2009-2010 University of Pittsburgh Application Thread

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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.

Pretty sure that 9/4 is the first interview as well. I submitted July 1st, about a 2-3 week turnaround for an invite, interviewing 9/11.

Anyone else going to be around that weekend? The 1st years have an exam on the 14th, so my friends are going to be too busy to entertain me 😡
 
ok - makes sense. I know the picture most people get when they hear "homeschooler" is that skinny, glasses-wearing, nerd that wins spelling bees, and sadly, they'd have to give me an invite to see that I don't fit that stereotype... Probably not worth the risk. 😎

If you're from the South/Bible Belt, there's the whole stereotype that your parents taught you creationism, and that you think anyone who believes in evolution is going to hell.

As you said, it's not worth the risk.
 
If you're from the South/Bible Belt, there's the whole stereotype that your parents taught you creationism, and that you think anyone who believes in evolution is going to hell.

As you said, it's not worth the risk.

LOL somebody saw Jesus Camp.
 
1st interview invite! Slots must have filled up fast. I think I'll have to wait until November to interview.
 
So assuming I've been complete since July 4th can I pretty much assume I'm rejected?
 
rejections come via snail mail, i believe?

Just checked last year's thread. Looks like it's either via snail mail or a status page update (without email) starting around mid-October. Le sigh. Think it's worth sending an update letter?
 
if it would make you have less regrets for rest of the year then go for it!
 
Just checked last year's thread. Looks like it's either via snail mail or a status page update (without email) starting around mid-October. Le sigh. Think it's worth sending an update letter?

I wouldn't. Unless you are updating your MCAT...

Sounds like this school is interviewing primarily based on stats (hence the two-week turn around most of us are experiencing).

I know plenty of people applying to Pitt who have not heard word yet. All have been in for over a month. I would imagine the school has all of you in a "Wait-and-See" pile. After the first few weeks of interviews are over, or once Oct rolls around you will surely hear back from them.

Just seems a bit over the top to me to send an update unless you have been granted an interview...think if the 5,000 people who haven't heard back all sent updates...

Hope that helps!😉
 
interview invite! OOS, 3.7+, 39+. scheduled it for nov 4th (the first date). looks like everything in oct is taken up. i was complete a week and a half ago (last saturday)
 
Interview invite today. 3.79cGPA, 3.88sGPA, 35 MCAT, OOS. Complete 8/18 or so
 
yeah, invite here as well. complete last week. good stats, just like everybody else. kinda exciting, kinda intimidating. looks like a lot of impressive people are interviewing here...it's an honor to just be in that same pile. good luck to all
 
Just had my interview at Pitt. Today was their first day of interviews. I had an amazing time, starting with staying with current students all the way to the interviews themselves. The administrative person explicitly said Pitt doesn't do stress interviews, so just relax and enjoy.

Some numbers you might like to know: About 1000 applicants were selected last year and about 400 people were given acceptances. There is a rumor (from students) that this year the interview numbers will be reduced to about 900.

UPMC is the biggest hospital system in the country and UPitt students get to roam the system as their own. This is entirely different from other city schools where several schools have to share limited hospital resources. I love Pitt's sole ownership of all these hospitals... 😀

Suggestion: You MUST stay with student host. I had no problem answering "Why you wanna come to pitt" question (both of my interviewers asked me that) because I had talked with the students so much. There is really no better way to understand why a school is likable than by talking to current students.
 
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Just had my interview at Pitt. Today was their first day of interviews. I had an amazing time, starting with staying with current students all the way to the interviews themselves. The administrative person explicitly said Pitt doesn't do stress interviews, so just relax and enjoy.

Some numbers you might like to know: About 1000 applicants were selected last year and about 400 people were given acceptances. There is a rumor (from students) that this year the interview numbers will be reduced to about 900.

UPMC is the biggest hospital system in the country and UPitt students get to roam the system as their own. This is entirely different from other city schools where several schools have to share limited hospital resources. I love Pitt's sole ownership of all these hospitals... 😀

Suggestion: You MUST stay with student host. I had no problem answering "Why you wanna come to pitt" question (both of my interviewers asked me that) because I had talked with the students so much. There is really no better way to understand why a school is likable than by talking to current students.

Thank you for making this post! 👍

It's nice to see people helping one another in what is one of the most competitive fields out there.

My undergrad college roommate (and subsequently best friend) is from Pittsburgh and now lives there. I was planning on staying with him. His younger sister is in the nursing program there. Would you think it's beyond the two of them to give me a heads up on the Pitt program?
 
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My undergrad college roommate (and subsequently best friend) is from Pittsburgh and now lives there. I was planning on staying with him. His younger sister is in the nursing program there. Would you think it's beyond the two of them to give me a heads up on the Pitt program?

Living in Pittsburgh and being a nursing student are NOT the same thing as being a med student in Pitt med program. Stay with your best friend ONLY IF you cannot find med student hosts. Unless you know everything about the being a med student at Pitt already, you'll get incredibly valuable insights from staying with med students.
 
This is my 1st interview invite and I'm excited about this school! I was complete on 8/27 and got an interview invite on 8/31. My interview date is 11/6 and I'm staying with student hosts. Anyone else interviewing on 11/6?
 
I'm interviewing 11/3! But I can't find a student host! I have emailed 10 students already and they all seem to have someone staying with them that week 🙁
The flight cost me 200 dollars and I'm scared I'm also going to have to pay a hotel.
 
I'm interviewing 11/3! But I can't find a student host! I have emailed 10 students already and they all seem to have someone staying with them that week 🙁
The flight cost me 200 dollars and I'm scared I'm also going to have to pay a hotel.

When you email potential hosts, try asking them if 1) they can host you or 2) find someone else to host you.
 
are the interviews in morning or afternoon? do we find out on the day of our interview?
 
are the interviews in morning or afternoon? do we find out on the day of our interview?

This is what the email said regarding my interview schedule:

You should plan to arrive at our office located on the fifth floor of Scaife Hall, Room 518, by 8:30 a.m. Your day will begin with a continental breakfast and welcome greeting followed by a tour of our medical school and the UPMC facilities. Portions of the tour will be outside, so we recommend bringing weather appropriate clothing and walking shoes if desired. The day will conclude at 3:00 p.m. with optional sessions lasting until 4:00 p.m.
 
word, i have my interview next week and i didnt wanna go be a ******* and not know who or when im interviewing
 
how long before we interview should we contact student hosts?
 
just do it now, they seemed to interview frequently and a lot (to get them done by december), ppl probably get ****loads of requests
 
how long before we interview should we contact student hosts?

Yeah, my interview is October 14 and I sent an email to one of the hosts the night that the list was made available. Seemed fine with him. Sounds like a nice guy too.
 
cant stay with a host i'll probably get at pitt at 3 am and up at 630 cant bother anyone like that 🙁
 
how long before we interview should we contact student hosts?


I say do it asap, considering there are 58 available student hosts and around 1000 ppl interviewing. I had to email 15 students before getting a host, then again the week of November 3rd both 1st and 2nd year students have exams :/
 
I say do it asap, considering there are 58 available student hosts and around 1000 ppl interviewing. I had to email 15 students before getting a host, then again the week of November 3rd both 1st and 2nd year students have exams :/

oh dang i'm on Nov. 2... maybe I should start emailing now
 
how long before we interview should we contact student hosts?

They say the minimum is 2 weeks before your interview, but e-mail hosts asap bc they go fast. I have a host but I e-mailed them right after my invite and my interview isn't until 11/6 (I was paranoid)
 
oh dang i'm on Nov. 2... maybe I should start emailing now

Try writing to second years first because their test is on November 6 while first year's test is on November 2.
 
I'm interviewing here this week, and I managed to find a student host to stay with despite such short notice.

So far, Pitt seems like a great place. 🙂
 
I just interviewed here today. It was incredible. They do a wonderful job of keeping the day low stress, and no shortage of cookies (which were delicious!). The people at the school were incredibly friendly, so those of you with interviews should be excited to come here. Time to go explore the area a little more.
 
Just had my interview at Pitt. Today was their first day of interviews. I had an amazing time, starting with staying with current students all the way to the interviews themselves. The administrative person explicitly said Pitt doesn't do stress interviews, so just relax and enjoy.

Congrats. And QFT.

Some numbers you might like to know: About 1000 applicants were selected last year and about 400 people were given acceptances. There is a rumor (from students) that this year the interview numbers will be reduced to about 900.

This info was stated by an Admissions staff member, so there will be fewer invites this year. It also seems a significant proportion have already been given out.

UPMC is the biggest hospital system in the country and UPitt students get to roam the system as their own. This is entirely different from other city schools where several schools have to share limited hospital resources. I love Pitt's sole ownership of all these hospitals... 😀

QFT.

Suggestion: You MUST stay with student host. I had no problem answering "Why you wanna come to pitt" question (both of my interviewers asked me that) because I had talked with the students so much. There is really no better way to understand why a school is likable than by talking to current students.

I did not do this, but wish i had. I would've picked a better place to live had I done this!!!
 
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.

Having interviewed many students here I must say that this is not true. Student interviewers are there to (hopefully) weed out the students who may seem awesome to the profs but who don't necessarily have the social graces necessary for patient interactions. They like to hear neat facts about you, and will not judge you based on something as mundane as where you went to high school. I think it would add a lot of diversity, and I urge you to write about it. Just my 0.02.
 
interviewed here, my only regret is being unable to find a host. the students seemed awesome and totally down to earth. the school is in the heart of a HUGE hospital system (upmc).
 
yea my next interview, very excited. upmc is one of the reasons pittsburgh economy turned around
 
Anybody interviewing next week on the 18th? I'm so excited! I'm glad to hear reports of a relaxing interview.
 
Rock on with the interviews. If you have questions, I'll be more than happy to answer re: Anything interview related. As only a first year, I'm still a bit hazy with some of the post-anatomy issues.

Watch out for the first years on Monday. We'll be a-scared pre-9 and exhausted post-noon. First test of the year.
 
Interviewed today. Feel great about Pitt. Interviews were legitemately enjoyable. Any Qs? Feel free to ask 🙂
 
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