questions to ask

[Lisochka]

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I have read on this forum that it would be good to make an appointment with the school you are applying to before an interview, to show that you are interested.
So, what questions would you ask besides : "What are they looking for on an interview?"
I am currently taking prerequisites in this school, so questions like: "do you offer a meal plan, or what kind of extracurricular activities are available" are not gonna fly....

 

[avuong]

how many students pass their board exams?
what is the racial profile of your school?
why should I come to your school?
what are your strengths and weakness,
where do you see yourself/this school in 5 years,

are there any catches?
whats the fine print?

why did you join [this school]?
what attracted you to [this school]
if you were to do it all again, would you come back to [this school]?
do you regret coming to [this school]

what is your curriculum like?
is it hard, can i handle it?
are students here happy?
what do students go on to do after they graduate?
what is the attrition rate?

ask anything you want to know,

Best of luck!

 

[RhinoRX]

I'm not sure if making an appointment is a very helpful thing to do... I mean what are the chances that whoever you're talking to will be the future interviewer or the decision-maker on who gets into pharm school? I feel like appointments like that are handled by other staff, not interviewers...

but if you want to make an appointment anyway, dont ask questions that the school's website answers. and I wouldnt ask "what are you looking for in an interview," it makes it seem like you're there to get some inside information, not show interest. i wouldnt wanna waste anyones time asking questions about statistics and rates and tuitions, its all online.

And at the end of your real pharmacyinterview, you'll be asked if you have questions, so I would just save those that you have for that time, not make a special appointment.

 

[confettiflyer]

yeah i don't think it's a great idea either...your time to ask questions is at the formal interview.

anyone associated with your intended school of pharmacy is already too busy handling current students & applicants. you'd be routed right to the PR/student activities department at my school for any type of "visit." Such a visit wouldn't affect your admissions to that school.

 

[Jdario86]

I'm not sure if making an appointment is a very helpful thing to do... I mean what are the chances that whoever you're talking to will be the future interviewer or the decision-maker on who gets into pharm school? I feel like appointments like that are handled by other staff, not interviewers...

but if you want to make an appointment anyway, dont ask questions that the school's website answers. and I wouldnt ask "what are you looking for in an interview," it makes it seem like you're there to get some inside information, not show interest. i wouldnt wanna waste anyones time asking questions about statistics and rates and tuitions, its all online.

And at the end of your real pharmacyinterview, you'll be asked if you have questions, so I would just save those that you have for that time, not make a special appointment.

That happened to me when i organized a visit to Midwestern CCP before the day of my interview. I was able to coordinate a visit and shadow a pharmacy student for a day to see what student life/classes were like there. I initially had my request denied by admissions but I worked my way up to the deans and they ended up letting me shadow a student for a day. The associate dean was the one who helped make my visit happen and coincidentally she ended up being one of the people who interviewed me in my group interview. I felt super comfortable during my interview too because i was already acquainted with one of the interviewers. At the end, it worked to my advantage on interview day because I was able to use my experience from my visit as one of my answers to why I wanted to go to that school in particular.

Although it might take you some some time (like me) and it can be cumbersome on the school's part, but this is your money, your time and your future - so i ceased the opportunity to try and learn about the school as much as i can by visiting the school. It was really worth it at the end and it was especially helpful when I had to solidify my decision on which school offer to accept during decision making.

 

[luckyphooey]

Do not ask them any questions that you could easily get from their website, it would show that you did not do any research beforehand.

 

[Jdario86]

As for questions to ask:

I suggest you ask questions about what's important to you. When they give you an opportunity to ask them questions, the tables have turned and you're essentially interviewing them. So ask them what you're looking for in a school like how accessible are the professors? How often do students work and study full-time...Is it feasible? What sets your school apart from others?

If you visit the school before hand, you can ask a question to elaborate on something you noticed during your visit:

For example, when i visited and interviewed at UACP I asked:
I noticed the school's building a new research facility. What kind of research are you planning on doing?

I also suggest you refrain from asking questions that pertain to anything slightly negative because it might be a touchy subject that the administration feels uncomfortable to discuss. ie:
So I hear your school's on probation, how's that coming along?
I heard the dean is planning on leaving the school for a different school, why?

 

[BelleMD2B]

I actually think it is a good idea to visit beforehand. My husband did this for B-School (Wharton). Met with an admissions counselor, and that person was a sounding board throughout his application process since they developed such great rapport.

It definitely doesn't hurt.

 

[UCB2005]

oops