2014-2015 Pennsylvania State University Application Thread

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Bacillus subtilis said:
Where is the google doc sheet for requesting student host? I saw the info below under student hosting information tab
"We are organizing our officers and our Student Hosting program and are not able to host at this time." but could not find where to request student host. Shall I email them? Thanks!!
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Where do you see this message? The form should be open right now.

pj77 said:
I signed up for a host through the application website and got this email not too long ago:

"Good morning,Thank you for your interest in staying with a student the night before your interview. We apologize for the delayed communication. Hosting is traditionally organized by 1st year medical students. The new student hosting coordinators were just picked a few days ago and will be getting an orientation early next week before they start matching student hosts to interviewees. You should hear back from them with updates early next week. In the meantime please let us know if you have any questions or issues. The former hosting coordinators will check this mailbox regularly until the new coordinators take over.Have a great weekend."
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Sandmeezy said:
So I guess we can't sign up anymore? Or are they re-opening the application after they're done organizing?
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The new hosting committee is already on it. The form should now be open and they are working hard to match interviewees with hosts. There are a huge influx of interviewees right now so thing may take longer than usual. if you have questions just shoot them an email.
 
Seems like they just fixed it this morning. You may want to check again
 
ash83plus said:
Seems like they just fixed it this morning. You may want to check again
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The curriculum mentions group-based learning several times, which I really like. Is this really a major part of your learning and something the admissions committee would care about? Or is it just something they write on the website to make the program look good?
 
Bbqchickenman said:
The curriculum mentions group-based learning several times, which I really like. Is this really a major part of your learning and something the admissions committee would care about? Or is it just something they write on the website to make the program look good?
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Pbl and group learning is a huge part of the curriculum. You have several of those a week.
 
NO, begin processing my application immediately
YES, wait for my future MCAT scores
I do not plan to take the MCAT after I submit my Secondary Application

Does it matter if you clicked on "I do not plan to take the MCAT after I submit my Secondary Application", and "NO, begine processing my application immediately?"

I submitted the secondary on July 19, and I've heard nothing back from them. I clicked on the 3rd option, and so I'm worried that it's not being processed.
 
Can anyone comment on # of accepted students (not just # matriculated) vs # of interviewed? US News doesn't have the stats. Can't wait to see this campus!
 
Bbqchickenman said:
The curriculum mentions group-based learning several times, which I really like. Is this really a major part of your learning and something the admissions committee would care about? Or is it just something they write on the website to make the program look good?
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For MS1, we have PBL (small group-based learning) three times a week for two hour sessions. This and the humanities focus are my two favorite parts about the curriculum so far.
 
Awared said:
For MS1, we have PBL (small group-based learning) three times a week for two hour sessions. This and the humanities focus are my two favorite parts about the curriculum i so far.
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You still have lecture how many times a week? How many people are in each pbl group
 
Has anyone applied early decision? If so, would you please PM me?
 
kl0117 said:
You still have lecture how many times a week? How many people are in each pbl group
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Our current schedule is:
Mon: 8-10: Science PBL, 10-12 science class.
Tues: 8-10: Science class, 10-11: Humanity lecture, 11-12: Humanity PBL (not as much preparation for as the science one), may have 1:30-4:30 clinical skill session
Wed: 8-10: Science PBL, 10-12 science class, may have 1:30-4:30 clinical skill session
Thurs:8-10: Science class, 10-11: Patient Navigation PBL (usually no preparation), 11-12: Lecture on Patient Navigation
Fri: 8-10: Science PBL, 10-11: Grandrounds-like patient encounter in science lecture, 11-12: Some sort of review session for the week

There are usually 7 or 8 students in each PBL group
 
For those that signed up for student hosting, it looks like they are now matching people with hosts! Phew, was starting to get worried.
 
jgirl0828 said:
II. Oos. Submitted late august but never got complete email.

Edit. There weren't many dates left. Only two in October and the rest were in january
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Hi there. Congrats for the II. When you check your status online, does it have a date next to complete or only a green check?
 
Received an II via e-mail! Really excited, it seems like a great school 🙂

Secondary the second week of July, submitted a month later. Never received a complete e-mail.

OOS, LizzyM ~70.
 
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Mr Roboto said:
II! Really excited, it seems like a great school 🙂

Secondary the second week of July, submitted a month later. Never received a complete e-mail.

OOS, LizzyM ~70.
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Hey. Congrats. Did you get an email or you checked your status online?
 
Received a II today! Submitted my secondary 9/6 and never received a complete email.
 
Yeah I was shocked by the turn around too. 33, 3.7 ogpa, 3.5 sgpa, IS. disadvantaged background
 
How much weight does PSU put on MCAT score? I have a 3.9 GPA, worked as an ER scribe, athletic tutor and am currently doing research but have a low MCAT score. Should I complete the secondary?
 
sskoloda said:
How much weight does PSU put on MCAT score? I have a 3.9 GPA, worked as an ER scribe, athletic tutor and am currently doing research but have a low MCAT score. Should I complete the secondary?
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Per MSAR their 10% MCAT is a 28, so I would say apply if you have a 28+
 
What is an athletic tutor?? Lol, an athlete who tutors, a tutor for athletes, or a person who helps train athletes.
 
Graywolf said:
What is an athletic tutor?? Lol, an athlete who tutors, a tutor for athletes, or a person who helps train athletes.
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. Its someone who tutors student athletes. What do you call someone who tutors in a different area? A chemisty tutor, A biology tutor, etc.
 
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Have fun with your interviews, guys! Hershey is a great place to visit... if you interview on Monday or Friday you might even be able to visit Hersheypark before winter sets in! Their tickets are half off after 5 pm, I believe... but I think they are only open weekends now that it's not summer...
 
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Hey guys, PSH MS1 here. For those of you who'd like to learn more about the school from an insider's perspective, there's a WordPress blog entitled "Life at Hogwarts College of Medicine" which you may like to read. It's written by a fellow MS1, and a number of the posts have to do with classwork and such. You should be able to find it on Google.
Cheers!
 
expeditionchemist said:
Hey guys, PSH MS1 here. For those of you who'd like to learn more about the school from an insider's perspective, there's a WordPress blog entitled "Life at Hogwarts College of Medicine" which you may like to read. It's written by a fellow MS1, and a number of the posts have to do with classwork and such. You should be able to find it on Google.
Cheers!
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Thanks!
 
jgirl0828 said:
II. Oos. Submitted late august but never got complete email.

Edit. There weren't many dates left. Only two in October and the rest were in january
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I am thinking about adding Penn State to my primary application. It sounds like there is a couple day turnaround in getting the secondary. Would it be worth it to submit to apply at this point if interviews are so far out?

I'm OOS, 30+ MCAT, and 3.8 GPA.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!
 
MayaR said:
I am thinking about adding Penn State to my primary application. It sounds like there is a couple day turnaround in getting the secondary. Would it be worth it to submit to apply at this point if interviews are so far out?

I'm OOS, 30+ MCAT, and 3.8 GPA.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!
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Yes, I think so. I submitted my secondary at around this time last year. Don't wait too long, though.
 
Finally submitted this secondary... took me forever. Hoping it won't be too late!
 
sunflower18 said:
Just arrived in Hershey!! It's very pretty and green here.
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Hooray! Congratulations on your interview invite. If you have questions about anything student-life related, feel free to contact me via PM.
And the "Life at Hogwarts College of Medicine" blog is a good place to ask questions, too.

Sincerely,
expeditionchemist
 
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Someone contacted me to ask questions about the school, so I thought I would share my email-turned-term-paper with the rest of you guys. I don't usually write this much (I'm a pathologically SLOW writer), but I got a little carried away with my post-midterm exam giddiness.

I really like it here at Penn State. I don't think I could have found a better medical school. I'm from California and knew nothing about the school last year; to be quite honest, I pretty much applied here on accident, almost didn't fill out my secondary, almost turned down my interview invite, and almost turned down my acceptance before I came back for Second Look Day and was COMPLETELY impressed. I have NO IDEA what I was thinking beforehand and I shudder to think of what would have happened if I had backed out at any stage of the application process.
Hershey is possibly the safest place on earth. As a woman, I feel comfortable going out with a friend for a refreshing nighttime stroll in the neighborhood. Students brag here about leaving their car windows open in the parking lot, although I've never tried that myself (it rains unexpectedly).
As for the school itself, I'm very happy with how the curriculum is laid out. We only have class from 8-12 noon every day, so there's plenty of time in the afternoon to study, shadow physicians, or try out new extracurriculars. In addition to two hours of science lecture every day, we have one small group session every day with 1 faculty member and six or seven other students. The small group assignments are different for every class (basic science, humanities, and healthcare systems), so I feel that I've gotten to know a good number of faculty and fellow students on a first-name basis.
I don't want to give you the impression that Penn State is any less rigorous than other schools - we just had our first midterm for our basic science class this morning, and I can tell you that I locked myself in my apartment for the entire weekend, only stepping out of my bedroom to grab breakfast or dinner (not lunch), so I could memorize and understand everything, even after studying consistently for the past six weeks. If you come here, like at any other school, you will be working VERY hard. The difference is that your class-time will be more efficiently spent, and your classmates will be nowhere near cutthroat-competitive levels, because the first two years are P/NP.

As for interview tips... hmmmm... this applies to any school, but I would recommend knowing your personal statement inside out. Like, be prepared to deliver a speech about it without notes of any kind. Also, be prepared to give a mini-speech about any of your personal/volunteer experiences and/or hobbies, and seriously, don't be afraid to practice in an empty room, especially the night before your interview. My interview at Penn State this past February was my 11th one of the cycle, and part of the reason I did well was that I had really polished my "speeches"! Even though the interviews at Penn State are usually very laid back and friendly, remember that the interviewers are still trying to evaluate you in some way, or they wouldn't be doing their job properly.
 
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expedition,

thanks for your awesome post. after interviewing today, i really loved what i saw (especially the minimal class time!!). so close to home, great curriculum, awesome students and staff, couldnt ask for more. my interviews were great, i shared many hobbies with one of my interviewers so ~60% of the interview was spent talking about these. although i was asked some "tough" questions (i consider them "tough" in the sense that i expected a totally relaxed interview), everything still went well.

one question for you expedition : are the only bars around the campus in Harrisburg? is it a pain in the butt arranging taxi service to and from?
 
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