application question answer suggestions?

[mommy22boys]

Thinking of applying to Pharmacy if/when I go back to Uni in a few years after my kids are older and I get the prerequisites done. I was just looking at the application that I'd have to fill out for it and these were 2 of the questions:

1. There is a pregnant lady, a pilot, a mechanic (that can fix the plane) that all crashed on a plane on an island. There is only enough water for 2 of them to survive, who should get the water?

2. Recently a close friend/classmate had suffered a devastating loss of both of her parents. She returned to classes and seemed to be doing well. During the last midterm examination you noticed that she had a “cheat-sheet” hidden up her sleeve, and she was using it to answer the questions. Comment on this situation, and what, if anything, you would do.


What do you think they would want us to say? What would you say? This is the Supplemental part of the application to see what kind of person you are I guess.

[Skippy918]

I'll take a stab at this...

1) The pilot and the mechanic. After the mechanic fixes the plane, the pilot can fly them home. If the mechanic fixes the plane fast enough (within 3 days), then all 3 could survive. Although if the pilot and mechanic are sympathetic enough, they will share their portion with the pregnant lady.

2) I would talk to her first before bringing it to the attention of the professor. In my experience, cheating cases never got anywhere because there were never enough people willing to step forward and turn the cheater in, or there were never enough witnesses to said event. And most of the time if it was proven that the student had cheated, nothing would be done cause the school didn't want to look bad.

[pinksprklybarefoot]

Wow. This is the first time I've ever encountered another future pharmacist mama on MDC! I will be taking the PCAT and applying this summer.

The thing about the questions on the supplemental is that they will most likely change by the time you apply to pharmacy school if you have a few years of prereqs left. So although the answers could be an interesting point of conversation, they most likely won't be on the supp that you fill out.

Strangely enough, this is the second time I've seen that particular question about cheating posted on a forum. So maybe it is a common question.

[pranamama]

I'd divide the water into 3 portions and hope for a rescue LOL

[mommy22boys]

Skippy 918, thanks.
I was thinking the pregnant lady would need more water than both of them to survive, so it would make the most sense like you said for the pilot and the mechanic to have the water fix the plane and fly home, but the pregnant lady is the one that ppl would most want to save. So I guess that what makes it so hard. I never thought of them having enough time to come back, good idea!

Pranamama, yeah I'm sure that's what I'd actually do if that ever did happen lol!

Thats true the questions most likely will change, I just wanted see the kinds of answers people have. I always over think questions like this and never know what to say, but I mean there is no right or wrong answer, so I guess just be honest..
Nice to see another future Pharmacist mom on here, Good luck on the PCAT!!

[plunky]

Eh, is there a runway on the island? It's probably moot whether the plane is repaired or not.

[pinuchkin]

As someone who sits on professional school (audiology) admissions committee some years, I would suggest that the first question is more for them to know how well you can defend a controversial opinion in writing. There isn't a right answer, even for a future healthcare provider. However, consider these two potential answers:

"The pregnant woman should be given the water because she's supporting an infant and it is morally correct for the two men to be sure she is cared for." vs.

"The island should be quickly investigated and if found to support a safe take-off, presuming the plane were to have a good chance of successful repair, and they had sufficient fuel remaining to reach safety once in the air, they should carefully plan minimal use of water. The mechanic and pilot should alternate water use until the plane is air-ready, giving the remainder to the pilot and pregnant woman when they are taking off, in order to maximize the chances for survival of all three persons."

A student who could demonstrate to me that critical thought and the capacity for defending/supporting that critical thought would rise in the rankings.

The cheating question is more about conflict resolution skills than morality.