2009-2010 University of Pittsburgh Application Thread

[crx]

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I don't really know anyone at Pitt, but I think it'd be a good idea to make from friends in the area. Signed up for interview on 10/26, will anyone else be there?

 

[RevDM]

Update

I'm interviewing on 10/19

 

[marzbarz73]

complete 8/2, interview request 8/14

interviewing on 11/13, which is conveniently the same weekend as the ND/Pitt football game!
SOOOO stoked

 

[crx]

complete 8/2, interview request 8/14

interviewing on 11/13, which is conveniently the same weekend as the ND/Pitt football game!
SOOOO stoked

Planning interviews around big games, you sir, are a genius. I can't believe I didn't think of this >_<

 

[Philly Med]

I don't really know anyone at Pitt, but I think it'd be a good idea to make from friends in the area. Signed up for interview on 10/26, will anyone else be there?

Hiya!

I'll be there Monday, 10/26. =) Send me a PM!

 

[PhiAlpha]

I handed in my supplemental and had recs and MCAT cleared before the end of July and the website notes this but I never received a "Complete" email. Did you guys receive a "Complete" email.


Thanks a lot,

 

[brooklynblunder]

I handed in my supplemental and had recs and MCAT cleared before the end of July and the website notes this but I never received a "Complete" email. Did you guys receive a "Complete" email.


Thanks a lot,

no

 

[Steeler7588]

Planning interviews around big games, you sir, are a genius. I can't believe I didn't think of this >_<

Haha, I planned mine so I'd be in town for the Steelers-Chargers game.

 

[JokerMD]

interview invite!!!!!!!!!!!!! super excited 😀

secondary received: 7/24; secondary submitted: 8/10; complete: ? (never marked complete); invite: 8/18; OOS

gluck to yall that are still waiting

 

[MedYEP]

As far i know, financial aid is not that great from this school

Absolutely not true based on my experience and several classmates I have talked to. However, I can't speak for everyone.

 

[osumc2014]

Absolutely not true based on my experience and several classmates I have talked to. However, I can't speak for everyone.

could you elaborate on this please?

 

[MedYEP]

could you elaborate on this please?

Sure. I was accepted off the WL in May and received a $20k/year merit scholarship and $17k need based scholarship. To me, $37k in scholarships is pretty darn good financial aid. The most I received from any other school was a fourth of that (merit and need based combined). If you look back at the 2008-2009 thread, there are several people that got large merit scholarships, and I'm not the only one I know of that got a merit scholarships while being accepted off the WL. Merit and need based scholarships are obviously going to vary from person to person but Pitt seems to make every effort to put together good financial aid packages. Now, there might be some people that don't consider my scholarships to be all that amazing, but relative to what I was getting from other schools, I was absolutely ecstatic about what Pitt gave me.

 

[womp]

Sure. I was accepted off the WL in May and received a $20k/year merit scholarship and $17k need based scholarship. To me, $37k in scholarships is pretty darn good financial aid. The most I received from any other school was a fourth of that (merit and need based combined). If you look back at the 2008-2009 thread, there are several people that got large merit scholarships, and I'm not the only one I know of that got a merit scholarships while being accepted off the WL. Merit and need based scholarships are obviously going to vary from person to person but Pitt seems to make every effort to put together good financial aid packages. Now, there might be some people that don't consider my scholarships to be all that amazing, but relative to what I was getting from other schools, I was absolutely ecstatic about what Pitt gave me.

$37k is pretty good, but not the best, last year Pritzker (UChicago) gave $160,000 (40k a year) on average in merit scholarships to its class of 80 (no joke).

Just teasing though, I'd take $37k a year in a heart beat!

 

[Nafis64]

Haha, I seriously almost had a heart attack when I saw the small envelope from Pitt in the mail. My only thought was "dang, that was a quick rejection...my LORs aren't even in yet". lol I was very relieved to see it was just that secondary letter. 🙂

And, btw, yes, I did sort of examine the signature...it really does look real!

Okay I received, haha, and the only reason I applied to pitt was after an email invitation. Everytime I feel special....its not real. But yes the signature does look real! Maybe they send it to select applicants

 

[brooklynblunder]

anyone interview here yet?

 

[osumc2014]

Okay I received, haha, and the only reason I applied to pitt was after an email invitation. Everytime I feel special....its not real. But yes the signature does look real! Maybe they send it to select applicants

I've never gotten that letter...

 

[MCATBear]

Interview invite!! It's my first so it gets two exclamation marks 🙂. I really like this school and I'm excited, going to pick a day as soon as I get all my syllabi for this semester. Anyway I submitted Saturday 8/22, invite received this morning.

 

[metallica81788]

Okay, I've been complete here since 7/2 and haven't heard anything. Can't they just reject me already and stop leaving me hanging?

 

[johncalvin]

Interview invite!! It's my first so it gets two exclamation marks 🙂. I really like this school and I'm excited, going to pick a day as soon as I get all my syllabi for this semester. Anyway I submitted Saturday 8/22, invite received this morning.

Do you mind sharing some stats? Maybe a range? Also, are you OOS?

 

[AyCaramba]

Okay, I've been complete here since 7/2 and haven't heard anything. Can't they just reject me already and stop leaving me hanging?

Same boat here. I've presumed rejection at this point, I don't even need confirmation from them ha

 

[FML]

Same boat here. I've presumed rejection at this point, I don't even need confirmation from them ha

Ditto

 

[MCATBear]

Sorry. 37 MCAT 3.97cGPA 3.91sGPA. OOS

 

[BlueElmo]

No news at all. I think I'm rejected here. W/e.

 

[MCATBear]

It looks like most of the interview invites so far happen within 1 or 2 days, so maybe they sound out initial score-based ones and then take a closer look at the rest (which I would imagine takes a lot longer). Don't give up unless you get a rejection 😳

 

[LAman10]

It looks like most of the interview invites so far happen within 1 or 2 days, so maybe they sound out initial score-based ones and then take a closer look at the rest (which I would imagine takes a lot longer). Don't give up unless you get a rejection 😳

nah, there's a good handful that got them within 8-12+ days of being complete. I think, as has been mentioned on other school threads, that there's really no "order" to which they review apps; it just kinda happens. I don't think anyone should give up hope just yet. congrats though

 

[confusedchild]

No news at all. I think I'm rejected here. W/e.

Same here....No news at all and completed for a bit over a month...I think i'm in the same boat.

 

[johncalvin]

Sorry. 37 MCAT 3.97cGPA 3.91sGPA. OOS

My GPA isn't so good. But I have the same MCAT score as you. Oh well. I'll wait.

Congrats btw.

 

[LAman10]

Interview Invite. Complete 8/13 (14-day turnaround)

 

[bluedevil51]

Interview invite as well, complete 8/14, just about a 2-week turnaround 🙂 These guys are great.

 

[johncalvin]

Interview invite as well, complete 8/14, just about a 2-week turnaround 🙂 These guys are great.

Would you mind sharing some stats, or maybe a range? (IS/OOS; MCAT; GPA)

 

[PrayingPremed]

Interview invite!!!! My first 🙂

I was complete on 8/14 and I received my invite today around 1 PM. I'm OOS with an MCAT below its 10th percentile so I'm glad they are interviewing me 🙂 High GPA.

God is soooooo good 🙂🙂🙂

 

[osumc2014]

Interview invite!!!! My first 🙂

I was complete on 8/14 and I received my invite today around 1 PM. I'm OOS with an MCAT below its 10th percentile so I'm glad they are interviewing me 🙂 High GPA.

God is soooooo good 🙂🙂🙂

Congrats!!! and yes He is!

 

[metallica81788]

Interview invite!!!! My first 🙂

I was complete on 8/14 and I received my invite today around 1 PM. I'm OOS with an MCAT below its 10th percentile so I'm glad they are interviewing me 🙂 High GPA.

God is soooooo good 🙂🙂🙂

That sounds kind of like me, mine is right at their 10th (except that I've been complete since July 2nd!). Hmm... Maybe they'll get to me soon. 😕

 

[LAman10]

anyone know the chances of acceptance if you're interviewed? they say it's 148 students in their class... do schools generally accept 2x the amount of spots or what?

 

[BBender716]

anyone know the chances of acceptance if you're interviewed? they say it's 148 students in their class... do schools generally accept 2x the amount of spots or what?

Basically, just have to estimate what % of acceptees choose to attend. So if UPitt estimates that 50% choose to attend, than it would be 2x the amount of spots.

 

[Doe87]

They accept exactly the number of spots they have, and then the waitlist feeds any who don't accept or drop the school.

 

[bigman225]

Basically, just have to estimate what % of acceptees choose to attend. So if UPitt estimates that 50% choose to attend, than it would be 2x the amount of spots.

for pitt its ~350 accepted (including waitlist acceptees.). that's not even including people who w/d the waitlist due to other acceptances who would have been accepted otherwise.

 

[Steeler7588]

According to US News, for the entering class of fall 2008: 5413 applied, 1031 interviewed, 453 were accepted, 147 enrolled.

I think I read somewhere in last year's Pittsburgh thread that they actually over-enrolled, however, and as a result used the waitlist much more in the 2009 cycle. So I'd expect the number of acceptances given out for the 2008 cycle to be optimistic compared to last year's or this year's offers.

 

[LAman10]

for pitt its ~350 accepted (including waitlist acceptees.). that's not even including people who w/d the waitlist due to other acceptances who would have been accepted otherwise.

nice, where'd you get this?

According to US News, for the entering class of fall 2008: 5413 applied, 1031 interviewed, 453 were accepted, 147 enrolled.

I think I read somewhere in last year's Pittsburgh thread that they actually over-enrolled, however, and as a result used the waitlist much more in the 2009 cycle. So I'd expect the number of acceptances given out for the 2008 cycle to be optimistic compared to last year's or this year's offers.

well I guess you said where you got this stat.. do you have a USNWR subscription or anything?

 

[dingyibvs]

According to USNews:

IS: 199 interviewed, 99 accepted, 46 enrolled
OOS: 832 interviewed, 354 accepted, 101 enrolled

 

[mooshooblue]

Hey two questions:

1) Is it ok to go a few words over the 250-word limit for the essays?

2) I was homeschooled, and thinking about writing about that for the diversity question (along with a few other things.) But I've had some bad experiences with some admissions committees (for college) who were not excited that I was homeschooled. I know there are a lot of biases regarding homeschooling, and I don't know if it's a risk to put that out there... What do you guys think?

 

[johncalvin]

Hey two questions:

1) Is it ok to go a few words over the 250-word limit for the essays?

2) I was homeschooled, and thinking about writing about that for the diversity question (along with a few other things.) But I've had some bad experiences with some admissions committees (for college) who were not excited that I was homeschooled. I know there are a lot of biases regarding homeschooling, and I don't know if it's a risk to put that out there... What do you guys think?

I think the computer will not let you submit if you're over 250 words, but I could be wrong.

As for the homeschooling, I would stay away from it. Remember, these diversity essays are sometimes really disguised non-diversity essays. If your stats are solid, you're better off just writing something run-of-the-mill than risking anything. Just MHO, FWIW.

 

[Contrarian]

I think the computer will not let you submit if you're over 250 words, but I could be wrong.

As for the homeschooling, I would stay away from it. Remember, these diversity essays are sometimes really disguised non-diversity essays. If your stats are solid, you're better off just writing something run-of-the-mill than risking anything. Just MHO, FWIW.

"disguised non-diversity essays"? what's that mean?

 

[Raindrop423]

1) Is it ok to go a few words over the 250-word limit for the essays?

I would imagine a few words is okay... probably the computer can count characters, but I think counting words might be a little more difficult... but I could easily be wrong.

 

[mooshooblue]

thanks guys.

"disguised non-diversity essays"? what's that mean?

yes, I'm wondering the same thing 😕

 

[Equality]

anyone interview here yet?

I interview this Friday 9/4. I don't know if that's the first interview date, but it was the first date available when I signed up back on July 9th.

 

[johncalvin]

yes, I'm wondering the same thing 😕

I could've worded it better. While adcoms do value a diverse class, they want to pick students who will be a good fit within a given class.

Therefore, you want to convey the image that you're, in many ways, just like your peers (read: not TOO different/diverse).

In fact, this is one of the reasons why a lot of schools have at least one student interviewer.

 

[osumc2014]

is the student host list supposed to come out today? does anyone know

 

[BBender716]

is the student host list supposed to come out today? does anyone know

It's up right now!

 

[BerlinDude]

"disguised non-diversity essays"? what's that mean?

They ask you how will you contribute to diversity at the school, then if you give something really different they reject you.

That's why instead you have to take the opportunity to talk about some 'unique' clinical work/volunteering/research that you have done. Unique, but not different.

BTW, I'm just passing through, not actually applying here. La la-la la-la. (now skipping away).