Update on the Curriculum starting next class in 2023 (useful info for future applicants):
PittMed Admissions: Curriculum Update 2022
As for the interview date, I just wrapped up my interview with my faculty member. Very nice person, though I'm not sure if they read my full application (it's okay if they didn't!). Both the Faculty and Student are blind to MCAT and GPA. Student just knows your name and school attended (that's it!).
Student interview was also fantastic! We spoke about hotdogs in Pittsburgh and coffee. Within both interviews, I was asked Why Medicine, Why Pitt, and What Made You Want To Be A Doctor? Also, describe a time you worked as a team and what did you learn from it? What was your role?
Pitt does not have any time for information panels regarding the school. Rather, they dedicate the day for interviews and the group activity.
Regarding the activity (which I have yet to do), Dr. Rao (assistant admissions dean) stated that you will be broken into groups of 4 (which is weird because there's only 14 of us interviewing today; lovely people by the way; no gunners here!) and engage in a 30 minute discussion regarding a patient or problem. This is meant to replicate Pitt's problem based learning. Make sure to contribute to the discussion, as this will be rated by a non-partial staff member (blind to everything). Do not hog the time (you will be asked to hush), do not put others down, collaborate with others, and build on the other's experiences and statements to learn from each other.
As for the group session, we covered a small case study about being home sick and culture shock. What what you do to help comfort the student? Have you ever felt homesick? What did you do? What can we do within our personal time to learn more about the culture of the people in this foreign country? We then took turns giving our viewpoints. We never spoke over each other, we were monitored, and we worked pretty well! There was no atmosphere of gunners or "I'm better than you." Super collaborative. By far, this is the best interview session I've had.
GO PANTHERS!
Stats: Starting in September, the school begins ranking students. "Pitt doesn't really reject interviewees. We usually waitlist and direct admit. We have to accept about 300 students from a pool of 700 to fill a 150 person class. If you get waitlisted by the MD program, the MD/PHD program may look at you and decide that you're a great fit and will automatically accept you from the waitlist to help fill in the gap for MD/PHD." Straight from Dr. Piraino's mouth (Dean of Admissions).
