2014-2015 Pennsylvania State University Application Thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Is anybody arriving at the Amtrak or Greyhound station in Harrisburg, PA, on 09/21 around 5:30-6:00? I would like to split the cost of a taxi if anyone is willing.

Also, any suggestions for a good taxi service?
 
Last edited:
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?

Hey, I'm glad you found the post helpful. I don't drink (actually alcoholophobic - long story) so I don't know anything about the party scene. From my biased point of view, I know there's plenty of public transportation to Hersheypark (went there twice in one awesome weekend).

To womanofscience, I used the Sweet Ride taxi service around the Hershey area while I was here for my interview. If you end up coming here, though, I would highly suggest getting your own car. Grocery shopping is a nightmare otherwise.
 
Hey, I'm glad you found the post helpful. I don't drink (actually alcoholophobic - long story) so I don't know anything about the party scene. From my biased point of view, I know there's plenty of public transportation to Hersheypark (went there twice in one awesome weekend).

To womanofscience, I used the Sweet Ride taxi service around the Hershey area while I was here for my interview. If you end up coming here, though, I would highly suggest getting your own car. Grocery shopping is a nightmare otherwise.

Thank you for the advice! Do you have any thoughts on Harrisburg public transportation (CAT)? I see that there is a single bus that goes to Hershey... but I am wondering how long the entire route is.
 
Thank you for the advice! Do you have any thoughts on Harrisburg public transportation (CAT)? I see that there is a single bus that goes to Hershey... but I am wondering how long the entire route is.
From the Harrisburg train station, the bus to Hershey (literally just down the sidewalk from the hospital) is somewhere around $1.75 per person and 15-20 minutes, I think... you'll need to check on this. I haven't actually needed the bus yet, but that's what I was told by my family when they visited.
 
From the Harrisburg train station, the bus to Hershey (literally just down the sidewalk from the hospital) is somewhere around $1.75 per person and 15-20 minutes, I think... you'll need to check on this. I haven't actually needed the bus yet, but that's what I was told by my family when they visited.

Perfect! Thank you for your help!
 
Don't freak out so soon. I submitted my secondary on 9/4/13 and got my II on 1/7/14. By that time, I'd forgotten that I'd even applied to PSU.
+1. I applied within a week of AMCAS opening last year and didn't hear back for months after I already had a few other acceptances. I interviewed late and was accepted without going onto the waitlist.
 
Had my interviews today and I think they went well 🙂 I was impressed with the school and what it has to offer and Hershey seems like a nice, although quiet, place to live. Should be hearing back in 6-8 weeks!
 
Had my interviews today and I think they went well 🙂 I was impressed with the school and what it has to offer and Hershey seems like a nice, although quiet, place to live. Should be hearing back in 6-8 weeks!

Had mine today as well!

Thought the interviews were very personable and relaxing. Wish we could have seen more of the school during the tour but time constraints were tight! All in all I was impressed with the school as a whole! Hope for good news!
 
II invite his morning. first one of the season Still in shock..absolutely I've what thus school has to offer!
Any tips for the interview?
 
II invite his morning. first one of the season Still in shock..absolutely I've what thus school has to offer!
Any tips for the interview?

Do you mind sharing your complete date?
 
II invite his morning. first one of the season Still in shock..absolutely I've what thus school has to offer!
Any tips for the interview?

I interviewed there earlier this month. Everyone at the school is really friendly and the interviews were very conversational. Have fun & good luck!
 
II invite his morning. first one of the season Still in shock..absolutely I've what thus school has to offer!
Any tips for the interview?
Know your application well, relax, have fun, and stay with a student host if you can.
 
and stay with a student host if you can.[/QUOTE]

Just curious. Do people say this because it MIGHT have something to do with admissions? I mean isn't it reasonable to assume adcoms may ask the student host about the applicant?

Note: I understand that student hosts are helpful, otherwise.
 
and stay with a student host if you can.

Just curious. Do people say this because it MIGHT have something to do with admissions? I mean isn't it reasonable to assume adcoms may ask the student host about the applicant?

Note: I understand that student hosts are helpful, otherwise.[/QUOTE]
Nope. This part has nothing to do with admissions. It is just helpful to get a student's perspective and spend some time with them to make sure Penn State is the right choice for you. Remember that you are interviewing the school as much as the school is interviewing you. Knowing more you know about a school and student life will help you make a more informed decision on where you want to go.
 
Submitted 7/19/2014. Just got this email this morning
"Thank you for your email. Our records indicate that your Secondary Application and Letter(s) of Recommendation have been received. Your application is now in the queue and on line to be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. It may be several weeks from the time of the submission of your application before the Committee receives it for review."
I must say, I'm mildly excited!
 
Submitted 7/19/2014. Just got this email this morning
"Thank you for your email. Our records indicate that your Secondary Application and Letter(s) of Recommendation have been received. Your application is now in the queue and on line to be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. It may be several weeks from the time of the submission of your application before the Committee receives it for review."
I must say, I'm mildly excited!
oh that only just made me realize that I still don't have the complete email T_T complete on portal only (~8/20). what does that mean?
 
Last edited:
I called admissions a week ago. The lady was nice and she said to be patient and wait for the complete email for upto 4 weeks. If you dont receive the email and its been 4 weeks or longer, she recommended emailing admissions with name and amcas ID.
 
I called admissions a week ago. The lady was nice and she said to be patient and wait for the complete email for upto 4 weeks. If you dont receive the email and its been 4 weeks or longer, she recommended emailing admissions with name and amcas ID.

So does that mean that we won't be reviewed until we receive that email, despite being complete on the portal? I submitted on 7/25 and haven't heard a peep.
 
So does that mean that we won't be reviewed until we receive that email, despite being complete on the portal? I submitted on 7/25 and haven't heard a peep.
You should call since its been almost two months. She did say I should be getting a complete email in a month or so. I submitted end of August.

I think they review your application once you are marked complete and receive an official completion email. Maybe someone with an II can confirm?
 
I called admissions a week ago. The lady was nice and she said to be patient and wait for the complete email for upto 4 weeks. If you dont receive the email and its been 4 weeks or longer, she recommended emailing admissions with name and amcas ID.
Just did the same thing- I never received an email but she told me it's in queue to be reviewed.
 
Just did the same thing- I never received an email but she told me it's in queue to be reviewed.
So its okay if we dont get a "complete email" as long as we have a green check next to the app complete thing on the portal?
 
So its okay if we dont get a "complete email" as long as we have a green check next to the app complete thing on the portal?
I would think so. It's probably just due to a glitch in the system that some applicants don't get their "complete" emails. But if I were you, I would call the admissions office to make sure, if only to give yourself peace of mind.
 
Was complete via portal, never received a complete email. Submitted July 30, II around August 13
 
For the last question on the secondary, would it be alright to talk about the process I used to solve a problem with my car? First thing that came to my mind when I read it.
 
For the last question on the secondary, would it be alright to talk about the process I used to solve a problem with my car? First thing that came to my mind when I read it.

For medical school or the Jiffy Lube application? Dig deeper, brosef. I talked about employment in R&D and navigating though the FDA drug approval process/product development/quality control/teamwork. There's a lot of medical regulatory bodies & knowledge of compliance in the medical field is essential to running a practice - I figured adcoms (if physicians) could relate to this.
 
For medical school or the Jiffy Lube application? Dig deeper, brosef. I talked about employment in R&D and navigating though the FDA drug approval process/product development/quality control/teamwork. There's a lot of medical regulatory bodies & knowledge of compliance in the medical field is essential to running a practice.
I talked about committing a patient to a mental health facility.
 
For medical school or the Jiffy Lube application? Dig deeper, brosef. I talked about employment in R&D and navigating though the FDA drug approval process/product development/quality control/teamwork. There's a lot of medical regulatory bodies & knowledge of compliance in the medical field is essential to running a practice - I figured adcoms (if physicians) could relate to this.

Hahaha! Thanks for the tip broski. I wanted to submit this before the weekend since I'm already pretty late but I'm def going to think more about this after hearing your response. Maybe I can talk about some setbacks during my research.

I talked about committing a patient to a mental health facility.

On topic of cars, do you drive an s2000? Judging by the shift knob in your avy lol
 
For the last question on the secondary, would it be alright to talk about the process I used to solve a problem with my car? First thing that came to my mind when I read it.
Sounds like an interesting topic for an interview. I would recommend answers with anything that you can talk passionately about.
 
II this morning! My first!!! One of my happiest moments 🙂 I love this school!
Complete around 8/24
LizzyM 66-68
Good luck to all! This process has been getting me so down, but things can turn around at any moment 🙂
 
II this morning! My first!!! One of my happiest moments 🙂 I love this school!
Complete around 8/24
LizzyM 66-68
Good luck to all! This process has been getting me so down, but things can turn around at any moment 🙂
Congrats! IS or OOS?
 
II this morning as well! OOS, LizzyM 73-75, never got a complete email but submitted around 8/30.
So much good news on this thread today 🙂
 
Does anyone know if PSU is receptive to "in the area" emails? I'm from Florida and I'm going to be a few hours away in Pittsburgh in about a week and a half. I haven't heard anything back from them as of yet.
 
Can anyone briefly talk about what Penn St. is all about? I am late to the application party, but I am considering applying here. I've never been to Hershey, and I don't know much about the curriculum. I've been researching their website, but I would appreciate any insight anyone can offer. How do students like PSU? How are the rotation opportunities? How's life in Hershey for four years?

Thanks! 🙂
 
Top