2010-2011 Penn State Application Thread

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Asyouwereatrio said:
Has anyone that submitted early August and is OOS been verified yet? I just wanted to get an idea of whether people who are OOS and submitted around my date (the fourth of August) have been completed already.

My suspicion is that people who are "low priority" on their list--OOS and medium stats, will be marked complete/reviewed later in the cycle...so we're on the back -burner.
Click to expand...

I submitted early August and still have heard nothing (OOS). I agree with the "low priority" status.
 
I added PennState on 8/22 and haven't gotten a secondary invite yet. Should I just be more patient...? OOS so, I guess, low priority.
 
Submitted Early August, OOS 3.98, 40Q...no word. Maybe they hate OOS?🙁
 
I am OOS but a PSU undergrad student. No love last year though, two months to complete status.
 
They are just slow. The order from some schools is random because different reviewers vary by so much. They might review once every few weeks or every few days or months.
 
Hey guys,

Just got an interview at PSU, its my first one so I'm very nervous. Just would like to get an idea as to what to expect, how the atmosphere is, etc ... any specific questions or things to prepare for would be helpful 🙂

thanks!
 
Congrats on the Interview! Did you get an email? In or out of state?
 
Sup guys, I submitted 8/14 and just got a complete email yesterday, 8/31. I'm not sure how they are processing applications since you guys clearly submitted earlier than me. BTW I'm from the MD/DC area

Tenniscostaleez
 
Just wondering if anyone else feels in the secondary application that you could have checked a bunch of the medical areas of interest. I ended up checking 4 and then filling in an additional "Other" category. Hope that doesn't seem too broad, but really, some of these are pretty similar (Family Medicine and Primary Care? I thought they were nearly one in the same).

Anyone know in particular if Penn State is looking for particular interests as opposed to others? I don't know, it might not be very important. I'll just go with my honest interests on this one.
 
I checked off 3, was wondering about the same thing, but I think we should be fine 🙂
 
To those waiting to be complete, have heart:

Submitted Aug 8, 2010
Complete Sept 1, 2010
I'm OOS
 
aw42 said:
To those waiting to be complete, have heart:

Submitted Aug 8, 2010
Complete Sept 1, 2010
I'm OOS
Click to expand...


This is crazy, I submitted Aug 5th and I'm still not complete! I don't think this school does them in order.
 
moogle44 said:
This is crazy, I submitted Aug 5th and I'm still not complete! I don't think this school does them in order.
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I think you are right. It seems that they give preference to in-state first. I also submitted early August (OOS) and have yet to be complete! I guess we just have to hang in there 🙂
 
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No preference to IS for completion time lines.

I am OOS, submitted 8/8 and complete 8/11
 
robflanker said:
No preference to IS for completion time lines.

I am OOS, submitted 8/8 and complete 8/11
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Weird! I submitted before you and am not complete yet. Oh well, I'll just have to be patient.:laugh:
 
My AMCAS application hasn't been verified( submitted 8/15) but I have received a PennState secondary. Also im OOS. I hope this helps.
 
Hey everyone

I'm slightly confused about this question:

.Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 50)
.


Is this question referring to people who are disadvantaged, etc.?


I was actually thinking about writing how I was born in Asia and was educated in a foreign country (im an international applicant btw)


Also, I've been volunteering at a place for 9+ years. Should I emphasize this fact, even though it has been mentioned in the primary app?


Thanks!
..
 
I talked about gpa (think someone else on here said he did, too). I would say no on the volunteering but maybe the being born in Asia would fit here? Keep in mind 50 words isn't much : )
 
ImmortaliaX said:
I talked about gpa (think someone else on here said he did, too). I would say no on the volunteering but maybe the being born in Asia would fit here? Keep in mind 50 words isn't much : )
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Hey there, thanks for the reply.

Did you talk about your GPA because it was great or was it because it wasn't one of your strengths?

I ask because my GPA is solid (3.9x) but my mcat is mediocre (low 30's). I'm not sure if that is considered a "unique aspect" of my application.

Do you know if Penn state is big on diversity? I've noticed that it wasn't included in their Mission Statement. I could write about how I was born in Asia, educated in a non-US schools and now applying in the US.

So do they mean unique as in your best assets/experience or something "not mentioned before"?

PS: is Penn State big on research? I did some research and it seems like they do, but not as much as Ivys?
 
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Haha, no with the great GPA, which wouldn't really be unique anyway...? I interpreted the prompt as just bringing something to PSU's attention. I wrote two sentences on dual credit in high school.

Diversity is always good. I think Hershey itself is a small town, so you could definitely bring a lot with your international student background, and any other forms of diversity. Don't know too much on PSU's class profile though.

As for the research part--are you talking about what they look for in an applicant or what they offer to medical students? I know PSU has a required medical student research program where everyone participates in mentored medical research. But I've also read a lot about their great clinical training. So, yeah, a mix of clinical and research.
 
hmm yeah I've having trouble with this question too I'm not sure what to write about.. if I should write something about me thats good or bad.. but I don't want to bring them to the attention of something that's bad thats not apparent..

and by "your application" do they mean something thats already written down and shown to them or something new like your own history or something because I might be thinking about how I wasn't born here, and immigrated here when I was 8 with only my mom while my dad stayed in Asia.
 
Hmm... I submitted my secondary within mid hours of its release, and still not complete as OOS. What gives?
 
crixx said:
Hmm... I submitted my secondary within mid hours of its release, and still not complete as OOS. What gives?
Click to expand...

Yeah me too. Unfortunately this seems to be the trend at many schools for my application... it's hard to be patient for so long but there's really nothing we can do about it at this point. Thankfully the semester is kicking back into gear so I don't have as much time to compulsively check my status. I'm sure we'll hear back soon.
 
Submitted 8/30... no complete notice yet! I hate not being able to do anything about it! ugh!
 
Submitted 8/6
Complete 9/1

No news since.

In state, GPA < 3.4, MCAT 34Q, 3+ of research with several publications, a good amount of volunteering. Got one interview so far and was hoping to get some more in-state love thanks to my MCAT/research.
 
I had my interview recently so if anyone has any questions I'd be more than happy to answer them.

Overall I liked the school a whole lot and the admissions office people were extremely nice. I didn't think I was going to be into the place but the people there all seem really awesome and the facilities are pretty modern and advanced. The hospital and school are all incorporated into one building which seems like it works out really nicely. The students I had lunch with were friendly and hilarious. I can definitely see myself going here.

Interviews were pretty straightforward and laid back. My first interviewer had been there since the beginning of the school and my second interviewer seemed like he had only given 2-3 interviews before mine...ever. He was really nice and seemed "overly" impressed by my application as though he hadn't seen too many before (I'm pretty average). Both were very nice, informative, and low-pressure.

The only thing I was put off by was one of the doctors coming in after our introductory presentation and giving us a lecture on healthcare reform. He came in and started with "okay, no politics here, everyone take off your political hats..." and dove into a story about a woman with four kids who died because she didn't have insurance. He went on about how healthcare is a right and anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't really care about medicine and the community. You could have cut the tension with a knife in that room.
 
hisbaby0423 said:
Hey guys,

Just got an interview at PSU, its my first one so I'm very nervous. Just would like to get an idea as to what to expect, how the atmosphere is, etc ... any specific questions or things to prepare for would be helpful 🙂

thanks!
Click to expand...

I had an interview there on 9/8 so if you want to know anything feel free to message me!
 
Has anyone applying MD/PhD heard back yet? I got a complete email in early august but nothing since
 
Hey everyone,

Just wondering how long after your AMCAS app was verified did it take to receive the Penn State secondary? I have been verified since 08/20 but just added Penn State to the list of schools I am applying to on 09/14 and have no received a secondary invite from them.

Thanks for your help.😀
 
So I submitted my secondary 8/7 and still have not received a complete email. I called them a couple weeks ago and they said they had everything they needed. Anyone else experiencing the same thing?
 
man916 said:
So I submitted my secondary 8/7 and still have not received a complete email. I called them a couple weeks ago and they said they had everything they needed. Anyone else experiencing the same thing?
Click to expand...

yeah a lot of us have been. i think especially for OOS. i guess it's normal for them.
 
I haven't received this secondary yet, but I am trying to work on it anyways. Can someone please tell me what the character limit is for "If not currently enrolled in a full-time academic program, please summate your activities from the time of graduation from your baccalaureate program through the time of this application, as well as your plans between now and your matriculation to medical school."
considering the other ones are 50 characters.

Thanks!
 
did anyone else receive a letter in the mail indicating that they were "on hold for further review?" Got one of these this morning...
 
jasey said:
did anyone else receive a letter in the mail indicating that they were "on hold for further review?" Got one of these this morning...
Click to expand...


Yep, I just got the letter in the mail. Better than a rejection!
 
jasey said:
did anyone else receive a letter in the mail indicating that they were "on hold for further review?" Got one of these this morning...
Click to expand...

When did you receive the complete email from PSU? Did you receive this in the mail? I will let you know this week if I get one because I feel like we are on similar time lines. Hold out hope that you are good enough to be reconsider later at least!!!
 
jasey said:
did anyone else receive a letter in the mail indicating that they were "on hold for further review?" Got one of these this morning...
Click to expand...

Mine says 'continue to review', and not 'on hold for further review'. Is there a difference?
 
when were you all complete? I applied MD/PhD and got my review email in early august
 
boggvir said:
Mine says 'continue to review', and not 'on hold for further review'. Is there a difference?
Click to expand...


I was wondering the same thing. I just got that letter and it said "continue to review."
 
man916 said:
So I submitted my secondary 8/7 and still have not received a complete email. I called them a couple weeks ago and they said they had everything they needed. Anyone else experiencing the same thing?
Click to expand...

Ya, I submitted on the fourth of August...called them and they refused to check.

Sounds like the norm for OOS (including myself)
 
I meant "continue to review" instead of on hold. I just didn't have my letter with me and forgot the wording. My bad...

I got the complete email 8/23. "continue to review" snail mail today.

I'm OOS 29S, 3.75/3.6 gpa
 
Rich4ryS said:
I was wondering the same thing. I just got that letter and it said "continue to review."
Click to expand...

I got snail-mail letter saying "Hold for possible interview" is that different from "continue to review"

thanks
 
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