2019-2020 Drexel

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
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servingtheunderserved said:
1) About to be the whole year outside Philly when I requested to stay in Philly
2) Internet sucks at ALL of the sites (UWORLD pictures and audio not showing)
3) Prison sized dorms can have 2 students in each room
4) Drexel staff lie to you and act like they have your best interest at heart ("we will work with you" turns into "you have no choice, this is all we have"
5) Drexel is not telling the full truth about how much Hahnemann closure is impacting us students
6) When living at sites in 3rd year, most spots do not allow you to move in until the day you start rotations

WHY AM I PAYING 60K FOR THIS?????

This is all I got off the top of my head.
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Thanks, This was actually pretty informative.
 
can someone hype me up and tell me what they liked about the school before i interview there?
 
Are rotation sites during 3rd year lottery based? Is there a “selection process”? Do they take anything into account when assigning rotation sites, or is it pure chance that one might end up 40 min from philly?
 
Sic Parvis Magna said:
Are rotation sites during 3rd year lottery based? Is there a “selection process”? Do they take anything into account when assigning rotation sites, or is it pure chance that one might end up 40 min from philly?
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Yea but I did hear about someone having a rotation out in like Pitt because of the closing. So I think In that case I would take 40 min from philly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I interviewed here (as well as 2 other programs) so I don't think I have a bias in favor of Drexel. But does anyone else feel like the "negative" attributes that people are saying about Drexel are kinda irrelevant? I want your guys' input because I could also be missing something (so someone please correct me lol):

1.) With regards to research, who cares if Han closed? I don't know about you guys, but during undergrad, I had to do a ton of legwork to secure a research spot, had to go back and forth with many professors, etc., and I'm sure many of you had to do the same. I feel like it's a "grass is greener on the other side" type of situation. Regardless of if Han was closed or not, you would still have to put in effort to get research opportunities (even at other schools). Obviously, its suboptimal to not have major research facilities open from your own program (Especially when it comes to getting funding), but having three other med schools in the area (including a powerhouse like Penn), should really make up for that, right? And all of the students I probed during my interview said that they had 0 issues finding research at other schools (could be biased, but I think there is some merit to that).

2.) If residencies care about step 1, clerkship grades, research/other EC's, AOA, then I feel like Drexel pretty much provides all of those things, right? They have built-in/allotted independent studying during the weekly schedule, which means less time in the classroom (which I think means less BS busy work, more time to study for pertinent high-yield things for Step1, doing research, etc.).

The big class size, the potential for having rotations far away, and the lack of home programs (for now) are definitely some significant drawbacks to the program.

But overall, I still feel like Drexel is a solid enough program, and I think the negativity on this thread is a bit unwarranted (again, correct me if I'm wrong). If you have other programs you are considering, then obviously you have to weigh the pros and cons, but if this program is your only interview/acceptance, then I would definitely be stoked about it.

Hopefully some seasoned M1-4s/you fellow applicants can tell me if I'm wrong (please do, I don't got all the answers, Sway).
 
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StewartOConnor said:
Yea but I did hear about someone having a rotation out in like Pitt because of the closing. So I think In that case I would take 40 min from philly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
The Pittsburgh rotation site is an all-year rotation site so students who rotate there typically will move to Pittsburgh
 
Hi, was wondering how much time was spent outside and inside on the interview day. I'm a poor Californian who doesn't know what winter is and I have an interview planned in January. Not gonna lie, worried about weather! 🙂
 
thisismylastresort said:
Hi, was wondering how much time was spent outside and inside on the interview day. I'm a poor Californian who doesn't know what winter is and I have an interview planned in January. Not gonna lie, worried about weather! 🙂
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The only time I spent outside was when I walked 300 feet from my Uber to the building
 
thisismylastresort said:
Hi, was wondering how much time was spent outside and inside on the interview day. I'm a poor Californian who doesn't know what winter is and I have an interview planned in January. Not gonna lie, worried about weather! 🙂
Click to expand...

Hello fellow Californian. The entire interview was conducted indoors. You do have to get dropped off and walk up a little walkway to get to the entrance, so depending on the weather I would bring a coat and umbrella just in case! Maybe check the projected weather right before you go. My friend interviewed last cycle in January and he said while there was no active snow, there was some snow on the ground.
 
Sic Parvis Magna said:
I interviewed here (as well as 2 other programs) so I don't think I have a bias in favor of Drexel. But does anyone else feel like the "negative" attributes that people are saying about Drexel are kinda irrelevant? I want your guys' input because I could also be missing something (so someone please correct me lol):

1.) With regards to research, who cares if Han closed? I don't know about you guys, but during undergrad, I had to do a ton of legwork to secure a research spot, had to go back and forth with many professors, etc., and I'm sure many of you had to do the same. I feel like it's a "grass is greener on the other side" type of situation. Regardless of if Han was closed or not, you would still have to put in effort to get research opportunities (even at other schools). Obviously, its suboptimal to not have major research facilities open from your own program (Especially when it comes to getting funding), but having three other med schools in the area (including a powerhouse like Penn), should really make up for that, right? And all of the students I probed during my interview said that they had 0 issues finding research at other schools (could be biased, but I think there is some merit to that).

2.) If residencies care about step 1, clerkship grades, research/other EC's, AOA, then I feel like Drexel pretty much provides all of those things, right? They have built-in/allotted independent studying during the weekly schedule, which means less time in the classroom (which I think means less BS busy work, more time to study for pertinent high-yield things for Step1, doing research, etc.).

The big class size, the potential for having rotations far away, and the lack of home programs (for now) are definitely some significant drawbacks to the program.

But overall, I still feel like Drexel is a solid enough program, and I think the negativity on this thread is a bit unwarranted (again, correct me if I'm wrong). If you have other programs you are considering, then obviously you have to weigh the pros and cons, but if this program is your only interview/acceptance, then I would definitely be stoked about it.

Hopefully some seasoned M1-4s/you fellow applicants can tell me if I'm wrong (please do, I don't got all the answers, Sway).
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I’ve just been completely shutting out all SDN comments about it and dutifully drafting my LOI. Going really well because the number of reasons I’d go here far outnumber the number of reasons I wouldn’t.
 
hopefulstudent321 said:
Hello fellow Californian. The entire interview was conducted indoors. You do have to get dropped off and walk up a little walkway to get to the entrance, so depending on the weather I would bring a coat and umbrella just in case! Maybe check the projected weather right before you go. My friend interviewed last cycle in January and he said while there was no active snow, there was some snow on the ground.
Click to expand...

This whole exchange is adorable, love to see it
 
KaioKaizen said:
I’ve just been completely shutting out all SDN comments about it and dutifully drafting my LOI. Going really well because the number of reasons I’d go here far outnumber the number of reasons I wouldn’t.
Click to expand...

It's honestly such a nice school 🙂
 
Sic Parvis Magna said:
Are rotation sites during 3rd year lottery based? Is there a “selection process”? Do they take anything into account when assigning rotation sites, or is it pure chance that one might end up 40 min from philly?
Click to expand...

Yes, they’re a lottery.
They take legit nothing into account. (Okay, that’s a lie. If you have a child, they take that into account. Or, if you have paperwork filed with the disability office stating you need to stay in the area)
 
Sic Parvis Magna said:
I interviewed here (as well as 2 other programs) so I don't think I have a bias in favor of Drexel. But does anyone else feel like the "negative" attributes that people are saying about Drexel are kinda irrelevant? I want your guys' input because I could also be missing something (so someone please correct me lol):

1.) With regards to research, who cares if Han closed? I don't know about you guys, but during undergrad, I had to do a ton of legwork to secure a research spot, had to go back and forth with many professors, etc., and I'm sure many of you had to do the same. I feel like it's a "grass is greener on the other side" type of situation. Regardless of if Han was closed or not, you would still have to put in effort to get research opportunities (even at other schools). Obviously, its suboptimal to not have major research facilities open from your own program (Especially when it comes to getting funding), but having three other med schools in the area (including a powerhouse like Penn), should really make up for that, right? And all of the students I probed during my interview said that they had 0 issues finding research at other schools (could be biased, but I think there is some merit to that).

2.) If residencies care about step 1, clerkship grades, research/other EC's, AOA, then I feel like Drexel pretty much provides all of those things, right? They have built-in/allotted independent studying during the weekly schedule, which means less time in the classroom (which I think means less BS busy work, more time to study for pertinent high-yield things for Step1, doing research, etc.).

The big class size, the potential for having rotations far away, and the lack of home programs (for now) are definitely some significant drawbacks to the program.

But overall, I still feel like Drexel is a solid enough program, and I think the negativity on this thread is a bit unwarranted (again, correct me if I'm wrong). If you have other programs you are considering, then obviously you have to weigh the pros and cons, but if this program is your only interview/acceptance, then I would definitely be stoked about it.

Hopefully some seasoned M1-4s/you fellow applicants can tell me if I'm wrong (please do, I don't got all the answers, Sway).
Click to expand...

I'm only an M1 but I agree with these points. A lot of my classmates are already doing research they setup at places throughout Philly, and for the time-being there are projects available for the summer at a few of our clinical affiliates (Abington, Tower, etc). Also have a friend who is signed up for a summer project doing basic science research at DUCOM-proper, if that's your thing.

For your second point I am still early on in the curriculum but thus far I have been very pleased. No school is going to completely leave you alone, but I do feel like we have limited in-person sessions and have lots of time to just study on our own. I have had time to work through one of the the step-1 anki decks for relevant material alongside the school lectures. I also am a fan of the flipped classroom because I can schedule the whole week how I want vs. having to wait for an in-person lecture to actually occur and wait for it to be uploaded.

And yeah, traveling for sites isn't ideal so if that is a dealbreaker then don't apply to Drexel. It was like that for like 2/3 the class before they lost HUH anyway. And Drexel isn't the only school shipping students all over. We share like half of our affiliates with Jeff and Temple so they are having to travel as well.

There are some salty people on this thread who, even after saying they are not going to attend Drexel since they have other A's, still stick around to be negative about it.
 
ctvlf6 said:
I'm only an M1 but I agree with these points. A lot of my classmates are already doing research they setup at places throughout Philly, and for the time-being there are projects available for the summer at a few of our clinical affiliates (Abington, Tower, etc). Also have a friend who is signed up for a summer project doing basic science research at DUCOM-proper, if that's your thing.

For your second point I am still early on in the curriculum but thus far I have been very pleased. No school is going to completely leave you alone, but I do feel like we have limited in-person sessions and have lots of time to just study on our own. I have had time to work through one of the the step-1 anki decks for relevant material alongside the school lectures. I also am a fan of the flipped classroom because I can schedule the whole week how I want vs. having to wait for an in-person lecture to actually occur and wait for it to be uploaded.

And yeah, traveling for sites isn't ideal so if that is a dealbreaker then don't apply to Drexel. It was like that for like 2/3 the class before they lost HUH anyway. And Drexel isn't the only school shipping students all over. We share like half of our affiliates with Jeff and Temple so they are having to travel as well.

There are some salty people on this thread who, even after saying they are not going to attend Drexel since they have other A's, still stick around to be negative about it.
Click to expand...
Do you know if the New College Building still has its Biochemistry labs open? Or did those close along with Hahnemann? I worked in the labs there during undergrad and it was pretty easy to secure a spot with one of the PI's.
 
KaioKaizen said:
Do you know if the New College Building still has its Biochemistry labs open? Or did those close along with Hahnemann? I worked in the labs there during undergrad and it was pretty easy to secure a spot with one of the PI's.
Click to expand...
Tbh I’m not sure lol
 
How common is it to get deferred before accepted? Interviewed 12/2 and anticipating the 12/23 date is too soon to hope for a decision?
 
GeorgiaNewMexicoCal said:
How common is it to get deferred before accepted? Interviewed 12/2 and anticipating the 12/23 date is too soon to hope for a decision?
Click to expand...

I interviewed on 10/23 and they said it usually takes about two months, but I did see some people on this thread who got accepted within a month, and others who are past the 2 month mark. You never know :drowning: I'd say you'll probably hear back in January. Not sure about the whole deferred process.
 
GeorgiaNewMexicoCal said:
How common is it to get deferred before accepted? Interviewed 12/2 and anticipating the 12/23 date is too soon to hope for a decision?
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Not sure, but they actually told my interview group in early October that there was a big probability we would be deferred because they still want to be able to look at everyone else who submitted their application later.
 
Received the Pre-II hold today. Thought it was going to be an II with all the love earlier, but guess not.

Edit: Complete 7/22
 
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for those accepted, on the "Your Decision" option under the "Admissions Decisions" tab, if you click yes is it just saying you want the school to hold your seat (not binding in any way) or is it saying that you are committing to the school for the fall
 
cactusjacques said:
for those accepted, on the "Your Decision" option under the "Admissions Decisions" tab, if you click yes is it just saying you want the school to hold your seat (not binding in any way) or is it saying that you are committing to the school for the fall
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Committing to enroll is done through AMCAS, that "yes" is most likely for holding your seat
 
People who interviewed middle of November will not hear back (most likely) this round of acceptances.
 
AdductorMagnus said:
II today, but will probably decline. I have already been accepted to Jefferson, which as far as I can tell is a school I'd rather go to and may be a better school. Can anyone think of any reason to attend this interview? Tuition is similar, COA is the same, etc.
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One thing I would say is to be careful of saying things about some schools being better than others when people are going through a stressful time. Congrats on your acceptance, just when some people are looking to get into their first A no matter what the ranking, a comment that this good schools is not “better” can make people feel bad.

Just my 2 cents since I have seen many threads about this. I’m in a fortunate situation as well, and if you are going to withdraw to give others a chance, that is amazing, just something to keep in mind when people come to SDN really stressed


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StewartOConnor said:
One thing I would say is to be careful of saying things about some schools being better than others when people are going through a stressful time. Congrats on your acceptance, just when some people are looking to get into their first A no matter what the ranking, a comment that this good schools is not “better” can make people feel bad.

Just my 2 cents since I have seen many threads about this. I’m in a fortunate situation as well, and if you are going to withdraw to give others a chance, that is amazing, just something to keep in mind when people come to SDN really stressed


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I appreciate that, I apologize if my message came off that way, it surely wasn't my intention!
 
AdductorMagnus said:
I appreciate that, I apologize if my message came off that way, it surely wasn't my intention!
Click to expand...
Your question is really valid and something I've been considering as well! I decided to interview at Drexel despite not being sure if I would go over my current acceptance due to the possibility of merit scholarships at Drexel if accepted since my other school doesn't provide a lot of merit scholarships
 
interviewed here today and i think this school is criminally underrated. i have interviewed at schools at an arguably much higher "rank" and this was still very impressive. My interviewer was very kind and my tour guide seemed to really like the school. It seems opportunities for research are also being set up and my tour guide received guidance from drexel career center to find a different research mentor after he was unable to continue with his old one (in the same field). This definitely shot up big time in my personal rankings
 
Makeeveryoneproud31 said:
interviewed here today and i think this school is criminally underrated. i have interviewed at schools at an arguably much higher "rank" and this was still very impressive. My interviewer was very kind and my tour guide seemed to really like the school. It seems opportunities for research are also being set up and my tour guide received guidance from drexel career center to find a different research mentor after he was unable to continue with his old one (in the same field). This definitely shot up big time in my personal rankings
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I completely agree. I interviewed back in October and even though I had a few other interviews at places I really liked/had higher rankings, Drexel really had something special. It sucks that Hahnemann closed, but hahnemann was also a for profit and wasnt perfect either. I do wish they had plans on finding another hospital in the city, but otherwise I was so impressed.
 
diabetes8763 said:
What is the likelihood of being accepted after being deferred?
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They have to accept slightly more than 2.5 times the number of seats to fill their class so i think you have a good shot of getting an A latter on if you were deferred. send them updates if you haven't done so already. I was also deferred at Drexel, but will be withdrawing my application because i have other options. Good luck.
 
diabetes8763 said:
What is the likelihood of being accepted after being deferred?
Click to expand...

The total acceptance rate post-interview is ~60%, and that includes across direct A's, A's off of deferred list, and A's from waitlist, so you still have a decent chance. Plenty of people in the 2018-19 thread got accepted after deferred status (and LOI's sent), and a few others through waitlist. That's just me giving myself motivation to continue confiding in Drexel, though, so don't take my word for it
 
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