UPenn c/o 2019 Applicants!

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I feel like we'll just be minding our own business one day and then BAM there's the email
 
See you on the 23rd @dirtanddog! Maybe our orchids can be friends in PA!

Does anyone know more about the happy hour that they have afterwards? I was thinking about taking the train to the interview, but I want to stay for the happy hour too, and I know the trains stop at some point, especially to the suburbs.
 
Jilary said:
See you on the 23rd @dirtanddog! Maybe our orchids can be friends in PA!

Does anyone know more about the happy hour that they have afterwards? I was thinking about taking the train to the interview, but I want to stay for the happy hour too, and I know the trains stop at some point, especially to the suburbs.
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Congrats! 🙂

Happy hour is usually right after people finish classes (I think somewhere around 5:30 or 6pm, although @orca2011 probably knows more than I do!). A lot of people bring their dogs. It's really fun!
 
dirtanddog said:
Hah - sure. It's not impressive by any means, whatsoever. Should give lots of hope to lots of people.

2nd Time Applicant - 3.16 cumulative GPA (between undergrad which was disastrous & post-bacc classes that I've gotten pretty much all A's in (biochem, biochem 2, advanced cell bio, etc)
I've actually never calculated my science GPA but I'd gather it would also be around a 3.1something...
GRE - took it only once in 2011 V680 (95%) Q720 (dont remember percentile but I think it was like in the 60s?)
6 years experience as GP vet tech, 2 years experience as emergency vet tech
4 years research experience (not published, but worked as a research assistant in 3 labs)
Also worked on my school's farm all 5 years that I was in undergrad so I got to assist in goat neuters and took care of all the horses/pigs/sheep/goats
Spent one year working as a rescue dog behavioral counselor for a rescue org
Does my awesome colony of hissing cockroaches count...? 😛
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I totally think there is someone in V18 who also did something with hissing cockroaches...or I'm making it up and it's been you the whole time. I myself had two that I kept for a class and then we raced them at the end of the year...well only one of mine. The one ended up with some fungal infection and he didn't make it. RIP Milford.
 
Happy hour is usually from 5-7 but it's been going a bit past 7 lately. It's $1-2 beers with the $2 ones offering more variety. Yuengling is considered a $1, so you still can't go wrong there if you happen to not have a lot of cash. Many people do bring dogs, although there tends to be less dogs in the winter since we're never in Fecal Field and it can get a little chaotic at times. As an interviewee your definitely encouraged to come hang out. You can change or wear your interview attire, it's totally your call.
 
orca2011 said:
Are interviews at a different time than they have been in the past? They used to run from like 12:45 to 4:30 PM so it worked out perfectly.
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They told us to expect interviews to run from 8:15 am - 1 pm~ish
 
dirtanddog said:
They told us to expect interviews to run from 8:15 am - 1 pm~ish
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Ahh, interesting. Sorry you all have to get up super early this year.

Lunch is probably the easiest thing to fill up your time. There's a ton of awesome food trucks, some great Indian buffets and of course City Tap House which has an amazing beer menu and delicious food. And wandering around campus or heading into Center City for those couple of hours is pretty easy to do too.
 
orca2011 said:
Ahh, interesting. Sorry you all have to get up super early this year.
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Haha - I'm definitely not sorry! This is the most exciting reason to get up early! Plus, one of my best friends lives like two miles from the campus so I get to see him for the second time since he abandoned ship and moved to philly!
 
My invite said 12:45 to 4:30 pm...maybe we're split into morning and afternoon sessions?

CONGRATS everyone! So excited!
 
Hmm, interesting. Sounds like they're really changing some things up this year. Either way, good luck everyone! And my offer of a place to stay still stands for anyone interested. Just send me a PM.
 
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congrats to everyone that got the interview!!! hopefully we will all be seeing each other in class soon enough 🙂

does anyone by chance know why they ask for a photograph? just out of curiosity lol 😉
 
Swongy said:
congrats to everyone that got the interview!!! hopefully we will all be seeing each other in class soon enough 🙂

does anyone by chance know why they ask for a photograph? just out of curiosity lol 😉
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It's a fairly common thing for interview days...I remember sending one to a few schools. Since so many ask for them, I think it's just so they can put a name to the face before and after interview day.
 
Swongy said:
congrats to everyone that got the interview!!! hopefully we will all be seeing each other in class soon enough 🙂

does anyone by chance know why they ask for a photograph? just out of curiosity lol 😉
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I went to the summer VETS program at Penn summer 2013, and they asked us for pictures too. They gave us a folder of information including a few sheets with the pictures, names and a brief write-up of the people who were also doing the VETS program that week. I suspect they are doing something similar for the interviews. I sent mine too late for the VETS thing, so I'm trying to get a decent pic of me to send before the deadline for this one.
 
Congrats Jilary and dirtandog on your interviews. Like you, I also am a second time applicant and I'm just curious what did you two do in between sessions to help improve your application?
 
jwolf22 said:
Congrats Jilary and dirtandog on your interviews. Like you, I also am a second time applicant and I'm just curious what did you two do in between sessions to help improve your application?
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I am on my phone right now and it will take a long time to type stuff in. If you private message me I can give you my long spiel about all the things. And that way I will see that I have a message waiting so I won't forget to message you back. 🙂
 
@jwolf22 - I've actually applied more than twice, but I made the mistake of only applying to Penn in previous application cycles due to thinking I couldn't move away as a single parent. Anyway, I've done quite a few things since that first application cycle. I attended the summer VETS program at Penn in 2013 and I do recommend it if at all possible. They do a really good job of making it fun, interesting and informative! I also went on to get a masters degree in biology. Definitely speak with the admissions counselors too. I've spoken to Roseanne and Rob over the years and they are both very nice, and they have very different opinions (though they will ask you to speak to one of them or the other, I spoke to both at the VETS program). I do not have any large animal experience, which wasn't something they felt was necessary, but they did recommend I get more experience at other vet clinics, which I tried to do, but given my education level, I couldn't get a job as a tech. Many places called me just to question my reasons for applying for a tech position.

Basically, do what the admissions counselors say and don't give up! Also, don't recycle your personal statement. Sure you may have written an excellent statement, but they want to know what has changed since your last application. They will even allow you to email them your statement and will go over it with you!
 
Just wanted to say good luck to everyone applying this year!! 🙂 Applications are rough but it's so worth the stress in the end.
 
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Thank you Jilary and Dirtanddog for your experiences with your application cycles. My biggest downfall last year was I only had a small amount of experience at one vet hospital. When I received feedback from Rob at Penn he told me to gain more experience. Since then I've traveled to Nicaragua and Costa Rica to assist vets performing spays and neuters and deworming with the Volunteers for intercultural and Definitive Adventures aka VIDA organization. I've also volunteered at 5 different animal vets including a homeopathic equine vet and chiropractor, Ryan Vets in Pennsylvania, research vets at new bolton, the emergency vets at Newark Animal Hospital and the GP Vet at lums pond. I've gained a good thousand hours since my last application cycle so I hope my dedication shows. In addition, I completely redid my personal statement because I had to write about my new experiences; they were too awesome not to write down.Furthermore, I feel more well-rounded after these last few months. I was able to explore so many new aspects of veterinary medicine and I know this is what I want to do with my life because I've never felt happier then when I was able to remove all the ticks out of a small dog's ears in Nicaragua or when I could give the owners actual leashes and toys for their dogs instead of ropes and heavy chains. I felt like i was making a difference in the world and I would love to do more volunteering both internationally and domestically because aiding animals is the greatest feeling in the world.
 
jwolf22 said:
Thank you Jilary and Dirtanddog for your experiences with your application cycles. My biggest downfall last year was I only had a small amount of experience at one vet hospital. When I received feedback from Rob at Penn he told me to gain more experience. Since then I've traveled to Nicaragua and Costa Rica to assist vets performing spays and neuters and deworming with the Volunteers for intercultural and Definitive Adventures aka VIDA organization. I've also volunteered at 5 different animal vets including a homeopathic equine vet and chiropractor, Ryan Vets in Pennsylvania, research vets at new bolton, the emergency vets at Newark Animal Hospital and the GP Vet at lums pond. I've gained a good thousand hours since my last application cycle so I hope my dedication shows. In addition, I completely redid my personal statement because I had to write about my new experiences; they were too awesome not to write down.Furthermore, I feel more well-rounded after these last few months. I was able to explore so many new aspects of veterinary medicine and I know this is what I want to do with my life because I've never felt happier then when I was able to remove all the ticks out of a small dog's ears in Nicaragua or when I could give the owners actual leashes and toys for their dogs instead of ropes and heavy chains. I felt like i was making a difference in the world and I would love to do more volunteering both internationally and domestically because aiding animals is the greatest feeling in the world.
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Wolfy that's awesome. You got this.
 
jwolf22 said:
Thank you Jilary and Dirtanddog for your experiences with your application cycles. My biggest downfall last year was I only had a small amount of experience at one vet hospital. When I received feedback from Rob at Penn he told me to gain more experience. Since then I've traveled to Nicaragua and Costa Rica to assist vets performing spays and neuters and deworming with the Volunteers for intercultural and Definitive Adventures aka VIDA organization. I've also volunteered at 5 different animal vets including a homeopathic equine vet and chiropractor, Ryan Vets in Pennsylvania, research vets at new bolton, the emergency vets at Newark Animal Hospital and the GP Vet at lums pond. I've gained a good thousand hours since my last application cycle so I hope my dedication shows. In addition, I completely redid my personal statement because I had to write about my new experiences; they were too awesome not to write down.Furthermore, I feel more well-rounded after these last few months. I was able to explore so many new aspects of veterinary medicine and I know this is what I want to do with my life because I've never felt happier then when I was able to remove all the ticks out of a small dog's ears in Nicaragua or when I could give the owners actual leashes and toys for their dogs instead of ropes and heavy chains. I felt like i was making a difference in the world and I would love to do more volunteering both internationally and domestically because aiding animals is the greatest feeling in the world.
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Sounds like you fixed your weak spot, which was also mine when I first applied. I got in on my second cycle with less hours than you, so hopefully it pays off this year!!! If you get in, you can definitely still find opportunities to go abroad. I went to the Galapagos Islands this summer through a program initially started by a Penn Vet student. It's now a little more hands off in regards to how involved Penn is in the whole application process but it was still a great experience. A few classmates also went to Central America through world vets and we have a group that goes to Thailand in the summer as well. We also send groups to Haiti a few times a year and you tend to get a little more larage animal experience through that one.
 
Thanks for the kind words I really hope so and yes Jilary if you have a chance you should definitely do an international veterinary volunteer programs. It was an amazing experience.
 
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If we haven't heard anything should we assume a rejection? 🙁
 
I think they're still actively reviewing applications 🙂
 
Does anyone know how the interview is styled? In groups or individually? Also what are some of the questions they ask frequently?

Ahhh so nervous!!!! 🙁
 
Oh and for you guys still waiting, stay hopeful! My friend last year didn't get his invite til February!
 
For those interviewing (and female) are you wearing suits? I figured this was pretty much the standard, but I also feel like I kinda look like a flight attendant...:heckyeah:
 
I'm wearing a grey suit with a satin lavender top (unless I find another top I like better between now and then). I don't think I look like a flight attendant, and I'm just not really a dress kinda girl.

P.S. I'm also so excited/nervous that I have read all 10 pages of last years UPenn applicant thread and I've read all of the questions on the interview link.
 
Orwell90 said:
For those interviewing (and female) are you wearing suits? I figured this was pretty much the standard, but I also feel like I kinda look like a flight attendant...:heckyeah:
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One year I wore a skirt suit and the other I wore a pant suit. Nice slacks and a blouse are probably fine as well. You definitely want to look professional, but also be comfortable. Just don't be the person who showed up in jeans and a sweater cause that actually happened once. No idea if they got in cause it wad during my first cycle applying, but I was surprised.
 
orca2011 said:
Just don't be the person who showed up in jeans and a sweater cause that actually happened once. No idea if they got in cause it wad during my first cycle applying, but I was surprised.
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😱:wideyed:
Sometimes I really wonder what people are thinking! At a recent interview at another school, one woman was dressed on the casual side (but not jeans) and was on her cell phone a lot. She just seemed disinterested.
 
Jilary said:
😱:wideyed:
Sometimes I really wonder what people are thinking! At a recent interview at another school, one woman was dressed on the casual side (but not jeans) and was on her cell phone a lot. She just seemed disinterested.
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At my UC Davis interview there was one in jeans! Crazy.
 
Hey guys, just wondering if any of you brought a support system (i.e. parents, siblings or significant other) to the interview with you. Thanks!
 
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