Los Angeles, CA
Pharmacy Schools | Private Non-Profit
Application Cycle: 2009-10
⭐ Overall Impressions
How did the interview impress you?
Negatively ☹️
What was the stress level of the interview?
9 out of 10
0 = Low Stress, 10 = High Stress
What are your general comments?
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.
💬 Interview Process
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
Why pharmacy? Why USC? Why should we pick you?
What was the most interesting question?
What are some challenges you foresee in the pharmacy profession and what solutions can you provide?
How did you prepare for the interview?
practiced with current pharmD student, read up on school
What was the most difficult question?
Why pharmacy? Why didn't you want to be a doctor? Why didn't you just go for a masters in pharmacology instead?
What impressed you positively?
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
What impressed you negatively?
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
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