timothykiqato:
Do you have any tips? Brush up on basic math skills and be ready to do some conversion and dimensional analysis type problems on the day of the interview. How you actually do on the math assessment they administer has no bearing on your chances for a seat; Rather, if you are accepted they will let you know if you need to brush up on word problems before the program starts.
What was the interview day like? It was fairly laid back and relaxed. You start the day off as a group listening to a handful of speakers (and the floor will be open for questions), then you will break up into smaller groups and have some discussions in smaller rooms with folks from the other campus via video conference. Then you will have lunch (I believe they serve pizza every session) and people will start to be called in for interviews.
Was the interview one-on-one or in group? The interviews are one-on-one. You interview privately with two faculty members (separately).
How long did each interview last? 15-25 minutes would be the average from what I have heard. One of my interviews was 30 minutes; the other 15.
Was there anything that caught you off guard about the interview? Not about the process itself. One of my interviewers cut right to the chase and asked about a spot on my academic history. It was a bit intimidating, but I had prepared well by anticipating the types of personal and educational questions I could be asked based on my application.
In terms of the program, how do you like it? I do like it; Let me be honest and say that the pace of the program is relentless. It is accelerated and you cannot allow yourself to get behind on studying. I knew what to expect going in -- but I did not realize just how fast things come at you. Quarter 1 taught me to plan every moment of my time outside of class more than I ever had before.
Were classes more on campus with professors teaching the course or over the internet like the Columbia campus? I would estimate 70% of the classes are taught live from Savannah. I have no issues with the classes that are taught from Columbia, though. It is very interactive in real-time and the professors on opposing campuses are very available to students via email and video chat.
Are there more direct professor-student interaction at the Savannah campus? The opportunity for professor-student interaction is the same at both campuses -- the video lectures are interactive -- you can press a button and ask a professor at another campus a question during lecture at any time. There are also two course coordinators for each subject - one at each campus - so as a student you can always talk to someone in person about a specific subject.
What is unique about South University besides the 3 year accelerated program and its low cost tuition compared to other pharmacy schools? I am not sure what you mean by 'unique'... I think advantages of attending South include the low cost of living in the areas around both campuses, the opportunity to get a PharmD/MBA concurrently (and inexpensively), getting out on Intermediate rotations after the first year, professors that are great at teaching AND do really cool research, and the opportunity to make a difference in the local community.
