Purdue University College of Pharmacy Interview Practice Questions

Tell me about yourself.

Why pharmacy?

Why Purdue University College of Pharmacy?

What challenges do you anticipate in pharmacy school?

How would you respond to corporate pressure to maximize revenue through prescription volume?

What clinical experiences have you had?

Given Indiana's Preferred Drug List program for Medicaid that saved $160.9 million in the last reporting period, is it ethical for the state to prioritize cost savings over providing the newest or most preferred medications to vulnerable populations?

What attracts you specifically to Purdue's Doctor of Pharmacy program over other pharmacy schools?

Should Indiana require all pharmacies to participate in the state's naloxone distribution program and maintain adequate stock levels regardless of the perceived demand in their community?

What are you reading right now?

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

Tell me about your research.

What would you do if insurance denies a necessary medication and the patient cannot afford it?

How does Purdue's emphasis on experiential learning and early pharmacy practice experiences align with your career goals?

Given Indiana's requirement that pharmacists maintain prescription records for at least two years, is it ethical for pharmacies to use this patient data for marketing purposes or business analytics without explicit consent?

Why did you choose your undergraduate institution?

Should Indiana pharmacists be allowed to adapt prescriptions by changing drug formulations or extending maintenance medications for synchronization purposes without explicit prescriber approval?

What was one personally touching volunteer experience you had?

If you could choose one superpower what would it be?

What aspects of Purdue College of Pharmacy's research opportunities in areas like drug discovery and pharmaceutical sciences interest you most?

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

What specialty are you interested in?

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 failed.

Should Indiana expand pharmacist prescribing authority beyond naloxone to include other emergency medications to improve rural access to healthcare?

How would you contribute to Purdue's collaborative learning environment and the Boilermaker community?

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 corporate pharmacy policies create productivity pressures that may compromise patient safety?

What do you know about Purdue's interprofessional education initiatives and how do they align with your learning preferences?

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

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 living and studying in West Lafayette, Indiana fit with your personal and academic goals?

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

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

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

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

What is the difference between sympathy and empathy?

What specific faculty members or research areas at Purdue College of Pharmacy have caught your attention?

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 patients cannot afford prescribed medications and request less expensive alternatives?

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

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

How does Purdue's focus on innovation and entrepreneurship in pharmacy practice appeal to your career aspirations?

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 participate in discount prescription programs that may create quality or safety concerns?

What draws you to Purdue's integrated curriculum that combines pharmaceutical sciences with clinical practice from early in the program?

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

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?

How would you take advantage of Purdue's strong alumni network and industry connections in the pharmaceutical field?

Is healthcare a right or a privilege?

What is your greatest accomplishment?

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

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?

What is the biggest problem in healthcare today?

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 Purdue University College of Pharmacy's values?

How would you fix the healthcare system?

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 West Lafayette?

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

What negative feedback have you received?

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

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

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

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?

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

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.

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

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?

Should healthcare professionals be required to receive certain vaccinations?

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?

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

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Can compassion be taught?

What community service activities have you done?

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

What do you do for fun?

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

Describe a time working with someone you did not like.

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

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

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

What do you think are important qualities for a pharmacist?

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

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

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?

Who is your role model?

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 is your biggest regret?

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 makes you special?

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?

What is your biggest fear?

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?

Tell me about your lowest grade.

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 one of your strengths in a leadership role?

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 your learning style?

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 do you study?

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

How might the transition to pharmacy school affect you.

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?

How will you handle burnout and being overwhelmed?

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

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