West Virginia University Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy
Morgantown, WV
Pharmacy Schools | Public Non-Profit
Going on an interview at WVU-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 respondents rank this school above 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 include inquiries about weaknesses, reasons for choosing the profession, consideration of alternative careers, personality traits, future aspirations, and global issues. While some responses may refer to MMI format or nondisclosure agreements, the focus is on exploring applicants' motivations, values, and career goals in the healthcare field.
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What is one of your weaknesses?
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What careers have you considered other than pharmacy, and how did those choices lead to you choosing pharmacy as a profession?
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Why do you want to be a pharmacist? --> obvious
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at West Virginia University Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy discussed various topics such as societal issues, cooking skills, and favorite books. These questions likely reflect a holistic approach to the interview process, focusing on personal interests and perspectives alongside academic qualifications.
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Outside the field of pharmacy, what do you think is a major problem in society?
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What is the best thing you cook, and how did you learn to make it? (Essay question)
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What is your favorite book? (Essay Question)
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at West Virginia University Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy discussed the correlation between grades and success in pharmacy school, justifying candidacy in a competitive scenario, and addressing current challenges in the pharmacy profession along with potential solutions.
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Do you think that your grades are necessarily a reflection of how you might do in pharmacy school?
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Imagine there is an extremely good class coming in, with academic scores higher than or around yours. Seventy-nine out of eighty have been selected for your class. You and five other people are given the opportunity for a second interview. Why would you make a better candidate than the other five?
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What is a major problem facing the profession of pharmacy today, and how can it be fixed?
🤝 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 one-on-one 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 airplane 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 Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
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PIT
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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Friends Inn
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 good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
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 unfriendly.
No responses
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was unresponsive.
No responses
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for interviews by gathering a list of potential questions, reviewing faculty information, and studying possible topics related to the school. It was suggested to ensure familiarity with the interview process and research the institution to be well-prepared.
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Got the list of questions they ask for the interview.
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Reviewed faculty information; reviewed list of possible topics on school's website.
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Nothing unusual.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were impressed by the large campus with great scenery and amenities, such as the Rec center. They appreciated the unique interview format where one interviewer knew their background while the other did not, providing a fair and unbiased assessment. Some applicants found the process challenging but rewarding.
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Huge campus, great scenery, not as "small town" as I initially thought, awesome Rec center.
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The interview is two people, where one knows your grades etc and the other knows nothing about you. My one interviewer, who must have looked at my marks and didn't want me to try to use them as a talking point, told me that he was supposed to have looked at data but he chose not to and would leave it to the admissions committee. It didn't hit me until I was told "no, there's no way he can breach protocol like that!" later on, I actually thought that my entire interview was closed-file. Dr. Higa is very tricky!
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During the "Cross-examination" there were two interviewers, one knows your personal history, one doesn't. I thought it was a good way to get an unbiased tilt.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions about the cold weather and hilly terrain, as well as a desire for more interaction with faculty beyond the interviewers. Some also mentioned concerns about the quality of written work, suggesting a need for more attention to detail and proofreading.
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Cold, lots of hills.
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I wish that we were given an opportunity to meet more of the faculty, asides from the two interviewers.
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The essay was written on a laptop PC equipped with spell check and grammer check.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wish they had known more about the profession and its challenges, including issues like counterfeit drugs and pharmacists stealing medications, as well as the various job opportunities available in different sectors such as retail, community, and long-term care. It is recommended to demonstrate a deep understanding and interest in the field during interviews by discussing potential career paths and showcasing knowledge of relevant topics.
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Speed limits travelling to Morgantown are slow until you hit WV.
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They expect you to know about the profession. Know some of the problems with the profession (counterfeit drugs, pharmacists stealing Vicodin, the aging of baby-boomers, whatever), the types of job opportunities available (retail, community, long-term care, post-graduate, etc.), and so on. Having good depth of knowledge about the profession is essential - say something like, "I'm interested in drug research, so while the more traditional aspects of the pharmacy practice are what drew me towards the profession, I'm also investigating the possiblility of continuing on after receiving my doctorate to work on a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry." They'd eat something similar to that up.
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally provided positive feedback about their experiences, including the helpfulness of staff, informative tours, and impressive facilities. They also emphasized the importance of professional appearance, eloquent communication, good manners, and a strong understanding of the pharmacy profession for success in the application process.
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For the most part, the experience was great. Although, I had a hard time finding the pharmacy school until someone told me that it was where the emergency center is. Once I found it, the building is old but this is where other health professions have their classes. I talked to Dean Ridgway who was extremely nice and gave me the low down on the interview process and how the acceptance process is done. I also talked to a first and third year student and they were telling me about the school. I also toured their labs and their "mock" pharmacy which was extremely cool. All in all, I was very impressed with what they had to offer.
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Kind of laid back, kind of formal. The best advice is to dress nice, speak eloquently, use good manners and have a deep understanding of all things dealing with the profession of pharmacy.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
No responses
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