Now that you guys are done with the interview, I think I would give you my take on UNE so people who got accepted to multiple schools can decide where to go, since UNE asks for an unrefundable $2000 for the deposit (This and I think SOPA's going to shut down this site soon, and that case you can message me via Facebook (
https://www.facebook.com/groups/329782187032202/ ) if you have any questions about things going on at UNE). They do ask us to say positive things about UNE and not to say any negative things about other schools,while doing the tour; but we didn't get picked, we volunteered for the tour. Things I like about UNE: Ann Marie knows my name after seeing me 2 times in the office (kidda scary though), everybody is friendly (P3,P2 and P1hang out together), funny and caring teachers (we have quite many of them), research opportunity, 160 hour Summer IPPEs (not during school year) and you can go back to your state to do IPPEs and APPE. Rotation sites in Thailand (costs you $5000 extra), Ghana (HIV clinic), and a strictly CAM pharmacy (These sites are competitive in your 4th year, so they will do lottery). No accreditation (weird, but since they are not accredited, they care about the
curriculum and how the students are doing. I know some of the well established schools don't give a damn about these things). Cafeteria (I like the deal not so much the food, but $4.75 for a buffet with food salad bar, drinks, ice cream and cookies is pretty sweet. I gained 15 pounds after 1 semester, so I guess it's not really healthy.)
Things I don't like about UNE: Housing (dorm will cost you around $6000 per semester), there are housing around campus with walking distance, but it's very limited. If you are not from CA, GET AN APT WITH HEAT INCLUDED in the rent, b/c heat can cost you A LOT during Winter. Bus is not reliable here in Portland, though the school gives us free rides. It took the bus 40 mins to go 3 miles from my apt to the airport not to mention the wait time. Every semester we seem to have one teacher, who takes pride in torturing us (no jokes, we hit 2 for 2 already). Driving in the salted snow is a mess (hence, get housing close to campus so you can walk). parking is also a mess, even if you pay for the permit.
I got accepted to Regis, Hilo and UNE but decided to go to UNE afterall. I didn't like Regis for their weirdness during the interview (bad experience and people were so competitive) and just the fact that the Dean quit and noone wanted to step up to be Dean for the school last year (they had an interim Dean) last year. I like the idea of living in Hawaii for 4 years a lot, but after seeing the COP with trailer-classrooms (they won't have a COP building till 2015, so students study in boxes. I guess that's why their faculties flied to Vegas or CA to conduct the interviews), I was bumped out. For me it's not worth it to pay $34K a year. I didn't apply to any schools in CA, since I knew that I wouldn't get in; and I think schools in CA are overrated and the overall cost is just too expensive for a very bad job market after graduation.
Good luck with everything you do and everywhere you choose to go. You will be pharmacist in 4 years no matter what. I'll probably be less active here, since our workload for this semester just kicked in yesterday.