For everyone who is interviewing tomorrow, I wish all of you the best of luck. I will be addressing some questions a lot of you are sending me all at once:
Things to impress your interviewers:
1) Your knowledge about Western
2) What you can bring to Western to make it better than now
Some things you might want to say:
-mention Block system
-OSCE: this is when Western tests you on your communication and clinical skills. They put you in a room with a patient. The room has cameras all over. Before you go into the room you get to read their case and see what's wrong with them. You go into the room and have 8 minutes to ask them questions and then make a recommendation. Any medications you learned in class is fair game. So basically you need to know how the medication works, adverse effects, how to take the medication, etc. Your communication skills are very important because you have to get the patient to tell you necessary information before you make a recommendation or else you might kill your patient. You have to know how to ask the right questions.
-IPPE: you start your IPPE in your 1st semester of school. You have to work 3 days a week, 5 hrs a day for a total of 15 hrs/wk for 4 weeks. During this time you can ask your preceptors to teach you skills you have never learned. Those who have no pharmacy experience will learn how to fill and count by five; those who have had experiences will learn to counsel patients and make recommendations.
-IPE: this is when Western put you in groups of about 9 students from different area of studies (pharmacy, DO, dentistry, nursing, vet, PA) and you get cases and your group has solve them. Basically you learn how to work with other professions and about how necessary and vital your role is in healthcare.
Tips for interview:
1) When you go in, the first question your interviewer might ask is, "Tell us about yourself." Don't just tell them your name and age (so many people made this mistake). This is where you impress them about you, as a person not as a student. Tell them your hobbies, personalities, extra cirr activities, etc.
2) Remember that when they ask you the same question again, that means that you did not give them a good answer and you better come up with something because they will not ask the same question the third time.
3) Don't try to impress them with your grades, they have your portfolio, tell them something they don't know.
4) Don't push yourself on them, but don't be shy either. Be confident in what you have achieved. Let's face it, hundreds of applicants would love to be in your position, to get your opportunity of a interview so there's no need to be nervous.
5) The essay portion should be the easiest. Remember your essay format: - 5 paragraphs total: 1 introduction, 3 body paragraphs for supports and examples, and followed by a conclusion
6) There will be applicants that will try to mess with your mind, basically to freak you out so that you will do poorly. Try your best to avoid them.
7) Dress code: please iron your clothes. This is not the time where you guys want to experience anything new with your style or hair. Smell good, but not overwhelming. Also, try not to wear your earrings if you're a guy.
Overall, you guys will have a great time with the interviewers. They are extremely nice people, however, they are very particular as well. Again I wish you the best of luck.
and 
to those who are still waiting.
