Hello everyone:
Well just comming from UPENN interview,I have some tips to add.Am not gonna get in to regular details or idias that have been discussed befor.I just have somting to say befor I start:Honestly,with all respect 2 everyone who is writing on SDN,But NOT everything written here is 100% true.
I immagined while reading old posts about UPENN interview in order to prepare for my interview there that Dr.Lopez is gonna be like a monster ready to eat me alive ,to the contrast I found here sweeter than an icecream.
I went 2 the interview with the most careless mood a person can have,cause I new that my chance there is less than 1 in a million Espicially after what I read on SDN about candidates with more quallifications than me who got rejected.What am gonna write in the folloing will confirm that.
We were 7 candidates(the 8th did not show up).2 males & 5 females.Thanks God I was not the one with the lowest part-1 score this time like the case in my BU interview:
-Me/ Syria / 85 .
-Male/ Iran / 85 he has a master in perio.
-4 females/ India / 83+86+88+88 one of them came from Canada also.
- Female /Letwania / 83 .
Dr.Lopes told us that there will be 3 interviews.Each one will be 15 to 20 minutes,but they actully kept more than that time.
1)- My first interview was with Dr.Peter Berthold the program director (between 30 to 40 minutes) . He asked me the following:
- Tell me about yourself.
- What did you do in Canada since 2001.
- Other than Dentistry, what do you like 2 do = (Hobbies).
- Do you have in Syria a similar curriculum like the American one.
-Why is it that most Syrians like to go for a spicialty program in surgery.
-R U planing 2 practice in USA.
- R U planing 2 go back 2 Syria or Canada after doing pass program.
- Did U take the Canadian Boarder exam.
-Why did U swich from Medicen to Dentistry.
-Tell me about your experience in the army.
- Do U have any question.
Then he told me somthing that made me realize that I do not have a chance at UPENN this year.He said:well 85 is not a bad score at all ,but I would highly recommend that U retake part-1 and get a better score!!! .I told him that I might do that after am done with part-2 ,but he said : you cant do that.I asked why?.He said cause you will be done with your National Boards. Does anyone here on SDN know about this issue?? is it true??.
2)- Second interview was with Dr.????? I really forgot her name. about( 20 to 25 minutes):
- Did you get in to any troubles crossing the boarders.
- What do U like & disslike in dentistry.
- She asked about a mistaken date that I wrote in my application.
-What R your futur goals .
- How did you learn about Pass program.
- You have been not working as a dentist for more than 2 years now,do U think that U can make it here?.
- Do U have any question.
3)- The third one was with Dr.Lopes ,and I repeat that she was sooooooooo nice&cool, befor & during the interview.(25 to 30 minutes) :
-She checked my origional documents and asked me also about the wrong date that I wrote on my app.
- Tell me about yourself.
-How do U like living in Canada.
-Did U work in Canada since 2001.
-What other schools did U apply 2.
-Did U find it difficult 2 take part-1.
- Strong & weak points.
- Any question.
Then she told me somthing similar 2 what Dr.Peter said.She said : U know that this is a very very competitive program and we have so many candidates with part-1 score in the high 90s.
Then came the tour. I was astonished with thier labs,clinics,and the faculty buildings & facilities.Far away much better than BU.Then financial info & the last thing was 30 minutes 4 questions and answers.Dr.Lopes told us not 2 expect anything befor the bigining of March.She repeated that this program is very competitive one ,and it was so much hard 4 here 2 make dicisions.She said that it was very hard on her 2 send rejection letters 2 candidates with part-1 scores in the 90s.
My impressions:
1)- The lunch sucks .......... .I ordered 2 sandwiches & salad.Insted I got one cold & very dry one( 1 )sandwich with no salad.
It looked like they gave us food that was left from the previous week interview,or maybe the guy who prepared the lunch ate my second sandwich.This is one of the most important parts of the interview 4 me.when I asses a university. I give the food part 50 % out of 100 % on my scale...........just kidding guys........I know that the majority of us here including me are dieing 2 get in to any school anywhere in USA.
2)-I know that my rejection letter is gonna follow me 2 weeks after my interview,even befor March as Dr. Lopez told us(I guess that they started typing it the moment I was done with my interviews ).My question is the following, and I wish if someone here on SDN can answer me cause I really do not know ????? : They said that they R inviting 350 candidates out of 650 applicants,and they R gonna choose only 24 to 30 maximum out of these 350.Why don't they invite the MOST PROSPECTIV CANDIDATES ONLY???? .Let us say the 80 or 90 most prospective ones.
I really do appriciate that they gave me the chance of being interviewed,it was my second interview ,and it was a good experience 4 me,but why don't they do as some universities do.I mean 2 invite just the most prospective applicants . I guess like UCS or UCLA if am not misstaken.For example at BU they invite 200 applicants and pick up 65 so the ratio is 32% will get in.At UPENN they invite 350 and pick up only 24 to 30 so the ratio is only 8% will get in.
3)- My third question is that is it true that after taking part-2 ,I can't retake part-1 again in order 2 improve my score.Please if anyone knows the answer 4 sure, be kind 2 let me know about it cause I do not remember reading anything like that on SDN.
My spicial thanks 2 all those who answered my PMs befor & after my interview.God bless U all guys & girles.I really appriciate all your help & advices.
Finally..............Did any of you guys (who were with me at UPENN interview) take my second sandwich & salad while I was away doing my interviews??????.Just tell me and I promiss not 2 sue you.
