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U2 Pharm D Program InterviewFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Updated 8/01/2011

Who is affected by this new rule?

All U2 Doctor of Pharmacy Students (class of 2016, catalog year 2010), startingin fall 2011, and all subsequent classes of U2 Doctor of Pharmacy students mustsuccessfully complete an interview for progression into the professional years of thepharmacy program.

Why now?The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) sets the standards(requirements) for Doctor of Pharmacy Programs throughout the US. This body alsoevaluates how well those programs meet the standards theyve set forth in light of bestpractices in the profession. Graduation from an accredited Doctor of Pharmacy Programis required to be eligible for licensure as a pharmacist.

One of the standards established by ACPE requires interviews of all Doctor of Pharmacy students prior to entry into the professional years of the program, as a means toassess their understanding of and dedication to the profession as well as their ability tocommunicate effectively. ACPE recently notified us that we must implement therequired interview during the next academic year (2011-12) in order to maintain our fullyaccredited status. Thus, plans for a gradual inclusion of interviews into the transitionfrom the pre-professional years into the professional years of the pharmacy program havenow been accelerated. We will institute interviews of all U2 Pharm D students startingin fall 2011. More information about accreditation of pharmacy programs can be foundon the ACPE website, acpe-accredit.org.

What does the interview entail?The interview essentially will be a conversation (about 30 minutes) between you

and two faculty or staff from PCP about the profession of pharmacy. During theinterview, your verbal communication skills and your understanding of the professionwill be assessed independently by the interviewers. You will also have the opportunity to

address any concerns you may have about the program, what will be expected of you as astudent pharmacist, and how best to optimize your success.You will be informed of your interview date and location at the beginning of the

fall semester by university email. All interviews for rising U2 students will be completedby December 1 st of the fall U2 semester. Notification of successful interview completionwill be made by letter to students as soon as possible after the interview. Successfulcompletion of the interview (based on the evaluation of the two interviewers), plus

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meeting all other requirements of the Pharm D program, will ensure automaticprogression into the professional years of the pharmacy program.

The details and schedules for this process are still under development; moredetailed information will be available for you at the beginning of the fall semester andwill be communicated via university email, postings on the PCP Central Repository (on

Angel), and through class meetings/information sessions.

What happens if the interview does not go well?If you are unsuccessful in the interview process (i.e. after a second round), you

will not be able to progress into the professional years of the pharmacy program, even if you have met the other requirements for progression (cum gpa >3.00, naturalscience/math gpa > 2.50, all required pre-professional coursework completed atUSciences). At the end of the spring 2012 semester, you will be administrativelywithdrawn from the Doctor of Pharmacy program, with an option to apply to otherprograms or colleges within the university as an internal change of major. [If your cumgpa is > 2.70, you will be reviewed for readmission into P1 of the program on a

competitive basis, space permitting. If not readmitted, you will have the option to applyto other programs and/or colleges within the university.]

Is there any opportunity for a re-interview if I am unsuccessful thefirst time?

Students who are not successful in the interview process during the fall semesterwill be advised on how they may improve their deficiencies and these students will begranted an additional opportunity to interview during the spring semester. No furtheropportunities will be available after the second interview.

Can I be exempted from the interview requirement?No. Interviewing students is an accreditation requirement. All students mustsuccessfully complete the interview to progress to the professional years of the pharmacyprogram.

What can I do to prepare?You may not realize that you have already been preparing for this interview

during your first college year by being an engaged student who is committed, caring, andaccountable in your studies and who is open to being involved and active in theprofessional and extracurricular activities on campus. A good nights sleep prior to yourscheduled interview plus a good understanding of the expectations for the pharmacyprofession and the willingness and wherewithal to discuss your perspectives on theprofession will help your presentation. Thus, your best preparation for the interview arethe knowledge, skills, and self-confidence youve built in your college career so far, andan awareness of the attributes, skills and values associated with the profession of pharmacy.

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The Career Center has information on preparing for interviews. You can accesssome of their posted materials directly from the USciences website, or contact themdirectly for interview-related workshops or for an appointment.

Where do I go if I still have questions?Please bring your questions or concerns about the rationale, process, or nature of

the new interview requirement to the PCP Deans Office (GH 2016; 215-596-8870), toAssistant Deans Mandos or Morel ( l.mandos@USciences.edu ; d.morel@USciences.edu ),or be sure to raise them during the class meeting(s)/information sessions that will bescheduled early in the fall.