2012-2013 University of Pittsburgh Application Thread

[PreMedOrDead]

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I post it here for the few who might want to go to a mid tier school like PITT, even though they have top tier stats.

😕

How big is your middle tier? Holy... you reek of misinformation and elitism. Maybe why you and your Ivy League buddies got passed over? Pitt seems to like students that are relaxed, well-rounded, and high achieving, just like most high tier schools. Just because a school rejected you and your friends doesn't mean you have to come to their school specific thread and wallow in your bitterness. Things like this give the Ivy League stereotypes credence.

PS: Like every school, you should make it clear how happy you would be to go there. This isn't "middle tier" specific, it's common sense. Also, every school yield protects its acceptances, some just aren't very good at it.

 

[redpanda]

You have to realize that you are actually going to have to go out of your way to get into PITT. PITT like to keep their matriculation rate high... so they are hesitant to accept people with very high stats, figuring you will go to a better school....

So, if you have high stats, and really want to go here instead of a better school that you will very likely get in to, prepare yourself to have to write multiple love letters telling PITT they are the best school ever.....

Data for this statement? I am in an Ivy League med school now, and have run into MANY people here who were not accepted to PITT, and these folks have contacts at other schools, where this "trend" (i.e. there may be exceptions) was confirmed.

What do I mean by high stats? The type that get you into Harvard, Hopkins, Penn, etc... if you have MCAT of 38+ along with a 3.9+ from a good undergrad, you will very likely not be accepted unless you slobber all over PITT.

Also note, really high stats will keep you from even getting interviewed at some intermediate schools... like Jefferson. Gotta slobber on them requesting an interview..

Who do we have to thank for all this... U.S. News rankings.

Also, don't bore me with "well there is a lot more considered than grades....". I got in everywhere I applied, except PITT.

Also, spare me "It's just sour grapes....".... this trend is confirmed across multiple people attending two ivy's.

I post it here for the few who might want to go to a mid tier school like PITT, even though they have top tier stats.

Congratulations, you've figured out that the correlation between numbers and acceptance rates at Pitt is not linear. You can't really blame the adcom for its reluctance to accept people it believes are using the program as a safety school against Harvard. It has always been clear in competitive programs (which honestly, nearly all MD programs are for admission) that candidates should express enthusiasm for the program in one way or another to improve their chances.

But seriously, this is a ridiculously "first-world" problem. There being a trend with like n=10 does not mean whatever Pitt is up to is good or bad. You got into a good program for med school. You can still train at Pitt for residency or fellowship, which will certainly be easier on your wallet than staying in Boston (or NYC or Philly). Not having a perfect scorecard for MD admissions won't kill you.

 

[DoctorDachshund]

😕

How big is your middle tier? Holy... you reek of misinformation and elitism. Maybe why you and your Ivy League buddies got passed over? Pitt seems to like students that are relaxed, well-rounded, and high achieving, just like most high tier schools. Just because a school rejected you and your friends doesn't mean you have to come to their school specific thread and wallow in your bitterness. Things like this give the Ivy League stereotypes credence.

PS: Like every school, you should make it clear how happy you would be to go there. This isn't "middle tier" specific, it's common sense. Also, every school yield protects its acceptances, some just aren't very good at it.

Just trying to provide FACTUAL DATA for people applying. I've already been through the process, you've just started... so I don't think you are quite in a position to label it misinformation.

Getting FACTUAL information out is what this board is for. Your post reeks of insecurity and mob mentality.

 

[DoctorDachshund]

Congratulations, you've figured out that the correlation between numbers and acceptance rates at Pitt is not linear. You can't really blame the adcom for its reluctance to accept people it believes are using the program as a safety school against Harvard. It has always been clear in competitive programs (which honestly, nearly all MD programs are for admission) that candidates should express enthusiasm for the program in one way or another to improve their chances.

But seriously, this is a ridiculously "first-world" problem. There being a trend with like n=10 does not mean whatever Pitt is up to is good or bad. You got into a good program for med school. You can still train at Pitt for residency or fellowship, which will certainly be easier on your wallet than staying in Boston (or NYC or Philly). Not having a perfect scorecard for MD admissions won't kill you.

I am merely passing info on I learned from my path through the application process. I did not pass any judgement on Pitt, or any of the people here. Pitts protection of its matriculation rate appears to me to be the most pronounced I saw at any school.

Again, what I have said is fact. People applying like to know facts. If you don't like it, ignore it.

 

[sliceofbread136]

I just don't see how pitt is mid-tier... are only the top 10 top tier in your book?

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Just trying to provide FACTUAL DATA for people applying. I've already been through the process, you've just started... so I don't think you are quite in a position to label it misinformation.

Getting FACTUAL information out is what this board is for. Your post reeks of insecurity and mob mentality.

What does my status have to do with anything? And how do you know I'm not an MD? Whether I am beginning or ended my cycle, whether I was accepted or not, that does not change factual information. I'm saying that yes, Pitt protects its yield, but that doesn't make them any different than any other school. Do you think Harvard is accepting students that express interest in staying at their state school? Doubtful. Also, I know schools that yield protect far harsher than Pitt. A lot of private schools and basically any state school also do this.

I am merely passing info on I learned from my path through the application process. I did not pass any judgement on Pitt, or any of the people here. Pitts protection of its matriculation rate appears to me to be the most pronounced I saw at any school.

Again, what I have said is fact. People applying like to know facts. If you don't like it, ignore it.

If you're stating facts, stating that Pitt yield protects is factual, but every school factually yield protects. If you're being so FACTUAL today, let's see some numbers demonstrating that they are the harshest yield protectors. I bet you'd be very wrong. Also, Pitt has very little to worry about. They are constantly in the top 20 if not top 10 medical schools in the country. What do you consider mid tier? You're very skewed.

Like I said, you seem like you're on a mission to belittle Pitt for what is apparently attributed to your bitterness for being rejected. It sounds like Pitt made the right choice, and I pity the school that accepted your arrogance.

 

[redpanda]

I am merely passing info on I learned from my path through the application process. I did not pass any judgement on Pitt, or any of the people here. Pitts protection of its matriculation rate appears to me to be the most pronounced I saw at any school.

Again, what I have said is fact. People applying like to know facts. If you don't like it, ignore it.

Indeed, you have pointed out facts from your own experience, but that doesn't stop anyone from commenting on the lack of a real problem here in the program's admissions criteria in not necessarily accepting those with ridiculous numbers. It's relatively easy to see that Pitt wants to bring in a different demographic and personality of class than Harvard/Yale/Hopkins, etc. I would point out that in someone who really is motivated about going to Pitt (which is presumably who you have directed this toward), this anecdote doesn't really make any difference in whether they're going to apply, so it is low-value information. Also, the information that expressing very strong personal interest in Pitt is helpful is certainly not new; it's all over SDN.

I'm biased of course, but I should also point out consensus opinion that Pitt isn't exactly a middling program, so some of your "facts" are in question as well.

 

[redpanda]

lol at Penn being top tier.
Bro, only Harvard and Hopkins are top tier -- you got hosed w/ Penn. 🙂👍

PS: why do you consistently write Pitt in capital letters? Is it spite or are you talking about the airport?

It's got to be the spite because the airport sign is KPIT. 🙂

 

[PreMedOrDead]

I just looked at your post history, DoctorDachshund, and what you say about Pitt isn't just borderline, it's absolutely offensive. Your attitude towards a school that clearly appropriately denied you acceptance is horrible. I commend their ability to pick your attitude out and reject you even with your 3.95 GPA/41 MCAT. Now let me dig into why you're absurd:

You have to realize that you are actually going to have to go out of your way to get into PITT. PITT like to keep their matriculation rate high... so they are hesitant to accept people with very high stats, figuring you will go to a better school....

Every school expects you to go out of the way (LOI, express interests at interviews, give them some love) in order to receive acceptances. The high stats rumor is a complete myth. While schools yield protect, high stats won't get you rejected. However, being overconfident or even demeaning towards admissions will definitely be noted, especially during interviews.

So, if you have high stats, and really want to go here instead of a better school that you will very likely get in to, prepare yourself to have to write multiple love letters telling PITT they are the best school ever.....

Like I said, this is expected. You know what's hilarious? Your bestest, most favoritest school? You just gave the following advice to people applying there:

Here is some data to chomp on....

I am a first year her at Penn.

I had a 38+ and 3.95 from a decent school, and slightly above average EC's.

I got the letter of death in Nov.

I got II in early Jan.

Accepted in first pass, March 15th.

Nice chunk of scholarship money.

THIS IS A MARATHON. This is not a sprint, especially at schools like PENN, that do not accept till March.

Do not drive yourself NUTS over PENN. REMEMBER

1. Nobody accepted before March 15th
2. Many get II after the "Letter of Death"... therefore making the letter of death NOT a letter of death
3. Show interest, write letters to PENN while waiting. They WON'T make a huge diff, but what the heck
4. Be realistic... if you are 3.6 with a 32 MCAT and not a URM, you likely are not getting in here.... apply, sure... but focus elsewhere....
5. Get accepted SOMEWHERE.... then from there on out, everything, including PENN, is gravy.
6. Breath deep, drink plenty of fluids.

Odd. You demean Pitt for expecting you to demonstrate interest, yet you suggest that others do the same for Penn and have no ill-will towards Penn, who accepted you? What a surprise.

Data for this statement? I am in an Ivy League med school now, and have run into MANY people here who were not accepted to PITT, and these folks have contacts at other schools, where this "trend" (i.e. there may be exceptions) was confirmed.

This isn't data. This is an n = 1, or n = 2, or n = whatever. If you're going to say something is 'data' then give actual data. Anecdotal evidence from an extremely small pool of applicants is not representative of the whole.

What do I mean by high stats? The type that get you into Harvard, Hopkins, Penn, etc... if you have MCAT of 38+ along with a 3.9+ from a good undergrad, you will very likely not be accepted unless you slobber all over PITT.

Everyone is aware these applicants have options, and most people interviewing at Pitt are in this group. My interviewers at Pitt openly expressed that each student should evaluate their options and make sure you really want to attend Pitt, if accepted. They seemed to be interested in the applicant being happy, not tricking a high stat applicant into thinking they're God's gift to medical schools. This whole process is not about protecting yield, it's about getting the right students into their class that will fit and promote success, representing Pitt's image in the medical field in the future.

Also note, really high stats will keep you from even getting interviewed at some intermediate schools... like Jefferson. Gotta slobber on them requesting an interview..

Bitter. No, high stats won't stop you from getting interviewed at mid-tier schools. You got interviewed at Pitt, didn't you? Apparently Pitt is 'mid tier' by your definition. Also, those middle tier schools aren't just looking for stats like some of the top tiers are, they're looking for holistic applications. From the sounds of it, you aren't a very altruistic individual and your statements/bio/work/activities may have reflected this and middle tier schools will pick at these sections over all other things. Numbers don't simply get you a seat at middle tiers.

Who do we have to thank for all this... U.S. News rankings.

Then go complain about US News rankings like everyone else, don't intoxicate an otherwise pure thread like you did last year. Your pessimism and negativity isn't needed here.

Also, don't bore me with "well there is a lot more considered than grades....". I got in everywhere I applied, except PITT.

A lot more is considered than grades. You sound like an awful person from your current and past posts. Have some tact.

Also, spare me "It's just sour grapes....".... this trend is confirmed across multiple people attending two ivy's.

You're bitter. Why? I don't know. You got into Penn, go be happy instead of spreading your personal hatred.

I post it here for the few who might want to go to a mid tier school like PITT, even though they have top tier stats.

Pitt isn't mid tier. Everyone with top tier stats already knows that they must express interest in schools, this is common SDN knowledge. And if you wish to deliver information, do so without such blatant bias and offensive words. Also, after having a 41 MCAT and a 3.95 GPA with almost 100 posts on this forum, I would have expected you to have discovered the MULTIQ button instead of quoting and reposting every response. Intelligence clearly isn't everything, as apparently you have not.

In general, I hope that in person you are a much better person than you portray yourself here. You're also leaving a really bad taste in my mouth regarding Penn, as you're a representative of that school on this forum. Unfortunately, with the extent at which you go to on these forums with no remorse or decency, I fear that this is actually what you are like. I'm sorry. To those applying to Pitt, I hope these posts don't deter you. I've had a wonderful experience with Pitt, and clearly their ADCOM does a wonderful job in selecting applicants that fit their class. If this person's (troll's, really) personal experience doesn't show how well they are at picking out bad apples, I don't know what will.

lol at Penn being top tier.
Bro, only Harvard and Hopkins are top tier -- you got hosed w/ Penn. 🙂👍

PS: why do you consistently write Pitt in capital letters? Is it spite or are you talking about the airport?

lol, Penn? I didn't even know Penn was considered part of the Ivy League! They must have paid their way into it, just a complete joke compared to the real medical schools, Harvard and Hopkins.

 

[Frazier]

It's got to be the spite because the airport sign is KPIT. 🙂

😉

 

[deleted472157]

I just looked at your post history, DoctorDachshund...

+50 to PMOD.

You would figure that someone with 3.9/38+ would construct a better argument, but I guess not 🙄

 

[penguinism]

You have to realize that you are actually going to have to go out of your way to get into PITT. PITT like to keep their matriculation rate high... so they are hesitant to accept people with very high stats, figuring you will go to a better school....

So, if you have high stats, and really want to go here instead of a better school that you will very likely get in to, prepare yourself to have to write multiple love letters telling PITT they are the best school ever.....

Data for this statement? I am in an Ivy League med school now, and have run into MANY people here who were not accepted to PITT, and these folks have contacts at other schools, where this "trend" (i.e. there may be exceptions) was confirmed.

What do I mean by high stats? The type that get you into Harvard, Hopkins, Penn, etc... if you have MCAT of 38+ along with a 3.9+ from a good undergrad, you will very likely not be accepted unless you slobber all over PITT.

Also note, really high stats will keep you from even getting interviewed at some intermediate schools... like Jefferson. Gotta slobber on them requesting an interview..

Who do we have to thank for all this... U.S. News rankings.

Also, don't bore me with "well there is a lot more considered than grades....". I got in everywhere I applied, except PITT.

Also, spare me "It's just sour grapes....".... this trend is confirmed across multiple people attending two ivy's.

I post it here for the few who might want to go to a mid tier school like PITT, even though they have top tier stats.

A. Pitt changed its admissions process this year. They are now non-rolling, which means that less people might be put on the wait-list initially. Only time will tell.

B. I'm happy that you weren't accepted. You probably would not have come here anyway, so what's the point? We don't need students with your attitude!

C. I love my class. There's a good mix of Ivy and non-Ivy kids, and not everyone has a 40/4.0. If everyone had super high stats, we'd be a school of robots. I like the variety of backgrounds. 🙂

 

[MeGoodManIThink]

anyone else want to give PreMedOrDead a huge high-five?

UPITT for all that I know is top top tier..its an amazing school with some great research

 

[jesse120]

Well, I don't really have much to say since PMOD covered just about all of it lol. I just want to say that I am glad we're not classmates. 🙂

anyone else want to give PreMedOrDead a huge high-five?

👍

welcome to SDN, and nice username

You're also leaving a really bad taste in my mouth regarding Penn, as you're a representative of that school on this forum.

If you take nothing else away from these posts, DoctorDachshund, remember this. You are a medical student at Penn. In just about everything you do from now on, you are representing your school. Be professional; your posts here were not.

I've had a wonderful experience with Pitt, and clearly their ADCOM does a wonderful job in selecting applicants that fit their class.

Glad you had a good time interviewing here!



Oh and "mid-tier?" Do you know anything about Pitt Med?

 

[idontcaureuknow]

I am merely passing info on I learned from my path through the application process. I did not pass any judgement on Pitt, or any of the people here. Pitts protection of its matriculation rate appears to me to be the most pronounced I saw at any school.

Again, what I have said is fact. People applying like to know facts. If you don't like it, ignore it.

You again. I quickly learned to dislike your posts in the 2011-2012 thread, and still dislike your posts. Please, go home and leave the Pitt thread alone. Mid tier is a top 20 ranked school... hmm good job buddy. You were pissed to be on a waitlist and threw a hissy fit. Well I sat on a waitlist till oblivion and I still don't hate Pitt. So bugger off. Have a nice day, and get your miss-information the hecks out of here.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Glad you had a good time interviewing here!

Left with a couple stories to tell, but it was a good time! 🙂👍

Hopefully Pitt will think the same of me come February!

 

[idontcaureuknow]

You're also leaving a really bad taste in my mouth regarding Penn, as you're a representative of that school on this forum.

At the risk of identifying information (granted, not likely I'll get an interview from Penn anyways), I feel like I should defend Penn med. You shouldn't let an elitist like DD deter you. I was lucky enough to attend a presentation by a Dr. Douglas Wallace who works at the children's hospital of Philadelphia and I believe he is a member of UPenn faculty. The man was amazing and made me look very highly on UPenn. He is known as the father of mitochondrial genetics and I highly suggest you read some of his research papers, and if ever possible, attend a presentation by him. If I am somehow lucky enough to get an interview at UPenn and possibly accepted, nothing would make me happier. Actually, if i could be so lucky to get into Pitt (quite frankly, always been my dream school and I'd absolutely love to get in) and UPenn, I'd have a very tough decision.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

I understand Penn is a wonderful school. I was just making it clear that it is not reflecting well upon the school to have him barging in on peaceful, respectable conversations in professional forums with sensationalist messages packed with misinformation and hate. I am certain that he is not representative of the school and I am also sure Penn would not be happy to see one of their med students being so cynical in a public forum.

I also imagine it would not be hard to figure out which MS1 he is, considering a pompous 41/3.95 is probably pretty easy to pick out especially with other personal information he has given out, even at Penn.

 

[idontcaureuknow]

I also imagine it would not be hard to figure out which MS1 he is, considering a pompous 41/3.95 is probably pretty easy to pick out especially with other personal information he has given out, even at Penn.

Probably not, but I don't think it actually matters too much. He's already in. He also makes me appreciate Pitt's interview process. The student interviewers are told "realize, the person you are interviewing could be your colleague some-day. If you think they will make a good one, make a case for him/her." Or something like that. My interviewer told me that during my interview and it freaked me out last year (makes sense, but to be told that mid-interview I found it very nerve racking, caused me to lose what little confidence I had at the time). But I guess from that standpoint, the bright side is I'm deemed unworthy of medical school again at least I know DD won't be a colleague of mine .

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Probably not, but I don't think it actually matters too much. He's already in. He also makes me appreciate Pitt's interview process. The student interviewers are told "realize, the person you are interviewing could be your colleague some-day. If you think they will make a good one, make a case for him/her." Or something like that. My interviewer told me that during my interview and it freaked me out last year (makes sense, but to be told that mid-interview I found it very nerve racking, caused me to lose what little confidence I had at the time). But I guess from that standpoint, the bright side is I'm deemed unworthy of medical school again at least I know DD won't be a colleague of mine .

Was my favorite part of the Pitt process! It was nice to be talked to like the interviewer had genuine interest in becoming a colleague, rather than talking down to me.

 

[ERMAHGERD]

Man DD's post really made me rethink my decision of giving Pitt my #1 spot...............heh...NAHT

 

[JifyPuf]

Interviewing Oct 24 and super pumped about Pitt!

Wondering if current Pitt students can talk about their experiences? General ramble would be great, but I'm also interested in what the feel is, sense of community, if there's a type of student that Pitt seems to attract/matriculate? Also, how well do students do on step 1? How does the research project work? What sort of unique exposure/mentoring/opportunities are there for people who aren't sure what specialty they're interested in?

Thanks and good luck everyone!

 

[jesse120]

Could a medical student tell me what they really like and don't like about this school? Want to learn more about it.

Interviewing Oct 24 and super pumped about Pitt!

Wondering if current Pitt students can talk about their experiences? General ramble would be great, but I'm also interested in what the feel is, sense of community, if there's a type of student that Pitt seems to attract/matriculate? Also, how well do students do on step 1? How does the research project work? What sort of unique exposure/mentoring/opportunities are there for people who aren't sure what specialty they're interested in?

Thanks and good luck everyone!

Since this seems to be a hot topic, and since I'm skipping anatomy lecture right now, I have a little time to write about why Pitt Med, in my and most other's opinions, is a top-tier institution. Since I am an MS1, I feel perfectly fine with bragging about my school a little 😛

First of all, just ignore US News. Whether Pitt is #5 or #35 on that list isn't going to change what I've written below. All US medical schools have to meet very high quality standards to stay accredited. What makes Pitt a top-tier, i.e. a medical school of the highest quality?

-UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) is just plain ridiculous. I don't even know how many hospitals are affiliated (well over 20), but there are hospitals everywhere you turn here as well as hospitals around the world. A very popular one at which MS1s love to spend their summer is ISMETT (name sound familiar? 🙂 ) It's an organ transplantation hospital in Palermo, Italy. By the way, Pitt and organ transplantation just go hand in hand. They're one of the best in the country for it, if not the best. Unlike in larger cities, virtually everything here is ours. It's a freakin' monopoly. Students here have access (research, shadowing, rotations, etc.) to everything. It cannot be emphasized enough, UPMC is one the main reasons I chose to come here.

-World renown faculty who are experts in their fields. There are obviously so many UPMC physicians here that the ones who end up teaching really, really want to. If there are physicians who don't care about students, you'll never run into them anyway, so you don't have to worry about that. The faculty I've come across so far, wether Ph.D.s or M.D.s, are all very enthusiastic about teaching. It's actually pretty cool, especially if you've ever had college professors who clearly didn't want to teach; those classes suck. Not the case here.

-Research. It's everywhere. Pitt is #6 in NIH funding for a reason. I haven't started any research yet, so I can't say a whole lot about it. The only "problem" you'll probably ever have with this is picking one project when there are like a dozen you really want to do lol.

-Match list. Now, I know match lists aren't the best indicator for how good a school is, but just take a look at it. Students match very, very well here for a good reason. Pitt Med is a highly respected school by residency program directors. There are ton of great programs here as well. Being a student here is going to have an obvious advantage if you want to stay here for residency, which many do.

OK, reasons against Pitt being a top-tier:
-It doesn't have that "Ivy" name
-Can't really think of anything else


Other things I like about Pitt from my experience here:

-Many colleges here, including Pitt's undergrad and other grad programs. Some people might like an isolated med school, but I definitely like the collegiate feel much more. The Oakland area is composed of colleges, hospitals, and students. It's a very safe area.

-As mentioned earlier, faculty here are so enthusiastic and welcoming to students. Just about every physician I've come across had openly invited everyone to shadow them, to just walk right in whenever for however long you want. If you just want to pop your head into an OR for ten minutes to check out the anatomy, that's fine. If you want to spend several hours with them, they're happy to have you. Considering how many hoops I had to jump through to get shadowing experience as a premed, this is pretty cool. We are treated like colleagues here.

-We had two weeks of orientation before anatomy. The first week was mostly just a lot of people talking to us, giving advice, etc. The second week was much more interesting. They brought in patients with diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Down Syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and members of the LGBT community. We were able to hear them talk about their stories and ask them individual questions in small group sessions. It was a fantastic experience. Before even starting any coursework, we were already welcomed into the profession and granted a great deal of respect by these patients who shared very personal information with us. It was quite an introduction to med school.

-Pass/fail is awesome haha. We've only written two exams so far (second one was yesterday), but I can say with confidence that I'm so happy we don't have honors. I scored high enough on the first one to put me in that "honors" range, and I'll continue to work hard, but not having to worry about receiving honors means I don't have to spend time cramming minutia in short term memory just to get a couple extra points. It's nice to say, "I think I know enough. I'm done studying and going to bed." I like having enough free time to go rock climbing two or three times a week. If I were at an H/P/F school, I would definitely not be as relaxed as I am. Some people might prefer H/P/F so that there's some recognition of how well they're doing. Meh. I'll let my step 1 do the talking. And since JifyPuf asked, students here rock step 1. I don't know the exact average, but it's pretty high. I think we have like 8 weeks of step 1 prep time, which is probably like 2 weeks more than you even need.

-Student body here is so relaxed, friendly, well-rounded, interesting people. I haven't heard anyone whining about which schools didn't admit them . It's truly a great privilege to be a student here. Not only are the people at the school friendly, but it seems like everyone here is Pittsburgh is as well. If you're ever lost here, just ask anyone, and they'll gladly point you in the right direction. Drivers here are MUCH more courteous than in NYC. People let me pass in front of them all the time. Yeah, try doing that in NYC and see how much honking/profanity is heard. People here are just so nice.

- I haven't really experienced the cultural aspects yet, but Pittsburgh is very well known for it. Museums, art, dance, food, gardens/parks, film, architecture, you name it. If this is important to you, definitely check that out. You won't be disappointed.

Things I don't like about Pitt:
- They gotta work on their technology here. Our email uses microsoft outlook web access from 2003. Really?
- Our first exam was on a Monday. We were supposed to get grades on Friday. It took until the following Monday to get our grades because no one knew how to put them online. The three people who knew how to post grades were sick/away/MIA. So we had a bunch of MS1s in suspense to get back their first grade of med school for an entire week. Try to imagine.

These are just little things. There's really nothing big that I don't like about this school.


Anyway, there's definitely more that I could say, but I gotta get to class. Hope this helps a little! You should absolutely go to whichever school you feel you'll be happiest at (along with other factors like cost of attendance) but make sure to give Pitt Med careful consideration.

I post it here for the few who might want to go to a mid tier school like PITT, even though they have top tier stats.

What are top-tier stats? Pitt's mean/median MCAT is in the 35-36 range. Penn is what, 37? Is it really THAT much different? 🙄

 

[DoctorDachshund]

Oh man.... that really really hurt. I have to go back and try to recover from this.

I just looked at your post history, DoctorDachshund, and what you say about Pitt isn't just borderline, it's absolutely offensive. Your attitude towards a school that clearly appropriately denied you acceptance is horrible. I commend their ability to pick your attitude out and reject you even with your 3.95 GPA/41 MCAT. Now let me dig into why you're absurd:



.

 

[carramrod06]

.

 

[DrDestroyMD]

The description of Pitt as "mid tier" is laughable. Being a top 20 ranked medical school with an amazing clinical hospital/site is mid tier? What constitutes the top tier then? It may not have the Ivy League reputation, but residency directors surely know Pitt is a great school and that a Pitt graduate will be an effective resident...

 

[carramrod06]

.delete

 

[jesse120]

I loved spending time with the students there but they all seemed extremely busy and somewhat stressed out. I believe this might be unfair to Pitt as they had a big exam coming up at the time. This also might be because they still have H/P/F, creating a more stressful and competitive environment. There was a lot of talk about “gunners” that I hadn’t heard at other schools. They are moving towards P/F for incoming class but I’m not sure how long it will take for this sort of culture to transition at Pitt.

Were you staying with an MS2? C/o 2015 and earlier are H/P/F; c/o 2016 (my class) is P/F. And I would agree that interviewing at any school during exams has got to be the worst possible time to interview . That could explain why your student interview didn't go as smoothly as it should have and why your student host was too busy to really entertain. It's kind of unfortunate because it's not representative of what the student body is like here most of the time. Exams are always going to be stressful, no matter where you go.

 

[redpanda]

Student Life

I loved spending time with the students there but they all seemed extremely busy and somewhat stressed out. I believe this might be unfair to Pitt as they had a big exam coming up at the time. This also might be because they still have H/P/F, creating a more stressful and competitive environment. There was a lot of talk about “gunners” that I hadn’t heard at other schools. They are moving towards P/F for incoming class but I’m not sure how long it will take for this sort of culture to transition at Pitt.

....

Interview Day

While I don’t think that my experiences with interview day should be a complete determinant for my decision for medical school, I had a few negative experiences on my interview day that “left a bad taste in my mouth” [I outlined my thoughts on this in the interview feedback survey they email at the end of the interview day]. My student interviewer didn’t seem inclined to make small talk when walking to the interview location and basically read through a list of questions making me feel like I was interrogated. While I understand that this process is meant to figure out my personality and qualities, I feel that the student should also engage the conversation and be enthusiastic about the school. I believe that my interviewer did not do this. [On the other hand, my faculty interview was amazing]. I definitely do not this can be generalized to the whole student body [as they are an amazing group from the time I spent with them]. I believe my negative experience with the student interviewer was mainly because I believe Pitt forces its second year class to be part of the interview process (they cycle through interviewers alphabetically) and there is absolutely no matching between students and interviewers (i.e. random). I had absolutely nothing in common with my interviewer on any level.

Should clarify on several points as a current student:

1. MS2s are not forced to interview (and neither are MS1s). Students volunteered to get on the interview list last year. I can't apologize for the non-spontaneity of the interviewer or their mediocre style, but they're not tested for that. Also, because interview dates are assigned to interviewers up to months in advance, there is not necessarily "matching" of interviewers with candidates. Interviewers do pick from candidates sometimes, but it is sometimes because of alma mater or hometown, because that is the only information the student has. Also, serious matching on interviewers with candidates might place an undue burden on certain interviewers to be interviewing very frequently in addition to placing additional burden on the student interviewing coordinators who assign dates. Remember, students have class too and they're giving up their lunch break to do this.

2. As a member of the last class under H/P/F, I should clarify the gunner concept. H/P/F does not typically create a gunner, and it is extremely likely that whoever is being defined as a gunner (if they are a gunner) had these traits long before medical school. Secondly, getting all sorts of Hs in preclinical years has a tiny effect (if at all) on anything, so one shouldn't really worry about getting an H. And, honestly, if you're not generally scoring near the H/P line, making it to an H is unlikely and not worth the extra effort (hello, 80/20 rule). Thirdly, gunners gonna gun (self-explanatory). In addition, despite there being a choice of two or three marks on your transcript, I am sure there is always an internal ranking (not unique to this program), because how else does one do AOA-types of selections?

Pitt has very competitive people, and you will not avoid them in any program you go to. Medical school selects competitive people. If you don't like an individual's behavior, you avoid them and then you don't get stressed out by them. You should not necessarily be deterred by the fact that a medical student said their class had "gunners", because gunners exist everywhere and for god's sake, the usage of gunner is so darn broad that I've seen it applied to nice, polite, personable people who have great marks. I don't think you should be deterred by people who are both nice and smart. Look at the happiness of the student body as a better barometer of culture. Sorry you had a mediocre interview day, but hopefully you'll find a program that you love.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Also, because interview dates are assigned to interviewers up to months in advance, there is not necessarily "matching" of interviewers with candidates. Interviewers do pick from candidates sometimes, but it is sometimes because of alma mater or hometown, because that is the only information the student has.

We were told this pre-interview.

Also, I had the opposite experience of ramrod. I connected (I think) with my student interviewer, who was similar to myself. Whereas my faculty member appeared at quite a disconnect with my interview. Oddly enough, it was the faculty that slipped the most obvious 'when you come here next year...' Such is life... it'll be a long wait until February! 😴

 

[carramrod06]

.delete

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Ramrod, I think we all appreciate a balanced review of a school. It's completely okay to not feel a part of a community, sometimes that just is how it is. I'm sure second look will be a big impact for your decisions... speaking of which, I'm quite certain you will have a healthy choice a schools come next summer. I wish you the best in your selection! It'll likely be the hardest part of your app process.

 

[carramrod06]

.

 

[The Beyonder]

Can anyone who has interviewed or any current student give a breakdown of the interview day schedule? Do you get the names of your interviewers? Any other info would be appreciated.

 

[Ismet]

Ramrod, I think we all appreciate a balanced review of a school. It's completely okay to not feel a part of a community, sometimes that just is how it is. I'm sure second look will be a big impact for your decisions... speaking of which, I'm quite certain you will have a healthy choice a schools come next summer. I wish you the best in your selection! It'll likely be the hardest part of your app process.

Yes, absolutely!! Pitt's second look is fairly late compared to other schools (last weekend in April), so at that point I had pretty much already decided on staying at Pitt, but second look 100% confirmed it. Even though I attended Pitt for undergrad and was familiar with the medical school before applying, my interview experience left me rather underwhelmed compared to some of my other interviews. The school was great of course, but I got a really bad vibe from most of the other people interviewing with me. The dynamic of my class is completely different (and better!) than the dynamic I felt at my interview, and I feel like I completely fit in at Pitt.

carramrod06, no matter what med school you attend, it's going to be stressful at times and there are going to be competitive people. However, I'd say that there are very very few overly competitive people in my class. Everyone is so willing to share flashcards, study guides, mnemonics, and spreadsheets that there's a great feeling of community. Sure, the average on our first practical was a whopping 91%, but I think it's because people are trying to do their personal best, not necessarily "gunning." We're all trying our hardest, but we want our fellow classmates to do well too. I think you were just unlucky to interview in the days leading up to an exam, especially the first ones of the year. If you saw MS1's and thought we looked stressed, it's because we're still figuring out what we're doing!

 

[penguinism]

Yes, absolutely!! Pitt's second look is fairly late compared to other schools (last weekend in April), so at that point I had pretty much already decided on staying at Pitt, but second look 100% confirmed it. Even though I attended Pitt for undergrad and was familiar with the medical school before applying, my interview experience left me rather underwhelmed compared to some of my other interviews. The school was great of course, but I got a really bad vibe from most of the other people interviewing with me. The dynamic of my class is completely different (and better!) than the dynamic I felt at my interview, and I feel like I completely fit in at Pitt.

carramrod06, no matter what med school you attend, it's going to be stressful at times and there are going to be competitive people. However, I'd say that there are very very few overly competitive people in my class. Everyone is so willing to share flashcards, study guides, mnemonics, and spreadsheets that there's a great feeling of community. Sure, the average on our first practical was a whopping 91%, but I think it's because people are trying to do their personal best, not necessarily "gunning." We're all trying our hardest, but we want our fellow classmates to do well too. I think you were just unlucky to interview in the days leading up to an exam, especially the first ones of the year. If you saw MS1's and thought we looked stressed, it's because we're still figuring out what we're doing!

The first practical was also fairly easy/straighforward. 😛 The head and neck one? Not so much! But yea to reiterate, most people are very helpful and share resources.

I've talked to a couple people here that said they had lousy interview experiences, so it's really the luck of the draw. Personally, I loved my interview day here. It's going to be dependent upon who you meet at the school and also the other interviewees scheduled for that day.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Can anyone who has interviewed or any current student give a breakdown of the interview day schedule? Do you get the names of your interviewers? Any other info would be appreciated.

Here's the timeline for the interview day:

8:15-8:30 Breakfast
8:30 - 8:50 Welcome
8:50-10:45 Student-Led Tour (Significant walking!)
10:45-11:15 Overview of Curriculum, Student Life, & Admissions
11:15-12:00 Lunch with students
12:00-12:45 Med Student Interview (randomly assigned)
1:00-1:45 Faculty Interview (assigned, address and last name given)
2:00-2:30 Small Group Session
2:30-2:50 Financial Aid Session
2:50-3:00 Closing Comments
3:00-3:20 PSTP Overview (Optional!)

 

[Reek]

Here's the timeline for the interview day:

8:15-8:30 Breakfast
8:30 - 8:50 Welcome (Assistant Dean of Admissions)
10:45-11:15 Overview of Curriculum, Student Life, & Admissions
11:15-12:00 Lunch with students
12:00-12:45 Med Student Interview (randomly assigned)
1:00-1:45 Faculty Interview (assigned, address and last name given)
2:00-2:30 Small Group Session
2:30-2:50 Financial Aid Session (Financial Aid Director)
2:50-3:00 Closing Comments (Assistant Dean of either Student Affairs & Diversity or Admissions)
3:00-3:20 PSTP Overview

You forgot the campus tour from 8:50-10:30. It's so long and comprehensive, definitely the best tour I've been given so far.

Edit: you went and edited and made me look silly 🙁

 

[PreMedOrDead]

You forgot the campus tour from 8:50-10:30. It's so long and comprehensive, definitely the best tour I've been given so far.

Edit: you went and edited and made me look silly 🙁

Haha I'm sorry! I swore I'd edited it in (I noticed the gap right after I posted it) before anyone responded. Caught me!

 

[RicoSalamandra]

Here's the timeline for the interview day:

8:15-8:30 Breakfast
8:30 - 8:50 Welcome
8:50-10:45 Student-Led Tour (Significant walking!)
10:45-11:15 Overview of Curriculum, Student Life, & Admissions
11:15-12:00 Lunch with students
12:00-12:45 Med Student Interview (randomly assigned)
1:00-1:45 Faculty Interview (assigned, address and last name given)
2:00-2:30 Small Group Session
2:30-2:50 Financial Aid Session
2:50-3:00 Closing Comments
3:00-3:20 PSTP Overview (Optional!)

Holy cow! 2-hour tour? No kidding significant walking...

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Holy cow! 2-hour tour? No kidding significant walking...

Not when you walk like a pimp...

 

[DrWatt]

Not when you walk like a pimp...

👍👍



What is the small group session like?

 

[PreMedOrDead]

👍👍



What is the small group session like?

Extremely laid back.

It's not a [formal] evaluation of your performance in any regard. It's basically just a group discussion about an ethical dilemma.

 

[Reek]

Haha I'm sorry! I swore I'd edited it in (I noticed the gap right after I posted it) before anyone responded. Caught me!

Nothing gets past me 😎 Especially when I'm bored in lab waiting for film to develop and have nothing better to do than scour sdn.

Extremely laid back.

It's not a [formal] evaluation of your performance in any regard. It's basically just a group discussion about an ethical dilemma.

I'm not entirely sure what the point of it was, since they insisted that there was no evaluation happening, but it was an interesting experience. I had a great group of fellow interviewees there with me, so I enjoyed it a lot. It was a good way to unwind a bit right after the interviews were done.

 

[arroyo2208]

I'm not entirely sure what the point of it was, since they insisted that there was no evaluation happening, but it was an interesting experience. I had a great group of fellow interviewees there with me, so I enjoyed it a lot. It was a good way to unwind a bit right after the interviews were done.[/QUOTE]

The point was because previous interviewees had requested being able to see a PBL session, but since that wasn't really feasible they just had us experience one instead. It was pretty cool and yeah, really laid back. It's just hard not to feel like you're not still being evaluated on an interview day haha.

 

[The Beyonder]

Here's the timeline for the interview day:

8:15-8:30 Breakfast
8:30 - 8:50 Welcome
8:50-10:45 Student-Led Tour (Significant walking!)
10:45-11:15 Overview of Curriculum, Student Life, & Admissions
11:15-12:00 Lunch with students
12:00-12:45 Med Student Interview (randomly assigned)
1:00-1:45 Faculty Interview (assigned, address and last name given)
2:00-2:30 Small Group Session
2:30-2:50 Financial Aid Session
2:50-3:00 Closing Comments
3:00-3:20 PSTP Overview (Optional!)

Wow, long day. Thanks for the info.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

It's just hard not to feel like you're not still being evaluated on an interview day haha.

Especially true when there are people from admissions in the room. 😛

 

[spf15]

rejected 🙁

 

[riseagainsthoya]

Rejected school was a huge reach for me, gl every1!!!!!

 

[3rdarmageddon]

Rejected. I'm a little surprised, but Oh well. Best of luck to the rest of you.