2012-2013 Drexel University Application Thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Status
Not open for further replies.
when were you complete?

as a general rule, people should just write when they are complete!

thanks!

Congrats! When were you complete?

I submitted on 8/7 and got the complete email on 8/17. Try not to stress about the timing of interview invites though. This process is pretty random and every school's way of doing admissions is different. You could get an interview anytime between now and spring or whenever they stop interviewing. I'm a re-applicant and went through a year of stressing for interviews that never came, and most of my rejections came in March and April when most schools stop interviewing. I don't mean to be a downer, I'm just saying be prepared for the long haul and keep busy with other things to keep yourself sane.
 
no I don't think so, they just take a really really long time to get it to you...after submitting my amcas, it took almost a month to receive their secondary and get the complete e-mail

Ok cool thank you! I guess that gives me time to start pre-writing
 
Isn't there an essay on interview day? Or did they get rid of that recently?
 
My friend interviewed there two years ago and had to. You don't do it during the actual interview, but there is time reserved during the day to write it.
 
Did not know they made you write essays during the interview...

There is an essay and it does factor into your interview day. Relax though. The essays are very straightforward that anyone can answer with a little thought. My advice for all of you is to read the directions carefully. From what I remember there were several directions that you must follow when writing the essay. The one that stands out was to the effect of do not write on the back of the sheet. I don't know how many people I saw do this, but I know that the admission committee will look down upon you if you can not even follow simple directions.

Now that I have scared you, just relax. It is a great small campus, you will do great on the essay, and your interview day will go just fine. Good luck!
 
There is an essay and it does factor into your interview day. Relax though. The essays are very straightforward that anyone can answer with a little thought. My advice for all of you is to read the directions carefully. From what I remember there were several directions that you must follow when writing the essay. The one that stands out was to the effect of do not write on the back of the sheet. I don't know how many people I saw do this, but I know that the admission committee will look down upon you if you can not even follow simple directions.

Now that I have scared you, just relax. It is a great small campus, you will do great on the essay, and your interview day will go just fine. Good luck!
I'm an MSTP applicant... should i still be scared?
 
Complete 8/27...still saying no decision has been made yet.
 
Complete 8/27...still saying no decision has been made yet.

Lol srs? That was like 16 days ago. Took a month to get my ii.. even longer as the season progresses.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
There is an essay and it does factor into your interview day. Relax though. The essays are very straightforward that anyone can answer with a little thought. My advice for all of you is to read the directions carefully. From what I remember there were several directions that you must follow when writing the essay. The one that stands out was to the effect of do not write on the back of the sheet. I don't know how many people I saw do this, but I know that the admission committee will look down upon you if you can not even follow simple directions.

Now that I have scared you, just relax. It is a great small campus, you will do great on the essay, and your interview day will go just fine. Good luck!

Good to know, thank you!

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
The one that stands out was to the effect of do not write on the back of the sheet. I don't know how many people I saw do this, but I know that the admission committee will [reject] you if you can not even follow simple directions.

I made a little change to what you said.
 
I was complete August 21. Had "No decision". Finally got "Complete and will be reviewed" today.
 
my status has also changed from 'no decision' to 'complete and under review' .. submitted around 8/23.. complete email rec'd on 8/27
 
Does Drexel have MMI?
 
Status changed to complete and will be reviewed.
 
I am a current MS1 at Drexel and just just wanted to let you all know that the student interviews are VERY important. I am probably going to be a student interviewer and from the "how to interview guide" the school sent to all the students it seems like they really take the student interview into great consideration. Good Luck, everyone here is very laid back and Drexel is awesome!
 
I am a current MS1 at Drexel and just just wanted to let you all know that the student interviews are VERY important. I am probably going to be a student interviewer and from the "how to interview guide" the school sent to all the students it seems like they really take the student interview into great consideration. Good Luck, everyone here is very laid back and Drexel is awesome!

Would you mind sharing what your favorite parts are of Drexel? Also what the curriculum is like and how classes are?
 
What's the essay we have to write at the interview day?
 
There are several different questions, all ethical dilemmas. They just want to see that you can organize your thoughts well and aren't an unethical arse.

I was a student interviewer last year/will be again this year. Crop is right, they do take the student interview seriously at Drexel, since you will be our peers as students and physicians. The vast majority of interviewers at Drexel are very relaxed, so just try to relax and be yourself.

Favorite things about Drexel:
PIL (I'm biased), my classmates, the teachers are by and large excellent, and they are always looking for student input and ways to improve, the fact that the school generally wants you to be a well-rounded, healthy, happy person instead of a studying machine 100% of the time

Less/least favorite things about Drexel:
bad at technology (though they are considering iPads for new students now), shuttle scheduling, cost (but we did get an awesome new financial planner who has been helpful at demystifying IBR/PSLF and important financial decisions - he will meet with you for free)
 
Favorite things about Drexel:
PIL (I'm biased), my classmates, the teachers are by and large excellent, and they are always looking for student input and ways to improve, the fact that the school generally wants you to be a well-rounded, healthy, happy person instead of a studying machine 100% of the time

I'm a little confused with PIL. How do you learn normal anatomy and physiology with cases in small groups? Also, do you still have gross and histology labs?
 
Would you mind sharing what your favorite parts are of Drexel? Also what the curriculum is like and how classes are?

I have only been here like 5 weeks but so far I really like the classes. They really try to integrate the classes together. For example we just finished abnormal amniocentesis and i basically was taught DNA testing and genetic techniques in atleast two of my classes which was nice because it really solidifies the concepts. The module notes are really nice and everything in there is what you really need to know. So far the faculty have been great, they really care about us and are always there to answer our questions and take constructive criticism. The campus, although it is really just a building and not in the heart of Philly, I kind of like it because it sets up this really awesome community environment at Drexel. Also I do not feel distracted because East Falls is relatively quiet....and lets be honest the really only awesome thing about living downtown in Philly, which I can say because I am from the area, is the nightlife which is only existent for MOST medical students after exams. I mean it is nice to walk around downtown but whose exercising that much anyway🙂
 
Essay = ethical? Cool 🙂
 
II!!!!
No email yet though, just status change on website. Complete 8/17.
 
You gave me hope as I was complete 8/17 yet I'm still at "your file is complete and will be reviewed"
 
I have only been here like 5 weeks but so far I really like the classes. They really try to integrate the classes together. For example we just finished abnormal amniocentesis and i basically was taught DNA testing and genetic techniques in atleast two of my classes which was nice because it really solidifies the concepts. The module notes are really nice and everything in there is what you really need to know. So far the faculty have been great, they really care about us and are always there to answer our questions and take constructive criticism. The campus, although it is really just a building and not in the heart of Philly, I kind of like it because it sets up this really awesome community environment at Drexel. Also I do not feel distracted because East Falls is relatively quiet....and lets be honest the really only awesome thing about living downtown in Philly, which I can say because I am from the area, is the nightlife which is only existent for MOST medical students after exams. I mean it is nice to walk around downtown but whose exercising that much anyway🙂

I agree with my fellow IFMer. Being in a single building is really nice. I live in Center City so I just walk to the shuttle in the morning and it takes me right to campus in 15 minutes. In terms of the curriculum, they really do integrate things very well. You will talk about one thing in one class, and that topic will come up again in another but related to something else. Heck, I even answered one of my exam questions today using knowledge from another course.

The faculty is very nice and the office of student affairs always have their doors open. Our class elected class presidents within the first couple weeks and are now electing other positions. It really shows that the school wants us to get involved. What I really appreciate about Drexel is the feedback surveys. After every module (every two to three weeks) we fill out a survey about what worked, what didn't, and what could be changed. Although I have only been here five weeks and have not seen the full effect of these surveys, it is nice to know that they are looking at them.
 
I agree with my fellow IFMer. Being in a single building is really nice. I live in Center City so I just walk to the shuttle in the morning and it takes me right to campus in 15 minutes. In terms of the curriculum, they really do integrate things very well. You will talk about one thing in one class, and that topic will come up again in another but related to something else. Heck, I even answered one of my exam questions today using knowledge from another course.

The faculty is very nice and the office of student affairs always have their doors open. Our class elected class presidents within the first couple weeks and are now electing other positions. It really shows that the school wants us to get involved. What I really appreciate about Drexel is the feedback surveys. After every module (every two to three weeks) we fill out a survey about what worked, what didn't, and what could be changed. Although I have only been here five weeks and have not seen the full effect of these surveys, it is nice to know that they are looking at them.

Thanks for the info. I like the idea of a campus shuttle. Does it run late at night too?

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
Thanks for the info. I like the idea of a campus shuttle. Does it run late at night too?

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

It runs on a strange schedule. Sometimes it is every 15 minutes, other times every 45. But it runs early morning until around 10ish at night.
 
It runs on a strange schedule. Sometimes it is every 15 minutes, other times every 45. But it runs early morning until around 10ish at night.

Thank you

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
I'm a little confused with PIL. How do you learn normal anatomy and physiology with cases in small groups? Also, do you still have gross and histology labs?
Yes, believe it or not, you can learn normal anatomy and physiology through case-based learning. Actually, I really love how Drexel does PBL - in first year you have 9 hours in small group and 15-20 hours of lecture (resource session) - lab per week. You have everything you need to learn basic sciences in the resource sessions, and you basically get to review everything again in small group, learning and presenting basic science learning issues that you've prepared to your group. It guarantees you get at least two passes through the material, basically, which is awesome for me since I'm a self-declared severe procrastinator (I've had to mend my ways a bit second year, especially because we drop to group twice a week.) Honestly, you just have to trust it and your facilitators - it will get you to where you want to go, even if the anatomy cases can feel a bit forced. Plus it's great to have exposure to clinical reasoning from the get-go, it makes you think about the patients from the very beginning. This is not to say that the anatomy cases don't sometimes feel a bit forced, you just need to make sure your LIs cover what you're doing in resource sessions. They changed a lot this year based on our input and there's a lot more integration of anatomy, histo, physio, and neuro, so hopefully it won't seem disconnected anymore. PBL does work great, particularly for physio, biochem, and immuno.

Let me know if there are any other questions you have! I know it's hard to really get a feel for how PBL works, especially because it's so different at different schools. Drexel gives you quite a few chances to test it out, by doing groups during accepted students days or shadowing a PIL group after you're accepted.
 
Yes, believe it or not, you can learn normal anatomy and physiology through case-based learning. Actually, I really love how Drexel does PBL - in first year you have 9 hours in small group and 15-20 hours of lecture (resource session) - lab per week. You have everything you need to learn basic sciences in the resource sessions, and you basically get to review everything again in small group, learning and presenting basic science learning issues that you've prepared to your group. It guarantees you get at least two passes through the material, basically, which is awesome for me since I'm a self-declared severe procrastinator (I've had to mend my ways a bit second year, especially because we drop to group twice a week.) Honestly, you just have to trust it and your facilitators - it will get you to where you want to go, even if the anatomy cases can feel a bit forced. Plus it's great to have exposure to clinical reasoning from the get-go, it makes you think about the patients from the very beginning. This is not to say that the anatomy cases don't sometimes feel a bit forced, you just need to make sure your LIs cover what you're doing in resource sessions. They changed a lot this year based on our input and there's a lot more integration of anatomy, histo, physio, and neuro, so hopefully it won't seem disconnected anymore. PBL does work great, particularly for physio, biochem, and immuno.

Let me know if there are any other questions you have! I know it's hard to really get a feel for how PBL works, especially because it's so different at different schools. Drexel gives you quite a few chances to test it out, by doing groups during accepted students days or shadowing a PIL group after you're accepted.

Thanks so much for the information! I would definitely go for the PIL curriculum.
 
I've heard it takes them up to 4 weeks. I am still waiting on mine too. I called them and didn't get a response. I've emailed them and still have not gotten a reply after 2 and half weeks. I think we just have to sit tight and wait... The good thing is that they don't have essays on their secondary, so one you get it, you can just fill out all your course and info and send it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top