2008-2009 University of Pittsburgh Secondary Application Thread

[franniemeow07]

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Hey guys, is anyone else applying to the PSTP program? I was wondering if the 2 additional LORS that they want has to be different from the LORs that were submitted to the regular MD program. Tried emailing but no response. I'll try calling tomorrow but just wanted to see if any of you asked the same question before. Thanks! 🙂

 

[dezokitty]

So I'm guessing they don't update your status on the website when you get accepted? We'll just have to wait til we get a) a letter in our mailbox or b) the interviewers get informed of our acceptances/rejection/waitlist? Oii.... I'm getting a lil impatient 😛

 

[frenchvanilla86]

When I interviewed, they told us that we would be able to check on the status page before we get the actual snail mail acceptance/waitlist/rejection.

 

[htownpremie]

When I interviewed, they told us that we would be able to check on the status page before we get the actual snail mail acceptance/waitlist/rejection.

just checked my status. on the waitlist.

 

[216397]

just checked my status. on the waitlist.

Me too. When I called, they said that this year, they expect to accept 2/3 of their class from the waitlist.

 

[htownpremie]

aww thanks lady marid; feeling better already. feels like we're going through a lot of this crap together 🙂

 

[Dulcina]

Me too. When I called, they said that this year, they expect to accept 2/3 of their class from the waitlist.

wow thats a lot!!

anyone have the website for the status check? i'm nervous now.

 

[216397]

aww thanks lady marid; feeling better already. feels like we're going through a lot of this crap together 🙂

We sure are! 😀 It seems like we're applying to a lot of the same places. 2/3 is definitely a lot, so that's very comforting to know.

Dulcina, the addy is:

https://admissions.medschool.pitt.edu/

Hope you got in, after your U Mich thing! 😀

 

[mdmarty]

Man, thank you so much for telling us to check the status page!

Accepted today by status page! Interviewed 9/10/08. Unbelievable 😱😱😱.

 

[Dulcina]

We sure are! 😀 It seems like we're applying to a lot of the same places. 2/3 is definitely a lot, so that's very comforting to know.

Dulcina, the addy is:

https://admissions.medschool.pitt.edu/

Hope you got in, after your U Mich thing! 😀

ooo thx for the page. I'm still under review. When did you guys interview?

lol this is all so nervewracking, i feel almost ridiculous being so nervous

 

[216397]

Man, thank you so much for telling us to check the status page!

Accepted today by status page! Interviewed 9/10/08. Unbelievable 😱😱😱.

Congrats!!!! 😀 Getting accepted somewhere feels soooo relieving...

 

[Dulcina]

Man, thank you so much for telling us to check the status page!

Accepted today by status page! Interviewed 9/10/08. Unbelievable 😱😱😱.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh grats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😀

 

[216397]

ooo thx for the page. I'm still under review. When did you guys interview?

lol this is all so nervewracking, i feel almost ridiculous being so nervous

I think I interviewed on 9/9 (maybe 9/8). 🙂

 

[htownpremie]

9/8 here too. i think i might know who you are lady marid haha.

 

[Dulcina]

I think I interviewed on 9/9 (maybe 9/8). 🙂

oo thanks. I guess i have 2 weeks to wait still 🙄

grats on your umich acceptance, btw!!!!!! you have any preference btw umich and pitt, or are you waiting for fin aid? (i am drooling over your possibly-emptied spot lol)

 

[216397]

9/8 here too. i think i might know who you are lady marid haha.

lol. I would be impressed if you did! 😉 Apparently we had the same interview dates TWICE though, so you definitely have probably seen me. 😀

 

[htownpremie]

ooo thx for the page. I'm still under review. When did you guys interview?

lol this is all so nervewracking, i feel almost ridiculous being so nervous

i know, it's nervewracking now, and it's even more nervewracking to consider that some of us aren't going to know until maybe even may or june of next year

 

[216397]

oo thanks. I guess i have 2 weeks to wait still 🙄

grats on your umich acceptance, btw!!!!!! you have any preference btw umich and pitt, or are you waiting for fin aid? (i am drooling over your possibly-emptied spot lol)

oh lol, I didn't get accepted to U Mich, I got an interview after waiting for an ETERNITY for it. 🙂 But I did get accepted to UF on Wednesday 😀

 

[Dulcina]

oh lol, I didn't get accepted to U Mich, I got an interview after waiting for an ETERNITY for it. 🙂 But I did get accepted to UF on Wednesday 😀

ooooooooo grats (on both)!! It must feel great to know you're gonna be a doccccccctor! 😀

 

[Dulcina]

i know, it's nervewracking now, and it's even more nervewracking to consider that some of us aren't going to know until maybe even may or june of next year

haha i know. I just called an adcomm, and they said they dont start looking at waitlisted ppl until may 16th eeeeeeeek.

but have faith! i know someone who got in in july this last cycle =)

 

[216397]

ooooooooo grats (on both)!! It must feel great to know you're gonna be a doccccccctor! 😀

Thank you!!! 😎 I KNOW you will be accepted somewhere great, so just let us all know when the good news comes! 🙂

 

[pianola]

I'm still under review as well...I interviewed back on 9/15.

...
...
...

The suspense...

 

[QuaerensIntelle]

I interviewed 9/12 and am still under review.

 

[Dulcina]

I'm still under review as well...I interviewed back on 9/15.

...
...
...

The suspense...

pianola, what did your avatar used to be? it feels so weird to see something new there!

 

[pianola]

pianola, what did your avatar used to be? it feels so weird to see something new there!

Heh, yeah it used to be the Norman Rockwell painting...with a GP giving a checkup to a kid's dolly 🙂 It was too small to see. I'm still working out exactly what I want my avatar to be.

I should change it to "under construction" or something 😛

Heh, love the Elmo avatar, btw. 🙂

 

[htownpremie]

haha i know. I just called an adcomm, and they said they dont start looking at waitlisted ppl until may 16th eeeeeeeek.

but have faith! i know someone who got in in july this last cycle =)

that's so weird if 2/3 of their class is supposed to come from the waitlist...oh wells..

 

[Erina]

I'm happy they've changed it so that you guys can check your status online now! When I applied, we couldn't do that...we just saw that we were complete.

Congratulations to those of you that were accepted already--and to those of you on the waitlist, don't give up hope!

 

[Dulcina]

Heh, yeah it used to be the Norman Rockwell painting...with a GP giving a checkup to a kid's dolly 🙂 It was too small to see. I'm still working out exactly what I want my avatar to be.

I should change it to "under construction" or something 😛

Heh, love the Elmo avatar, btw. 🙂

ohhhh yeah, i remember =) haha the new one is cute too!
yeah i dont know why i relate to elmo, but i do for some reason. he's just so red and furry!

that's so weird if 2/3 of their class is supposed to come from the waitlist...oh wells..

ohh that was at another school. it was just supposed to be some cheery antecdote about us getting in lol.

 

[knuck000]

I'm still under review as well...I interviewed back on 9/15.

Hey Pianola. I interviewed at Pitt on 9/15 also, but I really don't remember too much about the other interviewees looking back. It looks like we both have about another week or so to wait. Best of luck and hopefully we'll both get great news soon!

 

[giacalonenj]

Man, thank you so much for telling us to check the status page!

Accepted today by status page! Interviewed 9/10/08. Unbelievable 😱😱😱.

Checked my status page...accepted!!! Also interviewed 9/10...wow I love this school soooooo much

 

[pianola]

Hey Pianola. I interviewed at Pitt on 9/15 also, but I really don't remember too much about the other interviewees looking back. It looks like we both have about another week or so to wait. Best of luck and hopefully we'll both get great news soon!

Yeah, there were quite a few of us I guess 🙂 I hope we do hear good news! I liked this school very much.

 

[jmillski]

hey guys, anyone know what pitts matriculating avg mcat is? i know theyre accepted isi pretty high- even around 36 i think? i have an interview coming up with a 34 and 3.8- this school really matters to me and i wanna head in their with a confidence boost that might come if i iknow their matriculating score is a litle closer to mine.

also one more quick one- anyone know (Erina??? 🙂 ) if there is any worth in explaining an mcat score? my bio is much lower than any of my practice tests- and its because i (stupidly) mixed up an nmr graph, which was used for 3 or 4 questions. then there wre a few other mistakes- but it was all mistakes on memorization questions- not fundamentals or questions where pure intellect is required. thanks a bunch everyone and CONGRATS to all you lucky people on this thread

 

[Greonis]

also one more quick one- anyone know (Erina??? 🙂 ) if there is any worth in explaining an mcat score? my bio is much lower than any of my practice tests- and its because i (stupidly) mixed up an nmr graph, which was used for 3 or 4 questions. then there wre a few other mistakes- but it was all mistakes on memorization questions- not fundamentals or questions where pure intellect is required. thanks a bunch everyone and CONGRATS to all you lucky people on this thread

What is there to explain? Your score is both solid and relatively balanced; it will raise no red flags and validates your high GPA. I believe that any attempts to "justify" it would only hurt you.

 

[ana0608]

Hey Pianola. I interviewed at Pitt on 9/15 also, but I really don't remember too much about the other interviewees looking back. It looks like we both have about another week or so to wait. Best of luck and hopefully we'll both get great news soon!

I also interviewed 9/15 and am waiting not so patiently. Good luck to the 9/15 crew and everyone who's waiting

 

[pianola]

I also interviewed 9/15 and am waiting not so patiently. Good luck to the 9/15 crew and everyone who's waiting

OK, someone should post when our decisions are up. Oi. Let's hope for good luck.

 

[Erina]

hey guys, anyone know what pitts matriculating avg mcat is? i know theyre accepted isi pretty high- even around 36 i think? i have an interview coming up with a 34 and 3.8- this school really matters to me and i wanna head in their with a confidence boost that might come if i iknow their matriculating score is a litle closer to mine.

also one more quick one- anyone know (Erina??? 🙂 ) if there is any worth in explaining an mcat score? my bio is much lower than any of my practice tests- and its because i (stupidly) mixed up an nmr graph, which was used for 3 or 4 questions. then there wre a few other mistakes- but it was all mistakes on memorization questions- not fundamentals or questions where pure intellect is required. thanks a bunch everyone and CONGRATS to all you lucky people on this thread

I wouldn't worry about explaining your MCAT score. A 34 is perfectly fine for Pitt and none of your individual scores are too low. Looking at your MDApps, your application looks pretty solid. If you can, emphasize your trip to Honduras and your research experience in your interview. Service and research are very important to Pitt (although it IS possible to get in without research!).

As for Pitt's average MCAT...I'm not sure. Somewhere around 33-34 I would bet.

Good luck at your interview!

P.S. I highly suggest especially not trying to explain your MCAT score to your student interviewer...it'll probably come across as you being someone who is a potential gunner/someone who cares too much about a few points. I'm sure you're not like that and you're just worried because the interview season makes everyone crazy--just remember, you were good enough to get the interview. Now impress them with your awesome experiences and wonderful personality. If you woo them in the interview, I doubt they'll spend much time looking at your stats. 👍

EDIT: I hope what I wrote above makes sense. We just had a renal exam this morning (yes, on a Saturday...this was the first and hopefully last time) so I'm sleep deprived and brain dead. But I know a lot about pee.

 

[shantster]

Hey guys, is anyone else applying to the PSTP program? I was wondering if the 2 additional LORS that they want has to be different from the LORs that were submitted to the regular MD program. Tried emailing but no response. I'll try calling tomorrow but just wanted to see if any of you asked the same question before. Thanks! 🙂

I'd get new ones since the recommendations are going to be different for the PSTP than for medical school (highlighting why you'd be a good researcher rather than why you'd be a good doctor). When I applied I used one person that was in my med school letters but included one from my PI from over the summer that I was applying who wasn't in the letters. Unless they changed the system, they send the form directly to your recommender so they have to fill it out anyway.

PM me if you have any other questions.

 

[jmillski]

I wouldn't worry about explaining your MCAT score. A 34 is perfectly fine for Pitt and none of your individual scores are too low. Looking at your MDApps, your application looks pretty solid. If you can, emphasize your trip to Honduras and your research experience in your interview. Service and research are very important to Pitt (although it IS possible to get in without research!).

As for Pitt's average MCAT...I'm not sure. Somewhere around 33-34 I would bet.

Good luck at your interview!

P.S. I highly suggest especially not trying to explain your MCAT score to your student interviewer...it'll probably come across as you being someone who is a potential gunner/someone who cares too much about a few points. I'm sure you're not like that and you're just worried because the interview season makes everyone crazy--just remember, you were good enough to get the interview. Now impress them with your awesome experiences and wonderful personality. If you woo them in the interview, I doubt they'll spend much time looking at your stats. 👍

EDIT: I hope what I wrote above makes sense. We just had a renal exam this morning (yes, on a Saturday...this was the first and hopefully last time) so I'm sleep deprived and brain dead. But I know a lot about pee.

a renal exam on a gameday saturday. once upon a time i thought i wanted to go to pitt...

JUST
KIDDING
(especially if you are my student interviewer- JUST. KIDDING.)

🙂 but seriously, thanks a lot for the advice, ive absolutely fallen in love with your school. maybe ill meet you in the next few months- and you might be getting a few PM's from me in the near future...be advised 🙂

 

[shantster]

I wouldn't worry about explaining your MCAT score. A 34 is perfectly fine for Pitt and none of your individual scores are too low. Looking at your MDApps, your application looks pretty solid. If you can, emphasize your trip to Honduras and your research experience in your interview. Service and research are very important to Pitt (although it IS possible to get in without research!).

As for Pitt's average MCAT...I'm not sure. Somewhere around 33-34 I would bet.

Good luck at your interview!

P.S. I highly suggest especially not trying to explain your MCAT score to your student interviewer...it'll probably come across as you being someone who is a potential gunner/someone who cares too much about a few points. I'm sure you're not like that and you're just worried because the interview season makes everyone crazy--just remember, you were good enough to get the interview. Now impress them with your awesome experiences and wonderful personality. If you woo them in the interview, I doubt they'll spend much time looking at your stats. 👍

EDIT: I hope what I wrote above makes sense. We just had a renal exam this morning (yes, on a Saturday...this was the first and hopefully last time) so I'm sleep deprived and brain dead. But I know a lot about pee.

Um yes, that would be highly awkward if you try explaining that. We get nothing but your name and school, and honestly no one interviewing you cares about the numbers. If you got the interview, obviously they are fine. I just care that the person can talk passionately about stuff you've done/are doing and are able to show that you have a life outside of school.

 

[jmillski]

Um yes, that would be highly awkward if you try explaining that. We get nothing but your name and school, and honestly no one interviewing you cares about the numbers. If you got the interview, obviously they are fine. I just care that the person can talk passionately about stuff you've done/are doing and are able to show that you have a life outside of school.

thanks shantster. i dont want you all to get me wrong though; im not a gunner obsessed with numbers. I was just asking if it would be tactful to explain if an opportune time arrived, i.e.: What do you think about your mcat score? Is there anything you'd like to add about your application? Are there any weaknesses you'd like to point out? And i definitely wouldn't bring it up in the student interview

 

[MaiPenRai]

Umm, yeah. I am going to *third* the advice given by Shantster and Erina. Don't bring it up...not even as a weakness. If you don't bring it up, nobody will know. If you do...it may become the topic of conversation...and that would be both weird and potentially damaging. I don't think "explaining" would do much to change the adcom's opinion about that part of your application, and they already gave you an interview so they must be willing to admit you with the scores you have if you are what they are looking for :0).

 

[Dal2487]

So after hearing about how great Pitt was from a number of my friends who interviewed there, I really want to add Pitt onto my AMCAS app and send in my primary now. I know they're in the middle of interview season and their primary deadline is Nov. 15 so do you guys think it's still worth it to send it in? Is it possible for me to still get an interview there and have a good chance of getting in? I'd appreciate any advice

 

[Vihsadas]

So after hearing about how great Pitt was from a number of my friends who interviewed there, I really want to add Pitt onto my AMCAS app and send in my primary now. I know they're in the middle of interview season and their primary deadline is Nov. 15 so do you guys think it's still worth it to send it in? Is it possible for me to still get an interview there and have a good chance of getting in? I'd appreciate any advice

With your stats, yeah its possible. Crank out that secondary though (1-2 days max).

 

[stiffany]

So after hearing about how great Pitt was from a number of my friends who interviewed there, I really want to add Pitt onto my AMCAS app and send in my primary now. I know they're in the middle of interview season and their primary deadline is Nov. 15 so do you guys think it's still worth it to send it in? Is it possible for me to still get an interview there and have a good chance of getting in? I'd appreciate any advice

I say go for it. The application process is already expensive and you might always wonder what would have happened! Just make sure to get your secondary in pronto once you receive it.

And, I fourth the not discussing MCAT scores in the interview. I don't care about numbers, but I do wanna see someone who's passionate about life on top of getting into medical school and beyond.

 

[216397]

I added a school (Wayne State) only a few weeks ago, and I got an interview there just a few days ago. 🙂 If you're interested, I'd say go ahead and submit your app.

 

[Dal2487]

Thanks for the advice guys! I'm adding Pitt and paying that fee right now... then gotta start thinking about those essays (even though I had hoped I was done with admissions essays forever...)

 

[IssaErie]

Hi there,

Does anyone know if they rank their waitlist?

 

[MaiPenRai]

They say that they don't. I would suppose that they actually do, but they won't tell an applicant where they are on the list and may get annoyed if an applicant calls repeatedly to find out.

 

[Meetchy]

Anyone know when 9/15-9/17 interview decisions come out?

 

[QuaerensIntelle]

Still waiting on 9/12. Wait your turn.