2008-2009 University of Pittsburgh Secondary Application Thread

BU Medical Sciences
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Tekbright510 said:
I have a question about Pitt's grading system -

I know it is H/P/F but is it based on a bell curve or can everyone in the class technically achieve an honors grade if they score higher than a certain percentage?
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Honors is given when you score 1 standard deviation above the mean. Failing is scoring 2 standard deviations below the mean.
 
Erina said:
Honors is given when you score 1 standard deviation above the mean. Failing is scoring 2 standard deviations below the mean.
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How tight are the SD's? Is the spread of scores fairly broad, or are people pretty evenly matched?

That would be tough if everyone got an 85, but you're the only person with an 83.

What scores are generally failing? <80? <70? (Realizing of course that it may be variable, but just the general trend is what I'm asking)
 
clinicallabguy said:
How tight are the SD's? Is the spread of scores fairly broad, or are people pretty evenly matched?

That would be tough if everyone got an 85, but you're the only person with an 83.

What scores are generally failing? <80? <70? (Realizing of course that it may be variable, but just the general trend is what I'm asking)
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the SDs can vary but I'd say typically 1 SD is between 6 and 8%. Failing is honestly super low. Our averages are typically mid 70s to mid 80s and so you would likely have to be close to 50% to fail. For a given exam, only a few people get that low. And if everyone does pretty well, they won't fail you if you have the lowest score in the class (like if you score a 72 or something--even though you're the lowest, you still did pretty well).

Some more info since the grading method has been of interest...we are graded in blocks. For example, during second year, we started with the Organ Systems Pathophysiology 2 block, which included Intro to Path, Cardio, Renal, and Pulm. On your transcript, you will only see one grade for that whole block--H/P/F. So technically, you can fail one of the classes and still pass the block. However, if you fail a class, you cannot get honors in the block even if your final average qualifies you.
 
Erina, thank you for your patience with our questions and for answering them thoroughly. I greatly appreciate it.

I have another question - As you are a MS2, you probably see Step 1 looming in your near future; how much time does Pitt give its students for Step 1 prep? Or how much time is there between the last day for MS2 classes and the first day of third year stuff?

Thanks in advance!
 
Tekbright510 said:
Erina, thank you for your patience with our questions and for answering them thoroughly. I greatly appreciate it.

I have another question - As you are a MS2, you probably see Step 1 looming in your near future; how much time does Pitt give its students for Step 1 prep? Or how much time is there between the last day for MS2 classes and the first day of third year stuff?

Thanks in advance!
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We finish with typical classes at the end of February. March consists of a class called "Integrated Case Studies" that doesn't take up much time and is designed to help us review for the boards. Once a week in March, we also have a clinical procedures class. April is completely free for studying. We have our orientation to third year from May 4-8 and then start rotations May 11.
 
Erina said:
We finish with typical classes at the end of February. March consists of a class called "Integrated Case Studies" that doesn't take up much time and is designed to help us review for the boards. Once a week in March, we also have a clinical procedures class. April is completely free for studying. We have our orientation to third year from May 4-8 and then start rotations May 11.
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Just to clarify - As in "not much time", ICS is in the mornings (9 to 12) and the clinical procedures class is one afternoon. So we have only one day per week in March with stuff in the afternoon. Then April is completely open.

Total is 9 weeks for boards study plus vacation before you start third year clinic stuff.
 
Hi I was wondering if you guys could answer a couple more questions about Pitt. Thanks in advance. I know we all really appreciate all this helpful information you are giving us!
1) Are the lecture notes available online? Or all they all paper based?
2) Are all the exams taken with paper and pencil or are they on a computer?
3) What is the weather like in Pittsburgh? (I'm just wondering generally what it's like...I was there in September and it was pretty nice but I completely forgot to ask what it was like year round)
4) I know there is a satellite campus in Italy for a surgical elective but I was wondering if that counts as an outside elective or if it counts as still falling under Pitt? Basically, I know you have 3 outside electives and I was wondering if the one in Italy counted as one, even though it's a satellite?
5) How long are first and second years typically in lecture for?

Thanks again!
 
Last one today 🙂 - I saw the term "self-directed learning" on the syllabus. Is that a fancy term for free time to study on one's own?
 
oneofthesedays said:
Hi I was wondering if you guys could answer a couple more questions about Pitt. Thanks in advance. I know we all really appreciate all this helpful information you are giving us!
1) Are the lecture notes available online? Or all they all paper based?
2) Are all the exams taken with paper and pencil or are they on a computer?
3) What is the weather like in Pittsburgh? (I'm just wondering generally what it's like...I was there in September and it was pretty nice but I completely forgot to ask what it was like year round)
4) I know there is a satellite campus in Italy for a surgical elective but I was wondering if that counts as an outside elective or if it counts as still falling under Pitt? Basically, I know you have 3 outside electives and I was wondering if the one in Italy counted as one, even though it's a satellite?
5) How long are first and second years typically in lecture for?

Thanks again!
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1) Online we get a link to the powerpoints, an online copy of the syllabus that we get in a bound paper form in our mailboxes, and a link to the lecture once it's given. If the course director activates it we get an online discussion board where we can post questions and the profs will post answers to them as well as any announcements for the whole class. Depending on the class, we also get practice questions as well as answers to any workshops that we have. Any labs that are histo/path based are online as well.

2) MC tests with paper and pencil and scantron.

3) Weather is seasonal. Winter is usually in the 20s to 30s, cloudy, sometimes get a little snow. We get more wintry mix. We'll get a few days that are cold (single digit highs) but nothing like going further north or more in the midwest in winter. Spring and fall are pretty nice - decent amounts of sun and comfortable temperatures. Summer is nice for a bit but then it can get really humid. We don't really get storms, which is sad if you like watching them. It tends to do the downpour for 10-20 minutes thing a few times a week.

4) That should be part of your clinic elective time. I'd talk to administration for more info as I'm not in the whole scheduling for clinic time thing yet. I know that you can do a research elective there.

5) Lectures are all podcasted online so I'm not a classgoer. In general there's only two days a week that are full days (start at 8/9 and end somewhere between 3 and 5 depending on the block). One of those days is all science and the other (Wednesday) is only science in the afternoons and stuff like ethics/stats etc. in the morning. Other three days are only in the morning (start 8/9, end at 12). One of those afternoons you are doing something clinical. Interviewing and physical exam classes for the first semester, then in the hospital and doctors offices for a year, then until boards there's other courses to get you ready for third year.

Tekbright510 said:
Last one today 🙂 - I saw the term "self-directed learning" on the syllabus. Is that a fancy term for free time to study on one's own?
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Yes, that means afternoon free.
 
hey guys i just wanted to let you know that Pittsburgh updated my status page today...so they do not just update on Thursdays and Fridays. I am guessing they are trying to catch up...i got waitlisted though...i was really hoping for an acceptance but i guess i can wait a little longer....
 
cdig said:
hey guys i just wanted to let you know that Pittsburgh updated my status page today...so they do not just update on Thursdays and Fridays. I am guessing they are trying to catch up...i got waitlisted though...i was really hoping for an acceptance but i guess i can wait a little longer....
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i hope you hear good news soon enough!! just curious, when did you interview?
 
I checked this morning and got waitlisted (interviewed Oct 28th).

Good luck to those still waiting and those on the waitlist. :xf:
 
wow are they accepting anyone? this is crazy!
 
DRLyss said:
wow are they accepting anyone? this is crazy!
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i agree...this is getting to be a little excessive! if i hear anything about why so many people are being waitlisted, i'll let all of you know.
 
Pitt does seem to be waitlisting a ton of people! Are they trying to increase their selectivity? I hope admissions isn't shooting themselves in the foot...

This Thursday will be 10 weeks for me. Looks like I should just brace myself for a waitlist spot.
 
...goodluck ppls, but keep in mind that SDN is not a representative sample. im sure sum more ppl will be getting acceptances soon enough...i do remember hearing someone mention something about Pitt over accepting last year. if they are indeed admitting less people this year, perhaps that may have something to do with it.
 
Pitt interviews more than a 1000 applicants which is quite high for a medical school. I was told at my interview they want a class of about 140-150. In addition, word on these forums is that they are being more selective this year. All this points to there being many applicants waitlisted or rejected...right?

I also wonder, like What Up Doc said, if those who post here are not an accurate representation of the Pitt applicant pool. Maybe those getting acceptances are not posting so it seems like "everyone" is getting WLed.
 
are you in Tek? you said your decision was out...
 
Tekbright510 said:
Last one today 🙂 - I saw the term "self-directed learning" on the syllabus. Is that a fancy term for free time to study on one's own?
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Hi. I was wondering where you located a syllabus. Thanks
 
if anyone wants to see a schedule from one of our classes, let me know.
 
amp3r5and said:
just checked....waitlisted 🙁
(interviewed 11/3)
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so we have now entered November! It looks like they are picking up the pace slightly. I'm around 11/20 so I still have a ways to go 🙁
 
DRLyss said:
so we have now entered November! It looks like they are picking up the pace slightly. I'm around 11/20 so I still have a ways to go 🙁
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Yep, I guess I'm a couple of weeks away. 11/18 here.
 
I'll be there next month for a grad school 2nd look weekend (the PhD in MD/PhD). Any places or things I should check out in the city or on campus while I'm there? I saw the cathedral of learning (which was pretty cool) when i was there for my interview, but nothing else outside the medical school campus.
 
I asked my buddy at Pitt for some food recommendations when I went there to interview, and these were the suggestions he shot back. So in case you get hungry up there:
decent food on/near campus:
veracruz (great mexican on campus. there's a chipotle and qdoba as well, but this is the only legit place)
primanti's (well known sandwich joint. not my favorite place, but a "legendary" place)
the o (i actually hate this place, but many others love it and it's a pretty legendary pittsburgh thing. it's a hot dog/fries/pizza/etc. place).
mad mex is good, at the corner of atwood and bates.
india garden (decent indian food, has some pretty great half off specials that i forget right now. also down atwood street)
lulu's noodles (on the edge of campus. on north craig street. awesome asian cuisine)
fuel and fuddle (good bar food and i guess decent bar, i dont drink so i dont really know. half off after 11, used to go there constantly. a few buildings down oakland avenue)
uncle sam's subs (right next to fuel and fuddle, sub place. good stuff)
sushi boat (i think it's on atwood. good sushi / asian cuisine. i only really get the pad thai there though)
leena's (right near sushi boat, has mediterranean stuff)
pamela's (breakfast place. is always packed on weekends.)
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pazan said:
I'll be there next month for a grad school 2nd look weekend (the PhD in MD/PhD). Any places or things I should check out in the city or on campus while I'm there? I saw the cathedral of learning (which was pretty cool) when i was there for my interview, but nothing else outside the medical school campus.
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I'd check out some of the surrounding areas of Oakland since you've seen the Oakland area already and probably want to get an idea of the more residential neighborhoods, especially if you are figuring out a place to live. Squirrel Hill has a lot of good places to eat and Shadyside is nice to go out in at night. Both are easily accessible by bus from Oakland so bring singles if you aren't going to have a car (it's $2 each way for city buses). They might also be having stuff going on for you for the grad school or talk to students and find out where they'd recommend going.
 
pazan said:
I'll be there next month for a grad school 2nd look weekend (the PhD in MD/PhD). Any places or things I should check out in the city or on campus while I'm there? I saw the cathedral of learning (which was pretty cool) when i was there for my interview, but nothing else outside the medical school campus.
Click to expand...

my research mentor is actually very involved with the MD/PhD program (I think he's in charge? He's involved in so many things, it's hard to keep track). when i saw him today, he said the admissions committee has only reviewed like 400 interviews out of 900 or so (i don't know how accurate these numbers are so don't quote me, but his point was that they aren't quite on top of things). i guess they're so behind that he's actually had to delay making his decisions about the PhD applicants. he's surprised at the situation, but said they'll probably take like 70 people from the waiting list for the class (so out of a class of 140-150, that's about half).

anyway, i wish i could help! keep staying positive :luck:
 
Waitlisted a week ago. Phewy. I wonder why I have a sudden, uncontrolable urge to root for the Cardinals come February 1st? Hmmm....
 
It seems like no one is available to host this coming sunday....ahhh well...does anyone recommend a place to stay?
 
riceman04 said:
It seems like no one is available to host this coming sunday....ahhh well...does anyone recommend a place to stay?
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I stayed at the Holiday Inn. It had a shuttle to and from the med school.
 
DRLyss said:
I stayed at the Holiday Inn. It had a shuttle to and from the med school.
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Yep, the University Center Holiday Inn is the absolute closest hotel to the Med School. It is only about three blocks from the med school so you can easily walk there if you don't want to depend on the shuttle schedule (I work near the Med School and know the area very well). The Hampton Inn on Forbes Avenue is not too far, either, but for closeness and convenience the Holiday Inn can't be beat.
 
FuturePittMed said:
The Hampton Inn on Forbes Avenue
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I stayed here and it was very nice. They also have shuttle service and were very accommodating in terms of transportation. They even made a special trip to pick me up after my interview ran long.
 
Waitlist

Interviewed 11/7

I really liked Pitt too.
 
I can't believe how many people are getting waitlisted, but it's still better than getting rejected.
 
Interview: 11/11, A: today!
Don't give up hope guys! It also appears they are moving faster now. Hope to see some of you at second look!
 
Dballer said:
Interview: 11/11, A: today!
Don't give up hope guys! It also appears they are moving faster now. Hope to see some of you at second look!
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Congratulations! That's awesome! I'm so glad that people are still actually getting accepted!
 
Interviewed 11/10, waitlisted today.. ugh. Love Pitt.
Good luck to everyone else!
 
Interview 11/7 and waitlist today (happy just to be there)

To all of you accepted folk --> Pittsburgh people are mean and prone to cannibalism so if you want to turn down your acceptance no one will think any less of you.😉
 
Dballer said:
Interview: 11/11, A: today!
Don't give up hope guys! It also appears they are moving faster now. Hope to see some of you at second look!
Click to expand...

Congrats to you! 11/11 is getting realllllly close to my interview day.
 
linguini said:
Congrats to you! 11/11 is getting realllllly close to my interview day.
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Mine too... and I'm getting pretty antsy here. :xf:

Is Pitt rejecting anyone post-interview or just throwing everyone on the waitlist?
 
schismal said:
Mine too... and I'm getting pretty antsy here. :xf:

Is Pitt rejecting anyone post-interview or just throwing everyone on the waitlist?
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They are rejecting post interview. Don't know the frequency, nor the total size of the Wait List.
 
Just wanted to let you all know I got a snail mail letter today telling me I'm on the WL (which I already knew from the status page) but it specifically said "This year, the Admissions Committee has decided to initially accept fewer applicants out right and instead will accept a larger portion from our wait list." It goes on to say that they will reevaluate beginning after May 15th. I'm sure you fellow WL'd people will be getting something similar soon, but I just wanted to throw that out there to offer some hope!!!
 
I ended up booking a night at the Wyndham, which is close by as well...they also operate shuttle service to and from Pitt...

sweet...all booked and ready to go
 
Hi guys --- Interviewed 11/17. Waitlisted according to status page 🙁 Good luck to everyone!
 
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