Pharmacy School Interview Circuit 6
The following stations represent past pharmacy school interview stations, with model answers written by pharmacy school interviewers and interview specialists.
Pharmacy School Interview: Station 1
Station 1 Excellent Candidate Approach
​​You are a pharmacist on a medical ward and you required to leave hospital in 30 minutes to collect your unwell child from school. Outline the order in which you would complete the following five tasks:
- You have agreed to meet a registrar to discuss changes to the rota
- A ward nurse calls you regarding a 57 year old gentleman whose medication needs to be checked.
- AÂ junior doctor has bleeped you regarding a possible medication error.
- A family member has requested to speak to you to discuss the progress of their relative
- Your phone alarm rings with a reminder to purchase flowers for your wife, as it is your wedding anniversary.
‘BlackStone Tutors 5 Step Approach to Prioritisation Tasks’
- Review the options available
- Identify your 5 preferred items/the ideal order to complete the tasks
- Explain why you have chosen these options/this order (making your explanation as specific as possible to the task, eg. Why some tasks are ranked highly)
- Explain why you did not choose the other options/why they are ranked lower
- Possible further mentions:
               If additional item/options were permitted, I would also consider taking….
               Alternatively, if the task were based in ………….I would prioritise taking……….
Pharmacy School Interview: Station 2
Station 2 Excellent Candidate Approach
Review the graph below and explain your findings.
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(Adapted from: https://pmgbiology.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/121_bitesize_intermediate2_biology_test5_2_light_intensity.png)
Excellent candidates will use the ‘BlackStone Tutors Six Point Approach for Data Analysis’Â
The graph depicts the effect of light on the rate of photosynthesis. The x-axis denotes the intensity of the light, and the y-axis denotes the rate of photosynthesis, measured by the release of oxygen bubbles. The graph clearly describes that light intensity is not the only limiting factor for photosynthesis. Light intensity determines the initial rate of photosynthesis. Thereafter, the rate of photosynthesis is proportional to the light intensity. Further increases in the light intensity beyond 12 units result in no further increase in the rate of photosynthesis. The process of photosynthesis involves a combination of carbon dioxide, water and light in order to form glucose and oxygen. Thus, Oxygen bubbles are a useful indicator of the rate of photosynthesis. The flattening of the graph at a light intensity of 12 units is likely to suggest that there are other rate limiting factors, likely to be limited carbon dioxide or less likely water. There are no notable graphical anomalies. It would be beneficial to have a numerical axis as well as units for rate of photosynthesis, in order to better analyse the data.
- Data Title (if present)
- ‘x’ axis and ‘y’ axis
- Graphical/tabular progression shown
- Physiological correlation (How can this pattern be explained biologically?)
- Anomalies/additional information of note
- Critical analysis of data/data source
The graph depicts the effect of light on the rate of photosynthesis. The x-axis denotes the intensity of the light, and the y-axis denotes the rate of photosynthesis, measured by the release of oxygen bubbles. The graph clearly describes that light intensity is not the only limiting factor for photosynthesis. Light intensity determines the initial rate of photosynthesis. Thereafter, the rate of photosynthesis is proportional to the light intensity. Further increases in the light intensity beyond 12 units result in no further increase in the rate of photosynthesis. The process of photosynthesis involves a combination of carbon dioxide, water and light in order to form glucose and oxygen. Thus, Oxygen bubbles are a useful indicator of the rate of photosynthesis. The flattening of the graph at a light intensity of 12 units is likely to suggest that there are other rate limiting factors, likely to be limited carbon dioxide or less likely water. There are no notable graphical anomalies. It would be beneficial to have a numerical axis as well as units for rate of photosynthesis, in order to better analyse the data.