2014-2015 University of Pittsburgh Application Thread

[sahmoc]

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Hi, I wonder what number did you call? Maybe I should bug them, too

412-648-9891
They seemed to be getting a lot of calls

 

[rhythmisadancer]

Anybody have luck logging-in?

 

[JingleChips]

I managed to log in and fill out most of the secondary, but it seems the system "forgot" my saved parts and is now having trouble fetching that information. gonna try to finish and submit a little later today I guess

 

[Lamel]

I was able to log in about 5 minutes after I received the email. Haven't checked since then though.

 

[mik30102]

I am getting the same error message. Hopefully its fixed by tomorrow.

 

[Abstractions]

I am getting the same error message. Hopefully its fixed by tomorrow.

I'd hope so, but I'm guessing if it doesn't get fixed today it won't be fixed until Monday (because of the holiday weekend).

 

[juliuspepperwood]

I managed to log in and fill out most of the secondary, but it seems the system "forgot" my saved parts and is now having trouble fetching that information. gonna try to finish and submit a little later today I guess

Were the questions the same as last year?

 

[Abstractions]

Its back up (for now). In the course requirement section, are you guys putting anything in the comment boxes?

 

[Lamel]

Were the questions the same as last year?

Yup

 

[Abstractions]

Submitted!

 

[juliuspepperwood]

Yup

Thanks! I also just realized I skimmed over the post where you said that last page. Whoops.

 

[rhythmisadancer]

Still not working for me... Anybody else yet (other than Abstractions)?

 

[JingleChips]

Just submitted. I had to keep trying to log in every 30 min or so for a couple hours, but it finally let me in. To confirm, the admission data form is only for accepted students to complete, correct?

 

[thethreeheadeddragon]

Has anyone else still not received the secondary?

 

[shishy]

Has anyone else still not received the secondary?

I have not. 3.91/32

 

[juliuspepperwood]

Has anyone else still not received the secondary?

I haven't but I added Pitt late last night

 

[stickshifthonda]

Received it this morning. Submitted 6/4. Stats don't matter @shishy everybody gets it!

 

[Muvis]

I have not. >3.9/>36

Edit: Just saw the post above mine. Since stats don't matter, that should just be a reassurance they are still going out. I added Pitt prior to verification in early June.

 

[Person0715]

Just submitted. Hope Pitt shows me some love~

 

[Ssina]

Has anyone else still not received the secondary?

+1 😕

 

[dgc15]

same problem here! just sent them an email to let them know.

 

[Ismet]

To confirm, the admission data form is only for accepted students to complete, correct?

Yep.

For everyone else waiting, due to the holiday weekend you probably won't get a response or a fix for any issues until Monday. Just relax and enjoy your weekend! I understand the sentiment that you want to get everything in ASAP, but it'll all work out 🙂 Everyone receives a secondary, so if you haven't received it yet, you should receive it soon!

 

[The Milkman]

any idea how long of a gap between receiving secondary to submission would be a negative? Got mine this week, but am having second thoughts about submitting it until I think about it more and look at the school more in depth. But then again, I think that if I am hesitant right now maybe that's a sign that I just shouldn't submit.

 

[andrewRA4]

Anyone else not able to log in?

 

[halfwaycrooks]

Anyone else not able to log in?

Just worked for me.

 

[shishy]

Received and submitted secondary! Looked to be the same as last year.

 

[beems901]

Anyone want to give feedback on my potential topic for secondary question #1, challenging problem?

I've participated in a volunteer program at a local low-performing school for the last two years, but haven't gotten to discuss it in my application beyond the short blurb in the Activities section (I didn't designate it as 'most meaningful'). Anyway, the student I was paired with was very difficult to work with - rowdy, didn't follow directions, was almost removed from the program a few times. I really wanted her to stay in the program and benefit from it, so I worked closely with the program director to follow up each week on her progress and devise our own ways to help her focus. At the end of two years, she has made remarkable progress and now looks forward to our sessions eagerly.

I suppose my hesitation comes from the fact that this isn't a personal challenge (i.e. death of a loved one, work/ school/ project failure, etc), but it is something I am proud of having worked hard at on someone else's behalf and there is definitely a positive outcome to focus on.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!! Thanks!

 

[Lamel]

Anyone want to give feedback on my potential topic for secondary question #1, challenging problem?

I've participated in a volunteer program at a local low-performing school for the last two years, but haven't gotten to discuss it in my application beyond the short blurb in the Activities section (I didn't designate it as 'most meaningful'). Anyway, the student I was paired with was very difficult to work with - rowdy, didn't follow directions, was almost removed from the program a few times. I really wanted her to stay in the program and benefit from it, so I worked closely with the program director to follow up each week on her progress and devise our own ways to help her focus. At the end of two years, she has made remarkable progress and now looks forward to our sessions eagerly.

I suppose my hesitation comes from the fact that this isn't a personal challenge (i.e. death of a loved one, work/ school/ project failure, etc), but it is something I am proud of having worked hard at on someone else's behalf and there is definitely a positive outcome to focus on.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!! Thanks!

Why would this not be a personal challenge? Sounds good to me.

 

[andrewRA4]

When it says course name/number did you guys do like Chemistry Lab/CHEMXXX or just CHEMXXX

 

[onceawolverine]

Very happy to have received an offer to interview here! Good luck to everyone applying!

 

[Anchwo]

Very happy to have received an offer to interview here! Good luck to everyone applying!

Already? When'd you submit

I just got/submitted the secondary today

 

[onceawolverine]

Already? When'd you submit

I just got/submitted the secondary today

AMCAS Primary was verified on June 10th, Secondary received on July 4th, Submitted on same day.

 

[Anchwo]

AMCAS Primary was verified on June 10th, Secondary received on July 4th, Submitted on same day.

Congrats then. Three days what a turnaround

 

[Abstractions]

AMCAS Primary was verified on June 10th, Secondary received on July 4th, Submitted on same day.

Congrats! If you don't mind sharing, what was the earliest date you could select for an interview?

 

[onceawolverine]

Congrats! If you don't mind sharing, what was the earliest date you could select for an interview?

Certainly! I believe the earliest date was the 25th of August. They allowed me to pick interview dates on M,Tu,W,F every week through December.

 

[Ismet]

Certainly! I believe the earliest date was the 25th of August. They allowed me to pick interview dates on M,Tu,W,F every week through December (although I bet they allow interviewing in Jan/Feb?).

Interviewing ends in December. Decisions are released at the end of January.

 

[halfwaycrooks]

Hi ismet, when would you say it's late to be marked complete at Pitt?

Interviewing ends in December. Decisions are released at the end of January.

 

[Ismet]

Hi ismet, when would you say it's late to be marked complete at Pitt?

I'd say to try to be complete by September. There's really no absolute cutoff for being late, more like a continuum, where obviously the later you are, the less interview spots are available. You can check out last year's application thread to get a sense of the timeline of complete date --> II --> interview date as the cycle progresses.

 

[andrewRA4]

Very happy to have received an offer to interview here! Good luck to everyone applying!

Quick question for you if you don't mind! When it says course name/number did you do like Chemistry Lab/CHEMXXX or just CHEMXXX

 

[Anchwo]

Quick question for you if you don't mind! When it says course name/number did you do like Chemistry Lab/CHEMXXX or just CHEMXXX

I did the first. I called them and they said they don't really care, they'll still look at the transcript. That's just so you can organize your pre-reqs.

 

[taina]

x

 

[andrewRA4]

I did the first. I called them and they said they don't really care, they'll still look at the transcript. That's just so you can organize your pre-reqs.

Thank you!

 

[onceawolverine]

Quick question for you if you don't mind! When it says course name/number did you do like Chemistry Lab/CHEMXXX or just CHEMXXX

I just put down CHEM 125, for example. Like Anchwo said, they don't seem to mind so much. It's just to help them check off your pre-reqs.

 

[tenniseagle92]

Anybody else have their status page say the admissions data form is not complete? They have my letters and secondary, but it doesn't say my application is complete and that big glowing red message is a little nerve-wracking.

 

[Bovary]

Anybody else have their status page say the admissions data form is not complete? They have my letters and secondary, but it doesn't say my application is complete and that big glowing red message is a little nerve-wracking.

The admission data form, if you click on that heading on the site, is said to be only relevant when you're already accepted. So it shouldn't matter that it's incomplete right now.

 

[andrewRA4]

"If an invitation to interview is extended, we make every effort to match applicants with faculty members of similar interests. Even though an exact match is not always possible, we would like to know your areas of interest."

I currently have derm listed as top since I am currently working in this field and will have most to talk about this... is this bad? Heard adcoms don't like people who show interests in ROAD specialties. 😳 @Ismet

 

[Ismet]

Heard adcoms don't like people who show interests in ROAD specialties. 😳 @Ismet

I've never heard of that notion honestly. In a general sense, it's perfectly fine to have an area you're interested in, especially for you with more exposure to the field than most applicants, but you also want to remain open-minded to other fields. Adcoms know that most people change their minds throughout med school, so that's why they roll their eyes when someone is gung-ho neurosurg before ever setting foot in med school. It's not a good idea to go in "derm or bust," but it's not taboo to say you have an interest in derm or any other ROAD specialty.

 

[andrewRA4]

I've never heard of that notion honestly. In a general sense, it's perfectly fine to have an area you're interested in, especially for you with more exposure to the field than most applicants, but you also want to remain open-minded to other fields. Adcoms know that most people change their minds throughout med school, so that's why they roll their eyes when someone is gung-ho neurosurg before ever setting foot in med school. It's not a good idea to go in "derm or bust," but it's not taboo to say you have an interest in derm or any other ROAD specialty.

Thanks! I listed derm, endo because I've had a lot of research in this area, and clinical research (also because of a little experience in this field). Hope that'll be alright. Just didn't want it to seem too odd for having Derm as top when I haven't done research or anything and only worked in the field. 🙂 Thank you!

 

[Ismet]

Thanks! I listed derm, endo because I've had a lot of research in this area, and clinical research (also because of a little experience in this field). Hope that'll be alright. Just didn't want it to seem too odd for having Derm as top when I haven't done research or anything and only worked in the field. 🙂 Thank you!

No worries 🙂 They're not always able to make a match because it's based on the interviewers available that day, but with all of the research going on here, there's a good chance you may end up with an interviewer who does research.

 

[andrewRA4]

No worries 🙂 They're not always able to make a match because it's based on the interviewers available that day, but with all of the research going on here, there's a good chance you may end up with an interviewer who does research.

If I get one! Hahaha