hey,
im a first year med student at penn state now, and as i was reading ur stuff about being put on the waitlist... i could totally relate. so here it goes: had an interview in november last year. had two interviewers, one who was totally nice to me, the other who was rough and made me feel like it didnt go so well either. i ended up getting placed on hold (after i called the office about 5 times... which i dont think they like... if u call, dont say your name, cuz i truly believe that they do not like it). the waitlist letter was so dry, and impersonal. i didnt think i had a chance, and was so upset that i banned hershey's chocolate entirely cuz i felt so rejected.
HOWEVER, after i cooled down a bit, i started debating whether i should just write them something to show them i still want to go there. Although i heard from the office and other sources that they do not want to recieve things, i emailed some of the students that i met during my interview there, to get a feel for what i should do. basically one of the students sent out an email to all the other students asking those that were put on hold, what they actually did to get in. i tried looking for the email, but couldnt find it. but what i can tell u is that they all updated their files with additional letters of interest/intent, got additional letters of recommendation from teachers or whatever, and updated them on service activities, jobs, etc. everyone that i know, including myself, who got off that list did something extra afterward. i dont think anyone though called the office or bothered them in that way. i sure didnt after i called them all those times just to get waitlisted. regardless, i think its a really good idea to send them a letter. i would send them a letter now, just cuz i know they will be making some decisions around december. (i got waitlisted in january... so i didnt talk to them at all until may, when i sent in an additional letter of rec from another teacher (who i got a B in his class, but in knew he would write me an awesome letter) and i wrote a letter of interest a week before may 15th (cuz i knew that more spots would open up then). besides dec., i dont think they review the waitlist till after may 15th, so i wouldnt bother in between then for no reason. i actually just kept my distance, sent in meaningful stuff at the right time, and got off that waitlist. everyone got called on june 13th... with just a few in the next two weeks after that. so, im sure they make their decisions and notify ppl in packs. i know others that kept calling the office, and talking to lubbers practically begging to get in, and they didnt. so i think that approach isnt a good idea at all! ok, so now that i wrote a book on this thing, i will stop. i just wanted to give hope and some advice to some of you out there that reallly wanna go to penn state, but might feel like u were rejected, or that there is no way. if u have any questions, pm me. good luck, dont lose hope or feel bad. this process is ugly and stupid. everyone knows that.
