Yikes!...

Our first interview day for this admissions cycle is in two days! Any topic ideas for the on-site essay? Suggestions always welcomed......

In Their Own Words: Doug

(Editor's note: This is the fourth of a multi-part series I'm titling "In Their Own Words". I'll start by highlighting student committee members and then perhaps introduce you to faculty members as time and space allows. In addition to getting to know a little about them, this will also give you insight into the admissions process. Hopefully, this will also allow you to put real faces/names behind what is often characterized as a mysterious and secret process. Students play a huge role in our annual admissions cycle, serving as full-fledged members of our committee. Students serve a two-year term during their 3rd and 4th years of the program. Many of the same qualities that got them into pharmacy school -- leadership, commitment, maturity, etc. -- are what landed them a spot on the admissions committee. Doug is, well, hmmm... Doug is.... quite unique. First of all, he entered the program with a very different perspective and skill-set than most of our students -- so his contribution to the admissions committee has been extremely valuable. Doug always reminds us that unique backgrounds add to the richness and diversity of our student body. He's very funny and can be seen in some of our student-profile videos I previously posted. He's got an amazing future in industry ahead of him. One thing I think is a bit odd about Doug is his love/obsession for John Tesh's music. Ha! Read on....)

Hometown: The more exotic answer would be Saint Louis, but San Jose applies for most of those formative years.

Previous institutions attended: UC Santa Cruz and Front Range Community College (Westminster, CO – to finish up pre-reqs and some much needed refresher courses)

Undergraduate Major: marine biology baby!

Why did you apply to be a member of the Admissions Committee and what have you enjoyed the most?

The sheer power of controlling the future.  Kidding (maybe…)  The real answer would be: I am really interested and invested in creating a more innovative future for pharmacy as a profession and I believe that process begins with the academic community we can create by broadening the admissions approach.  Participating on the committee enabled me to not only learn about the process but also test my point of view amongst peers of the profession, and proved extremely rewarding.

What surprised you most about UCSF’s admissions process?

As a student, my opinions and recommendations were in fact taken with equal weight to everyone else’s. 

In your opinion, what are the most common mistakes applicants make?

Lack of insightfulness…  I saw a ton of descriptions of pre-pharm activities, which are valid and good, but devoid of any explanation of what the student learned from them.  I really hope that student’s will be able to synthesize a list of their own qualifications into an insightful explanation of experience.  Many cannot do this.

What stands out to you on an application?

Something unique and, to be honest, non-pharmacy-related.  If you’ve been able to blend your presumed interest in pharmacy with some other original, honest life-pursuit, that is a major benefit.  Think about it: what makes academic life engaging? Answer: discourse generated from different life perspectives.  Therefore: show us you have something to say.

What are your pet peeve(s) when interviewing an applicant or reviewing a file? (What drives you crazy?)

A rehearsed answer is more painful to sit through than a John Tesh concert.  Seriously, the interview process is a chance to get to know a candidate beyond what we can glean from the submitted application.  If a potential student fails to realize this and shows up with prefab responses, everyone’s time is wasted; disingenuous and surface performances don’t impress anyone.

What characteristics are necessary in order to succeed in UCSF’s PharmD program?

Bummer answer: superhuman memorization abilities (I actually don’t possess this unfortunately).  Inspirational answer: an innate drive to approach the program with curiosity and a personal sense of ambition above and beyond just learning all the facts. 

What tools or resources would you recommend to prospective applicants?

By all means come visit the school!  The website is of course essential too.  Most importantly, look at multiple programs – just because UCSF is ranked highly does not mean it is the best program for everyone’s interests and learning styles.  Interviewing at schools across the country really helped me to solidify why I would want to come to UCSF.  The rankings were not a top priority and are only a reflection of past performance – don’t presume that a high ranking guarantees one’s intellectual fit.

What single piece of advice would you give to a prospective applicant?

Make the MOST of your time as an undergrad and pursue a breadth of interests.  Pharmacy as a profession does not need more automatons who have studied along a single track since diaper days.

Why do you think you were admitted into UCSF’s PharmD program?

I invested a lot of time in the application, took some risks, and tried hard to think critically in my essays.  I do have a non-traditional background and benefited from recommendation letters from some key mentors who really knew me well.  But beyond my background, I represented myself as a varied individual with a formed perspective of how to take pharmacy knowledge in an innovative direction.  I’m pretty sure that helped.

What do you do for fun?

I love road trips, hikes with my scraggly dog, and researching new music trends. (The SF Bay Area is extra-great for such activities…)  

To read previous "In Their Own Words" postings, visit:

Gloria
Margrit
Caroline

Meet more students in our PharmD program by visiting our
Student Profiles page! 

In Their Own Words: Gloria

(Editor's note: This is the third of a multi-part series I'm titling "In Their Own Words". I'll start by highlighting student committee members and then perhaps introduce you to faculty members as time and space allows. In addition to getting to know a little about them, this will also give you insight into the admissions process. Hopefully, this will also allow you to put real faces/names behind what is often characterized as a mysterious and secret process. Students play a huge role in our annual admissions cycle, serving as full-fledged members of our committee. Students serve a two-year term during their 3rd and 4th years of the program. Many of the same qualities that got them into pharmacy school -- leadership, commitment, maturity, etc. -- are what landed them a spot on the admissions committee. To me, Gloria epitomizes the word kind. I honestly think she's one of the nicest individuals I have ever met. Authentic. Genuine. What she brings to the Admissions Committee is just a real passion for UCSF, the pharmacy profession, and a caring heart.)

Name: Gloria
Year: Class of 2012
Hometown: Diamond Bar, CA
Previous institutions attended: University of California, Los Angeles (GO BRUINS!) (Bachelor of Science)
Undergraduate Major: psychobiology

Why did you apply to be a member of the Admissions Committee and what have you enjoyed the most?
Curiosity played a big part in my decision to apply. I've always been intrigued by the admissions process and enjoyed interacting with prospective students through Pharmacy Information Days, interview chatroom sessions and mentorship programs such as PhAMLI. The admissions process seemed like a magical and mysterious process, so naturally, I wanted to learn all of the "secrets" behind it! Now that I've been on the committee for a year as a student member, I can happily say that the admissions process is one of the most open and collaborative processes I've seen in pharmacy school. The most enjoyable part for me has been reading the essays and stories of each applicant file I review. I truly enjoy getting to know each applicant through the various pieces of the application and love it when I come across essays written with passion, emotion and depth.

In your opinion, what are the most common mistakes applicants make?
Being too nervous during the interview! Your personality won't be able to shine through if you are too nervous.

What stands out to you on an application?
Enthusiasm for the profession and the potential to innovate and influence change in the field of pharmacy.

What are your pet peeve(s) when interviewing an applicant or reviewing a file? (What drives you crazy?)
I am always peeved when applicants throw around pharmacy buzz words that they don't really know the meaning of -- both when interviewing and on the application. Common examples: medication therapy management, pharmacogenomics, cost-effectiveness of medications, translational science, clinical pharmacy... the list goes on. There are definitely a lot of applicants that can speak knowledgeably about these topics and I definitely encourage sharing your understanding of the profession but don't use words that you don't really know the meaning of! If you get asked about a topic you are not familiar with, be honest about it, don't try to make something up.

What characteristics are necessary in order to succeed in UCSF’s PharmD program?
I believe that the necessary characteristics are different for each person. For me, I would say confidence, perseverance, humility and balance. I had to really build up confidence to step into various leadership roles and purposely put myself in situations where I knew I would be challenged and therefore grow. Without perseverance, I could not have made it through those extremely busy days. Humility is so important in recognizing that learning will be a continuous life-long process. Lastly, balance. UCSF offers so many wonderful opportunities to get involved so balance is key. Of course this is all still a work in progress...

What tools or resources would you recommend to prospective applicants?
Use tools and resources that will help you understand the profession of pharmacy on a personal level. Get in touch with people who are currently in pharmacy school. Shadow a pharmacist you know. Visit UCSF or take a tour. Join a pre-pharmacy society if your school has one. Get first hand experience if you can afford to work or volunteer. Attend a pharmacy planned health fair or pharmacy information day. Reading this blog is definitely a start!

What single piece of advice would you give to a prospective applicant?
Find a school that is a good fit for YOU. I love UCSF and I think the pharmacy program here is excellent but it may not be the perfect program for every person out there who want a PharmD. Don't spend so much time thinking about the "correct" responses for essay questions and don't forget that the application process is a two way street. As much as we are evaluating you, you are also evaluating us.

Why do you think you were admitted into UCSF’s PharmD program?
Pharmacy was like a puzzle I had to piece together. I worked as a clerk at a pharmacy and also volunteered in a hospital pharmacy for about a year. For a summer, I worked in as a research assistant for an investigator at UCLA doing a trial testing the efficacy of an anti-inflammatory medication for the prevention of lung cancer. As I pieced all of these experiences together, I was able to gain a strong understanding of the profession and articulate why I was interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy. My interest in outreach and teaching, as well as my goal of one day utilizing my clinical knowledge to serve under-served populations, aligned well with the mission of UCSF.

What do you do for fun?
I love to eat and run -- preferably not one after the other! San Francisco has trained my taste buds to love food carts, hole-in-the-wall restaurants and of course, really good restaurants! I am an avid reader and contributor on Yelp due to my passion for food! Thankfully, I also try to stay active through hiking and running.

To read previous "In Their Own Words" postings, visit:
Margrit
Caroline

Meet more students in our PharmD program by visiting our
Student Profiles page!

Dear Joel: Is there any chance that interview days will last less than 5 hours? I am trying to book the most economical airfare, but I am afraid I may not catch my flight home on time if the interview day lasts exactly 5 hours or runs overtime.

It won't run overtime but it really is a 5-hour experience. The last half-hour is a campus tour. The tour is optional -- but if someone is really making an informed decision about a graduate school, why miss out on a tour?

Ask me anything

How are interview dates assigned? (Is there a ranking system?)

Yes, interviews are scheduled based on ranking. The best applicants are scheduled on the first interview day. The worst applicants are scheduled on the last interview day.

Just kidding.

We actually schedule the interviews based on who has the highest GPA.

Just kidding, again.

Interviews are scheduled based on the responses to the "human condition" question. Interesting essay responses get priority in the interview process.

Again, just kidding.

Ok..... seriously....  It's fascinating to think there are theories as to how these interviews are scheduled. (It kind of makes me sad that some applicants become obsessed with trying to figure out what every little detail means -- instead of using that precious time to actually prepare for the interviews.)  It's odd that some people don't realize that this is a multi-day process. Someone will always be first, someone will always be last. I sometimes think that those who are so afraid to go last lack the self-confidence to actually do well in an interview. They've already doomed themselves before stepping foot onto campus. I believe that if you are comfortable, confident and well-prepared, it doesn't even matter when you are interviewing. I think of our amazing current students and say to myself "It doesn't matter if they would have interviewed morning or afternoon, Thursday or Friday or Saturday, first or last...."  For every ten people who tell you it's better to interview first, there will be ten people who will tell you it's better to interview last. Let it go. Prepare for the interviews and don't let outside distractions veer you off course.

Hopefully, this post will put to rest all the speculation as to how the interviews are scheduled. In a nutshell (because it's really nothing more than a nutshell) here goes:

• We have five interview days -- one Saturday, one Thursday, and three Fridays.
• Towards the end of December, when we have narrowed our applicant pool down considerably (and determined the names of many who will be invited to interview), we do a data export.
• The data that is exported is simply "Applicant's CURRENT city".
• To be respectful of travel issues, we TRY to schedule most of our out-of-state applicants on Saturday. Not always, but mostly.
• For the Thursday interview, we try to schedule as many "San Franciscans" as we can. Not always, but mostly.
• Once we have many of the interview slots on those two days filled, we simply start filling in the remaining interview slots for the three Fridays -- sometimes in alpha-order (because that's how the list is printed) but not always. If we have x-number of spots and x-number of applicants, we just fill in the little boxes on the Excel sheet. LOL!  Yes, it's THAT simple!

And because I'm obsessed with FAQs..... 

1. Are there some out-of-state applicants interviewing on other days besides Saturday? Yes. We try to do our best given the interview limitations we have.
2. Will there be some California residents interviewing on Saturday? Yes. We try to do our best given the interview limitations we have.
3. Will some San Francisco residents interview on other days? Yes. We try to do our best given the interview limitations we have.  
4. Will there be non-SF residents interviewing on Thursday? Yes. We try to do our best given the interview limitations we have.
5. Will the date an application was submitted have any bearing on when they are scheduled to interview? No.
6. If I'm scheduled to interview on the last day, does that mean I have a lesser chance of being admitted? No. If an applicant is a good fit for our program, it doesn't matter what day they interview. A good fit is a good fit.
7. What if my file hasn't been reviewed yet, is it too late? Nope. We will still schedule a spot for you -- likely on a Friday. But could be a Thursday. Or even on a Saturday.
8. Am I more likely to get admitted if I interview on the first day rather than the last day? That's crazy. You're obsessing over stuff we don't even think about.
9. Can I request what day I want to interview? No. Interviews are preassigned. Please refer to your interview invitation for more information. 
10. I just can't stop obsessing over the meaning of why I was scheduled to interview on a certain day. What can I do to take my mind off of this? Send me a personal email and I will provide you with at least two things you can do with your time -- which is guaranteed to be better spent. Seriously, I will do this! Just send me an email. =)

I think that pretty much answers everything. What did I miss?

Admission Status Updates: The good, the bad, and everything in-between....

As many of you have now noticed, we are sending our notifications out via email.

The good:
Today we sent several hundred interview invitations out via email. Congratulations to those who have been invited. We look forward to meeting you in 2012.

The bad:
Unfortunately, we also sent out many hundreds of denial letters. I hate sending these out -- especially at this time of year. But our goal is to notify applicants as soon as possible so that personal decisions can be made on your part. We know people are anxious to be notified of their status with our program so we'd rather not delay these emails any longer.

The in-between:
We still have work to do! Unfortunately, we weren't able to review ALL the applications we received. Although about 95% of the applications have been reviewed and applicants have been notified, that leaves about 5% who will have to wait until the new year. We'd rather not rush this process, but instead want to review these remaining files when we return after the winter break.  Some of these unreviewed files will be invited to interview, some will not. We won't know that until we've reviewed them. There's no rhyme or reason as to why certain files have been reviewed already and specific files have yet to be reviewed. We simply ran out of time. (But we also let applicants know that we may be reviewing files until the end of January -- Ahhh... breathing room!)

So.... be patient. (Oh, and be sure and check your spam email folder.)

"Because it rocks..."

First, I love this video -- it cracks me up! I feel it definitely captures the personality and energy of our students.

I had an insider's look at the production of this video and realized the time/effort that goes into creating something like this. It is quite extensive. In total,  about six hours of footage existed -- which had to be edited down to seven minutes. I admire Shirin (in our office) and the filmmaker for being able to do this -- as my version would have been no less than three hours in length!  You'll recognize some of the faces from the previous video. (And don't miss the outtakes at the very end! Too funny!)

I'd love to hear your feedback on this video, too!