Share your bad interview experiences thread

[tprice108]

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I'll share mine.
Well this one school (I'd rather not say, but I'm sure you could find out) that I interviewed today with was highest on my list of schools: closest to home, good friends there, football team that I like, etc.). I signed up for a tour, as opposed to other schools where a tour is a part of the interview process, and was presented with a student who did her job but wasn't the most interesting person to be giving a tour. This definitely did not sell the school for me and it was pretty lame.
After that, I sat in an office to wait on my interview and the first interviewer was a trip. After a few questions her office phone rang, she answered it and spent about 5 minutes talking to one of her students. She asked a few more then bam: "I need to make another phone call real quick." Me: "yea sure, no problem." Another 5 min. phone call ensued. Some small talk about pharmacy occurred afterwards then the interview was over.
The second interview, the man said "ohh hey I haven't gotten your file yet let me run downstairs to get it." So he came back, totally unprepared mind you, and then we talked for a minute or two while he was frantically flipping through my file to learn about me. I asked him a few questions because he wanted me to, then he asked if I had anymore questions and I said that I didn't (intending for him to shoot some more at me) then turned me loose 15 minutes early.
In conclusion: I don't know if every larger non-private university works this way, but I feel that they don't try to sell the school b/c maybe they don't have to. At the 3 other small schools I've been to, it has been a group of students, they give us packet of information, things about the college, and possibly a meal to try to 'sell' the college. This was the most informal interview I've ever had and actually turned me away from my top choice.

Share your experiences/comment on mine

 

[Jdario86]

For me, before an interview, i build up a lot of stress and anxiety prior to the point where I don't eat anything the night before or the morning of the interview. So after the interview and the intensity subsides, I come down with the serious munchees. I remember after one particular interview I got so hungry that I ran to the snack table and stuffed 2 mini muffins into my mouth. Unbeknownst to me, the dean walks into the waiting room to greet everyone. I then turn around to shake his hand and said "It's pweasure 2 meeet chu" as muffin crumbs fall out of my mouth. I got waitlisted.



At another school interview, I was asked this question by a professor of pharmacy:

Interviewer - So what qualifications do you have that would make you a great pharmacist?

Me - *jokingly* I can see a pharmacy from my house!

Interviewer - laughs

(accepted)

 

[xshooshix]

I had an interview that was open file. I had a publication, research experience, and five different areas of pharmacy experience under my belt. One of the interviewers completely dismisses all my qualifications and asks me a plethora of questions relating why I went to art school in NYC for my first two years of college. The rapport was great until they asked, "How can you apply what you learned in art school to pharmacy?" Unbelievable. I haven't heard from the school since then.

When I get nervous, I have the tendency to make really cheap and lame jokes. For example, at the school I was accepted at:
"What is something that you want us to remember you by when we go back and look at your file for a final decision?"

My answer: (With a slight smile) "That my name rhymes." At first they didn't understand my answer, then all three women looked at my name tag and burst out laughing.

 

[hokierx]

first interview: i arrived on time, the secretary wasnt there because she was on her lunch break. she came back and said, "oh i cant take you on your tour because your interview is about to start" you were supposed to have a complimentary meal, but our cafeteria is now closed

second interview: "so what do you do when you're stressed?", caught off guard, i said: "i eat"

third: "do you think pharmacists should lobby for their jobs?"
"i guess, if they want to get what they want..."
he meant, to ask if pharmacists should go to congress and push for pharmaceutical regulations...he worded it poorly. this is the same interview where i had two students interview me, both of whom just stared at me and had looks on their faces like i was a *****. it took everything inside of me not to say "hey, can you stop making that face at me?"

fourth: drove up and down a mountain around 5-6am, and it was like basically driving into the depths of the earth because NOTHING was there. there was a 30 mile stretch where i had no signal (i anticipated that), but there wasnt even a sketchy gas station for me to pull into to ask for directions. i considered the fact that someone could kill me out there. but there was no where for such person to hide. when i arrived, the school of pharmacy was an old high school. the building was smaller than my house...

 

[Transformer]

tprice108, sorry to hear about the bad interview experience with your ex-top choice school. It sounds like the school was totally unprepared. So, what's your new top choice now???

I believe we both attended the same interview this past Tuesday (march 3rd). How did that interview go for you??

Having gone to public schools/institutions all my life, I'm ready to pay a little extra to attend a private school.

 

[themulya]

Interviewer: Why should we choose you over other candidates
Me: Well I believe I'm a well rounded candidate. I would say this bec...
Interviewer: *interrupts my explanation* Why do you think you are a well rounded candidate?
Me: *confused* I was just about to say why
Interviewer: Oh, ok.

 

[168533]

Interviewer: Why should we choose you over other candidates
Me: Well I believe I'm a well rounded candidate. I would say this bec...
Interviewer: *interrupts my explanation* Why do you think you are a well rounded candidate?
Me: *confused* I was just about to say why
Interviewer: Oh, ok.

 

[tprice108]

tprice108, sorry to hear about the bad interview experience with your ex-top choice school. It sounds like the school was totally unprepared. So, what's your new top choice now???

I believe we both attended the same interview this past Tuesday (march 3rd). How did that interview go for you??

Having gone to public schools/institutions all my life, I'm ready to pay a little extra to attend a private school.

hey. First, thanks for the concern; it just reminds me that I'd rather not be a face in the crowd.
Well, I guess we were at the Lipscomb interview together. Did I meet you (I'm Taylor)? I felt like I had a great interview at Lipscomb, I mean it's almost hard not to have a great interview with them because they were soooo welcoming and nice. It was a 100% downgrade from going to that school then interviewing with this school today (facilities, staff, organization, everything really). It's almost a dead heat with South University and Lipscomb (although I haven't heard back from Lipscomb). South is a probably ahead though b/c it's only 2 hours away from me while Lipscomb is 7 hours. Lipscomb was amazing though and they are definitely on the to creating a top-tier pharmacy school. What are your top choices looking like?

 

[Transformer]

I don't think I got to meet you. I was in group C.

I totally felt the same positive feeling about Lipscomb. The interview day was well planned and executed. For example, when we arrived at the library for our interviews, our interviewers were already waiting for us in the lobby and calling our names.

Keep in mind the Dean was not present at our interview day. Even so, the staff, faculty, and P1 students who were all really friendly, conducted an outstanding interview day. Plus, the newly built state of the art facility made the school look extremely appealing.

I really enjoyed the closed-file interview. The interviewers were really laid back and many stayed after the luncheon to meet everyone and answer questions.

I understand you're torn between South and Lipscomb. I would feel the same way if I were you. Luckily for me, I rather attend an out of state school than attend an In state one (regardless if private or public). On the flip side, because I'm an out of state applicant, my chances are not as good as an In state applicant.

If one of us gets accepted, an acceptance letter should be in the mail box by tomorrow or early next week. (I'm really nervous) As you can tell, I'm sold on the idea of attending Lipscomb if accepted. good luck. My fingers are crossed

hey. First, thanks for the concern; it just reminds me that I'd rather not be a face in the crowd.
Well, I guess we were at the Lipscomb interview together. Did I meet you (I'm Taylor)? I felt like I had a great interview at Lipscomb, I mean it's almost hard not to have a great interview with them because they were soooo welcoming and nice. It was a 100% downgrade from going to that school then interviewing with this school today (facilities, staff, organization, everything really). It's almost a dead heat with South University and Lipscomb (although I haven't heard back from Lipscomb). South is a probably ahead though b/c it's only 2 hours away from me while Lipscomb is 7 hours. Lipscomb was amazing though and they are definitely on the to creating a top-tier pharmacy school. What are your top choices looking like?

 

[AdamSanders]

Out of my interviews I had one that was awful. Out of the interviews I had this school was my last choice school, so I kind of considered it a safety school. My interview ended up being a 3 on 1 interview where they just kept firing questions off of a sheet of paper. I was prepared for the typical questions like "why pharmacy?" and "why our school?" but they asked a bunch of situational questions and job-type interview questions. It started off alright where the main interviewer would nod after my responses and mouth "good, good" to me, but after the 40 minutes of interrogation, she wouldn't even look at me because my answers were so bad. Needless to say, I haven't heard back yet lol.

 

[168533]

Out of my interviews I had one that was awful. Out of the interviews I had this school was my last choice school, so I kind of considered it a safety school. My interview ended up being a 3 on 1 interview where they just kept firing questions off of a sheet of paper. I was prepared for the typical questions like "why pharmacy?" and "why our school?" but they asked a bunch of situational questions and job-type interview questions. It started off alright where the main interviewer would nod after my responses and mouth "good, good" to me, but after the 40 minutes of interrogation, she wouldn't even look at me because my answers were so bad. Needless to say, I haven't heard back yet lol.

Do you remember what some of the questions were and your responses?

 

[trailrider400]

interviewer: why do you want to be a pharmacist?
me: what the hell is a pharmacist?

 

[xshooshix]

I had an interview that was open file. I had a publication, research experience, and five different areas of pharmacy experience under my belt. One of the interviewers completely dismisses all my qualifications and asks me a plethora of questions relating why I went to art school in NYC for my first two years of college. The rapport was great until they asked, "How can you apply what you learned in art school to pharmacy?" Unbelievable. I haven't heard from the school since then.

When I get nervous, I have the tendency to make really cheap and lame jokes. For example, at the school I was accepted at:
"What is something that you want us to remember you by when we go back and look at your file for a final decision?"

My answer: (With a slight smile) "That my name rhymes." At first they didn't understand my answer, then all three women looked at my name tag and burst out laughing.

Just wanted to give an update: I ended up getting accepted to this school who gave me a hard time for going to art school. TAKE THAT!

 

[power96]

interviewing last year i had a 3 on 1 interview 2 students 1 professor. keep in mind the presidental election was heating up, and there were still 6 or 7 people in contention. so after standing outside the door for at least 15 min past the interview start i was let in asked about the most recent book i read then asked to relay all the candidates health care plans and which one i liked the most and why. i was waitlisted, but reapplied had a killer interview and was accepted this year.

 

[Hendlefe]

My first and only interview so far was at University of Buffalo. It was very laid back and fun because the interviewers were engaging and nice. Dr. Baltasar was very nice but did not talk much. The other interviewer was Bob Rizzone and he did a lot of talking. Overall we chatted and joked around and it felt very natural.