2015-2016 Pennsylvania State University Application Thread

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Eddy342 said:
You just scared me @catmario . I submitted earlier today and had to go back and check that prompt. It's a 250 word maximum, not 75!
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Oh I was just referencing the other two questions that had 75 word limits. Good luck with your application!
 
OOS Secondary just now

Edit: Wow this one has a lot of different questions... ACT score.. Area of interest in medicine
 
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Yeah what's with the SAT and ACT score? Why would they want that? I don't even remember my SAT section scores...
 
JasonGom said:
Yeah what's with the SAT and ACT score? Why would they want that? I don't even remember my SAT section scores...
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They say you can just approximate them. Apparently they're just used for statistical purposes. I've seen it on several secondaries.
 
Just got the secondary!

Eddy342 said:
They say you can just approximate them. Apparently they're just used for statistical purposes. I've seen it on several secondaries.
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I don't think I'm even going to put my SAT scores. I don't remember them and don't really feel like digging through College Board to find them, haha.
 
I'm gonna talk about volunteering in Florida w/ Habitat for Humanity and working with people to build the foundation of a house.
 
I have a question about the LOR question. My school has a pre-health office and letter service that we get our letter writers to submit letters to and then we use that service. It isn't however, a committee letter. The question states:

My college or university has a Pre-health Committee or Pre-Health Office that submits recommendation letter(s) and I am using their service.

Would my letter service from the office be an example of this?
 
Fidgety said:
I have a question about the LOR question. My school has a pre-health office and letter service that we get our letter writers to submit letters to and then we use that service. It isn't however, a committee letter. The question states:

My college or university has a Pre-health Committee or Pre-Health Office that submits recommendation letter(s) and I am using their service.

Would my letter service from the office be an example of this?
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If your office does not write letters of recommendation for pre-med students (as mine also doesn't), then I would not check that box (I didn't).
 
My office has a pre-health committee, but are largely unorganized and I didn't trust them to get things inline.. I just asked my professors individually.... I don't like how it's making me answer why I didn't use them.
 
Anyone else with a completed secondary, but has it saying "no letters of rec submitted"? I'm guessing they're still processing or something, but all of my other schools have received my letters before I even submitted the secondary.
 
Just got the secondary! hoping for some love from my alma mater !
 
For the "unique aspect of your application" question, do you think they're looking for a "Look, I did this, and it's very impressive because..." or a "This is a less impressive part of my application but this is why it's like that..." kinda deal?
 
MUSD2016 said:
For the "unique aspect of your application" question, do you think they're looking for a "Look, I did this, and it's very impressive because..." or a "This is a less impressive part of my application but this is why it's like that..." kinda deal?
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I assumed it was an area to highlight something in your application that you really wanted the admissions staff to focus on. I went with the, "look, I did this, and it's very impressive because..." but I highlighted experiences and obstacles in my life that I believed would make me a good medical student. It was difficult to do in 75 words!
 
WE ARE........PENN STATE! But seriously, what's with the 75 word essays?!?? You're killin me, Smalls. Would love to go here, would be an absolute dream to be a part of Penn State and live in Hershey. From Scranton area, so it's like coming home.
 
Sunna12 said:
We all asked this last year when applying and I'd like to help you all as I was helped back then: Penn State received a grant to implement a class here called "Patient Navigation." Students are assigned to a clinic in the area and tasked with helping patients understand the healthcare system, their discharge orders, appointments, medications, etc. It starts early in your first year (we get our assignments in the coming weeks). In asking this question, PSUCOM wants to make sure you will be able to effectively guide these patients through the healthcare system. (article below)

http://www.transforminghealth.org/s...lege-of-medicine-receives-1-million-grant.php
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So does this mean they want us to talk about a time we had to navigate some sort of bureaucracy like an insurance company? I had initially read it as asking about problem solving skills.
 
I just submitted this secondary, it was definitely the most difficult one I've had to write so far! For some reason I had a hard time writing the last essay about navigating a complex system. I wrote about having to apply for a research grant despite never having done research before, but I had a hard time writing about the qualities that helped me navigate the process or whatever.

Also, this experimental program they have at the University Park campus sounds really cool. I would definitely want to participate in that. I wonder if it will be super competitive.
 
I think that program sounded cool too! However, I didn't write the essay about it because I wanted more details before committing and didn't feel comfortable applying when I wasn't 100% sure I wanted to do this. I'm curious to know if that was the only chance we're going to have to apply, or if it's something we could apply for once we've begun med school. Not sure if others share my opinion, but if they do @Lannister it may be less competitive than you think!
 
hopeful 1st doc said:
I think that program sounded cool too! However, I didn't write the essay about it because I wanted more details before committing and didn't feel comfortable applying when I wasn't 100% sure I wanted to do this. I'm curious to know if that was the only chance we're going to have to apply, or if it's something we could apply for once we've begun med school. Not sure if others share my opinion, but if they do @Lannister it may be less competitive than you think!
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Oh it said that writing the essay was neither a commitment nor a guarantee to participate in the program. Also I feel like you can't apply once you've started med school since you participate in it the year before you start medical school, from what I understood. But maybe there will be an opportunity to indicate interest at the interview or something!
 
Lannister said:
Oh it said that writing the essay was neither a commitment nor a guarantee to participate in the program. Also I feel like you can't apply once you've started med school since you participate in it the year before you start medical school, from what I understood. But maybe there will be an opportunity to indicate interest at the interview or something!
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Ah ok makes sense! I guess I was just hesitant jumping into medical school AND this other commitment and also maybe a little burnt out from all these secondaries I didn't want to write any more essays 😛
 
Based on the website, it seems to me that Penn State's main focuses are primary care and research. Does anyone (or current med student) know more about the research/volunteer opportunities that Penn State offers? I want to answer the "Why Penn State?" question truthfully instead of just fluffing it.
 
coldcase331 said:
Based on the website, it seems to me that Penn State's main focuses are primary care and research. Does anyone (or current med student) know more about the research/volunteer opportunities that Penn State offers? I want to answer the "Why Penn State?" question truthfully instead of just fluffing it.
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As a Penn State undergrad, a lot of the research opportunities at Hershey are translational and clinical. The research set-up is a little weird because a lot of basic science is done at the main undergrad campus at UPark, 2 hours away, but some professors have labs at both campuses. Penn State is also known for Pediatric Cancer research through THON and the Four Diamonds fund, but I have been told that is not as a huge deal at Hershey as it is at UPark. They are definitley primary care focused and I think poking around the website will yield a rural free clinic they run.
 
NorthOfBroad said:
As a Penn State undergrad, a lot of the research opportunities at Hershey are translational and clinical. The research set-up is a little weird because a lot of basic science is done at the main undergrad campus at UPark, 2 hours away, but some professors have labs at both campuses. Penn State is also known for Pediatric Cancer research through THON and the Four Diamonds fund, but I have been told that is not as a huge deal at Hershey as it is at UPark. They are definitley primary care focused and I think poking around the website will yield a rural free clinic they run.
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A lot of my friends in the greek community have told me about the Pediatric Cancer research through THON. They said that it's one of the biggest fundraisers of the year and definitely an important aspect of Penn state culture. I would still think that makes it relevant to the med school right?
 
coldcase331 said:
A lot of my friends in the greek community have told me about the Pediatric Cancer research through THON. They said that it's one of the biggest fundraisers of the year and definitely an important aspect of Penn state culture. I would still think that makes it relevant to the med school right?
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THON at Penn State is huge. However, and maybe some medical students can chime in, I do not believe its as huge at the medical school. Talking about it will definitely be a plus, but the two campuses are very separate. They may be trying to change this by making more of a presence of the medical school at the Upark campus with this new "Partners in Design" but I have only seen a 2 or 3 medical students at Mount Nittany.
 
coldcase331 said:
Based on the website, it seems to me that Penn State's main focuses are primary care and research. Does anyone (or current med student) know more about the research/volunteer opportunities that Penn State offers? I want to answer the "Why Penn State?" question truthfully instead of just fluffing it.
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I'm still a shiny new one-week-old MS1 so I can't really give you very much to go on as far as the volunteer opportunities or how the research works, yet. The only point I would make is that at least one research project is absolutely required during your four years here. It can be very involved or minimally involved, but everyone has to do it. As a result there is a lot of support for building research projects and everyone is so nice here and willing to help you out.
 
idkididk said:
Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee?

Can we say No?
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I know this reply is late, but I have not had 8 hours a day to stare at SDN lately. (A loss I know). I am sure you can say no to that question. But imagine if you posed it to a girl/boy before asking them out on a date and they said no. Would you want to go out with them? I am sure you did not reply no, and I can tell you I asked the same thing last year when I was filling out the application. So much empathy here.
 
emraldragon said:
I know this reply is late, but I have not had 8 hours a day to stare at SDN lately. (A loss I know). I am sure you can say no to that question. But imagine if you posed it to a girl/boy before asking them out on a date and they said no. Would you want to go out with them? I am sure you did not reply no, and I can tell you I asked the same thing last year when I was filling out the application. So much empathy here.
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Yea I managed to fill it out before submitting haha. The 75 word limit is just so small that it was hard to find the right thing to say
 
idkididk said:
Yea I managed to fill it out before submitting haha. The 75 word limit is just so small that it was hard to find the right thing to say
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It is, but I am loving Penn State so far, so they apparently got over whatever word vomit I came up with last year. Good luck to you!
 
@emraldragon @Sunna12
Could you guys go into what you wrote for "Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 75 words)"

Are they really looking for us to pick an activity off of one our primaries? Wouldn't this be repetitive of our most meaningful activities?
 
MUSD2016 said:
For the "unique aspect of your application" question, do you think they're looking for a "Look, I did this, and it's very impressive because..." or a "This is a less impressive part of my application but this is why it's like that..." kinda deal?
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When I applied (two years ago), I asked myself "what makes me completely different than anyone else who's applying?" Funny, serious, whatever. You can bet some of the things came up during my interview.
 
is it me that the LOR shows "not submitted yet" status? even though I uploaded them on AMCAS like 7 years ago??? freaking out here
 
steelersfan1243 said:
@emraldragon @Sunna12
Could you guys go into what you wrote for "Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 75 words)"

Are they really looking for us to pick an activity off of one our primaries? Wouldn't this be repetitive of our most meaningful activities?
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I would have to go back to my documents to double check because I wrote a lot of secondaries and they were a while ago, but I believe I referenced what I thought made me unique as a person and different from others who might be applying. Like @Sunna12, I spent several years abroad and they affected me greatly. I also worked in the healthcare field in several different positions. 75 words is not a lot of room so be succinct and tell them why they should pick you and not the person next to you with the same MCAT/GPA.
 
whaling said:
is it me that the LOR shows "not submitted yet" status? even though I uploaded them on AMCAS like 7 years ago??? freaking out here
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It takes time. I know everyone emphasizes speed in this process or you have no hope, but you can bet if they're not uploaded and recorded for you, then others are dealing with the same thing. Relax. No amount of freaking out will improve your wait time or your mental health. (I do know its hard not to worry, and trying not to worry makes it even harder. Try distracting yourself with something fun and engaging).
 
emraldragon said:
It takes time. I know everyone emphasizes speed in this process or you have no hope, but you can bet if they're not uploaded and recorded for you, then others are dealing with the same thing. Relax. No amount of freaking out will improve your wait time or your mental health. (I do know its hard not to worry, and trying not to worry makes it even harder. Try distracting yourself with something fun and engaging).
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thanks, but I would really want to know if others are in the same situation, I'm kinda paranoid there might be a server problem on AMCAS end
 
whaling said:
thanks, but I would really want to know if others are in the same situation, I'm kinda paranoid there might be a server problem on AMCAS end
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Having the same issue...I'm assuming it's an issue on their end given that my letters have been into AMCAS for a while and every other school has had no problem getting them.
 
moc1025 said:
Having the same issue...I'm assuming it's an issue on their end given that my letters have been into AMCAS for a while and every other school has had no problem getting them.
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+1. I'm sure it'll just take a week or two.
 
for the "navigating a complex system" question, writing about applying to medical school would be a good topic. doesn't get more complex than that.
 
lemmonhead said:
for the "navigating a complex system" question, writing about applying to medical school would be a good topic. doesn't get more complex than that.
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True. I was tempted to try that myself. But it seemed a little meta . . .
 
For the 'navigating' question, I ended up writing about learning how to use EMR/medical billing, and the like. Do you guys think that's around what they're looking for, or am I way off mark?
 
FYI when I check the portal I have all green check marks ( including LORs). Submitted secondary 7/27. No complete email though.
jordan222 said:
+2. I assume they're just slow. Doesn't seem like there is reason to worry yet. Give them a week.
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