Interview Details

Please bookmark this page

The URL for this web page is provided only to applicants who have accepted our interview invitation, so bookmark it for future reference.

Plan your accommodations

If you live outside the San Francisco Bay Area and require accommodations, you can use the following suggestions to facilitate your trip planning.

Helpful tips

We are served by the Oakland International Airport (OAK) and the San Francisco International Airport (SFO). For train or train/bus options, visit Amtrak.
Your interview will be held at our Parnassus campus, which is located between San Francisco’s Inner Sunset and Cole Valley neighborhoods just three blocks south of Golden Gate Park.
Use your preferred method of finding accommodations. For example, San Francisco hotels.
Muni is the name of San Francisco’s transit system. (It’s an abbreviation for San Francisco Municipal Railway.) Muni vehicles include light rail trains, busses, and our world-famous cable cars. Parnassus campus is served by the N-Judah rail line and by Bus 6 and Bus 43. More info: Muni and How to Ride.
Check the weather before your arrival: San Francisco weather.

More info can be found at Information for Visitors, and you’ll receive more details from us about the interview process in the coming weeks.

Preparing for your interview

Here’s some important info to consider before your interview.

I. The interview process

The Interview Process is a simple one, and your day is divided into several components. When you arrive, proceed to the registration table as indicated in your invitation notification, where you will be required to show your valid photo ID.

The essay

You will be asked to write an essay on one of three topics.
You will have 45 minutes to complete the exercise.
Scratch paper will be provided. Although it will be collected at the end of the exercise, it will not be included in your application file.
Dictionaries or other writing aids are not allowed.

It is unlikely that you will be able to prepare for this in advance as the topics of the questions are generally not academic in nature, nor do they test your knowledge in specific subjects.

The interview

Our interview process incorporates the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI).

II. Questions to ask of yourself

Applicants must prepare for their interview day. Perhaps more important than the interview process itself and the specific scenarios you will be faced with, some questions that you must first answer satisfactorily for yourself:

Was my research to determine the present roles of pharmacists adequate?
What new roles are envisioned for pharmacists when I graduate?
What major changes in health care have occurred in the United States? How will they influence the way I practice pharmacy?
How effectively do I communicate written and oral information to others?
What unique experiences do I bring to pharmacy that would enhance my practice and the practice of those with whom I work?
How flexible am I in modifying my practice objectives and my perceptions about pharmacy practice when new opportunities arise?

If none of these questions have crossed your mind, now is the time to spend some time giving it some thought—not the evening before your interview. The chances of performing well during your interview are improved if you are prepared and confident. However, the importance of your performance in the interview process is overshadowed by the need for you to make your own informed decisions about selecting a career in a profession that is undergoing constant change.

III. Admissions selections overview

Applicants frequently ask what the Admissions Committee is looking for when selecting candidates. The answer is not an easy one, for each student who has been accepted comes to us with his or her own combination of unique qualifications. Although these qualifications vary from individual to individual, a number of qualities that are prominent among students who have been accepted in the past are listed below and may be of interest to you as you decide how to proceed through the application process.

More info: About the Students.

Many applicants are intimidated by these figures and incorrectly use them to justify a decision to withdraw their application or, in the case of potential applicants, to not apply at all. You should know, however, that these statistics are primarily driven by the composition of the applicant pool rather than a formal preference applied during the evaluation phases of the admissions cycle.

Furthermore, although GPA is an important factor in getting admitted to UCSF School of Pharmacy, it is not the sole reason for acceptance. The School has turned down applicants who have attained a high GPA because they were felt to be lacking in other important areas. Some, but not all, of these areas include: communication skills, leadership ability, problem-solving ability, extracurricular activities, and healthcare-related experience. Information regarding your life and work experiences can also be of significant value to the Admissions Committee. Knowledge about the quickly changing world of health care in the United States is also important as are strong, personalized letters of recommendation from evaluators who can assess your preparation for a career in the health care system.

IV. Curriculum overview

At this time, the pharmacy profession is undergoing rapid change, which is being brought about by forces from both inside and outside of the profession. Today, pharmacists are assuming responsibilities far broader than could be imagined when they were characterized only by their traditional dispensing function. Even though the focus of this school’s curriculum is on close involvement in the drug therapy of patients, it is important to recognize that diverse roles have been, and are still being developed, for pharmacists because of changes in the nation’s health care system. The faculty has considered these trends and forged a new curriculum to prepare students to be lifelong learners while they contribute to the evolving profession of pharmacy. Our core curriculum is designed to provide students with a strong foundation from which they can branch into many different career paths.

For detailed information about the PharmD curriculum, see Curriculum.

V. Summary

We feel that it is important for you to recognize the challenges and responsibilities that a UCSF PharmD student will face. If you intend to become a skilled practitioner, your full mental capacity, patience, perseverance, and commitment will be required. A lesser involvement on your part will mean that you have poorly served yourself, your patients, the public and your future profession. We trust that your decision to apply yourself to a career in pharmacy has been made wisely, and that you are prepared to make the personal commitment that is necessary to thoroughly benefit from the pharmacy program at UCSF.

The day of the interview

Before you leave home

Review the directions and maps provided below well ahead of your appointment date and make sure you understand and can follow these directions.
Don’t forget to bring your valid photo ID. You will not be allowed to interview without it.
Allow extra travel time to get to UCSF on the day of your interview.

We will be unable to reschedule your interview if you are late—even if it is due to circumstances beyond your control. If you miss your interview or are late, your application will be canceled.

Getting to your interview

Learn How to Get Around provides an overview of transportation options: public transit, car, bicycle, motorcycle.

About the Parnassus campus

Maps & Locations

Upon arriving

Go to Parnassus Avenue and locate the Medical Sciences Building as directed in your invitation letter. Look for signs directing you to the Registration Table.

Unfortunately, you will not be able to register before your appointed check-in time.

Your interview

Your interview will take place as described above in Preparing for Your Interview.

Go to: Step 3: Interview Process