UCSF Interviews!!

[TrjTraddie]

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it almost seems like most people in this forum who applied got an interview...
that's a bit odd, dont you think? maybe someone up there was on something?

 

[panbabylon]

it almost seems like most people in this forum who applied got an interview...
that's a bit odd, dont you think? maybe someone up there was on something?

you should read the "rejection" thread...

 

[dance12345]

With poor planning on my part, I believe whatever letter I got may have been sent to my college address in Nor Cal while I'm at home in So Cal? On the interview letters you all received, does it give you a deadline to reply? I plan to call them the minute their offices open Jan 2 . Those interviews days are coming fast!

I wish they used email too to tell you

 

[choylifut]

With poor planning on my part, I believe whatever letter I got may have been sent to my college address in Nor Cal while I'm at home in So Cal? On the interview letters you all received, does it give you a deadline to reply? I plan to call them the minute their offices open Jan 2 . Those interviews days are coming fast!

I wish they used email too to tell you

it's within 14 days of the date of the letter.

 

[TrjTraddie]

With poor planning on my part, I believe whatever letter I got may have been sent to my college address in Nor Cal while I'm at home in So Cal? On the interview letters you all received, does it give you a deadline to reply? I plan to call them the minute their offices open Jan 2 . Those interviews days are coming fast!

I wish they used email too to tell you

holy moly.... tell your roomate or somethgn to go check your mail for you... you got 14 days to respond from the day you are granted an interview (which may vary for everyone. some people got before me, some after...)

 

[PharmDat22]

Someone else can take my spot, good luck to all...

 

[litetigre]

newbie here... just checked my mail... received both UCSF and UCSD interview letter. The date is 2 day apart. I feel so blessed as I did not expect it!

 

[yavster5]

is.it.tru.that.if.u.applied.close.to.the.deadline.u.receive.ur.letter.of.acceptance/rejection.later.on?

 

[litetigre]

is.it.tru.that.if.u.applied.close.to.the.deadline.u.receive.ur.letter.of.acceptance/rejection.later.on?

I submitted my application for both schools on October 31st. 😀
So I say it doesn't matter

 

[jessica525]

congrats everyone!

i received both my interviews for UCSF and UCSD on the 24th....great xmas present!!

I was a bit worried because I only applied to 3 schools, but I did get 3/3 interviews!

UCSD jan 18th
USC jan 26th
UCSF feb 8th


i have never interviewed for anything in my life though, all the jobs I have had required no interview! im super nervous....good luck to everyone!!

 

[cal687]

I'm scheduled for February 2nd! I'm so excited, I just got home from visiting my parents and there was a letter waiting. I was soooo scared to open it, but I was so happy when I did!!! Congrats to everyone who received an interview...anyone else on the 2nd (besides anipolkadot, panbabylon and happycow)?

 

[pharm1982]

i submitted my application on the very last day, Nov 1st, and i got an interview for Jan 25th (first interview date i believe).

 

[senzabee]

Congratulations, everyone!!! 👍 👍 👍 Maybe we'll see you guys on your interview days (whether it be formally during one of the interview sessions or informally around the lobby) 🙂

 

[happycow]

With poor planning on my part, I believe whatever letter I got may have been sent to my college address in Nor Cal while I'm at home in So Cal? On the interview letters you all received, does it give you a deadline to reply? I plan to call them the minute their offices open Jan 2 . Those interviews days are coming fast!

I wish they used email too to tell you

As everyone else said, it's 14 days within the date of the letter.

I actually talked to someone at the UCSF office before their office closed with a similar concern, and they told me that they actually POST-DATED the letter (they dated mine Dec. 24, but it was postmarked before then) in order to give you some extra time. Hopefully, that will work out for you. If not, I'm sure they'll understand if you explain your situation -- I was in one similar to yours, although I wasn't as far as you are in terms of distance 🙂

 

[Zwigglez]

In the spirit of christmas, I'm going to pass along some of the questions I used to prepare for this interview. They were really helpful to me. I usually had a few key words in my mind for each question so I felt prepared, but not the entire answer so it didn't come out rehearsed.

1. Definition of "critical thinking" or "ethical" (I know several people who got either of these, I'm very glad I did not)

2. Difficult situation with another person and how you handled it

3. Why pharmacy? Most dynamic field in health care offers opportunities and flexibility to balance a successful career with a satisfying personal life, job security, employment opportunities, life-long learning

4. What do you do in free time?

5. What caused a drop in most trusted profession rating and how fix it? People associate pharmacists with pharmaceutical companies.

6. Ethics situations/Hypothetical questions

7. Time you felt proud

8. Negative thing about self, how you changed it

9. Unique characteristic you bring to job? Dedication to the profession and motivation to succeed

10. What type of role do you see yourself in as a pharmacist?
Clinical

11. Give an example of a time when you’ve been a leader, and why do you think your peers selected you for this position? (regarding my student govt experience)

12. How has experience in pharmacy prepared you for career? Understand the many roles of pharmacy, how being detail orientated is so crucial

13. Why UCSF? Sets standards for all other schools, years ahead in curriculum which is important in a field that is changing so fast, reputation, location, lots of opportunity for outreach and community education

14. If Rx prescribed incorrectly, how do you handle it?

15. Why pharm, not research? Research is boring, I have many interests, want a more dynamic career, not interested in writing grants

16. Typical problems when starting out new independent pharmacy? Getting clients, federal reimbursements are slow, competing with $4 generics

17. Issues in healthcare that you see shaping future of pharmacy: Medicare Part D, rising numbers of filled rx’s, new filling technology

18. Typical Saturday

19. What got you interested in pharmacy?

22. What is pharmacogenomics? Concerned with the effects of genetic factors on reactions to drugs

23. How would a compounding pharmacist ensure patient confidentiality?

24. Anything else we should know about you?

25. Rather be a leader or follower?

26. Change something about undergrad experience?

27. Why you over all other applicants?

28. Most positive aspect of pharmacy

29. Example where you solved a problem in a creative way

30. Pharmacists role? Assure safe, accurate delivery of meds and caution about possible side effects of drug therapy

31. How effective is the barcoding system at your hospital? What are the positive and negative aspects of this new technology?

32. How will the recent legislation affecting pharmacy change the way you practice?

33. What are the relationships like between the pharmacists and doctors in the hospital you work at?


I bolded the questions that I specifically was asked. Hope this helps 🙂

 

[happycow]

Wow, thanks, Zwigglez! This is very generous of you. Somewhat overwhelming since there are so many questions, but it's better to be overwhelmed now than during the interview! At least we all have a few weeks.. 🙂

 

[litetigre]

It is obvious that UCSF picked you, Zwigglez. Thank you very much for your kindness. Will I see you on interview day?🙂

 

[stkyrice]

Just out of curiosity, for those who got the invites, what are your stats? Anybody got a GPA that is either <3.0 or about 3.9-4.0? Thanks and congrats👍!

I actually got an interview myself for February 7 (I live in the Bay Area, and all the Bay Area folk are interviewed on Thursdays, and all the out-of-town folk are interviewed Friday/Saturday).

Here were my stats, as calculated by PharmCAS:

Overall science GPA: 2.97
Non-science GPA: 3.34

However, this is a combination of grades from classes that I took as an undergrad and doing my post-bac.

My undergrad science GPA (1991-95): 2.67
Postbac science GPA (courses taken from 2005-07): 3.7

PCAT Composite from 8-07 (for Creighton and Hawai'i): 99

One of my undergrad majors was chem, and I was clearly not paying attention in chem 15 years ago. I'm 33 now, turning 34 shortly. The classes seem so much easier now that I'm paying attention and knowing that this is what I really want. 🙂

UCSF does look into the whole picture, and I've done a lot of different things to strengthen up my application to show that I was serious about it, from volunteering, doing research on pharmacy and what it entails and incorporating that in my essays, and talking to friends who are pharmacists and pharm students to make sure it's what I wanted.

A friend of mine's who's an adjunct professor in clinical pharmacy says to be assertive in the interview, since they want people who aren't afraid to speak up.

I'm still waiting to hear from UOP, Touro - Vallejo, and Hawai'i - Hilo. I got chosen as an alternate for Creighton's online program, but they won't make a decision till at least May to even interview the alternates. Good thing Creighton was my last choice.

 

[litetigre]

I actually got an interview myself for February 7 (I live in the Bay Area, and all the Bay Area folk are interviewed on Thursdays, and all the out-of-town folk are interviewed Friday/Saturday).
quote]
Congrat stkyrice. I have interview on the same date. When is yours? Mine is at 2:30 pm. I'm from Bay Area

 

[Bugslife32]

Went to school to check my mail finally.

I will be inteviewing on Feb. 7 at 11:30am, but I also have an interview with Touro on that same day at 9am!!!😱

Can I drive back and forth between interviews? Probably not, but will either of these schools change their dates for me?

 

[Knickerbocker]

Went to school to check my mail finally.

I will be inteviewing on Feb. 7 at 11:30am, but I also have an interview with Touro on that same day at 9am!!!😱

Can I drive back and forth between interviews? Probably not, but will either of these schools change their dates for me?

Ask somebody for a reschedule ASAP. You'll probably need more than 2.5 hours for an interview.

 

[BruTroj2012]

Went to school to check my mail finally.

I will be inteviewing on Feb. 7 at 11:30am, but I also have an interview with Touro on that same day at 9am!!!😱

Can I drive back and forth between interviews? Probably not, but will either of these schools change their dates for me?

You probably wanna reschedule with Touro since the Touro interview takes 4hours, and Touro allows you to reschedule (only once though), as stated on their interview invitation.

 

[AntiviralsRule]

I actually got an interview myself for February 7 (I live in the Bay Area, and all the Bay Area folk are interviewed on Thursdays, and all the out-of-town folk are interviewed Friday/Saturday).

Here were my stats, as calculated by PharmCAS:

Overall science GPA: 2.97
Non-science GPA: 3.34

However, this is a combination of grades from classes that I took as an undergrad and doing my post-bac.

My undergrad science GPA (1991-95): 2.67
Postbac science GPA (courses taken from 2005-07): 3.7

PCAT Composite from 8-07 (for Creighton and Hawai'i): 99

One of my undergrad majors was chem, and I was clearly not paying attention in chem 15 years ago. I'm 33 now, turning 34 shortly. The classes seem so much easier now that I'm paying attention and knowing that this is what I really want. 🙂

UCSF does look into the whole picture, and I've done a lot of different things to strengthen up my application to show that I was serious about it, from volunteering, doing research on pharmacy and what it entails and incorporating that in my essays, and talking to friends who are pharmacists and pharm students to make sure it's what I wanted.

A friend of mine's who's an adjunct professor in clinical pharmacy says to be assertive in the interview, since they want people who aren't afraid to speak up.

I'm still waiting to hear from UOP, Touro - Vallejo, and Hawai'i - Hilo. I got chosen as an alternate for Creighton's online program, but they won't make a decision till at least May to even interview the alternates. Good thing Creighton was my last choice.

Congrats, and thanks for the tips. I'm a post-bac too, and your story gives me hope! 😀

 

[pcyst111]

How early should we be there prior to our interviews and does it really take all 5 hours for the entire process? The invitation states that we should plan on being there for 5 hours. My time slot is 2:30, so then will I be done around 7:30ish?
Will all interviewees on that day be done around the same time? Any comments are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[stkyrice]

I actually got an interview myself for February 7 (I live in the Bay Area, and all the Bay Area folk are interviewed on Thursdays, and all the out-of-town folk are interviewed Friday/Saturday).
quote]
Congrat stkyrice. I have interview on the same date. When is yours? Mine is at 2:30 pm. I'm from Bay Area

Mine's at 2:30 too! I'll definitely see you there. 😀

 

[stkyrice]

How early should we be there prior to our interviews and does it really take all 5 hours for the entire process? The invitation states that we should plan on being there for 5 hours. My time slot is 2:30, so then will I be done around 7:30ish?
Will all interviewees on that day be done around the same time? Any comments are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

You really only need to be there for the first two parts, which are the writing question and the interview, as the letter stated. If you really want to, you can stick around and do other things like check out the campus, etc.

I work there, so I'm there all the frickin' time anyway. 🙂

 

[stkyrice]

Congrats, and thanks for the tips. I'm a post-bac too, and your story gives me hope! 😀

You're very welcome. I'm still seriously shocked that I made it, but like I said in the other thread, I think UCSF does a fairly good job of screening out who should get in or not, and I know that it takes a lot more than just a 4.0 GPA to get in. If anything, I guess I'm a good example of that. :/

I think for UCSF you really have to show you're serious, and they won't even look at you if you're doing postbac unless you've done some serious improvement in your grades. I freaked out when I got B's in 1st semester bio and 1st semester o-chem (I got C's in both 1st year bio and o-chem the first time around), but once I got used to taking science classes again, the A's started coming in.

I think the hardest part was remembering how hard it was taking all the classes that I got C's and D's the first time around, and thinking that you're just going to screw up again, even if it was 15+ years ago for me. It's funny how my brain did all these mindf***s when I was in the first few weeks in my retakes, but once I got the hang of it, I got over those initial fears. It also made me realize how much I wasn't paying attention the first time around, and just by really getting engaged in the material, talking to the profs, etc., makes a huge difference, especially when doing the letters of rec. Why were these classes so frickin' hard the first time around, and how the hell did they get so easy?! 🙂

I was looking at the FAQ of the students accepted into UCSF Pharm, and I'm pretty certain that everyone who got cumulative GPAs of 2.8-3 are people like me, who screwed up royally the first time around, and brought their grades up by working our butts off. UCSF averages everything you've done, and so I think it might give a lot of people a sense of false hope that all you need is a 2.8 or 3 to get in, when the real story is so much more complicated.

 

[lmao]

Do you guys know how UCSF decides who they'll take in? I mean, do people get picked after all the interviews are done in Feb or do they select students throughout the interview cycle (which would be a handicap for people who interview last)?

 

[Zwigglez]

Do you guys know how UCSF decides who they'll take in? I mean, do people get picked after all the interviews are done in Feb or do they select students throughout the interview cycle (which would be a handicap for people who interview last)?

UCSF will tell you that they wait until all the interviews are done, but I will say that I was accepted the 2nd week in February last year, which was about 1 week before the last interview date (my interview was the last week in January). This seemed to be an exception to the rule, however...I only know a few of my classmates who heard back this early. The majority heard in mid-March.

 

[happycow]

They must have really wanted you 🙂

 

[TrjTraddie]

happy new year!

high tuition, high living expenses, who would want to go here?

someone's a little bitter.

tuition at UCSF for instate residents is about $20K a year (10K cheaper than what you are expected to pay for a private doctorate program accross the US). living expenses arent so bad if you choose student housing (my gf pays $450 to share a suite in a nice house 2 minutes away from the gym, and then you get to live in the beautiful city of San Francisco. granted SF isnt a cheap city, the rich culture there is definetely worth it.

 

[futurepharmacy]

high tuition, high living expenses, who would want to go here?

 

[panbabylon]

high tuition, high living expenses, who would want to go here?

everyone 😉

 

[ExpressMaiL]

high tuition, high living expenses, who would want to go here?

High tuition? Compared to what? Back your claims before you open your mouth and make such hollow statements. Do you really want to live in some barren area that has nothing to do? Well, maybe you do.


http://www.aacp.org/Docs/MainNavigation/InstitutionalData/6860_Tab11PSAR.pdf

 

[FredDurst]

Just got back to San Diego to find an invite to interview at UCSF!!! Mines for Feb. 2. Good luck to you all in preparing.

 

[Gwalla]

high tuition, high living expenses, who would want to go here?

congrats....banned after 4 posts😆

 

[ScienceNerd]

I just got back home from a vacay in California (ironically, and I live in the east coast); just got the invite for Jan 25! Anyone else?

Also, are there any hotels that are close (or relatively close) to the school that I can use public transportation to get to the school? I know San Fran is not the most parking friendly city. I would really appreciate any information you guys could give!

 

[BoltsFan]

How early should we be there prior to our interviews and does it really take all 5 hours for the entire process? The invitation states that we should plan on being there for 5 hours. My time slot is 2:30, so then will I be done around 7:30ish?
Will all interviewees on that day be done around the same time? Any comments are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I know that last year, different people had their writing and interview portions at different times (depending on what color sticker you had on your folder). If I can remember correctly, my essay was the last part I completed during the whole visit. Thus, you should expect to be there for the entire process. I wouldn't recommend booking a flight before 830 or 9 if you start at 2:30 since you still have to get back to the airport on time.

 

[fatevsdestiny]

hotels in sf are very expensive, if I were you, I'll plan to arrive in the morning and leave the same day. You can spend around 30 bucks on super shuttle round trip if you plan on flying. If you plan to drive, you can park in the hospital visitor parking lot across ucsf hospital. Expect 6 hours for the entire interview process!

 

[terse]

i just officially declined my interview invitation, so that's an extra spot for you guys. good luck.

 

[cal687]

I just got back home from a vacay in California (ironically, and I live in the east coast); just got the invite for Jan 25! Anyone else?

Also, are there any hotels that are close (or relatively close) to the school that I can use public transportation to get to the school? I know San Fran is not the most parking friendly city. I would really appreciate any information you guys could give!

Did you check out all the links they gave you on that "secret" website they only give to interviewees? They had some hotels on the google and yahoo maps of the city that were pretty close by. I was thinking of staying at one of those, but then my friend offered to ask her friend who lives in SF if I could crash, so luckily I have a free couch to sleep on! Anyway, I'd check out those links, it seemed like you could find something nearby. If not, maybe look for something that's close to the N-line of the Muni (the light rail: sfmta.org) since that's what line the UCSF campus is on. Also, you could easily stay in the union square area I think (there are a lot of hotels there, although they are more expensive in general I guess) and take a combination of BART and Muni to get to UCSF. Transportation around SF is pretty good, so you shouldn't have too much trouble.

Anyway, hope that helps! I'm not an SF native, so maybe others have better ideas? Good luck with your interview!

 

[cal687]

CONGRATS everyone!! I know all of us P1's are eager to see you all waiting in the med sci lobby, looking nervous 🙂 If we can help you out at all, let me know (maybe an impromptu tour or something?). Best of luck 🙂

Hi Zwigglez! Since you have been so helpful with everything so far, I was wondering if I could ask a couple more questions about the interview...

My interview starts at 8:30am. They don't feed us, do they? I think I'm going to be starving by like noon. If I were to bring a powerbar or something, would I have time for a quick snack at some point, or would that be weird? Do they give you water bottles or anything? Also, in case I'm early, is there a good place to grab some coffee in the morning nearby?

Okay, and one more thing...I'll be taking BART/Muni from a friend's place to the interview. Is there anywhere for me to store a bag if I needed to, or should I just make sure I bring only whatever it is I want to carry with me on the interview? I'm planning to bring a small purse and a portfolio, if that makes any difference. I was thinking it would be nice to put everything in a tote to carry on public transportation, but only if there's somewhere I could hide it when I got there.

Sorry for the random questions...I'm just really new to interviewing and a little nervous! Thanks in advance!

 

[stkyrice]

I just got back home from a vacay in California (ironically, and I live in the east coast); just got the invite for Jan 25! Anyone else?

Also, are there any hotels that are close (or relatively close) to the school that I can use public transportation to get to the school? I know San Fran is not the most parking friendly city. I would really appreciate any information you guys could give!

The two closest hotels are Carl Hotel and Stanyan Park Hotel. Carl Hotel is literally less than a half a mile away, and you can just walk along Carl Street to get to campus. Stanyan Park Hotel is about one block north of Carl Hotel.

You can also go into any of the hotels/motels around downtown, then just take the N-Judah belowground train on Market Street and go Outbound. It stops right in front of the parking garage on Irving Street. It's only $1.50, and takes about 15-20 minutes.

 

[stkyrice]

Hi Zwigglez! Since you have been so helpful with everything so far, I was wondering if I could ask a couple more questions about the interview...

My interview starts at 8:30am. They don't feed us, do they? I think I'm going to be starving by like noon. If I were to bring a powerbar or something, would I have time for a quick snack at some point, or would that be weird? Do they give you water bottles or anything? Also, in case I'm early, is there a good place to grab some coffee in the morning nearby?

Okay, and one more thing...I'll be taking BART/Muni from a friend's place to the interview. Is there anywhere for me to store a bag if I needed to, or should I just make sure I bring only whatever it is I want to carry with me on the interview? I'm planning to bring a small purse and a portfolio, if that makes any difference. I was thinking it would be nice to put everything in a tote to carry on public transportation, but only if there's somewhere I could hide it when I got there.

Sorry for the random questions...I'm just really new to interviewing and a little nervous! Thanks in advance!

There's a market and a food court on the same level as where you'll be interviewing, and you can get a bottle of water for $1.00-$1.50. They also have candy, meal replacement bars, energy drinks, etc. There's also a lot of food court places there, like Subway, Panda Express, and Mexican food and pizza. After your interview, you can just walk westbound about 3-6 blocks and there'll be a ton of restaurants from sushi to Indian to Chinese to diner food. My personal favorites are San Tung (12th and Irving, Chinese-Korean place with AWESOME chicken wings); Naan 'n Curry, Indian takeout on Irving between 7th and 8th; and Lime, a Southeast Asian place on Irving between 6th and 7th that has Indonesian, Filipino, and Korean dishes. You can also check out Arizmendi Bakery for incredible vegetarian pizza, breakfast sweets, scones, and coffee on 9th between Irving and Judah. Darla's, the inspiration for the Diner Dash video games, is on Irving and 9th, and has great burgers.

If you want coffee, there's an onsite cafe called Palio which is literally 30 feet away from where you'll be interviewed, but if you really want to get Starbucks, you can go to the Parnassus Heights Building which is about 3 blocks east of Milberry Union. Why you'd want to get Starbucks when there's so many other options here in SF is beyond me. 🙂

 

[ScienceNerd]

Thanks for all the help. I will be staying at least one night, since I will spend the weekend visiting relatives outside of SF (they all have to work and live a few hours away so staying with them for my interview wasn't an option.

Thanks again everyone and good luck!

 

[happycow]

Does being offered an interview mean that all interviewees are considered equally in terms of final admissions decisions, or will they go back and look at everyone's file?

For example, even if I got an interview, I'm sure there are others that got interviews that are way more qualified than I am. Would they look at the original application/stats again (which would automatically give that other person a more likely chance for admission) along with the interview/essay, or are we all starting out at square one once we get the interview offer?

 

[Zwigglez]

Does being offered an interview mean that all interviewees are considered equally in terms of final admissions decisions, or will they go back and look at everyone's file?

For example, even if I got an interview, I'm sure there are others that got interviews that are way more qualified than I am. Would they look at the original application/stats again (which would automatically give that other person a more likely chance for admission) along with the interview/essay, or are we all starting out at square one once we get the interview offer?

No, they definitely go back and look at your file again. It wouldn't make sense not to!

 

[fatevsdestiny]

Does being offered an interview mean that all interviewees are considered equally in terms of final admissions decisions, or will they go back and look at everyone's file?

For example, even if I got an interview, I'm sure there are others that got interviews that are way more qualified than I am. Would they look at the original application/stats again (which would automatically give that other person a more likely chance for admission) along with the interview/essay, or are we all starting out at square one once we get the interview offer?

but..let's say my file is not very competitive compared to others and I rocked my interview I definitely got a very very good chance of getting in. In other words, your interview weighs significantly important. I only speak from my experience. I know others which had higher stats got an interview and did not get in. When it comes to interview, it all comes down to play time. IT is your time to SHINE. Prove it or loose it. Good luck to you and all other applicants this year.

 

[cal687]

There's a market and a food court on the same level as where you'll be interviewing, and you can get a bottle of water for $1.00-$1.50. They also have candy, meal replacement bars, energy drinks, etc. There's also a lot of food court places there, like Subway, Panda Express, and Mexican food and pizza. After your interview, you can just walk westbound about 3-6 blocks and there'll be a ton of restaurants from sushi to Indian to Chinese to diner food. My personal favorites are San Tung (12th and Irving, Chinese-Korean place with AWESOME chicken wings); Naan 'n Curry, Indian takeout on Irving between 7th and 8th; and Lime, a Southeast Asian place on Irving between 6th and 7th that has Indonesian, Filipino, and Korean dishes. You can also check out Arizmendi Bakery for incredible vegetarian pizza, breakfast sweets, scones, and coffee on 9th between Irving and Judah. Darla's, the inspiration for the Diner Dash video games, is on Irving and 9th, and has great burgers.

If you want coffee, there's an onsite cafe called Palio which is literally 30 feet away from where you'll be interviewed, but if you really want to get Starbucks, you can go to the Parnassus Heights Building which is about 3 blocks east of Milberry Union. Why you'd want to get Starbucks when there's so many other options here in SF is beyond me. 🙂

Thanks stkyrice! Those are great suggestions. Lime sounds really good! Looks like there's a good variety of interesting food in the area...I guess you'd expect that in SF! I just didn't know if UCSF was located near any of the great food spots in the city.

 

[fatevsdestiny]

I got a private message today regarding the interview tips on the essay portion. While typing my reply to this person, I thought it might be helpful if I also posted here:

I remember I was in the same boat with you last year, particularly on the writing part. I was not comfortable at all, and not with a lot of confidence. But I hope a few tips withdrawn from my entire experience would be helpful to you:

• The essay subjects most likely are like a scenario with several possible solutions and ask to pick one and explain why you would pick that one. Want an example? It is from my last year: "If you a governor of California and has 10 million in excess, would you invest in health care or education?"
• Think your solution. Then do a very quick draft on your head. Pick 2-3 main ideas why you choose what you chose. Start with an introduction paragraph, basically in your own words restating what they want, pick your solution, then your proposal how to do so. Then the next 2-3 paragraphs will contain each of your ideas that support your decision. Close with a conclusion paragraph reinforcing/supporting your decision.
• Please remember that the readers are not looking for beautiful, deep, rare vocabularies here. They are looking for STRUCTURE, and how you function as a structural person, whether you can take a subject and incorporate into your own thoughts in a scientific, straightforward, professional manner. Do not try to make your essay unique, beautiful, complicated. (avoid using slang).
• This is probably the toughest part on your interview, since you don't know which of the subjects will be handed to you. But what you can practice on is to pick any subject and begin to write. Pace yourself in 45 minutes and practice the technique I just suggested if you prefer to.

Hope this helps, good luck!
p.s. it might not be a problem-solution topic essay, please don't generalize my example as if it will appear on your essay topics. Usually you have a choice of three topics, and you could pick one as you prefer.