2008-2009 University of Pittsburgh Secondary Application Thread

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Did anyone on the waitlist send transcripts with grades from the fall semester? Is this encouraged?

Thanks!

I sent my grades from fall quarter (4.0). It didn't get me one of the coveted "early acceptance from WL" decisions that came out last month... I don't think they pay attention to grade updates, unless it's way better than you normally do.
 
I sent my grades from fall quarter (4.0). It didn't get me one of the coveted "early acceptance from WL" decisions that came out last month... I don't think they pay attention to grade updates, unless it's way better than you normally do.

My personal opinion is that if you do a transcript/grade update, to use it as an opportunity to send them another update to continue to show your interest in the school and tell them what you have done since your interview. If you can get the copy of the transcript to mail yourself, I would include it in the letter you send, or if you can't, I'd write in there something about how a transcript is being sent from the school. My opinion is that they are going to be more likely to look through it if you send something personal with it rather than just a basic transcript.
 
Thank you! If I send a letter with the transcript then that would make letter #3, but hopefully that's a good thing 🙂
 
Thank you! If I send a letter with the transcript then that would make letter #3, but hopefully that's a good thing 🙂

Have you been sending letters via real mail? And if so, what address have you been using? I'm sending something this weekend.. Finally got around to writing an update. 🙂
 
I sent a snail mail letter of interest as a reply to my waitlist letter to Dr. Piraino at whatever address was on the envelope that the waitlist letter came in.

Then, I sent an e-mail letter of intent about a month later after I saw a post on this thread that quoted someone's e-mail waitlist notification (I only got snail mail, never an e-mail) with slightly different wording that instructed them to send such letters through e-mail.
 
did second look weekend pass already?
If so, can someone give us all the gory details? 🙂
 
Second Look Weekend was a weekend of shenanigans, hijinx, and perhaps one or two hootenannies. Highlights:

Thursday: Free Caribou Coffee drinks and pastries, Open Mic Night topped off by drunken "Humpty Dance" and "Bye Bye Bye" followed by Oakland pub crawl

Friday: AWESOME lunch, med school a cappella show, ridiculously awesome pandemic simulation (think Outbreak), night out at Doc's featuring raucous drinking games and applicants relaxing after finally realizing they're accepted

Saturday: Student Panel hijinx, Activities Fair galore, Kickball, Bus Tour of Pittsburgh, fine dining from Church's Brewery (yes, a brewery in a former church) to Bangkok Balcony, and a dance party DJed by an MS1

In short, it was a great time, with record attendance, and just a preview of coming attractions, AKA your Orientation. 🙂
 
Why must they keep doing that? 👎
 
Has anyone heard back after interviewing for the PSTP program and if so did you hear back by email/mail/phone?
 
"Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Official correspondence should arrive at your preferred mailing address listed on your AMCAS application within two weeks."

Random check of the status page, I sure hope this isn't a F***-up on their part (some error)
 
Congratulations I was just thinking we have not had any update from you...
 
"Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Official correspondence should arrive at your preferred mailing address listed on your AMCAS application within two weeks."

Random check of the status page, I sure hope this isn't a F***-up on their part (some error)
Congrats! I hope I get an acceptance from Pitt.... :scared:
 
Congrats! I hope I get an acceptance from Pitt.... :scared:

Thanks! And best of luck to you!!!

I called Pitt to make sure it was real before I told my family/friends, I can't believe I got in!
 
"Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Official correspondence should arrive at your preferred mailing address listed on your AMCAS application within two weeks."

Random check of the status page, I sure hope this isn't a F***-up on their part (some error)
Congrats ONOY! I knew at least one school would pull through for you
 
congrats ONOY! we all knew you would get in!! 👍
I checked my status after reading your post and I got in off the WL too!!
woohoo!
 
I'm really glad to see the both of you get in. I can only imagine how you feel.

now that you're done with it, can I have your name Only? 🙂
 
I'm really glad to see the both of you get in. I can only imagine how you feel.

now that you're done with it, can I have your name Only? 🙂

I bestow upon you the honorary name of "OnlyNeedOneYes" [epic music playing in background]. I really want to change my name but I'm not a donor... yet. Then I'll change it to ONOY. I think pretty much everyone knows who I am now, and I think it would be cool if I were recognizable

Good luck to you! 🙂
 
congrats onoy...now we dont gotta listen to you b*tch and moan nemore! haha jp...erbody knew ud get in eventually...i wdrew from pitt on fri...so maybe u took tht spot? u can thank me later 😛
 
congrats onoy...now we dont gotta listen to you b*tch and moan nemore! haha jp...erbody knew ud get in eventually...i wdrew from pitt on fri...so maybe u took tht spot? u can thank me later 😛

haha thanks 🙂 I knew carrying around all those acceptances for months would eventually exhaust you and you'd have to put a couple of them down 😉
 
I just got my packet in the mail!!
A scholarship certainly makes the decision a whole lot easier... 😀
I'm 80% sure I'll be going to Pitt next year!!
 
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congrats Slade! I want to get off this WL... =/

What other schools are you still considering?
 
I got my acceptance letter in the mail today after getting the status page change on Monday. Question: did everyone who got merit $ get notified in the acceptance letter and included paperwork?
 
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I got my acceptance letter in the mail today after getting the status page change on Monday. Question: did everyone who got merit $ get notified in the acceptance letter and included paperwork?

bump. I didn't get any money, I was just wondering.
 
yes, the merit money was included in the snail mail packet
 
I had the same experience as What up doc. Good luck ONOY!

thanks! 🙂 I think it's really hurting me (regarding merit $) that Pitt is my only acceptance. They obviously know that I have no other options at this point, so I don't think they'll try to "entice me" with any help unless I get off another WL really soon...
:xf:

I would love to go to Pitt (and will likely have to), but I don't want to pay $60k+/yr to do it. I'm sure many of you feel the same; I know it's just the nature of all this stuff.
 
ONOY, you don't think you're going to get any need-based aid? How old are you? I think there was a certain age after which they simply don't look at your parents' finances. If you're married that might affect need-based aid too. Don't despair, you might get lots of need-based! :luck:
 
ONOY, you don't think you're going to get any need-based aid? How old are you? I think there was a certain age after which they simply don't look at your parents' finances. If you're married that might affect need-based aid too. Don't despair, you might get lots of need-based! :luck:

Thanks Slade 🙂 I'm 22, so they'll still look at my parents' stuff. That said, my parents have nothing (no joke; long story...) other than ~$1k in savings (at any given time) and their salaries (combined <<< $100k). They live paycheck to paycheck. My wife and I have and EFC of $0. I really hope I get some "need-based" because I certainly "need" it... :xf:
 
thanks! 🙂 I think it's really hurting me (regarding merit $) that Pitt is my only acceptance. They obviously know that I have no other options at this point, so I don't think they'll try to "entice me" with any help unless I get off another WL really soon...
:xf:

I would love to go to Pitt (and will likely have to), but I don't want to pay $60k+/yr to do it. I'm sure many of you feel the same; I know it's just the nature of all this stuff.

Dang, I would think you'd still be celebrating your first acceptance and not worrying about "having" to go to Pitt, hefty tuition and all 😛
 
Dang, I would think you'd still be celebrating your first acceptance and not worrying about "having" to go to Pitt, hefty tuition and all 😛

Oh I'm still really excited!!! 😀 I think the $$$ fear hits everyone though, and it is hitting me now because I just got my first acceptance and school is fast approaching. I have to go through the freak-out stages in a condensed timeline to catch up with everyone else lol 😉
 
Oh I'm still really excited!!! 😀 I think the $$$ fear hits everyone though, and it is hitting me now because I just got my first acceptance and school is fast approaching. I have to go through the freak-out stages in a condensed timeline to catch up with everyone else lol 😉

Even without the need based aid, you'll still be able to comfortably live with the stafford loans and grad plus loans (well except for the whole wife and child thing.....) It won't affect the amount of money you have access to during med school, it'll only affect how much you owe in the long run... (Which is going to be scary given need based aid or not...)
 
anyone considering the pre-matric this summer? I feel like I should do it b/c I don't want to flunk out, but I also don't think I can afford it (housing/living expenses)... I might qualify for a little financial help for pre-matric, but maybe not. Also, I graduate 6/13 so I don't want to head straight to Pitt on 6/14, ya know? Hopefully I'll be 100% cool if I don't do it and I just relax a bit instead.
 
anyone considering the pre-matric this summer? I feel like I should do it b/c I don't want to flunk out, but I also don't think I can afford it (housing/living expenses)... I might qualify for a little financial help for pre-matric, but maybe not. Also, I graduate 6/13 so I don't want to head straight to Pitt on 6/14, ya know? Hopefully I'll be 100% cool if I don't do it and I just relax a bit instead.

I'm going to be at Pitt June 1st for a summer rotation... I found a really nice apartment for $400, so I think it'll be extremely cheap to live near the campus. During my apartment hunting, I talked to a 2nd year who did pre-matric and had a lot of fun the summer before med school. With that said, I would much rather take time off before school starts... I don't think doing pre-matric will affect your studies; it might make it easier to make friends before we're bombarded with 150 1st years during orientation... but that's about it.
 
I'm going to be at Pitt June 1st for a summer rotation... I found a really nice apartment for $400, so I think it'll be extremely cheap to live near the campus. During my apartment hunting, I talked to a 2nd year who did pre-matric and had a lot of fun the summer before med school. With that said, I would much rather take time off before school starts... I don't think doing pre-matric will affect your studies; it might make it easier to make friends before we're bombarded with 150 1st years during orientation... but that's about it.

Hey Pazan, where did you find your apartment? I've been looking at listings online for the past three days straight, but I can't find very many that fit my criteria:

0-700$
hardwood floors (I can't STAND static electricity... 😳)
lots of windows
clean
close to school (or in the middle of Shadyside)

Also, how did you do your apartment hunting. I live really far away, so I'm not sure I could simply take a weekend off to check things out...

Also, I'm torn between Oakland and Shadyside. I love my sleep, but being close to grocery shops and the like sounds nice...

Anybody else found an apartment already?
 
Hi Everyone,
I got off the WL recently and I've been looking for apartments in the area as well. I agree, it's really hard to do when you're not near by.
I'm planning to do the pre-matriculation program. I'm hoping it'll be a fun experience! I graduated last year though, and have had about all the time off I can stand 🙂. If I were just getting out of school I would certainly need a break.
I really liked Pitt and I'm looking forward to meeting you guys!
 
I'm hoping to do the premat program also. However, I finish school stuff near the end of June so I am hoping they will allow me to attend the program only for the last 3 or 4 weeks... :xf:
 
anyone considering the pre-matric this summer? I feel like I should do it b/c I don't want to flunk out, but I also don't think I can afford it (housing/living expenses)... I might qualify for a little financial help for pre-matric, but maybe not. Also, I graduate 6/13 so I don't want to head straight to Pitt on 6/14, ya know? Hopefully I'll be 100% cool if I don't do it and I just relax a bit instead.

you won't flunk out. enjoy your summer!
 
Hey Pazan, where did you find your apartment? I've been looking at listings online for the past three days straight, but I can't find very many that fit my criteria:

0-700$
hardwood floors (I can't STAND static electricity... 😳)
lots of windows
clean
close to school (or in the middle of Shadyside)

Also, how did you do your apartment hunting. I live really far away, so I'm not sure I could simply take a weekend off to check things out...

Also, I'm torn between Oakland and Shadyside. I love my sleep, but being close to grocery shops and the like sounds nice...

Anybody else found an apartment already?

I found a place just south of the student area of Oakland (on Parkview). I'm subletting from a grad student and the apartment is really nice/quiet... definitely beats the Oakland apartments with undergrads who've cleaned their house maybe twice in the last 2 years. I liked Shadyside and Squirrel Hill as well, but wanted to be within walking distance of the school for the summer... it just makes me feel more connected to everything. Good luck on your apartment hunt! -- it's a buyer's market for sure; there are a million to choose from on craigslist.
 
Does the pre-mat program have housing available? I'm pretty sure I read that they did, and that would be mega helpful for me to be able to camp out there while hunting for apartments.

There is housing but I'm pretty sure that you have to pay by the day. The program has a housing search scheduled though so maybe that will be helpful?
 
There is housing but I'm pretty sure that you have to pay by the day. The program has a housing search scheduled though so maybe that will be helpful?

Do you know what the day rate is?
 
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