Pocatello, ID
Pharmacy Schools | Public Non-Profit
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⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
7.9
Good
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 66 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.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
Positively (93%)
Negatively (7%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (58%)
Good (42%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants commonly mentioned the long and organized interview process involving multiple interviews, group discussions, and essay writing, which could be nerve-wracking but ultimately rewarding. Some feedback included suggestions for better scheduling, reducing downtime, and ensuring fair participation in group activities.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Meridian campus has lots of opportunities to work and go to school at the same time
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If you are invited to an interview, prepare for a long day! Although the interview process is well organized and lasts only half a day, you can expect an open file interview, a student group interview, an ethical question group discussion while being observed by ISU pharm students & faculty admissions personnel, and lastly writing an essay about the ethical question posed to your group. It was a grueling process. I'm not sure if it was because this was only my second interview that I was so nervous or if it was the newness of what to expect for the interview, but I was way nervous throughout the day.
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Interview with more than one school. find one that gives out early acceptance letters like the southern nevada (private) pharmacy school. that school is way to fucking expensive but do it anyway because going to the interview that really matters and being able to say that you have already been accepted elsewhere is a big bust. plus, that first interview is a good practice run for yourself. sounds like a lot of money for an extra interview but its certainly worth it. trust me. I got accepted into the program so i'm not blowing smoke up your ass.
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First I had an interview with two professors for 55 minutes. After that, I had a group interview with other applicants for 30 minutes. Then, we had 30 minutes a case-study discussion. Also, we got another one hour to write an eassy about our case study question. During discussion time, I felt a little bit nervous coz those pharm.D students were observing us. However, everything went very well. I got my accpetance letter after three weeks of my interview :) I am really going to the school since they have the resedency program that I want to practice!
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Overall it was a good experience. But I wish I didn't have to spend all day in Pocatello for an interview that only lasted a few hours.
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
44 Minutes Average
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Number:
2.6 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
38% One-on-One
62% Group Interview
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File Type:
69% Open-File
31% Closed-File
ISU-PHARM-COMP interviews are an average of 44 minutes, with an average of 2.6 interviews. 38% of interviews are one-on-one, and 31% are closed-file.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools encompassed inquiries regarding past experiences handling group members, motivations for choosing pharmacy and ISU, responses to ethical dilemmas, uniqueness compared to other applicants, dealing with challenging scenarios like an elderly customer missing medication, strengths and weaknesses, as well as aspects of the pharmacy profession. Some respondents also mentioned participating in an MMI format with a group discussion on moral/ethical situations and indicated a nondisclosure agreement may have been in place during the interview process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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In one of your past experiences, what did you do when one of your group members was slacking?
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Why ISU pharmacy?
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First of all, we had personal interviews with two faculty members that went for 30-40 mins. then we had a group interview with several other candidates as other students from the program watched. we had a few questions each and then we did a group discussion about a moral/ethical situation where there was no right or wrong answer, necessarily.
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Why pharmacy? Why ISU? What would you do if you don't get in? What other schools you applied to?
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What makes you stand out compared to the other three applicants we are interviewing today?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at Idaho State University College of Pharmacy discussed various scenarios like handling drug-related inquiries, ethical dilemmas, future career plans, and personal values. The interview format was not explicitly mentioned as MMI, but some responses indicated a structured approach, possibly involving nondisclosure agreements.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What would you do if a person with a previous drug history came to you and asked how to pass a drug test?
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Do you plan on working through graduate school?
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It was at a different school interview...what does it mean to be a professional
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Would you like to stay in the U.S or go back to your country after completing Pharm.D program?
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If a patient comes up to and says they want to commit suicide, what would be your actions?
How did you prepare for the interview?
Many applicants prepared for the interview by utilizing resources such as Student Doctor Network (SDN), reviewing common interview questions, and conducting mock interviews with friends or mentors to practice their responses. They emphasized the importance of being prepared for a variety of questions without memorizing answers to maintain authenticity during the interview.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Sdn
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SDN.
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There are several general question lists on the internet and i looked those over. many questions may seem ridiculous but do them anyway. if they never come up..ok..but they will still help you get your thoughts in order for other shit that may come your way. practice saying it to others, but don't memorize your answers otherwise they will sound rehearsed and certainly not genuine
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Surf ISU website, student doctor network
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SDN, read articles, searched common interview questions, talked with pharmacists I work with.
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult questions asked at Idaho State University College of Pharmacy discussed various scenarios such as handling ethical dilemmas, addressing personal qualifications beyond grades and compassion, and evaluating conflict resolution skills within a team setting. Additionally, some responses hinted at an MMI format with nondisclosure agreements, suggesting a structured interview approach with specific situational questions.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What do you look most forward to when you're a pharmacist? The least?
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None. If any it was from my resume. Anticipate any weaknesses that might be brought up for questioning from your resume. My interviewer noticed the details.
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What makes you qualified for this program? saying your grades or compassion is bullshit. everyone interviewing usually has good grades and compassion...come on...i would shred your application right then and there if you say shit like that. come up with something interesting...i want to advance the field of pharmacy because there are still some many opportunities and niches in pharmacy that could use development...and this would eventually help grow the world of pharmacy.. if you say this have and example or they will nail your ass faster than you can imagine...MTM for instance is a great. and as nice as my faculty interviewers were, there are also the other kinds. asking like "why do you belong here, why should we give you a chance, there are others so many others with better grades that we shouldn't waste our time"
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N/A
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Your best friend tells you they're cheating. What would you do?
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were impressed by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the school, where faculty and students were approachable and created a sense of teamwork and camaraderie. They appreciated the relaxed yet professional environment during interviews, as well as the promptness and thoroughness of the admissions process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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No cut-throat competition
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Pharmacy building is in great, easy location to find. ISU pharmacy faculty and students were very friendly and courteous.
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All my interviewers and students that I met are very nice and cool.
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Very relaxed atmosphere. Both interviewers seems enthusiastic about topics realating to the future of the pharmacy profession and the opportunities the field has to offer.
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Both interviewers seemed personable and nice.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly mentioned negative impressions such as long waiting times, disorganized schedules, lack of information or tours, and unfavorable weather conditions. Suggestions include providing better organization and communication during the interview process, more efficient scheduling to minimize waiting times, and offering campus tours to enhance the applicant experience.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Meridian Campus lacked research labs....
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There are a ton of one way streets by ISU. It was very confusing and different. The city architect planner totally failed!
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Most of the day was spent waiting around for the next thing to happen.
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The cold weather and water!!! I think their water has too much calcium deposit in it. :(
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Pocatello interview involved alot of waiting around
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known in advance about the competitive nature of the application process, including limited spots for out-of-state students and the importance of a strong application. They also expressed a desire for more information on the interview process and the school's history.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Tuition is increasing by 10% each year
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There are only a dozen or so slots for out of staters. ISU received over 400 applications for fall 2010, interviewed approx. 130 and accepted 70 total students. Therefore, in order to get accepted as an out of stater you need an over-the-top GPA including prereq. GPA along with strong recommendations, resume, and interview score.
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The structure of the interview process.
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There were no real surprises.
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They guarentee 50 spots to Idaho residents and so there are only 10 spots for out of state residents.
🤝 Campus and Facilities ▼
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How would you rate the Location and Cultural Life?
0 = Low, 10 = High
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.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest that the admissions office should improve response times to emails and encourage early submission of materials with professional editing assistance available. Additionally, streamlining the interview process, especially for specific campus locations, was a recurring recommendation.
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Prospective students appreciate when e-mails are responded to in a timely manner.
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Get your stuff in early and think about having a professional editor look at your personal statement
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Applicant applying for Meridian campus should be able to do group interview in Pocatello right away
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Consolidate interview process for Boise applicants.
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
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$ 700
100% interviewees used $ 700 ($ 700) .
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by automobile to the interview.
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17% Airplane
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75% Automobile
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0% Train or Subway
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8% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Comfort Inn (average ranking 7/10), with some staying at Best Western - Cottentree Inn (average rating 9/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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Comfort Inn
7/10
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Best Western - Cottentree Inn
9/10
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Campus Inn
7/10
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are in state students.
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
Other (18%)
Student (82%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (56%)
Neutral (44%)
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