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Based on past threads, the committee meets at the end of each month and sends updates at the beginning of the following month. So, those who interviewed earlier will likely hear around November 1 and the next batch will likely be around December 1.
 
Hi all I’m a current MS1 at penn state and would be happy to answer any questions or chat privately! Sending big A vibes to everyone!
1. Do you live on- or off-campus and why? (assuming Hershey campus)

2. How do you feel about the open-ended exam format?

3. Ik it's early in the academic year, but are research opportunities easy to come by?

4. What's the social atmosphere of PSU/hershey like? Like social events or anything to help you find a good group of friends?

Thanks for doing this!
 
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1. Do you live on- or off-campus and why? (assuming Hershey campus)

2. How do you feel about the open-ended exam format?

3. Ik it's early in the academic year, but are research opportunities easy to come by?

4. What's the social atmosphere of PSU/hershey like? Like social events or anything to help you find a good group of friends?

Thanks for doing this! Really hoping for an A here. Definitely my top choice right now!
1. Off campus in Hummelstown 8min away from school. I’m a married nontrad and we wanted to live off campus to have more room and be able to buy a home (housing is really affordable here 👌). Absolutely love our house and location. There’s a healthy mix of students on and off campus. On campus is great because you can literally walk to class, but the apartments are kind of shabby. The social life (particularly for younger students tbh) is definitely better year 1 on campus though. If I had diff personal circumstances I’d live on campus first year to get connected to people.

2. I like it! You have to be able to explain concepts which is harder than it sounds. A big plus is less anxiety associated with remembering super obscure random minutiae. However it’s not perfect, I think I’ll need to keep up with smaller details that we don’t get tested on to reinforce them over time for boards.

3. Very easy. Love that here. Plenty of active research and in competitive specialties to boot and welcoming to MS1s. Plus there’s a required med student research project in the curriculum so you get to meet faculty and talk about research opportunities in September-October first year.

4. Since I’m older and nontrad I have a unique perspective but can speak to what I’ve seen 🙂 Orientation is fun and super social even with COVID limitations, it’s the best way to meet people. Clubs and interest groups are also great ways to meet people and do fun things, and we have tons. Small group classes also spark friendships which is cool. Overall people do lots of fun stuff together! Hershey area is quiet and overall the vibe is pretty chill and sometimes sleepy, but there are some favorite student bars and haunts. Harrisburg is only 20min away and although it’s a small and relatively quiet little city, it’s cute with a splash of light nightlife and plenty of activities around (minor league baseball games, mini golf on the water, wineries and breweries, alpaca farms lol, fairs and festivals, weekend market, water tubing, hikes, etc).
 
Does anyone know any information about when Penn sends out decisions about getting an II or not. I submitted secondaries back in early August... Getting nervous
 
Does anyone know any information about when Penn sends out decisions about getting an II or not. I submitted secondaries back in early August... Getting nervous
If i remember correctly, they send out some holds. Other than that though, the only email you'll get is an II or an R... no updates
 
Does anyone know any information about when Penn sends out decisions about getting an II or not. I submitted secondaries back in early August... Getting nervous
+1
 
Does anyone know any information about when Penn sends out decisions about getting an II or not. I submitted secondaries back in early August... Getting nervous
It doesn’t seem like to they send many IIs at once either
 
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Anyone know when decisions will be sent out for interviews between 9/13 and 9/15? Is it really 6-8 weeks?
 
Still waiting, Complete 8/27
 
II OOS today morning! I have no ties with PA at all, but I am in a nearby state. LM 70, Casper: 25th to 49th percentile, ORM
Ngl after receiving a pre-II R from this school with better stats I do wonder what aspect of my application they deemed not worthy. Ofc not trying to demean you or anything, but the lack of transparency really does leave a bad taste in one's mouth.
 
Ngl after receiving a pre-II R from this school with better stats I do wonder what aspect of my application they deemed not worthy. Ofc not trying to demean you or anything, but the lack of transparency really does leave a bad taste in one's mouth.
The same thing works in reverse btw. When I got my II, I thought about why me and not someone else. Never ending bs
 
The same thing works in reverse btw. When I got my II, I thought about why me and not someone else. Never ending bs
Yeah. As someone with pretty mediocre stats, I was truly taken aback by my IIs. I'm not sure what they saw in me, but I am incredibly grateful to be given a chance.
 
Has anyone gotten an acceptance yet? Curious...
I saw somewhere that apparently psu sends As once a month at the beginning of each month. Hilarious if true, given that psu told me for my sep 20th interveiw that an october 15th response was likely. I think schools say that to pacify people, even if it is a complete impossibility given their adcom meeting structure
 
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