Clinical Question in Interview?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

Forrest Gump

Running towards my future
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2007
Messages
267
Reaction score
0
Can someone please give me an example of a clinical question asked in an interview? I have my first interview this month and I want to be fully prepared for anything. I've seen some refer the clinical question being the hardest question they were asked but despite my requests for examples, no one has come through yet. Anyone who is willing is welcome to my lucky running shoes!😀

And I vow that after my interview I will post detailed feedback as I want to contribute as much as I can to this forum which has been so helpful so far.
 
It sounds like you've done so, but I have to ask, have you checked the interview feedback section to see the kinds of questions that you will be asked by the school on interview day? When I was interviewing, I found it to be incredibly helpful.

I don't know of any "clinical questions" that may be asked but chances are, those will vary from school to school.


EDIT: never mind. I checked interview feedback for Sullivan, and you're right, they just say "clinical question."
 
Seems odd for them to ask someone that's yet to be a pharmacy student a clinical question. It would have to be something rather rudimentary I would think. I wouldn't worry too much about it. The interview should be more geared towards getting to know you as a person than your academics. They wouldn't have invited you for an interview if they didn't think you qualified.
 
Gump - If someone had experience as a med tech and was trying to get into pharmacy school I could see a clinical question.

Other than that, the only thing I can think of might would be very basic like: when a host has a bacterial infection, is their white blood cell count elevated or decreased from normal? A: white blood cell count increases to combat the bacterial microbes (leukocytosis).
 
Last edited:
One would think a basic question such as WBC function would be covered by the crap on the PCAT (if taken) or undergraduate.

By getting a C+ in A&P, you oughta know what the hell a WBC and what it does.

There shouldn't be any clinical questions on the interview. If there is, it's probably there only to assess how you perform under / react to stress in an unfamiliar scenario.
 
I agree, I wouldn't worry about it. You don't have the knowledge yet to understand nor explain a clinical question. It would be completely unfair to expect someone to be able to answer accurately a clinical question when they haven't been given the tools yet to answer. Don't stress yourself out too much about the interview.
 
I completely agree with you both. That is why I said something very basic like....
 
Thanks for all of the input and special kudos to Wes for clarifying when this kind of question would apply. As I have no tech experience it is one less thing to worry about. With your tips that you provided earlier (Wes) and my research, I feel much more prepared for the interview.
 
Thanks for all of the input and special kudos to Wes for clarifying when this kind of question would apply. As I have no tech experience it is one less thing to worry about. With your tips that you provided earlier (Wes) and my research, I feel much more prepared for the interview.

Very welcome amigo. I'd be very surprised if they asked you something than the standard get to know you questions.

I have a publication to my name and 8 years of pharmaceutical industry experience split between being a research chemist, QC chemist, and technical sales and I didn't receive any off the wall questions.
 
Wes,

Wow - your experience is impressive! Sullivan would be lucky to have you.🙂
 
Hey I didnt get a clinical question today at the interview. Interview's ran really short today and only Dr. Facione was interviewing open file format. The guy is the greatest person and he has a great sense of humor. I wouldn't be too stressed.
 
Hey I didnt get a clinical question today at the interview. Interview's ran really short today and only Dr. Facione was interviewing open file format. The guy is the greatest person and he has a great sense of humor. I wouldn't be too stressed.

Congrats on the interview.

Dr. Facione is a great guy. I met him back in April when I was considering SUCOP. I spent about an hour with him in his office and I was amazed at how passionate he was about their school and that he had a sense of humor to go with it.
 
Top