Residency season is in full swing! During this nerve-wracking and exciting time, P4 students are preparing for the all-important interviews. With the thousands of possible questions that may be asked, the simplest ones can the hardest to answer. I have been involved in the interview process for positions as resident advisors and something as easy as “What do you do for fun?” is answered with a blank stare. “Why did you decide to go to pharmacy school?” may throw some interviewees off guard and cause them to stammer while furiously racking their brain for a suitable answer. With a little self-reflection, you can avoid this situation.
I’ll start by telling you a little about myself. I began volunteering at the hospital in my hometown when I turned 14. My brother volunteered in the gift shop at the time, but the pharmacy department’s volunteer description looked more interesting to me. Even after getting lost in the hospital basement on my first day, I could not wait to go back every week. I liked everything about the pharmacy department and the hospital, from the friendly staff to the exciting prospect of knowing my way around a real hospital! My favorite part about my Saturday mornings was getting to know the staff, who were all professional, encouraging, and genuinely cared about me as a person.
The hospital pharmacy truly became a second home to me and it seemed only natural that I go to pharmacy school when I graduated high school. When I was applying to college, it was difficult for me to express exactly what was so interesting about pharmacy. As time went on, I realized that what I most enjoyed about pharmacy was the fact that I would someday be an expert on drugs on whom many would depend. I chose this path to be a part of a well-respected and ever-growing profession.
Think back to your decision to attend pharmacy school. How did you feel when you were accepted and then decided to attend? Did you wish you made a different decision? What has been the best part of the experience? What, if anything, would you change? Sure, you need to polish your CV and review all those presentations you have listed on there, but don’t forget to get back to the basics!
Tom Szymanski
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