Drugs

[Oh2051]

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During an interview for any medical, dental, pharmacy or nursing school, is it common for the applicant to be asked if they have ever used illegal drugs?

Has anyone ever experienced this during an interview? If so, how much information was requested from you?

Say . . . for example, an undergraduate occasionally smoked marijuana, but never got into trouble with the law . . . should they worry about that coming back to haunt them during the application process?

 

[NewmansOwn]

During an interview for any medical, dental, pharmacy or nursing school, is it common for the applicant to be asked if they have ever used illegal drugs?

Has anyone ever experienced this during an interview? If so, how much information was requested from you?

Say . . . for example, an undergraduate occasionally smoked marijuana, but never got into trouble with the law . . . should they worry about that coming back to haunt them during the application process?

I've never heard of that happening; I'm not sure anyone cares too much. I wouldn't volunteer the information, of course. But on the off-chance anyone does ask you, why wouldn't you just play it safe and say 'no?' The only way they could disprove you is with a hair test, and to think that health professions schools have the time, interest and resources to do that is nothing short of ridiculous. You're fine -- enjoy the maryjane.

 

[notdeadyet]

Say . . . for example, an undergraduate occasionally smoked marijuana, but never got into trouble with the law . . . should they worry about that coming back to haunt them during the application process?

You won't be asked that for medical school interviews (don't know about nursing or the like).

That said, while I'm a live and let live type, do keep in mind that many medical schools drug test by your third year. It's a hospital policy at many places for those doing clerkships. So if you do indulge, be prepared to quit as you hit third year. There are also apparently some schools that test incoming freshman, but I think they're rare. A search on pre-allo should tell you the handful that do.