Wow a lot has been happening on here lately since i've last checked! It's great to see so many people interested in UNE. Don't worry about the interview. Remember, the "Why Pharmacy" should be natural. It should flow out of your mouth with drive and enthusiasm. The "Why UNE" part is a little tougher. It wasn't too hard for me because since i first stepped off the plane in Portland, Maine from Portland, Oregon, I already made connections with the exec dir of campus COMPACT at the undergrad campus who i was sitting next to and also talked with the US Ambassador to The Gambia (In West Africa) who was also on my plane. If you read an earlier post about me, this whole thing seems like a sign
. My view of pharmacy is different than what pharmacy is mostly seen as. I plan on pioneering a international dynamic multi-dimensional pharmacy field. I was able to work and manage rural pharmacies in Honduras and was able to go around Rwanda with Partners in Health and speak with UNAIDS. I focus on the public and global health portion of Pharmacy.
Here's a little more for those who are worried about interviews: My interview was by the professor (the non pharmd) who teaches the business side and the biochem professor. They were AWESOME! They definitely did their research (aka read my pharmcas essay) and the first thing they said was that they were super interested in my view of pharmacy with my international travel and work. So much has happened since i wrote my pharmcas letter so being able to tell them all the cool things i've been doing since then pretty much made us go over time on our interview lol. It came naturally for me which made the interview session relaxed and enjoyable. It isn't really an "interview" but more of a conversion. It was full of laughing, joking and me being over excited about everything (The massive amounts of coffee that morning might have something to do with it too). Don't sweat the interview if you know you can naturally speak from the heart about "Why Pharmacy" and it correlates off the pharmcas letter (since that is what they read). Remember, the "interview" isn't just about them trying to figure out if you are right for their school, it is also about you making sure their school is right for you.
Furthermore: Talk to people!!!!! These are your future professors and students! The people i interviewed with were really great and i can see myself being classmates and friends with them. The professors are invested in their students and want you to succeed. They are not focused on other priorities; therefore, you get the highest quality education from unique professors who are willing to work with you to make your ambitions and aspirations come true. During my interview they were telling me that they (especially the pharmacy business professor) are more than willing to help me with my opportunities in Rwanda to work with Partners in Health and to create a successful pharmaceutical supply chain within the country and to advocate for certain drugs and generics within Rwanda and the African continent. Most of my other interviews was just me sitting there going all out about my ambitions and the interviewers just sitting there and nodding. UNE's interviewers are so involved in the interviewees. They really make sure you come out of the interview with a better understanding of the university and who they are as an institution and as individuals within it. Since they are still fairly new, they are maleable and are willing to be the forefront in pioneering new ideas. If you have ambitions to do something no one has done before, I know for a fact you'll have the full and awesome support of UNE faculty and staff.
Overall, UNE is one of my top choices. When it comes down to my top 2 choices, UNE is one of them and making the decision is going to be more than difficult. Also, as i said before, don't hesitate to email Isaac about your application or interview. I received my acceptance within 1 week and 2 days. This will vary depending on when their committee meetings and final decisions are.
Hope this helps!
And yeah they DO read your personal statement before interviewing you. Make sure you can keep your lies straight lol.
