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Step 3: Interview Process

The primary purpose of the interview is to assess your communication skills, but we are also interested in your problem-solving skills and your ability to think critically.

When will I be interviewed?

Interviews are by invitation only. They are scheduled from late January through mid-February and are held at UCSF. We begin mailing invitations in mid-December. The invitations will include instructions for accepting or declining the offer. All applicants are notified of their application status by the end of January.

Do I have to be interviewed?

Yes. The interview is a required part of the application process. If you decline our invitation, your application will be canceled and you cannot be considered for admission.

What happens on the day of the interview?

Interview: A 2-person team, usually a faculty member and an advanced standing student pharmacist, will interview you. Although a major focus of the interview is assessing your communication skills, the interviewers will also be interested in your knowledge of pharmacy and your motivation to enter the profession.

Essay Exercise: You will be given 45 minutes to write an essay on one of 3 topics. These topics are not academic in nature, nor do they test your knowledge in specific subjects. This exercise can help the admissions committee assess your writing skills, as well as your problem solving and critical thinking abilities.

How should I prepare?

Practice your communication skills and spontaneous writing skills. Try writing an essay on a random topic to hone your analytical and organizational writing skills. If you feel that you have difficulty communicating, or with interviews in general, consider taking a public speaking or communications course to build up your confidence. In addition, you should research the field of pharmacy and have some awareness of current issues in health care. For example, see Yahoo! Health or Yahoo! Pharmacy.

How do I get to my interview?

More photos: Virtual Tour

• Maps & Locations
• Learn how to get around
• Parnassus buildings by letter code or by name

Your interview invitation will have more details.

Where can I stay overnight?

See Information for Visitors.

Interview Tips

1. Be relaxed, be yourself, but be prepared. You need to have a sound understanding of the interview process. This is a first impression exercise, and you need to come across as calm, self-confident, emotionally stable, bright, mature, and disciplined.
2. Be certain to retain copies of all school-specific narratives and familiarize yourself with what you wrote before you interview.
3. Review your personal statement carefully before each interview.
4. Familiarize yourself with current trends in the field of pharmacy and health care in general.

More on this topic in our admissions director's blog

Although not required reading, you'll find additional comments in A Successful Interview Day: Expectation Meets Preparation, a blog post by Admissions Director Joel W. Gonzales.

Next Step: Step 4: After Applying