2008-2009 U Penn (University of Pennsylvania) Secondary Application Thread

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Status
Not open for further replies.
Legend
SS: Secondary Sent
LR: Letters Received
C: Complete
II: Interview Invite
I: Interview

Shemarty: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
Rowerlauren: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/1, C: 7/2, II:?, I:?
rplyler1: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/22, C: 7/22, II:?, I:?
seven87: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/8 C: 7/8, II:?, I:?
dr drummer: SS: 7/1, LR: ??, C: ?, II:?, I:?
copingmethods: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/14, C: 7/14, II:?, I:?
Myuuchan: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
chad5871: SS: 7/2, LR: 7/17, C: 7/21, II:?, I:?
dmbjeff41jmu: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
carolinablue09: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/11, C: 7/11, II:?, I:?
LET: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/13, C: 7/14, II:?, I:?
Dr2Dr: SS: 7/7, LR: 7/30, C: 7/30, II:?, I:?
pianola: SS: 7/14, LR: ?, C: ?, II:?, I:?
Calf: SS: 7/24, LR:8/6 , C: 8/6, II:?, I:?
ar2388: SS: 7/28, LR: 8/8, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
 
Legend
SS: Secondary Sent
LR: Letters Received
C: Complete
II: Interview Invite
I: Interview

Shemarty: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
Rowerlauren: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/1, C: 7/2, II:?, I:?
rplyler1: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/22, C: 7/22, II:?, I:?
seven87: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/8 C: 7/8, II:?, I:?
dr drummer: SS: 7/1, LR: ??, C: ?, II:?, I:?
copingmethods: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/14, C: 7/14, II:?, I:?
Myuuchan: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
chad5871: SS: 7/2, LR: 7/17, C: 7/21, II:?, I:?
dmbjeff41jmu: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
carolinablue09: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/11, C: 7/11, II:?, I:?
LET: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/13, C: 7/14, II:?, I:?
Dr2Dr: SS: 7/7, LR: 7/30, C: 7/30, II:?, I:?
pianola: SS: 7/14, LR: ?, C: ?, II:?, I:?
Calf: SS: 7/24, LR:8/6 , C: 8/6, II:?, I:?
ar2388: SS: 7/28, LR: 8/8, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
JoJo23497: SS: 8/8, LR: 8/6, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
 
ohh wow! thanks bradstein! it has been 18 days and I was getting antsy. 😛

I'm glad to help 😎 That doesn't mean you shouldn't call them, though. These people need a kick in the pants sometimes.
 
Legend
SS: Secondary Sent
LR: Letters Received
C: Complete
II: Interview Invite
I: Interview

Shemarty: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
Rowerlauren: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/1, C: 7/2, II:?, I:?
rplyler1: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/22, C: 7/22, II:?, I:?
seven87: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/8 C: 7/8, II:?, I:?
dr drummer: SS: 7/1, LR: ??, C: ?, II:?, I:?
copingmethods: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/14, C: 7/14, II:?, I:?
Myuuchan: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
chad5871: SS: 7/2, LR: 7/17, C: 7/21, II:?, I:?
dmbjeff41jmu: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
carolinablue09: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/11, C: 7/11, II:?, I:?
LET: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/13, C: 7/14, II:?, I:?
Dr2Dr: SS: 7/7, LR: 7/30, C: 7/30, II:?, I:?
pianola: SS: 7/14, LR: ?, C: ?, II:?, I:?
Calf: SS: 7/24, LR:8/6 , C: 8/6, II:?, I:?
ar2388: SS: 7/28, LR: 8/8, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
JoJo23497: SS: 8/8, LR: 8/6, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
oober: SS: 8/11, LR:?, C:?, II:?, I:?
 
Did anyone here NOT do the optional essay?
 
Me! I probably shouldn't be proud of that... I had a friend who applied last year and didn't do it, and still got an interview. So, I figured it was all good.
 
Thanks for the replies.. I was just curious..

I was also wondering...for that question that ask you to "LIST" your primary activity/job if not in school.. do they want something descriptive?

Volunteer in clinic.

VS

Volunteer in clinic to learn about blahblahblahblah and work on projects blahbalhblahblah.
 
i didnt do the optional essay and what are you talking about fuzzywuz? dont you just check off your top 3 activities?
 
i didnt do the optional essay and what are you talking about fuzzywuz? dont you just check off your top 3 activities?

yeah that's all you do

there was no optional essay
 
Legend
SS: Secondary Sent
LR: Letters Received
C: Complete
II: Interview Invite
I: Interview

Shemarty: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
Rowerlauren: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/1, C: 7/2, II:?, I:?
rplyler1: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/22, C: 7/22, II:?, I:?
seven87: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/8 C: 7/8, II:?, I:?
dr drummer: SS: 7/1, LR: ??, C: ?, II:?, I:?
copingmethods: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/14, C: 7/14, II:?, I:?
Myuuchan: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
chad5871: SS: 7/2, LR: 7/17, C: 7/21, II:?, I:?
dmbjeff41jmu: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
carolinablue09: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/11, C: 7/11, II:?, I:?
LET: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/13, C: 7/14, II:?, I:?
Dr2Dr: SS: 7/7, LR: 7/30, C: 7/30, II:?, I:?
pianola: SS: 7/14, LR: ?, C: ?, II:?, I:?
Calf: SS: 7/24, LR:8/6 , C: 8/6, II:?, I:?
ar2388: SS: 7/28, LR: 8/8, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
sleepy425: SS: 7/28, LR: 8/12, C: 8/12, II:?, I:?
JoJo23497: SS: 8/8, LR: 8/6, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
oober: SS: 8/11, LR:?, C:?, II:?, I:?
 
Did anyone here NOT do the optional essay?

I feel that last little prompt was so short that you couldn't write an essay. All they wanted a little blurb (what was the limit, like 1000 characters)?

I couldn't even decently cut down any of my other secondary essays to fit that character limit.
 
i didnt do the optional essay and what are you talking about fuzzywuz? dont you just check off your top 3 activities?

Right underneath where they ask you if there are additional LOR...

they have:::

Primary Activity/Employment 2008-09

If you will not be a full-time student during the application year, please list your primary activity/employment here:

_____________________


That's what I was talking about. It's completely different from the check-off your top 3 activities.
 
So did anyone's application fee get processed/paid by their bank yet? I see above that a couple people checked their bank statements and found no UPenn payment... same in my case. I've been complete for about a month now too and have a "payment confirmation code".

I'm obviously not mad about this -- but should I be worried? (if everyone else's payment went through)
 
Legend
SS: Secondary Sent
LR: Letters Received
C: Complete
II: Interview Invite
I: Interview

Shemarty: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
Rowerlauren: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/1, C: 7/2, II:?, I:?
rplyler1: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/22, C: 7/22, II:?, I:?
seven87: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/8 C: 7/8, II:?, I:?
dr drummer: SS: 7/1, LR: ??, C: ?, II:?, I:?
copingmethods: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/14, C: 7/14, II:?, I:?
Myuuchan: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
chad5871: SS: 7/2, LR: 7/17, C: 7/21, II:?, I:?
dmbjeff41jmu: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
carolinablue09: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/11, C: 7/11, II:?, I:?
LET: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/13, C: 7/14, II:?, I:?
Dr2Dr: SS: 7/7, LR: 7/30, C: 7/30, II:?, I:?
pianola: SS: 7/14, LR: ?, C: ?, II:?, I:?
Calf: SS: 7/24, LR:8/6 , C: 8/6, II:?, I:?
ar2388: SS: 7/28, LR: 8/8, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
sleepy425: SS: 7/28, LR: 8/12, C: 8/12, II:?, I:?
JoJo23497: SS: 8/8, LR: 8/6, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
oober: SS: 8/11, LR:8/13, C:8/13, II:?, I:?
 
So did anyone's application fee get processed/paid by their bank yet? I see above that a couple people checked their bank statements and found no UPenn payment... same in my case. I've been complete for about a month now too and have a "payment confirmation code".

I'm obviously not mad about this -- but should I be worried? (if everyone else's payment went through)

I have not seen anything either...
 
yeah that's all you do

there was no optional essay

oh, phew. you all got me really worried (and confused) for a min!

So did anyone's application fee get processed/paid by their bank yet? I see above that a couple people checked their bank statements and found no UPenn payment... same in my case. I've been complete for about a month now too and have a "payment confirmation code".

Same here! You know what; I will call Penn tomorrow, ask about this, and report back if they tell me anything insightful 🙂 (Unless someone else already has! in which case, let us know!) 😍
 
Legend
SS: Secondary Sent
LR: Letters Received
C: Complete
II: Interview Invite
I: Interview

Shemarty: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
Rowerlauren: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/1, C: 7/2, II:?, I:?
rplyler1: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/22, C: 7/22, II:?, I:?
seven87: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/8 C: 7/8, II:?, I:?
dr drummer: SS: 7/1, LR: ??, C: ?, II:?, I:?
copingmethods: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/14, C: 7/14, II:?, I:?
Myuuchan: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
chad5871: SS: 7/2, LR: 7/17, C: 7/21, II:?, I:?
dmbjeff41jmu: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
carolinablue09: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/11, C: 7/11, II:?, I:?
LET: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/13, C: 7/14, II:?, I:?
Dr2Dr: SS: 7/7, LR: 7/30, C: 7/30, II:?, I:?
pianola: SS: 7/14, LR: ?, C: ?, II:?, I:?
Calf: SS: 7/24, LR:8/6 , C: 8/6, II:?, I:?
ar2388: SS: 7/28, LR: 8/8, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
sleepy425: SS: 7/28, LR: 8/12, C: 8/12, II:?, I:?
JoJo23497: SS: 8/8, LR: 8/6, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
oober: SS: 8/11, LR:8/13, C:8/13, II:?, I:?
Rachman: SS: 8/20, LR:?, C:?, II:?, I:?
 
Last edited:
My AMCAS has been verified since the second week of July, but I still haven't received a secondary invite 😕
 
My AMCAS has been verified since the second week of July, but I still haven't received a secondary invite 😕

I would call them to make sure. I called a school today and found out that they sent their secondary to me about a month ago and it somehow got lost. After adding UPenn to my AMCAS, I received their secondary about a week later.
 
My payment has not been received either 😕

Does anyone know whether Penn favors its own undergrads...maybe just a little? 😳
 
about the payment, i called and asked since mine wasn't processed. she just said their system has a delay (apparently a really long one...) with processing fees, but if I'm marked complete, then that's totally fine. It won't hold up my application or anything.
 
does anybody know what the protocol is if i want to send a supplementary letter of rec to penn?
 
does anybody know what the protocol is if i want to send a supplementary letter of rec to penn?

I sent them an email and they told me that they would add the letter of recommendation when it was received.
 
So I haven't been on SDN for awhile since I've started at Penn.

But I just wanted to drop by and wish you all luck, and say that Penn is AMAZING, and absolutely the place to be. My classmates are brilliant (and so cute by the way) and really nice, the professors are fantastic and a riot, and everywhere you turn and everything you do you realize that Penn really really really cares about its students. For example:

Amazing orientation events!
First semester Pass/Fail.
4 students per cadaver for anatomy this year (I never cared about this number, but for some people it's important).
Rotations are only Mon-Thurs 🙂 No weekend shifts! (so says the M3s I talked to).
They give us pre-printed notes to use in lecture, and all lectures are online.
...and I could go on. The city is also fantastic, as is the campus, and the gym is state of the art.

Anyways, just wanted to rave a little about how much I'm loving it here and hopefully you guys will find out how awesome it is for yourselves! Good luck!
 
Rotations are only Mon-Thurs 🙂 No weekend shifts! (so says the M3s I talked to).

You must be talking to some future dermatologists, because several services expect you to be there for significantly more hours than that. I know quite a few people that have been forced to use the oft-forgotten rule that, along with residents, med students are only allowed an 80 hour workweek. Granted, that's not for most rotations.

As a slightly more bitter, more sleep-deprived MS2 at Penn, I still agree that it's a fantastic place. Absolutely great access to attendings, research, outreach, you name it. Interviews begin in October, so I look forward to talking to some of you then. The student hosting process is great, so don't waste money on a hotel.
 
Does anyone have any recommendations for where to park on campus? I'll be driving in on the morning of my interview. The website gives the locations of several parking garages, but I was wondering what would be the best place for finding a spot and getting to Stemmler Hall easily.
 
Sorry, I don't have an answer to your question, tessa. But I was wondering if anyone else on SDN received an interview today??? If not, you should feel very special, haha. 🙂 Maybe they'll send out some more tomorrow?
 
Does anyone have any recommendations for where to park on campus? I'll be driving in on the morning of my interview. The website gives the locations of several parking garages, but I was wondering what would be the best place for finding a spot and getting to Stemmler Hall easily.

Tessa, if you're in Newark, I would recommend (if the schedule works out) taking the SEPTA R2 (get off at University City, it's a one-block walk to the hospital and three blocks to Stemmler). Parking isn't super hard in University City but it's a bit pricey.

That being said, if you're allergic to public transportation or terrified of being late (understandable), I would recommend two options.

First, if you don't care about price and want a super short walk, you can park in either the Museum garage or the Penn Tower garage, both of which have entry points on Convention Blvd (just Google Map that). They are like $14-19 for a day.

If you'd prefer something cheaper, you can try the lot at 34th and Chestnut, I think it is $12. But, that's a bit of a hike in interview clothing.

Good luck on your interview day, don't be nervous at all -- we are super chill here.
 
Tessa, if you're in Newark, I would recommend (if the schedule works out) taking the SEPTA R2 (get off at University City, it's a one-block walk to the hospital and three blocks to Stemmler). Parking isn't super hard in University City but it's a bit pricey.

That being said, if you're allergic to public transportation or terrified of being late (understandable), I would recommend two options.

First, if you don't care about price and want a super short walk, you can park in either the Museum garage or the Penn Tower garage, both of which have entry points on Convention Blvd (just Google Map that). They are like $14-19 for a day.

If you'd prefer something cheaper, you can try the lot at 34th and Chestnut, I think it is $12. But, that's a bit of a hike in interview clothing.

Good luck on your interview day, don't be nervous at all -- we are super chill here.

I'll definitely have to check out the SEPTA schedules...I didn't even think of that since I don't go into Philly very often.

Thanks for the suggestions!
 
I'll definitely have to check out the SEPTA schedules...I didn't even think of that since I don't go into Philly very often.

Thanks for the suggestions!

No problem. There should be a train that gets you in around 7:45, I think it leaves DE about an hour before that. Buy your ticket in advance, it's cheaper than on the train.

Someone in my class commutes from Wilmington every day...
 
Ohhhhh, we're interviewing people from my undergrad again. Or maybe you're just the one a year I used to seek and never find in person 🙂 Are they still super critical of the MD/PhD pathway at Delaware?

Nothing really to add except I used to commute on the R2 from Newark, DE (I lived on Ritter Lane for most of college) to my first lab rotation here. The problem with this is that the R2 schedule is really really restrictive. I was told by the lab manager that this sort of 9-5 hours wouldn't cut it :laugh: It probably still doesn't run to Newark at all on the weekends. But that's a tangent. I don't have any more info than the Nerdlover gave.

Someone commutes in from Wilmington?! Do they live in the ghetto or park there and take the train?

Textuality, where can I get some Penn coolaid? 😀
 
Ohhhhh, we're interviewing people from my undergrad again. Or maybe you're just the one a year I used to seek and never find in person 🙂 Are they still super critical of the MD/PhD pathway at Delaware?

Nothing really to add except I used to commute on the R2 from Newark, DE (I lived on Ritter Lane for most of college) to my first lab rotation here. The problem with this is that the R2 schedule is really really restrictive. I was told by the lab manager that this sort of 9-5 hours wouldn't cut it :laugh: It probably still doesn't run to Newark at all on the weekends. But that's a tangent.

Nope, the R2 still doesn't run to Newark on the weekends. There aren't many evening trains that get out there either, but there should be enough to get me to Penn and back for the interview. I might have some time to kill, but it's still easier than dealing with traffic and parking.

I haven't heard anything critical about MD/PhD here, but I was never seriously considering it either.

As for UD students, there are definitely others applying to Penn, so hopefully I won't be the only one this year. 🙂



Oh, and for the people wondering about the application fees...my card just got charged after I received the interview invitation.
 
Nope, the R2 still doesn't run to Newark on the weekends. There aren't many evening trains that get out there either, but there should be enough to get me to Penn and back for the interview. I might have some time to kill, but it's still easier than dealing with traffic and parking.

Agreed. Good luck :luck:

I haven't heard anything critical about MD/PhD here, but I was never seriously considering it either.

For years they've been talking the MD/PhD-oriented students out of it. I dunno if it changed. One of the loudest mouths against MD/PhD has (had? Maybe he's graduated by now) a son at UMich's MD/PhD program. What an odd situation that is. I used to offer to come speak about MD/PhD programs but was always rejected.

As for UD students, there are definitely others applying to Penn, so hopefully I won't be the only one this year. 🙂

I hope so too though you basically need your stats to get an interview (I was a tad lower). Still, you definitely earned your interview wowo and I hope you end up where you like the best!
 
Thanks for the replies.. I was just curious..

I was also wondering...for that question that ask you to "LIST" your primary activity/job if not in school.. do they want something descriptive?

Volunteer in clinic.

VS

Volunteer in clinic to learn about blahblahblahblah and work on projects blahbalhblahblah.


any other comments on this?? i cant decide if i should add extra info about each activity bc otherwise its only 70 words!
 
I ended up just listing my position title and the place I was working at.

If including those two terms are still ambigious, throw in a little descript.
 
Does anyone know whether Penn favors its own undergrads...maybe just a little? 😳

It selects against its own undergrads. Every Penn undergrad applies to Penn Med and there are very many qualified undergrads from Penn. Penn could easily fill its med school class just with Penn undergrads. So I've always been told that Penn puts a sort of artificial cap on Penn undergraduate admits and only takes the best of the best of their own in order to promote diversity.
 
ahhh!! i sent my LOR with the wrong cover letter (the AMCAS one) through Interfolio. I couldn't find the option to cancel it, so I just sent another batch with the CORRECT cover letter (school committee) overnight ($25- ouch!). Do you think they will be like wtf when they receive the original (wrong) set after the correct set?
 
Does anyone know whether Penn favors its own undergrads...maybe just a little? 😳

Think of it like this. Of course they love their own family, but they will skim the top only. If you worked hard as an undergrad and are well-rounded, you certainly have a chance! It worked for me 👍
 
Legend
SS: Secondary Sent
LR: Letters Received
C: Complete
II: Interview Invite
I: Interview

Shemarty: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
Rowerlauren: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/1, C: 7/2, II:?, I:?
rplyler1: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/22, C: 7/22, II:?, I:?
seven87: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/8 C: 7/8, II:?, I:?
dr drummer: SS: 7/1, LR: ??, C: ?, II:?, I:?
copingmethods: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/14, C: 7/14, II:?, I:?
Myuuchan: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
chad5871: SS: 7/2, LR: 7/17, C: 7/21, II:?, I:?
dmbjeff41jmu: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/15, C: 7/15, II:?, I:?
carolinablue09: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/11, C: 7/11, II:?, I:?
LET: SS: 7/1, LR: 7/13, C: 7/14, II:?, I:?
Dr2Dr: SS: 7/7, LR: 7/30, C: 7/30, II:?, I:?
pianola: SS: 7/14, LR: ?, C: ?, II:?, I:?
Calf: SS: 7/24, LR:8/6 , C: 8/6, II:?, I:?
ar2388: SS: 7/28, LR: 8/8, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
sleepy425: SS: 7/28, LR: 8/12, C: 8/12, II:?, I:?
JoJo23497: SS: 8/8, LR: 8/6, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
oober: SS: 8/11, LR:8/13, C:8/13, II:?, I:?
Rachman: SS: 8/20, LR:?, C:?, II:?, I:?
thegreenlight: SS: 07/01/08; II: 09/19/08; I: 10/24/08
 
Did any of you guys answer the optional question? What qualifies as "special circumstances"? thanks!

ditto... anyone? i'm considering writing about my study abroad (ended up withdrawing) but not 100% sure if they are talking about 'negative' circumstances or the like.
 
It selects against its own undergrads. Every Penn undergrad applies to Penn Med and there are very many qualified undergrads from Penn. Penn could easily fill its med school class just with Penn undergrads. So I've always been told that Penn puts a sort of artificial cap on Penn undergraduate admits and only takes the best of the best of their own in order to promote diversity.

We definitely have a larger percentage of Penn grads than any other school though. It think something like 20 out of the 150ish of the class are penn alumni.
 
What was the email address that we were supposed to send interviewer thank you notes to? I can't find the piece of paper they gave me at the end of the day.

Thanks
 
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