Penn Suplemental Application/ Confused!!!!!

[shemshad6682]

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Hello guys:
For those of you who are filling the penn suplemental app, I'm confused about the essay questions. Do you know how much should we write for each of essay questions? is a paragraph( about 250-300 words) enough for each question, because I feel that a paragraph for each question might be short ? can we answer them all in one long essay or should we answer each of them separately?
Thank you all!!!!
Good luck everyone!!!

 

[vlct0ria]

Hello guys:
For those of you who are filling the penn suplemental app, I'm confused about the essay questions. Do you know how much should we write for each of essay questions? is a paragraph( about 250-300 words) enough for each question, because I feel that a paragraph for each question might be short ? can we answer them all in one long essay or should we answer each of them separately?
Thank you all!!!!
Good luck everyone!!!

They said there is no specific length, and I think you should answer the questions separately...I haven't done it yet, but looking at the questions, I don't think I'm going to be writing another PS-length essay for any of them...

 

[Zubnaya Feya]

I wrote a little bit less than a page for each of the questions (double-spaced) except #2 (1.5 pages). I guess it depends on how you write it...

 

[PSU SHC 414]

Hello guys:
For those of you who are filling the penn suplemental app, I'm confused about the essay questions. Do you know how much should we write for each of essay questions? is a paragraph( about 250-300 words) enough for each question, because I feel that a paragraph for each question might be short ? can we answer them all in one long essay or should we answer each of them separately?
Thank you all!!!!
Good luck everyone!!!

Just as a point of reference. I looked at my Penn supplemental from last cycle, and after it was all said and done, my responses to all 4 questions came out to be 4 pages long (typed in Word), single-spaced. <-- I'm guessing that's the expression on most of your faces right now 🙂.

Most people said it was WAY too long and that it'd work against me. I was accepted Dec 1, so so much for that...

If you've read any of my posts, you'll notice that I tend to be long-winded. Don't stress if you're like that too... just make sure that if your response(s) are going to be "excessively" long, that they have legitimate substance to them and that you're not being repetitive.

To the OP - definitely do NOT answer all of the questions in a single long paragraph. If the questions are numbered individually (that's how I remember they were), likewise, answer them individually. If you were an adcom member, would you appreciate having to go through a long essay to pick out the answers to each question?

Good luck everyone!

 

[doc1986]

Yeah, I have been having trouble with the supplemental also. The last question confuses me because all I know about UPenn is from their website. Since I have never been there or interviewed there, it is kind of difficult for me to know how THEIR dental school with specifically help me reach my professional goals.

Also, for the question about what you like/dislike about dentistry, I don't know what to put for dislike. I can't really think of anything and I am scared I might say the wrong thing and offend someone. Did everyone put something they disliked?

Oh, and lastly, for the first question, I only wrote like three sentences summarizing what I will be doing in order to explore dentistry more in the meantime.

 

[Ambient]

I wrote approximately 3/4 of a page (single-spaced) for each question.

I didn't write anything for the first question. It says to list any activities NOT listed on your AADSAS app. All my activities were already listed on the app.

 

[MiamiNole20]

1-2 paragraphs... 👍

 

[a1pha]

Last year I did 1.5 pages total, single spaced. As long as what you're writing has substance, there's no need to worry about length.

 

[doc1986]

Yeah, I have been having trouble with the supplemental also. The last question confuses me because all I know about UPenn is from their website. Since I have never been there or interviewed there, it is kind of difficult for me to know how THEIR dental school with specifically help me reach my professional goals.

Also, for the question about what you like/dislike about dentistry, I don't know what to put for dislike. I can't really think of anything and I am scared I might say the wrong thing and offend someone. Did everyone put something they disliked?

Oh, and lastly, for the first question, I only wrote like three sentences summarizing what I will be doing in order to explore dentistry more in the meantime.

Any input?

 

[Jongho Yoon]

After working on my PS for about a month, I am thinking about not applying to Penn because of these supplementary essay questions.

About the recommendation section on supplementary, we don't need to fill out the information unless we are sending the LORs directly to schools, right?

 

[shemshad6682]

I think you still need to fill the LOR section even if you dont want to submit them directly to schools. That's what I did. It was a kind of confusing becuase it asked about just 2 LOR from science professors and I had 4!!! on the other hand it asked for 2 LOR for EC and research which I just had 1. so I did'nt know what to do!!!! Finally, I left one of the EC LOR blank!!!! I was also confused about the SAT score section since I did not go to high school here and don't have any estimate whatsoever about what my SAT score would be if I took it. do you guys think it is Ok that I put blank for this section?????
thanks in advance

 

[Jongho Yoon]

How am I supposed to fill the LOR section, if I used a letter from a committee?

 

[smile101]

Yeah, I have been having trouble with the supplemental also. The last question confuses me because all I know about UPenn is from their website. Since I have never been there or interviewed there, it is kind of difficult for me to know how THEIR dental school with specifically help me reach my professional goals..

The last question is to see if the student had done any research on Penn's program. If you answer this question, it will show that you are genuinely interested in Penn. If you're having hard time, you may want to use SDN's search engine for some info on Penn's program. I am sure you'll find tons of useful information. Jot down all the points that you find interesting about Penn; for example, the school's curriculum, student diversity, educational approach, externship opportunities, outreach clinics, extracurricurals etc. Now think about the ways you would take advantage if it or help advance it or something that shows that you are a right fit for Penn Dental Medicine!!!

Also, for the question about what you like/dislike about dentistry, I don't know what to put for dislike. I can't really think of anything and I am scared I might say the wrong thing and offend someone. Did everyone put something they disliked?..

Lets be honest. There must be something you dislike about dentistry. Its not all flowers and chocolates. A well executed answer to this question shows that you have looked into dentistry close enough to know that it has its drawbacks and yet you like it enough to practice it for life.

Oh, and lastly, for the first question, I only wrote like three sentences summarizing what I will be doing in order to explore dentistry more in the meantime.

Try a bit more explanatory and yet less wordy answer! I don't know what your three sentences are, but you don't want your answer to sound like, oh here's something to fill up this paper.

GL!

 

[ssg8]

For the second question, asking about working with others, do they want us to talk about working with co-workers, teammates, etc. or interacting with other members of the public, or both?

Thanks

 

[ssg8]

For the second question, asking about working with others, do they want us to talk about working with co-workers, teammates, etc. or interacting with other members of the public, or both?

Thanks

Anyone know?

 

[doc1986]

smile101, thanks for the feedback!