Attending a medical school interview can be a daunting experience, but it is an essential part of the admissions process. Answering the questions effectively can be the deciding factor in whether or not you are accepted! UT Southwestern Medical School is a highly sought after school with an intensive admissions process. As part of this process, applicants may be asked some difficult questions. In this blog post, we will discuss the types of questions you may be asked during an interview at UT Southwestern Medical School, as well as tips on how to prepare for your interview. By understanding the types of questions that you may be asked and preparing for them effectively, you can be confident and well-prepared for your UT Southwestern Medical School interview.
Success in Medicine #14 | UT Southwestern Medical School Interview Tips
Interviews for Top Jobs at UT Southwestern Medical Center
Research Technician II Interview
I interviewed at UT Southwestern Medical Center
Interview
I had a short online chat that described the position and then went in for an in person interview. I sat down with the lab manager and a few people in the lab and mainly just chatted about the position and my past experience.
- What are your past wet lab experiences?
Research Technician II Interview
I interviewed at UT Southwestern Medical Center
Interview
easy going, like a tour and was great to meet with all the other workers and really learn about everything that they did as opposed to just being told, which was an amazing process and really interactive
- asked about school and future goals
How candidates received their first interview at UT Southwestern Medical Center
- The job was advertised on UT’s website. Posted on March 16, 2019 – Dallas, Texas – Technical Support Specialist II- Access Control
- Applied through the careers web page. Admin Associate – Dallas, Texas – Shared on July 16, 2018
- RN – Dallas, Texas – Zip recruiterShared on February 19, 2018
What advice do candidates give for interviewing at UT Southwestern Medical Center
- Let your enthusiasm shine during the interview process for a position at UTSW and discuss your career aspirations. They are very interested and supportive because they want to hire and retain great people. Shared on February 5, 2020 – Education Coordinator – Dallas, TX
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Be yourselfShared on November 12, 2019
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Be your selfShared on November 5, 2019
What candidates say about the interview process at UT Southwestern Medical Center
- The interview process can take a while at UTSW. After attending an interview, you might wait several months before hearing from them again before getting a call or email. Be patient throughout the process. Posted on September 17, 2019 by a Dallas, Texas, Education Assistant
- 1:1 interview and peer or group interviews as well. shared on September 15, 2019 – Dallas, Texas, CDI Specialist
- Very unprofessional. I was contacted by a recruiter who wanted me to get in touch with him to schedule a time for a phone screen interview. I dialed his number the day before, but he didn’t answer and left a voicemail… Shared on July 12, 2019
How did the interview impress you?
“Interviewer 1: How did COVID impact your education? “Interviewer 2: Please introduce yourself. “.
“when did you grow up?”
“What did you do wrong, and what is the mistake you made?”
“What do you think is wrong with healthcare today?”
“Why [my undergrad]? Tell me about [my clinical volunteer experience]. Please describe [an experience I discussed in my optional essay]. “.
“Talk to me more about your research,” they said (they were VERY interested in my research; for the past two years, I have worked full-time in a stem cell lab).
Even before meeting me, the open file interviewer (clinical faculty) appeared to be impressed by my application. She questioned me about each of my primary research endeavors, my goals for becoming a doctor, and what I would do if I didn’t get accepted into medical school (although she later reassured me that I would:)). She was very kind and made an effort to reassure me that everything was fine. “.
“What kind of medical problems will we face on Mars?”
“What is the last book youve read?”
“What do you do besides school?”
“What do your parents do?”
“Do you see yourself involved with research as a doctor?”
“What do you do in your free time?”
One interviewer repeatedly asked me if I had any questions, even though I had only prepared two to pose. “.
“What would you do if you didnt go into medicine?”
“For my PhD, I had to provide a detailed account of all of my research activities. The MD also asked me to describe my current research. “.
“Why medicine? How about X and Y? Do you have any regrets?”
“What setting do you see yourself practicing in as a doctor? Why? What is a strength of yours? What would your friends say is a weakness of yours? (yes, asked again) If you could do anything over, what would you choose to do? Who is an inspiration to you? Who would you choose for dinner, living or dead? What would you do if you saw a classmate cheat? What would you do?” e. Do you have any questions for me (for example, about a community clinic)?
What do you think about the number of people without health insurance in this country, and particularly in Texas?
How has the day been treating you so far? (Following which, please describe your clinical experience)
“Choose a current ethical conundrum in medicine or research, and explain your position to me (I chose stem cell research)” Somehow this led into a discussion on gene therapy. “.
How have the physicians you’ve shadowed aided your pursuit of a career in medicine?
“What would you do if you couldnt be a doctor?”
“Why do you want to be a physician?”
Who would you pick if you had to choose among three different types of people to advise George Bush on stem cell research?
“what do you envision medical school being like”
What environment do you envision yourself practicing medicine in in the next ten years?
So tell me, when did you first realize you wanted to become a doctor?
“what kind of research did you do?”
“where will you be in ten years?”
What will you do if you are not accepted into medical school?
What three things about yourself are you most proud of, and what three things would you change?
“Why did you decide to apply to medical school?”
“Who would you present to the president if you were to make a case for funding stem cell research?” “.
In ten years, what do you see yourself doing in medicine?
“Why do you want to be a doctor “
“What do you want out of a medical school? “
“What strength would you bring to our medical school class?”
“How did you become interested in medicine?”
“If you had two hours or two weeks to spend doing something not related to medicine, what would you do?” ?”.
“What is your greatest strength?”
“(The dreadedly annoying) Tell me about yourself.”
“What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
“What kind of movies do you like to watch?”
(First interviewer) “What was your experience working with children with [the disease I studied] like?”
Do you believe it will be simple for you to return to school after working in a research environment?
“Strengths/Weaknesses, Leader or Follower or both. Why become a doctor. What do I do in my spare time. Role models. What do I do to stay healthy. “.
“Discuss a current medical issue facing America today. “
“Choose any current ethical issue and explain it, or describe what you would do to fix it.” “.
“What do you do with the YMCA (my job)?”
What did you mean by ____ on your secondary? Why did you choose your major?
How do you think your volunteer work has influenced your decision to pursue a career in medicine?
“Do you have any questions?”
“What do you think medical school will be like? “
“The usual stuff. Why medicine? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?”.
“Int#2: So you’ve had biochemistry, what is the last reaction of the krebs cycle, and how many net ATP do you get from glucose? Why isn’t it 38?”
“What are your interests? X 2 or 3”
“Where do you see yourself in ten years?”
“What three traits are important for a doctor?”
“Why do you want to go into medicine?”
“What made you choose your undergraduate university?”
“Tell me about someone elses research in your lab. Tell me about your research. How would you explain your research to a non-scientist?”.
“Where do you see yourself ten years from now?”
“Tell me about your background (I have an interesting one.)”
“Why do you want to be a doctor?”
“open-ended: tell me about yourself.”
“Besides the question mentioned above, they were really straight forward.”
“whats the latest non-science book you read”
“Where do you see yourself in 10 years?”
“Most questions were based on my application.”
What can I say about our school to persuade you to choose us over the competition?
“Do you regret your fruitless service experiences?”
“Tell me how you feel about Roe v. Wade.”
“What are you going to do over the summer?”
“Know why you’d want to visit Texas, especially Dallas if you are out of stater like me”.
“My low BS score on MCAT”
How have you previously dealt with working with domineering doctors?
“Do you think returning to school after a break of a few years will be difficult for you?”
“Tell me how you prepared for the MCAT.”
Why did you opt to attend a school outside of your home state?
“Tell me about your community service experience.”
“Tell me about your research experience.”
“Tell me about your research.”
“Very basic, general questions about my application”
“where did you grow up?”
“How will you handle the stress of medical school?”
“Asked about my optional essay.”
“what is the future of the US healthcare system”
“Are you a risk taker”
“Why do you think becoming a doctor is the right career choice for you? What qualities do you think a doctor should possess? Tell me about a college experience that changed your perspective.” Tell me about a volunteer experience you had that caused your perspective to change. What specialties do you think you may be interested in?”.
“What do you like to do for fun?”
“PS only interviewer (research faculty) was also very nice but a little awkward in social situations. She asked me about my personal background (based on my PS), what was the last book I read (followed by a conversation that was awkward because (s)he hadn’t heard of any of the books or authors I talked about), and what were my interests/hobbies. What would I do if I discovered a classmate had cheated on a test? Who would I take to the White House to discuss stem cell research? What is the biggest ethical problem in medicine right now? In general, (s)he seemed to focus on my background/interests and personality/ethics. “.
“What are my thoughts on supplements?”
“What kinds of materials do you read?”
How do you envision research fitting into your career as a doctor?
“Do you want to do more research?”
“How would your best friend describe you?”
“What would your roommate tell us about you?”
“What is a book youve read recently (outside of school)?”
“Name two people you would want to invite for dinner?”
“What made you interested in medicine?”
“Two dead people to eat dinner with”
Putting politics aside, what are your thoughts on the reform of our healthcare system?
“would you clone humans? how bout organs?”
“Remind me of your motivations for attending medical school and your goals for graduating” (In response to my taking the MCAT twice) Do you have any questions for me? / Why do you think you did so much better the second time around?
“What do your parents think about you going into medicine?”
“What would you do if a peer cheats?”
“what would you do if you saw a student cheating?”
If you don’t get into medical school, what will you do? What are your thoughts on physician assisted suicide?
“What would your friends say your greatest weakness is?”
“When did you know you wanted to be a physician?”
“Tell me about your family”
“If you couldnt go into medicine, what would you do?”
“Tell me about your research.”
What profession would you choose if the healthcare industry didn’t exist?
“what on application that dont want me/committee to see”
“Why are you a doctor and what is it about medicine that you like so much?”
What issues do you anticipate there will be for doctors in the next ten years?
“What is your passion in life?”
“How was your volunteering experience?”
“how will you handle the stress of med school?”
Talk about the benefits and drawbacks of the proposed motorcycle helmet law. “.
“Discuss an ethical dilemma in medicine and how you would resolve it.” “.
Do you believe that music has the power to heal? Do you hope to be able to use music in your medical practice?
“3 ppl you would like to eat dinner with. “
“What kind of doctor do you want to be”
“What are you doing this next year?”
Do you believe that having a patient-doctor relationship would be something you would want to do after volunteering in primary care?
“What strength would you bring to patients?”
“Tell me about the life-saving rescue you performed.”
“Select a current healthcare issue and discuss it with your thoughts on potential solutions. (4/4 interviewers this year have asked me to do this). “.
“Do you have any siblings? (Both asked this.)”
“Where do you see yourself in ten years?”
“Where do you see yourself in 10 years?”
“I’m going to say a word, and you tell me what comes to mind: 1) Democrat 2) Saddam Hussein 3) West Virginia 4) Australia” (the first interviewer said this is a random question for thought).
The second interviewer questioned, “What would your friends say are your good qualities?”
“Tell me about (my school) Ducks Unlimited.”
Give me a medical ethical conundrum. Describe the advantages and disadvantages. Tell me where you stand on the matter and why.
“Since I have a daughter, how would I manage school. Why UT Southwestern? Biggest obstacle when entering school (financial, etc. )”.
“What two individuals would you invite to dinner? “
“How do you see yourself in medicine?”
Who would you choose to have dinner with if you could raise the dead for two people?
“Describe any medical experience you have had so far.”
“How does architecture relate to medicine?”
“When my interviewer questioned my responses to “What are three things you are proud of?,” I defended them, and she appeared impressed. It turned out that we had a lot in common. We began to discuss our respective cultures, our shared Catholicism, our families, pressures, and expectations, among other things. “.
“Explain briefly how you believe your extracurricular activities reflect Southwestern’s mission statement.” “.
“How do you see yourself in 10 years?”
“Do you have any questions for me?”
“I’m way too poor for that, so I had to say no, but I was asked where I’d go if I had the chance to travel abroad. “.
“Int#1:Relate a specific incident from volunteering that stands out. Int#2:Biggest problem in medicine? How to solve?”.
“What drives you? How do you know you won’t change your mind while in medical school or afterward?”
“Why do you want to come here?”
“Would you ever think about a career in research or teaching? (I had said that primary care was my area of interest)”
“If not medicine, then what?”
What is something you want the admissions committee to know about that is not mentioned in your application?
“What do you do on your spare time?”
“What specialty are you interested in?”
“What makes UT-SW appeal to you?”
How will having an MD and a PhD help you in your career?
“Tell me about your volunteer experiences.”
“How does your research experience fit into your medical career?”
“What setting (socioeconomic) setting do you see yourself practicing in?”
“As a teacher, what should be done to improve the public education system in the US?”
“Do you want to work in a medically underserved area?”
“Why medicine and why now? (nontrad!)”
“Both interviewers asked me to list three strengths and weaknesses.”
“Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?”
“If I were to ask your friends what three things they would criticize about you,”
“What type of setting do you see yourself practice in?”
“How did you decide to become a doctor?”
“what do you think of dallas?”
“Do you believe this interview will have a discernible impact on your likelihood of admission? (Unfortunately, you can’t say that.) When making admissions decisions, I got the feeling that these were some serious “what did you get on your MCAT” individuals. (I should be honest and say that no one ever asked me this question. )”.
How would you respond to a patient who presents with problems that you don’t personally support?
“Do you speak any other languages?”
“What I do in my free time”
“What area of medicine are you interested in? Why?”
“Why did you take so many hours? “
“tell me about your work experience”
What information about you as a candidate would you like me to include in my post-interview write-up for the admissions committee?
“What musical instruments do you play?”
“Tell me about your research experience.”
How will you work and teach in underserved areas?
The state of the healthcare system at the moment (both generally and in conversation) “.
“Why do you want to come to Texas?”
“How do you handle stress?”
“where do you want to be in 10 years?”
“Tell me about your research.”
What do you believe to be the biggest problem in US healthcare?
“Why do you want to go to UTSW”
“I’m from the north, do you see yourself staying in Texas?”
“What are you going to do this summer.”
“What are my thoughts on obesity?”
What sort of challenges did you encounter during [my volunteer experience]?
I realize that asking you to describe your upbringing is more of a command than a question. “.
“Do you have any questions for me?”
“What are three strengths and three weaknesses of yours?”
“What two deceased people would you invite to dinner?”
“What was most challenging in your life?”
“What do you like to do in free time”
“Where do you see yourself when you are 40?”
What kind of employment situation do you envision yourself in five or ten years?
“Would you permit a patient to take a holistic medication/supplement?”
“what was the last book you read?”
“Basic stuff – Tell me about your research. What are your hobbies, a challenge you’ve faced in life, and how did you handle it? “.
“Any research? (ONe interview was closed-file)”
Have you given any thought to the kind of specialty you want to pursue?
“Tell me about (activity from application).”
“What would I do if I couldn’t attend medical school?”
What is the current contentious medical issue, and how would you resolve it? “.
What did you do as an undergraduate to better prepare you for working abroad?
What consideration have you given to a medical career that could take many years as opposed to friends’ or siblings’ ability to start earning large sums of money right out of college (i)? e. deferred gratification)?”.
“what do you do for fun? “
Do you find that receiving is more enjoyable for you than giving?
Who would you invite to dinner if you could bring back two people?
“what specialty are you interested in?”
“What do you like to do in your spare time?”
“What specialty do you want to go into?”
What is your biggest failure, or what are you most ashamed of?
“how wouuld youo describe yourself..(one word)”
“An ethical question involving physician assisted suicide.”
“Will your wife move with you”
“Have you ever done any research or bench lab work. “.
“Where do you see yourself in 10-15 years?”
“How exactly do you envision yourself practicing medicine once your education is complete?”
“Why did you choose medicine?”
“What do you think your first year will be like?”
“What do you like to to to unwind?”
“Do you believe [one of your weaknesses or disabilities] will have an impact on your future in medicine?”
“What is your motivation? (Asked by 2nd interviewer)”
“What made you want to become a doctor?”
“What do you bring to Southwestern?”
“Volunteer activities. My current health, and chronic conditions. If I didnt get in what would I do. Why should I be chosen to attend their school. “.
“Why do you want to go to Ut-sw?”
“What do you like to do in your free time?”
“Many individualized questions, such as: What is society like in Cairo?
“What would your friend criticize about you?”
“The rest was mostly chit-chat; it didn’t feel like an interview, more like a real conversation.” “.
“What do you like about medicine?”
“Do you plan on staying in Texas?”
“How did you choose your undergraduate school and major?”
“Eh, thats about it. They talked most the time.”
#4: Tell me about the research that someone else conducts in your lab. Do you see how your research might be applied to medicine? “.
“Do you know what specialty youre interested in?”
“Tell me about your research. Where else have you interviewed? Why UTSW?”.
“Int#2: If you could cure one disease, what would it be, and what has been the most important vaccine to date?”
What about your time in college made you decide where to attend medical school?
“I found it interesting that in your personal statement you described medicine as being counterintuitive. Explain what you mean by that. “.
“What made your worst teachers bad?”
“Given how smart you are, why would you want to play this sport when you could win more trophies faster in another field?” “.
“Tell me about your eagle scout project”
“Tell me about your summer research experience.”
“Do you have any questions? Be prepared!”
“The other interviewer basically let me talk.”
(Where I formerly resided) “How is Wyoming?”
How exactly did you go about becoming an EMT?
“Your grades were a little lower your second year. What happened?”.
“why do you want to be a doctor?”
“Tell me about growing up in a small town.”
What is the biggest challenge that the doctor, whose practice I shadowed, faces?
“Both asked about my parents backgrounds.”
“What is the last book you read?”
What would you be doing at 9:30 on a typical Tuesday?
Why didn’t you have any research experience? (He continued by saying that it’s not necessary for medical school admission.)
“Tell me about your volunteer stuff.”
“why dont you have any reseach experience???”
“Do you have any other questions about Southwestern?”
“Have you ever traveled internationally?”
“What kind of medical school I am looking for”
What would you do if you weren’t accepted this year?
“do you have any questions about the school”
“Why do you want to go into medicine, and what areas of interest do you have?”
“Why do you want to go to Southwestern”
“Why did you apply to X school?”
“Do you have any questions for me.”
I can see why you don’t have more experience, but I have applicants who have far busier schedules and more experience, so why don’t you?” “.
“Describe yourself in one word.”
What is something going on in the medical world right now that you want to talk about?
What do you think some of the challenges with using iPS cells are?
“I was asked about my employment history with the company where I interned. “.
Who would you choose if you had to bring back two people to life to share a meal with?
“Why do people like you?”
“What would you be if you couldn’t be any kind of health professional?”
“Why did you pick your undergrad institution?”
You’re going to discuss funding for stem cell research with someone in Washington, right?” What three people would you bring with you, and why?”.
What do you want me to know about and what do you want me to know the least about?
The interviewer for the closed file asked me what I was relieved she hadn’t seen in my file. “.
“How do you react to cheating?”
What would you do if you had a terminal 90-year-old patient who was on a respirator and whose family was very resistant to taking him off the respirator and letting him die? How hard would you push?
How do you strike a balance between access to care and care quality?
“None were particularly interesting. The dreaded “what flavor of ice cream would you be and why?” question has yet to be asked. “.
“what is your definition/view of holistic medicine?”
Who would you choose for a panel of three people from three different backgrounds to advise President Bush on stem cell research?
“What do I think about the TX immigration laws?”
How have the physicians you’ve shadowed aided your pursuit of a career in medicine?
How does one clone a gene? (as part of a conversation; don’t look it up unless it applies to you.)
“Why not pursue an MD/PhD?”
Who would you invite to dinner if you could only invite three people?
“None, really. All were very typical questions.”
Who would you choose if you had to pick three DIFFERENT TYPES of people to advise George Bush on stem cell research?
Who would you appoint to a committee that would advise President Bush on stem cell research?
“Should all smart people be doctors?”
“How would you improve the healthcare system? None were particularly interesting, but “.
What would you do if you had no access to the current medical and health options?
Do you ever find that receiving is more enjoyable than giving?
Who would you invite to dinner if you could bring back two people?
Do you believe that barriers to the health care system are significantly influenced by cultural differences?
Who would you choose among three people to advise President Bush on the subject of stem cell research, and why?
“Ethical issues in medicine (open ended, it wasnt situation based)”
“What do I like to do in my spare time?”
“Have you ever been misjudged?”
“What three single words describe you the best?”
What information about yourself did you omit from your application because you didn’t want us to be aware of it? As soon as I heard that question, I started to laugh in my head. “.
What would be the names of the three groups you would bring with you if you had to make a case to the president for stem cell research?
What information would you like the committee to know about you when I present your case to them?
How does your understanding of the Hispanic community enable you to provide them with better care?
“Nothing in particular, just more conversation with inquiries about my personal statement and the institutions I was applying to. “.
“What do you envision your future medical career (job environment, etc.) to be when you complete your education?” )?”.
Why do you want to attend medical school? (As if all the work and money invested over the past three years were just for fun!?!) I’m not sure you know what you are getting yourself into.
“They were all pretty typical.”
“What would you do as a patient’s caregiver and as a family member in a situation like the Schiavo case?”
What one event from your past helped shape who you are today and led you to pursue medicine?
“What kind of movies do you like to watch?”
“Will it be difficult transitioning into medical school after being out of college for so long?”
“While strolling along the beach, you come across a lamp.” a genie pops out and grants you 2 wishes. Which three individuals would you like to have dinner with?
“After graduating from college five years ago, would I be able to complete medical school?” “.
“Same generic medical school questions.”
“Tell me how to maintain a 4.0”
“What are the highlights of your university career?”
“what would you do if not medicine?”
“What are your feelings on yoga?”
Why aren’t you working in architecture right now? It’s a lucrative field (architecture was my major, and I took a year off to work before attending medical school). “.
“I don’t know why, but we got into a discussion about biking and the urban revolution.” ?? “.
“Pretty standard questions…nothing too unique or interesting.”
The typical “So why an MD and a PhD?” query, I suppose Nothing else that was crazy though. “.
“why southwestern? why an md?”
What prompted you to share in your essay about your experience with an eating disorder?
Why did you choose to be so vulnerable in your essay?
Questions about my research and its potential applications in medicine “.
“Who would you want to have dinner with if you could, whether they were alive or not?”
“I chose Mark Twain as one of the guests because, as an Englishwoman, she pretended not to know who Mark Twain is when I said, “If you could invite two dead people to dinner, who would they be? “.
What would you choose to treat if you could, leaving out cancer and heart disease?
“What did you think of growing up in Alaska?”
“When did you decide on medicine?”
“Show me your hands size; we were talking about surgery.” But the conversation itself was pretty interesting as a whole. “.
What do you think a career in medicine will reveal to you that you didn’t anticipate?
What misconceptions about us have you heard that I can dispel for you?
“What three traits are important for a doctor?”
How does dealing with patients as a doctor compare to discussing issues with constituents when you worked for your congressman?
This was really good because it meant the interviewer looked over everything before interviewing me, so I asked, “Did I like the ski class that I had taken? “.
“Why are manhole covers round?”
“How would you describe your research to a non-scientist?”
“There were no unusual inquiries; all that was asked was very basic information about my background. “.
“What are the ethical implications of your research?”
“None really, it was all very typical”
The entire interview was about other interviews, so tell me about your experiences at _____ school, _____ school, and ___ school.
“When do you feel the most alive?”
“Do you like to cook?”
What advantages does being a nontraditional student have in medical school?
“Who would you choose, and why, if you had to form a four-person committee to advise the president on abortion legislation?”
What one idea from India would you like to introduce to the US, and what would you like to give them from the US?
“What profession would you pursue if practicing medicine was out of the question?”
Who would you invite to a dinner party if you could invite anyone, living or dead?
“Questions about my research experience”
“What do you want to be doing in 20 years?”
“How are your childrens personalities different?”
“What is your favorite movie? (There is no wrong response.) Of course, the question isn’t difficult, but then asked So if you mumble “Tommy Boy” or something similar and are then questioned about it, Thankfully I had a decent response. “.
“Nothing leaps out as interesting. One interviewer inquired about an essay for which I had received recognition. “.
“Tie. 1. What are the characteristics of an effective leader? 2. What would you advise that I do on a Sunday in Huntsville, Texas, where I was born and raised? Why arent you as introverted as other chemists?”.
“Really nothing, just standard stuff from your app, like having conversations,”
“A moral dilemma regarding whether I would provide marijuana to a cancer patient who asked for it as an anti-emetic.” “.
“nothing out of the ordinary or particularly interesting”
What information would you like me to give the admissions committee regarding your MCAT results and below-average grades?
“The interviews were very conversational. I can’t recall any questions that were specifically unrelated to my application. “.
What advice would you give those wishing to follow in your footsteps?
The interviewer forced me to suggest a number of broad categories of future challenges, and then asked me to list and analyze several specific challenges within those categories. “What are the challenges your generation of physicians will face? “.
“What do you think about Roe v. Wade?”
A question about having a family while in medical school was asked, and since I’m single, I answered that it wouldn’t be an issue.
“How can we produce more cultural competency in physicians?”
“When did you grow up?”
What do you believe to be the biggest issue facing US healthcare?
Who would you recommend if Obama called and asked for three representatives to sit on a stem cell council?
“No true difficult questions. The majority of the inquiries concerned me personally, my decision to study medicine, etc. “.
Do you have opinions on any contentious medical issues, such as euthanasia, abortion, etc.? )?”.
“What is the worse grade youve ever received?”
What do you believe to be the most important ethical issue in modern medicine?
“What are three of your weaknesses?”
“Med school involves a significant time commitment and a lot of studying. Have you ever been required to work so hard before at anything?
What do you want me to know about and what do you want me to know the least about?
“Do you have any questions?”
“What is the difference between a psychiatrist and trauma surgeon?”
None were particularly challenging; rather, it was more of a conversation. “.
“what would you do if you saw a student cheating?”
“Discussion on physician assisted suicide – asked for my opinion before presenting a fictitious situation to me” “.
How have the physicians you’ve shadowed aided your pursuit of a career in medicine?
“Name a medical ethical conundrum and explain how you would handle it.” “.
“What was the greatest challenge you faced in college?”
“all of them; I was ready for them through SDN,”
“Why didnt you invite any women to your dinner?”
Who would you appoint to a committee that would advise President Bush on stem cell research?
“What are the different presidential candidates positions on healthcare?”
“What is the state of engineering today, where do you see it going, and what examples of recent technological advances can you give?”
“What attributes would you expect of your patients?”
Who would you invite to dinner if you could bring back two people?
“Since I don’t enjoy interrogating people, I’ll just let you tell me about yourself,” So open-ended! “.
“Where I see myself in 10 years?”
Have you been misjudged simply because I was unprepared and had trouble coming up with an immediate response?
“What is your biggest failure?”
“Three things about myself I would change to improve my performance in medical school.” ok i can thing of 2 tops. he kept pushing for 3. “.
“What will you do if you dont get in med-school”
“What do you want out of a medical school? “
“Paint a picture of yourself for me using words.”
“None of the questions were difficult. One of the interviewers appeared to have strong opinions that were very dissimilar to mine (said they believed that everyone in the U S. had access to appropriate care, etc. ) so I had to politely sidestep some of the conversation’s issues. I wanted to tell this interviewer about myself and my ideas on the one hand. However, I didn’t want to provoke a fight. I had eight interviewers for medical school, and this one really stood out in a bad way. This was unusual for me. (However, the other interviewer was fantastic, and this one wasn’t challenging at all. “.
“Questions related to the research I had participated in.”
“What happened in your first semester?”
“Tell me about a contentious medical topic that interests you right now.” “.
“Explain to me in your own words the Roe vs. Wade’s decision (He seemed to be okay with not knowing that this is not a history class)
“How much of your career will be based in academics?”
“As a public health professional, do you see yourself working with underserved populations?”
Give me a medical ethical conundrum. Describe the advantages and disadvantages. Tell me where you stand on the matter and why.
“Explain in detail what you would do if you performed surgery on a patient and made a mistake that caused them harm.” “.
Do you believe [my chronic illness] will impede your ability to practice medicine?
“What should be done about the obesity epidemic.”
I have a second major in the field of movement science; tell me how you would address the nation’s obesity problem.
“Why you chose to major in architecture?”
“Nothing was difficult. No ethical questions. No nothing. “
What do you anticipate being your biggest challenge once you start medical school?
What degree would you pick if you had to choose between an MD and a PhD?
Nothing challenging, just a lot of questions about “why do you want to be a doctor” that get tiresome after a while. “.
(Asked about three times) “What do you want me to tell the admissions committee about you that isn’t in your application already?”
“what types of challenges do you anticipate as a physician?”
“What types of research are you interested in? (Research is not something I’m interested in.) “.
“When asked if I had any questions, that was the hardest question to answer,” One of my interviews was solely based on my questions, and after the first three or four, it was difficult to come up with good ones. Actually, I had no questions because everyone at Southwestern was very open to them. “.
Five times, this woman questioned me, “What else should I tell the adcom about you?” Even though it isn’t difficult to respond to this question once, twice, or even three times, afterward I felt as though I had covered everything on my resume. “.
What is the Krebs cycle’s final reaction? (Not kidding, who knew this kind of thing actually occurred)
“So why do you want to come to UT Southwestern?”
“None. They were both conversational interviews.”
“What are three of your strengths, according to your roommate? (Hard because I kind of blanked on the third) “.
“Nothing too difficult. One inquired about my knowledge of Medicaid coverage issues after I spent time working as a shadow in an inner-city clinic. “.
“Describe ways to correct current healthcare problems”
“What is the future of healthcare given the enormous deficit we currently have?”
“How do you think Southwestern will fit you?”
How do primary care, working in underserved areas, and academic medicine relate to one another?
“What is the weakest part of your application?”
If you could raise two people from the dead, who would they be and why?
“Describe the research of someone else in your lab.”
What other universities have you applied to or interviewed at, and how would you rate them?
“Is there anything you want me to let the admissions committee know about?”
“I didnt find any of the questions to be difficult.”
“None were difficult at all.”
“Again, same old stuff. Why do you want to be a doctor, etc. “.
“Interviewer probed my knowledge of my research. Know yours and youll do fine. “.
What issues does modern medicine currently face, and how do you address them?
“Why are you only applying to two schools?”
“Tell me more about yourself. (I was running out of things to say!)”.
“Why did you get Bs in such and such classes”
“What qualities do you think you’ll possess as a leader when you enter medical school?”
What one thing about medical school will be challenging for you?
“How did you decide you want to become a doctor?”
Your credentials are impressive, but everyone here who interviews has incredible credentials,” Why should I recommend you to the admissions committee? “.
What number of stem cell lines are available in the US for research?
There is nothing to do in Huntsville, Texas, where I grew up, except perhaps to attend an execution, so what would you recommend I do if I were there on a Sunday?” :)”.
“none, both interviews were laid back and conversational”
How do you intend to use your position as a doctor to make sure that kids in underserved areas get the medical care they need?
“What factors would make you choose our school?”
What do you NOT like about your best friend, and who is she?
“After I explained my schedule (lots of work), one interviewer really picked on me about my lack of clinical experience, and we didn’t let up as we discussed applicants who were busier,”
“I researched the school and my application, practiced some ethical dilemmas (although these weren’t asked about), and made sure I had a strong response for the questions “tell me about yourself” and “why medicine?” ””.
“Studied my application. Read MSAR page. Read UTSWs school page. Reviewed prior SDN threads. “.
“I reviewed my application, studied the school’s mission, and prepared the SDN quiz questions in advance.” “.
“I looked over recent news, read over my essays and application again, and solicited input from students who had previously attended UTSW interviews.” “.
“Read this website, read brochures, etc.”
“Attending other interviews, and using interview feedback.”
“I’ve read about the school on the school’s website and on SDN, read SDN feedback (very helpful! ), read some books on medical school interviews, participated in two practice interviews, and have been keeping up with medical news.”
“Research the history of the school, the UTSW motto, the UTSW vision, and the UTSW goals. Talk to older UTSW students.”
“Practice. Practice. And more practice.”
“Go over my app, read questions on this website”
“I reviewed the materials from the research I conducted this summer and contacted interviewees here.” “.
“Did two mock interviews with teachers”
“Interviews for pre-med at my university, career center at my school, student doctor net”.
examining previous questions from SDN and other websites and practicing responses.
“Read NEJM to stay up to date with healthcare reform. Reviewed my application and common interview questions. Reviewed interview feedback. “.
“SDN, reviewed TMDSAS application, practiced responses to “standard” questions (e. g. , why do you want to become a doc?)”.
“SDN; reviewed my research and essays; enjoyed myself the previous night”
“read a book on health policy, looked over the TMDSAS app, and read SDN”
“Re-read through my application and reviewed my research. Tried not to get to wound up. Went out to dinner with friends. “.
“Think about my answers a bit.”
“Read TMDSAS, Secondary, Interview Feedback”
“StudentDoc, Mock Interviews and MSAR”
“Read SDN interview feedback, think of answers, mock interview”
“read SDN feedback, read online articles on healthcare, mock interviews”
“Read health policy lectures, SDN, mock interview, reviewed application”
“read app, sdn, talk to medical students”
“Read this page, reviewed my research.”
“SDN, Previouse interview questions, unhurried, spoke to my sister, a first-year student there.” “.
“sdn, online research on medical ethics: abortion, assisted suicide, and stem cell research”
“SDN, other interviews, practice questions”
“SDN feedback, mock interview, read health text, UWash Bioethics module, read draft papers, PS, secondary essays, etc.” “.
“I didn’t review the app for SDN as much as I should have”
“I reviewed my app, read the school website, and SDN, but none of it really mattered.”
“sdn, review personal statement, relax”
SDN, the AMA ethics website, the Southwestern website, and a conversation with a Southwestern neurologist
“SDN, school website, previous interviews”
“sdn, read a book on ethics. Basically, one guy asked me to quote everything I had printed from SDN. “.
“Reviewed current ethics topics and health care issues. Read my personal statements. “.
I have great charisma; it’s a gift from God that can’t be acquired. “.
“SDN, mock interview, read the schools website”
“I reread my UTSW application and secondary, and I practiced interview question responses.” “.
“Student doctor feedback. Kaplan interview question guide. “
“SDN, reviewed secondary, talked with friend who is a MSII.”
“SDN feedback, looked up schools online, read the application, went over the HPO interview questions, and spoke to a friend who is a current MS1 “.
“SDN feedback, went over secondary, looked at the schools website”
“SDN, reviewing your personal statement, TMDSAS, and a few interview questions”
“Read my application to anticipate any questions that might be asked of me.” I read SDN and reviewed healthcare issues, but I wasn’t questioned about them. “.
“SDN, read over my personal statement”
“reread primary and secondary, SDN”
“SDN, school catalogue, various websites, books.”
“read over my app. , remembered what I did/said at all the other interviews”.
“Read studentdoctor. net and SW student manual; talked some to other students. “.
“Read books on medical school interviewing.”
“Mock interviews, looking at their website, looking over application”
“Medical school catalogue and my universitys feedback notebook.”
“By compiling a massive list of questions ever asked, I had an answer (not memorized) ready for any scenario or question that might arise.” WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY OVERPREPARED. You really don’t need to do this, but there are a few things you should be prepared for. Identify your motivations if your major isn’t a traditional science. =)”.
“Read the website; margarita the night before.”
“Slept, woke up early, ran”
“Read the website and my app”
“Read SDN, newspapers, and essays. “
“read website, apps, kept up on current events”
“Looked at this site, read my application”
“Reviewed my research and future research interests. There is a fantastic website at UT Southwestern where you can look up faculty research interests. Knowing what some of the faculty are working on that you might be interested in is a good idea. “.
“Went to bed early, SDN”
“Read Interview Feedback, read SDN, etc”
“mock interview, read this website and my application”
“SDN, School website, application, talking to others”
“Read SDN, read site, prepared for questions.”
“Have completed a mock interview, reviewed a list of potential interview questions, slept, and read some SDN content. Because of how open my first interviewer was, I was able to relax during both of the interviews. “.
“Read up on the school, this website.”
“Talked to friends who go there.”
“interview feedback, read over TMDSAS and secondary applications”
“Went over application; look at interview feedback”
“I read through the site’s questions and answers, looked up the school, and typed out any possible responses.”
“Re-read my application, browse the site’s interviews, and read up on the school.” “.
“Mock interview, read school website and this website”
“Sleep, SDN, school website, friends currently at Southwestern”
“Read the school website, SDN interview feedback.”
“Read my application, interviewers publications.”
“Interacted with students, checked SDN, and reviewed my application, particularly the secondary I sent to this school.”
“read my application, MSAR, UTSWs website…the standard stuff.”
“This website and handouts from pre-med office”
“interview feedback, read school website”
“read my application, read SDN interview feedback”
“read SDN, secondary, personal statement”
“went out the night before with friends”
Relax and inform the interviewer that the IM chair is a member of President Bush’s Bioethics Council. Of course, it would be helpful at this point if you had some knowledge of bioethics (which I don’t). “.
“Reviewed applications and internet feedback. “
“Checked out the schools website.”
“Nothing really. I specifically tried not to prepare for my interviews. Instead of just repeating a scripted response, I thought I would just enter and be myself. “.
“sdn, website, read over my app”
“I looked at my personal statement, this website, and the school’s website.” “.
“I read over the website. “
“thought of questions to ask interviewer”
“Read over interview feedback and MSAR data for school”
“I went over my application and hoped for straightforward interviews,” “.
“Read the interview reviews on this website, browse the school website, read articles about healthcare, and review your research experience”
“Read TMDSAS and secondary, looked at website.”
“schools website, pre-med offices interview feedback forms”
“looked over the school website”
Interviewers read through my application and posed thoughtful questions, and student panels were helpful and honest.
“Attitudes of students and campus.”
“It was a two-day interview process; on the first day, interviewees had the opportunity to shadow in the clinic and take a thorough tour of the medical school and its hospital, and on the second day, they had their actual interviews as well as a tour of the nearby apartments. On the first day, there was also a cultural show. “.
“How much the students loved the school”
“Everything – the school, the buildings (two new hospitals are being built), the students, and the faculty “.
“There were plenty of opportunities to talk to current students. Everyone was extremely kind and helpful, and students weren’t nearly as strange or socially awkward as one might have assumed after reading this website. The opening of the brand-new Parkland and University Hospitals in 2014 and 2015, respectively, just in time for the clinical training of the class of 2018, is very exciting. The Colleges system seems to be a hit with students. It was wonderful to accompany a team on hospital rounds because MS3 and MS4 students get a lot of hands-on experience and have calls like adults. Block scheduling for second year systems courses with non-cumulative exams every three weeks Opportunities for clinical electives and away rotations in MS4. A 4 year MD/MPH. Opportunities in global health are expanding (UTSW was not particularly interested in these opportunities, but they appear to be doing so now) Financial information talk. “.
“The facilities, the new Parkland, the student families”
“The faculty, the students, the facility.”
“Two interviewers, both very relaxed, one with open file, the other with only personal statement”
“facilities, such a good school”
“The interviewer, a psychiatrist, was very friendly and listened to everything I had to say.” “.
“The faculty is soooo in it for the students. The clinical yrs. Research encouraged. The Colleges. Low tuition. Curriculum. Syllabus, no need for textbooks. Dallas lifestyle. Student Center. “.
“The students at Southwestern seem happy to be here, and everyone is very proud of Parkland. “.
“The organization and the students”
“The students seemed incredibly happy. Both Parkland and Childrens Hospitals seem unbelievable. All students receive a carrel for their first two years. New grading system is very appealing. Experts teach each lecture. “.
“The school is wayyyy friendlier than I had anticipated. The students were great and sociable, the faculty were great. Parkland was amazing. “.
“The adminstrators, the students, the ranking from residency directors, facilities”
“Parkland! The community spirit here, as well as the impressive number of beds and scope of clinical training opps available, are unparalleled; (2) The “College” system (100% positive feedback from all students currently involved; (3) Each student gets a study desk in first and second year; (4) The supportive and very personable faculty members, who clearly value their students; (5) The new-ish student population; and (5) The student body as a whole.” I’m not sure how long students can spend here, though “.
“The expense, the incredible amount of training that students receive for actually practicing medicine, the hands-on experience, the personal involvement in patients’ care, and the fact that the third years go on call” “.
“Endless research and great curriculum”
“Parkland and Childrens alone make it an excellent place to get your medical education; everything about this place is awesome. You gain an incredible amount of experience working at Parkland, a sizable county hospital, during your third and fourth years of medical school. The way they handled the interview day also impressed me. Even though we were the last interview group, they made a point of being as open and honest with us about their position in the admissions process as possible and assuring us that we still had a great chance of being accepted (i.e., we weren’t being interviewed for the waitlist). Additionally, two of the current students who spoke or served on the panel said they had just completed an interview. ^. Overall, everyone was very kind and gave a positive impression of the school and its students. Additionally, they did a fantastic job of dispelling some myths about how competitive the school is supposed to be and outlining their grading system. They establish a cutoff for an A, and only curve upwards from there. There is a new college system that was implemented and began with first-year students last year. It seems to be a really nice system. The first-year class is divided into these various colleges, then into groups of 4-6 people, and each group is given a clinician as a mentor. The system also gives first- and second-year students a little more clinical exposure. They meet once a week. The third and fourth years of the current class all expressed a desire for the college system. Despite the fact that they have only recently begun the program, the first years I spoke to had very positive responses. “.
“The staff and students at the school were wonderful, and everyone was very amiable.” Parkland is the place to be for medical students. “.
“Great school with cool students and nice facilities. The students adore the hospital, and the new student center is gorgeous. “.
“Student enthusiasm and quality of education/faculty.”
“Everything. Incredibly organized interview. Interviews are held on Saturdays to prevent interviewers from being preoccupied with their regular jobs. Because the interviewer only has your personal statement, they are completely blind. Southwestern also takes great pride in their high US News ranking. They say it only reflects our pursuit of exellence. Last but not least, the grading scale that is so feared by everyone is NOT bad. Only some classes are curved, and they are never curved downward. Every school uses the quartile system for grading, even if they use a high pass instead of an A. “.
“the standard of clinical training, diligent students who are affable and laid back”
“Facilities were stellar, research is very impressive, quality rotations”
“The medical center was very modern, facilities are great!”
“Parkland is a fantastic learning environment, and the Children’s facility is amazing.” “.
“parkland and childrens hospital are both top 20 hospitals nationally”
“friendly atmosphere. They really tried to provide you with as much information as they could about life in Dallas and Southwestern. “.
“They provide scholarships that allow out-of-state students to pay in-state rates.” “.
“The facilities were nicer than I expected given the surroundings. People were nicer too, interesting explanations of supposed competition/cutthroatedness. “.
The student center was nice, and the hospitals that are available for clinical years have quite a diverse patient population, so students are not as dishonest as the rumor mill claims.
The medical center was outstanding, the students were helpful and friendly, and the school had excellent facilities.
“the tour was probably the best one so far. The smooth transitions were probably made possible by the fact that all of the hospitals are connected to the school. “.
“Parkland, admin cares about students”
“The facilities, the students-yes, it’s a competitive school, but most people seemed chill,” “.
“The parkland hospital, and the childrens hospital.”
“Parkland is an amazing teaching hospital. It has the second-highest number of births worldwide, just after a hospital in India. Great curriculum obviously. Motivated student body. Great opportunities for clinical/bench research. “.
“There was a very comfortable and relaxed environment, and my interview was more like a conversation than an interview,” said one of the tour guides.
“Parkland is amazing. Would be a great clinical experience.”
“parkland, the student center, our tour guide. The guide also revealed that as a fourth-year student, she put in up to 120 hours per week. bit excessive. but you get excellent training. long white coats. “.
The atmosphere wasn’t nearly as bad as I’d heard, according to every student I spoke with, who was friendly and honest. The Student Center looks great. “.
“The presentation was very entertaining. Parking was easy. Your surrouunded by smart motivated students and faculty. “.
“I had a great time dining and staying with the students.” “.
Parkland is a very large county hospital, and the students claimed that as a result of it, they saw a lot of things. You get to know your locker mates well because they have “carrols,” which are group study spaces or lockers. The campus seems nice and big. “.
“The students were really nice and down to earth. I did not notice any of the typical school-related competition. “.
“Since I enjoy conducting research, I was very impressed by the opportunities available.” I was also impressed by several of the faculty. The professors were approachable, enthusiastic about their work as educators, and skilled. I was able to receive plenty of guidance and answers to my questions. There were numerous medical students to talk to. I talked to about ten students there, who were in various years (2nd year, 3rd year, 4th year, and even interns), and I was able to get a really good sense of what it was like to be a medical student there. The majority of the students appeared to enjoy the institution and were quite candid about its positives and negatives. The school has a new rec center for the students. There are many places to hang out, and the school provides you with a desk or work space (carrel) that is available at all times. “.
“Carrels. On campus, each student is given a desk where they can keep their books and study whenever they want. Due to the size of Parkland Hospital and the other hospitals, students have a ton of exposure and experience there. “.
“I adore Dallas because it has clean facilities and offers in-state tuition to non-Texans.” “.
Facilities include Parkland, the contemporary school buildings, and the outstanding student center. Dr. Wright was very scintillating and charming. “.
“Diverse patient population, excellent Children’s Hospital, new student center, students feel well-prepared for residency, don’t seem to have any trouble getting what they want, nice student housing apt. complex”.
“The environment didn’t seem as “competitive and cutthroat” as other students from other medical schools portray,” one student said. There were also a lot of intramural sports and other opportunities for student life available. Last but not least, the medical students’ video presentation is a fantastic idea!
“The school works hard to create a balanced environment for students.” The gym is awesome. 4th year film was a plus. Awesome faculty!”.
“The hospital facilities. Amazingly friendly interviewers, particularly one who was in a very important administrative position and whom I had anticipated finding intimidating. The students and a graduate I met who spoke highly of the university also made a strong impression on me. “.
“Some stereotypes don’t seem to be true, there are a lot of patients, and the traditional curriculum seems to be good; the interviewers were much more relaxed than I anticipated,”
“I didn’t see any of the common misconceptions about this school,” The students appeared content and delighted to be with their peers. “.
“Facilities, research being done, and how nice everyone was. Activities and facilities for med students are family oriented. “.
“The funniest part of the day was the student affairs guys’ banter.” “.
“the facilities are impressive. “
“Students felt that the class size was too large as the only drawback (235) And that about 50% were married. Overall, every student I spoke with expressed complete satisfaction with both their basic and clinical education. “.
“nice facilities parkland hospital serves ALOT of patients esp. low income “.
“Seemed very organized; the students I encountered gave off a positive vibe.” “.
“The facilities are amazing, especially Childrens Medical Center. Everyone involved in the interview day seemed genuinely happy and enthusiastic. Overall, it had a very laid back feel. “.
Facilities, Dallas, and the school are known to be of the highest caliber. “.
“Parkland, Childrens Medical Center. I spent a lot of nights at Childrens because I was sick a lot as a young child. Naturally, I have a soft spot for the location, so going back there was enjoyable. “.
I am very interested in emergency medicine, and I was very impressed with Parklands adult ER’s facilities. I ran into a student on the way to my interview, and the student center is amazing and the carrell system is pretty slick. He wished me luck, and I did the same for him with his cardiology test. Very friendly students!”.
Dallas is not the sleepy Texan town I had imagined it to be. However, it is STILL Texas (Im an uber liberal West-Coaster). One of the BEST organized MSTPs in the country is the one at UTSW. Everyone there is nice and the research facilities are amazing. Your coworkers will be so kind to you, and in Dallas, your stipend will go a long way. The MSTP is headed by a nobel prize winner. THIS IS HUGE. “.
“The day was organized and the people were very welcoming.”
“Students and faculty were incredibly nice; the tour was fantastic; in a big city with lots of opportunity for clinical exposure”
“The student center and the calm of the campus. It seemed safer than the other places I had been. The senior videos were a fun tradition, and the administration seemed welcoming. “.
“Everyone associated with the MST Program is so friendly and will go above and beyond to assist you.” The students were really great too. After dinner, they took us to a bar (and paid for it). The following day’s MD portion of the program was excellent as well. Since we had no more interviews, it was very relaxed and the senior videos were hilarious. “.
The student center is amazing, Parkland is a great place to train, and everyone I met was incredibly nice.
“The clinical experiences at Parkland seem great. There, it sounds like they throw you into the fire without much training during your third year, which is a little intimidating. The senior video clips are hilarious. “.
“The facilities are great. New student center area w/ weight room. Additionally, the students there appeared friendly and allayed any worries about excessive competition at UTSW. “.
“The facilities are incredible. The faculty seemed to really be supportive of their students. “.
Excellent carrell system, high USMLE pass rate, in-state tuition for out-of-state students, and high quality of education
“The school, the student center”
“Facilities, people generally nice and enthusiastic, very in-depth info sessions. Their student center is nicer than most private gym chains. Carrels. “.
I expected the students to be extremely stressed out and unfriendly, but I actually had the chance to speak with at LEAST one student from every year, with the exception of the third-years. They were all incredibly kind and accommodating, and I believed we could ask them anything. People were still asking if we had any questions by the end of the day, but we all shook our heads no. The city has many fine arts venues, which I happen to enjoy, and the buildings are really nice. The carrels also seemed like a great bonus. Instead of having the exams weeks at a time, I like how they were spaced out over the course of the semester. Despite the apparent large class size, everyone assured me that there were plenty of opportunities for small groups to help us get to know each other. The number of extracurricular activities and community service projects they had also impressed me. “.
“The students and faculty. Everyone was very friendly and open. People werent bothered with all of your questions. The facilities were nice. “.
The students are very capable, the interviews are professional, and everything is very well put together, so it was great. “.
“The architecture! The buildings are v. nice, and the library has adorable miniature exhibits about the development of medicine. Additionally, Parkland is enormous and offers a variety of clinical experiences. “.
“Brand spanking new student recreation center, which was very nice. Friendly students, great clinical/research opportunities. Systems based curriculum in second year”.
“I was impressed that the interview was on a Saturday. It was really helpful because the rest of my interviews in Texas had caused me to fall behind in my coursework. One of my interviewers wrote a note of congratulations after I was accepted following the match, and that really impressed me. “.
Everyone I spoke to loved Dallas, and out-of-staters automatically receive in-state tuition. There were also excellent board-pass rates and no signs of stress among the students.
They want you to know that this school is wealthy. The new facilities are lovely, and everyone is friendly and content. “.
“One of my interviewers appeared to be very enthusiastic about the institution and spent a significant portion of the interview discussing the rotations she oversaw.” The newer components of the hospital are impressive, and the curriculum appears to adequately prepare students. “.
“Parkland Hospital. It is simpler to comprehend why they make good internists given the variety and volume of patients. “.
“The faculty seemed to care about the students, the new student center is great, the campus was nice, the clinical experience at Parkland hospital seems great, and the students were friendly (the whole gunners at SW is a myth. Pretty much everything about the school was impressive. “.
“The new student center is nice.”
Large student body focused on medicine and research, extremely accommodating and friendly administration Southwestern built new apartments for students that appear fairly impressive, and they are building another set for 2004 thanks to funding from Ross Perot and other neighborhood philanthropists. Because of the low cost of living, some students may be able to afford to buy a house while pursuing their MD or PhD. “.
“The recreation center was fantastic, and the admissions staff had a great, funny presentation.” also the student carrels looked like a nice bonus”.
“The recreation building with the raquetball courts and gym”
“Everything!! The students, Parkland Hospital, the faculty. Compared to other Texas medical schools, the student body seemed more diverse. A Nobel Prize winner will be your professor your first-year. Additionally, the students were very forthright about UTSW’s advantages and disadvantages. And the gym is really nice!!”.
“Very organized and informative. The faculty and students were also very welcoming. “.
“The level of energy the staff and students have. The research “big guns. ” The facilities are very nice. The county hospital is enormous, and medical students assist with patient care there. (not just observing)”.
“Clearly this school has a lot of money. They have an air of assurance, bordering on pretentiousness, that made me eager to be there. They kept the interview day brief and used humor in their presentations, both of which were positive aspects. “.
“The day was really well organized, the interviewers were excellent, and I really loved Southwestern,” “.
The interview process at Parkland was excellent; it was well-organized, and they did a good job of selling the school.
“Parkland Hospital and the quantity of practical training medical students receive”
Wonderful learning environment, no ruthless student competition, and approachable and friendly faculty “.
“How nice the students and faculty were. The student center and student housing were very nice. The school has deep pockets. Instead of using the traditional approach, they have changed their second year curriculum to one based on systems. They are working to make the overall curriculum more integrated. For the next four years, each student will have a separate study space. “.
“Great school. Although it seems like a lot of work, Parkland Hospital could give you valuable experience. Friendly Deans and students. Very cheap, even for out of staters. Great research opportunities. Parking is great. “.
“Students were very open and honest about their experiences, and I appreciated that faculty members were willing to devote their Saturdays to conducting interviews.” I enjoyed seeing the ER room where JFK died. “.
“The school and all facilities are top notch. Because I’ve previously lived in Dallas, I am familiar with the schools’ reputation. The school had recently finished some additional, excellent student facilities. The experience/exposure that the higher students spoke of seemed invaluable. “.
“Really great opportunities for research. The school has good NIH funding. The statistics and rankings they presented to us were also quite impressive. “.
“I thought the facilities were top notch. atleast compared to the other schools I interviewed at. Their deep pockets definately show. My single favorite interviewer was at this school. I really enjoyed the laid back interviews. I also appreciated the packet of information provided about each interviewer, which included information about their interests outside of medicine. “.
hospital, excellent clinical training, and AMAZING research that truly carries the school’s name
“The new rec facility, the program was extremely organized”
The two hospitals that are affiliated with the school, the carrels, the friendliness of the students, and the new recreation center were all excellent facilities.
“The new student center is beautiful. The presentations on the senior video, financial aid, and general education were all insightful and well-planned. Additionally positives included the student carels (sp?) and abundant internet access. “.
“friendliness of students and faculty. Felt like a recruiting visit . and that we were all accepted”.
“The facilities and diversity of students”
“How nice everybody was. How casual and laid back they were. The senior videos. The school was so awesome, I cant describe it!!!”.
“Students take their work seriously, but not to an extreme degree; this creates a motivating environment for learning.” the student film was lots of fun to watch. and it was a great opportunity to observe an internal medicine team performing morning rounds. “.
“the brand new student center and new student housing”
“Brand new student union, including study area and gym. Nice first year lecture hall. Childrens Hospital is very nice. Dallas is a great place to live. “.
“the friendliness of the faculty”
The campus and quality of applicants (to Harvard, Stanford, etc.) are both excellent. )”.
“Students were negative towards the curriculum”
“At the MS0 Weekend, the UTSW welcome weekend that takes place in February, I was frequently questioned about whether UTSW was my top choice. I was open-minded and stated that I was awaiting word from Baylor (which I eventually received and ultimately decided to attend BCM), but that I was also waiting to hear how UTSW might be a better fit for me. When I said this, some students appeared to react negatively, with one even saying, “Well, everyone wants Baylor, but I didn’t get in so I went to UTSW,” and these students weren’t eager to discuss the school with me further. I thought the administration spent a lot of time “selling” UTSW as being better than Baylor because it is a close second to Baylor but not (yet) a top 20 medical school. They even gave us a three page packet of student testimonials explaining why they chose UTSW (and the majority of the responses were “I chose UTSW over Baylor because…”). “). “.
“My housing options aren’t ideal, but they’re still doable.” It also depends on what you are looking for. “.
“Nothing really. Grading during the second semester of MS1 and during MS2 and MS3 (p/f the first semester of MS1 and during MS4) may not be to everyone’s liking, but: 1) It’s a chance to distinguish oneself for competitive residencies (and quite a few UTSW graduates go to competitive residencies); and 2) Grading during the second semester of MS1 and during MS2 and MS3 (p/f the first semester of MS1 and during MS4) is a chance to Since students are heavily involved in patient care and given a lot of responsibilities, MS3 is challenging. On the other hand, you learn a lot this way. None of these things really bother me, but I can see how they might bother others. “.
One man spoke excessively about himself, his viewpoints on various topics, his time in medical school, etc. “.
“South campus will host classes rather than the more beautiful north campus.” They dont have step 1 style exams. Since the lectures are streamed online, only about 30% of students attend regularly. “.
“After watching three hours of Powerpoint presentations about the school and spending close to three hours speaking with students and administrators about the school, I was asked three times in a 25-minute interview if I had any questions for the interviewer. “.
“The facilities are a little shabby, but I don’t believe they would have a negative effect on the caliber of the education received,” “.
“It could be in a better part of town.”
“My interviewers, there are a lot of students here, so it might be easy for you to get lost,”
When asked, “Are you happy here?,” 4 out of 5 first- and second-year students responded with a frown. Personal fulfillment seems to be an especially delayed benefit of attending Southwestern; third and fourth years appeared to be very well-adjusted and claimed that all the “torture” and “hell” of the first two years was immediately put into perspective and made retroactively tolerable when clerkships (particularly at Parkland) began. The grading system also seems to cause a lot of stress, though opinions on whether this is good or bad for students are divided. For now, it appears to be here to stay. “.
The majority of students have a conservative culture (but it’s Texas, what should I have expected? ), but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. “.
“Some of the students were a bit pretentious “
“Administrative staff wasn’t that friendly,” “seems like a very tough curriculum,”
Dallas is hot, but then again, if you’re looking at a school in Texas, it’s going to be hot everywhere you go.
“The grading system/giving you a GPA seems like it won’t foster community and will cause undue stress,” one student said. There is no undergraduate campus, but UTSW is such a large complex that you won’t even notice it. It also has many amenities. “.
“Nothing really – everyone was nice, including interviewers.”
“the intensity of the curriculum and the rotations”
“Students’ stress levels and rigorous coursework may leave them with less free time”
“The letter grading system (Im back in college again?). One pupil launched into a rant about how she detested her neuro class and how poorly it was taught. The students’ maturity level was generally very low, and there were lots of gay jokes. The Dallas area is very much a “strip mall”. “.
“The grading system seems dubious, and they kept mentioning how uncompetitive they were, which makes me suspicious,” “.
“nothing really…the tours were okay”
“Wow. They spend a lot of time attempting to disprove the rumors about UTSW being competitive and cutthroat, so where do I start? but all they do is draw more attention to it. HM. They award grades and GPA and CURVE students against one another, and the students do nothing to disprove it. Perhaps this is how the program is set up because of this. They questioned why we would want to attend a laid-back medical school, asking, “Don’t you want to learn how to become a doctor?” In addition, they had to pay the students to take us on tours. major turnoff because it demonstrates how uninterested their students are in the curriculum Finally, both their facilities and the hospitals they are affiliated with are extremely outdated and subpar. Additionally, the other interviewees weren’t exactly cordial, but I blame the program for this To get everyone to loosen up, usually you need the dean or the introduction, and the intro was really lame. The curriculum sucks also. Its your super-traditional curriculum. never see a patient until your 3rd year. The student panel concluded by saying that they chose Southwestern because of its reputation, because it was their second choice after being rejected from their first choice, or other meaningless statements. None of them actually stated that they had a favorable impression of it.
“Nothing much, some of the senior video was… strange.”
The day could have been shorter if the senior class video hadn’t taken up so much time between presentations and interviews;
“college/hs campus feel of the medical school building. i do NOT want a throwback to the past. “.
“Some of the students (ie the men) were really immature. Students from MSI sat down at a table and would not stop talking about their wild party the night before. I thought people got over this in college”.
“the student that gave us our intro. She was a snobby, arrogant student (most of the ones I spoke to didn’t seem that way),
“The lack of patient interaction during the first two years. Also the senior videos were a sort of turn off. “.
“Didnt really get along with most of the other applicants. They all came off as kinda lame and typical pre-med-y. “.
presentations on school life, the curriculum, senior videos, etc. were boring and too long”.
“The students were unquestionably less grounded than those at other Texas schools.” They appeared to be much less interested in helping patients who were in need (poor people, etc.), and one even mentioned making inappropriate jokes with her corpse. This was so off-putting. The school’s overview seemed extremely stilted, stuffy, and almost political in its attempt to make other schools appear inferior in comparison. “.
“Grading system sucks. Of course theres cutthroat competition, the grading system fosters it!!!”.
“not to much money dedicated to training facilities. actually they barely have any unlike UT houston. It’s obvious because at Parkland, middle school students in grades three and four shoulder enormous responsibility. “.
“That the schools USMLE scores are less than Gavelston”
“Students go to class from 9-5 1st and 2nd year. Not a whole lot of free time. When not in class or sleeping, second year was described as being spent studying. “.
The vicinity of the hospital is a little dangerous and dilapidated. The first year, neither videotaping lectures nor providing a scribe service is offered. “.
“(See the “most difficult question” section above). One aspect that surprised me was how “quiet” the applicants (around 40 people) were. This group of medical school applicants was by far the most reserved (possibly nervous?) of all the groups I have encountered so far. There were a few talkative individuals, but it made me wonder about the personality of the UTSW entering class (quiet? reserved?) Note that the medical students were not quiet and reserved. “.
“Student videos. They made an effort to apologize in advance for any potential offense they may have caused, but some of them were straight out of high school. Most of the time, they ought to cut this out of the interview day or do a better job of picking which candidates to screen. “.
“Class size is huge. Students receive a full GPA based on a bell curve, and the curriculum is what they like to refer to as “traditional.” “.
“The school was able to erase most of its gunner reputation from my memory, but a few questions remain,” Additionally, one of the admissions representatives kept making excuses in advance for the “offensiveness” of the compilation video from the fourth-year students. It was actually pretty lame, with only a few instances of sexism and the use of the s-word—nothing for which I would even offer an apology unless I were an especially rigid and conservative person. “.
The facilities appeared to be older; the traditional curriculum had little clinical exposure; and the very large class sizes (250s) seemed to make the students slightly more competitive within their class under the new bell-curve-based grading system that was instituted this year.
Even though he was polite, the first interviewer asked me illogical questions and asked if I was nervous; I had to clarify that I wasn’t.
“UTSW has a traditional cirriculum. MS I and II has little or no clinical exposure. “.
Wish it had happened during the week so I could see the school in session. On a Saturday, I took a tour of the school, which left me with a vaguely empty feeling. “.
“The promotion of the four Nobel laureates, eradicating stereotypes, etc. “.
“Very shocked by some of the peoples behaviors and responses. My tour guide mentioned that LBJ has given birth to more than 16,000 children, which is a record for the country. He continued by saying that Dallas’ large Hispanic population was probably to blame. very offensive. Additionally, an interviewer stated that Dallas has a split class system, with the wealthy residing north of downtown and the ghetto to the south. There is a lot of crime there, he continued, “because that’s where all the blacks and Hispanics live.” very surprising to hear that. A very competitive environment with arrogant students who boast about being Tier 1 and disparage other schools like Baylor One medical student told me this tale: “My doctor told me that if you go to medical school, you’re smarter than 98% of the population. And it’s okay if you perform poorly on your USMLEs but still enroll in UT-SW because, if you do, you’ll already be smarter than every other medical student. So yeah, I’m smart,” she said, and I thought, “WTF did she just say? “.
“I spoke to a number of students, and they all seemed to have a very negative opinion of their experience. Although they were impressed by the standing and the opportunities offered to them, they were beginning to feel the pressure of the intensely competitive environment. “.
“The speed walking during the tour was the only thing I didn’t like,” “.
“Students and faculty seem slightly full of themselves.”
“With a few exceptions, the medical students tended to congregate during lunch, so they didn’t interact with the interviewees very much and didn’t offer much feedback,” “.
“Parking was difficult to find, but that could just be because I don’t know how the campus is laid out,” “.
“Bad drivers. Texas drivers are idiots. Lack of city transportation. No ecological consciousness. No winter :(“.
The student tour guides repeatedly attempted to dispel Southwestern’s reputation as a competitive school. The staff and presenters also failed to be as friendly and humorous as they had hoped to be. The other UT Schools’ warmth and friendliness definitely don’t exist at this school. “.
“You could tell from my first interview that the person was a researcher,” He asked shallow questions, and it was like speaking to a brick wall. The other interviewer was fine, but he primarily spoke to himself during the interview. The people also appeared to be very arrogant; I assume they believe they need to sell themselves to the coastal schools. “.
“Attitude of interviewers. Students dont seem that happy and cocky. “.
No patient contact the first year; continued to try to dispel the rumor that they were overly competitive (it didn’t seem to be a bad learning environment, but I’m wondering how the rumor got started)
“The students I spoke with appeared depressed and somewhat dull.” They appeared to have this attitude of “school is awful; we’re just surviving” perhaps because it was exam time. The rigid curriculum and inflexible clinicals are a turn off. Another interviewer basically said, “You must choose Southwestern,” and although it may have been immature, I wanted to respond, “Play hard to get!”
“Nothing really. As an MSTP student, you receive excellent care from the program staff. “.
“i dont like dallas, but thats not southwesterns fault :)”
“They have to pay their students to give tours. Our student tour guide read to us from a script. Although the campus itself is beautiful, the neighborhood is a slum. There are fences with razor blades on top on several of the homes. If I go here, Im definately commuting in. “.
“Because the interview is on a Saturday, the school is deserted, making it difficult to gauge how things actually are there,” But this has its advantages too. “.
“The sheer competitiveness and frankly, nerdiness of the students”
“didn’t see much of the campus (or everything is really in a small number of buildings),” “very large, public hospitals (more experience but less pleasant”),” and “ABCD grading scale so students say they worry about getting elusive As and compare themselves to the others.”
“My first interviewer was honest, and she told me that Dallas doesn’t have much to offer an out-of-stater,” Also that theres not much chance to do research. Everyone else shared a Texas background, and I had been warned that the state was very conservative. “.
“Parkland is a huge hospital. and to get to the Children’s Hospital, our tour guide led us through the basement of it. And the basement felt like. a basement. Students generally agreed with me that it wasn’t as competitive as everyone seemed to think, but they did mention that occasionally they felt that their success was determined more by accolades and publications than by other, more enduring qualities. “.
“Due to the large class size, it appears that many students work independently and “cliques” quickly form.”
“LOL this may sound dumb, but I hated the nametags!”
“No patient contact during the first two years. Fairly traditional curriculum. Emphasis on research (which I am not interested in). Also, the students seem a little less than friendly. Maybe just compared to the other TX schools. “.
“Parkland hospital is old and crowded. A lot of construction going around the center. “.
“The interview took place on a Saturday, so the campus was empty.” The school and Parkland were not accurately portrayed (although they did invite us back to participate in clinical rounds). NO patient contact your first two years. “.
“Having it on a Saturday made the campus seem a lot less active than the other schools, and I think this might have an adverse effect on interviewers,” said one applicant. Don’t let the weekend interview influence you too much; when I returned for MS0 weekend, the campus was very lively.
Some of the students admitted to me that they worked so hard to get As because they wanted to position themselves as competitors for the lucrative and difficult-to-get residencies in the most desirable locations. They wouldn’t be there if they had said something similar during their interview. But then again people like that are everywhere. “.
“Most people take 4 years to finish the Ph. D. One person I spoke with did not enjoy their rotation in pediatrics. “.
Compared to other schools, the students were more challenging to communicate with. The admissions staff appeared to work extremely hard to present the school as cool and enjoyable. Other interviewers seemed less friendly and more business-like. “.
It seems more like going to work than school. “.
“UGH… dear god, no more Aggie jokes! “
“The people associated with UTSW seem really pretentious. Dallas seems like a shallow and materialistic place. very impressed with itself, but for no good reason. The students struck me as arrogant and self-centered. I could never go to medical school with people who have a hostile and resentful attitude toward their patients. I would venture to guess that the students are dissatisfied with their course work. Tough to say. “.
“Despite being one of the MST programs’ rising stars, Southwestern’s student body seemed intelligent, but not overwhelmingly so.” They are also introverts and don’t seem particularly happy to be there. Southwestern seems insecure or to have an inferiority complex because it frequently compares itself to the “big names.” Clinical experiences dont really begin until the third year. Dallas is not as large as I had anticipated. “.
The students made me feel as though they were only there for the food and had no interest in interacting with us. Additionally, the interviewers didn’t really have any responses to my questions; instead, they simply forwarded me to another person. “.
“The attitude of the students”
“Honestly, nothing. I really, really liked Southwestern!!”
“Some of the other applicants were snobby.”
“Dallas is a good city, but the school is in a less than desirable area,” Lots of security guards around the hospital. “.
“Dallas is not particularly appealing as a place to live, and housing is not as accessible or affordable as it is at some of the other (less awesome) state schools,” The school did appear to have a problem with their national ranking because they don’t think it’s high enough. On the other hand, I believe that 17 is a pretty fantastic number for the country. “.
“The food wasn’t that great, and the tours weren’t very well thought out.” “.
Everyone just seems to be bogged down by the work, and second years were especially burned out.
“Some of the students came off as pretty haughty, but others were very grounded,”
“Everyone else who was interviewed kept asking if the students were ruthless and competitive. There were mixed answers, so Im still not sure. A-F grade scales. “.
“the overzealousness of the admissions committee”
“I dont like a Saturday interview. The campus being deserted when prospective students arrive has a spooky quality. Perhaps interviews are only available on specific days of the week at each Texas school, but “.
“The homophobic remarks that the medical students made, the lack of diversity in the class, Dallas’ shallow arts and culture, the confederate flag decals on cars, and let’s not forget the confederate flag decals on cars,” The fact that other interviewees were laughing at the homophobic remarks also made me sad. My jaw hit the floor. I felt very out of place because I am a democratic pro-choice atheist ethnic minority who attended school up North. I’m sure there are others there who share my perspective, but they weren’t the students the school sent to approach us. “.
“I didnt feel I had enough exposure to the students. Given that the student body was known for being competitive, I was really interested in speaking with them. It would have been nice to have some sort of informal social gathering with the students the night before. I must admit that my concerns about competition were mostly allayed by the fantastic senior videos. Additionally, I wish the interview day had been on a weekday because that Saturday was pretty quiet. “.
Some of the students I met there were really cool, while another was a biyatch, which is typical of all medical schools. However, since I’m from another state and the majority of the students were from Texas, I felt a little left out. I felt the students there weren’t as well-traveled and cosmopolitan as I am. Im sure they are smart, nice people. But they lack the sophistication, polish, and well-roundedness of students from other prestigious schools; in fact, they struck me as being somewhat narrow-minded and illiterate. This is because they severely restrict their applicant pool by rejecting many applicants from prestigious undergrad institutions across the country. “.
“It’s both good and bad that the student tour guides are paid to be there.” Due to the interview’s Saturday timing, it is challenging to perceive the daily scene. “.
“Because the interview took place on a Saturday, the school was a little empty,” The interviews were somewhat hurried and brief. I was also disappointed in the first two years’ lack of clinical experience. “.
“tour was sort of bland”
“The conventional curriculum and limited patient contact in the first and second years”
“The interview was on a very chilly day.”
Despite being paid to give tours, the medical students didn’t seem particularly outgoing.
“Southwestern has a letter grading system rather than P/F. No clinical experience till 3rd year. Parkland is a public hospital and could use some color/renovation. No invitation to stay with current students. “.
“Very traditional curriculum, little flexibilty, no clinical exposure years 1-2”
They have to pay their students to give tours, which is a problem.
The only uncomfortable interview I’ve had was not too bad.
“How casual the interview was going to be. They emphasize numerous times that the interviews are meant to be casual discussions. “.
“How pleasant the interviews were going to be.”
“How exhausting the Friday activities are”
“Since I don’t reside in Dallas, I wish I had discussed the weather with the students more,” I wish I had brought warmer clothing because it was extremely cold (I’m from California and was attending school in Houston). “.
“My interviews were VERY informal, but other people had more challenging inquiries.” It depends who you get”.
“I believe I had a good understanding of UTSW and the interview process before the interview, but I have some advice for those who might not have been as well-prepared: 1) wear comfortable shoes, 2) make a list of the questions/topics that are most important to you so you can ask them when you get the chance, 3) Friday morning clinical rounds is a great opportunity to see (some of the) clinical training in action, 4) the view of Dallas from the 14th floor cafeteria. “.
No matter how well your interview goes, the ADCOM makes all of the behind-the-scenes decisions. When interviewers take into account their score, they stop trying to get you into the ADCOM. “.
“I wish I had more questions ready for the students I had the opportunity to speak with,” “.
The $7 they give you for lunch may not be enough, so bring cash!
“That the interviews were one-on-one, not two-on-one.”
“Traffic is not bad. If you are going to clinicals on Friday, avoid wearing a suit. You will look overdressed. Wear a tie, slacks, dress shirt & dress shoes. “.
“To relax about the interviews”
“It rained the WHOLE time–bring an umbrella just in case. “.
“How relaxed it was. “
“DO NOT stay in the immediate vicinity of the American Airlines Center if you frequently get lost while driving in unfamiliar areas.” Unless you want to deal with annoyingly circular roads that are also a jumble of one-way/two-way and one-lane/multi-lane streets on your way to your interview (which is about five miles southeast of the school), Another strange intersection of a highway and “regular” road is Harry Hines Boulevard. If you use Google, Yahoo, or Mapquest maps, make sure you are aware of the locations of the Harry Hines exits and entrances. Be wary of directions that direct you to take a small detour road as well. They are very difficult to get through to. “.
“That I shouldnt have paid the parking fee. “
“This was a very relaxed interview”
“afternoon stuff on saturday is totally useless”
I was fairly well informed because I grew up in the area and have heard about UTSW since high school, so nothing, There is a Friday program that is optional, though, and I would suggest participating. It’s a good chance to relax (just being in the school without the stress of knowing you have to interview that day is nice) and get to know some of the other applicants, even though the majority of the material is repeated the following day. I was very happy I went even though only about half of our group did. “.
“Avoid drinking too much soda during the interview because it makes you want to poop”
“Because the campus is so big, plan your route in advance because you can get lost very easily.” Definitely keep a map with ya!”.
Actually, I was told to not worry about the interviews, but I didn’t listen to them.
“I learned alot. They dispelled many myths about the school. Many claim to focus on proving their opponents’ claims that they are ruthless, but this is untrue. If they did, it was only because the rumor has been spread so widely that many students have inquired about it during the question-and-answer sessions. Much of what I learned is also detailed in my what really impressed you response. “.
“That the information on their website regarding neuroscience programs was out-of-date or incorrect (I frequently encountered a director who disagreed with me when mentioning some of these programs) that one of their directors, Rodney Ulane, received a Nobel Prize, is departing for NYU “.
Wear comfortable shoes because the tour includes Parkland, Childrens, and the medical school.
“nothing. Everything was very clear-cut, and they did a great job of outlining everything for the rest of the day in the beginning. “.
“that i really needed to pick up more decongestant meds. and that interviews for library jobs were conducted in cramped study rooms next to one another, where both the interviewee and the interviewer could be seen through the window. “.
“how relaxed the whole day would be.”
“How amazing Parkland and the Childrens hospital is. They have a huge train playscape through the Childrens hospital. Additionally, Dallas doesn’t have many hip neighborhoods. “.
If you are unfamiliar with Dallas’s roads, getting around can be challenging. soo many @#[email protected]# highways. “.
“That the school cares a lot about training clinicians, not just research,” “.
“Take a taxi to the school/hotel from the airport. NOT a shuttle bus. $50. “.
“Only my personal statement would be available to the other interviewer, who would have access to my entire file and all of my information.” It was difficult to eat the barbecue sandwiches while wearing a suit. “.
“How friendly and laid-back the students were. Although there is some competition because of the more traditional grading system, the students still appear to support one another. Instead, the interviewees I was with seemed to be more representative of the gunner reputation that this school still maintains. “.
“That the school does rolling admissions for non-residents. February 1 just got a lot less magical. “.
“The annual fourth-year video project.”
“out-of-state students can get in-state tuition”
“Nothing really. I live in Dallas and have previously participated in UTSW and its tours, so I knew what to expect from everything they had to offer (aside from the sporadic questions posed by the first interviewer). “.
“I had no idea that tuition had increased from the mid-6,000s.” Still a great deal though. “.
In contrast to earlier remarks, you are welcome to order two barbecue sandwiches. “.
“That the interviews were held early in the day with no chance for other applicants to network and unwind before the interviews I wasn’t at ease enough, and I appeared stiff during my interviews. “.
“Stress level very low. Interviews felt more like conversations.”
“Some of their comments show that there isn’t much diversity at the school.” “.
“You could only get one sandwich for lunch. If you pause, they’ll catch up to you so quickly. “.
“Texas interviews are much more lax. However, be sure to take yourself seriously in case your laid-back personality tempts you to compromise your level of professionalism. “.
“alot of the questions asked were on sdn. interviewers were given a list of suggested questions to ask. One interview only contains the personal statement, while the other is an open file. this is where your personal statement comes in handy. “.
“How relaxed the day would be. I way overprepared. “
It’s a little difficult to find, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the area, There are no real signs pointing in the direction of the school. “.
Dallas, I found, is a cross between Los Angeles and New York City. taking more of the bad than the good. If I had known this, I would have not applied. However, the opportunities for education and research are so incredible that it would have been a DAMN shame if I hadn’t applied. “.
“interview finishes at 245; could have taken an earlier flight”
“Ask far more questions than you believe you’ll need to, because everyone will want to know what you want to know.” You seriously have 50 opportunities to ask questions. “.
The traditional nature of their curriculum necessitates all-day instruction and a focus on the fundamental sciences. This will adequately prepare you for the USMLE, but it leaves little time for research, if that’s something you’re interested in. “.
That my interviewer would question me about biochemistry, heh “.
The interviews are brief, so you must be concise in order to cover everything you want to be considered for admission. “.
“that the interviews would be so casual. The first 15 minutes were allotted for questions, and the remaining ten minutes were spent asking the interviewer about the school.
“Out of state still get in state tuition”
“That we could have scheduled a day during the week to observe a medical student’s rounds for a day by calling the admissions office or office of student affairs.” I would have gone into town earlier or even stayed later to take advantage of the fantastic opportunity to learn more about the school. “.
“That they are in class 9 to 5!”
“That it would be so low-stress and noncompetetive”
“How much of a research school SW is. The rumors that it is fiercely competitive are also somewhat true, “.
“How laid back and conversational the interviews would be. even at Southwestern. Every year, Parkland sees over 800,000 outpatients and makes over 16,000 deliveries. “.
“I wouldn’t worry about the perception that UT-SW is extremely competitive, which a lot of people have. Most of the students I encountered were genuinely honest people. “.
“They provide food, but not necessarily what you would call lunch.” Eat before or dont forget your wallet. “.
“I didn’t anticipate the interviewer asking me directly how I felt about my previous interviews,” “.
The law requires that at least 90% of Southwestern students enrolled in classes reside in Texas. There are 220 students in the class, so the only out-of-staters are the MSTP students. Many students have family in the area or are married. “.
“total traditional experience – not very progressive. “
“Being able to visit during the week. To shadow a medical student on the Friday before my interview, I would have arrived the previous Thursday. Overall, the interview is really organized. They dont waste your time. You start at 9 and are done by 3. Because of the proximity of your two interviews, complete them all at once. “.
“Everyone will wear a black suit.”
“That the interviews would be easy going and conversational!”
Southwestern appears to have the reputation of being filled with gunners in Texas. The students there are undoubtedly intelligent, but they also came across as approachable and kind. Also, their recreation center is the best in Texas. “.
“How wonderful my interviews would have been — I wouldn’t have been at all nervous.” “.
I didn’t know it was open open file – they know everything, so I didn’t know they might ask you about your specific grades. “.
“The southwestern school’s reputation as a cutthroat place appears to be unfounded; this seems like a great school, and the rumors are unfair.”
“that their curriculum is being changed. new student housing. the MD/MPH program “.
“that the myths about southwestern–phd oriented and too competitive–are wrong.”
“Orientation auditorium was underground (I had trouble finding it).”
“That I wasnt going to fit into the class. I may or may not attend because I matched here, but I fully anticipate being the school’s odd man out. “.
“The cut-throat reputation is blown way out of proportion. “
“How stress-free the day was going to be”
“Parking was a little tricky.”
“through scholarhips, out-of-state students pay the same as in-state students”
After the initial greetings, all interviews are conducted in the morning, which makes the afternoon and lunch more leisurely.
“How laid back these interviews were going to be.”
In addition to allowing third-year students to deliver as many babies as they want, the affiliation with Parkland Hospital, a county hospital, “gives students lots of interaction with patients.” =)dont need umbrella for the tour- everything is connected underground. “.
According to my second interviewer, there will soon be some changes to the curriculum. The modifications may have an impact on our incoming class and will increase problem-based learning. Although the majority of students do not live close to campus, parking is accessible and reasonably priced. “.
“Nowhere to store luggage during the day”
“how short the day would be, it ended at 2:30”
“The school is impressive, and the staff made me feel at home there.” “.
“UTSW is a fantastic institution in a lovely city with teachers who genuinely care about their students,” “.
“Great interview day and great school. I really appreciate how they make an effort to “sell you the school.” You can also go on rounds (I chose not to do this), attend an additional information session the day before the interview, and the interview itself. The students made themselves very available to answer questions. “.
The interview was extremely well-organized, and there were numerous opportunities to speak with current students, which is how I learned the details I needed (about how clinical training is structured). Although UTSW may not be the most “hip” school, it offers excellent clinical training, and its graduates go on to excellent residencies in highly competitive specialties. “.
“I really liked it here.”
“I might just be the happiest person ever if I get in here,” “.
“Seemed like a great school in a great location.”
Overall, the school far exceeded my expectations, and I firmly believe that it is not deserving of its reputation as a competitive institution. “.
“Parkland Hospital seems to be Southwesterns greatest asset.”
“I came out way more impressed. UTSWs negative reputation was totally dispelled in my mind. Im very excited about this school. “.
“The school really impressed me, but the interviewers were terrible.” I was asked about my MCAT score and GPA after the closed file interviewer said, “I don’t have anything to read about you, so what do you want to tell me?” (doesnt that defeat the purpose of a closed-file?). The second interviewer did not speak English fluently and merely read the candidate’s questions from a sheet. She would read another question and wait a moment before reading my response before she looked at me again. She interrogated me extensively about cloning, my flaws, and a few other topics. I thought this was normal because it was my second interview, but looking back, I realize that interviews shouldn’t be like that. Overall, this is a very good, affordable institution that would provide a reliable medical school education. “.
When compared to information packets provided by other schools, “both days are very well organized, and the information packet is extremely sleek.” The faculty that present information are incredibly down-to-earth and approachable. The Friday program concludes early (around 7pm), giving you the entire evening to yourself before your interviews. Both open and closed interviews are conducted (one interviewer only has access to the personal statement, the other has the entire application). A variety of snacks (cookies/soda on Friday and popcorn/soda on Saturday) will keep you energized when you’re feeling low. A pleasant surprise at a BBQ-themed event is the veggie sandwich option for Saturday lunch, which is actually delicious. Students, staff, and faculty make every effort to make the event as stress-free as possible. “.
“My first interviewer didn’t really ask me any questions; they just tried to sell me the school.” The second one (closed file) included a list of questions from which they appeared to select one. “Is there anything else you would like the committee to know?” was the final query.
“UTSW has a two day set up. On Fridays from 2 to 5 PM, there is an optional program where you essentially get to watch powerpoints on various topics related to the school. They then serve dinner to a large group of the current medical students. The majority of the information is repeated the following day, but Friday is more in-depth. It’s also pleasant to be at school knowing that there will be no interview that day. For me it was a great de-stressor. The following morning, a panel for female applicants with students who are a part of the American Medical Womens Association is optional and takes place from 8 to 9 AM. They have a continental style breakfast. The panel was good because it provided an opportunity for people to ask more intimate questions that might be more difficult to ask in a larger group. Additionally, it was amusing that two men felt the need to enter. From 9 to 10 AM, you receive a second introduction/welcome and a rundown of the day. The group was then divided in half; one portion went to their two 25-minute interviews, while the other portion visited the medical school, Parkland, and Childrens Hospitals. Then they switched the groups. I first went on the tour before having my interviews. The tour guide, a fourth-year student, provided us with some useful insight into why clinical facilities are an essential consideration when selecting a medical school. The interviews after the tour went really well for me. One interviewer has full access to your file, while the other only has your personal statement. I believe this is a good system because it ensures that you will receive questions of various kinds from each interviewer. One was a PhD, and the other was an MD, for me. I thought they both got to know me as well as you can in 25 minutes because they were both very nice. The interviews were extremely low stress. Afterwards there was lunch with current students. The (in)famous barbeque sandwiches were actually very tasty. Although the tours involve a lot of walking (UTSW, Parkland, and Childrens are all connected, so you walk a lot), it could have just been that I was starving. One member of my group brought tennis shoes with him and changed for the tour, which I can’t emphasize enough — bravo! After lunch, we had a student panel that was quite informative. They had two representatives from each year so we could get a diverse viewpoint on our inquiries. They finished the day with popcorn and a tour of their student center, which looked brand-new. Overall, a great day. My sincere wish is that they felt just as positive about me as I did about them.
“Very friendly. First one was with an MD/MPH who was very talkative. Engaging conversation. Second one was good but not as good. Still very fun experience. “.
“UTSW will undoubtedly be my top choice for the match; I adore the institution and the focus on research One of my interviewers and I didn’t get along very well (we both tend to be quiet, so it wasn’t a good match), but the other went well. There is only one location where the interviews take place, so you won’t get lost. Tons of students showed up on Sat. for the free food, so lots of ppl. to talk to. “.
“Conversational with a few typical questions thrown in.”
“Friday night food is great. It’s the first time I’ve heard any of it, but the financial aid lecture is very helpful. The interviews are not stressful at all. Very friendly and down-to-earth students (not study hermits). “.
“very relaxed. One interview was just a conversation; the only question that seemed interview-style to me was when he asked if I was interested in academic medicine near the end.
“Good presentation, a feeling of excellence at the school, but please switch the lunch to something other than BBQ sandwiches.” “.
“start the day off with a presentation about Southwestern, two interviews at 25 minutes each, visit hospitals, have lunch, participate in a student panel discussion about life in Dallas, and then take a tour of the student center.”
“Overall, the least impressive MSTP I interviewed with “.
“Overall, it was great. The dinner was outstanding, and the students were very cordial. Although Southwestern enjoys their aerial views of Dallas, the seminars and presentations were educational. “.
“overall okay; one interview was great, very conversational and relaxed. I saw the bush question on SDN and decided not to prepare for it because I assumed it was probably an anomoly during the other interview, which was intense question-and-answer. so prepare for anything”.
“My interviewers were wonderful people and both of us were more involved in the business and preventative care aspects of medicine,” The interviews were very laid back and conversational. Instead of bombarding me with a barrage of standard questions, it was clear that they were attempting to get a sense of who I am as a person. I spoke with one of my interviewers for a very long time. We got along great, and I only have memories of the interview in which we both laughed. Very nice experience. “.
“Gunners and study-hermits welcome here, not for me! “
The interviews went well, but my first interviewer asked me a lot of questions about my engineering major, which I hadn’t anticipated being asked about (simply because no one else had, aside from why I switched), ). Interviewer was nice, sweet, very conversational. In my second interview, the scheduled interviewer did not appear, so a replacement was provided She was also very nice and sweet and conversational. Good conversation. The tours were pretty good, organized, and flowed smoothly. Lunch was ok, talking to med students was great. The rest of the afternoon was very informative. The senior video was partly funny, partly weird. and the Britney Spears parody was. well done ;-)”.
Arrived at 9am, listened to a presentation about the school until 9:30am, then had interviews at 10 and 10:30am in the library, which went very well. After the interviews, we went on a tour, and then had lunch, which was a straightforward meal. nothing fancy. After lunch, we had two more presentations about the curriculum and student life. The senior class video then came on, and the day was concluded with a tour of the Student Center. However, I would not let their interview food affect how I rated the school. “.
“The entire day was fantastic; I basically had a conversation with the interviewers, spoke to two medical students who were very helpful in answering my questions, the students and faculty were friendly, and I could tell my fellow applicants were very intelligent people,” said the applicant. “.
“For the reasons mentioned above, the medical school building really turned me off. The lectures were extremely boring (i actually dozed off because of jet lag? ), and for a school with such a reputation, they did not come across as such. For instance, they devoted excessive time to the senior video. Even though I would enjoy doing that, they should have only chosen the best parts. The tour, lunch, and interactions with medical students were all excellent side activities. “.
“I got REALLY lucky with my two interviewers. One was an OB-GYN who appeared to be a grandfather-like older man. I began by talking about myself and my reasons for becoming a doctor, and this gradually evolved into a discussion about my career goals and how medicine fits into the overall context of my life. etc. Other interviewer was UTSW alum — pediatric anesthesiologist. He questioned me about my work (on Alzheimer’s), the traits of a good doctor, and my strengths and weaknesses. Again, it turned into a two-way dialogue. The 30-minute time limit for both interviews was exceeded; the time passed by so quickly. Overall, I believe that my extreme relaxation upon entering the interview room was what made it such a fantastic experience. BE YOURSELF! Everyone says it, but it’s true. I felt good after this UTSW interview. and even better with the acceptance email. “.
“I was pleasantly surprised with the school. People who claim that the school is competitive are being honest, but I didn’t observe the cutthroat attitude I had heard about, though that could just be because I don’t really care. know. “.
“Overall it was a good experience.”
“Breakfast. Overview of the interview day and of the school. Tour of campus and hospitals (Parkland and Childrens Hospital). two consecutive interviews: one is open-file and the other only asks about your personal statement BBQ sandwich for lunch. Presentations on curriculum, financial aid, student activities and senior video. Tour of the Student Center. “.
“It was really cool that I wasnt asked anything tough. Since the interviews were primarily conversational, as I previously mentioned, you should be fine.
“Very well organized day. Compared to other schools, this one taught me more about the institution. introduction to the school, interviews, tours of the children’s and parkland areas, lunch (BBQ), additional information about the school and its finances, and finally a tour of the student center (which is really impressive) “.
“Overall the day was avg. There isn’t much to see, but Parkland is a great hospital. Our medical student informed us that she had delivered more children than many residents. Due to the frequently lengthy waits, patients in the ER also have the option of seeing a MS3/4 instead of a real doctor. get unbelievable clinical experience and training. get to see a lot of late stage pathology. due to the indigent pop. “.
“The entire day was definitely a positive experience. I entered with skepticism but left with a positive outlook on the institution. “.
“I went into the interview with skepticism, but I came away feeling very optimistic about attending their medical school. “.
I had a lot in common with one really nice woman and one hard ass man. “.
“When I arrived, you had a presentation in the morning, followed by an interview or tour.” The student who accompanied us to our interview was extremely helpful and took us to a park, a library, and a carrols. Then we had interviews with two people; I had an open file with one and only my personal statement with the other. We watched student videos and took a tour of the new student center before finishing with a few more lectures and presentations on financial aid and the curriculum. “.
“I really enjoyed my time at the interview. The school is awesome and the people are also. The students were awesome and did not appear to be as competitive as I had anticipated. Definitly impressed me. “.
“A well organized and informational day. I particularly liked one of the interviewers. I came away with the impression that UTSW is a sizable medical institution where everyone can pick up the necessary knowledge and receive first-rate clinical training. The research environment is outstanding. Everything an applicant needs to know is meticulously documented, and the school is well-run. “.
Compared to another, lower-ranked school I interviewed at the day before, the lecture rooms here were dilapidated and in need of renovation. All in all, it was a very positive experience. Impressive were the presentations in the morning and the tours of Parkland and Children’s Hospitals. I enjoyed getting to interact with several students there. The interviewers and admissions staff were all welcoming and delighted to see us. It was difficult to believe that interviews were generally friendlier and more relaxed than those at Texas Tech. The student center is amazing. Although not in downtown Dallas, the location is difficult to beat. In light of my up to that point positive experience, the student videos were demoralizing. Otherwise, this was a great interview experience. “.
“The school is great, the numbers are fantastic. Its my number one choice even despite the large classes. Great interview day. “.
“First interview was nice, but nothing spectacular. My interviewer was a somewhat shy alumna who struggled to strike up a pleasant conversation right away. Given that she admitted to asking it to every interviewee this year, her question about the Schiavo case caught me off guard because it was so vague. Second interview was fabulously smooth. We had an easy conversation about my background, interests, hobbies, books, and medical issues after the academic MD inquired about the director of my esteemed honors program and revealed that his son had attended it fifteen years prior. Everything about this interview was comforting; he was skilled at his work and, I believe, merely wanted to make sure that I wasn’t entirely different from what appeared on paper. “.
“I had a great time visiting Southwestern, and the students I spoke with were all very friendly and enthusiastic about their education.” “.
“The tour of Parkland and Children’s Hospitals was interesting, and the students and faculty seemed welcoming,” said the interviewer. Compared to Houston, the area doesn’t appear to be as messy. “.
“Very well organized. Interview is on a Saturday. “
“Fantastic. It was a good idea to conduct the interviews first thing in the morning. I was surprised that I didn’t have an interview with a faculty member, even though I was pleased with my interviewers. The first interview is an open file; the second is a closed file, with only your personal statement being seen by your interrogator. No one should be nervous before the interview because, in all honesty, there is nothing to worry about. “.
“They give you a brief introduction to the school, followed by interviews and a tour.” Then, you eat lunch with faculty and current students. They discuss topics like residency, financial aid, etc. after lunch. Then come the senior videos. Make sure you watch the Britney Spears video; it made me feel bad for everyone. “.
“Overall, a very good experience. The day began with an orientation, following which the group was divided. half went on a tour, half interviewed. Very nice facilities and very nice people. Nothing too bad about the entire experience. Prior to the interview, I wish there had been more time to get to know some of the interviewees. It would have made me more relaxed and less tense during the interview. The interviews were with 2 people. one had an open file, the other was closed. “.
“Overall good, not as nerve-wracking as I anticipated.” “.
“The initial consultation with the physician with the open file went very well.” It was very conversational. The second interviewer, who only had access to my personal statement, posed the same tedious questions to which every candidate had an identical response. The senior videos were enjoyable, and the day went fairly well. “.
“One was a blank wall to which I talked endlessly, the other was a conversation.” “.
“9–10 welcome, 11–12 interviews, 12–14 facility tour, 1-2 curriculum discussion, and 2-3 financial aid” During lunch, a large number of people—a nice mix of faculty and students—came out. your chance to ask how the school really is. “.
“Overall, a very good experience. In particular, one interviewer was informal, while the other was more formal. “.
“Great experience, I was nervous, but it’s a top notch school,” the student said.
“I interviewed on the very last possible day at UTSW. I never really believed I had a chance at this school, so receiving an invitation was unexpected. My stats are not exactly up to UTSW standards. I once believed that this school was only interested in numbers, that it was extremely competitive, and that I had no chance of enrolling there. The interview day completely changed those preconceptions. I had 2 pleasant interviews. I was asked who was interviewing me next at the conclusion of the first interview, and he then shared some additional information with me about her, which I naturally brought up in the interview that followed. She was impressed that I knew ___ about her. I can’t recall many specifics about the interview day nearly five months after I had it (gosh, I wish I had remembered to provide feedback sooner). But I do believe that those interviews were the reason I was accepted to UTSW. As mentioned, I dont exactly have the numbers. so these interviews DO MATTER. I was also awarded a 4-yr merit scholarship. I guarantee that the interview made all the difference. “.
“I had a really great time. Definitely the best interview I have had so far (out of 6). “.
“Really cool. My host was awesome. My interviewers let me speak my mind. Very low key. Good experience. “.
The staff makes it a point to emphasize that this school does not only focus on research during the brief introduction of the school that takes place at the start of the day. However, this was challenging to understand because factual researchers interview every student. My research interviewer didn’t seem to understand when I spoke about my love of medicine and community service; he just sat there looking blank. I was also irritated by the fact that several of the questions I was asked related to my ethnicity; after all, who could expect him to given that he is not a doctor! “.
“There’s really nothing obviously wrong with this school, but when I left, I just had a bad feeling,” “.
“Overall a good experience; great school; fantastic facilities; loved the student center; excellent food; they answer all my questions”
“It was a tedious. Southwestern was a little hard to get excited about. Despite being a fantastic institution, it lacks the energy that other institutions do. “.
“Awesome. My interviewers were wonderful people who persuaded me to join the program. “.
“most well-organized, low-stress interview day ive experienced”
“Overall, this is a very well-organized interview day. The campus is quite beautiful, and it even has a bird sanctuary (they don’t show you this on the tour; I only know about it because I participated in a summer program here) The facilities are excellent, and there are wonderful clinical opportunities here (although they don’t start until your third year). “.
“Overall a great experience. Int#1 was impossible to read. He sat and gave me a blank look the entire time, as if I were speaking to myself. no nodding or anything. He seemed fairly nice other than that. Int#2 busts out with some biochem questions. but Im not convinced he expected me to know it. I suspect he was merely checking to see if I could recall something from biochemistry, etc. Surprisingly that interview was lower stress than the first. He was very talkative, just had some hard topics. “.
“The school has incredible resources. Parkland was really interesting. Although I only had the opportunity to speak with a small number of them, the students were nice, but I didn’t think they were particularly social. I disagree that it is as competitive as its reputation suggests, but the school’s students are competitive and some of the nation’s most intelligent. You therefore appear to need to develop a sense of comfort with being average, or even below average. “.
“Orientation, two 25-minute interviews, a tour, lunch, a financial aid information session, etc., and a screening of adorable fourth-year student videos”
“It was a brief day that concentrated on the best aspects of the school. I didnt get a competitive feel between classmates at all. “.
“Quite easy-going. I didn’t like that they both inquired about the other colleges I had applied to, but I suppose it helps them assess you and seems to be standard procedure there. “.
The interviewers really seemed to come to us rather than having us cross the entire campus to go to them, and the day was extremely well organized.” Two 25-minute back-to-back interviews are scheduled for the interviews, which is convenient because it ensures that everyone can attend the talks and the school tour. Unfortunately, the school tour doesn’t show you very much. There was free food available for breakfast and lunch, and students who were studying on campus came out to enjoy it. They all sat down with us, however, and were incredibly cordial as we inquired about their time at UT Southwestern. My initial interview was very informal, and we simply discussed how different primary care practices “evolve” over time. My second one was more formal, but by the time it was over, we had just started exchanging reading suggestions and discussing the theater. Both seemed really nice. However, I am aware that some candidates received incredibly challenging interview questions, so I suppose it is just a matter of luck as to which interviewer you are assigned. “.
“Very nice atmosphere, I would love to go here. I like all the little restaurants in Dallas, but you need a car to get around, so the location is good. Overall, I had a great time at this school and met some wonderful people. “.
“It was really great, I enjoyed my day a lot. I sincerely hope I’m accepted by Southwestern because it’s a top university!
“Pretty good overall. My first interviewer couldn’t hear me very well, and she kept looking at me strangely. The second one told me about his college drinking days and was incredibly nice and laid-back. “.
“The interview was very low stress. This is the college for you if you are from the South. A lot of UT and Rice students. “.
It was a very planned day that began with breakfast and a speech from the admissions dean. They discussed the curriculum in detail and listened to an excellent speech by the alumni affairs representative about life at Southwestern and financial aid. The lunch was adequate, and it appeared that all of the first-year students attended to chat with the interviewers (undoubtedly influenced by the free food). We had tours of Parkland Hospital and Childrens. Both interviews were back to back occuring in the morning. Day lasted from 9AM to around 3PM. Overall a low stress interview day. “.
“5 Stars (Really enjoyed it)”
“UT Southwestern has a great MSTP program. They clearly care for their students, and they all appeared content to be there. Some first-year students gave tours to prospective students, but I don’t believe this was required of them. The administration makes a clear effort to improve their program. Some of the applicants were actually interviewed by the MSTP program’s dean and codirector, demonstrating the administration’s interest. I don’t have any other programs to compare this program with because this was my first interview, but I was impressed with the program overall and would be thrilled to attend this school. “.
“Overall, pleasant experience. Lots of food and drinks. Despite being chessy, the senior video was distinctive in showcasing the range of students they have. “.
“My only complaint was that the interviews seemed really short. While the second interviewer only took up 15 minutes, my first interviewer took the full 25 minutes (which is still not enough). Although they were both pleasant, I had the impression that they were more interested in my personality than my credentials. “.
“Southwestern needs to get itself together. On the one hand, it constantly contrasts itself with other top-ranked medical schools (during the orientation presentation, they show all these arbitrary ways that Southwestern is ranked above better schools, like the number of Academy of Sciences members). However, they continue to align themselves through the TMDSAS with the other (very unimpressive) TX public schools. They should follow Baylors lead and go AMCAS. Additionally, the annoying Aggie/Longhorn jokes are not a good way to draw visitors from outside the state. The students there either only applied to Texas schools and were fortunate enough to get into Southwestern or wished to attend somewhere else but accepted Southwestern as their only option. Although the new student center is impressive, something doesn’t seem right when the school makes more of an effort to show you the student center than the academic buildings. “.
“Im glad I have interviews at several other schools.”
The MSTP interviews take place on Thursday in the late afternoon and are fairly laid back. This year, a freshman persuaded Rod Ulane to provide funding for an evening dinner for enrolled students and potential applicants. The MD interviews are the following morning, and when you are not interviewing, you will be given a confusing campus tour. After lunch, you’ll meet up with more current students (who won’t really approach applicants unless you initiate conversation). Later, you can view some amusing and professionally made snippets from Southwestern’s senior class videos. Finally, you’ll be brought to the brand-new, attractive student center. “.
“Southwestern was my top choice going into this interview, but I just feel like it’s not for me.” Although the hospitals are excellent, the focus on research as a whole is not what I want from medicine. “.
This is my first choice on the Texas match, great school.
“The Saturday interviews are fantastic because you don’t have to miss work.” UTSW has now become my number one school. Students seemed like a part of the school. there were a lot of students there on a Saturday. after lunch too. “.
“Very positive experience. The opportunity to travel a day early in order to observe rounds with the students should be utilized by applicants. “.
“I’m impressed by the variety of research being conducted at UTSW and the many opportunities that medical students have to advance their careers. “.
“Yet another great Texas school. If I am fortunate enough to be accepted to both Baylor and this school, it will be difficult to choose between the two. Southwestern is just classy. The interviewee pool was of the highest caliber, and Parkland offers unparalleled opportunities for clinical training. The curriculum and grading structure encourage a moderate level of competition, but this shouldn’t deter students. If you do well there, you know you will be set because of their fantastic board scores and residency placements. It would be an honor to attend this school. “.
It was fine but a little boring, and it didn’t really click for me the way other Texas schools with lower rankings did.
“Despite the unusual questions, both of my interviewers were very friendly and laid-back, and they both seemed eager to answer any queries I had. Attending clinical rounds will give you a better understanding of the training that third and fourth years receive. Additionally, having lunch with the medical students was very beneficial because they provided open feedback on their university. “.
“awsome school, definitely my #1 choice”
“overall better than expected… will be my top choice”
“The evening before the interview, I attended the Oktoberfest celebration and spoke with some 4th years.” I arrived there around 30 minutes early (8:30) on the day of the interview, had breakfast, and chatted with some people. There was an hour long introduction to the school. We got lots of information packets. The interviews went pretty well. My first interviewer never stopped talking, though. But they were both very friendly. Then we had lunch with tons of med students. An hour-long discussion about life in Dallas and at the school followed. We got to see some hilarious snippets from previous Senior Videos. Then we visited the brand-new Student Center, of which they are extremely proud. It was pretty cool. That was it. “.
The day began with breakfast and a conversation with a medical student. After that, we sat in the freshman auditorium to hear three speakers discuss the advantages of southwest. the tour through Parkland was amazing. A county hospital is an excellent place for medical students to practice. The two interviews were very casual and conversational; there were no probing ethical or hypothetical questions. after the interviews, we had a bbq lunch. Another speech about financial aid followed, and I wondered if I could afford $25,000 per year. A tour of their new Student Activities building marked the end of the day. They did a lot of bragging, and we did a lot of oohing and aahing. “.
“Intense, driven student body. Not competitive – I believe that is a myth repeated by schools that are lower ranked. This is the school for you if you really enjoy reading and studying. Their clinical backgrounds appear to be weaker than those of schools with comparable rankings. Out-of-state students get a pretty sweet deal. Additionally, despite the school’s emphasis on research and academics, few MD students actually participate in research. I would sum up Southwestern’s efforts to cultivate a sense of prestige about the school in a few words by saying that they are intense and vivid. An excellent school for bright, young people who KNOW they want to become doctors “.
Although the interviews weren’t stressful, you always tend to overthink things after the fact. One interviewer did say that while the school does rely heavily on the application data to determine the classes, the interviews are still significant. “.
“I was really impressed by this school. The interview day was extremely well prepared and executed. I thought I learned a lot about the school and Dallas, and it was very helpful. I’ve accepted this school’s offer of admission after receiving it. That probably conveys more about the school than anything else I could possibly say. “.
Before I came here, I had really high expectations for UT SW and Dallas. Dallas isn’t as big or cosmopolitan as I had imagined, which disappointed me. There aren’t as many young professionals as I’d like, and the population is more homogeneous, wealthy, and older. Additionally, the students there weren’t as good as those from other schools. But the medical school and hospital lived up to their stellar reputation. I was accepted here, but I doubt I’ll stay.
“The interview day was well organized. Before lunch, both interviews are completed, and the rest of the day is interesting and different. “.
“I had a wonderful day at Southwestern. Nearly all of my questions were addressed in the welcome and financial aid/student life presentations, and the interviews were relaxed and at ease. They were both more like conversations rather than question-and-answer sessions. “.
“I loved the school. “
“Since both interviews were open-file, the questions tended to focus more on me and the information in my application.” I believe that as a result of our interactions, both my interviewers and I learned a lot. I was more prepared to discuss details of my case than to respond to questions with a longer, open-ended form, like “tell me about yourself.” “Everyone at the school was genuinely nice, and both interviews were very informal.” I didn’t anticipate enjoying my experience that day as much as I did because of how impressive the school was and how great the students were. “.
“Excellent. Best interview ever. I felt completely at ease the entire time!”.
“short and to the point which i thought was great. It was great to have the interviews first thing in the morning so you could relax for the rest of the day. interview was not really stressful at all- standard questions. “.
“Overall a good experience. Enjoyed the informal conversations with med students during lunch”.
“My first interview was a pressure interview. At least five times during the interview, the interviewer interrupted me mid-sentence and checked his pager while nibbling on a pastry and sipping a drink. When he heard the name of my second interviewer, he said, “Really? I thought he died years ago.” He vigorously refuted every claim I made, demanding that I provide evidence for each one. He questioned the specifics of my lab research, pressing me for information until I detailed the exact protocol of my experiments, and he specifically inquired as to whether my work had been published or received funding. At first, I found this intimidating, but after realizing the interviewer was probably applying pressure to me on purpose, I felt more at ease. My interviewer became cordial in the final five to ten minutes of the initial interview and asked if I had any questions. The difference between the second interviewer and the first reminded me of good cop/bad cop; she was very kind and made me feel at home. The second interviewer let me take the lead and inquired about my opinions on a few recent developments involving the healthcare system and my extracurricular activities before asking if I had any questions for him. He provided me with frank and comprehensive answers, which I appreciated. The student-led tour of the facilities was helpful. Ask to see the carrels and the trains. Overall, I had a good experience and would be delighted to attend Southwestern. “.
“Very well-organized, low-stress, VERY friendly students and staff”
Although the facilities are excellent and the interviewers are very friendly, the students did not seem as hospitable as they did at other schools (it could have been because it was a Saturday morning).
“a very impressive school, with the majority of the day being casual”
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center admission requirements, statistics, and proven strategies to get in fast. Updated in
This blog post will provide you with all the information you need to know about how to enroll at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. You require knowledge and techniques to prepare and submit an application in this fiercely competitive admissions environment so that you can receive one of those coveted acceptance letters. This blog covers all the information you need to know about UT Southwestern’s admission standards, procedures, and statistics, among many other topics that will help you stand out when applying to medical school. Continue reading to learn how to enroll in one of the MD programs offered by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
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Through interdisciplinary education and the promotion of comprehensive healthcare, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s mission is to prepare health professionals of the highest caliber to meet the needs of the Texas healthcare system. ”.
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School offers the following dual degrees in addition to their already demanding MD program that are noteworthy:
This dual degree is a great choice if you’re interested in the business side of healthcare. The program combines UT Southwestern’s MD curriculum with the school’s MBA curriculum, enabling you to complete both degrees in a lot less time. We discuss the MD curriculum in more detail in the following section.
Students who are interested in this program must first apply to medical school before applying to the MBA program in their second year. Students have two options: they can work with an advisor to design a unique plan that enables them to pursue both degrees concurrently, or they can decide to pause their MD degree between their second and third year to finish the MBA. Together, this program can be completed in about five years, but obviously, it depends on each student.
With this dual degree, students can earn both a medical degree and a master’s degree in public health. In order to begin, prospective students in this dual-degree program must be accepted into both UT Southwestern and UT Health at the same time. The GRE requirement for the Master of Public Health program is waived if you are admitted to UT Southwestern Medical School.
The duration of this program is roughly five years, and it provides a wealth of opportunities for students interested in healthcare policy and administration. Former students have collaborated with the U.S. government, the World Health Organization S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D. C. , and the Office of Research on Women’s Health. Students have also collaborated with regional groups like the Texas Medical Association’s Fight to Eliminate Maternal Mortality and Food As Medicine.
10 frequent non-technical questions at UT Southwestern Medical Center :
Our research shows that UT Southwestern Medical Center hiring managers ask 43% more soft skills interview questions than hiring managers at other companies.
FAQ
How difficult is it to get into UT Southwestern Medical School?
acceptance rate is approximately 15%. State law only permits 10% of the class at UT Southwestern Medical School to be from outside Texas, so 90% of the students are Texans.
What MCAT score do I need for UT Southwestern?
Most qualified candidates will have an MCAT score of at least 515 and a GPA of 3. 8 or higher, and prior research experience. Some qualified candidates with exceptional research backgrounds have lower MCAT scores and/or GPAs. The MCAT scores of accepted candidates range from 506 to 527, with a median score of 519.
Is Baylor or UT Southwestern better?
The most highly rated organizations for work/life balance are Baylor Scott & White Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center, respectively. Overall Rating. Overall Rating3. 83. 8Culture3. 63. 5.
Is UT Southwestern A top medical school?
DALLAS – March 30, 2022 – Among 192 medical schools nationwide, UT Southwestern is ranked in the top 20 for primary care and among the top 25 for research. S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Graduate Schools rankings.