2012-2013 University of Pittsburgh Application Thread

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IncognitoGuy said:
They said in my status update that first-tier waitlist people will have higher priority, but not necessarily be the only ones looked at to pull from - you never know! I'm curious as to whether this tier system existed before as well.
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Yes, i hope 2nd tier is not "the wait list for the wait list".
 
B2the2 said:
Has anyone been notified via e-mail that their application status has been updated, gone to check, and had no such alteration of status?...
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Yes, I was notified via email about status change around 5:00pm west coast time.
 
B2the2 said:
Has anyone been notified via e-mail that their application status has been updated, gone to check, and had no such alteration of status?...
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I received my only email of the day from them around 7-8 PM.

I think it is just automated and on delay.
 
kinner said:
Yes, i hope 2nd tier is not "the wait list for the wait list".
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Unfortunately, what else would it mean?

It may not necessarily be a strict number system like some schools, but giving higher priority to a certain subset of applicants in 1st vs. 2nd tier applicants is a pretty obvious conclusion. I don't mean to be pessimistic, but realistic. It also seems as though there are a significant number of acceptances and first tier wait lists this year, yet few second tier and rejections. Compared to last year, in which there were few acceptance and a general wait list, it's a bit foreboding. I'll hope for the best like anyone else, but start looking at my options elsewhere much more seriously.
 
B2the2 said:
Has anyone been notified via e-mail that their application status has been updated, gone to check, and had no such alteration of status?...
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Your status didn't change?
 
PreMedOrDead said:
Unfortunately, what else would it mean?

It may not necessarily be a strict number system like some schools, but giving higher priority to a certain subset of applicants in 1st vs. 2nd tier applicants is a pretty obvious conclusion. I don't mean to be pessimistic, but realistic. It also seems as though there are a significant number of acceptances and first tier wait lists this year, yet few second tier and rejections. Compared to last year, in which there were few acceptance and a general wait list, it's a bit foreboding. I'll hope for the best like anyone else, but start looking at my options elsewhere much more seriously.
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Maybe it looks like there are more acceptances this year because they sent them out at once instead of how they did rolling last year? As mentioned before, SDN is probably not the best reflection of the ratio of acceptances:first tier:second tier:rejections. Also perusing some MDapps on here, I'm guessing that a good number of acceptances and first tiers will be withdrawing in favor of one of other multiple acceptances, especially considering the Super Big Name and Top10 schools are releasing their non-rolling decisions even later.

I feel like there is still reason to be optimistic and 2nd tier is not necessarily death, but that comes along with conveying to the adcom how much you believe Pitt is for you. But, it's also necessary to start being realistic like PMOD said and start looking at other options too.
 
colorfulfishies said:
I feel like there is still reason to be optimistic and 2nd tier is not necessarily death, but that comes along with conveying to the adcom how much you believe Pitt is for you. But, it's also necessary to start being realistic like PMOD said and start looking at other options too.
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Absolutely.
 
Hm. This is all speculation, but I imagine first-tier as being those that are likely to be accepted given that they hang on to the waitlist, and send in a letter of continued interest. Those that are on the second tier, are probably those that will have to depend more on how many precisely withdraw from Pitt. So, TBH, I'd say that first-tier is fine, but second tier peeps (if you're really interested in Pitt) should send in a pretty convincing love-letter if Pitt is truly the school you want to go to.

It is also likely that they may have accepted less people straight off, in hopes of seeing how the interest of the applicants are.

You can choose to be offended by the "game" that is played, but honestly I believe if you're still waiting for an acceptance, or if Pitt is the school you TRULY want to go to, the game is not over. In fact, it's just getting started. 🙂 (Besides, you've played "the game" to be a premed for x number of years, and to apply and get to this point. What is so different about this one? You're telling me you're going to stop now? Trust me, even when you get into medical school (regardless where)...the hoop jumping does not stop...lol)

I'm only saying this because I wasn't a straight admit either. I waited on the WL until like March for an acceptance. I know the application process is arduous, with it being both time and emotionally exhausting. I know how you all feel.

I'll say this: A fair number of my colleagues (including myself) will argue that Pittsburgh may not be "the city" to spend four years in (sorry for those who are native to pgh-you should consider coming out to our neck of the woods sometime! :laugh: ), but we chose PittMed clearly because it is the school to get a well-respected education. (Surgery, for example at Pitt, is phenomenal. So is emergency med.) I love my peers, and I really appreciate the professors that I get to interact with on a daily basis. I imagine a lot of people will choose to drop from the waitlist because they find a school that is in a better location, or its their cheaper state school. These are all fair considerations. Thus, historically...there have been a fair amount of WL movement, so please do not give up hope!

That all being said, Pittsburgh is a decent place to live. If you're from any of the MAJOR big cities, yes, you may find yourself in a situation with a little less diversity, perhaps a little less water (likely), and perhaps a little less night-life. But Pittsburgh makes up for that with it's low cost of living (I'm renting a home with my roommate and we're paying 500/person, which is wayyy cheaper than what I would've paid in Seattle), which I think is a solid considering we're going to be in the debt we are. 😛 Frankly, there are plenty of more remote locations to go to med school, in which I honestly am not sure if I'd be happy attending in any of those places...*cough* Dartmouth *cough* (juss sayin).

Hang in there everyone! I know everyone wants closure, but honestly...my advice is to expect a "decision" sometime mid June. Why? Because NOTHING is set in stone until then. From now til then, other schools will be giving out decisions (like those ivies that give decisions in march or whatever), people may already start comparing Pitt to their other options, second look will happen such that they might find someplace else to attend for school, and lastly, there's good ol' May 15th or whenever when WLs move like crazy. All of these I honestly believe, will affect the the waitlist. So REALLY, the game is not over. It's just begun.
 
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cough...dartmouth...cough

Haha I laughed out loud at that. I interviewed at both schools, got into Pitt and am still waiting for Dartmouth.

There is no way in heck that I would live in Hanover for four years and I don't think most people do. They all escape to the west coast, etc. I'm glad I got into Pitt and think I would have a lot more fun there. Plus, the kiddos seemed happier at Pitt than 'mouth when I visited.
 
No, my status did not change. There was nothing on the App Status page nor in the page source. I had to call them this morning to get the status.
 
churrytree said:
cough...dartmouth...cough

Haha I laughed out loud at that. I interviewed at both schools, got into Pitt and am still waiting for Dartmouth.

There is no way in heck that I would live in Hanover for four years and I don't think most people do. They all escape to the west coast, etc. I'm glad I got into Pitt and think I would have a lot more fun there. Plus, the kiddos seemed happier at Pitt than 'mouth when I visited.
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I'm also waiting on Dartmouth. Having done the Pittsburgh thing already, Pitt vs. Dartmouth is a hard decision for me. I kind of want to live in the woods for a while, lol. Ah well, I don't have to think about that yet anyway.
 
Indeed, if I did my undergrad in Pittsburgh, I may want to try something new. The best of luck to you as you make your decision and I hope you go to the school of your dreams, whatever and wherever that may be!!
 
BurghStudent said:
I'm also waiting on Dartmouth. Having done the Pittsburgh thing already, Pitt vs. Dartmouth is a hard decision for me. I kind of want to live in the woods for a while, lol. Ah well, I don't have to think about that yet anyway.
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I'm stuck in the exact same decision...!

At least there are second look weekends. Does anybody know when Pitt's second look is?
 
Does any current student know how many people they accepted yesterday? It seems like a lot of people are on the tier1 waitlist.
 
alejandro said:
hm. This is all speculation, but i imagine first-tier as being those that are likely to be accepted given that they hang on to the waitlist, and send in a letter of continued interest.
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stop giving me hope.
 
DrPurr said:
Does any current student know how many people they accepted yesterday? It seems like a lot of people are on the tier1 waitlist.
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Nobody knows. Nobody here works at the admission office. It seems a lot of people got accepted and wait listed because they are ones who are excited or have some sort of hope to post here. The 2nd tier and rejected probably dont want to write their frustration on this form
 
wsc2879 said:
Nobody knows. Nobody here works at the admission office. It seems a lot of people got accepted and wait listed because they are ones who are excited or have some sort of hope to post here. The 2nd tier and rejected probably dont want to write their frustration on this form
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That makes sense! I'll keep my hope high then!
 
churrytree said:
Indeed, if I did my undergrad in Pittsburgh, I may want to try something new. The best of luck to you as you make your decision and I hope you go to the school of your dreams, whatever and wherever that may be!!
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Thank you, I wish you the same.
 
How common/substantial are scholarships at Pitt? I received a scholarship with my acceptance but I don't know what it means really since I don't know what the average student is offered.
 
aspiringdoc3 said:
How common/substantial are scholarships at Pitt? I received a scholarship with my acceptance but I don't know what it means really since I don't know what the average student is offered.
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I had no idea they even offered merit scholarships :shrug:

The only scholarships that I had heard offered were need-based.
 
aspiringdoc3 said:
How common/substantial are scholarships at Pitt? I received a scholarship with my acceptance but I don't know what it means really since I don't know what the average student is offered.
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Congrats, that's awesome!

How did you find out about it -- Letter, email, online portal?
 
aspiringdoc3 said:
How common/substantial are scholarships at Pitt? I received a scholarship with my acceptance but I don't know what it means really since I don't know what the average student is offered.
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My understanding is that merit scholarships are limited. Most people who get aid get need-based, and that will come in May. You'll get a financial aid talk at Second Look where they'll go more into detail about it (and I really don't remember what they said so I don't want to misquote them) but I'd say it means 👍 🙂
 
In case someone hasn't posted this already, the first tier waitlist will be reviewed after April 1st.
 
I was told on my interview day that they start pulling from the wait list in march
 
In the email i just got from the adcom. Anyone know how many ppl they accepted/1st tier waitlisted/second tier waitlisted?
 
My email was in response to asking for a break down of the accepted/1st waitlist/2nd waitlist question I've been asking. I'm calling tomorrow to see if I can get those numbers for everyone interested.
 
I see. I called the admissions office on the 31st and they said that they didn't know about the numbers as they're not involved with decisions. Lets just sit tight.
 
Hmmm, i wonder if getting a PSTP invite gives me a higher chance of getting pulled from the WL :luck::luck::luck:
 
ERMAHGERD said:
Hmmm, i wonder if getting a PSTP invite gives me a higher chance of getting pulled from the WL :luck::luck::luck:
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Did you just get one? Congrats if so! I only had my PSTP app complete as of yesterday so I'm hopeful!
 
saveourpens said:
I see. I called the admissions office on the 31st and they said that they didn't know about the numbers as they're not involved with decisions. Lets just sit tight.
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They didn't know about the tiers?
 
PreMedOrDead said:
They didn't know about the tiers?
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They knew about the tiers but had no clue in regard to what the breakdown would be with acceptances....ie around 10% of interviewees were accepted outright last year.
 
jesus thats less than a full class. That makes being on the 1st tier waitlist much more promising if they're continuing that trend.
 
Just going to leave these beauties here...

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Presbyterian_DSC_3070.jpg
 
Ismet said:
My understanding is that merit scholarships are limited. Most people who get aid get need-based, and that will come in May. You'll get a financial aid talk at Second Look where they'll go more into detail about it (and I really don't remember what they said so I don't want to misquote them) but I'd say it means 👍 🙂
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Thanks Ismet! Good to know 🙂
 
Blais said:
👍

Truth be told, I seriously thought about posting one of the pics with Bane standing out front instead...
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I did not realize that parts of the new Batman movie were shot in Pittsburgh. That's so cool! Those pictures are amazing!! I wasn't able to tour the city when I interviewed. What is the fourth picture in the second post? With the round ceiling?
 
churrytree said:
I did not realize that parts of the new Batman movie were shot in Pittsburgh. That's so cool! Those pictures are amazing!! I wasn't able to tour the city when I interviewed. What is the fourth picture in the second post? With the round ceiling?
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Yep! They filmed in Oakland and downtown in summer 2011. I worked across the street from that building and got to see them filming the big fight scene on the steps, with Bane and the batmobile. It was a little strange seeing a bunch of extras dressed in orange jumpsuits walking around Oakland with fake machine guns...

Not sure what the 4th picture is exactly, but it's downtown.
 
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