Memorial University School of Pharmacy (Newfoundland) Interview Practice Questions

Tell me about yourself.

Why pharmacy?

Why Memorial University School of Pharmacy (Newfoundland)?

What challenges do you anticipate in pharmacy school?

What would you do if a patient cannot afford medication not covered by provincial drug plans?

What clinical experiences have you had?

Should pharmaceutical companies be required to provide compassionate access programs specifically for residents of Newfoundland and Labrador who cannot afford expensive medications while waiting for provincial drug program approvals?

What aspects of Memorial University's Doctor of Pharmacy program's emphasis on rural and remote healthcare delivery appeal to you?

Should pharmacists in rural Newfoundland and Labrador communities be given expanded prescribing authority to compensate for physician shortages?

What are you reading right now?

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

Tell me about your research.

How would you handle a national drug shortage in a rural community?

How does Memorial University's focus on serving Newfoundland and Labrador's unique healthcare needs align with your career goals?

What role should traditional or indigenous healing practices play in modern healthcare systems?

Why did you choose your undergraduate institution?

What is the most important role pharmacists should play in addressing healthcare access challenges in rural Newfoundland and Labrador?

What was one personally touching volunteer experience you had?

If you could choose one superpower what would it be?

What attracts you specifically to Memorial University's integrated experiential learning approach throughout all four years of the PharmD program?

How would you respond when management pressures you to meet quotas that compromise patient care?

What specialty are you interested in?

Is it ethically acceptable for pharmacists to compound or dispense medications that carry medical risks but may not be medically necessary?

Tell me about a time you failed.

How should Newfoundland and Labrador balance supporting local independent pharmacies against potential cost savings from centralized pharmacy services?

How would living and studying in St. John's, Newfoundland impact your educational experience?

Teach me something.

How do you work in groups?

What would you do if a prescription seems dangerously high-dose and the prescriber is dismissive?

What was your most challenging experience?

What are pharmacists' ethical obligations when patients request antibiotics or other medications for conditions that should be treated differently?

What do you know about Memorial University School of Pharmacy's community-based practice rotations and how do they fit your learning preferences?

What is the most effective approach to ensure equitable medication access across all regions of Newfoundland and Labrador?

What do your parents do?

What is your favorite movie?

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

How would you handle insurance denial of an expensive medication when a cheaper alternative exists?

How does Memorial University's commitment to Indigenous health and reconciliation resonate with your values?

Do pharmacists have an ethical obligation to help patients access medications when they cannot afford treatment?

How would you keep yourself up-to-date on pharmacy education once you begin practicing?

Should Canada implement a national pharmacare program providing universal prescription drug coverage?

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

What is the difference between sympathy and empathy?

What specific aspects of Memorial University's small class size and close faculty mentorship model appeal to you?

What would you do if you discover a colleague is diverting controlled substances?

What is one thing you want to highlight about your application?

What are pharmacists' ethical obligations when they believe certain prescriptions may be unnecessary but are legally prescribed?

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

Should there be regulations limiting corporate or non-pharmacist ownership of pharmacies?

How would you contribute to Memorial University's collaborative learning environment and tight-knit pharmacy student community?

What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow?

What is your worst habit?

What would you do if a parent refuses to vaccinate their child due to misinformation?

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

Is it ethically problematic for pharmacists to own or have financial interests in pharmaceutical wholesalers or drug distribution companies?

What interests you about Memorial University's emphasis on preparing pharmacists for expanded scope of practice roles?

Should pharmacy technician programs be expanded and their scope of practice increased to improve access in underserved areas?

How would your friends describe you?

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

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

What would you do if you caught a classmate cheating?

Why is Memorial University School of Pharmacy specifically the right fit for your pharmacy education rather than other Canadian programs?

Is healthcare a right or a privilege?

What is your greatest accomplishment?

Should there be stronger federal and provincial regulations on pharmacy benefit managers and insurance practices?

Tell me about a time you exhibited leadership.

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

What do you think makes our program unique?

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

How do you handle failure?

What controversial healthcare topic are you passionate about?

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

Should there be stricter oversight of pharmaceutical company marketing practices and their interactions with pharmacists?

How do you relate to our mission?

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

Where do you plan to practice?

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

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?

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

What are Memorial University School of Pharmacy (Newfoundland)'s values?

What is the biggest problem in healthcare today?

What are your values?

How many golf balls fit in an airplane?

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

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

Why do you want to go to school in St. John's?

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

What negative feedback have you received?

How would you fix the healthcare system?

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

What would you do if a patient refused treatment?

What ethical issues do you think will impact you as a pharmacist?

What do you think about stem cell research?

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

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

What does “success” look like to you?

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

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

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

Do you consider yourself culturally competent?

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

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

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

How willl you contribute to the diversity of our school?

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

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

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

How do you handle stress?

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

What is an ethical dilemma you have faced?

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

What are your strengths?

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

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

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

What are your weaknesses?

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

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

Should healthcare professionals be required to receive certain vaccinations?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

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

What community service activities have you done?

Can compassion be taught?

What do you do for fun?

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

Describe a time working with someone you did not like.

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

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

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

What do you think are important qualities for a pharmacist?

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

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

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

Who is your role model?

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?

What is your biggest regret?

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?

What makes you special?

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?

What is your biggest fear?

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?

Tell me about your lowest grade.

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 is one of your strengths in a leadership role?

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 is your learning style?

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?

How do you study?

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?

How might the transition to pharmacy school affect you.

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

How will you handle burnout and being overwhelmed?

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?

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

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