2009-2010 University of Pennsylvania Application Thread

BU Medical Sciences
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schizosquirrel said:
Yes...but is it an indication that other applicants were higher on their "desirable" list than me?
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Maybe, maybe not. Either way, the only thing you can really control is your interview so just do your best and try to knock it out of the park.

That being said, this conversation from earlier in the thread might help:

anfleisch said:
Also, do they really not consider grades from interview on. They said a 4.0 45 is on the same playing field as lesser stat applicant. How much truth is there to that statement?
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sleepy425 said:
who told you this?
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anfleisch said:
The committee professor giving the opening orientation. She was explaining the purpose of the interview and what they are looking for in their class.
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Maybe, but you can't go in thinking that. If they did not think you were qualified they would not have gotten an invite. The interview is an important part and going in with an inferiority complex can only hurt you. Good luck!
 
schizosquirrel said:
Yes...but is it an indication that other applicants were higher on their "desirable" list than me?
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Not necessarily. Interview invitation order seems to depend on many things not related to application 'desirability', including how quick your reviewers are in reviewing your application. Further, once your application is reviewed, they might want a certain mix on interview days. They might 'approve' people for interviews and then queue them up like a playlist. Or pick them randomly, like rabbits from a magician's hat. :laugh: Really, who knows. Certainly, the important thing is that you've been invited and now have a shot at acceptance.

This has been asked and answered on many threads, so definitely search to get more opinions.
 
Penn, more than anyone, stressed that they are looking at very different criteria for choosing who to interview and who to accept. They said everyone is on a level playing field once invited to interview and they are looking at "fit" for the school. Who knows how true this is, but I think it is to some degree.
 
What the heck does this mean? I haven't received an invitation to interview yet, but my status page just changed so that it now says this:

new
"Your application continues to be reviewed but there is no change in your status. Reviews will continue."
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Whereas previously it said this:

old
"The Committee on Admissions reviewed your application but has not invited you for an interview at this time. Additional reviews will occur and any change in your status will be communicated to you."
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Which I had interpreted as a pre-interview hold which was tantamount to a pre-interview rejection. So what does this new message mean? Was I wrong about my interpretation of the original message? Does it mean they reviewed my app a second time and again placed me back into the hold pile? Hello ambiguity!
 
Doc Of Life said:
What the heck does this mean? I haven't received an invitation to interview yet, but my status page just changed so that it now says this:

new

Whereas previously it said this:

old

Which I had interpreted as a pre-interview hold which was tantamount to a pre-interview rejection. So what does this new message mean? Was I wrong about my interpretation of the original message? Does it mean they reviewed my app a second time and again placed me back into the hold pile? Hello ambiguity!
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Interviews ended yesterday, so it's almost given that you will be receiving a rejection in March.
 
mdquestion said:
Interviews ended yesterday, so it's almost given that you will be receiving a rejection in March.
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Thanks, that's what I had interpreted their original message to mean. So why on earth would they change the status message to this new one that sounds much less definitively like a rejection? Oh well, whatever. I guess they aren't too concerned with making sure they communicate effectively to applicants whom they've already rejected.

EDIT: Considering that there are absolutely no upenn interview feedback reports on dates after early february, I'd say it's all but confirmed that there are no more interviews being offered for upenn.

http://more.studentdoctor.net/interviewlist.php?school=126
 
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Doc Of Life said:
Thanks, that's what I had interpreted their original message to mean. So why on earth would they change the status message to this new one that sounds much less definitively like a rejection? Oh well, whatever. I guess they aren't too concerned with making sure they communicate effectively to applicants whom they've already rejected.

EDIT: Considering that there are absolutely no upenn interview feedback reports on dates after early february, I'd say it's all but confirmed that there are no more interviews being offered for upenn.

http://more.studentdoctor.net/interviewlist.php?school=126
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I wouldn't say they meant to reject you when your status changed. You just didn't get to the top of the pile by the time that interview season ended. Can't win em all and good luck with everything!
 
mdquestion said:
I wouldn't say they meant to reject you when your status changed. You just didn't get to the top of the pile by the time that interview season ended. Can't win em all and good luck with everything!
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Hah, thanks. Still, it's potato potahtoe. I guess it's nice to know that they rejected me simply because they didn't have time to get to my application rather than having actually considered my application and then rejected me. But ultimately the result is the same.

I take full responsibility for it though. I applied very late in the cycle because I thought I totally bombed my august mcat. When my mcat score finally was delivered a month later and I saw that I got a 33 s (10 v, 11 p, 12 b) I flipped with happiness! So I immediately submitted my primary, but with primary verification and waiting for secondary apps to be officially opened to me, it wasn't until november that I was able to send out my upenn app. Ah well, live and learn. C'est la vie.
 
From the Admissions Website:

"The choice of students is made on the basis of the opinion of the Committee on Admissions regarding the applicant's character, ability, fitness to pursue the study of medicine, and promise for the future. This is determined by many factors, including the academic standards of the college at which the applicant prepared, performance in academic courses, the record of activity in extracurricular college and community affairs, Medical College Admission Test scores, and information offered by the applicant's college faculty."

That's a bit discouraging, coming from a state school. Oh well, I can still hope for good news in March. It's such a great place.
 
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So its over right because interview invites ended a while ago?

**** gonna go update mdapps 🙁
 
bannie22 said:
So its over right because interview invites ended a while ago?

**** gonna go update mdapps 🙁
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Sorry dude, interviews are done. Where do you think you're going to end up at this point?
 
ApoK said:
From the Admissions Website:

"The choice of students is made on the basis of the opinion of the Committee on Admissions regarding the applicant's character, ability, fitness to pursue the study of medicine, and promise for the future. This is determined by many factors, including the academic standards of the college at which the applicant prepared, performance in academic courses, the record of activity in extracurricular college and community affairs, Medical College Admission Test scores, and information offered by the applicant's college faculty."

That's a bit discouraging, coming from a state school. Oh well, I can still hope for good news in March. It's such a great place.
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Penn definitely picks favorites of colleges/universities...just on interview day you could see a preference for Ivy League applicants and those who attended top small liberal arts schools. Outside of a student who went to Penn State and one who went to UF, I think the list of colleges in my applicant group included Stanford, Yale, Columbia, Harvard, Penn, Cornell, Swarthmore, Amherst, Haverford, and Lehigh.

However, if you got to the interview point, I think you made it past the academically qualified round/they don't really care where you went to undergrad anymore. And judging from following your interviews at other schools, I think you're probably a candidate that other applicants should be worried about...not the other way around 😉.
 
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bannie22 said:
So its over right because interview invites ended a while ago?

**** gonna go update mdapps 🙁
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Yup interviews ended last Friday. They apparently will occasionally take single applicants for sort of less organized interview days in case they pass over an app that they had wished they viewed.

For any interviewees, I did find out a bit about the interview scoring process after talking with a med student the other day (although....not entirely sure how reliable this is). Apparently your student and faculty interviewer will write a written review as well assigning you a numerical score from 1-6 on a .5 increment scale. You basically need a 3 from each interviewer to be considered seriously for admission. Once you get to that point, the committee will look at your app as a whole in relation to the interviewees comments, your letters of rec, and how your uniqueness fits in to the class they're trying to mold and then assign you to "accepted" or in the waitlist piles (of which there is a high tier and regular tier)
 
Sorry to change the topic, but I was wondering if anyone has actually sent in a letter of intent post-interview? I've been thinking about sending one in for a while now, but I interviewed early November so I'm guessing it might be a bit late at this point since decisions have probably already been made for that batch...any thoughts? 😳
 
ApoK said:
Sorry dude, interviews are done. Where do you think you're going to end up at this point?
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mdeast said:
Yup interviews ended last Friday. They apparently will occasionally take single applicants for sort of less organized interview days in case they pass over an app that they had wished they viewed.

For any interviewees, I did find out a bit about the interview scoring process after talking with a med student the other day (although....not entirely sure how reliable this is). Apparently your student and faculty interviewer will write a written review as well assigning you a numerical score from 1-6 on a .5 increment scale. You basically need a 3 from each interviewer to be considered seriously for admission. Once you get to that point, the committee will look at your app as a whole in relation to the interviewees comments, your letters of rec, and how your uniqueness fits in to the class they're trying to mold and then assign you to "accepted" or in the waitlist piles (of which there is a high tier and regular tier)
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Thanks guys. I have kinda gotten conditioned to being rejected so it doesnt hurt anymore. Kinda bad for not feeling hurt though.

Apok. I have no idea. I'm gonna be waiting till March to hear from all the schools. At the moment, cant really make my mind up on any of the schools that accepted me thus far. 🙁

What about you Apok? PM me. (Cause I wont be returning here 😛... I am unwanted anyway!!!)
 
Lycheegal said:
Sorry to change the topic, but I was wondering if anyone has actually sent in a letter of intent post-interview? I've been thinking about sending one in for a while now, but I interviewed early November so I'm guessing it might be a bit late at this point since decisions have probably already been made for that batch...any thoughts? 😳
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They haven't made decisions on us yet likely...I assume they end interviews now so they can spend the next month and a half in committee meetings reviewing all applications and forming the diverse class that they want from the whole pool. So if you interviewed in September or January it shouldn't matter.

I interviewed in early October and haven't sent any updates letters yet in light that I won't even finish my last interview (that of know of) until this week. I'm probably going to send update letters and a LOI to my top school (which will probably be Penn) once I figure it all out. I just felt weird about doing it before I really felt like this leg of the process was over with. Sending an update letter now is not late, so I'd pass it along if you think you have something significant to add (either by intentions or by new activities/achievements). I think Penn likes this, so definitely give it a shot. They say to keep in touch after the interview, so why not follow directions 😉 ?
 
so the status page says we will be notified BY march 15th. I don't really understand non-rolling schools, does that mean we will ALL know on march 15th? or do they send them in batches from march 1st-march 15th?
 
makeshift123 said:
so the status page says we will be notified BY march 15th. I don't really understand non-rolling schools, does that mean we will ALL know on march 15th? or do they send them in batches from march 1st-march 15th?
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Unless they changed it from last year, everyone who interviewed will receive an email at the same time telling you to check your status page. At that time, your status page will have your decision (if you are in tier 1 of the waitlist, make sure you read your decision letter since not all of the tier 1 letters are the same).
 
mdeast said:
They haven't made decisions on us yet likely...I assume they end interviews now so they can spend the next month and a half in committee meetings reviewing all applications and forming the diverse class that they want from the whole pool. So if you interviewed in September or January it shouldn't matter.

I interviewed in early October and haven't sent any updates letters yet in light that I won't even finish my last interview (that of know of) until this week. I'm probably going to send update letters and a LOI to my top school (which will probably be Penn) once I figure it all out. I just felt weird about doing it before I really felt like this leg of the process was over with. Sending an update letter now is not late, so I'd pass it along if you think you have something significant to add (either by intentions or by new activities/achievements). I think Penn likes this, so definitely give it a shot. They say to keep in touch after the interview, so why not follow directions 😉 ?
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Thanks for the advice! I think I will send that letter and just hope for the best as Penn was one of my top choices and I could definitely see myself being VERY happy there 😀

Who would I address this letter to though?
 
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I just got an e-mail saying the interview season is officially closed. Meh. Good luck to everyone who interviewed and hasn't heard one way or the other yet.
 
Rejected as well. I appreciate them not making me have to wait til March to officially update my MDApps, haha.

Good luck to those of you waiting for post-interview decisions!
 
Steeler7588 said:
Rejected as well. I appreciate them not making me have to wait til March to officially update my MDApps, haha.

Good luck to those of you waiting for post-interview decisions!
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ditto. much appreciated penn 👍
gl all
 
Does anyone plan on going to these events they have scheduled for the next couple of months?
 
anfleisch said:
Does anyone plan on going to these events they have scheduled for the next couple of months?
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It's a stupid idea...get everyone who interviewed feeling really connected to and excited about Penn...then when 75% of them get rejected, it will hurt so much worse!
 
SwineSue said:
It's a stupid idea...get everyone who interviewed feeling really connected to and excited about Penn...then when 75% of them get rejected, it will hurt so much worse!
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I might go, but if you don't live in Philly or near Philly I can't see the point of it.
 
sewcurious said:
6 for me 🙁
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It's weird too. The Status Page still says the 15th and they just sent that calendar email detailing events from now until the 15th. Ugh, can't the waiting end?
 
Its one of three things: an error, they are behind in review, or they are being safe so nobody starts calling everyday come March
 
anfleisch said:
Its one of three things: an error, they are behind in review, or they are being safe so nobody starts calling everyday come March
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I'm just more curious to know how the admissions process works. 2 months is a long time to go through applicants.
 
I think it takes that long because they make all the decisions now. In some ways this is a positive thing since they will spend time to go through each applicant carefully. What about those schools that are rolling and still take two months or more. If they meet once a week, thats probably 7 or 8 times with about 100 applicants a day. If thats the case, even five minutes an applicant would require over an 8 hour day.
 
mdeast said:
I'm just more curious to know how the admissions process works. 2 months is a long time to go through applicants.
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Doesn't Penn also send Financial Aid information at the same time? That could slow down the process considerably
 
Amadelphous said:
Doesn't Penn also send Financial Aid information at the same time? That could slow down the process considerably
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Financial Aid is separate. Many people would not have completed their forms by then...but it's possible you could get your offer with your acceptance if you hand them in early. They do release merit scholarships with decisions (the 10 full scholarships, and a couple 1/2 scholarships).
 
Missed seeing Penn on the 1st page ::bump::
 
Anyone else get the "thoughts on diversity" email? Oh Penn. Stop teasing me with telling me how great you are, when we all know I'm going to be waitlisted.
 
mdeast said:
Anyone else get the "thoughts on diversity" email? Oh Penn. Stop teasing me with telling me how great you are, when we all know I'm going to be waitlisted.
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👍

i suppose they're keeping me from forgetting about them, though
 
The email did its job, good to see this thread popping up ever so often. I still think some schools could learn a thing or two from Penn, not only from their interview day or nice status page, but these little updates. I like to see they are updating me as much as I have been updating them.
 
According to a Penn student, they are trying to recruit minorities hardcore because they consistently get a smaller percentage of the ones they accept (losing them to other schools)
 
sewcurious said:
According to a Penn student, they are trying to recruit minorities hardcore because they consistently get a smaller percentage of the ones they accept (losing them to other schools)
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I wonder why that is....?
 
Not sure, maybe just a fluke because I LOVED everything about it when I visited.
 
i was the only white male at my interview day. i think this may be good.
 
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