Chicago, IL
Pharmacy Schools | Public Non-Profit
AI Advisor
Ask questions about this school. Answers use aggregated data and are subject to error.
👋
Hi there! How can I help?
Going on an interview at UIC-PHARM? Add your feedback to help others!
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
8.2
Above Average
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 235 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 (85%)
Negatively (4%)
No change (12%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (44%)
Good (37%)
Average (14%)
Poor (5%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the interview process at the school to be relaxed and conversational, with a focus on behavioral questions tailored to their experiences. They appreciated the friendly environment, advice from current students, and the opportunity to showcase their skills and abilities, while some suggested being prepared to discuss their experiences and staying calm during the interview.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
-
It was an okay school and I wish I could get in.
-
Superior pharmacy program than most, however, ugly and dull looking buildings. In the middle of the Illinois medical district though, which is pretty cool. In chicago, so places to eat, drink, and enjoy oneself is not limited
-
UIC may get back to you very quickly with an admissions decision.
-
A lot of situational questions. I felt like some of the questions weren't even clear to my interviewer. When I asked her to clarify one, she had to read over the question- she had a paper with the questions she was supposed to ask me. But she was very nice!
-
Relax. If you made it to the interview, you deserve to be a student there. Prove it to them. Have some experiences in the back of your mind to pull from when answering the questions. Don't overrehearse.
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
🕐
Length:
36 Minutes Average
🔄
Number:
1.4 Interviews Average
👥
Interview Type (Interaction):
96% One-on-One
4% Group Interview
📁
File Type:
7% Open-File
93% Closed-File
UIC-PHARM-COMP interviews are an average of 36 minutes, with an average of 1.4 interviews. 96% of interviews are one-on-one, and 93% are closed-file.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include scenario-based ethical questions, inquiries about handling stress and time management, personal motivations for pursuing pharmacy, and experiences working in groups or dealing with difficult situations. It appears that some respondents were subject to an MMI format, where questions are scenario-based, and may have been asked to adhere to a nondisclosure agreement.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
-
Scenario based
-
Ethical question based on a scenario
-
Behavior question on Ethics: you and your friends meet in a cafe weekly to discuss school problems. One week you are all working on a school paper which worth 35% of your grade, and one of the friends has the paper people who wrote it in the past and he send it to you and all other friends. what would you do in this situation?
-
Why did you choose pharmacy?
-
Identify a time when you were really stressed out and what you did about it.
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy discussed a wide range of topics, including teamwork in challenging situations, personal impact of sports, views on reincarnation, dealing with conflict in diverse settings, and handling stress. The interviews may have been in MMI format with some respondents mentioning nondisclosure agreements, while other common questions involved hobbies, favorite classes, and experiences demonstrating skills and interests outside of academics.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
-
My view on a situation
-
The communication skills test
-
Teamwork: if you work in a team in a inpatient clinic, and your teammate keeps leaving early because he said he had some personal problems. what would you do?
-
None
-
How have sports played a role/impacted your life?
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by utilizing resources such as Student Doctor Network (SDN) for interview feedback and sample questions, reviewing their personal statements and supplemental materials, researching the school, practicing answering behavior-based interview questions, and seeking mock interviews or feedback from peers. Many emphasized the importance of being themselves, reflecting on past experiences, and familiarizing themselves with the school and the pharmacy profession.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
-
Don't bother just go in open-minded
-
Watched a video about multiple mini interviews sent by the college of pharmacy.
-
SDN (which didn't help much because I didn't know about MMI). mock interview
-
SDN, learned about faculty at UIC....
-
Researched the school
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy discussed a variety of topics, including ethical dilemmas, conflicts in group settings, prejudice, stereotypes, and decision-making scenarios. Some responses mentioned a conversational tone to the questions, while others highlighted scenarios related to persuading a manager, dealing with non-participating group members, and disclosing psychiatric patients' medication records, indicating a diverse range of challenging inquiries.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
-
The production question
-
The ethical question
-
If you are working in a retail pharmacy store and there is a policy that ban tobacco containing drugs. you actually like the policy but your manager doesn't because he is worried about the money loss. how would you go to persuade him?
-
None
-
Tell me about a time you were prejudice and how it came back to impact you later.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness, enthusiasm, and helpfulness of the student ambassadors, faculty, and staff at the school. They appreciated the welcoming atmosphere, the informative tours, and the low-stress interview experiences that made them feel comfortable and supported throughout the process. Suggestions for improvement were minimal, with only a few outliers expressing no particular positive impression or interest in attending the school.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
-
The student ambassadors were very prepared for our questions
-
The student ambassadors who led the interview were very enthusiastic about the school and the MMI process was also very fun and impressive.
-
The tour of the school and the school is larger than I expected.
-
Admissions committee was too fast in letting me know that I got accepted in 3-4 hrs from the time of interview.
-
How short it was
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed negative feedback about the lack of personal attention during interviews, outdated facilities, lack of privacy during interviews, and inadequate campus tours due to unforeseen circumstances like a fire. Suggestions included improving the interview process to assess candidates' personalities, providing more detailed campus tours, and addressing issues with the facilities to enhance the overall experience for applicants.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
-
No lunch provided just water and chips!
-
The interview process doesn't evaluate the personality of the interviewees.
-
Nothing really, I was hoping to get into Chicago campus but got in at Rockford.
-
All classes were in one building
-
I had other questions afterwards for a counselor and she barely had time for me. I thought it was kind of rude.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interviews were more relaxed and informal than expected, with a focus on conversation rather than strict questioning. Many also mentioned the importance of not arriving too early, being prepared for potential weather changes, and being aware of specific details such as parking locations and the format of the interview.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
-
To not bother taking any purse with me and to eat first and not come too early.
-
MMI type of interview (make sure you know it!) They say there is no specific answers to each questions, but IN MY OPINION - THEY HAVE AN ANSWER THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. SO TO ME THERE IS A RIGHT ANSWER!!!! Also they don't publish their admission data online.
-
Nothing
-
The Rockford Campus is one buidling in the middle of a residential area in Rockford.
-
That it ended so early so i could have told my ride to wait outside
🤝 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 suggested that the admissions office should improve communication by providing more information before and after interviews, updating application statuses online, and giving clear instructions for interview logistics. Some also recommended an online supplemental application and enhancing the introduction to the school and program for applicants.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
-
Communicate with students after interviews don't become mute
-
Give an introduction of the school and program prior to having an interview. Sending emails regarding the interview process before the interview.
-
None, Keep up the good work.
-
Online supplemental application
-
Update application statuses via a UIC website for applicants
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
✈️
Midway
40% interviewees used Midway (Midway) , with 20% using MDW (MDW) and 20% using Chicago Midway (Chicago Midway) and 20% using united (united) .
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by automobile to the interview.
✈️
12% Airplane
🚗
66% Automobile
🚆
20% Train or Subway
🚲
2% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the UIC Marriott (average ranking 8/10), with some staying at Hilton Garden Inn (average rating 8/10). (Top 3 displayed)
🏨
UIC Marriott
8/10
🏨
Hilton Garden Inn
8/10
🏨
The Whyndham Blake
8/10
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 Friends or family or with friends or family.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
Admissions staff (13%)
Faculty member (8%)
Student (79%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (90%)
Neutral (10%)
All Responses
Loading responses...
Success!
School has been added to your favorites.