2009-2010 University of Pittsburgh Application Thread

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What do you guys think of this ethical dilemma?

I was recently in Ghana and I caught a guy about 20 years old trying to steal my cell phone. It had fallen out of my pocket in the bus we were riding in and out of the corner of my eye I watched him pick it up, turn it off and slip it in his bag. After confronting him about it he continuously denied having it. Before I knew it the bus had pulled over, a cop was called over and a small crowd gathered. Just as I had thought they found my phone on this guy. I guess they take theft pretty seriously over there because everyone was screaming at the cop to take him to jail. Essentially his fate was in my hands so I could have either told the cop to take him to jail (which everyone was yelling at me and the cop to do) or let him go free and hope he doesnt try to do that to anyone again. As I'm sure a lot of westerners would I forgave him, but needless to say the rest of the bus ride was pretty awkward for both of us!

eh that is an ethical dilemma? I think that might be pushing it...
 
eh that is an ethical dilemma? I think that might be pushing it...

Whether or not to forgive someone seems like an ethical or a moral dilemma to me. Many religions including Christianity constantly preach forgiveness even though it is incredibly difficult to do... it could also be an essay about like not being pressured by the crowd and doing what you actually feel is right. I think this can work for sure.
 
a lot of these stories you guys have seem to be about someone doing something bad and you reporting them. i don't think these stories are that great.

a real ethical dilemma has to do with you and not someone else. maybe a mistake you made and having to own up to it.
 
a lot of these stories you guys have seem to be about someone doing something bad and you reporting them. i don't think these stories are that great.

a real ethical dilemma has to do with you and not someone else. maybe a mistake you made and having to own up to it.

i agree with anxiousteen. the dilemma needs to be personal. something that effects you and forces you to make a decision that either has a negative or positive effect on you, not someone else.
 
i agree with anxiousteen. the dilemma needs to be personal. something that effects you and forces you to make a decision that either has a negative or positive effect on you, not someone else.

I personally wrote this sort of essay, but I think the forgiveness deal may work...
 
It's been like 10 days since I've submitted but no news :scared::scared:

Yeah, I think I submitted on 7/2 and no news here either. I think they have just been inviting the applicants they really really want right now, and maybe we will get our good news later? I hope...
 
Yeah, I think I submitted on 7/2 and no news here either. I think they have just been inviting the applicants they really really want right now, and maybe we will get our good news later? I hope...


:xf:
 
a lot of these stories you guys have seem to be about someone doing something bad and you reporting them. i don't think these stories are that great.

a real ethical dilemma has to do with you and not someone else. maybe a mistake you made and having to own up to it.

i agree with anxiousteen. the dilemma needs to be personal. something that effects you and forces you to make a decision that either has a negative or positive effect on you, not someone else.

agreed that it has to be personal. but most dilemmas have to include other people in some way. It's hard to have an internal personal dilemma usually. I mean, how lame would the essay be if it was something like, "As I sat there contemplating the meaning of life...." or something to that effect. Moral or ethical dilemmas are dilemmas within oneself, but they certainly can be instigated by an external factor (e.g. another person). I think the forgiveness one is legitimate, however the only concern I have is that you basically let a criminal off the hook and assumed (or rather hoped) that he would learn from his lesson. really now? but hey, it's still a dilemma.
 
Last year, I received a positive test result for a type of leukemia. Although it was ultimately decided that it was a false-positive due to contamination, there were several months where my fate was uncertain. During this time of uncertainty, it pained me a great deal to balance my fear for what the future might hold with confidently continuing my pursuit of medicine.
This is just the tenant of my response, but does this sound reasonable??

By the way, this all went down at UPMC (Pitt's medical center) ha
 
eh, I think it has to be personal...but as long as you're involved in it...it is personal. This essay is to gauge how you would respond to difficult ethical situations that one encounters as a physician...which, for the most part...concerns patients, not yourself. So it's definitely relevant to talk about a situation involving others...as long as it involves you too.

I talked about a time when I was an RA and one of my "kids" sexually assaulted (well, complicated circumstances, but lets' just call it that) another hall member...and even though I was consulted by both students about the incident, neither party wanted me to report it to campus authorities, seek counseling for the issue, or talk to someone knowledgeable about those sorts of incidents. I had to ask myself...do I trust what they say, or do I speak to someone knowledgeable and have an authority figure handle the situation? I talked about the different ideas I had to battle with---trust, respecting others wishes, balancing concerns over the safety of other women on the hall, making sure the female involved was OK about the situation. It was messy...and though not specifically involving an act I did, still conveys the message that you know how to think out a ethical dilemma/difficult situation and make a decision.
 
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Last year, I received a positive test result for a type of leukemia. Although it was ultimately decided that it was a false-positive due to contamination, there were several months where my fate was uncertain. During this time of uncertainty, it pained me a great deal to balance my fear for what the future might hold with confidently continuing my pursuit of medicine.
This is just the tenant of my response, but does this sound reasonable??

By the way, this all went down at UPMC (Pitt's medical center) ha

I see a dilemma, but it's not really moral or ethical in nature. Or maybe I'm not understanding it correctly?
 
Since we only have 250 words for the diversity question can I just reference certain things from my primary application in order to expand on them? I have done several exchange trips so in my essay I am introducing the one I did in high school but just want to be like "this trip was then followed by the three trips discussed in my primary application". I would not have enough room to talk about anything else if I have to write about each of the three trips again.
 
thanks for your input, mdeast...i think you're right, especially after i thought about it a bit more...i think i just feel compelled to write about this since it was at UPMC! good luck to you 🙂
 
Interview Invite! 07/15/09

This is what was in the e-mail. Hope it's informative for other SDNers...

"The Admissions Committee has reviewed your application and has selected you for an interview. Outstanding applicants such as yourself are selected only after a rigorous screening process.

Interviews are offered on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast and welcome greeting in our Admissions Office located on the fifth floor of Scaife Hall. The day will conclude by 3:00 p.m. with optional sessions lasting until 4:00 p.m. Please choose your interview day very carefully. Once you have scheduled your interview, it cannot be changed except for an emergency or inclement weather. During your visit you will have an opportunity to tour the School of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center facilities. Portions of the tour will be outside, so we recommend bringing weather appropriate clothing and walking shoes if desired. In addition to the tour, you will be having lunch with students, a curriculum overview session and an interview with a faculty member and a medical student. We suggest if you are making airline reservations be sure to schedule your departure after 5:00 p.m. to allow for ample travel time."
 
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Interview Invite! 07/15/09

This is what was in the e-mail. Hope it's informative for other SDNers...

"The Admissions Committee has reviewed your application and has selected you for an interview. Outstanding applicants such as yourself are selected only after a rigorous screening process.

Interviews are offered on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast and welcome greeting in our Admissions Office located on the fifth floor of Scaife Hall. The day will conclude by 3:00 p.m. with optional sessions lasting until 4:00 p.m. Please choose your interview day very carefully. Once you have scheduled your interview, it cannot be changed except for an emergency or inclement weather. During your visit you will have an opportunity to tour the School of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center facilities. Portions of the tour will be outside, so we recommend bringing weather appropriate clothing and walking shoes if desired. In addition to the tour, you will be having lunch with students, a curriculum overview session and an interview with a faculty member and a medical student. We suggest if you are making airline reservations be sure to schedule your departure after 5:00 p.m. to allow for ample travel time."

Congrats! may I ask when you were complete?
 
Even though I applied really early I guess I have little chance here...
so many people are getting their interviews..
 
I believe I completed it on 7/10/09... meaning I submitted everything online.
 
I wouldn't think about it too much... I mean, I didn't even get a LOR request from Mayo...
 
I wouldn't think about it too much... I mean, I didn't even get a LOR request from Mayo...

I guess these two schools are looking for really different things. Sorry to hear about Mayo, but congrats on the interview!
 
Interview invite! It came about about 10 a.m. EST, which seems weird for a Saturday. I submitted the secondary on 7/2 and was complete by 7/6. I wasn't sure if they had tossed my application or not, apparently not.
 
Interview invite this morning at 10 AM EST as well! What a burden off my shoulders!
 
for you guys who got interviews. congrats. were your LORs in ?
 
Same, psyched! 🙂 Do any of you know if they interview at all in August?

Congrats!!! They are really fast at Pitt it seems.

I didn't see any interview times for August, so I am assuming they don't.
 
For those of you invited when were you complete? and Congrats! That's exciting
 
Interview invite as well. Came in around four.

Complete: 7/5/09
 
My pages says:

"Application Status

Invited to complete supplemental application."


but secondary is "submitted", Administrative fee is "completed" and letters "completed"


Am I complete then? I'm confused since my status says "invited to complete"
 
I also got an interview invite today! I was complete as of 7/13/2009. 🙂
 
My pages says:

"Application Status

Invited to complete supplemental application."


but secondary is "submitted", Administrative fee is "completed" and letters "completed"


Am I complete then? I'm confused since my status says "invited to complete"

Yea Mine's been like that since 7/9. I believe it is complete
 
I was complete on 7/7. But no interview invite yet. Looks like bad news is coming my way
 
do you have "invited to complete" under "application status"

Application Status

Invited to complete supplemental application.
Supplemental ApplicationSubmitted.You have submitted your application. Administrative FeePaid. Letters of RecommendationCompleted.
 
Application Status

Invited to complete supplemental application.
Supplemental ApplicationSubmitted.You have submitted your application.Administrative FeePaid.Letters of RecommendationCompleted.

same here. So I'm not alone. Let's wait for decisions now :scared:
 
congrats rockaction!

Is there anyone except hamoochan and me who did not recieve an invite? seriously, it seems almost everyone has been getting an invite but me 🙄
 
congrats rockaction!

Is there anyone except hamoochan and me who did not recieve an invite? seriously, it seems almost everyone has been getting an invite but me 🙄

I feel bad... sigh..... well.. I did my absolute best........ 🙁
 
Got the interview invite today at around noon! Was complete on 7/16 so I'm super happy right now! I'm so afraid I'll get another email that says it was a mistake since this is definitely one of my top choices! Let's hope we all get one and that we'll get to meet while we do our interview rounds 🙂
 
Got the interview invite today at around noon! Was complete on 7/16 so I'm super happy right now! I'm so afraid I'll get another email that says it was a mistake since this is definitely one of my top choices! Let's hope we all get one and that we'll get to meet while we do our interview rounds 🙂

you guys are killing me. Congrats though 😀
 
I was complete on Friday and didn't hear anything today. I guess Pitt's not THAT on top of things, haha. That'd be ridiculous.
 
congrats rockaction!

Is there anyone except hamoochan and me who did not recieve an invite? seriously, it seems almost everyone has been getting an invite but me 🙄

same here nothing...Congrats everyone tho
 
congrats rockaction!

Is there anyone except hamoochan and me who did not recieve an invite? seriously, it seems almost everyone has been getting an invite but me 🙄

no interview for me. they just received my final letter on the 15th and i didn't get a completion notice or anything. mine says the same as homoochan's
 
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