Howard University College of Pharmacy MMI Practice Questions

How would living and studying in the nation's capital enhance your pharmacy education?

Should DC implement zoning requirements to prevent new pharmacy licenses in over-served areas like Ward 2 until underserved wards reach minimum coverage thresholds?

Tell me about yourself.

Why pharmacy?

Why Howard University College of Pharmacy?

What would you do if a coworker is taking credit for your work on a group project.

Tell me about a time you failed.

Should there be federal regulations limiting corporate ownership and control of retail pharmacies?

What would you do if a teenager confides they're being abused at home but begs you not to tell anyone?

Convince me that a potato is the most important invention in human history.

What is your favorite movie?

What are three words people who know you would use to describe you?

Should people with unhealthy lifestyles (e.g., smokers, heavy drinkers) have reduced access to certain treatments?

Should gender-affirming care be available to minors? What factors should be considered?

You overhear colleagues spreading a harmful rumor about a co-worker’s personal life. You consider reporting it, but one of the people gossiping is close to your manager. The targeted colleague is unaware but already seems isolated. How do you handle this, knowing it could affect your standing in the team?

What are your strengths?

Dr. Sharma often prescribes vitamin supplements to patients complaining of low energy. She knows there is no clear evidence of deficiency, but believes "it can't hurt and might make them feel cared for." Consider the ethical issues raised by Dr. Sharma's actions. What professional obligations might conflict here?

You’re catching a ride home from a friend who begins texting while driving. When you ask them to stop, they brush you off and say, “Relax, I do this all the time.” How do you respond?

What is one of your strengths in a leadership role?

What are pharmacists' ethical obligations when corporate pharmacy policies create productivity pressures that may compromise patient safety?

Some US states have 'conscience clause' laws allowing pharmacists to refuse to dispense certain medications, such as emergency contraception or abortion pills, based on personal beliefs. When pharmacists refuse, patients may face delays or barriers to care. Is it ethically acceptable for pharmacists to refuse to dispense legal medications based on personal moral or religious beliefs? What ethical principles are at stake? Discuss your position with the interviewer.

What would you do if a colleague comes to work smelling of alcohol?

You are a pharmacy intern. A patient's young child sees you preparing their parent's HIV medication and asks loudly 'What's that for?' in a crowded pharmacy. How do you respond?

Pharmacists working in chain pharmacies often face productivity quotas that limit time for patient counseling. Corporate metrics may prioritize speed and volume over patient safety. When corporate demands conflict with professional obligations to ensure safe medication use, what are the pharmacist's ethical obligations? Discuss your opinion with the interviewer.

What makes you special?

If animals could talk, which species would be the rudest?

How does Howard's historically black university status influence your decision to apply here?

You are a pharmacy student on rotation. You discover a pharmacy technician has been taking expired medication samples to sell online. They're a struggling single parent. What do you do?

Should the US substantially expand community health center pharmacy services to provide more affordable medications?

You are a pharmacist working the evening shift alone. A patient becomes verbally aggressive because their prescription isn't ready. Other customers are watching and you feel unsafe. What do you do?

Should lifestyle choices (smoking, obesity, non-compliance) affect priority for organ transplants?

How does Howard's commitment to excellence in pharmaceutical education align with your learning style?

You’re volunteering at a community mental-health clinic. During a family dinner, your brother proudly mentions that he just hired a new employee named Rachel. You realize it’s a patient from your clinic who has a history of manic episodes that recently caused workplace disruptions. What do you do?

You’re walking out of a coffee shop when you notice someone drop their wallet. You pick it up and realize there’s a large amount of cash inside, but no ID. You also notice the person quickly leaving in a taxi before you can call out. What do you do?

What will you do if you do not get into pharmacy school?

A government report suggests reducing hospital electricity usage by lowering air conditioning levels, switching to biodegradable single-use instruments, and restricting high-energy medical imaging for non-urgent cases. Officials claim this is necessary to meet carbon neutrality goals. Critics warn that such policies could endanger patient safety and comfort. Critically examine this policy's reasoning. How should public health balance environmental responsibility and patient care?

How would you fix the healthcare system?

Is healthcare a right or a privilege?

Describe a time when you identified an unfair policy or practice and took action to address it.

A 16-year-old you recognize as your neighbor's daughter requests emergency contraception at your clinic. She's terrified and begs you not to tell her strict religious parents. She mentions her boyfriend is 19 (potential statutory rape). When you discuss reporting requirements, she threatens self-harm if anyone finds out. What are your competing obligations? What do you do first? What if she insists the relationship is consensual?

You are a pharmacist. A diabetic patient can't afford their $300 insulin. They've been rationing it and their blood sugar is dangerously high. What do you do?

What do you do for fun?

A patient you've been working with for months asks you out on a date. How do you handle this?

Is it ethically acceptable for pharmacists to participate in pharmaceutical company promotional programs when patients may not fully understand medication risks?

What are your weaknesses?

Research shows that pharmacy deserts disproportionately impact low-income, minority communities where transportation and cost create barriers to obtaining prescription medications. DC's partnership with delivery services like Capsule aims to address these gaps. However, the closure of independent pharmacies in underserved areas continues. Is it ethical for chain pharmacies to prioritize profitable locations while underserved communities lose access to neighborhood pharmacies?

How would you explain the internet to someone from the 1800s?

Is it ethically problematic for pharmacists to participate in discount prescription programs that may create quality or safety concerns?

Is it ethical for pharmaceutical companies to charge high prices for life-saving medications?

Walk me through a period when you were overwhelmed with responsibilities. How did you use to get through it?

What would you do if your employer forced you to work over Thanksgiving weekend, interfering with your family plans?

Who is your role model?

You are a community pharmacist. A patient picking up antibiotics for their child mentions they plan to 'save some for next time' to avoid another doctor visit. What do you do?

You are a pharmacy manager. A patient has been filling opioid prescriptions from three different doctors, suggesting doctor shopping. When you raise concerns, they become hostile. What do you do?

You can eliminate one color from existence. Which one and why?

How might the transition to pharmacy school affect you.

How will you handle burnout and being overwhelmed?

Describe a moment when you connected with someone who was going through a difficult time.

What was your most challenging experience?

Tell me about your lowest grade.

Describe a situation where you made a mistake that affected others. What did you do?

What do you think are important qualities for a pharmacist?

Describe a situation where you had to navigate cultural differences in a team or work environment.

How many rubber ducks would it take to fill this room?

Why do you want to go to school in Washington?

During a public health crisis, when is it appropriate to mandate masks, lockdowns, or quarantines? Where should individual freedom end?

What is your biggest fear?

DC faces significant pharmacy access disparities, with Ward 2 having 36 licensed pharmacies compared to only 7 in Ward 7. Children in low-income households who are more likely to experience chronic health conditions have the weakest access to pharmacy services. What ethical obligations do pharmacists have when considering where to locate their practices in light of these geographic disparities?

Should childhood vaccinations be mandatory for school attendance, or should parents have the right to refuse?

Many patients cannot afford medications due to high copays and deductibles. Some have proposed allowing importation of cheaper medications from Canada and other countries with similar safety standards. Should the US allow individuals to import prescription medications from other countries? Discuss this policy with the interviewer.

Tell me about a time when you had to explain a complex scientific concept to someone without a science background. How did you approach it?

A viral blog post asserts that "organic diets cure cancer," citing several testimonials from individuals who claim remission after eliminating processed foods. The post criticizes oncologists for "profiting from chemotherapy" and argues that "pharmaceutical science ignores nature's cures." The author includes references to "a study" without citation, and dismisses contradictory data as "corporate propaganda." Evaluate the strength of the arguments presented. What logical or ethical issues arise in promoting such claims to vulnerable populations?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A classmate you barely know asks to copy your homework, explaining they've been dealing with a family emergency and haven't had time to complete it. What do you do?

Should DC mandate that all pharmacies operating in the District maintain minimum stock levels of essential medications to prevent the medication stockouts that disproportionately affect low-income communities?

Who should receive an organ transplant: a convicted felon or an uninsured mother?

How many golf balls fit in an airplane?

What would you do if a patient refused treatment?

You discover a classmate is using AI to generate their reflective essays about patient interactions—essays meant to develop empathy and self-awareness. The AI-generated reflections are actually better written and more insightful than most students' authentic ones. They're getting top marks and genuinely learning from reading what the AI produces. What do you do?

What would you do if a team member isn’t contributing on a group project?

Can compassion be taught?

You are a pharmacy intern. An uninsured patient needs a life-saving medication that costs $2,400. They're crying at the counter saying they'll have to choose between this and rent. What do you do?

A hospital press release promotes its new "AI-assisted triage system," which ranks patients by predicted survival rate to maximize efficiency. The administration reports shorter wait times and fewer administrative errors. However, some staff have noticed that patients from minority backgrounds are systematically ranked lower, potentially due to bias in the training data. Hospital leadership insists that "the algorithm is objective" and that "efficiency is our ethical duty." Critically analyze this justification. What ethical concerns and reasoning flaws might you identify?

Insulin prices in the US are significantly higher than in other countries, forcing some diabetic patients to ration their insulin. Some states have implemented insulin price caps. Should the federal government cap insulin prices nationally? Consider the implications for access and pharmaceutical innovation. Discuss with the interviewer.

What do you do if a colleague has a substance abuse problem?

Teach me something.

Should gene editing technologies like CRISPR be used to enhance human traits (not just treat disease) in future generations?

You are a pharmacist working for a large chain. Corporate has implemented a policy requiring you to counsel patients on switching to the chain's generic brands to increase profit margins, even when prescriptions specify other manufacturers. The generics are therapeutically equivalent but some patients have had issues with specific manufacturers. Your performance review depends partly on your 'generic conversion rate.' What would you do? What would you consider?

Mail-order pharmacies and insurance company partnerships often incentivize or require patients to use specific pharmacies, disrupting established patient-pharmacist relationships. When patients are forced to switch pharmacies for insurance reasons, pharmacists lose the ability to monitor for drug interactions and adherence. Is it ethically problematic for insurance companies to direct patients away from their preferred pharmacies? Discuss the ethical considerations with the interviewer.

Your roommate confides in you that they have been struggling with depression and occasionally use prescription medication that was not prescribed to them. They ask you not to tell anyone. How do you respond?

What would you do if you caught a classmate cheating?

Should healthcare workers strike if working conditions are unsafe for them or their patients?

You discover a colleague has been embellishing their credentials—claiming degrees from prestigious schools when they actually graduated from less-known programs. They're exceptionally good at their job, patients love them, and outcomes are excellent. But they lied on their application. Do you report it? What if they came from poverty and believed (possibly correctly) they'd never get hired without prestigious credentials?

The US allows direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising, unlike most other countries. Critics argue this drives demand for expensive brand-name drugs when cheaper alternatives exist. Should the US ban direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising? Discuss the implications with the interviewer.

A team project wins an award. You and a peer did equal work, but only you were mentioned in the press release. Your supervisor congratulates you publicly. Correcting the record may jeopardize your relationship with them. What do you do?

A friend owes you $200 from three months ago and keeps avoiding the topic. Now they're posting on social media about an expensive concert they just attended. How do you address this?

What community service activities have you done?

Tell me about a skill or knowledge area where you've shown significant improvement over time. What was your learning process?

Should healthcare professionals be required to receive certain vaccinations?

If you could add one law to the laws of physics, what would it be?

How do you handle stress?

You are a pharmacy manager. A patient's insurance requires them to use a mail-order pharmacy for maintenance medications, but they prefer your pharmacy where they've built a relationship and trust you to catch drug interactions. They ask if there's any way around this requirement. What do you do?

Should patients have the right to request a healthcare provider of a specific gender, race, or cultural background?

Should pharmacy education be more affordable or include tuition forgiveness programs to reduce barriers to entering the profession?

If your life were a movie, what would the theme?

If you could choose one superpower what would it be?

Tell me about a time you changed your mind after learning new information.

What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow?

What do you know about Howard's PharmD curriculum and its emphasis on clinical practice?

What is your biggest regret?

If you were a soup, what kind would you be?

How do you relate to our mission?

Tell me about a time when you recognized a personal limitation or weakness that was affecting your performance. What did you do about it?

How would you contribute to Howard University College of Pharmacy's diverse academic community?

Should students from disadvantaged backgrounds receive preferential admission to health professions programs?

A grateful patient leaves a $100 gift card and a thank-you note at the front desk addressed specifically to you. What do you do?

Given DC's high concentration of government employees and international workers with varying insurance coverage, should the District establish a universal pharmaceutical benefit program?

What was the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?

What are your thoughts on the role of private vs. public healthcare?

What is your learning style?

Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with a teammate, supervisor, or friend.

Do you believe diversity is important in a healthcare setting? Why or why not?

What would you do if a patient's family requests you not tell the patient about their diagnosis?

Should there be stronger federal regulations on pharmacy benefit managers and prescription insurance practices to protect patients?

Many rare diseases affect too few people for pharmaceutical companies to profitably develop treatments. Should governments mandate research into rare diseases, redirect funding from common diseases, or accept that resources must be allocated where they help the most people?

Do you think pharmaceutical companies should be allowed to advertise drugs to consumers?

A coworker asks you to clock them in when they'll be 30 minutes late, saying their supervisor is 'unreasonably strict' and they might get fired for being late again. What do you do?

Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) negotiate drug prices and create formularies but are largely unregulated. Critics argue PBMs increase costs and reduce transparency. Should PBMs be regulated more strictly or their practices restricted? Discuss this policy with the interviewer.

Should healthcare institutions implement mandatory unconscious bias training for all staff and students?

You see a friend post misleading health information on social media that’s getting lots of attention. How do you handle it?

What is an ethical dilemma you have faced?

The District's Right Rx Initiative provides decision support to facilitate appropriate medication use by Medicaid beneficiaries, but many patients still face barriers accessing specialty pharmacies and medications. DC's unique role as both a local jurisdiction and federal district creates complex regulatory environments. How should pharmacists navigate situations where federal and local medication access policies conflict?

What would you do if a group member isn't doing their part?

You accidentally receive an email from your supervisor that contains private performance evaluations, including criticism of a close friend. Later that day, your friend mentions feeling anxious about whether management trusts them. What do you do?

You're at a party and a friend insists on driving herself home, even though she has been drinking. What do you do?

Should DC require that all pharmacy benefit managers operating in the District maintain minimum reimbursement rates for pharmacies serving areas designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas?

What interests you most about Howard's approach to developing culturally competent pharmacists?

What are Howard University College of Pharmacy's values?

Tell me about a time when you were impacted by miscommunication.

Describe a time you had to respect someone's autonomy even when you disagreed with their choice

You're leading a student health initiative when you discover that a fellow student leader has been embezzling small amounts of money from the organization's budget over several months (totaling about $2,000). When you confront them, they admit it but explain that their family was evicted and they needed money for food and supplies for their younger siblings. They're the first in their family to attend university and are working two jobs while maintaining a 3.9 GPA. They're devastated and ashamed, offer to pay it back over time, and beg you not to report it because it would mean expulsion and loss of their scholarship. Your organization's constitution requires reporting any financial irregularities to the dean. What do you do?

If you were a fruit, which one would you be and why?

You are a newly licensed pharmacist. A pharmaceutical rep offers an all-expenses-paid 'conference' in Hawaii if you preferentially recommend their brand-name drug over equivalent generics. What do you do?

Tell me about a time you had to advocate for someone who wasn’t being heard.

Healthcare students learn procedures on real patients. Is this ethical, given that students are less skilled?

You're on a scholarship committee choosing between two equally qualified finalists: Candidate A overcame homelessness and foster care (first in family to attend university), Candidate B has a disability and spent years advocating for accessibility (worked three times harder than peers for same grades). You can only choose one. Another committee member reveals Candidate A's essay was heavily edited by a mentor, while B's is entirely their own work. Who do you choose?

Tell me about a time you exhibited leadership.

Given that CVS/Aetna withdrew from DC's small business insurance market for 2025, reducing pharmacy network options, should the District regulate insurance company pharmacy network adequacy requirements?

If you could have dinner with anyone, who and why?

While volunteering at a community center, a family refuses to vaccinate their children due to religious beliefs. The father quietly tells you he disagrees but fears community backlash if he consents. What do you do?

Should prescription drug coverage be included comprehensively in Medicare and Medicaid with lower out-of-pocket costs?

You are a pharmacist working at a pharmacy in a conservative community. A teenage girl requests emergency contraception privately and mentions she can't let her parents find out. She's visibly anxious and you can tell she's been working up the courage to ask. Your pharmacy stocks emergency contraception and it's legal to dispense without a prescription to patients of any age, but the pharmacy owner has previously expressed strong personal and religious objections to providing it. They've told staff they believe it goes against their conscience. The girl is looking at you desperately, and the owner is in the back office. You know that if you refer her elsewhere, the nearest pharmacy that would definitely provide it is 45 minutes away, and she's on foot. What would you do? What would you consider?

A colleague you respect makes a dismissive comment toward a patient from a marginalized background. You know confronting them could damage your working relationship. What do you do?

If you were a kitchen appliance, which one would you be and why?

Describe a time working with someone you did not like.

What is the biggest problem in healthcare today?

As AI becomes better at diagnosis than human doctors, should we rely more on AI decision-making?

What would be the worst superpower to have?

What is the difference between sympathy and empathy?

What attracts you to studying pharmacy in Washington, DC specifically?

What would you do if someone in a group project falsified data?

What are pharmacists' ethical obligations when patients cannot afford prescribed medications and request less expensive alternatives?

You're managing a small rural health center during a severe flu outbreak. You have 10 doses of antiviral medication left, but 25 high-risk patients need it. Among those waiting: elderly nursing home residents, pregnant women, healthcare workers who are essential to keep the clinic running, children with asthma, and adults caring for disabled family members. How do you decide who receives the medication?

If you had to be a piece of furniture in a hospital, what would you be?

What do you know about Howard's experiential learning opportunities and clinical rotations?

DC's Medicaid program uses preferred drug lists and step therapy requirements that can delay patient access to certain medications while ensuring cost control. Pharmacists often become intermediaries between patients, physicians, and insurance requirements. What ethical responsibilities do pharmacists have when insurance policies may conflict with optimal patient care?

What role should technology and AI play in the future of healthcare?

Independent pharmacies are closing at increasing rates, particularly in rural areas, due to low reimbursement rates and competition from chains. This creates 'pharmacy deserts' where patients lack access to pharmacy services. Should the government provide subsidies or incentives to maintain independent pharmacies in underserved areas? Discuss with the interviewer.

Do pharmacists have an ethical obligation to help uninsured patients access medications or find alternatives when insurance coverage is denied or exhausted?

Tell me about a time you experienced a team conflict and how you resolved it.

How does Howard's focus on serving underserved populations align with your career goals?

What do you think about stem cell research?

Do you think it's ever ethical to lie to a patient?

You are a clinical pharmacist. A patient's Medicare Part D plan has a coverage gap ('donut hole') and they now have to pay full price for medications. They can't afford all of them and ask which ones they can safely skip. What do you do?

Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the US sometimes reimburse pharmacies below the cost of medications, forcing pharmacies to lose money on certain prescriptions. This particularly affects independent pharmacies. Do pharmacists have an ethical obligation to fill prescriptions at a financial loss? What are the implications for pharmacy sustainability and access? Discuss with the interviewer.

In the US, patients frequently cannot afford their medications, leading to non-adherence and poor health outcomes. Pharmacists must decide whether to partially fill prescriptions, extend credit, or refer patients to assistance programs. Do pharmacists have an ethical obligation to help patients access medications they cannot afford? What are the limits of this obligation? Discuss with the interviewer.

Describe a situation where you had to maintain professionalism under difficult or frustrating circumstances.

You discover a popular local business (a major employer and your organization's biggest donor) is illegally dumping chemicals likely causing elevated cancer rates. You have preliminary but not conclusive data. Going public might cause panic and lawsuits that destroy your organization's funding (affecting 500 families). Waiting for conclusive evidence (2-3 years) means more exposure. What do you do?

An economics think tank proposes legalizing the sale of kidneys to reduce transplant waiting lists. They argue that a regulated market would prevent black-market exploitation, compensate donors fairly, and save lives. Critics claim it would commodify the human body and exploit the poor. The report dismisses these objections as "emotional resistance to economic reality." Discuss the logical and ethical merits and weaknesses of this proposal.

If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be?

You are a clinical pharmacist on a hospital ward. A patient's insurance denies their $800 medication. You know a $20 generic alternative exists, but the prescription says 'Dispense as Written.' What do you do?

In times of resource scarcity—such as limited ICU beds or transplant organs—some argue younger patients should be prioritized because they have more potential years of life. Others claim all lives should be valued equally, regardless of age. Discuss the ethical implications of using age as a factor in allocating scarce medical resources.

You are a pharmacist. A prescription seems unusually high-dose. The prescriber's office is dismissive when you call to verify. The patient is in pain and waiting. What do you do?

What would you do if a colleague of yours made a mistake and doesn't want to tell the patient?

What aspects of Howard University College of Pharmacy's mission to advance health equity particularly resonate with you?

How do you study?

What controversial healthcare topic are you passionate about?

You accidentally see a text on your roommate's phone suggesting they're cheating on their long-term partner, who is also your friend. What, if anything, do you do?

Indigenous communities often have distrust of mainstream healthcare. How should the healthcare system address historical harms and build trust?

A close friend in your study group admits they copied answers from another student on a recent exam but asks you not to tell anyone. How do you respond?

You’re working in a research lab when you discover that your supervisor has failed to report a conflict of interest—he’s consulting for the company funding the study. You depend on him for a strong reference for grad school. What do you do?

DC Medicaid pharmacy programs require prior authorization for many medications, with beneficiaries allowed only one expedited prior authorization per drug per 30 days. The pharmacy lock-in program restricts some beneficiaries to filling prescriptions at designated pharmacies only. These policies can create barriers to medication access. How should pharmacists balance supporting cost-control measures with advocating for patient access?

You're working at an organization when you discover that your mentor—someone who has been instrumental in your development, advocated for you repeatedly, and is genuinely kind—has been quietly discriminating against certain job applicants based on protected characteristics. They're subtle about it (finding 'legitimate' reasons to reject candidates), but the pattern is clear. When you carefully raise concerns, they become defensive and hurt, saying you've misunderstood and that they've 'always supported diversity.' You have documented evidence, but reporting it would likely end their career and damage your own reputation by association. They're also dealing with a family crisis and are in a fragile state. However, their behavior is harming people and perpetuating inequality. What's your responsibility here?

You are the lead pharmacist at a retail pharmacy. Your pharmacy receives a vaccine shipment that was temperature-compromised during transit. The vaccines likely exceeded safe storage temperatures, which could reduce their effectiveness or make them unsafe. Corporate tells you that the financial loss would be significant—tens of thousands of dollars—and instructs you to dispense them anyway, saying 'they're probably fine' and that 'the temperature only spiked briefly.' They imply that reporting this could reflect poorly on the pharmacy and affect your performance review. You're aware that compromised vaccines may not provide adequate immunity to patients, particularly vulnerable populations like infants and elderly individuals. What would you do? What would you consider?