2017-2018 University of Pittsburgh

[gyngyn]

1. Tell us about a challenging problem you faced and how you resolved it. (250 words or less.)
2. UPSOM is a culturally diverse and talented community. How would you enrich/enliven the UPSOM community? The essay should discuss material that is not included in the rest of your application. (250 words or less.)

Good luck to everyone applying!

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[ohnotornadooo]

Hey all! I'm a rising M2 at Pitt - happy to answer any questions about Pitt Med, Pittsburgh, or the application process.

 

[700825]

Hey all! I'm a rising M2 at Pitt - happy to answer any questions about Pitt Med, Pittsburgh, or the application process.

A few questions:

1. Why did you choose Pitt?
2. How has your experience at Pitt been thus far?
3. What factors do you feel helped you get accepted?

 

[ohnotornadooo]

A few questions:

1. Why did you choose Pitt?
2. How has your experience at Pitt been thus far?
3. What factors do you feel helped you get accepted?

1. So many things factored in to this decision, but to boil it down to the most important: Research opportunities in my field of interest, enormous hospital system with well known/strongly ranked programs, affordability of the city and its proximity to my S.O. And then there were the intangibles of just being able to see myself there for a few years and getting along with the folks I met at second look.
2. It's been pretty darn great! I was really pleasantly surprised by how supportive and collaborative my class turned out to be, everyone just wants everyone else to do well. You also start interacting with patients in January, after spending the fall practicing interview and basic physical exam skills. It's a great break from the basic science book learning, and helps put the pre-clinical stuff in context.
3. I had my best interview at Pitt, and I have a feeling that the faculty interview is weighted pretty heavily in admission and scholarship decisions. Then again, I doubt every accepted student would say the same - my class is wonderfully diverse, and they seem to pick out different special things about each applicant. One thing to definitely keep in mind if you get an II is to emphasize your ties to/interest in the area during your interview. They want to know you'd actually consider going here if accepted, so find ways to tell them why you'd want to be in Pittsburgh as well as at Pitt.

 

[Shreman]

Secondary received.

Prompts same as last year.

@Lucca @gyngyn

Prompts:

1. Tell us about a challenging problem you faced and how you resolved it. (250 words or less.)
2. UPSOM is a culturally diverse and talented community. How would you enrich/enliven the UPSOM community? The essay should discuss material that is not included in the rest of your application. (250 words or less.)

 

[DBC03]

I was verified two weeks ago and added Pitt last week, got the secondary this morning. Prompts are just as Shreman said above.

 

[tiramisucheese]

+1 received this morning

 

[DBC03]

Secondary received.
2. UPSOM is a culturally diverse and talented community. How would you enrich/enliven the UPSOM community? The essay should discuss material that is not included in the rest of your application. (250 words or less.)

So ... if I want to talk about how I add to the school, can I expand upon something in my application? I included a LOT about myself and my activities and I can't imagine talking about who I am without including something that was a part of an activity listed in my application.

 

[twentyeightmiles]

So ... if I want to talk about how I add to the school, can I expand upon something in my application? I included a LOT about myself and my activities and I can't imagine talking about who I am without including something that was a part of an activity listed in my application.

I interpreted that to mean it shouldn't only be a repetition of material in your apps. I mentioned things in my activities because they were pretty comprehensive.. but kept it focused on new interpretations and personal attributes, etc.

 

[DBC03]

I interpreted that to mean it shouldn't only be a repetition of material in your apps. I mentioned things in my activities because they were pretty comprehensive.. but kept it focused on new interpretations and personal attributes, etc.

That was what I was thinking - but it was written in such a way that makes me wonder if expanding on something is off-limits. This is something that wasn't even mentioned specifically, but could be inferred from one of my activities.

 

[star field]

Received and Submitted! Cue the Jeopardy music please...

 

[DrivenAndDangerous]

Secondary received and submitted!

 

[wizarddoc2213]

volunteer opportunities at this school??

 

[firestone17]

Is there any benefit to submitting early since this school doesn't do rolling?

 

[creedthoughts.gov]

anyone know if when filling out the course requirements sections we should just put the bare minimum to meet each requirement or all of the courses we've taken in the subject?

edit: called the office, you only need to fill out the minimum to meet each requirement

 

[wizarddoc2213]

anyone know if when filling out the course requirements sections we should just put the bare minimum to meet each requirement or all of the courses we've taken in the subject?

edit: called the office, you only need to fill out the minimum to meet each requirement

Idk the answer but your username made my day

 

[ohnotornadooo]

Is there any benefit to submitting early since this school doesn't do rolling?

Admissions may not be rolling but the interview season ends in December. IIs will go fast so get ya app in.

 

[ohnotornadooo]

volunteer opportunities at this school??

Pitt definitely pitches itself as a research-focused school, but the student body is pretty service oriented. There are a ton of student groups that organize volunteer activities (playing music for patients on dialysis, playing with kids on the oncology floor at CHP, rural medicine trips, soup kitchens, patient safety escort at Planned Parenthood etc.). The Birmingham Free Clinic on the South Side is an independent entity, but serves as the de facto student clinic. The capacity is limited but folks are working to increase volunteer slots. There's also some specialty interest groups that run monthly clinics in under-served communities around Pittsburgh.

 

[Brah of Science]

Secondary received today

 

[enchantediris]

Had my first fake-out email experience today. I was super excited to see that I got an email from Pitt (I have a separate email account for applications), but it turned out to just be a brochure about the PTSP program

 

[DBC03]

Had my first fake-out email experience today. I was super excited to see that I got an email from Pitt (I have a separate email account for applications), but it turned out to just be a brochure about the PTSP program

I really want to apply to that program so I'm kind of jealous


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Orthopedics101]

Has anyone received the complete email? Submitted a while ago but havent heard anything.

 

[Horse Apiece]

Has anyone received the complete email? Submitted a while ago but havent heard anything.

No, but on the portal it should show your status as everything completed, under the application status page.

 

[shadow522]

No, but on the portal it should show your status as everything completed, under the application status page.

i actually did receive confirmation from Pitt about my application being received. i also submitted mstp though and there ended up being options to click submit twice so im not sure if that explains why you didn't receive an email confirmation.
i also received a confirmation of payment, separate from the mstp email.

 

[lexington251]

Are we allowed to send in update e-mails after submitting our secondary? I know they allow letters of intent/update letters after interviews, but I found a clinical job and would like to add it to my file.

 

[VoxPopuli93]

For the second question, are you guys focusing on examples that benefit the community from a classroom standpoint or from an outside of school perspective (so like hobbies, interests, etc.)? I'm struggling to find the balance between playing it safe and attempting to stand out.

 

[DBC03]

For the second question, are you guys focusing on examples that benefit the community from a classroom standpoint or from an outside of school perspective (so like hobbies, interests, etc.)? I'm struggling to find the balance between playing it safe and attempting to stand out.

The advice I keep hearing is to write about something that make you "cool" (since they don't indicate anywhere they want you to relate it to the classroom or medicine). They want to know what makes you stand out. Choose something unique - don't play it safe on this one. Feel free to post what you're thinking in case you are concerned.

 

[VoxPopuli93]

The advice I keep hearing is to write about something that make you "cool" (since they don't indicate anywhere they want you to relate it to the classroom or medicine). They want to know what makes you stand out. Choose something unique - don't play it safe on this one. Feel free to post what you're thinking in case you are concerned.

Thanks for the response! Your advice was very helpful!

 

[begoood95]

Reading information from UPitt's secondary portal, it appears that they start sending out II "mid-July."

...so maybe a lucky few will start seeing some early movement this week!

 

[Live to Eat]

Reading information from UPitt's secondary portal, it appears that they start sending out II "mid-July."

...so maybe a lucky few will start seeing some early movement this week!

Just received an II today!

 

[lickerwhicker]

Just received an II today!

Congratulations!!! that's awesome!

 

[Live to Eat]

Congratulations!!! that's awesome!

Thank you! I'm thrilled!

 

[liquidcrawler]

Thank you! I'm thrilled!

Congrats! What are your stats like?

 

[domo125]

Congrats! When did you submit your secondary?

 

[Live to Eat]

Congrats! What are your stats like?

Congrats! When did you submit your secondary?

LizzyM: 73, Submitted on 7/9

 

[begoood95]

LizzyM: 73, Submitted on 7/9

Resident of PA?

 

[Orthopedics101]

Anybody else receive an II? Seems kinda weird that only one person has posted about it..

 

[Live to Eat]

Resident of PA?

Anybody else receive an II? Seems kinda weird that only one person has posted about it..

Yes, I'm a PA resident. And I agree...I haven't heart of anyone else getting an interview. I was shocked when I did.

 

[twentyeightmiles]

Yes, I'm a PA resident. And I agree...I haven't heart of anyone else getting an interview. I was shocked when I did.

I think people are skeptical because some other school threads have had trouble with people trolling pretending they got secondaries (and all the questions changed) when the school stated they hadn't been sent yet, etc. But hey, someone has to be the first -- congrats!

 

[Live to Eat]

I think people are skeptical because some other school threads have had trouble with people trolling pretending they got secondaries (and all the questions changed) when the school stated they hadn't been sent yet, etc. But hey, someone has to be the first -- congrats!

Haha I understand - I've seen some of those false posts myself. I've always checked sdn but I thought it was time I create an account. I would be more than happy to show proof of my II email if anyone wants to directly message me. And thank you!

 

[twentyeightmiles]

Haha I understand - I've seen some of those false posts myself. I've always checked sdn but I thought it was time I create an account. I would be more than happy to show proof of my II email if anyone wants to directly message me. And thank you!

Ah yes, the transition from lurker to commenter Now you've got my hopes up for some PA-resident love myself sometime...

 

[PiggyPug6]

Just wanted to wish everyone good luck! I'll be matriculating here in the fall. I also went to undergrad here, so if you have any questions about Pittsburgh or Pitt, let me know!

 

[shadow522]

Yes, I'm a PA resident. And I agree...I haven't heart of anyone else getting an interview. I was shocked when I did.

congratulations!
also just wondering, are you an MD applicant or MSTP?

 

[Live to Eat]

congratulations!
also just wondering, are you an MD applicant or MSTP?

MD!

 

[ek999]

Matriculating here next month, if anyone has any questions about the app process or the school in general, PM me or ask me here!

 

[fingerscrossed14]

I submitted my secondary on July 9th, but I still haven't received a "complete" email. In my portal under status, it says I submitted the secondary, paid the fee, and completed my LORs, but there is no indication that my application is totally complete. Is there something I'm missing or is this normal?

 

[lord_leonan]

I submitted my secondary on July 9th, but I still haven't received a "complete" email. In my portal under status, it says I submitted the secondary, paid the fee, and completed my LORs, but there is no indication that my application is totally complete. Is there something I'm missing or is this normal?

It's normal. I submitted mine a couple hours after I got it on July 5th and never got a complete email. I think as long as you submitted, paid the fee, and they have your letters you're good.

 

[fingerscrossed14]

It's normal. I submitted mine a couple hours after I got it on July 5th and never got a complete email. I think as long as you submitted, paid the fee, and they have your letters you're good.

Thank you!!

 

[spotted_drum]

Received my first interview offer from pitt!

 

[Orthopedics101]

Received my first interview offer from pitt!

congrats! when were you complete?