Hillsboro, OR
Pharmacy Schools | Private Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 30% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did okay.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
7.4
Good
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 385 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 Mixed
< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
Positively (73%)
Negatively (15%)
No change (12%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (24%)
Good (45%)
Average (23%)
Poor (7%)
Bad (1%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally commented on the friendly environment, the interviewers' approachability, and the importance of being oneself during the interview. Suggestions included being calm, sending thank-you emails post-interview, and preparing to articulate reasons for pursuing pharmacy.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Veteran friendly environment. One of the few accelerated 3-year programs that exist. Please be mindful when budgeting your student loans (on the high end with a high cost of living area).
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The interviewers simply want to get to know you, they are not trying to tear you apart. Just be friendly and be yourself. ALWAYS email your interviewers later that day, thanking them for their time. This leaves a good impression and could potentially help you get that acceptance you’ve been waiting for.
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Fantastic school and helpful student ambassadors.
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Stay calm
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The faculty, current students and their block program made me want to choose the school, but the only thing that i did not like about the school was that there is not a real campus.
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
26 Minutes Average
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Number:
2.1 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
88% One-on-One
12% Group Interview
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File Type:
9% Open-File
91% Closed-File
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Interview Modality:
100% Virtual
0% In-Person
PU-COMP interviews are an average of 26 minutes, with an average of 2.1 interviews. 88% of interviews are one-on-one, 0% are in-person, and 91% are closed-file.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about qualities important for teamwork, reasons for choosing the specific institution and field, favorite books or movies, stress management techniques, personal strengths and weaknesses, and scenarios related to pharmacy practice. Many respondents mentioned a series of questions related to teamwork skills and the practitioner-scientist model, indicating a potential MMI format with possible nondisclosure agreements.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What qualities are most important for being a good team player? Tell us a time that you exhibited good teamwork skills?
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Why Pacific University Oregon School of Pharmacy?
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Why Pharmacy?
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Why Pacific University? Why Pharmacy?
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Why pharmacy, why pacific?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting questions asked at Pacific University Oregon - School of Pharmacy discussed professionalism, future career plans, ethical dilemmas like sharing prescription medication, and their perception of the pharmacy profession in 10 years. The variety of questions ranged from hypothetical scenarios involving event planning to personal reflections on professional values, with some standard inquiries about volunteer work and non-science interests.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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You’re planning an event with a student group for a homeless shelter. The night before the event, you realize you forgot to get approval from the school and need to cancel the event. What do you do?
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(Open ended question) Tell us about yourself
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What does professionalism mean to you?
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Tell me about yourself
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What will be the pharmacy profession be like in 10 years?
How did you prepare for the interview?
Many applicants prepared for the interview by reviewing common questions on StudentDoctor.net (SDN), practicing mock interviews, and researching current pharmacy news. They emphasized understanding themselves and their motivations for pharmacy, while also utilizing SDN for feedback and guidance.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Go over some common questions asked in every pharmacy school interview (i.e. Introduce yourself, Why pharmacy?, Why this school?)
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Viewed interview feedback from past SDN questionnaires
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I looked at SDN questions, but also came up with my own. But, there really isn’t a great way to prepare. Know yourself and why you chose the field of pharmacy. Look up current events in pharmacy in case you want to strike a conversation with your interviewers. But honestly, I would glance over some questions and mostly focus on yourself and your journey to pharmacy school.
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Read old SDN questions, and try to elaborate as much as possible on my experiences.
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Sdn, mock interviews
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at Pacific University Oregon - School of Pharmacy discussed a variety of topics including working with diverse perspectives, reasons for choosing pharmacy over medicine, personal strengths and weaknesses, and scenarios involving ethical dilemmas. Some respondents mentioned being asked about their contribution to a team, their understanding of pharmaceutical care, and their future aspirations within the pharmacy profession, while others noted that the questions were conversational in nature or focused on personal experiences beyond work and school.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Working with people from different backgrounds/cultures can afford new opportunities. Describe a time when a decision/project you were involved in was enhanced by including diverse perspectives.
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What are the pros and cons you see developing in pharmacy?
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When was a time you had to adapt in a job of school setting?
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It seems as though you have a lot of leadership positions and you spend a lot of time doing community service. How do you know when to ask for help?
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Why pharmacy and not medicine?
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and approachability of the interviewers, faculty, and current students. They also appreciated the emphasis on teamwork, the eco-friendly initiatives, and the detailed curriculum presentation. Suggestions included providing more opportunities for interdisciplinary interactions and continuing to prioritize a student-centered environment.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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The interview was quite relaxed, and the interviewers were quite nice and approachable
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The accelerated program schedule
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Great location, right by the MAX, lots of nice food places in the area, very friendly, parking garage right across the street
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Everyone was friendly and it was a very team oriented community. Student ambassadors were helpful and very honest with how
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Friendliness of staffs
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions about the limited campus facilities, including a small building and lack of a traditional campus setting. Additionally, concerns were raised about the interview process, with feedback highlighting issues such as lack of friendliness from interviewers, long waiting times, and a high-pressure environment. Suggestions included improving the campus environment and enhancing the interview experience to be more engaging and supportive.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Tuition and living cost (for other students)
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Fairly small building and library
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N/A
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The professor that interviewed me had a very dry personality and didn't seem like he wanted to be there. The student ambassadors answers about their experiences at the school seemed rehearsed as they all said the same things and down-played anything that they didn't like about the program.
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The campus was one building
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly expressed that they wished they had known about the long duration of the interview day, the need to wear comfortable shoes due to extensive walking, and the importance of not over-stressing or over-rehearsing for the interview. Other common feedback included being prepared for the cost of tuition, the lack of parking near the campus, and the amount of downtime during the day.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Nothing. The tour at the interview answered a majority of my own questions.
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Do not over stress and over-rehearse. Get plenty of sleep the night before.
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A list of questions to ask the student panel.
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The long long interview day
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The interview day really does last from 8am to 3pm. Be prepared for the long day!
🤝 Campus and Facilities ▼
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How would you rate the Location and Cultural Life?
0 = Low, 10 = High
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should provide more clarity on interview schedules and locations, offer information on available resources like veterans benefits, improve communication with student ambassadors, and provide more detailed information on program requirements and logistics. They also recommended offering a schedule of the next academic year and more affordable hotel options for interviewees.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Develop a Veterans Club Organization that provides all veterans entitlement information when applying to the program (ie Gi Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program, etc)
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Tell the student ambassadors to be more honest with applicants because people tend to catch on when they're given the same answers from every student they talk to.
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A lot of students seemed lost during the interview day, maybe provide a map? Nothing really to say.
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Inform people that you have to do rotations in either Oregon or Washington.
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None
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
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PDX
69% interviewees used PDX (PDX), with 8% using pdx (pdx) and 4% using Portland (Portland) and 2% using portland (portland) and 2% using TO PDX (LAX) and 2% using Eugene (you have to drive to Hillsboro, but you can get tickets for $39 from Allegient Air) (Eugene (you have to drive to Hillsboro, but you can get tickets for $39 from Allegient Air)) and 2% using John wayne (John wayne) and 2% using portland international airport (portland international airport) and 2% using Southwest (Southwest) and 2% using southwest (southwest) and 2% using Sea (Sea) and 2% using American Airlines (American Airlines).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by airplane to the interview.
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67% Airplane
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29% Automobile
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4% Train or Subway
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0% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Holiday Inn Express (average ranking 9/10), with some staying at Marriot (average rating 10/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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Holiday Inn Express
9/10
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Marriot
10/10
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TownPlace Suites by Marriot
9.5/10
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are out of state students.
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
Admissions staff (8%)
Faculty member (2%)
Other (2%)
Student (89%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (71%)
Neutral (29%)
All Responses
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