Ilies Mimouni, top scorer in the 2024 national pharmacy residency exam

At just 22 years old, Ilies Mimouni, a fifth-year student at the Montpellier School of Pharmacy, took first place in the 2024 national residency program competition. He looks back on his journey and his preparation, and shares his advice with future candidates.

What's it like to be the top scorer in this competition?

Just passing the exam is a huge relief! Even when you work really hard, you can never be sure you'll pass. So coming in first is a tremendous honor. It's amazing!

What's your secret to preparing for the exam?

Official preparation begins in the second semester of the 4ᵉ year—around late March for an exam in December. Personally, I started much earlier, but in an indirect way. Starting in my second year, I made a point of being diligent, attending all lectures, and always keeping the residency exam as my goal in mind. In my second and third years, whenever a class was related to the exam curriculum, I tried to delve deeper into the material.

How did you feel on the day of the competition?

Paradoxically enough, I wasn’t as stressed as I would have imagined. In fact, I saw it as a relief. I’d worked so hard that I told myself, “You’re giving it everything you’ve got, and after that, we’ll see what happens.” No regrets, because I’d done everything I needed to do, even though you’re never 100% ready for everything.

Why did you choose to study pharmacy?

After my senior year of high school, I had absolutely no idea what to do. At a college fair in Montpellier, I came across the Faculty of Pharmacy’s booth. What drew me in was the variety of possible paths: dual degrees, research… Given the COVID-19 situation, this path seemed even more relevant to me—I wanted to contribute to public health. I completed a year in the PASS program and chose pharmacy, just as I’d originally planned.

How do you see yourself in the future?

I haven’t yet made a final decision on my specialty, but I’m leaning toward medical biology. I see myself working in a public hospital, because I love hospital pharmacy, but I’d like to be more directly involved in patient diagnosis. Clinical laboratory science offers a wide range of possibilities, and I’m particularly interested in specializing in infectious diseases.
Right now, I’m doing an internship at the hospital, and it’s really exciting—especially here in Montpellier. There are many research teams and plenty of opportunities in my field of interest.

What advice would you give to future applicants?

Work consistently; it will save you time. Of course, you’ll need to revisit certain topics, but everything you learn during your four years of study will be useful to you.

Cross-reference your sources! Don't limit yourself to just one book or textbook; try to understand and learn as much as possible.

Work hard and stay consistent. There’s no secret to it: you have to be willing to make sacrifices. The preparation takes place in the summer, and it’s tough because you just want to take a break… But don’t give up! It’s hard, but it’s so rewarding when you succeed!