MCPHS interview

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Yay, I have an interview at MCPHS-Worcester! I sent my application like a week and a half ago and heard back from them yesterday.

Interesting stat I read: Last year MCPHS-Worcester interviewed 282 people and out of them, 245 were accepted (that's about 86%). Take it with a grain of salt though. Obviously, the number of people interviewed will go up so the rate of acceptance will decline a bit, but this is reassuring news. They must really like your application to give you an interview. To all who will be/have been interviewed: awesome job getting that far! Good luck to everyone waiting!
Just curious--where did you get those stats from? MCPHS-Worcester really accepts that many applicants per year??

I'm curious because I just scheduled an interview with them for Nov. 30.

Congrats on your interview! :luck:
 
Just curious--where did you get those stats from? MCPHS-Worcester really accepts that many applicants per year??

I'm curious because I just scheduled an interview with them for Nov. 30.

Congrats on your interview! :luck:

http://www.aacp.org/Docs/MainNavigation/InstitutionalData/6871_School_Narratives_PSAR.pdf

It shows you every school in alphabetical order and lists both MCPHS-Boston and MCPHS-Worcester. MCPHS-Worcester accepts 245 and about 193 enter. These are the 2006 statistics.
 
BOOM! I got in!

Congrats.

I am so nervous, my interview is on monday and am trying to prepare for the questions. People who have had their interviews already could you please also shed some light on the interview essay. I was reading on SDN that it should be the 5 paragraph format, is there a limit lenghtwise at MCPHS and are we supposed to write on a piece of paper or on the computer. All the help would be sooooooooooo appeciated.
Thanks,
campharm 🙂
 
Congrats.

I am so nervous, my interview is on monday and am trying to prepare for the questions. People who have had their interviews already could you please also shed some light on the interview essay. I was reading on SDN that it should be the 5 paragraph format, is there a limit lenghtwise at MCPHS and are we supposed to write on a piece of paper or on the computer. All the help would be sooooooooooo appeciated.
Thanks,
campharm 🙂
It's 30 minutes to write your essay---it doesn't specify a length to write other than 1 and a half page over ONE of the list of topics they give you. Paper they provide you to write (not type), but come prepared (cause they hand you just blank sheets of no line paper)--- bring a pen, correction fluid, and some loose leaf lined paper to show you're prepared.

read the SDN interview section--- it really did help!
 
For ppl have a B.S. degree, are we transfer students to worcester campus? 😉Also, do I need to fill out the course-in-progress form for transfer students only?😕

Thanks.:hardy:
 
So your interview was on the 1st?

yeaha.

Quote: Congrats. I am so nervous, my interview is on monday and am trying to prepare for the questions. People who have had their interviews already could you please also shed some light on the interview essay. I was reading on SDN that it should be the 5 paragraph format, is there a limit lenghtwise at MCPHS and are we supposed to write on a piece of paper or on the computer. All the help would be sooooooooooo appeciated.
Thanks,
campharm

The essay is supposed to be off the top of your head so don't worry about it. I'm sure you're a decent writer.
MCP takes like 90% of their interviewees. Just be cool to everyone you meet, remember people's names, ask good questions and you'll be fine! As far as getting in: the hardest part is over!
 
yeaha.

Quote: Congrats. I am so nervous, my interview is on monday and am trying to prepare for the questions. People who have had their interviews already could you please also shed some light on the interview essay. I was reading on SDN that it should be the 5 paragraph format, is there a limit lenghtwise at MCPHS and are we supposed to write on a piece of paper or on the computer. All the help would be sooooooooooo appeciated.
Thanks,
campharm

The essay is supposed to be off the top of your head so don't worry about it. I'm sure you're a decent writer.
MCP takes like 90% of their interviewees. Just be cool to everyone you meet, remember people's names, ask good questions and you'll be fine! As far as getting in: the hardest part is over!

If your interview was on thursday NOV 1st, were you the guy who asked me if I was interviewing you? Just curious 🙂
 
no, i don't think so... good luck though!

oh ok... It was funny though because I came to the interview half an hour early and there was a guy waiting to be interviewed. I came in dressed in a suit and all, and the guy asked me "are you here to interview me?" I was like no I am getting interviewed too. So thats why asked. Well you said that your interview was Nov 1st so thats why I asked.

Is MCPHS your number one choice?
 
Hi all,
I too got accepted to Worcester... 😳
for everyone that was accepted .... how did you make your decision to go there? is it because its a 3 year school?
is no one bothered that the actual "campus" is so small? 😕
 
Hi all,
I too got accepted to Worcester... 😳
for everyone that was accepted .... how did you make your decision to go there? is it because its a 3 year school?
is no one bothered that the actual "campus" is so small? 😕

3 years is definitely an advantage compared to 4 years, but also you don't get as many breaks (only 1 month in summer compared to 3 months with other schools). Small campus vs large campus, it all depends what you want to get out of it. I feel very comfortable in a small campus that everywhere you go, you recognize those ppl and you know they are in your class, are are upperclassmen.. and you get to know and bump into your professors and talk to them, unlike in class, where you are among 200 other people.. you don't get to have much professor interaction unless you go talk to them before/after classes. This campus does not provide the flexibility like other campuses to host all those fairs and stuff outside or whatever.. but then, we are in downtown worcester... and they are actually expanding the campus.. they recently bought the whole block.. so we own more than only 2 buildings.. again, campus size is your preference.. personally, i have enough studying to do that I dont' have time to run around the campus, and the smaller is better because it doesn't take me as much time to go somewhere and I can save that time and do something else!
 
3 years is definitely an advantage compared to 4 years, but also you don't get as many breaks (only 1 month in summer compared to 3 months with other schools). Small campus vs large campus, it all depends what you want to get out of it. I feel very comfortable in a small campus that everywhere you go, you recognize those ppl and you know they are in your class, are are upperclassmen.. and you get to know and bump into your professors and talk to them, unlike in class, where you are among 200 other people.. you don't get to have much professor interaction unless you go talk to them before/after classes. This campus does not provide the flexibility like other campuses to host all those fairs and stuff outside or whatever.. but then, we are in downtown worcester... and they are actually expanding the campus.. they recently bought the whole block.. so we own more than only 2 buildings.. again, campus size is your preference.. personally, i have enough studying to do that I dont' have time to run around the campus, and the smaller is better because it doesn't take me as much time to go somewhere and I can save that time and do something else!

I was just wondering how do students pay for their tuition? I never had to take out a loan so I don't know anything about it. Does the school provide a load? or do you take out a loan from a bank?
 
I was just wondering how do students pay for their tuition? I never had to take out a loan so I don't know anything about it. Does the school provide a load? or do you take out a loan from a bank?

You get subsidized and unsubsidized loan from the federal govt, however, it won't cover your full year's worth (or probably will not), so you will either have to take out private loans or pay out of pocket. if you go to the mcphs.edu website, they do explain all the types of loans and scholarships that you might be able to get....
 
You get subsidized and unsubsidized loan from the federal govt, however, it won't cover your full year's worth (or probably will not), so you will either have to take out private loans or pay out of pocket. if you go to the mcphs.edu website, they do explain all the types of loans and scholarships that you might be able to get....

So how much can you get from the govt?
 
You get subsidized and unsubsidized loan from the federal govt, however, it won't cover your full year's worth (or probably will not), so you will either have to take out private loans or pay out of pocket. if you go to the mcphs.edu website, they do explain all the types of loans and scholarships that you might be able to get....

Sorry one more question. I see that tuition is about $35,000. How much do you think you have to pay the school with all the fees?
 
Sorry one more question. I see that tuition is about $35,000. How much do you think you have to pay the school with all the fees?

hmm.. i believe that's included in the figure. If you plan on living in the dorms, add another $9000 on top of that per year, i'd say, if they say $35K, plan $37K, but to be sure, you can always call Joanne in financial aid office, she's super nice
 
hmm.. i believe that's included in the figure. If you plan on living in the dorms, add another $9000 on top of that per year, i'd say, if they say $35K, plan $37K, but to be sure, you can always call Joanne in financial aid office, she's super nice
thanks... I am just getting worried...
 
thanks... I am just getting worried...

don't worry, just think that when you are sitting there in the big auditorium, the ppl sitting next to you are probably taking loans out too, and everyone made it to the first class!
 
don't worry, just think that when you are sitting there in the big auditorium, the ppl sitting next to you are probably taking loans out too, and everyone made it to the first class!

You are an asset to this network! 🙂
 
I sent my deposit in a few days ago...I didn't even apply to other schools because this school was my first choice. I'm not too excited abuot living in Worcester, but I'd rather stay closer to friends/family while I'm in the program. Anyone else definitely enrolling yet? I wonder how the program runs with classes/breaks. I can't find it anywhere on the website.
 
whoa we get a whole month in the summer?! 😀
I thought we only get like one week!

is there like a sample calender on their website? has anyone seen it? (I am too lazy to start lookin myself...🙄)
 
congratulations to everyone who's been accepted! 👍

do you guys mind sharing your stats please! 🙂

thank you!
 
I was wondering those of you who got interviews, were you guys applying directly from High School or as transfers?
 
I sent my deposit in a few days ago...I didn't even apply to other schools because this school was my first choice. I'm not too excited abuot living in Worcester, but I'd rather stay closer to friends/family while I'm in the program. Anyone else definitely enrolling yet? I wonder how the program runs with classes/breaks. I can't find it anywhere on the website.

I was just found some information that the drop out rate is 19-25% does that bother you?
 
I was just found some information that the drop out rate is 19-25% does that bother you?

keep in mind that mcphs worcester houses a lot of untraditional students, therefore, the drop out rate needs to take that into considerations. Factors could include family issues, financial issues, change of majors, as well as academic issues.
 
it doesnt bother me, thats like 75% that graduate! thats the majority! hehe
besides, maybe since its a 3 yr program, some people cant handle it...who knows🙄

for those that asked, I applied as a "transfer" from a university, but I will enter with a bio degree, and this program is only for college students, so you can not enter directly from high school (the boston program is the one where you can enter from high school)😉
 
I was waitlisted? What a heck?????? I thought they only waitlist people when their seats are full???
 
I was waitlisted? What a heck?????? I thought they only waitlist people when their seats are full???

Sorry to hear that PharmDream, but don't despair. Schools with rolling admission waitlist candidates throughout the process in order to look for better candidates but at the same time to not completely exclude the waitlisted person from admission. They would not have given you an interview if they didn't think that you were up to par with their standards. Just hang in there and see what happens. What are your stats? What other programs did you apply to?
 
Does anyone know how many seats they have left to fill for fall of 08?
 
Does anyone know how strict they are when it comes to
"Introduction to Psychology". I have taken 3 phyc courses, but they were health psyc, dev psyc, and child psyc, etc... not officially "Introduction to Psychology." Since I wasn't a psychology major, I didn't have to take that. Same with Sociology.
 
Does anyone know how strict they are when it comes to
"Introduction to Psychology". I have taken 3 phyc courses, but they were health psyc, dev psyc, and child psyc, etc... not officially "Introduction to Psychology." Since I wasn't a psychology major, I didn't have to take that. Same with Sociology.

I think the best would be to ask the registrar's office because we don't want to jeopardize your chances of admission by saying what we 'think'.
 
Yeah. I'm definitely going to do that, but was more asking current students if they were in the same situations when they were applying. Thanks guys. 👍
 
BlueHens: Yeah what are your stats, gpa, courses completed, do you have your BA/BS? How did you think you did on the interview? Thanks!! And I agree, keep your head up. Everything will work out for the best. Keep us posted.
 
I recently enrolled in the program and am now deciding whether to commute from home (about an hour each way) or live on campus. Does anyone know if class is everyday/how the class schedule is set up?

Thanks and good luck to everyone!
 
I recently enrolled in the program and am now deciding whether to commute from home (about an hour each way) or live on campus. Does anyone know if class is everyday/how the class schedule is set up?

Thanks and good luck to everyone!

I'm P1, and for my year, our earliest class is 8:30 twice a week. Our latest class is 3pm twice a week as well. We do have exam blocks, which are blocks of time that are reserved for exams, if the professor chooses to administer them during that time, else, the exams would be during class time. Those exam blocks are from 2:15-4pm for us on tuesday/thursdays.

http://www.mcphs.edu/about_mcphs/of...trar/docs/course_offerings_worcester_fall.pdf

this link will give u guys an idea about the classes that are running this semester. The way to do this is you scroll down to pharmacy, and you pick the class corresponding to the one we have to take according to the curriculum, which never changes, then you write out the schedule from there.

I would say the hardest about commuting 1hr is just in the morning, as in the afternoon, it wouldn't really matter, unless you are driving, and rush hour could be consuming all your time away, same as in the morning as a matter of fact.
 
BlueHens: Yeah what are your stats, gpa, courses completed, do you have your BA/BS? How did you think you did on the interview? Thanks!! And I agree, keep your head up. Everything will work out for the best. Keep us posted.

I think you meant to ask PharmDream. I didn't have my interview yet.
 
PharmDream:

Yeah what are your stats, gpa, courses completed, do you have your BA/BS? How did you think you did on the interview? Thanks!! And I agree, keep your head up. Everything will work out for the best. Keep us posted.
 
PharmDream:

Yeah what are your stats, gpa, courses completed, do you have your BA/BS? How did you think you did on the interview? Thanks!! And I agree, keep your head up. Everything will work out for the best. Keep us posted.

My stats are ok I think... My gpa is about 3.44, when MCPHS calculated the composite was 3.56, science 3.4. I worked in the pharmacy for 3.5 years (I started in high school). I am getting a BS in Biomedical Science in May and possibly a BA in psychology. The only courses I am missing are Mictrobiology and a Social elective.

I think I answered something wrong during the interview or messed up the essay, cuz I really thought that the interview went well. I am so dissapointed.

I am going to call them on Monday and ask them what number I am on the waitlist and what are my chances.... they were closed on Friday for some reason...

Anyways MCPHS is not my number one choice, but after getting rejected from UB last year I just hope I get accepted anywhere.
 
My stats are ok I think... My gpa is about 3.44, when MCPHS calculated the composite was 3.56, science 3.4. I worked in the pharmacy for 3.5 years (I started in high school). I am getting a BS in Biomedical Science in May and possibly a BA in psychology. The only courses I am missing are Mictrobiology and a Social elective.

I think I answered something wrong during the interview or messed up the essay, cuz I really thought that the interview went well. I am so dissapointed.

I am going to call them on Monday and ask them what number I am on the waitlist and what are my chances.... they were closed on Friday for some reason...

Anyways MCPHS is not my number one choice, but after getting rejected from UB last year I just hope I get accepted anywhere.

People from the waiting lists, especially that early in the process, do have a higher chance of getting accepted, don't worry 🙂

we were closed on friday because we had veterans' holiday instead of monday... a mess up in the scheduling somehow that was never fixed lol

good luck
 
PharmDream,
I guess you were shortlisted because you have the prerequisites to finish. Because you do have good stats. Hang in there.
campharm
 
People from the waiting lists, especially that early in the process, do have a higher chance of getting accepted, don't worry 🙂

we were closed on friday because we had veterans' holiday instead of monday... a mess up in the scheduling somehow that was never fixed lol

good luck

i know this school dont requre the pcat, what they look for, BS, GPA, CAN U SHARE SOME STATS WITH US PLZ BECUASE I WILL APPLY IN 09
 
i know this school dont requre the pcat, what they look for, BS, GPA, CAN U SHARE SOME STATS WITH US PLZ BECUASE I WILL APPLY IN 09

they do look for GPA as well as whether or not you had a previous degree before. They also like to see applicants with pharmacy experience, although I know some people who don't have experience at all. It will look best if you have some pharmacy technician experience, if not, research in pharmaceutical field or anything biology would be better than no work history at all.

I did not get my degree, but I had 3 years of pharmacy technician experience behind me, and my GPA was not extraordinarily high, about 3.6. Just make sure your personal statement stands out and you apply early!
 
they do look for GPA as well as whether or not you had a previous degree before. They also like to see applicants with pharmacy experience, although I know some people who don't have experience at all. It will look best if you have some pharmacy technician experience, if not, research in pharmaceutical field or anything biology would be better than no work history at all.

I did not get my degree, but I had 3 years of pharmacy technician experience behind me, and my GPA was not extraordinarily high, about 3.6. Just make sure your personal statement stands out and you apply early!

well i am now doing my masters degree and i will finish next year, i will apply in the fall of 09, i expect my master GPA to be higher than the undergrad one, i work now at cvs as tech, my MS GPA is around 3.7 but my undergrad (biology) is around 3.2 , do u think that is good enough..and my pre reqs GPA is around 3.66, worked as teaching assistant and i will do my research in summer
 
well i am now doing my masters degree and i will finish next year, i will apply in the fall of 09, i expect my master GPA to be higher than the undergrad one, i work now at cvs as tech, my MS GPA is around 3.7 but my undergrad (biology) is around 3.2 , do u think that is good enough..and my pre reqs GPA is around 3.66, worked as teaching assistant and i will do my research in summer

coupled with a great interview, u'll do fine! make sure you apply early though, can't stress that enough
 
Top