South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy
Brookings, SD
Pharmacy Schools | Public Non-Profit
Going on an interview at SDSTATE-PHARM? Add your feedback to help others!
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most rank this school as average compared to other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools based on user responses include inquiries about favorite and hardest college classes, defining leadership, motivations for pursuing pharmacy, reasons for selecting a specific school, preparedness for pharmacy school, personal strengths and weaknesses related to being a pharmacist, and details about extracurricular activities. Some respondents mentioned encountering a challenging multiple mini interview (MMI) format and possibly being subject to a nondisclosure agreement during the interview process.
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What was your favorite class you've taken in college so far?
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Why pharmacy?
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Why Pharmachy?
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Tell me about your life path and how you ended up going to the school you chose for pre-pharm and why SDSU?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy discussed decision-making regrets, responses to acceptance outcomes, contributions to the school, and honor code adherence. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on the variety of questions asked, and respondents may have been subject to a nondisclosure agreement.
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Since your senior year of high school, what is one decision you would like to go back and change?
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What would you do if you are accepted? What would you do if you are not accepted? What will be your contributions to the school?
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All the questions were generic
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Does your current school have an honor code that you have to sign saying that you won't cheat and if you see anyone else cheating you will turn them in?
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy discussed ethical dilemmas, such as handling a situation of witnessing a pharmacy technician slipping a controlled substance, convincing a physician about medication choices, and addressing cheating incidents.
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An ethical question along as a writing prompt, two pages on a scenario of witnessing a pharmacy technician slip a controlled substance and how you would handle the situation still as an intern.
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How would you convince a physician that your choice of medication is better than what they have chosen?
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none
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How did you respond when you saw someone cheating?
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a in a group interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
No responses
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
📍 On-Site Experience ▼
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents rank the facilities as below average.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 2-3 hours traveling to the interview.
What was your primary mode of travel?
Most respondents traveled by automobile to the interview.
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
Most respondents spent less than $100.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
No responses
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
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Super 8
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Holiday Inn Express
How would you rate the hotel?
Most respondents rated their hotel as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
Most respondents would recommend their hotel.
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
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.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by researching common interview questions and seeking advice from current pharmacy students or pharmacists. They also utilized resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN) and specific interview guides to familiarize themselves with potential questions and scenarios.
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Read common interview questions. , previously met with the advisor for their pharmacy department.
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Looked up common questions from other pharmacy school interviews..
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sdn, interview guide, talking to several pharmacy students and pharmacists.
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Looked at other schools possible questions from this website.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were impressed by the straightforward and welcoming interview process, with no trick questions. They appreciated the friendliness of the interviewers, staff, and student ambassadors, as well as the positive atmosphere and aesthetics of the campus and facilities.
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It was very straightforward and nothing seemed to a "trick" question.
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Both my interviewers were extremely nice and so was Dan. I loved the student ambassador who gave me the tour of the college. Not only that but their new building and the campus is very nice.
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nothing
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It was really low key and everyone seemed very friendly/approachable.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions related to unprofessional behavior from interviewers, including lack of engagement and distractions during interviews. Suggestions included improving interviewer attitudes and ensuring professionalism throughout the application process.
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As a positive and a negative, I had a transcript review, interview, and a writing prompt and was in the building from 12:00 to 1:45.
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N/A
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The attitude of the interviewers. They seemed tired as if they had not eaten anything for lunch. While i was answering the question, one of the interviewer was staring something on the wall. I ignored that and focused on the interview. Again, i saw that she was still staring at something and was not listening to anything i said. I had really high hope with this school since that was the only pharmacy school in South dakota. I felt really bad at the end of the interview that these people expect us to be professional while they acted very unprofessionally. I am still waiting on their decision. Anyway, they did not impress me at all. and i do not feel like going to this school where i know those people will be giving me lecture on being professional.
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The town was really small. However, it seemed like a good living environment.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wish they had known more about the specific locations and transitions within the program, such as changes in campus locations and rotations. Additionally, some applicants expressed a desire for a more positive and welcoming atmosphere during interviews by avoiding late afternoon scheduling.
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Nothing really, they are very informative and answer all your questions during the interview process.
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Had i known that they were too tired to even smile just once, i would never have scheduled for any time in late afternoon.
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They are going to be tearing down and rebuilding the pharmacy school starting May of 08. Therefore, the next two years will be in transition and my classes would be located at various locations. Also, I was not aware that your first two years of the program are completed in Brookings and the second two are in Sioux Falls (With the last of those two being rotations)
What are your general comments?
Overall, applicants found the interviews to be less stressful and conversational than anticipated, with positive experiences interacting with interviewers. Some applicants expressed concerns about the school's ranking and the defensive attitude of interviewers towards other programs.
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Overall, I had interviews in high school much more stressful than this interview. It was only two people interviewing and very conversational.
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Very good school but I wish they had a better ranking. I got accepted though =)
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I did not like their approach. And knowing that they were the ones who would be lecturing in the class if i plan to attend this school made me almost sick.
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The interviews all lasted 30 minutes but because mine was the last of the day, we talked a bit longer. Really relaxed, they tend to be extremely defensive of their program. (More than I thought they would be). They acted astonished that I would be applying to other schools as well.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly praised the admissions office for their excellent interview process and recommended that they continue their current practices.
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Great interview process!
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Keep up the great work!
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