Baltimore, MD
Pharmacy Schools | Public Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 20% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did okay.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
8.1
Above Average
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 236 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 (88%)
Negatively (5%)
No change (7%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (29%)
Good (54%)
Average (12%)
Poor (5%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally shared positive feedback about the University of Maryland's pharmacy school, highlighting the organized interview process, welcoming faculty and students, and overall relaxed atmosphere. Some suggestions included offering a tour of the school facilities, providing more information about the programs during the interview day, and ensuring professionalism in the interview process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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I liked the facility more than I thought I would, though it was unsettling how many different times we were warned about unsafety in Baltimore.
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It's a good place to go to school
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It all looks very exciting, there's always some sort of activity going on in the school.
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Simply put, amazing school. Admissions committee was quick with responding after email. There's no other school that tops this one!
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The school, faculty and students I met impressed me so positively that it is now my top choice for pharmacy school (I'm from out of state and was initially set on staying in my home state). Environment is important to me and this school had the best vibe out of all I interviewed for. I found the faculty and students not only knowledgeable and down to earth, but also engaging and welcoming overall. The pharmacy building is also new and pretty, which is a nice plus. Although I dislike the downtown location and was not prepared to go somewhere so far from my home state, they impressed me so much that I wouldn't pass up the chance to come here if accepted!
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
42 Minutes Average
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Number:
3.7 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
74% One-on-One
26% Group Interview
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File Type:
66% Open-File
34% Closed-File
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Interview Modality:
100% Virtual
0% In-Person
UMB-PHARM-COMP interviews are an average of 42 minutes, with an average of 3.7 interviews. 74% of interviews are one-on-one, 0% are in-person, and 34% are closed-file.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the candidate's motivation for pursuing pharmacy, how they handle ethical dilemmas, their study habits, and their decision-making process when choosing a school. Many respondents mentioned questions related to the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, which may involve a nondisclosure agreement, and topics such as handling group work issues, ethical scenarios, and personal strengths and weaknesses were also frequently discussed in interviews.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Tell me about yourself
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What time management and study habits do I have that will need to be adjusted for pharmacy school?
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Why pharmacy?
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If you see a child with asthma and a mother smoking near that child, what would you do?
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Did you take the PCAT more than once and what were your original scores?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Maryland School of Pharmacy discussed a wide range of topics including personal values, ethics, cultural competency, and hypothetical scenarios. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on responses mentioning ethical dilemmas, reality TV show preferences, and scenarios involving patient care, with some respondents possibly bound by a nondisclosure agreement.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What was a time you made a mistake and how do you make sure it doesn’t happen again.
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Who do I rely on the most in difficult situations?
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How do you measure happiness?
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The group project will be the most challenging one, as it is an ethical issue?
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If you could be on a reality TV show, which one would it be
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by utilizing resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN) for questions and feedback, practicing with friends, reading interview books, researching school websites, and staying updated on pharmacy-related news. Many also engaged in mock interviews, reviewed personal statements, and sought advice from pharmacists or current pharmacy students to enhance their preparation.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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SDN and rehearsing with a friend.
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Interview books.
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SDN helped tremendously. Almost 90% of questions came from here
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Read SDN, researched what was on the website.
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SDN, mock interviews
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at University of Maryland School of Pharmacy discussed various scenarios, including ethical dilemmas, diversity contributions, and future trends in pharmacy. Some responses indicated a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format with questions on handling challenging situations, patient care, and personal motivations, suggesting potential nondisclosure agreements regarding specific question details.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What can you add to this program? (confusing)
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What about your character makes you suitable to start a professional degree?
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Name a time when you failed.
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Group project + Essay (both concerning ethical issues)
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How would you prepare and contribute to the diversity of Baltimore?
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were consistently impressed by the welcoming and conversational nature of the faculty and students at the school, as well as the friendliness and organization of the interview process. Many highlighted the enthusiasm and positivity of the faculty and students, the impressive facilities, and the overall supportive and engaging environment of the school. Suggestions were made to maintain this welcoming atmosphere and to continue emphasizing the school's strengths during the interview process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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The faculty interview was very conversational and comfortable.
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Everyone was pretty laid back and welcoming.
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The one-on-one interviews are very relaxed and conversation-like
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Everything pretty much.
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The students really loved the school.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the lack of enthusiasm among students, the unfriendly welcome staff, the unsafe neighborhood, the negative vibes from the school, the unorganized tour, and the high living costs in Baltimore. Suggestions included improving student engagement, enhancing the welcome experience, addressing safety concerns, providing a more structured tour, and offering more information on campus life and facilities.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Students seemed uninterested in the interview, just read questions blankly.
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Bad neighborhood.
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The welcome staff could be a bit more friendly and helpful. They did mention my round of interview was the 2nd to last they would conduct for this semester, so it's understandable
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Nothing
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Baltimore is not safe.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the self-guided interviews, the need to bring snacks and water, the conversational nature of faculty interviews, and the lack of provided meals and tours. They also mentioned the importance of being prepared for multiple interviews and the necessity of having a good meal beforehand due to the length of the interview process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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The interviews are self-guided, therefore you will need to find the rooms and locations of the interviews on your own. Prepare to ask questions about locations or look for a while, as it is not always obvious.
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Students would interview me.
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Eat a huge meal beforehand, bc you will get hungry
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Not to be stressed because everyone is so nice and trying to make you feel comfortable
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A lot of the students are on the admissions committee, including tour guides.
🤝 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 suggest that the admissions office should improve professionalism by verifying identities during check-in and being more responsive to emails, while also providing food for interviewees after 3 hours.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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They should check IDs during check in. I was sketched out that they never verified that I was who I said I was. Seemed unprofessional.
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None, they were super nice.
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They should offer food for interviewees after 3 hours of interview
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The admissions office did not always return my emails, especially the emails I sent before I submitted my application.
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None- admissions office was very prompt and friendly!
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
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BWI
80% interviewees used BWI (BWI), with 10% using IAD (IAD) and 10% using Baltimore (Baltimore).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by automobile to the interview.
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32% Airplane
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59% Automobile
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3% Train or Subway
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6% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Holiday Inn (Inner Harbor) (average ranking 7.5/10), with some staying at holiday inn (average rating 10/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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Holiday Inn (Inner Harbor)
7.5/10
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holiday inn
10/10
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Radisson
9/10
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are out of state students.
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
Admissions staff (13%)
Faculty member (3%)
Other (10%)
Student (75%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (78%)
Neutral (22%)
All Responses
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