2009-2010 Penn State Application Thread

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Just got the secondary this morning (verified on 7/7)!
 
AMCAS verified on Jul 14th. Received secondary today (July 27th) at 8:49 am (EST).

So I guess they've finally started sending out secondaries!
 
Prompts:


If not currently enrolled in a full-time academic program, please summate your activities from the time of graduation from your baccalaureate program through the time of this application, as well as your plans between now and your matriculation to medical school. (Maximum 50 words)

Explain the negative aspects of medicine that you considered in making this career decision. (Maximum 50 words)
Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 50 words)


Explain why you decided to apply to Penn State College of Medicine. (Maximum 50 words)

(and of course there's the usual "if you applied to us last year, what's changed etc. - also 50 words).
 
I don't know how to approach this "unique aspect" one in only 50 words... I have like a 400 word response for this already for my other schools, and don't even know how to trim it down 🙁
 
FML said:
I don't know how to approach this "unique aspect" one in only 50 words... I have like a 400 word response for this already for my other schools, and don't even know how to trim it down 🙁
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try to use one or two words to sum up stuff. For example, I was in blah blah club/organization, and I did blah blah blah, and was trained to be a leader doing blah blah blah.

I was involved in a unique position at ____, where I became a student leader.
 
ziggydoc said:
try to use one or two words to sum up stuff. For example, I was in blah blah club/organization, and I did blah blah blah, and was trained to be a leader doing blah blah blah.

I was involved in a unique position at ____, where I became a student leader.
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ahh... good advice. That's what I ended up doing right after I posted that lol

just submitted 😀
 
why the heck do they need an emergency contact? i guess i'll put my boyfriend because he lives with me...?
 
ziggyd0c said:
why the heck do they need an emergency contact? i guess i'll put my boyfriend because he lives with me...?
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man, I get soooo confused when I see you post, I'm like wait I didn't write that. Even after like a month I am still not used to the d0c lol:laugh:
 
I'm putting FML as my emergeny contact and telling them to go PM him on SDN.
 
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FML said:
I don't know how to approach this "unique aspect" one in only 50 words... I have like a 400 word response for this already for my other schools, and don't even know how to trim it down 🙁
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It's not easy that's for sure. My best advice is to scrap the 400 words and start fresh use the same aspect but rewrite with brevity since paring down the large essay will prolly be more of a hassle than it's worth.

Just my 2cents
 
ziggydoc said:
man, I get soooo confused when I see you post, I'm like wait I didn't write that. Even after like a month I am still not used to the d0c lol:laugh:
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hahah same thing happens to me. it'll be like "most recent post by ziggydoc, 2:30pm" and i'm like wtf i wasn't even home then!! oh right 😛
 
Haha, I totally spoke too soon. Those might be the hardest 149 words I've written so far. I almost prefer UCSD's 7500 character one.

Almost.
 
ugh i know, all my responses seem so awkward. especially when i'm at like 55 words and i have to cut back. i just take out all the adverbs lol.

"Be doctor good. Me unique. Diversity. Like Penn State."
 
anyone know how much this secondary costs? I can't seem to find it on the app.
 
got the secondary too. 5:44 am pacific.
 
aquamarine said:
someone earlier on the thread posted on this...if you do list your boyfriend as an emergency contact, do you just list "Relationship - boyfriend" or is that not professional enough? 😉
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You could say Significant Other.
 
Is it weird that my application hasn't been verified yet but I still got a secondary app from penn state?
 
just got it today and i'm not even verified yet 🙂

though i expect to be in a few days

given that duke was the first secondary i received i absolutely LOVE these schools that don't ask you for too much
 
hey guys, i'm an incoming MS1 at PennSt. COM and if you have any questions about the secondary/interview...you can message me on SDN. I'm really excited to start class in 2 weeks, and I love the school!

i'll answer some of the questions on SDN...the 50 word limit prompt...you can go over it...mine was around 50-60 words, they get a lot of applications and they dont want you to write epic poems. they will get to know you better in interviews.

and the question about "why penn state" i think penn state like applicants that are well-rounded and focus on the humanistic side of medicine. Also, the majority of my future classmates did some sort of extensive research and had publications. penn state is big in humanistic medicine (lion care clinic) and research (required research project).

hope all that information helped!
 
akajackbauer said:
hey guys, i'm an incoming MS1 at PennSt. COM and if you have any questions about the secondary/interview...you can message me on SDN. I'm really excited to start class in 2 weeks, and I love the school!

i'll answer some of the questions on SDN...the 50 word limit prompt...you can go over it...mine was around 50-60 words, they get a lot of applications and they dont want you to write epic poems. they will get to know you better in interviews.

and the question about "why penn state" i think penn state like applicants that are well-rounded and focus on the humanistic side of medicine. Also, the majority of my future classmates did some sort of extensive research and had publications. penn state is big in humanistic medicine (lion care clinic) and research (required research project).

hope all that information helped!
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Thanks for the insight. I've finished this secondary, so I'm not trying to steal your ideas, but what's your impression of the school?

The general vibe I've gotten is that you recieve a great education, but it's kind of a boring town.
 
pitt1166 said:
Thanks for the insight. I've finished this secondary, so I'm not trying to steal your ideas, but what's your impression of the school?

The general vibe I've gotten is that you recieve a great education, but it's kind of a boring town.
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yeah, hershey is a small city, but the state capital is about 10 minutes away and it has a good nightlife. Philly is about 1.2 hrs away and DC is about 2 hours away. Most medical students party in harrisburg after exams and the people in hershey are extremely friendly.
 
akajackbauer said:
yeah, hershey is a small city, but the state capital is about 10 minutes away and it has a good nightlife. Philly is about 1.2 hrs away and DC is about 2 hours away. Most medical students party in harrisburg after exams and the people in hershey are extremely friendly.
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Is there any kind of nightlife in Hershey itself? Anything sweet there aside from the amusement Park (which is pretty sweet, don't get me wrong)?
 
pitt1166 said:
Is there any kind of nightlife in Hershey itself? Anything sweet there aside from the amusement Park (which is pretty sweet, don't get me wrong)?
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Hershey is known for its chocolate factory and having the only Level 1 trauma center in central Pennsylvania. you will get great clinical experiences, but no nightlife? haha. Harrisburg (a few blocks away), I heard, have a great nightlife for singles if that's what you're looking for.
 
Submitted a little bit ago. Best secondary ever...besides Mayo.
 
.
 
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akajackbauer said:
Hershey is known for its chocolate factory and having the only Level 1 trauma center in central Pennsylvania. you will get great clinical experiences, but no nightlife? haha. Harrisburg (a few blocks away), I heard, have a great nightlife for singles if that's what you're looking for.
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Cool, once again thanks for info. Not sure why I asked about the nightlife, I'm actually living in Philadelphia now and never go out.
 
anyone know what the LOR reqs are for this school if you don't have a committee?
 
ajkby52 said:
anyone know what the LOR reqs are for this school if you don't have a committee?
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I believe 2 science, 1 non-science, and 1 from someone who has supervised you like your PI, employer, etc.
 
The non-science letters doesn't have to be from a professor, right? Mine's from a graduate student who was the full instructor for the class.
 
BlueElmo said:
The non-science letters doesn't have to be from a professor, right? Mine's from a graduate student who was the full instructor for the class.
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Anyone know if they do a letter substitution for the non-science?
 
anyone find it odd that they are asking which schools (if we're reapplicants) we previously applied to? is that normal or am i just reading the question wrong?
 
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