UPenn c/o 2024

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Can people post when they heard/hear from 2/14 interviews? Very anxious to find out and unsure if today's holiday will cause any delay.
 
soccerdoctor said:
Can people post when they heard/hear from 2/14 interviews? Very anxious to find out and unsure if today's holiday will cause any delay.
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OOS interviewed on 2/14. Got a call this morning around 8:40am! But I wouldn't lose sleep over it, some interviewers could be very busy and don't get to call until tomorrow (or maybe Wednesday).
 
Current Penn Vet students,
I’m looking to buy a new laptop (my old one is broken, and I am currently sharing one), but I’m not sure what kind to get. I previously had a Mac, but was wondering if Penn recommends a certain laptop or if one would work better with certain software you frequently use.
 
bodog16 said:
Current Penn Vet students,
I’m looking to buy a new laptop (my old one is broken, and I am currently sharing one), but I’m not sure what kind to get. I previously had a Mac, but was wondering if Penn recommends a certain laptop or if one would work better with certain software you frequently use.
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Penn’s doesn’t recommend anything. Just whatever you wanna get. I personally recommend the surface book 2. But if you like Mac’s, get one. Any laptop is fine since you just need it to run lockdown browser. So you can’t use an iPad for that.
 
Corgi_Queen said:
Any current students have multiple dogs and make it work? I may have a corgi or two or three, lol.
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I know there are students who have more than one dog. It seems to work out fine. Just make sure when looking for housing that there isn’t a limit on number of pets or that you’re within that limit. Some may say that there’s a one pet limit. Philly is very pet friendly so you likely won’t have an issue finding housing, but just be sure to read over at potential limitations.
 
ajs513 said:
I know there are students who have more than one dog. It seems to work out fine. Just make sure when looking for housing that there isn’t a limit on number of pets or that you’re within that limit. Some may say that there’s a one pet limit. Philly is very pet friendly so you likely won’t have an issue finding housing, but just be sure to read over at potential limitations.
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Thank you for the tip!
 
It hurts my heart to say that I officially declined my acceptance to Penn today. I loved the school so I'll probably continue to stalk this thread out of envy. Good luck ya'll!! 🙂
 
For current students, how many hours a week does the average penn vet student spend studying?
 
Console46 said:
For current students, how many hours a week does the average penn vet student spend studying?
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This is such a difficult question to answer. It really varies on the individual’s study style. I would say, on average, people study maybe 50% more than they studied in undergrad. Some more, some less. So if you needed to study for 2 hours per hour of lecture material, expect to study for 3 hours.

For me personally, if I have an exam that has 15 lectures of material on it, I can usually get away with studying for 25-30 hours in order to do well. That means studying from when I wake up to around midnight for three days straight before the exam. I can pass the exam with maybe 15-20 hours of studying. Many of my peers study much more than that and are frequently in the library after class or on weekends for a week or more before an exam. So it really depends on the person. If you’re like me and can’t retain material until it’s down to the wire, but once it’s down to the wire you pick things up quickly, then that likely won’t change. If you’ve always had to make study guides and flow charts and color code your notes then you’ll probably still have to do that. I will say though, you should find a way to be more efficient if that’s the case. It’s very easy to fall behind or get lost in the sauce and not focus on the important stuff. People always say that it’s like trying to drink from a fire hose, and while that might be a bit of an over-exaggeration in my opinion (and that really is just my opinion), it’s a ton of material. The people who study that way end up studying for far longer and may not do considerably better on the exams. Just something to consider.
 
Average is hard to pin down because it varies per person, subject, and exam. Some weeks (midterms, finals, certain semesters) are worse than others. Some students study hours every day; others cram it all in a few days before the exam in marathon sessions. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t increased the number of hours they study overall since undergrad. You probably already know if you’re a crammer or a little-at-a-time kind of student, but your actual study techniques and the time you allot will evolve (read: increase, lol).

Maybe someone will have a more specific answer, but for me, I’m still honing my own study schedule, and it’s still changing as some classes end and new ones begin.
 
It also totally depends on the semester.
First semester was hell. We were in 8 classes and had scheduled class from 9-5 M-F so literally all of my free time was spend studying. This semester I have a lot more free time and I’m in fewer classes. Unless it’s an exam week, I try to stay on campus working in the library until 5 regardless of when classes end (so it might be 3-5, or if we’re done at noon, I still try to stay until 5) but then I let myself have the rest of the evening off and if I want to plan something outside of school for an afternoon I don’t kick myself over it.
During exam weeks, I’ll probably stay in the library until 7 and commit most of a weekend day to studying too.
When we’re back from spring break, our schedule gets more full again so I’m expecting my study habits to fall somewhere in between last semester and this last quarter.
Hope that helps 🙂

Edit: also please note I said that I *try* to stay in the library until 5. Not that I actually *do*
Don’t burn yourself out and be forgiving when your brain just tells you to stop because it can’t go anymore. I set my goal to stay there until 5. Some days I’m successful in that. Some days I actuslly am on a roll and stay until 6. Some days I hit a wall at 2pm and go home, do some yoga, and watch Netflix.
 
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grebes4lyfe said:
It also totally depends on the semester.
First semester was hell. We were in 8 classes and had scheduled class from 9-5 M-F so literally all of my free time was spend studying. This semester I have a lot more free time and I’m in fewer classes. Unless it’s an exam week, I try to stay on campus working in the library until 5 regardless of when classes end (so it might be 3-5, or if we’re done at noon, I still try to stay until 5) but then I let myself have the rest of the evening off and if I want to plan something outside of school for an afternoon I don’t kick myself over it.
During exam weeks, I’ll probably stay in the library until 7 and commit most of a weekend day to studying too.
When we’re back from spring break, our schedule gets more full again so I’m expecting my study habits to fall somewhere in between last semester and this last quarter.
Hope that helps 🙂

Edit: also please note I said that I *try* to stay in the library until 5. Not that I actually *do*
Don’t burn yourself out and be forgiving when your brain just tells you to stop because it can’t go anymore. I set my goal to stay there until 5. Some days I’m successful in that. Some days I actuslly am on a roll and stay until 6. Some days I hit a wall at 2pm and go home, do some yoga, and watch Netflix.
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Thanks everyone! How often are exams for first semester? Weekly?
 
Console46 said:
Thanks everyone! How often are exams for first semester? Weekly?
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Actually not very often. But then there are a couple weeks with exams every other day and it’s hell. So you end up studying everyday for about a month. Maybe more.
 
Console46 said:
Thanks everyone! How often are exams for first semester? Weekly?
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There’s like a 5 week stretch starting end of sept where you have 1-2 exams a week (if it’s 2 in a week it’s for a class that has a written and practical exam, so you’re taking both exams for the same class). Then there was a random test right before thanksgiving, and then finals.
 
What is a good radius to live in for the first year? During the interview, current students said around 9-5 everyday. I have a good friend who is leaving a very nice apt (for another grad degree) and lives 1 mile from the vet school on 46th St. That doesn’t seem far to me but don’t want to regret it later ! Thanks!! Also IS accepted 🙂
 
bertiesmom said:
What is a good radius to live in for the first year? During the interview, current students said they spend around 9-5 everyday on campus. I have a good friend who is leaving a very nice apt (for another grad degree) and lives 1 mile from the vet school on 46th St and I want to take it over. That doesn’t seem far to me, I bike and walk most places, but don’t want to regret it later ! Thanks!! Also IS accepted 🙂
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bertiesmom said:
What is a good radius to live in for the first year? During the interview, current students said around 9-5 everyday. I have a good friend who is leaving a very nice apt (for another grad degree) and lives 1 mile from the vet school on 46th St. That doesn’t seem far to me but don’t want to regret it later ! Thanks!! Also IS accepted 🙂
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46th and what? If it’s like Baltimore up to Spruce then it’s far but still not horrible. Any farther north and I’d say find somewhere closer. I’d recommend living as far west as 44th and as north as Chestnut. I live between 43rd and 42nd and on Chestnut and it’s a good distance. I can walk to school in around 12 minutes. Be mindful as well, the farther west you get the sketchier it gets, as well as the farther north. So like 46th and Chestnut would be a no, but 46th and Spruce could be fine.

I’d say most students live between 5 and 15 minutes walking distance. Some a little farther. If you have any specific cross streets in mind, let me know and I can tell you if they’re sketchy or not.
 
bertiesmom said:
What is a good radius to live in for the first year? During the interview, current students said around 9-5 everyday. I have a good friend who is leaving a very nice apt (for another grad degree) and lives 1 mile from the vet school on 46th St. That doesn’t seem far to me but don’t want to regret it later ! Thanks!! Also IS accepted 🙂
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YMMV on how far you're able to handle walking and how much time you can leave to get to campus in the morning, but I lived about a mile from Penn's main campus (Graduate Hospital) for a year and never had any issues getting to/from campus, even going to classes 9-5. I found the buses to be reasonably reliable, and I was able to do a 25 min walk in 18 min without killing myself (even in the summer!). There are also good shuttle buses that run from campus out to various areas of the city in the evenings, which can help with commute times. It's a very walkable city and the public transit is decent enough. If you live somewhere along the Market-Frankford Line you could even push the distance farther, it's an easy/reliable subway to take, comes pretty reliably every 10-20 min. I would use caution super late at night, but I took the train home from campus as late as 10pm and never had an issue.

As far as neighborhoods, you could push it as far north as Market if you stayed further east than 40th, but really not much farther. If you can stay within the bounds of the Penn Police's patrol route (out to 43rd, up to Market, down to Chester, east to 76) you should be golden - my friend actually did a study for her thesis that said they actually reduce crime on that radius!
 
ajs513 said:
46th and what? If it’s like Baltimore up to Spruce then it’s far but still not horrible. Any farther north and I’d say find somewhere closer. I’d recommend living as far west as 44th and as north as Chestnut. I live between 43rd and 42nd and on Chestnut and it’s a good distance. I can walk to school in around 12 minutes. Be mindful as well, the farther west you get the sketchier it gets, as well as the farther north. So like 46th and Chestnut would be a no, but 46th and Spruce could be fine.

I’d say most students live between 5 and 15 minutes walking distance. Some a little farther. If you have any specific cross streets in mind, let me know and I can tell you if they’re sketchy or not.
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It’s at 46th and Ludlow
 
bertiesmom said:
It’s at 46th and Ludlow
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I definitely wouldn’t live there. It’s outside of Penn police’s jurisdiction, which as mentioned above goes west to 43rd and north to Market. Especially walking back there at night, I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s also over a 20 minute walk which is a bit much. I’d recommend sticking to areas with new construction preferably within Penn’s jurisdiction.
 
Just wanted to shout out to those providing detailed neighborhood advice! One of the toughest things to figure out when moving to a new city imo!
 
bertiesmom said:
It’s at 46th and Ludlow
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That neighborhood is okaaaay, but not great, definitely not somewhere I'd want to be walking at night. Fine to visit during the day, delicious halal/Middle Eastern food! But yeah, I'd agree with the above post, stick with somewhere either closer to campus or in Center City.
 
Karensings2cats said:
Just wanted to shout out to those providing detailed neighborhood advice! One of the toughest things to figure out when moving to a new city imo!
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Of course! I’d also recommend checking out the google doc on the VMD 2024 Facebook group. Only admissions reps and admitted students are allowed in the group until April 15th but that’s how you’re going to be able to see listings for housing with current students.
 
Can someone give a little insight into Penn’s vmd-mph dual degree option? I’m really interested in public health and I’m currently deciding between going to Penn or Minnesota. Any advice is appreciated, thanks!
 
beagles&bagels said:
Can someone give a little insight into Penn’s vmd-mph dual degree option? I’m really interested in public health and I’m currently deciding between going to Penn or Minnesota. Any advice is appreciated, thanks!
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I believe that the VMD/MPH dual degree is brand new. Prior to this year we only had VMD/PhD and VMD/MBA dual degree programs. We just added three or four new programs. So unfortunately I don’t think there’s a ton of info on it.

From the email we received in December, this program will likely take an additional 6 months to a year of extra studies to complete. But some students may be able to finish it all in four years.

I’d recommend contacting Dr. Punt ([email protected]) for more info since she runs the dual degree stuff.
 
beagles&bagels said:
Can someone give a little insight into Penn’s vmd-mph dual degree option? I’m really interested in public health and I’m currently deciding between going to Penn or Minnesota. Any advice is appreciated, thanks!
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Certainly not knocking Penn's program, but the one at UMN is quite established and known as one of the best for veterinary public health. Their MPH portion is almost entirely online and you are able to finish it within your 4 years as a vet student. Dunno about you, but I wouldn't be too keen on paying an additional year of Penn's tuition - unless you're OOS at UMN, then it's probably fairly comparable in price. I don't have personal experience with UMN, but in my several years of public health experience I have gathered a lot of information about the program from vets who went through it. UMN also offers a residency in veterinary public health, something super unique to them specifically!
 
milano_cookieee said:
For current students - is it useful to do the pre-matriculation review? Biochem, cell bio etc, link is here for reference: Penn Vet | PreMatriculation Reviews
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I didn’t do it. I’m notoriously horrible at biochem. I took the ungraded quiz we have to take on the first day to anonymously gauge our knowledge going in. I was in the “you need to go back and study the basics otherwise you’re in danger” bracket of scorers. Didn’t study any of that. And I ended up doing very well in the course especially considering I literally got a 38% on a biochem exam in undergrad. Unless you really really really feel you have to do it, I wouldn’t do the reviews. Enjoy your summer and don’t think about school until late August.
 
Hello, I'm OOS acceptance! I was wondering if there was a specific dress code during lectures? Thanks
 
meovi15 said:
Hello, I'm OOS acceptance! I was wondering if there was a specific dress code during lectures? Thanks
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Hellllll to the no *she says while walking to class in the pants she slept in*
 
Hey everyone,

I am OOS applicant for penn vet class of 2024 and I was waitlisted. I called them today (3/9/20) and I was told I am number 12 on the waitlist. Does anyone know information about the chances of me getting in? Also, comment what number you are for waitlisted applicants please!!
 
bd1995 said:
Hey everyone,

I am OOS applicant for penn vet class of 2024 and I was waitlisted. I called them today (3/9/20) and I was told I am number 12 on the waitlist. Does anyone know information about the chances of me getting in? Also, comment what number you are for waitlisted applicants please!!
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I’d say chances are probably good. There are more than a few people in each class that come in off the waitlist, so I wouldn’t be too concerned.
 
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