USC Class of 2012: Trojan Family Thread

[Farmercyst]

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How does the adcom select individuals for the Nov. Interviews? Is it based on how early the application is sent before the deadline? GPA based? Or a combination of both? If it is a combination, which one do you think is more important to them, GPA or earliness of submitting app? The reason I'm asking is that I hope I get accepted shortly after the nov. interview(hypothetically saying if I do get accepted) or else I'll be taking 20hrs for my second semester. I'm already going to have to take 20hrs next semester.😱

If I had to guess, I'd say it's a combination of both. Obviously they get tons of applications before the deadline, and there has to be some minimum amount of time they have to review the application and prioritize it (by whatever method they use.) If your application is not received by then you couldn't be interviewed in November because they wouldn't have sufficient time to thoroughly review your application. For those that are received on-time it can't be completely by GPA or only those with the upper GPA range (let's say 3.8-4.0) would be selected for the 1st interview. It wouldn't surprise me if there were a minimum GPA for 1st interview, but I wouldn't swear by it.

*edit* Just checked and this is pretty much correct. GPA weighs heavily, but is not the only factor used to filter applicants whose applications are received early enough to be considered for November interview. Completeness and ability to follow directions are also considered, in addition to communication ability (e.g. PS/supplemental essay)

 

[Farmercyst]

Hi, farmercyst. Will you be interviewing students on Sat? Also, only pharmacy students from yr2 to yr 4 are allowing to do interviews, right? Thanks. Hope to see you there.🙂

It's pretty much P2-P4, but there was a back-up at the last interview that was a P1. I don't know if he was used or not. I'll be in the lobby for any last minute questions and to kinda break the ice with the jittery ones. You know, the ones who don't access interview feedback or aren't on SDN😉

 

[Farmercyst]

Looks like they're interviewing 130 people on Saturday instead of only 100. Good news for the 30, not so good news for the competition. Just an update.

 

[misspharm]

Wow, there will be a lot of completition then...........

 

[terse]

^^that's still much better than the 150 they interviewed in Nov.

 

[Farmercyst]

^^that's still much better than the 150 they interviewed in Nov.

True, but 1/3 of them were admitted. I don't see that happening this time.

 

[shehsheh]

True, but 1/3 of them were admitted. I don't see that happening this time.

What do you mean?

 

[misspharm]

Also, USC may not give all the ~40 seats to the people in the last interview only, they may also look at people on the active consideration. It is going to be super difficult to get in. Whoever gets in will be excellent and lucky

 

[kevintech]

What do you mean?

He means, it'll be cut-throat this interview session. Everyone is fighting for those last seats...unlike back in November, when more seats were available.

 

[misspharm]

What time is the first group for the interview? Would parking be a problem because so many people are going to be there?

 

[shehsheh]

He means, it'll be cut-throat this interview session. Everyone is fighting for those last seats...unlike back in November, when more seats were available.

I'm just wondering if the 130 people for this interview will the primary candidates for the ~40ish spots... or if they will consider everybody (even those on active consideration) equally? I hope they consider everybody.

 

[UCSD FARM]

Looks like they're interviewing 130 people on Saturday instead of only 100. Good news for the 30, not so good news for the competition. Just an update.

What???? That's sux.. more competition. how did that happen? They told me it is only 100 students. thanks for the update.


Hi Farmercyst!!
I also have a question. I heard that people who got conditionally accepted cannot recieve a grade that is lower than B for their prereq. (I am not sure if it is true!!) I got a C for my introdutory physics (Physics A) long time ago.. and i have an interveiw on Sat. (The physics I took is for engineering students. but i recieve A for Physic B and B for Physics C which are not shown on the lack letter. ) I don't know if this is going to make my application weaker than other people. But i have really good grades like A and A+s for my upper division science course (Not prereq). Please help me clearify this..

 

[powertoold]

What???? That's sux.. more competition. how did that happen? They told me it is only 100 students. thanks for the update.


Hi Farmercyst!!
I also have a question. I heard that people who got conditionally accepted cannot recieve a grade that is lower than B for their prereq. (I am not sure if it is true!!) I got a C for my introdutory physics (Physics A) long time ago.. and i have an interveiw on Sat. (The physics I took is for engineering students. but i recieve A for Physic B and B for Physics C which are not shown on the lack letter. ) I don't know if this is going to make my application weaker than other people. But i have really good grades like A and A+s for my upper division science course (Not prereq). Please help me clearify this..

I believe the conditional requirement is to achieve a 3.0 or above. That is what they said in their paper.

 

[DonaldR]

What is a typical day like for you? As in, what is your weekly course schedule like?

What is the externship like your first year? Is it at a hospital on campus? How many hours a week is it?

Are a lot of people in your class spending the summer working in the Los Angeles area?

 

[Farmercyst]

What do you mean?

Lots of Questions, I'll try to answer as best I can.

As far as what I meant by 1/3 of Nov were accepted, not likely for this interview is that with November they only had 150 candidates to consider, of those 55 were taken. This interview 130 are being interviewed, but they have 260+/- (including active consideration) to consider, only 40 they actually have seats for (though really it'll probably be more than that to provide a buffer for those that decline us) even if they take the entire 40-45 out of the 130 and leave active consideration to wait (not likely) that accounts for 1/3. Therefore, given the odds of them not taking anyone from active consideration is very low, a 33% acceptance from JUST the March interviewers is also low.

 

[Farmercyst]

I'm just wondering if the 130 people for this interview will the primary candidates for the ~40ish spots... or if they will consider everybody (even those on active consideration) equally? I hope they consider everybody.

My guess is they'll prioritize everyone, including active consideration, and pick the cream from the top. The best performers in March's interview will probably be better than those who weren't selected from prior interviews. I'd be surprised if people who interviewed earlier weren't naturally weighted above those that interviewed later though given that they would have been filtered somewhat in terms of priority of interview selection. Meaning: All else being equal, including quality of interview, those that interviewed earlier would probably win out. I know I've been spreading sunshine and rainbows for most of the thread, but we're quickly approaching reality time. I hope this proves more helpful than the appearance of hopelessness.

 

[shehsheh]

My guess is they'll prioritize everyone, including active consideration, and pick the cream from the top. The best performers in March's interview will probably be better than those who weren't selected from prior interviews. I'd be surprised if people who interviewed earlier weren't naturally weighted above those that interviewed later though given that they would have been filtered somewhat in terms of priority of interview selection. Meaning: All else being equal, including quality of interview, those that interviewed earlier would probably win out. I know I've been spreading sunshine and rainbows for most of the thread, but we're quickly approaching reality time. I hope this proves more helpful than the appearance of hopelessness.

Thanks 🙂

 

[Farmercyst]

What time is the first group for the interview? Would parking be a problem because so many people are going to be there?

I believe first interview is 8:30 am, but you guys would probably know better than me, I showed up at 6:45am last time because I forgot we (students) were supposed to be there at 7:45 am. Parking should not be a problem as there are no classes tomorrow and I'm not aware of any other events on campus. The meters along Biggy St and San Pablo are typically vacant and only $0.25/hr. If those are full then there's always the Biggy lot (I believe that's where they tell you to park in the interview invite.) But I'd save the $6.00 and use meters if you don't mind walking the extra 100 feet or whatever it is.

 

[Farmercyst]

What???? That's sux.. more competition. how did that happen? They told me it is only 100 students. thanks for the update.


Hi Farmercyst!!
I also have a question. I heard that people who got conditionally accepted cannot recieve a grade that is lower than B for their prereq. (I am not sure if it is true!!) I got a C for my introdutory physics (Physics A) long time ago.. and i have an interveiw on Sat. (The physics I took is for engineering students. but i recieve A for Physic B and B for Physics C which are not shown on the lack letter. ) I don't know if this is going to make my application weaker than other people. But i have really good grades like A and A+s for my upper division science course (Not prereq). Please help me clearify this..

That's cumulative. As long as you get a C or better in any remaining prereqs and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better you'll be fine. Most of you would have to try pretty darn hard to drop below 3.0 based on average GPA at acceptance and the fact that 98% will have a bachelor's (read: "lots of credit hours")

 

[Farmercyst]

What is a typical day like for you? As in, what is your weekly course schedule like?

What is the externship like your first year? Is it at a hospital on campus? How many hours a week is it?

Are a lot of people in your class spending the summer working in the Los Angeles area?

I'll post the link for this as I posted it in the "What's pharm school like" thread.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=463182 or for the exact post
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5782694&postcount=8


As far as externship, they're all over. Some are at USC university hospital, others at LAC+USC hospital, Norris Cancer Hospital , and Women and Children's hosptial (all on campus). There's not enough spots for these though, so some are elsewhere. My hospital rotation was out in Monrovia, others are in Burbank, Glendale, etc. The community (retail/outpatient)rotations are more widespread. I went to a Sav-on in Arcadia for mine, but there are some near campus as well.

As for the summer, I'm not sure what everyone is doing. They've had interviews on campus for internships at Walgreens, CVS, Longs, and Target. I think some people may be going back home (Bay area or whatever) to work. Next year I'm strongly considering doing a COSTEP with the Public Health Service so who knows where that'll take me. In short, the majority will probably stick around, but not everyone.

 

[terse]

Farmercyst,
Instead of doing internships, Jim said that you could do some of your rotations during the summer. Is it hard to get those summer rotations? Can any student do them? Or is it limited? How many if so and is it based on GPA or something? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks in advance.

 

[Farmercyst]

Farmercyst,
Instead of doing internships, Jim said that you could do some of your rotations during the summer. Is it hard to get those summer rotations? Can any student do them? Or is it limited? How many if so and is it based on GPA or something? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks in advance.

Intern hours can be worked in any number of ways for any number of employers. Summer internships with the different companies are limited and competitive, though not necessarily GPA based. Some may have a minimum GPA, others may take GPA into consideration when determining who gets to fill the position, but most of them require an interview. If you don't get a company based internship, any old job that pays you as a pharmacy intern can be used to meet the minimum intern hours required by the Board of Pharmacy for licensure. What Jim meant by "rotations" is hard to say. For instance, the 1st year IPPE rotations can't be done over the summer. The 2nd year I.V. rotations start before school and go through the spring semester of 2nd year. So technically you could do them in the summer preceding your 2nd year, but you don't really get much choice in that matter. Third year, I don't know if they have any school sponsored rotations, but I don't think they do. 4th year APPE rotations (clerkships) can be started the summer preceding your fourth year and you must complete 6 for graduation. These are the unpaid school rotations though, not like the paid summer intern programs. I'm not sure if that answers your question, or if perhaps you'd like to clarify and I can try again. Either way the information may at least be useful, even if it doesn't really answer the question.

 

[terse]

^Thanks for the quick response. But what I was referring to when I said "rotations", was the unpaid school sponsored rotations (that everyone does as a fourth year). Jim said that some of these rotations can be completed during summers, so you can actually finish with your 4th year rotations many months before June of your graduation year.

You said, "4th year APPE rotations (clerkships) can be started the summer preceding your fourth year and you must complete 6 for graduation." So does mean those students starting early end way before June? Do you have any more info on this? (like can any student do them? Or is it limited? How many if so and is it based on GPA or something? etc). Thanks again!

 

[Farmercyst]

^Thanks for the quick response. But what I was referring to when I said "rotations", was the unpaid school sponsored rotations (that everyone does as a fourth year). Jim said that some of these rotations can be completed during summers, so you can actually finish with your 4th year rotations many months before June of your graduation year.

You said, "4th year APPE rotations (clerkships) can be started the summer preceding your fourth year and you must complete 6 for graduation." So does mean those students starting early end way before June? Do you have any more info on this? (like can any student do them? Or is it limited? How many if so and is it based on GPA or something? etc). Thanks again!

My understanding is it's somewhat of a lottery. Everyone has to do them (ACPE requirement) so I don't think there's a GPA requirement per se. (You've gotta have a 3.0 to get into fourth year anyway) They actually had their annual clerkship fair today. Most of the preceptors come out and you can ask them questions about their rotation. I picked up some info on the pediatrics rotation at LAC/USC today while I was there. It's geared for third years so they can decide which rotations they want to do and which preceptors they want to have. You won't be able to start rotations until after the end of your third year at the earliest because you have to finish all the Therapeutics modules. So it's not like you can do one after the first year, one after the second, and the remaining four the summer of your third year and graduate a year ahead or anything. At best you'd start in like June and finish 36+ weeks later. Essentially you select X rotations and they come back and tell you which ones they had room left in that you wanted. I'm not sure how starting early affects whether or not you get more of the desired rotations. BMBiology would be better here.

 

[terse]

Great info Farmer, thanks once again!

 

[BMBiology]

You've gotta have a 3.0 to get into fourth year anyway

I thought you need a 3.0 to graduate? Has it been changed? Anyways, you can start your 4th year clerkship at the end of your 3rd year in May. USC offers a total of 8 rotation slots (Summer 1, 2; Fall 1, 2, 3; Spring 1, 2, 3) per year but you are required to only do 6 rotations. So, some students decide to take Summer 1 and 2 off to get a good rest. The sites are generally pretty good like VA, LAC-USC, University Hospital, Ceder Sinei but it is becoming competitive nowadays because some pharmacy schools are willing to pay sites to take their students but USC has refused to do so.

 

[Srah]

Farmercyst I think you should get paid lol . Really you are a great help. Lot of people have same questions so your answers help a lot. Thanks!

 

[noodletw]

Farmercyst,
I was wondering if we could call USC to find out where exactly we are on the list for those who are on the active consideration list. Will the admission staff tell us if we call to ask? Thanks for your info!

 

[Farmercyst]

Farmercyst,
I was wondering if we could call USC to find out where exactly we are on the list for those who are on the active consideration list. Will the admission staff tell us if we call to ask? Thanks for your info!

If I remember right, the answer is no. Once the waitlist is compiled you do get a number, but it's dynamic and I don't believe they update you when your number changes either. You can always call and ask, but if you do, post afterwards so they don't get flooded with calls if the answer is no. If the answer is yes, well, they deserve what they get right.

 

[ExpressMaiL]

It's pretty much P2-P4, but there was a back-up at the last interview that was a P1. I don't know if he was used or not. I'll be in the lobby for any last minute questions and to kinda break the ice with the jittery ones. You know, the ones who don't access interview feedback or aren't on SDN😉

Lobby of the Stauffer Pharmaceutical Sciences Center? The letter says to check in at the PSC; just to verify, this is the building directly adjacent to the P6 (Biggy Street Structure) right? Thanks.

 

[DonaldR]

Questions for Farmercyst:

I was looking at public transportation in the area.

How far away is the nearest subway station from the health sciences campus? I didn't have time to explore the campus very much while I was there.

Is the tram that takes you from the main campus to the health sciences campus free with a USC ID?

What is public transportation like near the health sciences campus?

 

[Farmercyst]

Lobby of the Stauffer Pharmaceutical Sciences Center? The letter says to check in at the PSC; just to verify, this is the building directly adjacent to the P6 (Biggy Street Structure) right? Thanks.

Sorry, but I'm assuming you found it. It is adjacent to Biggy Structure

 

[Farmercyst]

Questions for Farmercyst:

I was looking at public transportation in the area.

How far away is the nearest subway station from the health sciences campus? I didn't have time to explore the campus very much while I was there.

Is the tram that takes you from the main campus to the health sciences campus free with a USC ID?

What is public transportation like near the health sciences campus?

I believe nearest subway would be Union Station, but I wouldn't swear to it. I don't really use it. The tram to main campus is free. There's also a tram to Union Station and a Tram to the satellite campus (med school) in Alhambra. Other than that there are buses going by all the time.

 

[needpharmhelp]

so it is all done... what do you guys think about the interview?... good.. bad.. piece of ****... blah.. blah..blah... just post whatever you have to say about it..

I think it wasn't that bad. students are very friendly.. can't wait to get the letter from USC. it is my last one and my only hope. good luck guys.. let me know when you guys recieve any letter..

 

[terse]

I thought you need a 3.0 to graduate? Has it been changed? Anyways, you can start your 4th year clerkship at the end of your 3rd year in May. USC offers a total of 8 rotation slots (Summer 1, 2; Fall 1, 2, 3; Spring 1, 2, 3) per year but you are required to only do 6 rotations. So, some students decide to take Summer 1 and 2 off to get a good rest. The sites are generally pretty good like VA, LAC-USC, University Hospital, Ceder Sinei but it is becoming competitive nowadays because some pharmacy schools are willing to pay sites to take their students but USC has refused to do so.

thanks BMB. so can any student do those rotations during slots Summer 1, 2? or is it by lottery or GPA? it'd be awesome to do it then, so you could have most of Spring off, maybe to study for the boards.

 

[rxliteguy]

so it is all done... what do you guys think about the interview?... good.. bad.. piece of ****... blah.. blah..blah... just post whatever you have to say about it..

I think it wasn't that bad. students are very friendly.. can't wait to get the letter from USC. it is my last one and my only hope. good luck guys.. let me know when you guys recieve any letter..

i felt i did my job of communicating to my interviewers what I wanted to say. I'm not completely sure how they read into that. Being there is 130 applicants being inteviewed today, I'm crossing my finger that I get one of those 40 or so seats. Of course, I wish thre rest of you the best of luck. The next 3-4 weeks will very stressful for all of us.

 

[ExpressMaiL]

The coffee was tasty.

 

[BMBiology]

thanks BMB. so can any student do those rotations during slots Summer 1, 2? or is it by lottery or GPA? it'd be awesome to do it then, so you could have most of Spring off, maybe to study for the boards.

Everyone ranks their clerkship rotation choices and the computer decides which is supposedly be fair for everyone. GPA is not taken into consideration. Yes, you can take Spring 2, 3 off to study for the board or Spring 1 off to prepare for residency/fellowship interviews.

 

[misspharm]

I think it really depends on the interviewers. The whole experience was ok, short and quick. I just think the article was a little tough.
BTW, farmercyst, were you there in the interview? Were you the tall guy wearing a grey green shirt?

 

[AznGTOi3oi]

Hello everybody, i haven't been here in for a whole year, reading all your posts is kinda of nostalgic, i remeber the days of applying probably one of the most stressful and emotional tasks i ever done, but probably most rewarding at the end. I so totally missed out on giving you guys some confidence for the interviews, but i'll be gladly to help by asking any questions, good luck on the the application process, remember to never give up and never surrender!

If you look in the sky and you don't see yourself dreaming, don't feel defeated cause trust me you can build it!

 

[Farmercyst]

I think it really depends on the interviewers. The whole experience was ok, short and quick. I just think the article was a little tough.
BTW, farmercyst, were you there in the interview? Were you the tall guy wearing a grey green shirt?

Yep, that was me. I heard a couple people asked one of my classmates which one Farmercyst was and she didn't know. She came up later and asked me if it was me. Oh well, see ya in the Fall perhaps.

 

[ExpressMaiL]

Yep, that was me. I heard a couple people asked one of my classmates which one Farmercyst was and she didn't know. She came up later and asked me if it was me. Oh well, see ya in the Fall perhaps.

Hmm... I was trying to scope you out but I couldn't find you. Were you in the lobby before the 9:00 AM group?

 

[misspharm]

Yep, that was me. I heard a couple people asked one of my classmates which one Farmercyst was and she didn't know. She came up later and asked me if it was me. Oh well, see ya in the Fall perhaps.

I talked to you. I was the asian girl who was in 8:30am group. The one with white shirt and black suit. We talked for 20 minutes or so. I have feeling you are farmercyst when you told me the statistic posted on sdn. I guess I was right. Thanks for your help.🙂

 

[AutumnCloud]

Yep, that was me. I heard a couple people asked one of my classmates which one Farmercyst was and she didn't know. She came up later and asked me if it was me. Oh well, see ya in the Fall perhaps.

Hey, I remember you too. I also talked to you before my 9:40am interview. I was in the group of four that you talked to for a while. You were indeed very helpful at the interview. Thanks so much!🙂 I hope I get into USC so i'll see you guys there next year.

 

[Farmercyst]

Hmm... I was trying to scope you out but I couldn't find you. Were you in the lobby before the 9:00 AM group?

Yeah, I got there before 8am, but I had to keep ducking in and out cuz I was also one of the people responsible for getting the interviewees to the interview rooms.

 

[zeolite]

wow farmercyst you're quite the popular one. I guess I'll see you at the welcome reception or next semester

 

[kismet]

so it is all done... what do you guys think about the interview?... good.. bad.. piece of ****... blah.. blah..blah... just post whatever you have to say about it..

I think it wasn't that bad. students are very friendly.. can't wait to get the letter from USC. it is my last one and my only hope. good luck guys.. let me know when you guys recieve any letter..

I am in the same boat.. only interview, only hope! But the interview was a pretty great experience.. the students in the lobby and at the end were very friendly and honest, the chat with Jim was nice, the interview was quick and friendly, like a 20 minute chat.. I feel positive but I just hope I got across everything I wanted to! The article was a little wierd? but the 20 minutes was more than adequate. I think I'm more nervous now that I have to wait 4 weeks and there's nothing more I can do.

 

[pcyst111]

Is that how long we have to wait to hear back from USC for their final (well kind of final I guess) decision? Did Jim say much about this?

 

[DonaldR]

Can you pick which locations where you want to do your 1st year pharmacy experiences?

Can you do any of your 4th year rotations in other states?

Thanks in advance Famercyst for your help.

 

[ExpressMaiL]

4-5 weeks.