Impact of faculty interviewers on student matriculation following pharmacy school offer of admission

Abstract

IntroductionAcceptance to pharmacy school relies on data such as grade point average (GPA) and Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) scores in addition to holistic review. The interview is the final step in finding successful applicants. This study sought to identify if faculty interviewers had an impact on prospective students' decisions to accept an offer of admission to our college of pharmacy. MethodsA seven-year retrospective review of applicants granted an offer of admission was conducted. Analyses determined if interviewer assignment impacted yield of students matriculating into the program. ResultsFifty-two different faculty interviewed 1634 applicants who were subsequently offered admission during the seven-years of review; of these applicants, 482 matriculated (yield 29.5%). Ten faculty interviewers provided 1020 (62.4%) of these interviews, with 302 applicants matriculating (yield 29.6%). Univariate analysis of these 10 interviewers did not find a significant difference in yield. Matriculation between the highest and lowest yielding faculty members trended toward a difference but was not statistically significant. Lower cumulative GPA, lower quantitative PCAT, lack of a bachelor's degree or higher, and interviewing later in the admissions cycle correlated with a higher matriculation yield (P < 0.05). ConclusionsFaculty interviewers did not impact an applicant's decision to accept an offer of admission to pharmacy school. Interviewing late in the admissions cycle, not having a bachelor's degree, lower cumulative GPA, and lower quantitative PCAT score correlated with increased matriculation yield.