get it over with. It sux because i thought they would care more about the applicants, but it seemed like they just wanted to get it over with. my friend experienced the same thing.
This was my first interview so I was initially very nervous, but there really is no reason to be nervous. My best advice is to remember to be confident in yourself; there's a reason why they ask you to come interview with them. Overall, the faculty and student interviewers were really nice. They basically asked me questions regarding the 300 word essay I wrote. It's a great school and I'm happy to say I got in!!
The env't was relax. The interview was more of a conversation and not an interrogation. Keep that in mind when coming up with your responses b/c in between your responses, the interviewers might make a comment or ask another question. The essay was a simple summary. 5 mins to read and take notes and 15 mins to write.
Surprisingly great experience. I was pretty nervous when I first got there, but the faculty and students tried hard to ease all the interviewees' nerves. The interview itself was more like a conversation than an interview. The interviewers seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say and were willing to share about their USC experiences.
it was short interview.. i was less nervous than i expected.. Also, my interviewers was very friendly..
also, essay part also seemed ok.. don't worry about it!!!
very nice. after talking with other applicants and current pharmacy students before the interview, your nervous level can really drop from 10 to 6. very helpful to go early to experience this.
I want to go to USC because it's close to home and this is the only interview I got so far. I think all Pharm schools are good though. For the interview, just be yourself and dress professionaly. Try not getting sick like me. For the writing, just summarize the article- DO NOT GO INTO INTEPRET AND TALK ABOUT WHATU THINK OR HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT IT.
the interview was way too short. I didn't like how my interviewer asked me science-based questions.
Overall I did not get a good impression of the school.
If you wanna chat with current students arrive early. People hangging out in the lobby. Mostly p-1 studnets. Be confidant when you get there. It has a lot to do with how you deliver your answers. In the nicest most humble way, BE CONFIDANT. (yeah, a bit oxymoronic but you get the idea). Be nice to evryone, you never know who you will run into in the hall, lobby, or parking lot. It might be the person that inteviews you. It happened to me! And if you know people at the school already then name drop if you can beacuse the interviewers propbably know them. The interview will go by SOOOO fast so make sure you know exactly what points you want to highlight before you go in.
About 2 hours total. Brief welcome/intro from an extremely un-PC (can you say sexual harrassment?) man named Jim. 20 minute 2-on-1 interview, 20 minutes writing sample, 20 minutes Q&A with students. I was disappointed there was no tour.
asked current usc students questions, was calmed down a bit by the dean's welcome talk, was led into a tiny room to be interviewed, took the written test which was to write a summary of an article, finished off by asking more questions to current students. all within 2 hours.
I had a great time. USC does a great job of presenting the school and all the great oppurtunities it has for pharmacy students. They also have a great group of faculty and students.
Arrive early because there are students to chat with before the interview. There is also punch and cookies available also. They then seat the first group if students in a room, where they talk to you about how the day is going to play out. Then your interviewer comes in the room and personally escorts you to a faculty office where the interview wil take place. After that, you go to a big room where you take the written part of the interview. Then current USC studets come in and answer any of your questions. I felt like I did terrible, but I got accepted out of the first batch.
the interview went by too fast, the woman interviewer kept cutting me off and asking different questions, and the student interviewer kept writing notes. Grrr...
In a word...it was fun. I expected it to be stressful, but it wasn't...just talk to the interviewers as though you were talking to someone you knew. Everyone seemed very cheerful and helpful there.
It went by quickly. The interviewer seemed uninterested in what I had to say. I was the last of 6 interviews that he had to conduct so he was tired. It seemed unfair for the student present to be leaning her head on her palm. They were both unwelcoming and discouraging.
USC was overall the best interview experience I had (and it was my first)! The current students are there to talk to you before you are called in, also the talk from Jim was very informational and calming. My interviewers weren't intimidating at all (they were super friendly), and wanted to know more about me. Essay wasn't difficult, just a summary.
Overall I was very impressed with the enthusiasm of the students. The interview was very organized there was a set of questions to be asked. If weird questions are asked, don't get nervous just be yourself and asnwer it as best as you can (they want to see how you can handle pressure). Good luck!
I was unfortunate to have interviewers who were either too shy or too indifferent to light up the atmosphere. I constantly worried about the quality of my answers because my interviewers appeared just trying to get this over with. I wished I had someone else to interview me.
The professor and the student who interviewed me were very nice and were always supportive of my answers to their questions, even offering their own opinions. I felt like they made a sincere effort to understand what I was trying to communicate to them even though I was debilitatingly nervous the whole time and was embarrassingly inarticulate.
Pretty lax, though my student interviewer didn't seem very friendly. They alternated questions, and at times it seemed the student had a script to follow (she asked questions that I had already answered clearly in another response). The interview is preceded by a talk by the dean of admissions and followed by an informal student panel. The experience lasts about 2-2.5 hours overall.
Overall it was a very pleasant experience! The interviewers made me feel very comfortable so though I was very very nervous I was able to perform my best. I felt it was a little rushed but otherwise it was great! The whole emphasis on networking and communication though...I dunno, I don't really buy it.
very good, relaxed because there were students out front to greet all interviewees, however rushed when it came to the actual interview portion although rushed, it was not stressful or a tough interview at all. faculty and student were very nice.
I thought the overall experience went well. I arrived just in time, almost missed it because of traffic so that added to my stress. I was actually embaressed because I live in LA and I should know how bad the traffic is. I commented on the traffic issue which lead nicely into my living in the westside and attending UCLA. Pretty cool way to start bragging about yourself. I applied last year, didnt get in to a good school so applied again. The major difference this year was BRAGGING, DESIRE, LEADERSHIP, and USC FOOTBALL. I actually did the same at 6 other school interviews and was accepted to every school. Interesting enough the majority of the time we talked about USC football which was a better topic to relax and talk about. It worked out because in 4 weeks i got my acceptance, but I will always be cheering on UCLA to beat USC!
I feel that the students at USC are really optimistic in general. When the students finish with the interview, we went to a room to talk to pharmacy students. I feel the students asked really dumb questions (such as, where to go to eat, party, downtown, clubs and organizations). OKKK, do all of them think that they did get accept to USC. What is the cahnce of getting to the school (20%). I don't really care now since i am thinking of NOT applying to pharmacy schools any more because too MANY people are applying. I am going to do my MS in Biochemistry then maybe switch to Podiatric or Dental. PHARMACY SUCKS
overall my interview experience at usc was great, better than at any other schools i interviewed. my interviewers were the most friendly people i've ever met. one was a current student and the other was a professor of pharmacology and toxicology and the assoc. dean of graduate studies. i was glad he was my interviewer cuz i got all my questions about usc's pharmd program answered. my interview went well... went overtime too, and everyone has to wait for me to start the essay, felt kinda bad about that.. but hey, I got in! =)
I had a great experience there. I felt I could ask the students anything since these are not the same students that will interview you. The Dean is super nice and seems to really look out for the students. The faculty and student that I interviewed with were very friendly and didn't really grill me. I felt we were just talking and they genuinely were trying to see if we were a match for each other. After the interview, I felt that this was a great school, with a good reputation, and that it would teach me what I need to know to become a great pharmacist. Luckily, I got my acceptance letter 4 weeks later
Everything was very organized. Arrive a 10 minutes early in order to get a chance to talk to the students/teachers there. After you check-in, you are led to another room where the Admissions director talks to you about what the interview process entails. He was very good at making jokes and calming people's nerves. After this talk, current pharmacy student interviewers came in and led us away one by one to a different room where your faculty interviewer was waiting. They interviewed me for about 20-25 minutes. They were very organized and had specific questions written down that they wanted to ask. They were also very friendly and approachable. After the interview, I went back downstairs to another room where I took the written test. The written test is very simple - basically read a small paragraph and summarize its content. Overall, the experience was a good one and I went away feeling that I shouldn't have been as nervous as I was going in.
it was a pleasant atmosphere overall. no one really makes you nervous except the really high-strung interviewees...oh lawd...there were so many of them. just be cool and take it easy cuz that was the best interview i've ever had
Well, I had the EARLY interview at 8:30am. At first we were in the lobby, but moved to a room because it was warmer. Then we had someone talk to us about the whole interview process and what we should expect. He was just trying to make everyone relax, which was a good thing. After about 20 minutes of the intro, there were 24 student interviewers, EACH assigned with the 24 students in the first interview group. As my student interviewer got me, we went to the faculty's room and there it began. It was pretty much laid back, seemed as though I had control of the interview because they rarely asked any questions directly, and just wanted me to ask them questions. That lasted about 20 minutes, and then I was placed back into the same room where I started from, and you wait until all the other students interviewed at that same block time to finish. Afterwards, we read a short paragraph and summarize it. Then we had a Q&A period which doesn't count for anything, so at that point, the interview was already over. Overall, it wasn't as bad as I expected, but anything can happen.
While everyone at USC (including my interviewers) were very friendly, my interview experience was overall a negative one. I was asked to sit in between my 2 interviewers in a very small office so that, when answering their questions, I always had my back to one while facing the other. I was therefore constantly looking back and forth between the two, an uncomfotable set up. Throughout my interview, the professor was coughing profusely leading me to wonder if he/she was actually hearing anything I said. Also, the computer facing the professor had an instant messaging program on and IMs were occassionally popping up and making dinging noises. It was very unprofessional. The questions were fair, but many of the follow-up questions made me feel like they were attacking me (i.e. well, why didn't you do this? or that?). Sometimes I would give an answer only to be shot down with a "Yea, but..." I basically did not get much positive feedback and being naturally nervous did not help either. However, even though I felt like my interview went horribly, I ended up getting accepted soon after (and I have a relatively low GPA). So I'm pretty sure the interviewers just want to see how you react to tough situations and that you can keep your composure. Have confidence in your answers despite what reactions you get from your interviewers.
very nervous even though I know I shouldn't have been, especially when it was almost my turn for the interview. But I gradually felt better as the interview progressed because the interviewers weren't that scary...hehe...also, i got to talk to some of the faculty and students after the interview...very nice people
Overall, the interview was pretty easy going. Everyone was friendly and the structure of the interview was very organized. Make sure you are just summarizing the paragraph for the written part and not commenting on it.
The process was nice and quick. Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the interview so you can talk to current students 1-on-1. There is a brief history of the school which is relaxing because it is explained that the interview is to see if you fit with USC and if USC fits with you. There were only 4 guys in our group of around 30-40. The student walks you to the room where a faculty member is waiting. The interview is supposed to be 20 minutes but we got to chatting and ended up talking for 40! oops! It was extremely casual, they just wanted to know about me and were enthusiastic about their program. After the interview we went and waited to write our summary paragraph, I was a little nervous at first but found it to be pretty easy. Then some of the student leaders stuck around to ask questions...all in all it took about 2 hours and was a pleasant experience!
The interview itself wasnt as nerve wrecking as I had thought it would be. As long as you totally dont make up the answers, then you'll be fine...cos then they might just backfire on you and ask about that specific sentence you just mentioned. Just be yourself, be honest, be confident. The interviewers were just cool about everything. They're there to get to know you, since its closed file and everything.
It was a good day at USC. I had gotten there fairly early, so it gave me some time to chat with USC students. This was very helpful in calming me down because they kept repeating how the interview is a very laidback process. 25 of us were then taken into a small auditorium where the head of admissions gave us a pep talk and explained the admissions process. Basically, only about 40 people from our interview pool of 150 will get accepted. Everyone else is either waitlisted until the end of the interview process in March or rejected. This was followed by a brief interview with a faculty member and a current student. Like I said before, they asked basic questions to get to know you. I was extremely surprised by how relaxed the interview process was, although it may depend on the faculty member who interviews you. The interview was followed by a 20-minute essay portion, in which you summarize a paragraph in your own words. After that, students answered your questions about the school. Then you were free to go. It was a very brief process.
The head of admission gives you a brief pep talk to try and make you relax. Then you interview for about 20 minutes with a student and faculty member. The last part is the writing portion. It asks you to summarize a short reading. Overall, it was an okay experience.
They first give you an orientation, then they have an interview (20min) and then they let you write the essay. The essay was really easy- you just basically summarize a paragraph. The students and the faculty really try to calm you down.
awesome. the interview's really supposed to be 20 minutes long but it was mainly just a chitchat that we lost track of time and ended up being 35-40 minutes and then the professor gave me a tour. i just got my acceptance letter so I'm going there for fall 2005 unless other schools want me (it's still early in the application process).
First, there was an intro session that explained what was expected to happen during the interview process. Then, there was a 20 minute interview with a faculty member and student. The writing portion was next, followed by a question and answer session led by students.
I learned a great deal about the program. It is a great school. I don't know about their interview process though. They could make some improvement. The interview was too short!! I felt like they were rushing me. I wish I have more time to response to their questions. I wished they asked me more questions. I feel like I didn't have enuff time to sell myself. Be prepare to sell yourself in less than 10 minutes!! don't leave out anything!
It was a really great experience, all of the faculty and students were really open about their experiences and helpful in answering all of my questions!
Overall a very positive experience. One thing that struck me was that they accept 15 to 20 applicants from each interview pool right off the back based on their interviews. That's awesome. If you're a great interviewer then its good for you. USC also goes by a point system. And if you get a later interview date, it doesn't mean you less qualified. Every pool gets the same opportunity.
The people are very nice and friendly. They really try to make the students relaxed and create a warm environment. In the beginning of the process, they tell you everything about the process so that there are no surprises.
I get very stressed out so it was stressful for ME, but overall it was not difficult. I was lucky to have very nice interviewers. We basically had a conversation (at one point I was referring her to a place her kids might like to go to in their spare time). Remember, the professor AND the student are grading you so pay attention to the student too! I was told to ask questions beforehand so I made sure to ask them a few.
The actual interview with the professor and the 1st year pharmacy student was not too bad. They were nice and I just had to talk about myself. What I was not happy with was how the students seemed very unhappy and very overworked. No one really seemed to know each other and they just seemed distant. The school had a lot of pride that got a bit old after a while as they kept trying to say how better USC was than UCLA when frankly I didn't really care.
USC would be the ideal school if:
1. it was about 25,000/yr cheaper
2. it was in a better neighborhood with more things to do (witout feeling scared)
3. it was a lot cheaper!
Overall though, the interview went okay. not great not bad. at the end of the interview, my friends said they were complimented on having a good interview and i was scared because i wasn't complimented. but in the end, i got in, they didnt. so dont worry. be yourself (or at least be cheerful) and know more than the general and obvious about pharmacy.
There is a 20 minute orientation, quick interview, a 20 minute writing sample which is very straightforward, then 20 minutes to ask questions of current students.
It is a blind interview so the interviewer does not know anything about you. Make sure to state the obvious-what school you attended, what's your major, why you want to be a pharmacist, what attracts you to USC.
I did not really get much of an impression about the school because the day was so short. I saw nothing that really sold me on it though and given the price I probably would not go there if I got into a UC school. If you want to be in L.A. it is a great place to be and they have good combined degree program offerings.
very relax but like i mentioned but a bit of a rush... so i don't really know how i did on the interview. the essay was okay because i just summarized one short paragraph about a syndrome. great school and very very friends people...
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest that the admissions office should increase the time allotted for interviews, include a campus tour, consider scheduling breaks for restroom visits, and extend the deadline for the deposit. Many also appreciated a warm and friendly welcome from the admissions team.
Definitely increase the time for the classic interview. There wasn't nearly enough time to answer all the questions thoroughly, let alone time to ask questions. Also, although there are a lot of students interviewing per day, the blocked group schedule definitely puts students who interview later in the day at a disadvantage because you are mentally fatigued from all the Q&A sessions.
