2020-2021 Pennsylvania State

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Turducken_pie said:
I see! Thank you for that thorough response. I guess that means that they’ve already handed out scholarships 🙁 ?
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Some are merit-based and some are need-based and I wasn't able to see which was which. I have no idea how many they give out, so I wouldn't say they've handed out all of them. I know at least a few have gone out, but that's the extent of my knowledge...
 
chirurgienne.rouge said:
So does post-ii hold=waitlist or does hold=yet to make a final decision about an applicant? Different schools use the terminology differently 😅
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I’m not 100% sure but I’m taking it as waitlist. My email said that after April 30th they will start re-reviewing those on the hold list (i.e. once people choose one medical school). Anyone feel free to correct me if I’m wrong!
 
kaytvo said:
My portal said that they don't start letting you accept/decline aid until May 1st, and that the trustees don't meet until July to disburse the Fall semester bill. They hadn't calculated in any federal aid yet that I could tell, but they have started handing out some scholarships. Their Financial Aid department has been pretty responsive when I've emailed them.
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Hi! Where did you see this message in your portal? I got an email directing me to check "LionPath" to view my financial aid award, but didn't see any sort of message in my portal. Just wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything, thanks!
 
Are need based or merit based scholarships common at penn state? Was a bit disappointed to only see federal loans in my financial aid packet?
 
puddingpistachio said:
Hi! Where did you see this message in your portal? I got an email directing me to check "LionPath" to view my financial aid award, but didn't see any sort of message in my portal. Just wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything, thanks!
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Go to Financial Aid Award Summary -> Required Actions on the bottom right -> Next Steps -> Next Steps for First-Time Students:

"Accept, Decline, or Decrease your Financial Aid Award(s) - This will be turned on in LionPATH for new students after the May 1st decision day" (note: this may be for first-year undergrads? There does not seem to be a separate section for graduate students)

and then if you hit Print for your Aid Award, you should see this notice: "Tuition and fees are finalized by the Board of Trustees in July; billing begins in early August for fall semester and early January for spring semester"
 
Turducken_pie said:
I see! Thank you for that thorough response. I guess that means that they’ve already handed out scholarships 🙁 ?
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They have at least started handing out scholarships. Had a merit based and a need based one in my award letter.
 
bchase said:
Does anyone know how to withdraw an acceptance? I don't see anything in the portal or website. Got an offer elsewhere that would be an easier relocation for my kids. Would love to make sure one of you has the chance to attend this wonderful school!
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I believe you just send an email to the admissions office. 🙂 Best of luck!
 
Was anyone able to find out if PSU does in fact LOIs after May 1? I know in the hold email they said they only accepted official transcript updates
 
Does anyone have an idea on when the next decision release is/how often they release decisions in a month? Has anyone who interviewed in March received a decision yet?
 
Anon_medgirl said:
Does anyone have an idea on when the next decision release is/how often they release decisions in a month? Has anyone who interviewed in March received a decision yet?
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I am a March interviewee and haven't heard anything. I am expecting late April/early May...? It looks like some people from mid-Feb have heard back but others from Jan haven't so tough to know exactly when the decision is coming.
 
1234DO2021 said:
I am a March interviewee and haven't heard anything. I am expecting late April/early May...? It looks like some people from mid-Feb have heard back but others from Jan haven't so tough to know exactly when the decision is coming.
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Yea, I just looked back on previous years and it seems that there is a decision released during the last week of April. I know it hasn't been that long since my interview. However, I've been waitlisted at other schools so I am just really hoping for an A here. It's crazy how long some schools take to release decisions. At another school I interviewed at, they release decisions 2.5-3 weeks post-interview. I don't get why decisions have to take much longer than that.
 
Not sure if/how many A's have gone out lately but just posting the link to the accepted student GroupMe here for anyone that's been accepted and wants to join! GroupMe
 
Anon_medgirl said:
Yea, I just looked back on previous years and it seems that there is a decision released during the last week of April. I know it hasn't been that long since my interview. However, I've been waitlisted at other schools so I am just really hoping for an A here. It's crazy how long some schools take to release decisions. At another school I interviewed at, they release decisions 2.5-3 weeks post-interview. I don't get why decisions have to take much longer than that.
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I've had two spring interviews this cycle, and both schools gave me a decision the following week after my interview. It blows my mind how PSU can really fumble the bag and take months to produce a response. Its criminal to put people through this waiting process. I do wish AAMC would provide guidance to force schools to follow a more set guideline. Like 4 weeks max, and just place us on the waitlist if you can't decide by then :/
 
coolknight99 said:
I've had two spring interviews this cycle, and both schools gave me a decision the following week after my interview. It blows my mind how PSU can really fumble the bag and take months to produce a response. Its criminal to put people through this waiting process. I do wish AAMC would provide guidance to force schools to follow a more set guideline. Like 4 weeks max, and just place us on the waitlist if you can't decide by then :/
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Yea, I totally agree. If I hear back during the last week of April, orientation is only 11 weeks away. That is such a short time to figure out a living situation and for OOS students to move.
 
coolknight99 said:
I've had two spring interviews this cycle, and both schools gave me a decision the following week after my interview. It blows my mind how PSU can really fumble the bag and take months to produce a response. Its criminal to put people through this waiting process. I do wish AAMC would provide guidance to force schools to follow a more set guideline. Like 4 weeks max, and just place us on the waitlist if you can't decide by then :/
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Anon_medgirl said:
Yea, I totally agree. If I hear back during the last week of April, orientation is only 11 weeks away. That is such a short time to figure out a living situation and for OOS students to move.
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I recommend reaching out to current students to talk to them about these things because it's helped me make the decision before even having a decision. Fingers crossed we hear before/by April 30th, but with people from January still not hearing, I'm honestly a little concerned.

Also, just wanted to add, I believe we have to narrow schools down to 1 by April 30th, but for that school just select "Plan to Enroll" in the event that we haven't heard back from Penn State. Once we've heard I think there's a two week window to make the swap or that it depends on the commit to enroll deadline.
 
Have you guys gotten emails to create a lionpath account or did you just do it on your own?
 
Is it correct that if you are placed on "Committee Hold" you don't have access to the "AMCAS Choose Your Medical School Tool"?

I haven't been accepted into any schools, so my AMCAS application doesn't have a "Choose Your Medical School" link inside of it. But Penn State put me on Committee Hold last week (interviewed in February) and I'm trying to make sure I don't miss anything to let them know I'm desperate interested in attending. Based on last year's thread, I plan on e-mailing them a Letter of Intent on April 30th.
 
qazwsx987654 said:
Is it correct that if you are placed on "Committee Hold" you don't have access to the "AMCAS Choose Your Medical School Tool"?

I haven't been accepted into any schools, so my AMCAS application doesn't have a "Choose Your Medical School" link inside of it. But Penn State put me on Committee Hold last week (interviewed in February) and I'm trying to make sure I don't miss anything to let them know I'm desperate interested in attending. Based on last year's thread, I plan on e-mailing them a Letter of Intent on April 30th.
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literally rt lmfao but I emailed them to ask if we can send in an LOI so just waiting to see what they say
I don't believe you have access to the CYMST if you've been placed on hold
 
paul30 said:
literally rt lmfao but I emailed them to ask if we can send in an LOI so just waiting to see what they say
I don't believe you have access to the CYMST if you've been placed on hold
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lmao well at least i know i'm suffering with good company now 🤣
i'm trying to stay positive, from last year's thread it looks like there were more than a few people who got A's after being placed on committee hold. it seems like everyone who wanted to send a letter just emailed it directly to the studentadmissions email address either on April 30 or within the first week or so of May.
 
Just to clarify for everyone, I called and Penn st prefers a letter of intent, not interest
 
Thebruv said:
I called and he checked my status using my AMCAS ID and there wasn’t a decision or a hold so he said I can submit at any time. The guy I talked to was nice so calling is always an option if you want a specific status check as well
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Going to call rn then and report back... I'm specifically going to ask about when March interviews will hear back. Thank you so much for the heads up!

After calling: 1) He claimed they don't do status checks 2) He said 12 week turnaround for March (and all other) interviews. "Could be sooner, could be later" were his exact words. 3) He was not pleasant to speak with lol so I didn't even ask about letters of intent but seems like they really may not matter here... decisions probably just depend on when the admissions committee meetings happen
 
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floridaheatkills said:
Going to call rn then and report back... I'm specifically going to ask about when March interviews will hear back. Thank you so much for the heads up!

After calling: 1) He claimed they don't do status checks 2) He said 12 week turnaround for March (and all other) interviews. "Could be sooner, could be later" were his exact words. 3) He was not pleasant to speak with lol so I didn't even ask about letters of intent but seems like they really may not matter here... decisions probably just depend on when the admissions committee meetings happen
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Lol so we could hear back in June? Ridiculous.
 
floridaheatkills said:
Going to call rn then and report back... I'm specifically going to ask about when March interviews will hear back. Thank you so much for the heads up!

After calling: 1) He claimed they don't do status checks 2) He said 12 week turnaround for March (and all other) interviews. "Could be sooner, could be later" were his exact words. 3) He was not pleasant to speak with lol so I didn't even ask about letters of intent but seems like they really may not matter here... decisions probably just depend on when the admissions committee meetings happen
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Damn sorry to hear about the unpleasant experience, sounds like a totally different person than who I talked to
 
floridaheatkills said:
Going to call rn then and report back... I'm specifically going to ask about when March interviews will hear back. Thank you so much for the heads up!

After calling: 1) He claimed they don't do status checks 2) He said 12 week turnaround for March (and all other) interviews. "Could be sooner, could be later" were his exact words. 3) He was not pleasant to speak with lol so I didn't even ask about letters of intent but seems like they really may not matter here... decisions probably just depend on when the admissions committee meetings happen
Thebruv said:
Damn sorry to hear about the unpleasant experience, sounds like a totally different person than who I talked to
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T
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Thank you both for calling!
 
floridaheatkills said:
Going to call rn then and report back... I'm specifically going to ask about when March interviews will hear back. Thank you so much for the heads up!

After calling: 1) He claimed they don't do status checks 2) He said 12 week turnaround for March (and all other) interviews. "Could be sooner, could be later" were his exact words. 3) He was not pleasant to speak with lol so I didn't even ask about letters of intent but seems like they really may not matter here... decisions probably just depend on when the admissions committee meetings happen
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Ok but the last day of the cycle is April 30. Per AAMC traffic guidelines April 30 is the day that all schools need to release decisions, and also the day that all applicants need to pick one school that they’re planning to matriculate at. So if PSU is really gonna turn those decisions around in 3 months, they’re directly going against the AAMC and will probably get in trouble
 
chirurgienne.rouge said:
Ok but the last day of the cycle is April 30. Per AAMC traffic guidelines April 30 is the day that all schools need to release decisions, and also the day that all applicants need to pick one school that they’re planning to matriculate at. So if PSU is really gonna turn those decisions around in 3 months, they’re directly going against the AAMC and will probably get in trouble
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it seems like they're presented more as recommendations to ensure schools fill their class, not hard and fast requirements. It says the AAMC policies don't supersede schools' policies too Application and Acceptance Protocols - Admission Officers
 
I emailed to ask about LOIs and they emailed back (rather rudely tbh lol) and said they only accept grade updates, so not sure what to do about LOIs
 
paul30 said:
I emailed to ask about LOIs and they emailed back (rather rudely tbh lol) and said they only accept grade updates, so not sure what to do about LOIs
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Funny you say that because here's what they said to me LOL... my FIRST decent interaction with Penn State admissions...

If y'all are too lazy to open the email, THEY DO ACCEPT LETTERS OF INTENT, BUT DO NOT INCLUDE ANY UPDATES.
 

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floridaheatkills said:
Funny you say that because here's what they said to me LOL... my FIRST decent interaction with Penn State admissions...

If y'all are too lazy to open the email, THEY DO ACCEPT LETTERS OF INTENT, BUT DO NOT INCLUDE ANY UPDATES.
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I'm soooo confused
 
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About to email AAMC every day and call trying to push the next cycle back a bit (partly kidding but makes sense) Completely not fair for admissions to delay us, but then we end up spending more money more time more stress on an upcoming application. Only hurts us
 
Thebruv said:
Oh it’s bc you’re on “hold” that you can’t submit, sorry 🙁 that’s what was communicated to me on phone bc he had to check to make sure I wasn’t on hold
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So I interviewed in March and haven't heard anything - does this mean I can submit a letter of intent?
 
Thebruv said:
Oh it’s bc you’re on “hold” that you can’t submit, sorry 🙁 that’s what was communicated to me on phone bc he had to check to make sure I wasn’t on hold
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Ohhh, thank you!! That definitely clarifies much more than they did lol
 
So basically if you’re on a “committee hold” (waitlist), they do not accept LOI? And if you haven’t heard anything back post-interview yet, you can submit a LOI? I am ridiculously confused LMAO
 
ohmggthissux said:
I think previous posters have mentioned that they don't want any letters of intent until April 30th
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I actually think they're accepting them now.

panerabread224 said:
So basically if you’re on a “committee hold” (waitlist), they do not accept LOI? And if you haven’t heard anything back post-interview yet, you can submit a LOI? I am ridiculously confused LMAO
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Correct... weird logic lol...
 
panerabread224 said:
So basically if you’re on a “committee hold” (waitlist), they do not accept LOI? And if you haven’t heard anything back post-interview yet, you can submit a LOI? I am ridiculously confused LMAO
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I dont understand the reasoning behind this lmfao
 
I am on committee hold and admissions told me not to send a letter of intent. Does anyone want to call and find out why? Lol I'm scared to call back. The gentleman was helpful but very adamant/kind of brusque.
 
I just called about when I can expect a possible update on my application after interviewing on Jan 20th and was met with a resounding no, that they do not know when us Jan interviewees expect to hear back. 🙁 (From this forum seems like they skipped decisions for the January peeps and went straight to Feb and March and I'm not sure why haha)

He did say I could submit a letter of Intent though, which fits with what we have heard so far since he found out I am still waiting to hear back and am not on hold right now.
 
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