2012-2013 University of Pennsylvania (Perelman) Application Thread

[BurghStudent]

---

Members do not see this ad.

+1 on hold status

Only thing is, I sent in an update about 3 weeks ago.

 

[eggs13]

+1 hold as well

 

[duyvtr]

Status of death lol.

 

[drrx]

Anyone else complete in October? I don't have a hold, but I am just assuming they haven't reviewed my file yet.

same here. i was complete late october.

 

[sliceofbread136]

same here. i was complete late october.

I was complete late september and my status is still just complete :/

 

[WorksInProgress]

+1 on the SOD. Complete late september.

This is why I didn't allow myself to hope. But my other invites started to give me some. ::deep sigh::

 

[wangers5270]

.

 

[Ichiban88]

Sod...

 

[zoebryn]

-

 

[NewYorker9]

Anyone on here stay in the Penn Towers in the past? If so, what was it like?

 

[DoctorDachshund]

Got SOD LAST YEAR, same time, got II in Dec, ultimately accepted.

SOD is not SOD.

 

[bearintraining]

Got SOD LAST YEAR, same time, got II in Dec, ultimately accepted.

SOD is not SOD.

this is great to hear.. holding out hope still!

 

[deleted127837]

I know people are only going to see what they want to see, but yeah. SOD is just UPenn saying they've looked at your stuff, and they didn't offer you an interview yet. It's an update for this part of the cycle, to let you know they saw your things.

Are your chances good? Not necessarily. Is it worth flipping out about? No.

 

[bearintraining]

I know people are only going to see what they want to see, but yeah. SOD is just UPenn saying they've looked at your stuff, and they didn't offer you an interview yet. It's an update for this part of the cycle, to let you know they saw your things.

Are your chances good? Not necessarily. Is it worth flipping out about? No.

any good news on your side bearstronaut??

 

[BurghStudent]

Got SOD LAST YEAR, same time, got II in Dec, ultimately accepted.

SOD is not SOD.

What did you do to turn your SOD into an II?

 

[DrPurr]

So...what does it mean for the rest of us who haven't received a SOD? Silent rejection?

 

[BurghStudent]

So...what does it mean for the rest of us who haven't received a SOD? Silent rejection?

According to last year's thread, either you'll get an SOD soon, or you will get an interview invite. (the thinking is, they're still interested in you)

 

[darkjedi]

What did you do to turn your SOD into an II?

If you are truly interested in the school, let them know specifically why. If you have any significant updates, now is the time to tell them as well.

 

[Donald Blake MD]

If you are truly interested in the school, let them know specifically why. If you have any significant updates, now is the time to tell them as well.

In the same lines, is there point to update the school post interview and to let them know the school truly is our first choice?

 

[tomhaverford]

I just received an interview invite today! Very excited to head to Philly--Penn has always been my top choice for medical school, so now I just need to train up and impress them in person.

For those curious, open interview dates were in mid-December and early-January, so there are still plenty of slots left for you to fill. Good luck!

 

[nabilesmail]

No SOD yet, but doubt I'll get an interview , complete late sep/ early oct (dont remember)

3.74 /34

 

[aiwe]

I just received an interview invite today! Very excited to head to Philly--Penn has always been my top choice for medical school, so now I just need to train up and impress them in person.

For those curious, open interview dates were in mid-December and early-January, so there are still plenty of slots left for you to fill. Good luck!

II here as well! I was complete in late September.

 

[doctorSOX]

In the same lines, is there point to update the school post interview and to let them know the school truly is our first choice?

I personally would hold off until a little later in the app cycle unless you're completely done with interviews, in which case you should include that in your letter. If you do have more interviews remaining though, the letter doesn't carry as much weight, since theoretically you might interview elsewhere and then have that school become your top choice. The later (to a point) you submit your interest/intent letter before the committee meeting, the better, in my opinion.

 

[duyvtr]

For those who received II, did you have the SOD before getting the II?

 

[tomhaverford]

For those who received II, did you have the SOD before getting the II?

Nope, but I submitted my app late (early October).

 

[reesescup]

received II today! was complete AUGUST! still hope for everyone out there

 

[geeraffes]

ii today 🙂 complete mid Oct.

 

[JBOB]

I was complete in late September and haven't gotten an SOD or ii... is that good or bad at this point?

 

[sliceofbread136]

I was complete in late September and haven't gotten an SOD or ii... is that good or bad at this point?

Same with me, it's better than SOD right?

 

[benjaminjado]

For those who received II, did you have the SOD before getting the II?

Interview invite today! No SOD before getting the II, though. I was complete in late August and was sure they'd given up on me.

 

[JBOB]

Same with me, it's better than SOD right?

Hopefully, but it might be ii>SOD>not hearing anything. I have no objective reason to think that, I'm just saying...

 

[Viduus]

SOD
Sad? Sure but remember, top 20 schools are a bit hit or miss.
My only wish would be to know what (if anything) torpedoed me.

39Q, 3.9

 

[cwrig14]

Are they receptive to update letters pre interview?
I was recently published in a chemistry journal and have a couple other volunteering/research activities that are relatively new.
I was complete mid August and haven't received an ii or sod.
3.7 35
Dreamin here!

 

[cwrig14]

SOD
Sad? Sure but remember, top 20 schools are a bit hit or miss.
My only wish would be to know what (if anything) torpedoed me.

39Q, 3.9

😳
I want your stats. I'm sure the cycle is going ok for you as it is and an sod at this school isn't definitive.
Good luck!

 

[darkjedi]

In the same lines, is there point to update the school post interview and to let them know the school truly is our first choice?

I personally would hold off until a little later in the app cycle unless you're completely done with interviews, in which case you should include that in your letter. If you do have more interviews remaining though, the letter doesn't carry as much weight, since theoretically you might interview elsewhere and then have that school become your top choice. The later (to a point) you submit your interest/intent letter before the committee meeting, the better, in my opinion.

I completely agree with doctorSOX here. It is not worth calling a school your first choice right now. First choice language is most effective when you're on a waitlist, but if you are 100% set on a school, I would consider sending it in a few months instead.

 

[An MD Hopeful]

Hopefully, but it might be ii>SOD>not hearing anything. I have no objective reason to think that, I'm just saying...

I would be inclined to think II>not hearing anything>SOD since an SOD indicates that they've gone over that person's app and chose not to give them an II yet. Whereas I'm guessing not hearing anything could mean either they haven't gone over your app or they're considering you for an II. That's just my speculation though.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Hopefully, but it might be ii>SOD>not hearing anything. I have no objective reason to think that, I'm just saying...

Ehhhh, I prefer my under review status to the SOD. Although I'm sure it will change to it any day now, the question is just when 😛

 

[heyitsben]

SOD
Sad? Sure but remember, top 20 schools are a bit hit or miss.
My only wish would be to know what (if anything) torpedoed me.

39Q, 3.9

Same boat as you... even the same writing score haha. Guess we can just hope they'll come back to us soon!

 

[MD22412]

They gave us chance to see anatomy bodies, but Idk if I'm going to join in ; / It is dishonoring the bodies!!

 

[mcloaf]

They gave us chance to see anatomy bodies, but Idk if I'm going to join in ; / It is dishonoring the bodies!!

I disagree, but to each his/her own.

 

[DoctorDachshund]

What did you do to turn your SOD into an II?

Nothing. I ASSUMED it was a status of death, flipped Penn the bird from my dorm room, and went on with life.

A month later, an invite, an interview in early Jan, then accepted March 14th.

SOD IS NOT SOD.

 

[DoctorDachshund]

No SOD yet, but doubt I'll get an interview , complete late sep/ early oct (dont remember)

3.74 /34

These stats will make it rough for you, unless you are a URM. Good news is you will get in several places.....

What do they call the worst student in the class from the worst medical school?

Doctor....

 

[blondiellie]

These stats will make it rough for you, unless an URM. Good news is you will get in several places.....

What do they call the worst student in the class from the worst medical school?

Doctor....

What is URM? I'm kind of in the same boat, 3.92/33S complete late september and still nothing. Do they keep sending out IIs? The silence is hard to bear!

 

[DoctorDachshund]

They gave us chance to see anatomy bodies, but Idk if I'm going to join in ; / It is dishonoring the bodies!!

No... many of these people donated their bodies to science so people could learn.... if you learn ANYTHING by looking, it's HONORING the tremendous gift these people and their families provide.

 

[DoctorDachshund]

What is URM? I'm kind of in the same boat, 3.92/33S complete late september and still nothing. Do they keep sending out IIs? The silence is hard to bear!

URM = Under represented minority.

You stats will be a stretch... our MEDIAN MCAT was 37 this past year. But you never know.

They send out invites through early Jan from what I have seen.

 

[Ichiban88]

Nothing. I ASSUMED it was a status of death, flipped Penn the bird from my dorm room, and went on with life.

A month later, an invite, an interview in early Jan, then accepted March 14th.

SOD IS NOT SOD.

Thank you for this encouragement! I guess we will wait and wee.

 

[coquito]

My stats are 33R, 3.7 overall, 3.8 BCPM. Interviewed earlier this month. So there's definitely hope! 🙂

Similar stats here. And not URM. And I didn't cure cancer or anything. Zero publications, if you're wondering. Just lots of life experiences. Interviewed recently.

Am I on an equal footing as the 37 MCAT people? I highly doubt it. Am I really confident about making the next cut? Well, not really... because of the "mediocre" MCAT. But it may not be as impossible as people make it sound.

 

[coquito]

No... many of these people donated their bodies to science so people could learn.... if you learn ANYTHING by looking, it's HONORING the tremendous gift these people and their families provide.

Agreed. When they took us in, they were actually doing the face and neck dissections, and I thought that I was in for a big shock. But people were so respectful and obviously engaged in a great learning experience. And the time flew by. I learned so much even without the background knowledge that you're supposed to have. I also learned that I am a lot more okay with cadavers than I thought I would be. I'm a thin woman with a weak stomach in the mornings, and I felt fine.

One of the students said that whenever she felt strange about, for example, peeling the skin off of someone's body, she would remind herself that if she did NOT participate in that part of the dissection, she would NOT be honoring that person's amazing gift to her education. That made a lot of sense to me and made me feel better about being there and observing things. It was a lot more mind-blowing than other interviews where you just go in and see the bodies all covered up. It made it a lot more real and actually reminded me of how exhilarated I am to start learning medicine.

 

[Tots]

Agreed. When they took us in, they were actually doing the face and neck dissections, and I thought that I was in for a big shock. But people were so respectful and obviously engaged in a great learning experience. And the time flew by. I learned so much even without the background knowledge that you're supposed to have. I also learned that I am a lot more okay with cadavers than I thought I would be. I'm a thin woman with a weak stomach in the mornings, and I felt fine.

One of the students said that whenever she felt strange about, for example, peeling the skin off of someone's body, she would remind herself that if she did NOT participate in that part of the dissection, she would NOT be honoring that person's amazing gift to her education. That made a lot of sense to me and made me feel better about being there and observing things. It was a lot more mind-blowing than other interviews where you just go in and see the bodies all covered up. It made it a lot more real and actually reminded me of how exhilarated I am to start learning medicine.

I learned the opposite.

 

[tiparalyzed]

if i want to send a letter of interest to penn, should i email someone in office of admissions or send it through the "other correspondence" section in our application portal?