University of Manitoba Faculty of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy Interview Practice Questions

Tell me about yourself.

Why pharmacy?

Why University of Manitoba Faculty of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy?

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?

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

What attracted you specifically to the University of Manitoba's Doctor of Pharmacy program over other Canadian pharmacy schools?

Should Manitoba implement different pharmacist licensing requirements for practitioners who will primarily serve northern and Indigenous communities

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 the University of Manitoba's focus on Indigenous health and reconciliation align with your career goals?

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

Why did you choose your undergraduate institution?

How should Manitoba address concerns that its centralized home care scheduling system may reduce pharmacist involvement in medication management for homebound patients

What was one personally touching volunteer experience you had?

If you could choose one superpower what would it be?

What aspects of the University of Manitoba's integrated curriculum approach appeal to your learning style?

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

What specialty are you interested in?

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

Tell me about a time you failed.

What are the implications of Manitoba's requirement that pharmacists cannot charge patients for services not covered by public programs while private insurance patients pay out-of-pocket

How would you contribute to the collaborative learning environment that the College of Pharmacy emphasizes?

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?

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

What do you know about the University of Manitoba's community pharmacy partnerships and experiential learning opportunities?

Should Manitoba modify its pharmacy ownership regulations to encourage more community pharmacies in northern and rural regions

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 Winnipeg fit with your personal and professional goals?

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

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

How should Manitoba balance the need for pharmacy regulatory oversight with the practical challenges faced by remote pharmacies serving Indigenous communities

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

What is the difference between sympathy and empathy?

What interests you about the University of Manitoba's emphasis on interprofessional education within the Faculty of Health Sciences?

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

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

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

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

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

How would you take advantage of the research opportunities available at the University of Manitoba College of Pharmacy?

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 healthcare a right or a privilege?

What do you know about the University of Manitoba's commitment to serving rural and northern communities in Manitoba?

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

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 does the University of Manitoba's four-year PharmD program structure support your learning preferences and career timeline?

What controversial healthcare topic are you passionate about?

What is your greatest accomplishment?

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

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?

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

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

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

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

What are University of Manitoba Faculty of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy's values?

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

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 Winnipeg?

What do you think about stem cell research?

What negative feedback have you received?

What is the biggest problem in healthcare today?

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?

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

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

How would you fix the healthcare system?

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?

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

Do you consider yourself culturally competent?

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

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?

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

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

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

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

What are your strengths?

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

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?

Can compassion be taught?

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

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

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?

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

What do you do for fun?

Should healthcare professionals be required to receive certain vaccinations?

Describe a time working with someone you did not like.

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

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?

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

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?