2016-2017 Pennsylvania State University Application Thread

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If I just received my horribly disappointing MCAT score (already submitted this cycle), am I able to let the school know that I will be re-taking and to expect to see a revised score by xxx date?
 
willowyone said:
If I just received my horribly disappointing MCAT score (already submitted this cycle), am I able to let the school know that I will be re-taking and to expect to see a revised score by xxx date?
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I believe that as soon as you sign up for the new MCAT, it shows up on your application and your status will change to hold/processing again. However, shooting an email could not hurt.

HOWEVER...do not take the MCAT unless you know you can improve significantly (5+ points). Rushing to take it again could not only result in another poor score, but also, in you looking as though you have poor decision making skills (e.g. 'jumping the gun', impatient, etc.). The AAMC came out with a PPT of data stating that the average improvement in 2015 for repeat test takers was 2 points (again, people jumping the gun; I believe in the 1/2 pt improvement per month mott0, myself). In the grand scheme of life, taking another year off will not hurt you, and you can end up saving a lot of money (applying late to MD is lethal unless you have sexy stats).

Best of luck. You will get there!
 
MeltingIceCube said:
I believe that as soon as you sign up for the new MCAT, it shows up on your application and your status will change to hold/processing again. However, shooting an email could not hurt.

HOWEVER...do not take the MCAT unless you know you can improve significantly (5+ points). Rushing to take it again could not only result in another poor score, but also, in you looking as though you have poor decision making skills (e.g. 'jumping the gun', impatient, etc.). In the grand scheme of life, taking another year off will not hurt you, and you can end up saving a lot of money (applying late to MD is lethal unless you have sexy stats).

Best of luck. You will get there!
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I have been feeling panicky and 'jump the gun'-esque over this whole thing, so this is really fantastic advice. And the encouragement is much appreciated!! Ty!!!
 
Garferies said:
If you are planning on taking the MCAT after you submit your Secondary Application, do you want to hold processing of your admission application until receipt of these scores (see instructions)?
1) NO, begin processing my application immediately
2) I do not plan to take the MCAT after I submit my Secondary Application


Doesn't this mean the same thing? What the hell do you choose? 1 sounds more definite and faster, but why are people here choosing 2?
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I think number 1 is implying that you are retaking the MCAT but you don't want them to wait for it but number 2 is saying you definitely aren't taking the MCAT again. That's how i interpreted it
 
Garferies said:
If you are planning on taking the MCAT after you submit your Secondary Application, do you want to hold processing of your admission application until receipt of these scores (see instructions)?
1) NO, begin processing my application immediately
2) I do not plan to take the MCAT after I submit my Secondary Application


Doesn't this mean the same thing? What the hell do you choose? 1 sounds more definite and faster, but why are people here choosing 2?
Click to expand...

1) means you have already taken the MCAT but are planning on taking another one after submitting your secondary, and you don't want them to wait on it to review your app (aka you don't care if they only use your first score in deciding whether or not to send you an II)
2) means you aren't taking another MCAT
 
Everyone applying here has done some sort of Behavioral science class in undergrad?? Do you know how strict they are in enforcing this requirement ?
 
Chelsea FC said:
Everyone applying here has done some sort of Behavioral science class in undergrad?? Do you know how strict they are in enforcing this requirement ?
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I'm fairly certain that all requirements are 'set in stone', otherwise they would just be suggestions.

The good news is that you still have an entire academic year to register for a behavioral science course. Best of luck!
 
MeltingIceCube said:
I'm fairly certain that all requirements are 'set in stone', otherwise they would just be suggestions.

The good news is that you still have an entire academic year to register for a behavioral science course. Best of luck!
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Thank you for your response I will call to ask Monday. But do you think any of these classes may fill that requirement.
Urban Planning
A class about the Age of the renaissance
Or a class about war in the Asia Pacific
Or a film class
 
CitizenoftheWorld2016 said:
There's a bus I hear- I'm interviewing on September 30th, I'm driving out from NJ on the 29th and leaving at 2:00 PM after the morning interviews finish, I wouldn't be opposed to having company in the car, you can message me if you're interviewing the same day/ interested!
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Also interviewing 9/30 in the morning! 🙂
 
Chelsea FC said:
Thank you for your response I will call to ask Monday. But do you think any of these classes may fill that requirement.
Urban Planning
A class about the Age of the renaissance
Or a class about war in the Asia Pacific
Or a film class
Click to expand...
No problem!

You never know...maybe (but I doubt it)? I'm thinking it would be more along the lines of: social psychology, animal psychology, intro to sociology/psychology, cognitive science, etc. (i.e. anything having to do with human behavior + science). But give it a try, you have nothing to lose.

PS - I like the quote in your signature!
 
MeltingIceCube said:
No problem!

You never know...maybe (but I doubt it)? I'm thinking it would be more along the lines of: social psychology, animal psychology, intro to sociology/psychology, cognitive science, etc. (i.e. anything having to do with human behavior + science). But give it a try, you have nothing to lose.

PS - I like the quote in your signature!
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Thanks, I will give them a call and see what they say. This Is the only school I see that requires it from my list and one more just recommends it. So I will have to do the cost benefits of spending money on classes over the summer for one school even though its a school that I like alot
 
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trainracepace said:
they have an awesome deal with marriott springhill suites - its only $69 bucks if you bring your interview invitation letter!
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Great deal! I only live 2 hours away but I don't want to risk anything during travel. Thank you
 
Congrats! When were you complete? 🙂
 
Is penn state receptive to post interview letters of intent?
 
How strict is the letter requirement?

I am a couple of years out of undergrad and I dont have a non science faculty letter, my third letter was usually my employer letter

I do have 4 letters total tho
 
Has anyone booked a room at the Springhill Suites at the discounted rate? I'm trying to do so and it's not working for me.
 
NaturalKilla17 said:
Has anyone booked a room at the Springhill Suites at the discounted rate? I'm trying to do so and it's not working for me.
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Yup, booked late last week. Did you call in and ask specifically for the med school interviewee discount? It might take a minute for them to find the right discount on their end, but it definitely works.
 
sleepyhead22 said:
FIRST II!!!!!! Soooooo pumped!!! OOS but have family in PA and live in an adjacent state, Lizzy M ~66 but extensive research experience. SO thrilled!!! Available dates were end of October. Complete around end of July/early August.
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Omg so excited for you!!! Congrats!!!


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I've been scanning the website and I was just wondering about the regional campus positions. Is it just a few spots or are they accepting many and more students overall? Also, can you do clinical rotations at the children's hospital?

Thanks in advance 🙂


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Missneuro412 said:
I've been scanning the website and I was just wondering about the regional campus positions. Is it just a few spots or are they accepting many and more students overall? Also, can you do clinical rotations at the children's hospital?

Thanks in advance 🙂


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...


I'm not entirely sure how many students they're accepting for the regional campus, but it is something that you apply for after you've already been accepted into the MD program. The way I understand it, I don't think it will significantly affect the number of accepted students. At the interview, what they stressed was that new for the 2017 entering class is that you can do all four years at University Park rather than just the last two.

As for clinicals, after your required rotations which are more or less assigned, you are able to select any hospital/department in the PSU system that matches with your professional goals so I'm gonna go with yes, you will be able do clinical rotations at the children's hospital at some point.
 
How many faculty members can we expect to be interviewing with?
 
Can anybody offer some insight as to the post interview acceptance rate for this school? I know they don't report to USNews, but does anybody have a rough idea?
 
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