drexel interview day

[jon0013]

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i'm interviewing at drexel this tuesday...i havent been able to find out what time the interview day ends and i have no idea how far drexel is from the airport...i have a flight back home at 6 that night and want to know if i'll be able to make it without a huge rush...

also for those people who've been to philly what are some places to check out, places to eat at, etc...im leaving tomorrow so i'll have a day and a half to check out the city...im staying downtown and wont have a rental car though....thanks

 

[VPDcurt]

I think the interview day ends around 2:30 or 3 if I remember correctly (I interviewed back in September so I don't really remember). That should give you enough time to get back to the airport. I'm not sure about places to eat though, so someone else will have to help you with that.

 

[pancarre12]

You're fine. You'll have two interviews, the latter one being with a student. That's a sort of lunch and interview in one, so for me (and I assume for everyone) it was around lunch-time. I left the campus around 1:00, having decided not to attend the optional session on their PIL program.

 

[deleted50541]

You're fine. You'll have two interviews, the latter one being with a student. That's a sort of lunch and interview in one, so for me (and I assume for everyone) it was around lunch-time. I left the campus around 1:00, having decided not to attend the optional session on their PIL program.

My interviews were done by 12:45 and decided not to attend the session on the PIL program either, which was at 2 I think. Still, the whole day lasts no longer than 3 o'clock.

I drove to Philly, so I can't really say much about the airport situation though.

 

[vik829]

hey i go to school in philly....some places to eat are Continental, Pod, Morimoto, Friday Saturday Sunday, and Jones.

there are a lot of historical things like the liberty bell, independence hall, etc...but dont know if youre into that.

hope this helps. good luck at drexel (it's about a 20-30 min cab ride from PHL ..but depends on traffic too)

 

[tigress]

Yeah the airport isn't too far away, but traffic can vary tremendously with seemingly no pattern. But in any case you're totally fine with a 6 pm flight out.

As far as things to do in Philly, there's the obvious historic stuff, which vik829 mentioned. They're really hyping Ben Franklin's birthday anniversary here, so there's some interesting stuff on that. You might also consider getting in touch with a Drexel student to hang out with them, just to get a better feel for the school. I don't know about first years, but second years don't have tests for another 2 weeks, so they're probably not in super-study mode and would probably love to show you around.

 

[riceman04]

hey i go to school in philly....some places to eat are Continental, Pod, Morimoto, Friday Saturday Sunday, and Jones.

there are a lot of historical things like the liberty bell, independence hall, etc...but dont know if youre into that.

hope this helps. good luck at drexel (it's about a 20-30 min cab ride from PHL ..but depends on traffic too)

All those places you listed are expensive as hell!!!
If you are on a tighter budget you can check out places like cosi, copabana's (I personally dont like their food though), gio pronto's.

 

[riceman04]

i'm interviewing at drexel this tuesday...i havent been able to find out what time the interview day ends and i have no idea how far drexel is from the airport...i have a flight back home at 6 that night and want to know if i'll be able to make it without a huge rush...

also for those people who've been to philly what are some places to check out, places to eat at, etc...im leaving tomorrow so i'll have a day and a half to check out the city...im staying downtown and wont have a rental car though....thanks

What hotel are you staying at? Is it in center city east or center city west?

Also, at what campus are you interviewing?
If you are interviewing up at the campus close to the queen lane station you can take the R8 (regional rail 8) from 30th street station.

Go to this website if you are thinking about public transportation:
www.septa.org

30th st. station is like the thalumus of philly...it is a relay station. You either catch a cab or the subway or the bus (you can find all of that info on www.septa.org ) to 30th st. station. From 30th st station (not far from UPenn) it takes approx 15min via regional up to queen lane.

If you are interested in how you get from queen lane to the school I can let you know.

There are plenty places to eat and have a drink in old city (its cool down there).

Penn's Landing is also a cool spot.

Come on over to university city...is where Penn campus and Drexel's undergrad campus are located. There are alot of bars and movie theatres over here

 

[tigress]

Well he won't know where he's interviewing until he gets there Tuesday. But it is really easy to take train from Queen Lane to University City. The train station is just down the block from the school, and from 30th Street it's a quick walk over to Penn and all that (which riceman04 mentions). And you can take the Drexel shuttle from Center City, at Hahnemann, up to Queen Lane or over to University City. Except really just to Queen Lane, that shuttle doesn't check IDs so just act like you belong. The one to Drexel's main campus in University City does check IDs usually.

I'm boring so I don't know where people hang out a lot. But I'm sure riceman04 can help you out there 🙂

 

[riceman04]

Well he won't know where he's interviewing until he gets there Tuesday. But it is really easy to take train from Queen Lane to University City. The train station is just down the block from the school, and from 30th Street it's a quick walk over to Penn and all that (which riceman04 mentions). And you can take the Drexel shuttle from Center City, at Hahnemann, up to Queen Lane or over to University City. Except really just to Queen Lane, that shuttle doesn't check IDs so just act like you belong. The one to Drexel's main campus in University City does check IDs usually.

I'm boring so I don't know where people hang out a lot. But I'm sure riceman04 can help you out there 🙂

Oh yeah the drexel shuttle.
That does run by Penn too, right?

 

[riceman04]

i'm interviewing at drexel this tuesday...i havent been able to find out what time the interview day ends and i have no idea how far drexel is from the airport...i have a flight back home at 6 that night and want to know if i'll be able to make it without a huge rush...

also for those people who've been to philly what are some places to check out, places to eat at, etc...im leaving tomorrow so i'll have a day and a half to check out the city...im staying downtown and wont have a rental car though....thanks

Are you aware of Lady Liberty Shuttle? You can use them to get to your hotel (only $10 and very very dependable). Here is what you do:

When you go down to the baggage claim to collect your baggage (if you have any) there will be an area adjacent to the baggage claim (as a matter of fact you will see it when you walk down the step or the escalator) where I man or lady will be seated behind an elevated desk. On the desk there will be several phones. Tell the lady or man behind the desk that you would like to take lady liberty shuttle to your hotel. He/She will give you a ticket number and give you a number to dial on one of the phones. When you dial that number (I think it is a one, two, or three digit number) Lady Liberty will pick up. Tell them you would like them to pick you up and take you to your hotel in center city. They will give you instructions on what to do after that.

That method is so much cheaper than taking a taxi from PHL to the hotel (which I think is like $25).

here is lady liberty shuttle's telephone number just in case you have any more questions:
215 724-8888

hope this helps

 

[indo]

watch out for the rapist in center city though.

 

[vik829]

sorry if the restaurants were too expensive...but i thought he wanted somewhere unique, etc 😳

cosi's right on penn's campus (on 36th and walnut)...which is right next to drexel...there are about 20 other places on campus too with ranging prices..any of them are good. i guess something else to see is penn's campus if youre interested

there's also chinatown if you have time 🙂

the crime rate is high, however, we just increased our campus security, so there are officers on bikes at every corner ...not to scare you or anything...

 

[tigress]

Yeah riceman04, there is a Drexel shuttle from Hahnemann to the Drexel campus, at 33rd and Market, which is right near Penn too. But on that shuttle, in my experience, they usually check for Drexel IDs. On the shuttle from Hahnemann to Queen Lane they don't ever check IDs.

vik829 is right about the most student-oriented stuff to do being right around the Penn campus. But the Drexel main campus which is right by there is the undergrad and some of the grad stuff. The med school is at Queen Lane, which is more out in the suburbs (and before people start debating that, suburban is a description of a type of neighborhood; yes, it's still within Philly city limits).

I still stick with my initial suggestion of trying to hook up with some Drexel students. That will give you an idea of what life will be like if you go to Drexel. Most of them live around the Queen Lane campus for the first two years, and there are lots of houses and apartments and things to rent there. Some live in Center City or other places (like we live in a completely different suburb). It seems like more 3rd and 4th year students live in Center City, because they aren't really tied to the Queen Lane campus anymore.

 

[jon0013]

thanks a lot for the input guys....i'm staying at the marriot on market st which is close to a lot of historical stuff i think....i'm definitely looking to check out the liberty bell, etc as well as get some good old philly cheesesteaks....

but in terms of the interview, do you have to take a train or bus if you have an interview at the other campus? i wasnt aware of this...

 

[tigress]

thanks a lot for the input guys....i'm staying at the marriot on market st which is close to a lot of historical stuff i think....i'm definitely looking to check out the liberty bell, etc as well as get some good old philly cheesesteaks....

but in terms of the interview, do you have to take a train or bus if you have an interview at the other campus? i wasnt aware of this...

Well first off, where on Market is the Marriot? Do you know how you plan on getting to the interview in the first place? If you're staying in the historic district you're going to have to figure out public transportation, probably take a subway over to 30th Street Station and then the regional rail to Queen Lane. That would probably be simplest, unless you spring for a cab.

Almost all the interviews are at Queen Lane. But if you do interview at Hahnemann (2 people from my interview day, out of 20, did -- including me) you just take the shuttle bus, and it's very easy. Aside from some people posting about bad experiences on the other Drexel thread (which sucks), for the most part it's straight-forward. They'll tell you where you need to go from the shuttle. You might double-check with somebody, maybe the student leading the tour, if you're worried you'll get lost. And try to take the shuttle together with anybody else who's interviewing there, even if your interview is a bit later. But in any case I take that shuttle almost every day, twice a day, and it's a simple enough thing. It takes between 13-45 minutes depending on traffic (that's the approximate range I've experienced) but it almost always takes about 25.

You'll probably just interview at Queen Lane, though, like the majority of people do.

good luck

 

[riceman04]

Well first off, where on Market is the Marriot? Do you know how you plan on getting to the interview in the first place? If you're staying in the historic district you're going to have to figure out public transportation, probably take a subway over to 30th Street Station and then the regional rail to Queen Lane. That would probably be simplest, unless you spring for a cab.

Almost all the interviews are at Queen Lane. But if you do interview at Hahnemann (2 people from my interview day, out of 20, did -- including me) you just take the shuttle bus, and it's very easy. Aside from some people posting about bad experiences on the other Drexel thread (which sucks), for the most part it's straight-forward. They'll tell you where you need to go from the shuttle. You might double-check with somebody, maybe the student leading the tour, if you're worried you'll get lost. And try to take the shuttle together with anybody else who's interviewing there, even if your interview is a bit later. But in any case I take that shuttle almost every day, twice a day, and it's a simple enough thing. It takes between 13-45 minutes depending on traffic (that's the approximate range I've experienced) but it almost always takes about 25.

You'll probably just interview at Queen Lane, though, like the majority of people do.

good luck

The Marriott Downtown is where he's staying: This is the address:
1201 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 USA

Isn't that by the convention center? I think that is the really nice one

I guess the shuttle would be easiest
But if he does do pub trans. cant he take the market-frankford line (blue) to 30th st. (or a cab or trolley #34) and then the R8 (I said R6 before but I just checked with my prof who actually does research at Drexel's main med school campus) to Queen Lane...Campus 3 blocks from station on left hand side of street...cross Wissahicken Ave...and walk along Queen Lane...dont go into the first set of buildings...continue until you see Drexel University COM sign & a semi-circle shaped building (2900 Queen Lane)

 

[tigress]

The Marriott Downtown is where he's staying: This is the address:
1201 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 USA

Isn't that by the convention center? I think that is the really nice one

Oh wow, yeah, that's a few blocks from the Convention Center. The center of the historic stuff as far as the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall is about 6 blocks east of that (like around 6th and Market), which isn't a bad walk at all. And Chinatown is right near there. Jefferson is also close by. So that's a cool place to stay.

The hotel is close to Hahnemann. You just have to walk over to Broad Street and then up to Vine. From there you can take the Drexel shuttle up to Queen Lane for your interview day. The shuttle actually leaves from across Vine from where the hospital is, in the middle of the block (there's a little loop with a shelter). Anybody walking around with a white coat or an ID could probably point you to it.

 

[jon0013]

vik, riceman and tigress..thanks for your help...phillys been fun thus far....so basically if i skip the PIL session I can leave by 1 because the student interview is a lunch thing? or how does that work? im in a bind because i have to get to temple by 3...

 

[McMD]

The student interview is at lunch...you eat and talk. My interview day was over by about 2pm, but I also skipped the PIL session (recommended). If you have an interview at the hospital you catch the bus or train or something...I don't remember, I didn't have to go there. But then you come back right after the interview is over. Oh yeah, don't eat the Philly Cheesesteaks unless you want a really greasy meal! And especially don't eat one in the car..the grease gets EVERYWHERE! It's a very relaxed atmosphere and everyone is really nice, so relax and Good Luck! 😉

 

[deliriou5]

seriously... vik829 has gotta have some super deep pockets.... or maybe a secret drug business 😉

anyways, for the true philly experience, you must go to john's roast pork in south philly and order their cheesesteak - the best in the city

 

[jon0013]

seriously... vik829 has gotta have some super deep pockets.... or maybe a secret drug business 😉

anyways, for the true philly experience, you must go to john's roast pork in south philly and order their cheesesteak - the best in the city

hahaha...i went to the reading market and hit up Rick's Cheesesteak today...it was pretty good till about i was halfway done then i got sick of it....

 

[riceman04]

seriously... vik829 has gotta have some super deep pockets.... or maybe a secret drug business 😉

anyways, for the true philly experience, you must go to john's roast pork in south philly and order their cheesesteak - the best in the city

I heard another company had the best philly cheesesteak.

Wherever you go...I can tell you those greasy things are overrated (this is coming from a Los Angelino)

I am still getting used to Philly. It has it's perks. It's kinda weird that immediately surrounding the main part of the city are some very sketchy areas...kinda sad (Northeast philly, North Philly, West Philly, and South Philly are all notorious for something bad)...there is still alot of culture here.

Hey does anyone know where I can find some good jazz clubs and neo-soul cafe's
Hey tigress do you know?

 

[riceman04]

hahaha...i went to the reading market and hit up Rick's Cheesesteak today...it was pretty good till about i was halfway done then i got sick of it....

Hey you should check out the Mutter Museum (not sure if spelled right)

 

[qwerty123]

For anyone else interviewing at Drexel (or Philadelphia for that matter), you may want to go to Priceline and do the make your own deal thingie for a 3 star hotel. I put in like $55 or $65 (I can't remember) and they gave me a room at the Marriott Downtown. Very nice for what I paid.

 

[jon0013]

For anyone else interviewing at Drexel (or Philadelphia for that matter), you may want to go to Priceline and do the make your own deal thingie for a 3 star hotel. I put in like $55 or $65 (I can't remember) and they gave me a room at the Marriott Downtown. Very nice for what I paid.

thats what my dad did...got 2 nites at marriot downtown for $50 each...then went to expedia to check out price and it was $269....i was very surprised to get such a nice hotel...only downside is they charge you $10/day for internet when some other places are free..

 

[jon0013]

riceman ur right...i took the subway to get to Pat's cheesesteak...man i got out and had to walk 4 blocks through the hood...it was so dark and shady....i was surprised that the complexion of the city changed so drastically in only less than 2 miles south of my hotel...

 

[tigress]

Yeah, Philly is like that. Some areas are just gorgeous, but within a few blocks the change can be amazing. I think lots of cities are probably like that, though.

Sorry, I know nothing about getting to Temple Med. I've never been there! Heh, I withdrew my application a bit ago because I was sick of waiting on them. But I'm sure you can manage to get there on time -- it'll just be tight. And the PIL session really isn't important unless you're seriously considering PIL, and even so you can just talk to students about it at some point.

riceman04, I don't know about jazz clubs. Like I said, I'm boring. Tonight was our version of a particularly exciting night: my husband picked me up and we went to a lecture about Benjamin Franklin and medical science at the Mutter Museum, and then went and got falafel at a restaurant right near there, and came home to eat it. Seriously, that's even unusual for us. You'll have to ask somebody who's more with it about jazz clubs 🙂

 

[jon0013]

Yeah, Philly is like that. Some areas are just gorgeous, but within a few blocks the change can be amazing. I think lots of cities are probably like that, though.

Sorry, I know nothing about getting to Temple Med. I've never been there! Heh, I withdrew my application a bit ago because I was sick of waiting on them. But I'm sure you can manage to get there on time -- it'll just be tight. And the PIL session really isn't important unless you're seriously considering PIL, and even so you can just talk to students about it at some point.

riceman04, I don't know about jazz clubs. Like I said, I'm boring. Tonight was our version of a particularly exciting night: my husband picked me up and we went to a lecture about Benjamin Franklin and medical science at the Mutter Museum, and then went and got falafel at a restaurant right near there, and came home to eat it. Seriously, that's even unusual for us. You'll have to ask somebody who's more with it about jazz clubs 🙂

tigress....i noticed you got into both JMC and Drexel...which one did you like better and am leaning towards attending?

 

[blondMD]

riceman ur right...i took the subway to get to Pat's cheesesteak...man i got out and had to walk 4 blocks through the hood...it was so dark and shady....i was surprised that the complexion of the city changed so drastically in only less than 2 miles south of my hotel...

Rookie mistake. Only tourists go to Pat's, it's the worst. Take it from a native... go to Jim's on 4th and South...best steak....EVER.

 

[tigress]

tigress....i noticed you got into both JMC and Drexel...which one did you like better and am leaning towards attending?

Hey! I know you won't get the message, but good luck on your interviewS today 🙂

I'm leaning towards Drexel over Jeff. The students at Drexel are nicer and I like the curriculum better than any other school. Jeff does have a nice hospital system, though, and obviously a better reputation. Gut feeling says Drexel. Ego (and lingering doubts over Drexel's clinical training, though the students all say it's good) says Jefferson. I'm also on the waitlist at AECOM, so if I got off that would be a consideration.

But gut feeling says I'll end up at Drexel. It's a really nice, accommodating school with great resources. I'm going to be having kids during med school, and I've always done best in nurturing school environments (I've always had school-related anxiety). Besides, I know so much about it, and I'm completely comfortable there, since my husband is a student and I work there so I'm around all the time.

Did you apply to Jefferson? I'll be interested in what you have to say about Drexel vs. Temple, even though Temple isn't an option for me.

Again, good luck (after the fact)!

 

[vmgopal]

When you recieve and invitation for an interview do you get choices? How flexible are schools in accomodating your schedule for an interview. If I want to finish my interviews Sep, Oct, Nov and again in Jan an Feb when should I submit my AMCAS by? Then When should I submit my Secondaries?

 

[jon0013]

in regards to drexel vs temple

i say drexel all the way....i took the bus up broad street to temple....the neighborhood is not friendly at all....i just didnt get a good fibe from the beginning...it seems like temple just has the feel of a commuter school..no campus or whatever..just a huge building where students go take class and then go home 15-20 minutes away...

drexel's campus is actually nestled in a more quiet and secluded area...had a nice feeling and the facilities are top notch in my opinion...i actually like drexel a lot more than i thought i would and if i get in it would make for an interesting debate between drexel and slu....

 

[deliriou5]

From a person who goes to Temple med and knows some Drexel students pretty well:

Temple has a very ghetto campus, downright depressing if you ask me. I think the new medical school building will be probably completed by 2009, and at that point Temple will have the best facilities out of all the Philly med schools.
Temple has a brand new curriculum - an integrated basic science curriculum. My class was the last class with a traditional basic science curriculum, which I really like. My reservations for going to temple would be the depressing neighborhood, and the brand new curriculum which I'm sure has many kinks that need to be worked out.
(tangent - On the interview trail, I was always annoyed how schools would brag about their new curriculum, as if change=good)


On the other hand, the plus for Temple is your clinical experience. I've been told that residents and attendings can recognize Temple students by their clinical insight. Being in the ghetto has its advantages - the patient population that the hospital serves is conducive to students being alot more hands-on and independent than our counterparts at other schools.

Drexel has a really nice campus, I study there often. It's much friendlier of a location, and people actually study there after classes are out. They've got a very interesting clinically-oriented curriculum... for example... one week you will be doing "chest pain"m and you will go through the differential Dx for chest pain with anatomy, physiology, histology, biochem, etc etc. (no, not the PBL curriculum) I dunno how well I would do in such a curriculum, because I like to have my fund of knowledge organized into discrete subjects.... but I digress. PM me if you have any other questions.