2009-2010 University of Pittsburgh Application Thread

[The Enchanter]

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interviewed week of dec 7th. any hypotheses about when we're supposed to get a status change?

It's generally been on Thursday. I would guess tomorrow, or if not, next Thursday.

 

[johncalvin]

For those of you (us) on the waitlist, how do you plan on sending your letters of interest/intent/update?

Snail mail or email?

The school itself does both when updating applicants; maybe that's the "right" way?

 

[rockaction]

For those of you (us) on the waitlist, how do you plan on sending your letters of interest/intent/update?

Snail mail or email?

The school itself does both when updating applicants; maybe that's the "right" way?

I emailed them about this. They have no preference. I emailed my update, and they do not send confirmations that they received it, but they should add it to your file.

 

[Klunkerz3]

Hey so i interviewed December 15th and was wondering what people thought on when I would hear by?

 

[TaylorMDhopeful]

Hey so i interviewed December 15th and was wondering what people thought on when I would hear by?

Probably next week. Around 6 weeks should be about right. I found out in 4 weeks but it was much earlier in the cycle.

 

[MedYEP]

For those of you (us) on the waitlist, how do you plan on sending your letters of interest/intent/update?

Snail mail or email?

The school itself does both when updating applicants; maybe that's the "right" way?

I emailed last year, worked out for me 🙂

 

[mfey]

Probably next week. Around 6 weeks should be about right. I found out in 4 weeks but it was much earlier in the cycle.

i think 6 weeks is what they originally said on the status page, but i've been checking since i interviewed the week before and it now says 8 weeks. it's almost 8 weeks now for me.

 

[Klunkerz3]

I saw that too, and when I called they said it may take longer but they can't give a definite .

 

[vc7777]

Ok,

Busy week...getting my house ready to sell. Officially withdrew from Pitt. I hope this narrows the field and increases the opportunity for my fellow SDNers to get accepted! Left some polite and honest feedback through the application website (asking why I'm withdrawing and where I am accepted).

Good Luck Folks!


​

 

[nonameavailable]

no fb group for accepted students??

 

[SteinUmStein]

no fb group for accepted students??

I haven't found one yet... maybe someone should create one?

 

[BBender716]

Ok,

Busy week...getting my house ready to sell. Officially withdrew from Pitt. I hope this narrows the field and increases the opportunity for my fellow SDNers to get accepted! Left some polite and honest feedback through the application website (asking why I'm withdrawing and where I am accepted).

Good Luck Folks!


​

I am giving you extra credit if I get off the waitlist VC. You rock! 😎

 

[psss]

Has anyone already been invited to interview for PSTP? I know the deadline for apps just passed, but they claim to have rolling admissions.

 

[cdubbz]

Has anyone already been invited to interview for PSTP? I know the deadline for apps just passed, but they claim to have rolling admissions.

I haven't heard anything back either, but one of the people there told me that they will begin sending interview invites in February. Therefore, I think it might be 'semi-rolling' in that they will let us know in the order that we submitted, but not until after they've received all applications. Hopefully we will be hearing soon!

 

[ballin]

word. i submitted my application in early january. hope i get an invite soon!

have you guys already been accepted to u pitt?

I haven't heard anything back either, but one of the people there told me that they will begin sending interview invites in February. Therefore, I think it might be 'semi-rolling' in that they will let us know in the order that we submitted, but not until after they've received all applications. Hopefully we will be hearing soon!

 

[cdubbz]

word. i submitted my application in early january. hope i get an invite soon!

have you guys already been accepted to u pitt?

No. I was waitlisted unfortunately, just like so many others. I really liked Pitt though, so I'm still pulling for an interview anyways.

 

[frtennis88]

Interviewed December 14. Good luck to everyone still waiting and to everyone on that endless waitlist!

 

[mfey]

Interviewed December 14. Good luck to everyone still waiting and to everyone on that endless waitlist!

congrats! did you get a status change, or an email?

 

[frtennis88]

just a status change, no email

 

[NNukibw77]

anyone know how this waitlist works?

 

[mfey]

just a status change, no email

thanks. i guess i'll sit here, click refresh every now and then, and feed my growing neurosis.

 

[psss]

word. i submitted my application in early january. hope i get an invite soon!

have you guys already been accepted to u pitt?

I have.

 

[The Enchanter]

Yeah, Pitt needs to hire some better IT staff if it can't even set up a system that emails you when your status has changed. What's the deal?

 

[SwineSue]

Straight up rejected! That is unexpected. interviewed mid december

 

[Klunkerz3]

... does anyone know how the wait list for Pitt works (like ranked system or anything) and when they expect to start pulling people off of it?

 

[BBender716]

... does anyone know how the wait list for Pitt works (like ranked system or anything) and when they expect to start pulling people off of it?

No one is exactly clear. Lots of speculation. Most of that looking at early March to more activity as it proceeds past that time. We all just know that the WL is huge. That's pretty much the extent of our knowledge.

 

[SwineSue]

Also, for the record, Pittsburgh has by far the most curt, impersonal rejection system. No letter, no email, just two sentences on your status page saying "The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has decided not to admit you in this application year." When I take a day off of work and spend two or three hundred dollars on a plane ticket to go interview somewhere, I expect at least an email.

 

[Klunkerz3]

Also, for the record, Pittsburgh has by far the most curt, impersonal rejection system. No letter, no email, just two sentences on your status page saying "The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has decided not to admit you in this application year." When I take a day off of work and spend two or three hundred dollars on a plane ticket to go interview somewhere, I expect at least an email.

I think they do send a letter via snail mail to your permanent address, it just takes longer to get there than the statue update. I think it's their way to try to be more personal.

 

[cdubbz]

Also, for the record, Pittsburgh has by far the most curt, impersonal rejection system. No letter, no email, just two sentences on your status page saying "The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has decided not to admit you in this application year." When I take a day off of work and spend two or three hundred dollars on a plane ticket to go interview somewhere, I expect at least an email.

yeah, pitt is a little delayed in their response after status changes; i'm sure you'll be getting one soon. however, I think you're still set based on your mdapps. this whole process is bonkers off the wall with where you get in and where you don't. i didnt even receive an interview at some of the places you were accepted, but i was wait-listed here. so i'd say just look on the bright side, be positive, and move forward, realizing life could be a lot worse (you interviewed at all of US news and world reports 5 highest ranked medical schools).

 

[NatrixCaelicola]

I just got waitlisted at UPitt as well...

I asked them how the waitlist works and they said that "the Committee dosn't disclose that information."

Has anyone noticed that there is no rhyme nor reason to how these committees work? I don't understand how no one has ever held them accountable for their decisions (if we knew what they were looking for think of the stress we would have saved 🙂 ).

Anyway, I really hope that I get into Pitt, it's by far my first choice.

 

[mfey]

8+ weeks since my interview, and still "under review." is this normal?

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

I just got waitlisted at UPitt as well...

I asked them how the waitlist works and they said that "the Committee dosn't disclose that information."

Has anyone noticed that there is no rhyme nor reason to how these committees work? I don't understand how no one has ever held them accountable for their decisions (if we knew what they were looking for think of the stress we would have saved 🙂 ).

Anyway, I really hope that I get into Pitt, it's by far my first choice.

I walked by admissions the other day and they were playing Rock Paper Scissors to determine WL rank. So clearly, they have a method.

There are reasons behind any delay and decisions you receive. They may be bad reasons or good reasons, but the whole committee takes the job seriously. It sucks not knowing WHAT is happening, but that doesn't mean NOTHING is happening.

If Pitt is your #1 choice, make sure you express that sentiment to admissions.

 

[holyhekshler]

Interviewed December 14. Good luck to everyone still waiting and to everyone on that endless waitlist!

SWEET! congrats! Those are some impressive stats!

I walked by admissions the other day and they were playing Rock Paper Scissors to determine WL rank. So clearly, they have a method.

There are reasons behind any delay and decisions you receive. They may be bad reasons or good reasons, but the whole committee takes the job seriously. It sucks not knowing WHAT is happening, but that doesn't mean NOTHING is happening.

If Pitt is your #1 choice, make sure you express that sentiment to admissions.

I wrote to them(dean/committee) after my interview expressing this. I am currently waitlisted... do you think it's appropriate to write again? What about writing to my interviewer? I wrote a thank you note but I was thinking of writing to her again. thanks!

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

SWEET! congrats! Those are some impressive stats!





I wrote to them(dean/committee) after my interview expressing this. I am currently waitlisted... do you think it's appropriate to write again? What about writing to my interviewer? I wrote a thank you note but I was thinking of writing to her again. thanks!

Definitely write again. End of Feb or March with update and state intent. Your interviewer can help, but the AdCom is probably your best venue. Don't worry about updates being too much. Just express yourself as you feel.

 

[The Enchanter]

Anybody heard about Second Look weekend? I called the admissions office and they said it would be April 30 - May 1 but I still haven't gotten an email or anything.

 

[TaylorMDhopeful]

Anybody heard about Second Look weekend? I called the admissions office and they said it would be April 30 - May 1 but I still haven't gotten an email or anything.

Only that we would receive more information about it sometime in February.

 

[phoenixsuns]

hey for people already accepted, is there anything we need to turn in? i turned in the form holding your place in the class and just wanted to make sure that i wasn't forgetting anything else i needed to turn in

 

[The Enchanter]

hey for people already accepted, is there anything we need to turn in? i turned in the form holding your place in the class and just wanted to make sure that i wasn't forgetting anything else i needed to turn in

I think there were 2 forms - one that just had some basic personal info (address, phone number, etc.) and a two pager that you sign to say that you can meet their matriculation standards (physical, mental, academic, etc.)

 

[longhorn09]

Hey guys, can I know the email to send the LOI & Update? Thanks and good luck to everyone who's still waiting.

 

[The Enchanter]

Hey guys, can I know the email to send the LOI & Update? Thanks and good luck to everyone who's still waiting.

I'm assuming the admissions office: [email protected]

 

[ballin]

has anyone received a PSTP interview yet?

 

[rockaction]

has anyone received a PSTP interview yet?

I applied but haven't heard anything. When do you think the first interviews will go out? The application deadline was the beginning of Feb, right?

 

[longhorn09]

I'm assuming the admissions office: [email protected]

Thanks!

 

[cdubbz]

has anyone received a PSTP interview yet?

no word yet here either. I'm dying to find out too because I think it would pretty much be a deal breaker for me.

 

[specter]

Can Chuck or any other Pitt med students comment on the grading system here.

a) how difficult is it to honor courses (i.e., is there a set percent you have to earn or is it based on your performance relative to your peers?)

b) do you feel additional stress because you feel the need to get an H?

It seems most other top-tier schools use p/f to avoid intra-class competition, so while Pitt has a lot to offer, I have to admit the grading was kind of discouraging.

 

[psss]

has anyone received a PSTP interview yet?

Not me. I really really really want one though!

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

Can Chuck or any other Pitt med students comment on the grading system here.

a) how difficult is it to honor courses (i.e., is there a set percent you have to earn or is it based on your performance relative to your peers?)

b) do you feel additional stress because you feel the need to get an H?

It seems most other top-tier schools use p/f to avoid intra-class competition, so while Pitt has a lot to offer, I have to admit the grading was kind of discouraging.

Honors = 1 SD above mean. Fail = 2 SD below mean. To receive an H for a Block, you need to average 1 SD above mean for all classes in that block. Sometimes that means only 2 tests, sometimes that means 5 tests. I don't feel obligated to honor tests/classes, but I've gotten a few (NOT in the Basic Sciences though, screw that! 😉 ). I've also had a few disasters. First two year grades are unimportant, so I don't feel that having the H in the grading system impacts me negatively.

There is competition, but you only have to worry about it if you want to worry about it.

 

[mfey]

anybody who interviewed early december still waiting to hear back?

 

[purpleandgold]

anybody know anything about the waitlist? it seems like they waitlist a lot of people so i was wondering if anyone knows if it's ranked and if there's a lot of movement.

 

[rockaction]

anybody know anything about the waitlist? it seems like they waitlist a lot of people so i was wondering if anyone knows if it's ranked and if there's a lot of movement.

unsure about ranking, but it hasn't started moving yet. last year, it started moving around the end of Feb to the beginning of March

is it letter of intent time?? maybe........