Lawrence, KS
Pharmacy Schools | Public Non-Profit
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⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
7.4
Good
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 69 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 (67%)
Negatively (13%)
No change (20%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (17%)
Good (67%)
Average (8%)
Poor (8%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally provided feedback on their interview experiences including nerves, preparation tips, and interactions with interviewers. Suggestions included practicing out loud, bringing a resume and transcripts, remembering names, and sending a thank you email, while experiences varied from feeling nervous but supported to feeling frustrated by interviewers' behavior.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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I walked away with a very bad taste in my mouth, which is a shame because I have very strong KU connections and otherwise love the school.
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If you are a strong candidate and know about pharmacy, you dont need to be nervous - just go in and talk about yourself. think of it as a conversation rather than an interview. also be prepared to answer questions about weaknesses in your application - they will ask about them
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Though I was super nervous the interviewers were not intimidating and did not attempt to add any extra stress to what they know is a stressful experience.
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My tips for preparing for the interview would be to… - practice out-loud so you get use to hearing your own voice -bring a resume and an official copy of your transcripts (It shows that you actually prepared yourself for the interview and it will make you stand out) I would suggest handing the resume to them after they ask “tell me about yourself?” or “tell me about your pharmacy experience?” then give them your prepared statement and add, “I also brought my resume if you would like to have a look at it?” The transcript might be a nice addition if it’s a closed file interview. - remember their names! It shows that you have a good memory which is what pharmacy is all about right? I would work it in at the end, like “It was very nice to meet you Mr. So and So” -Send them a thank you email afterwards, if you remember their names it will be easy to find their email address off of the KU School of Pharmacy website, they also include pictures next to their contact information in case you do forget names
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Went well! Got it
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
29 Minutes Average
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Number:
2.8 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
50% One-on-One
50% Group Interview
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File Type:
54% Open-File
46% Closed-File
KU-DENT-COMP interviews are an average of 29 minutes, with an average of 2.8 interviews. 50% of interviews are one-on-one, and 46% are closed-file.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include discussing the future of pharmacy, reasons for interest in the profession, addressing scenarios like handling cheating, describing strengths and weaknesses, and explaining motivations for choosing a specific school. Some respondents mentioned questions related to ethical dilemmas and personal qualities, indicating a comprehensive evaluation process that may suggest an MMI format and potential nondisclosure agreements.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What do you think poses a threat to pharmacy and how will it look in the future
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Tell us about yourself and how you came to be interested in the profession of pharmacy?
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Why do you want to be a pharmacist?
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Tell us about yourself and why you are interested in pharmacy.
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Why are you interested in pharmacy?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Kansas School of Pharmacy discussed a wide range of topics including study habits, future pharmacy trends, ethical dilemmas such as handling medication errors, cheating situations, and moral objections to certain prescriptions like Plan B. These questions indicate a focus on ethical decision-making, critical thinking, and the ability to navigate challenging situations, which are common in MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) formats where respondents may be subject to a nondisclosure agreement.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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There wasn't one :(
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They asked me about my study habits in detail
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In regards to the questions about the future of pharmacy, one of the interviewers wanted to know my thoughts on the automated dispensing machines and there impact on the profession.
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What are some of the most important issues you see facing pharmacists currently and in the coming years?
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Where is the field of pharmacy heading?
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by utilizing resources such as SDN, practicing with mock interviews, reviewing practice questions online, seeking advice from current pharmacy students and pharmacists, and discussing interview experiences with friends and classmates. Suggestions include practicing possible answers, avoiding scripted responses, and familiarizing oneself with common interview questions.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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SDN, YouTube, mock interviews
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Looked over some practice questions online
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SDN, guessing at what i would be asked and having answers in mind. I definitely did not have any "scripted" answers though
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Mock interviews with a few pharmacists I know and reviewing interview questions on-line
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Practiced interview questions with my sister and boyfriend, and also set up a mock interview with career and employment services on campus.
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Kansas School of Pharmacy discussed a wide range of scenarios including justifying past academic performance, showcasing critical thinking skills, and explaining uniqueness as an applicant. The interview format seemed to resemble MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) as responses indicated a conversational style with interconnected questions, and some respondents hinted at a nondisclosure agreement, suggesting a structured and confidential process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Why should we choose you
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Why did you get a "C" in Western Civilization (a class that I took 11 years ago--AWKWARD!)
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Name a specific instance in which you had to think critically or creatively to solve a problem. I wasn't ready for this and couldn't think of one off the top of my head
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All of my questions were on an equal level. Most of them were asked in a way that each answer I gave rolled right into another question or expanded on the previous question. It was conversation like most of the way through.
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With all the new technology, new machines could be developed to dispense/label medications. What is the job of the Pharmacist then?
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were positively impressed by the welcoming and friendly attitude of the interviewers, the relaxed atmosphere of the interview, and the beauty of the facilities. Suggestions included maintaining a positive and engaging demeanor throughout the interview process to create a comfortable environment for candidates.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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The interviewer was really engaged
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The building is beautiful. Nice labs and study rooms.
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Two of the three seemed very relaxed and upbeat, tended to laugh with my jokes and agree with what i said. they seemed to know that it was a stressful situation, and tried to lighten the mood. The 3rd interviewer seemed to be playing the "bad cop" role, but came around eventually
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The atmosphere was much more relaxed than I anticipated.
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They were extremely friendly :)
What impressed you negatively?
Overall, the most common negative feedback from applicants revolved around interviewers being unfriendly, uninterested, confrontational, or harsh. Some applicants also mentioned dissatisfaction with the response time from the school. Suggestions include providing a more welcoming and supportive interview environment and ensuring timely communication with applicants.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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The other interviewer seemed uninterested
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I felt one of my interviewers was confrontational and was not pleased with any of my responses. He kept pushing me on topics that seemed irrelevant to Pharmacy school (see above Western Civ question).
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Not much - it was as expected
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Nothing I can think of.
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N/A
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that pharmacy interviews vary in tone, with many being friendly and not overly critical. They also expressed a desire to have been more informed about the interview style, such as whether it was open or closed file, to better prepare mentally and emotionally.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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That not all pharmacy interviews are like this! Most are happy to see you and get to know you better!
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That the other interviewees were way more nervous than i was!
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That one of my interviewers was the calculations teacher since based on my grades it's obvious math is not my strongest subject. He asked about my calculus grade to be specific.
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I wish I had known that the interviewers were really friendly and not going to critique every answer I gave them. I read on SDN a comment someone else made about KU saying that they were really mean and criticized them for honest answers they gave, which made me WAY more nervous then I needed to be. It was not like that at all! I could tell they knew I was nervous and they tried to make me feel comfortable. I wish I had known they were that friendly before I went so I wouldn’t have freaked myself out so much.
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It would be open file
🤝 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 moderately responsive.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested improving the interview day atmosphere by allowing interactions with current students before interviews and providing a more welcoming introduction to the school. Additionally, they recommended implementing an online application status tool to help keep track of applicant materials and submissions.
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The interview day atmosphere was not really welcoming. I would make the opportunity to mingle with the current students a part of a pre-interview session, if nothing else but to see smiling faces and get some jitters out. We were marched straight to the interview rooms without any real introduction to the school. This was in stark contrast to other similarly-ranked schools that I interviewed at.
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Keep better track of applicants' submitted materials, and implement an on-line application status ch
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Keep better track of student application submissions. Implement an on-line application status tool
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Best Western (average ranking 8/10), with some staying at Days Inn (average rating 5/10). (Top 2 displayed)
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Best Western
8/10
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Days Inn
5/10
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 Other or at another housing option.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
Faculty member (17%)
Student (83%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (60%)
Neutral (40%)
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