Interview at Nevada

[rxforlife2004]

Hi all,
I have an interview with Nevada pharmacy school next week. I am just wondering if anyone in here knows any tips about school interview there, and how to stay in the hotel/overnight or something like that. It's even better if we can communicate to one another since i really need a lot of help from you guys.

I am from Orange COunty, California and plan to drive there (5 hours).
Thanks.

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[LVPharm]

Hi! Im a P2 at NVCP, I might be helping out with interviews again this year.

Most of the candidates stay at local casino/hotels. The nearest hotel to the campus is Sunset Station Casino and Hotel, on Sunset Road and Stephanie. From there, you'll go west on Sunset Road and swing a right on Sunset Way to the end of the road (a cul-de-sac) to the campus.

There was a thread awhile back where I mentioned potential interview questions
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=69278
As for any interview, do a self-assessment, and be able to answer the very basic question of why you want to be a pharmacist, as well as the typical interview questions: heroes? fave authors? idols? life-changing experiences? volunteer/extracurricular activities? moments in your life where you displayed "compassion" or "empathy"? Expect a problem solving or ethics question. When asked if you have any questions at the conclusion of your interview, remember to have at least two very well thought out questions ready.

As for the inteview day, you'll receive a schedule in the morning. Your day will start with a presentation by one of the folks in the administration, perhaps Dr. Coffman and Dr. DeYoung. They'll tell you about the school and the program. You'll then either go on to your interview, do your essay (usually a simple topic), or take a tour. The order depends on your schedule. Be sure to ask plenty of questions of the students who are present at the tour or in the waiting room.

If you've got any other questions, feel free to PM me!

Good luck!

 

[eddie269]

is there a "good answer" for the empathy or compassion question? I know this should be a "personal answer but I don't even know where to start.

 

[LVPharm]

I suppose a "good answer" is a genuine answer, but there really is no formula...you'll know a good example when you hear it, and you'll know the ones that are full of crap too.

Bear in mind, this doesn't have to be related to a healthcare situation. It could be an experience related to some volunteer work, or caring for an ill relative or friend, for example. There has got to have been some point in your life when you did display compassion or empathy for someone else.

 

[rxforlife2004]

LVPharm,
Thank u so much for helpful information and details about the interview. I have a couple more questions as followed:

1. How would you dress up for the interview? Please be details ehehe.

2. For Nevada school, will u be there at the interview panel?

3. Dr. DeYong called me and let me know my appointment is Wed, Jan 21st at 2 PM. So does it mean 2:00PM will be my only interview or it's just a period to gather selected students and the interview for indivituals actually process later on?

Thanks for your info.

 

[LVPharm]

1. I wore a conservative dark gray suit with a red tie on white shirt. Some guys wore shirt and tie, but most wore suits.

2. If I do any interviews this year, it would be on a few weekends when I'm not working.

3. If you're scheduled for Jan 21, you'll have your interview, essay, and tour all on that day. You'll probably be there till after 6:30 PM. 2PM is when you guys'll probably be gathering for the opening presentation. When you check-in, you'll get a name tag and itinerary listing your interview time and essay-writing time. Actual interviews won't start till sometime after 3PM since that is when classes usually end. The students needed for the interview panels and tours won't be available until then.

 

[rxforlife2004]

LVPharm,

Thanks again for your reply. I am trying to look for the information that mentions to the ratio between applicants/acceptants, as well as interviews/acceptance for Nevada College of Pharmacy school. Do you know where i can find this by any chance?

Thanks.

 

[LVPharm]

It's not published on AACP, but last year we had about 800 applicants, about 400 interviews, of which a little more than 100 were accepted. The mean GPA for last year was close to a 3.5. Since we are NOT utilizing PharmCAS this year, this might not change all that much...but we'll see

 

[rxforlife2004]

LVPharm,

WOW! So your school is definitely a very competitive one. Thanks for sharing your experience and the useful information. By the way, I am just wondering who are the usual interview panel. I do know that two faculty and a student, but do you know the names of these interviewers? SO that i would be prepared better, LVPharm.
Thanks for your help.

 

[LVPharm]

The "desireable" interview panel is one faculty member, one student, and one pharmacist from the community. Sometimes pharmacists are a "no show", and so an interview panel may consist of two faculty members and a student, or one faculty member and one student. As for WHO makes up the faculty on the panel, all you've got to do is go to www.nvcp.edu (under "general info", then "faculty") and look up everyone in the faculty...it could be anyone of them. Some of them have a brief bio so you can read-up on their interests. Unfortunately, you won't know who'll interview you until you receive your itinerary when you arrive for your interview.

You're welcome, and good luck to you!

 

[rxforlife2004]

don't know why but i cannot sleep now...so i guess i can bother you with a couple more questions LVPharm. How would you have such thoughtful questions to ask at the end of interview? I actually have some in my mind...but just want to see if you have better ones Also, the essay part will be done on a computer with spelling checking or just from your own pencil writing?

 

[LVPharm]

Oh, come now! You know I can't tell you what "thoughtful" questions to ask! I remember directing a question at the student on the panel about the program...don't remember what exactly. I had a question ready for each of the panelists, based on the expectation that I would have one faculty, one practitioner, and one student on the panel. The bottom line with it is, when asked by an interviewer "do you have any questions you'd like to ask", the worst answer is "no".

The essay is just plain 'ol pencil on paper.
Don't worry, it's not "rocket science", just a simple "prompt" to get you writing.

 

[rxforlife2004]

LVPharm,

ehehe...of course i won't be that null to say "NO" when being asked "Do you have any questions for...us/me?".

Anyway, you've been a terrific mentor for this forum. I am sure everyone in here agrees with me about this point. By anychance, can i see your photo? ehehe...you know just to see how you look like, bro.

I am about to bounce off now...I'll be driving from home at 9 AM.. thanks for your effort to answer this nosy pre-pharm student!

Take care.

 

[LVPharm]

Good luck with everything, and have a safe trip! As for my pic, it's posted in this thread:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70381

 

[rxforlife2004]

Hi LV Pharm bro,
I just drove back from Nevada College of Pharmacy school after the interview ( 5 hours driving). Your school is terrific! Students of P2 and p1 are very friendly and easygoing.

I had an interview for Dr. Coffman and Dr. Decerbo and Ms. Raebel. They are excellent interview panel....

Gotta sleep now...too tired already Thanks bro for such useful information for me to prepare...Terrific!

 

[LVPharm]

You got 2 of perhaps the nicest people in the faculty/administration....I think some of the pharmacists must have flaked-out on interviews. Hopefully the construction noise didn't throw you off your concentration!

Good luck with this and any other interviews you have this application cycle! Make sure you leave some feedback in the "pharmacy school interview feedback" section for any interviews you go to...it'll help the future applicants.
http://www.studentdoctor.net/interviewpharm/index.asp

 

[119044]

USN program

 

[119044]

USN program

 

[veniex]

Yes, they do. However, other aspects of your application (Volunteer work, Extracurricular activities, experience, etc) would have to be VERY impressive for them to call you for an interview.