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Hey everyone,
I have received three or four PM's about the essay portion of the interview. I posted this on another thread but it was somewhat buried on the third page of it. I think it gives you a good idea of the variety of subjects the schools may have for their essay portion.
I am sure your personal statement essay written for pharmacy school was good practice and a good start. But here are some examples and exercises you might use to practice before your interview experience(s).
1) I guess, a strategy would be to look at some "hot" topic in healthcare affecting pharmacy, let's say, FDA and Cox-2 Inhitbitors. Then try to gauge what a possible question could be on the topic. For example, what do you think should be the course of action for this class of drugs and what can the FDA do to better regulate these meds? Give possible policy, prescribing, economic suggestions, what could you do as a pharmacist? What about patient safety? How does the pharmacist fit in?
Take an hour to write an essay, best you can. Probably start with a brief outline and then start the body. Try to write max 3-4 pages.
I know for UCSF you are given a box that you must write your response in...if you go outside that box, there is some consequence...failing the exercise. we see this same thing in our short answers in pharmacy school. The box on the essay was about a page or so.
2) For the U of Arizona, I had an essay that asked:
The Surgeon General has invited you to help plan a way to improve prescription and non-prescription use in senior citizens. What is the elements, goals, and objectives of your plan, and how will you implement it?
Now take an hour and write an organized essay without a page limit.
3) The final exercises are similiar to what UCSF/UCSD asked. UCSF asked to choose from three potential topics:
a) what does "Make Haste Quickly" mean and how does it apply to you?
b) they asked a question on technology and science, how technology
affects humanity or something.
c) the final option was to create some sort of myth/children's story
story...very creative and off the wall, not as straightforward as my
previous two examples.
Finally, UCSD asked the following question:
Your friend comes into your home town, where would you take him or her and why?
You have until the end of the interview (say 11:00AM) to write your response.
These exercises will help you think on the spot. Try simulating the experience with a time limit.
By this time, you should have your own style of writing and be efficient in communicating your ideas, so I can't think of any other strategy that can save you there. Just be good at outlining and structuring a coherent, cohesive essay, and you should be fine.
Good Luck!!!
I have received three or four PM's about the essay portion of the interview. I posted this on another thread but it was somewhat buried on the third page of it. I think it gives you a good idea of the variety of subjects the schools may have for their essay portion.
I am sure your personal statement essay written for pharmacy school was good practice and a good start. But here are some examples and exercises you might use to practice before your interview experience(s).
1) I guess, a strategy would be to look at some "hot" topic in healthcare affecting pharmacy, let's say, FDA and Cox-2 Inhitbitors. Then try to gauge what a possible question could be on the topic. For example, what do you think should be the course of action for this class of drugs and what can the FDA do to better regulate these meds? Give possible policy, prescribing, economic suggestions, what could you do as a pharmacist? What about patient safety? How does the pharmacist fit in?
Take an hour to write an essay, best you can. Probably start with a brief outline and then start the body. Try to write max 3-4 pages.
I know for UCSF you are given a box that you must write your response in...if you go outside that box, there is some consequence...failing the exercise. we see this same thing in our short answers in pharmacy school. The box on the essay was about a page or so.
2) For the U of Arizona, I had an essay that asked:
The Surgeon General has invited you to help plan a way to improve prescription and non-prescription use in senior citizens. What is the elements, goals, and objectives of your plan, and how will you implement it?
Now take an hour and write an organized essay without a page limit.
3) The final exercises are similiar to what UCSF/UCSD asked. UCSF asked to choose from three potential topics:
a) what does "Make Haste Quickly" mean and how does it apply to you?
b) they asked a question on technology and science, how technology
affects humanity or something.
c) the final option was to create some sort of myth/children's story
story...very creative and off the wall, not as straightforward as my
previous two examples.
Finally, UCSD asked the following question:
Your friend comes into your home town, where would you take him or her and why?
You have until the end of the interview (say 11:00AM) to write your response.
These exercises will help you think on the spot. Try simulating the experience with a time limit.
By this time, you should have your own style of writing and be efficient in communicating your ideas, so I can't think of any other strategy that can save you there. Just be good at outlining and structuring a coherent, cohesive essay, and you should be fine.
Good Luck!!!
It doesn't make sense to write pages and pages on a topic given to you at an interview if a limit was not given (as at the UCSD interview). It is a writing "sample," is it not?
