2008-2009 Penn State College of Medicine Secondary Application Thread

[MrAgreeable]

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Hmm... I'm actually a Canadian so I guess I don't fall under the category of OOS even. I nice to hear that in-state students make up only 38% of the overall matriculants. I'm genuinely interested in Penn State though. Anybody know their interview policy on Canadians or international applicants? 🙂

No offense intended I promise. That isn't good at all. Every other taxpayer funded school I can think of takes a majority of IS applicants. I don't know why Penn State doesn't do this. But yes, you have just about as good of a chance of getting into PSU as you do a private school based on percentages.

Maybe I'm an angry Pennsylvanian. PSU is still my #1 choice though.

 

[deleted106503]

No offense intended I promise. That isn't good at all. Every other taxpayer funded school I can think of takes a majority of IS applicants. I don't know why Penn State doesn't do this. But yes, you have just about as good of a chance of getting into PSU as you do a private school based on percentages.

Maybe I'm an angry Pennsylvanian. PSU is still my #1 choice though.

Actually, a MS-1 or MS-2 during my interview day told my group PA doesn't give any funding for PSU's med school. He said that's why there is a high amount of OOS students admitted even though PA keeps asking for more IS students to be in the school. I don't if that is true or not, but it sounds plausible given the IS and OOS ratio.

 

[MrAgreeable]

Actually, a MS-1 or MS-2 during my interview day told my group PA doesn't give any funding for PSU's med school. He said that's why there is a high amount of OOS students admitted even though PA keeps asking for more IS students to be in the school. I don't if that is true or not, but it sounds plausible given the IS and OOS ratio.

That does make sense. I do remember them saying that a lot of funding comes from the Hershey Foundation. In fact, all might, I forgot aboot that. We (Pa.) have a big physician shortage forthcoming (or so I have been told).

Yeah, you are right, though, thanks for pointing that out.

Still, it's a state school, I wish they would show Pennsylvanians some love.

 

[RoadRunner17]

I interviewed the first day of interviews on I just got my letter today...waitlisted. (I'm In-State by the way)

What day was this? When can us Sept 29'ers expect THE letter?

 

[wannaBaMedstdnt]

I submitted my secondary on 9/25... but my online status still says that my secondary has been received but it has not been determined whether or not it is complete. Is this normal?

 

[Kaya12]

I submitted my secondary on 9/25... but my online status still says that my secondary has been received but it has not been determined whether or not it is complete. Is this normal?

oh yes.... this seems to go on for months! Don't worry, I don't think they say you are "complete" until they have made a decision to interview, hold, etc.

 

[Live4Life]

I submitted my secondary on 9/25... but my online status still says that my secondary has been received but it has not been determined whether or not it is complete. Is this normal?

Im in the same holding pattern as you, I submitted 9/13 (I think, give or take a few days) and I still have that same message.

 

[wannaBaMedstdnt]

thanks, Kaya! what a relief! i was freaking out... this whole process has my nerves on end...

 

[Kaya12]

thanks, Kaya! what a relief! i was freaking out... this whole process has my nerves on end...

no prob! I was feeling the exact same way! G'luck and cheers 🙂

 

[aznb0y129]

FINALLY complete. I submitted my secondary on 8/19 and just received the complete email today. Hopefully, they can reward me with an interview invite for having waited over 2 months 🙂

 

[87138]

That does make sense. I do remember them saying that a lot of funding comes from the Hershey Foundation. In fact, all might, I forgot aboot that. We (Pa.) have a big physician shortage forthcoming (or so I have been told).

Yeah, you are right, though, thanks for pointing that out.

Still, it's a state school, I wish they would show Pennsylvanians some love.

PA is one of the most poorly funded states in the country for higher education, period. Not just medical school. We're talking colleges and any graduate programs. It's been that way for a while.

 

[droshan]

FINALLY complete. I submitted my secondary on 8/19 and just received the complete email today. Hopefully, they can reward me with an interview invite for having waited over 2 months 🙂

Once you are complete they have a quick turnaround response. I think it was like 2 weeks for me. Good luck to you.👍

 

[jab719]

Once you are complete they have a quick turnaround response. I think it was like 2 weeks for me. Good luck to you.👍

Not always. I'm going on 7 weeks....

 

[MrAgreeable]

PA is one of the most poorly funded states in the country for higher education, period. Not just medical school. We're talking colleges and any graduate programs. It's been that way for a while.

Yeah, very true. I just really liked PSU and was p*$$ing b/c it is a Penn State branch and in an ideal world would prefer IS applicants.

Pa is also aweful with public (high school) education, although I think this problem was more of a result of the Tom Ridge gubornatorial administration, whereas I don't really know how long Pa has underfunded higher education. But, knowing what I know about public education, your statement comes as no shock.

 

[RoadRunner17]

Yeah, very true. I just really liked PSU and was p*$$ing b/c it is a Penn State branch and in an ideal world would prefer IS applicants.

Pa is also aweful with public (high school) education, although I think this problem was more of a result of the Tom Ridge gubornatorial administration, whereas I don't really know how long Pa has underfunded higher education. But, knowing what I know about public education, your statement comes as no shock.

I've heard from my Penn State alumni friends that they've been talking for a while about making the University Park campus completely private. The story is that they don't get much money from the commonwealth, so they might as well as take the school private and take the rest of the steps to becoming fully self-sufficient. Beats me how close they are to this, but that's what I have been told.

Another thing, why is it called Pennsylvania State University? Isn't Pennsylvania a Commonwealth? In that case, why isn't PSU called Pennsylvania Commonwealth University (like how Virginia has Virginia Commonwealth University)?

 

[Demas567]

Received the "continue to review" letter on 8/28. Hoping against hope to be offered an interview. Penn State is definitely one of my top choices. 😍

 

[Premed Worrier]

Received the "continue to review" letter on 8/28. Hoping against hope to be offered an interview. Penn State is definitely one of my top choices. 😍

got the same letter today, hoping for the same...good luck to you

 

[Demas567]

got the same letter today, hoping for the same...good luck to you

thanks. you too.

does anyone here know of anyone who actually has been offered an interview after receiving this letter??

me as i'm waiting for my interview offer -> 😴

 

[MrAgreeable]

Has anyone gotten news of accept, wait, reject lately?

 

[Happygrl284]

Has anyone else been complete since early Sept (9/18) and not heard anything?!?!
Doesn't seem like interview invites to Penn State have gone out in a while either. Has anyone received one recently?

Penn State is typically pretty quick with applications once you receive a complete and I have had almost 6 weeks of silence - getting a little worried.

 

[Fiko18]

Has anyone gotten news of accept, wait, reject lately?

i interviewed 9/30 and still havent heard anything back, im prolly calling them tomorrow

 

[RoadRunner17]

i interviewed 9/30 and still havent heard anything back, im prolly calling them tomorrow

Please let me know what they say. I interviewed 9/29 (are you sure you interviewed 9/30? That's a Tuesday) and am still waiting for a decision.

 

[Fiko18]

Please let me know what they say. I interviewed 9/29 (are you sure you interviewed 9/30? That's a Tuesday) and am still waiting for a decision.

yeah i will, yeah they usually only interview on M,W,F ; but they said they had a few weeks where tuesdays were used

 

[azuldelcielo]

Please let me know what they say. I interviewed 9/29 (are you sure you interviewed 9/30? That's a Tuesday) and am still waiting for a decision.

i interviewed on the 30th also.

 

[RoadRunner17]

Now that I think about it, it's only been five weeks since we interviewed. It's going to be at a minimum, another week if the 6-8 week timeline is followed. Do let me know what they say, though.

 

[chemnerd89]

finally complete today. it took exactly two months

 

[Fiko18]

yeah so i called and they had no update, they said we should be hearing soon though

 

[little rock]

finally complete today. it took exactly two months

thank you

 

[premed9878]

I don't even know how long my status page has said under review, but I think it's pushing six weeks. From checking old emails, I see that I was notified on Aug 31 when my application was confirmed as received, but I forget when they put the "under review" line on my status page.

I just know that I've been under review for a long time!!

 

[RoadRunner17]

So today officially marks six weeks since my interview... as they said 6-8 weeks, I gave them a call to ask what's happening with my application. Amber said initially that I should hear after 8 weeks post-interview. After asking for my AMCAS ID, she said that no decision has been made on my application yet. Yikes. The waiting is kind of killing me, though I'm glad I have another interview to prepare for/look forward to... I don't know what I'll do after that one...

 

[goone2524]

Is it odd that my file has been complete since August 1st and I haven't heard anything no rejection, pre-interview hold letter, or interview? My status online still says
Our records indicate that your application is complete, and is currently being reviewed by the Admissions Committee. You will be contacted by mail and/or phone during the next several weeks with its decision.


i've called the office a couple times and they told me my screener still has my application???? It's been over 12 weeks?😱 is this normal? 😕 I've seen that a lot people who have been complete after me have at least gotten some kind of response.

 

[MiketheAnimal]

Letter in the mail today....waitlisted 🙁

 

[richse]

Letter in the mail today....waitlisted 🙁

When did you interview?

 

[Fiko18]

Letter in the mail today....waitlisted 🙁

i feel for u bro, at least you have some acceptances, im sitting on a couple waitlists myself with no acceptances, I guess ill find out soon since I interviewed at penn st on sept 30th, im gona call them tomorrow to see if i can find out anything.

 

[RoadRunner17]

Letter in the mail today....waitlisted 🙁

When did you interview?

Very curious to know this as well..

 

[RoadRunner17]

i feel for u bro, at least you have some acceptances, im sitting on a couple waitlists myself with no acceptances, I guess ill find out soon since I interviewed at penn st on sept 30th, im gona call them tomorrow to see if i can find out anything.

Speaking of which, I gave them a call on Monday, and after giving Amber my AMCAS ID, she said that no decision has been made on my file... and it's been six weeks to the day! She said that I should hear 8 weeks post-interview... which is a week and a half from now. More waiting 👎

 

[majahops]

He interviewed on 9/17. You can see this by clicking on the arrow beside the entry for Penn State on his MD Applicants profile.

When did you interview?

 

[RoadRunner17]

He interviewed on 9/17. You can see this by clicking on the arrow beside the entry for Penn State on his MD Applicants profile.

Dude! How long has that been a feature of MDapps? I've never noticed... you learn something new every day (and feel ignorant in doing so!). Nice tip, man.

 

[MiketheAnimal]

Dude! How long has that been a feature of MDapps? I've never noticed... you learn something new every day (and feel ignorant in doing so!). Nice tip, man.

Yeah it was almost 8 weeks, more like 7 weeks and change, from interview day to decision day. No e-mail, no phone call, just the letter from snail mail. I called last week as well asking about my status, and was told to be patient and that 8 weeks is the average timeframe to expect. Good luck to all, and if you get a thin envelope in the mail, it's waitlist or rejection LOL...I was fearing the worst when I saw it.

 

[RoadRunner17]

Yeah it was almost 8 weeks, more like 7 weeks and change, from interview day to decision day. No e-mail, no phone call, just the letter from snail mail. I called last week as well asking about my status, and was told to be patient and that 8 weeks is the average timeframe to expect. Good luck to all, and if you get a thin envelope in the mail, it's waitlist or rejection LOL...I was fearing the worst when I saw it.

Sorry that it wasn't the best news.. But at least it wasn't a rejection, so that's something. Makes me a little more anxious in waiting to hear something from them...

 

[deleted106503]

How large is the acceptance package? From the three acceptances in the acceptance thread, the lone out-of-state student heard rather quickly from Penn State. Since I'm OOS as well and it's been 5+ weeks and no word, I'm thinking waitlist/rejection. 🙁

 

[MiketheAnimal]

How large is the acceptance package? From the three acceptances in the acceptance thread, the lone out-of-state student heard rather quickly from Penn State. Since I'm OOS as well and it's been 5+ weeks and no word, I'm thinking waitlist/rejection. 🙁

I don't really think you should worry about the timeframe, 5 weeks is early to hear from them I feel, especially when they specifically say 6-8 weeks. And don't worry about being OOS, they don't want everyone to be from Pennsylvania or they wouldn't interview us.

 

[dwc929]

Any students in here willing to host?

 

[HumidBeing]

I couldn't stand it any longer. I had to correct the typo in the title of this thread. Fixed. 😀

 

[MrAgreeable]

I don't really think you should worry about the timeframe, 5 weeks is early to hear from them I feel, especially when they specifically say 6-8 weeks. And don't worry about being OOS, they don't want everyone to be from Pennsylvania or they wouldn't interview us.

I made the same mistake above and I am from Pa. Penn State Medical isn't a state school, it is privately funded by (don't quote me) The Milton S. Hershey Foundation. Last year 38% from Pa. We have never had a "state" school but we do now we do, TCMC.

OOSers shouldn't worry, if you check MDapps everyone apllies to Penn State for some reason.

 

[MrAgreeable]

I am going on my 7th week after interview, I have a feind who interviewed a week before me and heard back two weeks ago. Should I call just to ask, and, for people who have called, were they helpful?

 

[UVAbme2009]

Is it odd that my file has been complete since August 1st and I haven't heard anything no rection, pre-interview hold letter, or interview? My status online still says
Our records indicate that your application is complete, and is currently being reviewed by the Admissions Committee. You will be contacted by mail and/or phone during the next several weeks with its decision.


i've called the office a couple times and they told me my screener still has my application???? It's been over 12 weeks?😱 is this normal? 😕 I've seen that a lot people who have been complete after me have at least gotten some kind of response.

I'm in the same boat. Complete at the end of July. Have had the same message since then

 

[Cocoloco]

I'm in the same boat. Complete at the end of July. Have had the same message since then

Been complete since August 15th, and am still in limbo with this school, as well as most of the MD schools I applied to.

 

[goone2524]

UVAME2009 and cocoloco maybe we have the same screener? HAHA🙁🙁

 

[UVAbme2009]

UVAME2009 and cocoloco maybe we have the same screener? HAHA🙁🙁

That's got to be a lie, right? If it is really true, shame on them. It doesn't take four months to read an application. I don't care how many of them you have.