Got an interview Dec 14! So nervous! Any advice out there?
Hey I just had my interview last week and i want to help SDNers because i had a lot of help from here.
My interview with south college was my 3rd pharmacy school interview, and of all three it was my hardest. They process overall was the best, great tour, great campus, great professors, GREAT students (the best i've spoken to)
I'd suggest to take a rental car, cabs are expensive (about $35-40 one way from airport to hotel/SOP)
Interview
It's open file, they know every GPA (science/math/overall) Be prepared to answer questions like why did you get such a low grade in this class... they pick out specific classes. Also, if your PCAT is low, don't be scared, but they might confront you, so be able to sincerely answer why, what happened, and how you prepared for the test or plan to retake.
Be prepared for situational questions, it would help if you have pharmacy hands on experience. I think i did well on this part, except they were hard, i was so honest i mentioned "wow this is probably the hardest interview question i've had so far" just be calm and answer as best you can. I am a VERY smilely person, and it was hard to answer when they don't smile back.
Also, answer quick, be concrete and passionate in every word, because its only 30 minutes! (for me it was fast because my other interviews went past 30 minutes, one was 50mins) ...i like to talk, a lot.
Essay
The essay is a persuasive. you are given a pharmacy related topic, and you have to give evidence of your knowledge in the field. It's only given one whole page. make an outline.
I wrote really small because i had a lot to say.
After the interviews/essays they send you off and the committee gets together and discuss each interviewee. They take quite a while to talk in detail, with you open file, numbers/stats, extracurricular, leadership, ect. and then they vote.
Results
You will know if you got accepted the SAME day you interviewed. So be prepared, go hang out and do something fun to keep your mind off it!
While you're there, don't be shy, make friends with other interviewees, and talk to the current students. It made me want to go to this school even more!
After a few hours of exploring Knoxville, i got a call and was ACCEPTED!
*** for those who have low gap/pcat. Don't worry, i was that person, but you have to remember to outshine everyone else. you must have a lot of extracurriculars and leadership roles.
BEST OF LUCK TO EVERYONE!