How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
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How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
No responses
How did you prepare for the interview?
I reviewed my personal statement and practiced articulating my reasons for wanting to be a pharmacist with a friend.
What impressed you positively?
The proximity to Camden Yards and the football stadium, the massive hospital across the street from the Pharmacy school, and the pharmacy school itself - students and faculty included.
What impressed you negatively?
The price of living in Baltimore is high. Also, as soon as I got to my hotel, I walked around a bit and saw someone getting arrested. That could probably be seen in two ways, 1) that there's a good police presence, or 2) you have people around there doing bad things so you have to be smart in terms of where you go.
Oh, and a the cab driver scolded me for giving him a $20 bill to pay for a ride that was a little less than $7. I told him that I didn't know and I was from out of town, but he was really pissed off nevertheless, but was amazingly able to give me the difference back. I gave him a hefty tip to show my apreciation, and he was still yelling at me even as I was exiting the cab!
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
That hotels cost a lot- maybe even double that of other places- cab fare and restaurants as well. In all, I spent close to $400 that weekend.
What are your general comments?
To clarify my selections regarding the duration of the interview/number of interviewers/and the open or closed file question:
About 60 students were being interviewed this day. According to what the Dean told all of us, 60 students had already been accepted, and that the final class will have 120 students.
The interview day began with a roll call and a written essay in the auditorium. We received a list of names and our interview schedule for the day. We had three separate interviews. The order that I got was, 1) Group interview with about 5 other applicants in a conversational roundtable setting with 3 interviewers- which consisted of two pharmacy students and a professor. This interview was clsoed-file, and covered conversational topics. 2)Then, I had a one-on-one interview with a faculty member. This interview was open-file complete with PCAT scores and personal statement 3) Then, I had a student interview with two students from the Pharmacy School. They may have read my personal statement beforehand.
With respect to the city of Baltimore itself, I am from a very large city that is usually seen as a tough place, but when you're in a city where even the CAB DRIVER who just drove you to your interview is pissed off and is berating you for handing him a $20 bill like it was some major slight on him, then you know the area is not for you!
But with that said, the actual school was very impressive. The students were very bright and professional. The professors who interviewed me were thoughtful and likable people.
I would note that there was a major dichotomy between what I saw outside of the school as compared to the excellence I saw within. Perhaps if U Maryland were my state school, I would stick it out and go there, but I doubt I would want to pay more than the in-state residents given my experience there. But this is not to say that someone else may see this totally differently than I!
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
No responses
