2009-2010 Penn State Application Thread

BU Medical Sciences
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.
Congratulation !!

Updated list

Lets have list. How many persons are waiting Penn State Acceptance from Hold List? Please list your name, if you are on Penn State Hold list and 100% sure to attend Penn State, if get off from hold list.

1. Narutodoc
2. Amikhchi
3. JustinSMD (Assuming they let me in before Temple...otherwise I may not get a choice)
4. DntStopBelievin
5. Binna04
6. dallascowboy
7. Jennjax87 (however, in-state school is first priority)
8. Hadeedish
9. IndigoBoy0 (assuming the let me know before mid-July)
10. xoxomobes
11. gatorbabe88

Accepted off the Hold list (Post-May 15)

1. Morralex
2. pennstate4life



pennstate4life said:
My first post guys. Got the call last week. Is there a facebook group?
Click to expand...
 
Thanks! This came as a surprise because I thought my interviews went poorly (long awkward silences lol). I guess they figured I am a better listener than a talker. Good luck people.
 
Can you tell us what time you received the call?
 
pennstate4life said:
My first post guys. Got the call last week. Is there a facebook group?
Click to expand...

congrats

can you answer following questions. It will really help us.

Narutodoc said:
congratulations.

Can you answer these questions.
when was your interview? when did you get put on hold?
Did they gave any indication of how many people they accepted today?
Did you have to make decision on the spot or they just called to let you know and congratulate you? Who called you.
In addition to the call have you gotten any thing, for example CBC email?
If you don't mind your stats and In-state or Out-state?

any other information that you might think that could help us evaluate the situation.

once again congratulation.
Click to expand...
 
btw i didn't send in updates. my friend did and he is still on hold. maybe the trick is to play hard to get. gl
 
Any one called Penn State admission front desk?
 
Hi Guys,
I've been posting on the board for a while now but was not here early on when everyone was discussing requirements for medical school. At this point in the process I am a bit bewildered because I thought my application would be competitive for medical school but as of yet I have not been accepted anywhere.

My statistics are as follows:
Undergraduate University: Schreyer Honors College, Penn State
Degrees: B.S. Magna Cum Laude in Biology, B.A. Summa Cum Laude in Political Science, Honors in Biology
MCAT: 32P
EC: VP College of Science, Chair of Speaker Series, Undergraduate Math Center Coordinator, President of the political science honors society
Recomendors: Lecturer in Political Science, Lecturer and course administrator in Biology, professor of organic chemistry, associate dean of science, Neurosurgeon

Do you guys think I have a chance of getting into hershey? Any idea what some weaknesses in my application might be?

Thanks so much for your help and sorry I didn't get involved (and post this) earlier.
 
JustinSMD said:
Hi Guys,
I've been posting on the board for a while now but was not here early on when everyone was discussing requirements for medical school. At this point in the process I am a bit bewildered because I thought my application would be competitive for medical school but as of yet I have not been accepted anywhere.

My statistics are as follows:
Undergraduate University: Schreyer Honors College, Penn State
Degrees: B.S. Magna Cum Laude in Biology, B.A. Summa Cum Laude in Political Science, Honors in Biology
MCAT: 32P
EC: VP College of Science, Chair of Speaker Series, Undergraduate Math Center Coordinator, President of the political science honors society
Recomendors: Lecturer in Political Science, Lecturer and course administrator in Biology, professor of organic chemistry, associate dean of science, Neurosurgeon

Do you guys think I have a chance of getting into hershey? Any idea what some weaknesses in my application might be?

Thanks so much for your help and sorry I didn't get involved (and post this) earlier.
Click to expand...

No research. No shadowing. No clinical experience. It's not just about the numbers.
 
Oh I just forgot to mention that. I don't have any clinical experience but I did do research-my honors thesis was virology research for 2 years and I shadowed a doctor on select days for 8 weeks and got to be involved in numerous surgeries. Do you think it's just the clinical experience that could be hurting me? My committee letter also took forever to send and didn't get in until the beginning of October though my secondaries were all in by September 15th and my Primaries were sent in on August 15th (which could have also been a problem). Thoughts?
 
JustinSMD said:
Hi Guys,
I've been posting on the board for a while now but was not here early on when everyone was discussing requirements for medical school. At this point in the process I am a bit bewildered because I thought my application would be competitive for medical school but as of yet I have not been accepted anywhere.

My statistics are as follows:
Undergraduate University: Schreyer Honors College, Penn State
Degrees: B.S. Magna Cum Laude in Biology, B.A. Summa Cum Laude in Political Science, Honors in Biology
MCAT: 32P
EC: VP College of Science, Chair of Speaker Series, Undergraduate Math Center Coordinator, President of the political science honors society
Recomendors: Lecturer in Political Science, Lecturer and course administrator in Biology, professor of organic chemistry, associate dean of science, Neurosurgeon

Do you guys think I have a chance of getting into hershey? Any idea what some weaknesses in my application might be?

Thanks so much for your help and sorry I didn't get involved (and post this) earlier.
Click to expand...


Do you have any community service activities or volunteering experiences?? Your extracurriculars sound good, but they don't seem to include any community service (tutoring children, volunteering in a hospital, etc.). I think med schools like to see a true, genuine desire for helping people and serving the community. That is the heart of medicine... Also, if you don't have enough clinical/shadowing experience, that might hurt. Otherwise, you look like a strong candidate with your grades, MCAT, research, etc. I hope this helps, just my humble opinion 🙂 Good luck!!
 
PuraVida09 said:
Do you have any community service activities or volunteering experiences?? Your extracurriculars sound good, but they don't seem to include any community service (tutoring children, volunteering in a hospital, etc.). I think med schools like to see a true, genuine desire for helping people and serving the community. That is the heart of medicine... Also, if you don't have enough clinical/shadowing experience, that might hurt. Otherwise, you look like a strong candidate with your grades, MCAT, research, etc. I hope this helps, just my humble opinion 🙂 Good luck!!
Click to expand...
One of the activities I didn't list was THON which is the largest student run philanthropy in the world and raises money for Hershey's Four Diamonds Fund which raises money for children with cancer. I'm heavily involved but since it's through my university I don't know if that counts. I also don't know whether my application timeline was a weakness or whether my shadowing was a weakness.

I'm just hoping I hear something soon because I'm in love with Hershey. Thank you for your opinion I appreciate any help I can get. Good luck to you, as well, if you haven't heard all ready.
 
JustinSMD said:
One of the activities I didn't list was THON which is the largest student run philanthropy in the world and raises money for Hershey's Four Diamonds Fund which raises money for children with cancer. I'm heavily involved but since it's through my university I don't know if that counts. I also don't know whether my application timeline was a weakness or whether my shadowing was a weakness.

I'm just hoping I hear something soon because I'm in love with Hershey. Thank you for your opinion I appreciate any help I can get. Good luck to you, as well, if you haven't heard all ready.
Click to expand...

How did you honestly think you would get accepted without community service, clinical experience, or physician shadowing? Are you serious?
 
utah3219 said:
How did you honestly think you would get accepted without community service, clinical experience, or physician shadowing? Are you serious?
Click to expand...
I had community service and physician shadowing-you literally quoted one of my posts highlighting some of my community service. We raised 8.9 million dollars for pediatric cancer. I also shadowed a doctor for 8 weeks? How did you honestly think you'd get accepted being illiterate ?
 
Last edited:
koko_eats said:
It can be more than one problem, and from this single post it sounds like it is.

"I don't have any clinical experience but I did do research." -- You may have nothing to fear if it's apparent in your EC description that you got enough clinical experience out of your research. BUT if you didn't, keep in mind that medical school trains you to be a clinician. You can get in without research--you cannot get in without clinical experience. A lot of applicants fall into the trap of research > clinical experience, and it can self-destruct your app if you don't spin it accordingly.

Your app was also very late. You weren't complete until October. Assuming your peers were on top of things with their letters/essays, they were complete a month earlier. Some applicants at some schools can get away with this, but your application already has a deficit (clinical) and you want to rig everything else in your favor.

If you have to reapply, make sure everything is in way ahead of time and anticipate the next step. Get more clinical experience in the meantime.

Best of luck!
Click to expand...
Thank you for your constructive criticism coco. If I need apply again, it will definitely be a benefit that I don't need to wait for my premedical committee anymore and I will get more clinical experience throughout the following year. I did get to work with patients as I was shadowing though I do not know if that counts as legitimate clinical experience. I always thought it seemed frivolous to go work at a hospital and clean beds just to get "clinical experience" I thought the more hands on shadowing experience would be more pertinent though I'm not sure if my application conveyed that.

Best,
JustinSMD
 
koko_eats said:
I completely agree. For the longest time, I thought shadowing was useless (still do) and focused mainly on clinical research that dabbled in patient contact. My first cycle went badly and the admissions people I spoke with said my descriptions didn't highlight my patient experiences (in retrospect, they were right) and I worked at a private practice for a year as a medical assistant to please them. Like I said, it's a common issue that applicants run into because nobody wants to do scut work at a hospital.

If you want to reapply this summer, getting clinical experience during the cycle won't really help. Your responsibilities need to be on paper by then or incorporated into essays, etc. The best option would just be to spin your AMCAS activity descriptions for what you already have and emphasize your meaningful patient/MD contact.

You're also right about the committee letter taking a while. As long as it doesn't need to be updated, you're golden.
Click to expand...
Thanks that's good advice. What makes me nervous is how long I want to wait now before starting to reapply. I was thinking of waiting until mid June because if I haven't heard by then my chances are very slim, and then sending in my primaries and secondaries by July.

Thanks Again
 
Hi all. Withdrawing from the hold list so one less person to contend with. Best of luck!!! :xf:
 
Thanks for letting us know, best of luck to you wherever you decide to attend.
 
Thanks IndigoBoy,

Good luck !

Updated list

Lets have list. How many persons are waiting Penn State Acceptance from Hold List? Please list your name, if you are on Penn State Hold list and 100% sure to attend Penn State, if get off from hold list.

1. Narutodoc
2. Amikhchi
3. JustinSMD (Assuming they let me in before Temple...otherwise I may not get a choice)
4. DntStopBelievin
5. Binna04
6. dallascowboy
7. Jennjax87 (however, in-state school is first priority)
8. Hadeedish
9. xoxomobes
10. gatorbabe88

Accepted off the Hold list (Post-May 15)

1. Morralex
2. pennstate4life



IndigoBoy0 said:
Hi all. Withdrawing from the hold list so one less person to contend with. Best of luck!!! :xf:
Click to expand...
 
Hey Justin,

I've got two quick thoughts. Have you emailed Lisa about your post grad plans? I have to believe Schreyer wants to protect their 99% placement rate for grad school and could get you in contact w/ someone. Secondly, I don't know if you're still up at school but I know Mt Nittany has a ton of volunteer opportunities now that all the students are done for the year. You could probably pound out 75-100 hours by the end of June, and therefore get it on your app for next cycle in the worst case scenario, if you want to (just call Alice Clark).

Your labmate,

Steve
 
Congratulation for your acceptance at VCU !!

Now Koko is playing with acceptance letter !!!


koko_eats said:
Withdrew from the hold list today. Good luck, guys. It's a long hold list, but hopefully this helps someone!
Click to expand...
 
wagz224 said:
Hey Justin,

I've got two quick thoughts. Have you emailed Lisa about your post grad plans? I have to believe Schreyer wants to protect their 99% placement rate for grad school and could get you in contact w/ someone. Secondly, I don't know if you're still up at school but I know Mt Nittany has a ton of volunteer opportunities now that all the students are done for the year. You could probably pound out 75-100 hours by the end of June, and therefore get it on your app for next cycle in the worst case scenario, if you want to (just call Alice Clark).

Your labmate,

Steve
Click to expand...
Those statistics are BS anyway. If I didn't get in somewhere but did get a position somewhere else, they'd just say that post baccalaureate I went into research instead of medical school-which, I would do anyway so I'm sure they don't care. I called markle and he told me to email the people I all ready emailed -but I owe lisa an email anyway (from something earlier) so maybe I'll give her a ring 🙂. Yay for your first post!!!
 
Hey guys,

I called today, and they said while there's some activity of people withdrawing their acceptances, the class is full as of now. So... better start making other plans! 🙁
 
So does that mean it's a done deal? or does that mean now the movement will be a person by person as people withdraw type of thing?
 
JustinSMD said:
I had community service and physician shadowing-you literally quoted one of my posts highlighting some of my community service. We raised 8.9 million dollars for pediatric cancer. I also shadowed a doctor for 8 weeks? How did you honestly think you'd get accepted being illiterate ?
Click to expand...

YOU didn't raise the 8.9 million dollars, the Greek system did all the work. Don't try taking credit for other people's work when you just showed up for a day and a half of dancing. That is just wrong. Zero clinical exposure is basically an app death sentence.
 
utah3219 said:
YOU didn't raise the 8.9 million dollars, the Greek system did all the work. Don't try taking credit for other people's work when you just showed up for a day and a half of dancing. That is just wrong. Zero clinical exposure is basically an app death sentence.
Click to expand...

First of all I said "WE" and secondly my non Greek affiliated independent organization raised the second most amout of money (only one Greek did better and that was because the amount they raised was tied by coke). That's over 200,000 dollars WE personally raised for the kids, of which, over 2000 I personally raised-I'm even featured in the video so watch your tone. Secondly I did have clinical exposure but mostly through my shadowing experience where I was able to scrub in in surgeries which I feel was a lot more telling than exchanging bed pans while volunteering at a hospital. Is there a reason you're attacking me?
 
JustinSMD said:
First of all I said "WE" and secondly my non Greek affiliated independent organization raised the second most amout of money (only one Greek did better and that was because the amount they raised was tied by coke). That's over 200,000 dollars WE personally raised for the kids, of which, over 2000 I personally raised-I'm even featured in the video so watch your tone. Secondly I did have clinical exposure but mostly through my shadowing experience where I was able to scrub in in surgeries which I feel was a lot more telling than exchanging bed pans while volunteering at a hospital. Is there a reason you're attacking me?
Click to expand...

From what you say, it seems that you do have clinical experience (shadowing is most certainly "clinical"), but in an earlier post you actually stated "I don't have any clinical experience..." which I think is why some people jumped on you a bit. If it were strictly true that you didn't have ANY clinical experience then you wouldn't even get interviews. Shadowing can be great; I had a wonderful experience with shadowing that was meaningful for me.

I'm like you, in that I think changing bed pans, filing in an office, etc just for the sake of "clinical volunteering" is a waste of time, and I skipped that stuff. But there are other volunteering opportunities that are clinical but also meaningful and involve interaction with patients (which is important). I did a program where I was matched up with a family that was in the hospital long-term for a bone marrow transplant and that was really cool. In the case you have to reapply, showing that you have some comfort level interacting with sick people on your own can be valuable and allay some of the adcoms' possible reservations about you. Good luck!
 
AyCaramba said:
From what you say, it seems that you do have clinical experience (shadowing is most certainly "clinical"), but in an earlier post you actually stated "I don't have any clinical experience..." which I think is why some people jumped on you a bit. If it were strictly true that you didn't have ANY clinical experience then you wouldn't even get interviews. Shadowing can be great; I had a wonderful experience with shadowing that was meaningful for me.

I'm like you, in that I think changing bed pans, filing in an office, etc just for the sake of "clinical volunteering" is a waste of time, and I skipped that stuff. But there are other volunteering opportunities that are clinical but also meaningful and involve interaction with patients (which is important). I did a program where I was matched up with a family that was in the hospital long-term for a bone marrow transplant and that was really cool. In the case you have to reapply, showing that you have some comfort level interacting with sick people on your own can be valuable and allay some of the adcoms' possible reservations about you. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Thanks so much-I really do appreciate working with patients but as you mentioned-busy work for the sake of saying you have "clinical volunteering" seems pointless. If I do take a year off I would like to look for a position like that, because I am looking to do something meaningful with that time.

Haha as for the video comment above, I don't really care I just was trying to show that-for an organization that he says was the huge greek system doing work (because penn state has the largest greek system in the country) I was trying to show that even us small independents get the spotlight sometimes and that I see no reason for his personal attacks.

I do see how that could be confusing (regarding me not having clinical experience). Because the question was asked in thirds ((1) community service, (2) clinical experience, (3) shadowing) I did not categorize my shadowing experience into the clinical experience category-though I have seen over 10 babies be delivered, an Oophorectomy, a vaginal hysterectomy, a cesarean section, a pap smear as well as numerous other things (my shadowing experience was with an OB/GYN) and I got to scrub in in one of the deliveries, the C-Section and the hysterectomy. I also got to go on rounds numerous times, speak spanish to some of the patients with poor English skills and I got to work in an office. I will most certainly highlight these experiences should I need to reapply (I'm still trying to be an optimist!)
 
It seems as though this is getting a bit off topic... and by topic i mean people who are on the hold list still hoping to get accepted to penn st...
 
JustinSMD said:
-I'm even featured in the video so watch your tone. ?
Click to expand...

Yea so while you're at it, you should send them a copy of the video and tell them this is all you have to show for community service. I'm sure that'll impress them more than the students who spent years tutoring children in underprivileged communities.

Standing over a body during surgery and counting that as clinical experience on top of physician shadowing is DOUBLE DIPPING. You'd be surprised how much you learn about the medical field being around patients while they are actually conscious. Saying that you held some forceps and calling that proper clinical exposure is rather amusing.
 
utah3219 said:
Yea so while you're at it, you should send them a copy of the video and tell them this is all you have to show for community service. I'm sure that'll impress them more than the students who spent years tutoring children in underprivileged communities.

Standing over a body during surgery and counting that as clinical experience on top of physician shadowing is DOUBLE DIPPING. You'd be surprised how much you learn about the medical field being around patients while they are actually conscious. Saying that you held some forceps and calling that proper clinical exposure is rather amusing.
Click to expand...
Sticking my hand into someones chest and touching their liver while it was still in their body...holding a new born baby, going on rounds with a surgeon-I call that clinical experience. And meeting with cancer patients while they're awake through THON, allowing a 5 year old with hodgkins lymphoma to shave my head and raising money for a cause, meeting with their oncologists at Hershey, I call that community service and I don't know what your freaking problem is. Continue attacking me and I'm going to report you to SDN-this is absolutely ridiculous, I came on here for help-and thoughtful discussion not to get abused by some sycophant who's so intimidated that my posting (somehow) will worsten his chances, that he feels the need to attack me. I also collected money for the American Cancer Society through relay for life, and made donations to purple heart. Did you even tutor underprivileged children-what is your problem Utah?
 
JustinSMD said:
Sticking my hand into someones chest and touching their liver while it was still in their body...holding a new born baby, going on rounds with a surgeon-I call that clinical experience. And meeting with cancer patients while they're awake through THON, allowing a 5 year old with hodgkins lymphoma to shave my head and raising money for a cause, meeting with their oncologists at Hershey, I call that community service and I don't know what your freaking problem is. Continue attacking me and I'm going to report you to SDN-this is absolutely ridiculous, I came on here for help-and thoughtful discussion not to get abused by some sycophant who's so intimidated that my posting (somehow) will worsten his chances, that he feels the need to attack me. I also collected money for the American Cancer Society through relay for life, and made donations to purple heart. Did you even tutor underprivileged children-what is your problem Utah?
Click to expand...

1) I'm not threatened by you :laugh:
2) report to SDN cause I don't even come on very often 😀
3) your fault for coming on here hopelessly and not giving people good information to help :laugh:
4) Use the search tool :idea:







5) I stand by my first post
 
aycaramba said:
from what you say, it seems that you do have clinical experience (shadowing is most certainly "clinical"), but in an earlier post you actually stated "i don't have any clinical experience..." which i think is why some people jumped on you a bit. If it were strictly true that you didn't have any clinical experience then you wouldn't even get interviews. shadowing can be great; i had a wonderful experience with shadowing that was meaningful for me.

I'm like you, in that i think changing bed pans, filing in an office, etc just for the sake of "clinical volunteering" is a waste of time, and i skipped that stuff. But there are other volunteering opportunities that are clinical but also meaningful and involve interaction with patients (which is important). I did a program where i was matched up with a family that was in the hospital long-term for a bone marrow transplant and that was really cool. In the case you have to reapply, showing that you have some comfort level interacting with sick people on your own can be valuable and allay some of the adcoms' possible reservations about you. Good luck!
Click to expand...

ditto
 
utah3219 said:
ditto
Click to expand...
At least this person gave me constructive criticism you just attacked me. And you don't come on alot but you're a two year member with 276 posts? Well I reported you so we'll see where this goes.

Now if you wouldn't mind, I am here to hear about my application and the waitlist not to fight with some immature 24 year old about THON and how much Greek involvement it has. Move out of your mothers basement and do something productive.
 
JustinSMD said:
At least this person gave me constructive criticism you just attacked me. And you don't come on alot but you're a two year member with 276 posts? Well I reported you so we'll see where this goes.

Now if you wouldn't mind, I am here to hear about my application and the waitlist not to fight with some immature 24 year old about THON and how much Greek involvement it has. Move out of your mothers basement and do something productive.
Click to expand...

RAGE

I'm actually 14 and I'm not embarrassed to be living at home

See attachment
 

Attachments

  • doogie.jpg
    doogie.jpg
    26.7 KB · Views: 173
amikhchi said:
It seems as though this is getting a bit off topic... and by topic i mean people who are on the hold list still hoping to get accepted to penn st...
Click to expand...
Indeed.

Let's please try to keep this thread civil--from all sides. Any personal dispute should move to PMs if you really feel the need to keep going back and forth. If there is a particular poster you just can't stand, please utilize the ignore feature.
 
Unfortunately, your post made big silence on this thread!!
If class is already full, there are slim to none chances for any movement.



xoxomobes said:
Hey guys,

I called today, and they said while there's some activity of people withdrawing their acceptances, the class is full as of now. So... better start making other plans! 🙁
Click to expand...
 
I'm sure you all got into a good school. Maybe consider Penn State for residency.
 
Congratulation !!

Updated list

Lets have list. How many persons are waiting Penn State Acceptance from Hold List? Please list your name, if you are on Penn State Hold list and 100% sure to attend Penn State, if get off from hold list.

1. Narutodoc
2. Amikhchi
3. JustinSMD (Assuming they let me in before Temple...otherwise I may not get a choice)
4. DntStopBelievin
5. Binna04
6. dallascowboy
7. Jennjax87 (however, in-state school is first priority)
8. Hadeedish
9. gatorbabe88

Accepted off the Hold list (Post-May 15)

1. Morralex
2. pennstate4life
3. xoxomobes





xoxomobes said:
GOT THE CALL TODAY!! So there's still hope!!
Click to expand...
 
Got the Call Today!!! To all of those still hanging on.. keep up hope... I'm hoping for all of you guys!
 
Congratulations!! This is great news, hopefully we all get some good news soon...

Can you tell us if you were IS/OOS and basic stats (if you don't mind)?
 
IS 29 MCAT

3.6 gpa
good e.c. and shadowing

I wish everyone still holding on hope... it's not over guys
 
dallascowboy said:
IS 29 MCAT

3.6 gpa
good e.c. and shadowing

I wish everyone still holding on hope... it's not over guys
Click to expand...

congraluations, i'm OOS but this post still gives me hope, hopefully i'll see you over there in august :xf::xf::luck::luck:
 
Congratulation !!

Updated list

Lets have list. How many persons are waiting Penn State Acceptance from Hold List? Please list your name, if you are on Penn State Hold list and 100% sure to attend Penn State, if get off from hold list.

1. Narutodoc
2. Amikhchi
3. JustinSMD (Assuming they let me in before Temple...otherwise I may not get a choice)
4. DntStopBelievin
5. Binna04
6. Jennjax87 (however, in-state school is first priority)
7. Hadeedish
8. gatorbabe88

Accepted off the Hold list (Post-May 15)

1. Morralex
2. pennstate4life
3. xoxomobes
4 dallascowboy




dallascowboy said:
IS 29 MCAT

3.6 gpa
good e.c. and shadowing

I wish everyone still holding on hope... it's not over guys
Click to expand...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

wysdoc
2024-2025 Penn State
10 11 12 13 14
Replies
693
Views
179K
Hopefulclutch
H
wysdoc
2024-2024 Florida State
8 9 10 11 12
Replies
569
Views
131K
throwawaybabyitsokay
T
wysdoc
2024-2025 Michigan State
4 5 6 7 8
Replies
390
Views
80K
coolpandas
C
wysdoc
2024-2025 Ohio State
9 10 11 12 13
Replies
614
Views
175K
LankyAd
L
wysdoc
2024-2025 Washington State
4 5 6 7 8
Replies
392
Views
86K
Curious_Buddy
C
Top