2017-2018 University of Pittsburgh

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
gyngyn

gyngyn

Alta California
Staff member
Administrator
Volunteer Staff
Lifetime Donor
Verified Member
10+ Year Member
Physician
Faculty
Verified Expert
Admissions
Gold Donor
Joined
Nov 4, 2011
Messages
28,820
Reaction score
55,098
Last edited by a moderator:
ohnotornadooo said:
Hey all! I'm a rising M2 at Pitt - happy to answer any questions about Pitt Med, Pittsburgh, or the application process.
Click to expand...

A few questions:

1. Why did you choose Pitt?
2. How has your experience at Pitt been thus far?
3. What factors do you feel helped you get accepted?
 
pmlmu13 said:
A few questions:

1. Why did you choose Pitt?
2. How has your experience at Pitt been thus far?
3. What factors do you feel helped you get accepted?
Click to expand...

1. So many things factored in to this decision, but to boil it down to the most important: Research opportunities in my field of interest, enormous hospital system with well known/strongly ranked programs, affordability of the city and its proximity to my S.O. And then there were the intangibles of just being able to see myself there for a few years and getting along with the folks I met at second look.
2. It's been pretty darn great! I was really pleasantly surprised by how supportive and collaborative my class turned out to be, everyone just wants everyone else to do well. You also start interacting with patients in January, after spending the fall practicing interview and basic physical exam skills. It's a great break from the basic science book learning, and helps put the pre-clinical stuff in context.
3. I had my best interview at Pitt, and I have a feeling that the faculty interview is weighted pretty heavily in admission and scholarship decisions. Then again, I doubt every accepted student would say the same - my class is wonderfully diverse, and they seem to pick out different special things about each applicant. One thing to definitely keep in mind if you get an II is to emphasize your ties to/interest in the area during your interview. They want to know you'd actually consider going here if accepted, so find ways to tell them why you'd want to be in Pittsburgh as well as at Pitt.
 
Last edited:
Secondary received.

Prompts same as last year.

@Lucca @gyngyn

Prompts:

1. Tell us about a challenging problem you faced and how you resolved it. (250 words or less.)
2. UPSOM is a culturally diverse and talented community. How would you enrich/enliven the UPSOM community? The essay should discuss material that is not included in the rest of your application. (250 words or less.)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I was verified two weeks ago and added Pitt last week, got the secondary this morning. Prompts are just as Shreman said above.
 
Shreman said:
Secondary received.
2. UPSOM is a culturally diverse and talented community. How would you enrich/enliven the UPSOM community? The essay should discuss material that is not included in the rest of your application. (250 words or less.)
Click to expand...

So ... if I want to talk about how I add to the school, can I expand upon something in my application? I included a LOT about myself and my activities and I can't imagine talking about who I am without including something that was a part of an activity listed in my application.
 
DBC03 said:
So ... if I want to talk about how I add to the school, can I expand upon something in my application? I included a LOT about myself and my activities and I can't imagine talking about who I am without including something that was a part of an activity listed in my application.
Click to expand...
I interpreted that to mean it shouldn't only be a repetition of material in your apps. I mentioned things in my activities because they were pretty comprehensive.. but kept it focused on new interpretations and personal attributes, etc.
 
twentyeightmiles said:
I interpreted that to mean it shouldn't only be a repetition of material in your apps. I mentioned things in my activities because they were pretty comprehensive.. but kept it focused on new interpretations and personal attributes, etc.
Click to expand...

That was what I was thinking - but it was written in such a way that makes me wonder if expanding on something is off-limits. This is something that wasn't even mentioned specifically, but could be inferred from one of my activities.
 
volunteer opportunities at this school??
 
Is there any benefit to submitting early since this school doesn't do rolling?
 
anyone know if when filling out the course requirements sections we should just put the bare minimum to meet each requirement or all of the courses we've taken in the subject?

edit: called the office, you only need to fill out the minimum to meet each requirement
 
Last edited:
creedthoughts.gov said:
anyone know if when filling out the course requirements sections we should just put the bare minimum to meet each requirement or all of the courses we've taken in the subject?

edit: called the office, you only need to fill out the minimum to meet each requirement
Click to expand...
Idk the answer but your username made my day
 
wizarddoc2213 said:
volunteer opportunities at this school??
Click to expand...
Pitt definitely pitches itself as a research-focused school, but the student body is pretty service oriented. There are a ton of student groups that organize volunteer activities (playing music for patients on dialysis, playing with kids on the oncology floor at CHP, rural medicine trips, soup kitchens, patient safety escort at Planned Parenthood etc.). The Birmingham Free Clinic on the South Side is an independent entity, but serves as the de facto student clinic. The capacity is limited but folks are working to increase volunteer slots. There's also some specialty interest groups that run monthly clinics in under-served communities around Pittsburgh.
 
Had my first fake-out email experience today. I was super excited to see that I got an email from Pitt (I have a separate email account for applications), but it turned out to just be a brochure about the PTSP program :arghh:
 
enchantediris said:
Had my first fake-out email experience today. I was super excited to see that I got an email from Pitt (I have a separate email account for applications), but it turned out to just be a brochure about the PTSP program :arghh:
Click to expand...

I really want to apply to that program so I'm kind of jealous


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
Horse Apiece said:
No, but on the portal it should show your status as everything completed, under the application status page.
Click to expand...
i actually did receive confirmation from Pitt about my application being received. i also submitted mstp though and there ended up being options to click submit twice so im not sure if that explains why you didn't receive an email confirmation.
i also received a confirmation of payment, separate from the mstp email.
 
Are we allowed to send in update e-mails after submitting our secondary? I know they allow letters of intent/update letters after interviews, but I found a clinical job and would like to add it to my file.
 
For the second question, are you guys focusing on examples that benefit the community from a classroom standpoint or from an outside of school perspective (so like hobbies, interests, etc.)? I'm struggling to find the balance between playing it safe and attempting to stand out.
 
VoxPopuli93 said:
For the second question, are you guys focusing on examples that benefit the community from a classroom standpoint or from an outside of school perspective (so like hobbies, interests, etc.)? I'm struggling to find the balance between playing it safe and attempting to stand out.
Click to expand...

The advice I keep hearing is to write about something that make you "cool" (since they don't indicate anywhere they want you to relate it to the classroom or medicine). They want to know what makes you stand out. Choose something unique - don't play it safe on this one. Feel free to post what you're thinking in case you are concerned.
 
DBC03 said:
The advice I keep hearing is to write about something that make you "cool" (since they don't indicate anywhere they want you to relate it to the classroom or medicine). They want to know what makes you stand out. Choose something unique - don't play it safe on this one. Feel free to post what you're thinking in case you are concerned.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response! Your advice was very helpful!
 
Live to Eat said:
Yes, I'm a PA resident. And I agree...I haven't heart of anyone else getting an interview. I was shocked when I did.
Click to expand...
I think people are skeptical because some other school threads have had trouble with people trolling pretending they got secondaries (and all the questions changed) when the school stated they hadn't been sent yet, etc. But hey, someone has to be the first -- congrats!
 
twentyeightmiles said:
I think people are skeptical because some other school threads have had trouble with people trolling pretending they got secondaries (and all the questions changed) when the school stated they hadn't been sent yet, etc. But hey, someone has to be the first -- congrats!
Click to expand...
Haha I understand - I've seen some of those false posts myself. I've always checked sdn but I thought it was time I create an account. I would be more than happy to show proof of my II email if anyone wants to directly message me. And thank you!
 
Live to Eat said:
Haha I understand - I've seen some of those false posts myself. I've always checked sdn but I thought it was time I create an account. I would be more than happy to show proof of my II email if anyone wants to directly message me. And thank you!
Click to expand...
Ah yes, the transition from lurker to commenter 😀 Now you've got my hopes up for some PA-resident love myself sometime...
 
Live to Eat said:
Yes, I'm a PA resident. And I agree...I haven't heart of anyone else getting an interview. I was shocked when I did.
Click to expand...
congratulations!
also just wondering, are you an MD applicant or MSTP? 🙂
 
Matriculating here next month, if anyone has any questions about the app process or the school in general, PM me or ask me here!
 
I submitted my secondary on July 9th, but I still haven't received a "complete" email. In my portal under status, it says I submitted the secondary, paid the fee, and completed my LORs, but there is no indication that my application is totally complete. Is there something I'm missing or is this normal?
 
fingerscrossed14 said:
I submitted my secondary on July 9th, but I still haven't received a "complete" email. In my portal under status, it says I submitted the secondary, paid the fee, and completed my LORs, but there is no indication that my application is totally complete. Is there something I'm missing or is this normal?
Click to expand...

It's normal. I submitted mine a couple hours after I got it on July 5th and never got a complete email. I think as long as you submitted, paid the fee, and they have your letters you're good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

wysdoc
2024-2025 Pittsburgh
25 26 27 28 29
Replies
1K
Views
297K
pinklover01
P
wysdoc
2024-2025 University of Washington
10 11 12 13 14
Replies
681
Views
140K
stew_md
S
wysdoc
2024-2025 University of Chicago (Pritzker)
12 13 14 15 16
Replies
778
Views
198K
X0001234
X0001234
wysdoc
2024-2025 Medical University of South Carolina
3 4 5 6 7
Replies
301
Views
55K
RainyDaze
R
wysdoc
2024-2025 University of Central Florida (UCF)
3 4 5 6 7
Replies
318
Views
70K
LaurelePoole
L
Top