2009-2010 Drexel Application Thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Status
Not open for further replies.
Members don't see this ad.
it has been about 10 weeks post-interview and still no status change: being reviewed by a member of committee, etc. i tried calling but they rudely told me that any change in my status will be reflected on the site. is there any way i can reach them and get a real answer or do i just have to forget about it and wait? is anyone else in the same boat?
 
mishmosh said:
it has been about 10 weeks post-interview and still no status change: being reviewed by a member of committee, etc. i tried calling but they rudely told me that any change in my status will be reflected on the site. is there any way i can reach them and get a real answer or do i just have to forget about it and wait? is anyone else in the same boat?
Click to expand...
you sit and wait end of story. Bothering the school more isnt going to do anything but irritate them. im in the same boat at another school. I interviewed in sept and STILL havnt heard back its like 14+ weeks now
 
I am at 9 weeks post int without any status change and am close to emailing my interviewer to gain any kind of insight. Calling the admission office won't do anything because they probably know what we know. They say wait 6-8 weeks for a final decision, I think contacting after the 8 weeks is a bit less pushy than it may have seemed prior to 8 weeks.
 
thanks guys. i guess i am just going to sit and wait since there is nothing else i can do...i didnt try to call them before the 8 weeks was up, and i was nice on the phone, aaand they were still rude to me. oh well. sometimes people are just having bad days, right? id like to think the people in the adcom office are not always rude.
 
mishmosh said:
thanks guys. i guess i am just going to sit and wait since there is nothing else i can do...i didnt try to call them before the 8 weeks was up, and i was nice on the phone, aaand they were still rude to me. oh well. sometimes people are just having bad days, right? id like to think the people in the adcom office are not always rude.
Click to expand...
they probably get 60 people a day calling just as you did for the same thing. Those same people call everyday it can get irritating when everyday from oct-april people are calling asking the same questions you already answered last week. As the season rolls on they get more sick of it, i would too if i were in their shoes lol
 
Hey guys, quick question. I have an interview here in 2 weeks and i'm wondering if I should withdraw or not. I know that a lot of times people get better information about the school AFTER interviewing. In the opinion of those who have visited already, any obvious pros and cons?? Thanks in advance!
 
doctor2014 said:
Hey guys, quick question. I have an interview here in 2 weeks and i'm wondering if I should withdraw or not. I know that a lot of times people get better information about the school AFTER interviewing. In the opinion of those who have visited already, any obvious pros and cons?? Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...


Pros:
1. It's in philly
2. Fairly state of the art campus
3. Students looked to be pretty stress free and happy

Cons:
1. 45k a year tuition
2. Very large class size (I guess this can be either a pro or a con depending on the person)
 
Black Adder said:
Pros:
1. It's in philly
2. Fairly state of the art campus
3. Students looked to be pretty stress free and happy

Cons:
1. 45k a year tuition
2. Very large class size (I guess this can be either a pro or a con depending on the person)
Click to expand...


Another big pro for me is the PIL program, but that really depends on your learning style.
 
doctor2014 said:
Hey guys, quick question. I have an interview here in 2 weeks and i'm wondering if I should withdraw or not. I know that a lot of times people get better information about the school AFTER interviewing. In the opinion of those who have visited already, any obvious pros and cons?? Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
If you are already accepted somewhere else id say just withdraw.
Pros
1) Truthfully I cant really think of too many. If you like philly id say check it out. Really the school has some nice points (students seem nice, tech wise the campus is nice blah blah) but its something that most other schools also have nothing to really make it stand out as to why I would attend. I guess the PIL program is the one thing that makes it stand out a bit in my mind...

Cons
1) expensive
2) not a lot of fin aid to give
3) facilities not that nice ( not that it matters to me but some do care)
4) Nothing that I read or saw that really made the school stand out or want to attend. Nothing really special except maybe PIL (though many schools have something along these lines.
5) the philly area? (at least for me i didnt like it) but it may be a + for you and many others.

I mean if this was the only school i was accepted to id certainyl go but if you have other options id say just withdraw. If you like the philly area though you might want to check it out just for that. Also if money isnt an issue id say go because you just never know. I went to a school I thought id really not like and its now where im 99% likely to attend next year. If i didnt go to this interview because i already had an acceptance id have regretted it as I love this school far more then any other school i was accepted at. For me the interview day at drexel just made me certain im not going here next year. Also dont get me wrong im not saying this is a horrid school it just wasnt for me.
 
Last edited:
Elijah05 said:
If you are already accepted somewhere else id say just withdraw.
Pros
1) Truthfully I cant really think of too many. If you like philly id say check it out. Really the school has some nice points (students seem nice, tech wise the campus is nice blah blah) but its something that most other schools also have nothing to really make it stand out as to why I would attend. I guess the PIL program is the one thing that makes it stand out a bit in my mind...

Cons
1) expensive
2) not a lot of fin aid to give
3) facilities not that nice ( not that it matters to me but some do care)
4) Nothing that I read or saw that really made the school stand out or want to attend. Nothing really special except maybe PIL (though many schools have something along these lines.
5) the philly area? (at least for me i didnt like it) but it may be a + for you and many others.

I mean if this was the only school i was accepted to id certainyl go but if you have other options id say just withdraw. If you like the philly area though you might want to check it out just for that. Also if money isnt an issue id say go because you just never know. I went to a school I thought id really not like and its now where im 99% likely to attend next year. If i didnt go to this interview because i already had an acceptance id have regretted it as I love this school far more then any other school i was accepted at. For me the interview day at drexel just made me certain im not going here next year. Also dont get me wrong im not saying this is a horrid school it just wasnt for me.
Click to expand...

Not all PBL curriculums are created equal. Some schools do it well and others not-so-much, and I hear Drexel has it right.

Here's an article on the program from the Drexel University College of Medicine Online Magazine for those who may be interested:

Student-Centered Learning of Patient-Centered Medicine: The Program for Integrated Learning

Kaitlyn Norris is a 17-year-old college freshman, well-known to your pediatric practice, who comes to your office complaining that she has not had her period for about five months. She is currently on winter break and at home with her family for a month.
She last saw you in June for a physical, at which time she had no complaints and was excited about starting college at Drexel University.


The preceding case study is an example of what students in the Drexel University College of Medicine’s Program for Integrated Learning (PIL) encounter as part of their course curriculum. PIL is a problem-based curriculum in which small groups of students use medical case studies to learn basic science and clinical practice. As stated on its website, the core of PIL’s academic mission is to be “student-centered learning of patient-centered medicine.”


Incoming students at the College of Medicine select their own curriculum – either the more traditional, lecture-based Interdisciplinary Foundations of Medicine (IFM) or the problem-based PIL. About 25 percent of the current first-year class opted to participate in PIL.


PIL students learn the same material as their IFM colleagues, albeit in a different manner. Susan Coffey-Zern, M.D., PIL director – PIL curriculum, associate dean of medical education, and assistant professor of pediatrics, explains, “They dissect the cadaver. They have microanatomy labs. They have microbiology labs, pathology slide presentations, but it’s all case related. They see it in the context of a patient case.”


Second-year PIL student Eliana Verghese explains the unique curricular approach saying, “…we learn to think clinically; we use clinical problem solving from day one. Because we’re looking at a patient who presents these symptoms, we have to think in a ‘whole person’ point of view from the very first day of medical school. I think that helps us learn how to think like a clinician.”


The two years of academic study are organized into seven 10-week blocks, with about 10 cases presented each block. Students are divided into groups of six to eight and are presented with a case designed to deliver curricular content in a clinical format. All groups work with the same case at the same time. Faculty facilitate the learning process in the small group setting, and experts provide guidance in basic science content through lecture-type meetings known as resource sessions. At the end of their first year, in Block IV, PIL students also participate in the Primary Care Practicum. In this highly unique experience, students spend six weeks in a primary care practitioner’s office.


Israel Hopkins-Green, M.D., a second-year pediatric resident at Children’s Hospital Boston and PIL alumnus, explains, “If you’ve ever seen medical rounds…essentially what it turns into is a group discussion, to a certain extent, on the patient…. That’s very similar to what it is in the PIL program….”


The PIL cases also serve as a way to integrate the academic curriculum in a more hands-on or experiential format. Dr. Coffey-Zern explains that this type of learning greatly appeals to students. “It very much mirrors the way a practicing physician would think. They can see why they’re learning what they’re learning…. When you’re learning the anatomy of the limbs, you’re learning it in the context of why you need to know it as you need to practice medicine. Instead of hearing it in a lecture, you’re seeing a patient come in with a problem. You’re seeing how the physician would treat it, why it’s important to know the details of the anatomy.”


In this problem-based or case-study model, the patient is at the center of the student’s entire epistemology. Ms. Verghese says the groups address “patient as a person” issues in every case. They are trained to ask questions about the individual’s background and home life to determine how other factors might be contributing to their case. She elaborates, “Each patient that comes into an office has different psychosocial issues that may not be directly related to exactly what their diagnosis is, but it directly affects how we can treat them…. Does our patient have insurance coverage, and how does this affect whether we might be able to treat them in a primary care setting versus in the ER? Or does the patient have some other compounding factor, like substance abuse, or is this something that is occupationally related? We look at this person like they’re not just a science case.”


This patient-centered curricular model translates to clinical practice as well. Dr. Hopkins-Green explains that, “PIL gives you this opportunity to sit down for a relatively long period of time and think about a patient’s whole picture. You spend a lot of time in PIL…thinking about a clinical problem. When I see a patient with a specific clinical problem I often still spend a good amount of time reflecting on the problem as opposed to just jumping into a diagnosis quickly…. [Especially] for more complicated patients it definitely rings true that PIL has helped me out with that.”


The purposeful diagnostic process that Dr. Hopkins-Green describes can be seen as directly stemming from PIL’s small group dynamic. The facilitator plays a critical role in this process. Dr. Hopkins-Green, himself a co-facilitator (or preceptor) during a fourth year medical education elective, says, “The job of the facilitator is not to give the answer but to push the students involved into finding the answer through individual research methods or as a group.”


PIL facilitators provide an essential resource for the small groups and are a vital part of the learning and collaborative process. This position is filled by clinicians as well as Ph.D.’s. Dr. Coffey-Zern explains that some facilitators participate between working in their own clinical practices. “They love it,” she says. “It’s a great way to have interactions with the preclinical medical students. Also, [they can] still do their practice and…their clinical time as well. So it’s a great way to be part of the medical education at Drexel. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be that you’re a Drexel employee.” In fact, Dr. Coffey-Zern sees PIL as a wonderful opportunity for alumni to become involved with the College of Medicine. “We would love to have people come back and be part of Drexel.” Alumni across the country can also interact with current students by serving as preceptors for the Primary Care Practicum.


In addition, facilitators mediate the group dynamic, ensuring that each member is contributing to their potential. Ms. Verghese confirms that there is a high level of personal responsibility and accountability within the groups. “We’ve all worked really hard to get here. We all want to be here…there’s definitely a high level of professionalism within the group,” she says. The groups and facilitators change after every block, allowing students to further develop their interpersonal skills.


Ms. Verghese explains that this dynamic is one of PIL’s strengths. “There are definite personalities in different groups that may not mesh well with yours,” she says. “But it’s all about learning how to deal with those situations because, ultimately, in professional situations we’re going to come across lots of different types of people, and we’re not going to get along with everybody. So it’s a really safe environment in which to learn how to maneuver those kinds of situations and come away with a stronger ability to roll with the punches.”


Dr. Hopkins-Green believes that the small group dynamic essential to PIL has given him a tremendous advantage as a physician. “Clinical medicine is dependent on teamwork to a certain extent,” he says. “PIL does peer feedback…right from the start. It’s mandatory. You’re taught…how to receive feedback, too, and how to think about constructive feedback given to yourself…. I’ve seen a number of residents and medical students and doctors who either aren’t very good at feedback or don’t necessarily know how to receive good feedback. It’s really something that….PIL starts doing early on and really tries to teach you the fundamentals and theories about how to do it.”


Indeed, PIL’s goal of “student-centered learning of patient-centered medicine” seems to be thriving. The case-study model necessitates that students become their own educators, yet always keep the patient at the forefront of their diagnostic process. “I really like the way the program is structured from an academic standpoint,” observes Ms. Verghese. “I think it’s a great way to learn. [Talking] about material is so helpful in terms of solidifying your understanding. It’s not like you’re just looking at a page, hoping that you’re absorbing it…. Teaching another [person] is one of the hallmark ways to ensure that you understand something well.”


The Program for Integrated Learning began in 1991, designed by faculty who visited medical schools across the nation and created a type of “best practices” model for the College of Medicine. Dr. Coffey-Zern explains that the program has evolved over the years to incorporate changing technology and medical advances. While other medical schools have problem-based programs, not many have anything like PIL’s curriculum. Dr. Coffey-Zern says the other medical schools “…will have the students go in small groups and do one case once a month. A lot of schools will say they do problem-based learning, but our curricular track is dedicated to this.”


Fortunately, there are also answers in this problem-based learning model. Remember Kaitlyn Norris, the 17-year-old college freshman from the PIL case study? While working through her case, PIL students learned about endocrine physiology, eating disorders, and that Kaitlyn has a craniopharyngioma.
Click to expand...
 
True all pbl isnt the same but it sounds alot like every oter school who pushes their unique pbl program. In the end pil does sound cool but not enough for me to outweigh the bad points. Though I certainly count the pil program as a pro for Drexel
 
I really don't want to turn this into a bash Drexel thread, but one big possible con that stood out for me was the lack of a central, adjacent teaching hospital. If everyone could stay and rotate at Hahnenmann, then that'd be cool, but the way the students made it sound was that the only real shot you have of doing that is family obligations. Otherwise, either commit to the Pitt location or New Brunswick, NJ location, OR be prepared to move every 6 weeks - which, personally, I am not a fan of.

I asked my student interviewer about this, and granted, he's only a M2 so he hasn't experienced it yet, BUT he said it can be a plus because you get to train at a hospitals that might be top-notch and those that might be older. Also, if you plan it right, you can do a particular rotation at a hospital that is strong in that area.

Again, I have mixed feelings on this, and this is probably my biggest (if only) cause for concern. I'm still debating...but, definitely something to consider.
 
Hey guys,
So I have a Q. i am interviewing at Drexel next week, and was planning to take amtrak to Philly that morning. Anyone know how long a cab ride is from the 30th street train station to Drexel for the interview. Thanks. I just want to know when I need to get to Philly to be at the campus by 9am.
 
premed1836 said:
Hey guys,
So I have a Q. i am interviewing at Drexel next week, and was planning to take amtrak to Philly that morning. Anyone know how long a cab ride is from the 30th street train station to Drexel for the interview. Thanks. I just want to know when I need to get to Philly to be at the campus by 9am.
Click to expand...

I might be totally wrong but I think there is a train that goes pretty much straight to Drexel from there. I took it in the other direction after my interview.
 
Thanks soooo much for all the great information guys!!! I just withdrew my interview invitaton and hope that someone who is deserving gets it! Good luck!!:luck:
 
Happy New Year to all of you! I wish all SDNers best of luck and to get into med.school :laugh::xf:
 
Accepted!! OOS

Interviewed 10/9
"Letter Mailed" Status Change 12/23
Letter Dated 12/24
Received 12/31

Happy New Year!
 
To accepted people who might know:

1. Did anyone receive any kind of aid? Scholarships/grants or anything else in your acceptance packet?
2. Does Drexel have a second look weekend? I read somewhere that it was sometime in April 2010, is that in anyway true?
 
Waitlisted 🙁

Interview: 11/2
Status Change: 12/23
Received Letter: 1/2

I really really liked the school when I visited so I want to send a letter of interest...does anybody know to whom I should address the letter? And is snail mail better than sending it through email?
 
Does anybody have numbers for what % of their class comes off the waitlist?
 
woof88 said:
Waitlisted 🙁

Interview: 11/2
Status Change: 12/23
Received Letter: 1/2

I really really liked the school when I visited so I want to send a letter of interest...does anybody know to whom I should address the letter? And is snail mail better than sending it through email?
Click to expand...

i actually just called them today asking the same question regarding an update letter, he said they have no preference between snail mail and email. There's an address as well as three email addresses you can choose from on the status page. he said any of the three email addresses are fine. as far as who to address it to, i do not know, but im sure Drexel Admissions Committee should suffice. good luck!
 
Any status changes for those that interviewed during 2nd week of November?
I'm a few days away the 8-week mark...
 
CantWinThemAll said:
i actually just called them today asking the same question regarding an update letter, he said they have no preference between snail mail and email. There's an address as well as three email addresses you can choose from on the status page. he said any of the three email addresses are fine. as far as who to address it to, i do not know, but im sure Drexel Admissions Committee should suffice. good luck!
Click to expand...

thanks for the info!
good luck to you, too!
 
niner4life13 said:
Have you tried contacting them?
Click to expand...


I did at the 7 week mark and they said don't worry about it, I'll be fine.

IMO, I don't think the people at the admissions office know anymore than we do. All they see is the status that we can see ourselves. That is total speculation, but it sure seems that way. Other than wait patiently, I doubt there is much we can do. You can try emailing your interviewer to voice continued interest and that you are still awaiting a final decision; I have considered doing this, but have not yet.
 
COdoubleMO2theN said:
I did at the 7 week mark and they said don't worry about it, I'll be fine.

IMO, I don't think the people at the admissions office know anymore than we do. All they see is the status that we can see ourselves. That is total speculation, but it sure seems that way. Other than wait patiently, I doubt there is much we can do. You can try emailing your interviewer to voice continued interest and that you are still awaiting a final decision; I have considered doing this, but have not yet.
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea but I wonder if this would better your chances or not make a difference at all. I think i would be repeating myself from my 'Thank you' letter i sent in post interview.
 
Does Drexel send out any rejections post-interview, or is everyone basically either Accepted, or Waitlisted?
 
Yes they send rejection letters. If you look back in the thred you'll see that after getting the message that a decision has been made you will either get a 9x12 envelope with an acceptance in it or a smaller envelope. The smaller envelope (standard sized) will either contain a offer to be placed on the waitlist to which you must respond within a period of time or a rejection.


robrobbberts said:
Yes, they send rejection letters post-interview

or

Yes, they only send acceptances and waitlist post-interview?
Click to expand...
 
niner4life13 said:
Not a bad idea but I wonder if this would better your chances or not make a difference at all. I think i would be repeating myself from my 'Thank you' letter i sent in post interview.
Click to expand...


I doubt it will better your chances, but it brings attention to your file to someone who at least somewhat knows you. I would show reluctance in the letter, but my interest in the school compounded with being over 8 weeks urges me to do so. Something along those lines. Just an idea, but I worry about bugging people.
 
COdoubleMO2theN said:
I doubt it will better your chances, but it brings attention to your file to someone who at least somewhat knows you. I would show reluctance in the letter, but my interest in the school compounded with being over 8 weeks urges me to do so. Something along those lines. Just an idea, but I worry about bugging people.
Click to expand...

I think i bugged them enough already, especially since my interviewer seemed unconcerned during my interview and never responded to my 'thank you email' and I never got any correspondence when i sent them an update letter.
owell, what's another few weeks when its been 8 weeks already lol.
 
COdoubleMO2theN said:
I doubt it will better your chances, but it brings attention to your file to someone who at least somewhat knows you. I would show reluctance in the letter, but my interest in the school compounded with being over 8 weeks urges me to do so. Something along those lines. Just an idea, but I worry about bugging people.
Click to expand...

I think i bugged them enough already, especially since my interviewer seemed unconcerned during my interview and never responded to my 'thank you email' and I never got any correspondence when i sent them an update letter.
owell, what's another few weeks when its been 8 weeks already lol.
 
Accepted!!
Interviewed 9/22
Letter Dated 12/24
Received 1/2

It took 15 weeks for me to receive my acceptance post-interview. I think I interviewed the second day of interviews too. Don't worry if you haven't received anything within the 8 weeks they tell you it should take.
 
on my 9th week post interview, status changed to under review by admissions committee.
 
BanditTheHusky said:
Accepted!!
Interviewed 9/22
Letter Dated 12/24
Received 1/2

It took 15 weeks for me to receive my acceptance post-interview. I think I interviewed the second day of interviews too. Don't worry if you haven't received anything within the 8 weeks they tell you it should take.
Click to expand...

Holy freaking crap! Are you kidding me?! That's nearly four months!!!
 
It took 9 weeks after my interview date to get the letter - I wasn't even considering Drexel before my interview, but really clicked with the students and the PIL program - I can't wait for August!

I'm looking for a house somewhere between Drexel and Parsippany, NJ. Anyone know of a good area that doesn't flood and isn't a bad part of town?

Thanks for your help!
 
giuseppi said:
It took 9 weeks after my interview date to get the letter - I wasn't even considering Drexel before my interview, but really clicked with the students and the PIL program - I can't wait for August!

I'm looking for a house somewhere between Drexel and Parsippany, NJ. Anyone know of a good area that doesn't flood and isn't a bad part of town?

Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...

Are you sure that's a large enough area? :laugh:
 
saqrfaraj said:
Are you sure that's a large enough area? :laugh:
Click to expand...

lmao - that's exactly what I was thinking!!! :laugh:

Congrats on the recent acceptances!!! Especially those that have been waiting weeks upon weeks...talk about patience!
 
BanditTheHusky said:
Accepted!!
Interviewed 9/22
Letter Dated 12/24
Received 1/2

It took 15 weeks for me to receive my acceptance post-interview. I think I interviewed the second day of interviews too. Don't worry if you haven't received anything within the 8 weeks they tell you it should take.
Click to expand...

Did you try contacting them at all?
 
niner4life13 said:
Did you try contacting them at all?
Click to expand...

I never contacted them after the interview. I had a couple of other acceptances that kept me from worrying too much about the wait. Plus, I thought my interviews were really bad here and I wasn't expecting an acceptance because of them.
 
i was actually wondering the same thing. hoping that my status is updated after 12+ weeks post-interview! i really want to go to be acceptedd
 
really want to be accepted**

my grammar/typing skills have seemingly gone out the window
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

wysdoc
2024-2025 Drexel
25 26 27 28 29
Replies
1K
Views
414K
mrmc313
M
chilly_md
2023-2024 Drexel
34 35 36 37 38
Replies
2K
Views
464K
skydweller
S
chilly_md
2022-2023 Drexel
47 48 49 50 51
Replies
3K
Views
598K
amazingotter23
A
G
2022-23 Northeast Ohio (NEOMED) thread
Replies
2
Views
2K
gabbythecat
G
wysdoc
2021-2022 Drexel
51 52 53 54 55
Replies
3K
Views
644K
Muad_Dib
Muad_Dib
Top