absolutely love UPENN

[dexadental]

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Had my interview there this past Friday...it is such a beautiful campus and school. The faculty is incredibly nice and actually care about you as an applicant. By the way, Matt is pretty cool, though we only spoke briefly, and I met some other SDN'ers. A worthwhile trip and I really hope I get in! It beats UF dental school by far. UPENN is just a good school all around I think, just had to ramble on about my experience up in Philly...loved it.
🙂

 

[LadyxJC]

Had my interview there this past Friday...it is such a beautiful campus and school. The faculty is incredibly nice and actually care about you as an applicant. By the way, Matt is pretty cool, though we only spoke briefly, and I met some other SDN'ers. A worthwhile trip and I really hope I get in! It beats UF dental school by far. UPENN is just a good school all around I think, just had to ramble on about my experience up in Philly...loved it.
🙂

congratz on being granted an interview!! I haven't heard from them yet... When did you submit your aadsas?

 

[iambatman]

It beats UF dental school by far.

Hey, Congrats. But could you explain why it beats UF dental school? Thanks.

 

[djsahand]

dexa can you post your iview experience on the Iview feedback for us future interviewees at upenn.
thanks

 

[piccolo2385]

Hey guys, I just wanted to second dexadental's post. To sum it up, UPENN was AWESOME! To be honest, since I'm a California boy I had always place UCSF and UCLA as my top two choices but had decided to apply to a couple of east coast schools as well (more as an afterthought than anything else).

However, after attending my interview this past Friday at UPENN, I can definitely say that UPENN now ranks in my top 3 (with UCSF and UCLA). As dexadental mentioned, the faculty is REALLY NICE (especially Dr. DeRossi, the dean of admissions, who interviewed both of us), and the facilities/surroundings are great as well. I'll post up an iview feedback as soon as I get home tomorrow night. Let me know if you guys have any questions in the meantime though (and I'll try to answer as best I can).

http://freakyfrenchie.blogspot.com/

 

[beannaithe]

Congrats! 😀 What did you guys like about it so much?

And how was the interview...? Intense or laid back? WHat was your overall impression of the campus, school, etc.?

I have an interview there in October. 🙂

 

[greenday]

As dexa and piccolo said, the entire experience was great.
Penn was amazing in terms of BOTH clinical and didactic training. I was very impressed by the amount of patients 3rd and 4th year students had to treat. The specialty matching rate is on the same bar as other top schools. It is a little pricy but you get great opportunites down the road.
I can't wait till Dec1st. Count down starts...
BTW it seems everyone had a good time at their interview. Maybe we were just a group of lucky ones .


-No longer a lurker.

 

[SuperTrooper]

Had my interview there this past Friday...it is such a beautiful campus and school. The faculty is incredibly nice and actually care about you as an applicant. By the way, Matt is pretty cool, though we only spoke briefly, and I met some other SDN'ers. A worthwhile trip and I really hope I get in! It beats UF dental school by far. UPENN is just a good school all around I think, just had to ramble on about my experience up in Philly...loved it.
🙂

You're applying to columbia and upenn. Why not harvard? You got something against boston? 😉

 

[dexadental]

Haha nothing against Harvard at all, great school I believe yet haven't done much research into it. Don't think I would like to live in Boston though, but its nothing personal...the accents are killer...

 

[SuperTrooper]

...the accents are killer...

Yes, as are the murderous hobos that live in brookline and mission hill.

 

[Mayo123]

Had my interview there this past Friday...it is such a beautiful campus and school. The faculty is incredibly nice and actually care about you as an applicant. By the way, Matt is pretty cool, though we only spoke briefly, and I met some other SDN'ers. A worthwhile trip and I really hope I get in! It beats UF dental school by far. UPENN is just a good school all around I think, just had to ramble on about my experience up in Philly...loved it.
🙂

I definitely agree! My trip to Philadelphia was a nightmare...my flight was delayed 5 hours and I arrived at 3 am. Then my suitcase got lost (the flight attendant made me check it because there wasn't room), and I ended up going an hour and a half late because my uncle didn't tell me it took so long to get to Penn on the train.

Despite all my bad luck, everyone at Penn was SO nice and understanding. The school was really amazing, and the interview was probably the most relaxed part of my trip. I was also interviewed by Dr. Derossi, and it was much more laid back than I was expecting. It was more like a conversation than an interview.

It was great meeting you guys there. Good luck with the rest of your interviews...maybe we'll see each other at Penn!?

 

[piccolo2385]

Hey Mayo123! I'm sorry about your trip not being the most *pleasant* experience, but I'm glad that you, as I, had a great time at UPENN! It's too bad we didn't get to talk more, but there was so much stuff going on and so many people to talk to that it was quite overwhelming! As greenday mentioned (btw I LOVE Green Day so props to your avatar/id), I'm eagerly awaiting Dec. 1st although I guess I should probably wait until at least my SECOND interview before getting so worked up!

Although we may have been PARTICULARLY lucky (as greenday again commented on), it seems that everyone at UPENN is (usually) very nice and laidback so I hope that all you future SDNers will have great experiences there as well! Good luck to all and hopefully we'll see each other during a future interview! 🙂

P.S.: I will be going to an interview Sept. 30 at UCONN and was wondering if anybody else was gonna be there??

 

[Sprgrover]

Hi guys!

It was great meeting all of you at the interview and putting a face to the name. I'm glad to hear that you had an awesome time up here (I was confident that you would) and were impressed with the school. Dr. DeRossi has an easy-going manner and my interview went much the same way as yours did. While I can't speak for him nor the office of admissions at Penn, I would say that your interviews went well and I'll keep my fingers crossed for you! For many of you this was probably one of your first interviews and undoubtdly won't be your last. Every dental school has its unique characteristics and offerings and some of these will become evident as you visit other campuses. I know that when I went on my interviews such things surfaced in the back of my mind and I often wished I could have discussed them a bit further with current students at each school. I am of course still a 1st year here at Penn, but if any of you have any questions about Penn, my experience thus far, or if you encounter a topic or point that comes up at another interview and wonder how Penn addresses the issue please don't hesitate to PM me. Hopefully I will see some of you during orientation! 👍

 

[greenday]

Hey Mayo123! I'm sorry about your trip not being the most *pleasant* experience, but I'm glad that you, as I, had a great time at UPENN! It's too bad we didn't get to talk more, but there was so much stuff going on and so many people to talk to that it was quite overwhelming! As greenday mentioned (btw I LOVE Green Day so props to your avatar/id), I'm eagerly awaiting Dec. 1st although I guess I should probably wait until at least my SECOND interview before getting so worked up!

Although we may have been PARTICULARLY lucky (as greenday again commented on), it seems that everyone at UPENN is (usually) very nice and laidback so I hope that all you future SDNers will have great experiences there as well! Good luck to all and hopefully we'll see each other during a future interview! 🙂

P.S.: I will be going to an interview Sept. 30 at UCONN and was wondering if anybody else was gonna be there??

Count me in piccolo.
We should be careful as I heard Uconn's interview is nerve racking. I'm going to watch some more horror films today and hopefully I won't be scared by them then

-I can't believe I am skipping the Green Day concert in Vegas to interview at Columbia. September ends.

 

[Sprgrover]

Count me in piccolo.
We should be careful as I heard Uconn's interview is nerve racking. I'm going to watch some more horror films today and hopefully I won't be scared by them then ...

Perhaps a better choice in cinematic preparation would be along the lines of Film Noir, NYPD Blue, or an aggressive and traumatizing episode or Law and Order: SVU. From what I have gathered from my friends here at Penn that interviewed at UConn the school prefers a good cop, bad cop approach to interviews and most didn't have a pleasant experience. Keep Penn in the back of your mind as you run their gauntlet! 👍

 

[Sprgrover]

...-No longer a lurker.

😀

 

[Bonkers29]

From what I have gathered from my friends here at Penn that interviewed at UConn the school prefers a good cop, bad cop approach to interviews and most didn't have a pleasant experience.

what do you mean good cop, bad cop approach? what do they do exactly?

oh and is it true that UPenn highly emphasizes research experience? was research talked about a lot during the interview for people who had theirs already??? thanks in advance

 

[Sprgrover]

what do you mean good cop, bad cop approach? what do they do exactly?

oh and is it true that UPenn highly emphasizes research experience? was research talked about a lot during the interview for people who had theirs already??? thanks in advance

Well, I didn't interview there, but the good cop/bad cop analogy means that you are being interrogated by two individuals - one is being nice and fetching you coffee to help speed your confession, while the other one slams you up against the one-way mirror in a rage of furry and taunts you like a little kitten with the promise of a much needed phone call. Your experience may or may not match up to this, but everyone that I have talked to, both here at Penn and elsewhere, had similar stories.

In regards to research, I don't think so. I don't have any research experience, and plenty of my classmates don't either, and I didn't have any problem getting in. The take home message is that it wouldn't hurt to have some, but it certainly won't sink your boat as far as Penn is concerned.

 

[piccolo2385]

To answer Bonkers' question, it's true that UPENN highly values research (as it is #2 in NIH funding), but I don't think it's a make or break thing with them. I don't know about the other applicants, but my interview didn't go into too much depth on the topic, and the only reason why it was brought up is because I, myself, am very interested in research.

And greenday, sounds like you've got a good plan to get ready for UCONN! I'm not sure what I'll do, but watching scary movies certainly seems like a worthwhile idea!

Hey Sprgover, thanks again for dropping by! I'm sorry I wasn't able to stay until 3 (had to catch a plane at 2!) as I would've loved to talk to you in person some more. I had a quick question for you regarding the housing situation in Philly though. What's the range of rent costs for 1-2 bedroom aparts (I'll most likely be sharing with 1-2 more people), and is it relatively easy to get housing really close to the school? Also, are the UPENN grad dorms worth it (in terms of price and setting) or are they, like most college dorms, a rip off? Thanks a bunch!

 

[dexadental]

Yeah I'd like to get some information on that...and have any of you applicants to penn ever dropped a class? I haven't...but genetics is really making my schedule a living hell...need to drop it...but I don't want it to look bad. Ah, my chi is so off balance.

 

[piccolo2385]

For those of you interested, I just submitted my iview feedback so make sure to check it out for some tips and (hopefully) helpful advice.

I don't think it'd be too much of a big deal if you dropped your class, dexa, even though I can't say for sure since I haven't dropped one myself. However, considering you already had your interview and UPENN (and the other schools) have all your info/stats, I doubt that they would make a big deal about it. Just my impressions though.

 

[Catfish]

Yeah I'd like to get some information on that...and have any of you applicants to penn ever dropped a class? I haven't...but genetics is really making my schedule a living hell...need to drop it...but I don't want it to look bad. Ah, my chi is so off balance.

dexa, if you drop your genetics, take it in spring with Dr. Gurley--Molecular Genetics. It's a 4000 Microbio level. He will try everything to make you get an A and the class itself is much more interesting and less painful.

 

[greenday]

Dexa, I'd say, drop the class if your chi is really off balance. A W is better than a C IMHO.

Connecticut might have shower or cloudy weather this Thursday and Friday, according to forecast. Hopefully it’s not going to be a moody interview day.

 

[piccolo2385]

Thanks for heads-up greenday (or should I say, Zi?? This is Jeremy, btw, if you hadn't already figured it out!). I'll be bringing umbrella and jacket in tow.

 

[greenday]

Thanks for heads-up greenday (or should I say, Zi?? This is Jeremy, btw, if you hadn't already figured it out!). I'll be bringing umbrella and jacket in tow.

No prob bro.
I can't wait to see more SDNers in other interviews. How fun it is when you get to put a face and an avator together.

 

[cowsgomoo]

Dexa, I'd say, drop the class if your chi is really off balance. A W is better than a C IMHO.

Connecticut might have shower or cloudy weather this Thursday and Friday, according to forecast. Hopefully it’s not going to be a moody interview day.

Hey guy’s good luck on UConn interview and go in totally relaxed. The interviews are nothing like what other poster have said in the interview feedback section from previous years. It is a very relaxed interview and for the most part they ask fair questions and basically just want to know your motivation on becoming a dentist and attending their school.

 

[greenday]

Hey guy’s good luck on UConn interview and go in totally relaxed. The interviews are nothing like what other poster have said in the interview feedback section from previous years. It is a very relaxed interview and for the most part they ask fair questions and basically just want to know your motivation on becoming a dentist and attending their school.

That's good to know, Cowsgomoo 👍 . Maybe piccolo and I should calm our nerves down a bit. White castle, here we come 😍 .

 

[polarnut]

piccolo, mind if i ask what your stats are GPA, DATs, etc.

 

[Sprgrover]

...
Hey Sprgover, thanks again for dropping by! I'm sorry I wasn't able to stay until 3 (had to catch a plane at 2!) as I would've loved to talk to you in person some more. I had a quick question for you regarding the housing situation in Philly though. What's the range of rent costs for 1-2 bedroom aparts (I'll most likely be sharing with 1-2 more people), and is it relatively easy to get housing really close to the school? Also, are the UPENN grad dorms worth it (in terms of price and setting) or are they, like most college dorms, a rip off? Thanks a bunch!

No problem! In regards to housing it is really easy to find places around campus. I live two blocks from the school and the majority of my classmates are within a similar radius. Housing costs increase the closer you get to campus - and of course so does security. I pay $850 for my 1 bedroom (includes DSL internet, water, gas, and heat) which is pretty spacious, quiet, and private. The market around campus for a one bedroom will run between $650 and $900, for a two bedroom it is about $200 - $300 more. Studios, aka 'effienciencies' tend to be a bit less than a one bedroom but often are a lot smaller than one as well. A dorm is a dorm. The grad dorms are not bad and there are good things associated with them (such as you don't have to worry about utilities, etc.) and bad (you have really strict move in/out dates, and it's a dorm). Some of my classmates live in them and have mixed feelings about the ordeal. One of the other nice things about this area is that you don't need a car to get around as it is easy to find housing nearby, and this can really help with your budget, and that was one of the many selling points of Penn for me. Let me know if you have any further questions! 👍

 

[greenday]

Hey guys,
I just got back from Connecticut and couldn't resist sharing my experience at Uconn.
Uconn is a great school, with wonderful curriculum, innovative ideas and good clinical training, students seem happy there, but it’s definitely not for everyone. If you ever wonder why, you should ask yourself if you have the Love for Human Biology and are willing to take up an Extremely Demanding Curriculum. (Kudos Dr. T lol)

Cowsgomoo was right, the interview was relaxed; however, they did ask a lot of questions. It was conducted by a group of two dentists. One keeps asking questions (bad cop I guess), while the other praises whatever your response is (hm, good cop that is). Be careful, as they know your files thoroughly, and will ask you questions from different angles. I was questioned on all aspects of my files such as shadowing experience, extracurricular, even what people wrote in my LORs. It also seems that they will ask you some technical questions such as “Is dental care a right or privilege”. As far as I felt, everyone in my group was able to perform fairly decently. So don’t worry, you won’t throw up in their face.

Uconn interviews 7-8 people at a time. Because of the long time frame, you will get a chance to chat with everyone in your group; all are good candidates with a string of interviews ahead of them. As a side note, I am also glad to meet up with piccolo again. Good luck on your Harvard trip bro. PM me if you wanna try and figure out the Uconn quiz together.

 

[piccolo2385]

I just got back from UCONN's interview as well, and I want to second greenday's comments all the way. To anwer polarnut's question regarding my stats, here they are:

Overall/Science GPA: 3.96
DAT (AA, TS, PAT): 22, 22, 19 (NOTHING too impressive)
*If you want more info about my extracurriculars, etc, visit the "2006 Stats Info" page or PM me for specifics

Thanks a lot for the helpful response Sprgover! That'll definitely help me figure out the housing situation for UPENN if I get in/decide to attend next year. Also thanks to greenday for the kind words, and I'll let you know if I get the inkling to do the UCONN quizzie! Good luck to you on your Columbia interview next week!