2012-2013 Penn State Application Thread

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Something important for everyone to remember is that we mark you complete as they review your application. So generally once your marked complete, turn over is quick. Unlike other schools where you may be complete but it takes months to get any sort of decision so stop stressing!!! If you submitted your material, just be patient!

And as far as US news stats, penn state doesn't submit their data hence why we aren't ranked. I believe the numbers are somewhere around 800 interviews and 300 acceptances
 
Something important for everyone to remember is that we mark you complete as they review your application. So generally once your marked complete, turn over is quick. Unlike other schools where you may be complete but it takes months to get any sort of decision so stop stressing!!! If you submitted your material, just be patient!

And as far as US news stats, penn state doesn't submit their data hence why we aren't ranked. I believe the numbers are somewhere around 800 interviews and 300 acceptances

Thanks for the info! 🙂
 
They told us that there are over IIRC 10000 applications and only 15 reviewers reviewing them. PSU uses a very holistic system and each person is reviewed 4 times. That's why it's taking so long. PSU is awesome though I must say so be patient!! It'll come soon 🙂
 
Something important for everyone to remember is that we mark you complete as they review your application. So generally once your marked complete, turn over is quick. Unlike other schools where you may be complete but it takes months to get any sort of decision so stop stressing!!! If you submitted your material, just be patient!

And as far as US news stats, penn state doesn't submit their data hence why we aren't ranked. I believe the numbers are somewhere around 800 interviews and 300 acceptances

This is news to me, thank you for sharing this!

They told us that there are over IIRC 10000 applications and only 15 reviewers reviewing them. PSU uses a very holistic system and each person is reviewed 4 times. That's why it's taking so long. PSU is awesome though I must say so be patient!! It'll come soon 🙂

Thanks for the information! Definitely helps my nerves 🙂
 
"each person is reviewed 4 times" is that before the continue to review letter.. or can you get that letter after the first review of your application?
 
"each person is reviewed 4 times" is that before the continue to review letter.. or can you get that letter after the first review of your application?

That would make sense, as not everyone gets a 'continue to review' letter. In other words, it wouldn't make sense to be reviewed twice, be placed on hold, and then be reviewed twice more because of an arbitrary quota. It makes more sense that each application is reviewed that many times before the first decision is made (i.e. rejection, hold, interview).

Granted, nothing about this process really makes sense. So who knows.
 
II today! I submitted my secondary in late August and was considered complete 10/23.
 
II today! I submitted my secondary in late August and was considered complete 10/23.

Congrats 🙂! Looks like I'm either being rejected or placed on hold. I would have been in this batch (judging from you complete date).
 
Same! Not sure if I'll be attending just yet, but excited to get the opportunity as an OOS applicant.

Congrats! I go to college just down the road from Penn State Hershey, so it's odd being considered OOS when I've spent most of the past four years in PA. When are you interviewing?
 
So I sent in my secondary in early August and still have not received a complete email. Should I contact them to see if they are missing anything?
 
So I sent in my secondary in early August and still have not received a complete email. Should I contact them to see if they are missing anything?

I sent an email last week and didn't get a reply. According to stephbee's post they just haven't reviewed our applications at all for some reason. I'm taking that as a rejection for the time being.
 
That would be strange. I'm not sure, I haven't scheduled it yet. Hopefully during a day when flights are as cheap as possible.

They interview MWF, if that helps. I called at 1pm Friday and they had six slots open in November and then called back at 3pm and there were only two left, so I'd call ASAP if you want to get in soon.
 
I sent an email last week and didn't get a reply. According to stephbee's post they just haven't reviewed our applications at all for some reason. I'm taking that as a rejection for the time being.

Not reviewed doesn't mean rejection. It literally means it hasn't been looked at yet. PSU is quite good about letting applicants know their status once the application has been looked at. It's not like your app is sitting in a "these stats aren't good enough pile" They're sitting in a "I need to read this application" pile.
 
What is the best way to get to the med school from Harrisburg (I'm flying there)?
 
Not reviewed doesn't mean rejection. It literally means it hasn't been looked at yet. PSU is quite good about letting applicants know their status once the application has been looked at. It's not like your app is sitting in a "these stats aren't good enough pile" They're sitting in a "I need to read this application" pile.

My reason for viewing it as a rejection is simple, it's always better to be surprised positively.
 
Had a "continue to review" letter waiting for me in the mail at home. Boooo.
 
Had a "continue to review" letter waiting for me in the mail at home. Boooo.

At least it is not outright rejection. Lots of people get that status and get interviews.

Sent from my DROID3 using SDN Mobile
 
has anyone else gotten an email that their app is a high priority and they will make a decision ASAP? i was complete and under review back in august but never got any hold letters in the mail or anything
 
Selling yourself short is not a good attribute to have. You should work on that. :-(

It's less selling myself short, much more of setting low expectations. This process is such a crap-shoot I've just gotten to the point where I'd prefer to simplify my life while waiting. I'm actually not doing too bad overall, so I'm quite ok with viewing every school I'm waiting for a response from as a rejection. Daily checking of my e-mail for a "complete" notice since August just gets, frustrating. It's like University of Michigan's process. You know to check at 2 PM EST every Tuesday, and at 4 PM EST every Thursday. It just results in a lot of anticipation/disappointment.

I view the process as such: We are all such good applicants, it's bound to happen that good applicants get rejections. Sometimes one just doesn't "fit" a school, ect. It's why the concept of applying broadly exists. I have been rejected once this cycle already, more to come. No biggie. I am still a well qualified applicant in my opinion. Meanwhile I now worry about the interviews I ACTUALLY have, of which 3 are completed and I'm now waiting for decisions (this part is freaking killer, checking snail mail daily with anticipation and now waiting for 2 set dates), and my last scheduled interview is next Friday.

I wish y'all the best of luck, and since I still check this thread, clearly I'm still interested in PSU and just hoping. I apologize for giving the impression that PSU has a "numbers not good enough" pile.
 
Had a "continue to review" letter waiting for me in the mail at home. Boooo.

Got mine in the mail yesterday. I hope I'm one of those who get an interview from this. Sounds like it's kinda 50/50 of getting an interview vs. rejection later on. Any one know if there seems to be a time frame of getting the next update after receiving the "continue to review" letter???
 
I just wanted to say I love this school. Geeze. I keep dreaming about it
 
They told us that there are over IIRC 10000 applications and only 15 reviewers reviewing them. PSU uses a very holistic system and each person is reviewed 4 times. That's why it's taking so long. PSU is awesome though I must say so be patient!! It'll come soon 🙂

Well, I guess I'll have to offer my apologies then. Seems more than fair if this is true.
 
does anyone know what the cheapest way to get to hershey is? is it better to fly into philly or harrisburg? harrisburg seems pretty expensive....
 
Harrisburg. It's a twenty minute drive from Harrisburg to Hershey, whereas a Philly to Hershey trip will cost you two hours.
thanks! i saw that...just seems like the harrisburg airport is small and more expensive...i can get a roundtrip from philly (to houston, where I live) for 260. The train from philly to harrisburg is 27$ each way...it is true, I'd have to get a 2 hr head start to hershey...and money can't buy time.. :-\ 🙂
 
Anyone receive any post-interview news yet? Its been almost 2 months since my interview 🙁
 
nope nothing here. my interview was on oct 5th though so i'm just a bit past the 5 week mark. but it seems pretty quiet around here news-wise
 
interviewed Oct 8, nothing here yet either
 
Yeah I interviewed over 2 months ago. 9/12. no news.
another school i interviewed at got back to me with acceptance after 2.5 weeks.
 
Almost approaching the 8 week mark of waiting post-interview for me... 🙁

I'm tempted to call them to see what's up.
 
Almost approaching the 8 week mark of waiting post-interview for me... 🙁

I'm tempted to call them to see what's up.

if you do, let us know what's up... i would, but i'm no where near your wait time yet... this is definitely not making me feel better about how long i'll have to wait
 
Interview invite this morning! I feel so incredibly fortunate!
 
congrats!

when were you complete?

Well, to offer a rundown of my application:

Primary verified/sent out: June 29th
Secondary received/submitted: August 6
Complete email: October 8
Interview invite: November 15

I should note that I'm a relatively non-traditional application, so I wouldn't take all my dates as representative of the majority...

Good luck to everyone else! I hope to meet some great people in Pennsylvania! 👍
 
II just now. Complete maybe a month ago. Withdrawing though. Good luck everyone.
 
II just now. Complete maybe a month ago. Withdrawing though. Good luck everyone.

will be withdrawing my interview as well. hopefully someone who really wants to go here gets it! good luck to all 😀
 
Well thanks for the seats guys. I really feel I have a chance here. Its one of my top schools and I have made it far in the application cycle.

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I just got my app complete email yesterday.... How do they determine who's apps they look at first (other than submission date)? I don't remember the exact date I submitted my secondary, but it was a while ago. Sure seemed to take forever.....
 
almost 8 weeks here as well...maybe they'll let us know before thanksgiving? :xf:
 
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