The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is a prestigious medical institution that offers a wide range of education and research opportunities for students and professionals. As such, the school receives a high volume of applications from students and professionals seeking to attend UTMB or become part of their faculty. To ensure that only the most qualified applicants are accepted, it is essential to prepare for an interview with UTMB. Knowing the types of questions you may be asked can help you best prepare to showcase your strengths and qualifications. This blog post will provide a comprehensive overview of UTMB interview questions and how to best prepare for them. Additionally, this post will provide insight into how to frame your answers in a way that best highlights your skills and qualifications.
Courtney Dauwalter, 2021 UTMB Champion, Interview
What candidates say about the interview process at UTMB-Galveston Campus
- Simple procedure, but it took me three months to begin. It was a long process. It is not that way all the time. shared on June 12, 2022 – In the office – Coding Educator
- At the HR level, routine and generalShared on May 7, 2017 – RN – Call center
- It was enjoyable. Posted on February 8, 2017 by a Galveston, Texas, Transportation Dispatcher.
What advice do candidates give for interviewing at UTMB-Galveston Campus
- Simply respond to all inquiries Posted on August 28, 2022 by the unit secretary in Galveston, Texas
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Be honest.Shared on August 21, 2022 – Certified Medication Aide
- Know the subject matter of the position you’re applying for to ensure successShared on November 16, 2021 – Medical – Galveston, TX
How candidates received their first interview at UTMB-Galveston Campus
- Shared on December 17, 2020 – RN – 8thfloor: Previous nursing school
Interviews for Top Jobs at The University of Texas Medical Branch
Analyst Interview
I applied through an employee referral. I interviewed at The University of Texas Medical Branch
Interview
It was two rounds with Principle investigator. Then followed by a meet and greet with lab mates. Also, they cross questions and asked me If I have any questions to ask
- About the experiment setup and standardization
Software Systems Specialist III Interview
I applied through an employee referral. I interviewed at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Jul 2022
Interview
Process took a week. The interview was 1 1/2 hour long with a panel of 5 interviewer. Standard DotNet and SQL questions which we can find in the multiple blogs.Some SQL query writing questions. And 1 C# generics code validation/explain code question
- Oops conceptsSQL indexesEntity FrameworkSerializationAsync Tasks
How did the interview impress you?
Do you believe that a student’s involvement in volunteer work or community service should be used as a metric?
“Most of the questions were ethical scenarios”
“Describe how your leadership experiences have impacted you.”
“Why doctor and not something else”
“What are you most passionate about?”
“Describe a time when you had to exercise your interpersonal communication skills.”
“Explain a time when you were upset or angry and what you did”
What are the top five careers you would consider, and the top five you wouldn’t?
“What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
“Why did you decide to study medicine, and what circumstances led to that decision?”
“You only raised $XXXX for the race you directed?”
“Why should I believe anything you say?”
What are you aware of regarding the recent developments in healthcare?
“What difficulties do you see in a career in medicine?”
“Why medicine? Why at UTMB?”
What are some human rights issues that are important to you?
“Where would you like to travel (we discussed locations I had previously visited with family or for work)?”
“Why are you interested in a career in medicine?”
“Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?”
Have you considered how it will be to work with patients who believe they know what is best for themselves?
“My first interviewer was a closed file, and she inquired about my opinions of current healthcare and impending changes.” “.
“Why do you want to me a doctor”
“Do you read self-help books?”
“do you have any questions for me?”
“So tell me… Why medicine?”
“The first interviewer didnt ask me any questions. He spent the entire half-hour talking about hope and what it meant to a dying patient. “.
Why not make a career out of the arts since you have a lot of experience in that field?
How do you feel you are prepared for the demands of medical school, and how have you shown maturity and responsibility in your life thus far?
What traits do you possess that would enable you to be a successful doctor?
“Tell me about yourself. What do you do for fun, why medicine, and what is your research in? “.
“Standard questions. Not too hard.”
“One open-file, one closed-file. Tell me about yourself.”
“When did you decide you wanted to become a doctor?”
“What got you interested in medicine?”
“Is there anything you would like to know about me?”
“What influenced you to go into medicine?”
“What books do you like to read?”
Rather than asking, “What experience do you have in healthcare?,” ask, “Tell me about yourself.” “.
“why do you want to come to galveston?”
“I see youre from the state of XX. What makes you want to come to TX?”.
“Why did you attend the high school and college that you did?”
How do you believe you would function in a PBL environment?
“Why did you choose org research instead of biochemistry research?” What specifically did you do in the lab? Why do you want to be a doctor? Why did you major in business? Why don’t you get a job in business? What books have you read in the last year? What do you see yourself doing in 10 years? How would you integrate research and clinical practice?
“What about being a doctor do you like? “
What do you believe to be the most pressing issue in healthcare today?
“Where are your parents from? (They were not born in the United States)”
How would you assist someone in solving a problem if they came to you but were unable to identify it?
“Tell me about yourself. (both interviews)”
“How are you going to pay for medical school? (Both interviewers ask this question in different ways.)” )”.
“Why do you want to be a doctor?”
“When did I know I wanted to practice medicine?”
“Tell me about your extracurricular activities as an undergrad.”
“What is the story of your entire life? (I have frequently traveled to different countries. )”.
What would you do and how would you strengthen your application if you decided to reapply if you weren’t admitted to medical school this year?
“How did you get started on medicine. kind like a calling?”.
“So, tell me about your semester abroad in Italy.”
What types of healthcare issues do you anticipate encountering and what potential fixes exist?
If you didn’t get into medical school, what would you do?
“Why do you want to become a doctor?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary.”
“Tell me a little bit about yourself…”
“Tell me about your research experiences.”
“What do you like to do to relax?”
“Where do you see yourself in 10 years?”
“What are your study habits?”
“Describe your most important extracurricular activity.”
“Did you plan this all along? Why nursing and then medicine?”
“What type of exposure to medicine have you had?”
How would you explain to an obese person that they need to lose weight?
“What is your biggest weakness/ strength?”
“What do you like to do for fun?”
Would you feel comfortable informing parents that their child has a fatal disease if you were a genetic consultant? What if you knew that your response would result in an abortion?
“What else do you do?”
“Why do you want to do medicine?”
What do you believe about the significance of being accountable as a doctor? “.
“If not medicine, then what?”
What will be the most challenging aspect of medical school?
What else about yourself would you like to share with me off the top of your application?
“What do your younger siblings think of your medical aspirations?”
“Standards. What are your mootivations for wanting to become a doctor?”.
“How would your mother describe you? Your friends?”
“How will you balance family and practicing medicine?”
“Tell me about your research.”
“What specialty are you interested in?”
She kept asking me how I would pay for medical school, as if my response of student loans and family support wasn’t adequate. “.
“Are you a bookworm? What have you read recently?”
Do you believe you are mature enough to practice medicine, and if so, why?
“Mostly just conversational. We discussed some health policy issues, which is crucial because all UTMB hospitals are public hospitals, but it’s nice that the school owns them. “.
“Tell me about your research. You should be fairly knowledgeable about this material because they won’t view it with contempt and will instead be genuinely curious. “.
“Why do you want to be a physician?”
“How did you end up in Houston?”
“No specific questions were asked by either of my interviewers. We simply began conversing, and everything was conversational. “.
“Tell me about your research (clinical research)!”
“Describe yourself to me and explain why you want to become a doctor. “.
“How will you balance being a doctor and raising a family?”
“What do you think makes a good medical school?”
“What would you like to know about UTMB-Galveston?”
“Have you had any humanities classes?”
How would you strike a balance between your personal and professional lives?
“just basic questions, very conversational while still putting important ones like why medicine ect. on the table”
“Tell me about your volunteer work?”
“Why do you want to go to Galveston specifically”
“What do you do in your spare time?”
What else do you do in addition to studying and attending class?
“How are you planning to pay for med school?”
“tell me about your research”
“Tell me about yourself; what kind of specialty are you interested in.” “.
“Tell me about your family.”
“Where do you see yourself in 10-15 years?”
“So, tell me about yourself?”
“What do I know about Galveston & UTMB?”
“What do you do when youre not studying?”
“What kind of leadership experience do you have.”
“Describe a happy and sad time in your life.”
“What do you know about Problem Based Learning?”
“Do you have any questions?”
“Tell me about yourself. (Both interviewers opened the conversation with this ambiguous, broad question. )”.
“Tell me about your family and where you grew up.”
“Why doesnt your sister want to be a doctor?”
Do you know anyone in medicine or medical school that you talk to about the career choice? Why did you decide to pursue a career in medicine? Was there a specific incident that changed your mind?
What have you done since submitting your previous application, as a reapplicant?
“Where have you traveled & how did that change you?”
“Tell me about your research,” the woman asked. When I responded, she let me know she detested my line of research.
“Why medicine? Tell me about your work in the hospital.”
“Why UTMB. Why Texas. “
“Why TX? (Im a NJ resident)”
“What “challenges” are there in medicine today?”
“Where does your family live?”
“The first thing the interviewers did was ask if I had any questions for them. Be ready with questions!”.
“How will you handle a patient population that is diverse, for example, one that has different religious beliefs from you?”
“Greatest accomplishment / greatest failure”
“Tell me about your clinical experience”
“Explain a situation in which you had to make a quick decision.”
“How many genes are in the human body?”
“A crap ton of questions about my research”
“Tell me about your research experience”
“Describe the hardest time in your life”
“How have your experiences influenced your intellectual pursuits?”
“Why do you want to become a doctor instead of pursuing another career?”
“Are you aware of any recent developments involving the healthcare system? Please explain.” “.
What distinguishes income tax fraud from academic fraud in medical schools?
“When has someone misjudged you, and how did you respond?”
“Why not MD/PHD instead of just MD?”
“How will you be paying for medical school?”
“What is something positive you saw in healthcare?”
“Tell me about your non healthcare related activities.”
“How passionate are you about medicine?”
Both of my interviewers asked, “What kind of medicine are you interested in right now?”
“What did you take away from your clinical experience”
“Where do you see yourself in 10-15 years?”
“What are your best friends best and worst qualities?”
“Tell me about your research experience.”
“What was the happiest moment of your life?”
You enjoy doing (A) and (B) in your free time, then. Why don’t you pursue a career in (A) or (B)?”
“Do you think you are doing much to prevent becoming another victim of heart disease?” I asked after discussing the history of heart disease in my family. e. What do you do with your free time (besides exercising and staying active)?
“The second interviewer (from my personal statement) was open file and inquired about my interest in cardiology.” “.
“Do you read medical journals?”
“Tell me about your work experience?”
“do you have any questions for me?”
“What is the difference between a physician and a nurse”
“The second interviewer directly questioned me about my application and personal essay “.
“Where do you want to practice?”
“What extracurricular activities do you engage in, and do you have any interest in doing research?”
“Where do you see yourself 15 years from now?”
“What makes you unique/Tell me about yourself.”
How do you anticipate paying for your medical education, and how do you believe changes in the healthcare system will impact your desire to become a doctor?
“You have a diverse background- why medicine?”
“What do you want to know from me?”
How did you come to the decision to pursue a career in medicine?
“Tell me about TAMS (my high school).”
“What was the worst interaction you’ve ever had with someone?”
What are your areas of weakness, and what have you done to strengthen them?
“What do you look for in a medical school?”
“how did you decide you wanted to be a doctor?”
“What do you do when youre not busy being busy?”
“How are you going to pay for med school?”
“What clinical experiences have you had?”
“what do i look for in a medical school”
“Who were your role models growing up?”
What would be challenging to deal with as a doctor? Have you shadowed a doctor or volunteered in a clinic? What course would you retake? What course would you take that you have never taken? What is wrong with US health care? What are the pros and cons of physician-pharm company interactions? Pros and cons of phy/insurance interactions?
“Describe your clinical experiences. “
“Explain your research to me as you would to your grandmother,”
How would you treat a patient who you really detest and find objectionable?
“What advice has your brother given? (hes an MD)”
In both interviews, the question “How do you plan to finance your medical school education”
“Have you ever worked with a team or learned in a group setting?” was a question that was posed by both interviewers. )”.
“Would you ever let someone else take the blame for your mistake? Would you ever tell someone about a mistake you made?”
Was becoming a doctor something I decided to do recently or something I always wanted to do?
“What other career options have you considered besides medicine?”
“What specialty could you see yourself going into?”
“How will you manage juggling a career as a doctor with a family and personal life?”
“Have you thought about how you would finance medical school?”
“What kind of research do you do?”
“Why did you choose that major? “
“Where do you see yourself in the next ten to fifteen years?” she chuckled.
What if you were a pediatric oncologist and had to treat patients even though you knew that half of them would perish regardless of your efforts?
“What do you do for fun?”
“Tell me about your travels.”
“Why do you want to come to UTMB?”
“What do your brothers and sister do?”
“Have you had any leadership roles?”
When did you realize you wanted to pursue a career in medicine?
“How do you think you would fit with our program?”
What are the drawbacks and benefits of being a doctor?
“Why do you want to be a doctor”
What difficulties do you foresee in juggling your family life and medical school? “.
“List some ethical issues in medicine.”
“What kind of research are you involved in?”
If you weren’t accepted to medical school, what would you do?
“How will you finance your medical school career?”
“What did you get on your MCATs?”
“How will you balance married life/family and your career?”
What do you do to unwind, and what would you not abandon in the face of the pressures of medical school?
“Did you have to study for the test or are you the type of person who takes tests easily?”
“Tell me about your research”
If you don’t get in, what are you going to do?
“Ethics question involving treating patients who refuse treatment and their treatment options “.
What life lessons have you learned that will help you be a better doctor?
“What will you do if you don’t get into medical school?”
“How will you pay for your education?”
“Did you study any specific human diseases in biochemistry?”
“What do you do? (Tell me about yourself)”
“What do you do in your free time? Any books?”
“Where do you see yourself in 10 years?”
“What do you think of UTMB?”
“Do you realize how demanding being a doctor is?”
What do you believe to be the biggest issue facing healthcare today?
“Be ready to discuss almost anything in your interview.” They inquired about my poem, as I previously mentioned; no other school did that. “.
“Could you see yourself attending UTMB?”
“When did you decide to become a doctor?”
“What medical school do you really want to go to?”
“Why do you want to study medicine?”
“Questions on some of the basic science behind my research”
“Why don’t you want to be like your dad and become a “_____”?”
“What was your favorite/least favorite class?”
“What is your greatest strength/opportunity?”
How are you going to manage the pressure and workload in medical school?
“Please describe your research experience and what the results signify.”
Would you consider yourself to be the group’s leader during problem-solving sessions?
“Do you have any specializations in mind?”
“did you parents push you to do medicine?”
“What is the future of medicine?”
Which of your greatest strengths relates to medicine?
“How will you pay for your medical education?”
“The healthcare question listed above.”
“Instead of becoming a doctor, why not pursue another career in medicine?”
“Tell me about your job.”
“tell me about the intramural sports you played”
“Tell me about a healthcare issue that you are particularly concerned with.” “.
What direction do you see medicine taking in the following ten years?
What would you do if a dying, helpless patient asked you to assist in ending his or her life?
“Why did you apply to UTMB?”
“Where do you see yourself in 10, 15 years? “
“Where do I see myself 15 years from now?”
“What are you passionate about?”
“Why dont you have any research experience?”
What makes you think you want to become a pediatrician?
“Where do you see yourself in 10 years?”
“What is a situation in which you have been misunderstood?”
“Why did you choose your undergraduate institution?”
What do you envision for your professional career in ten years? “.
“How do you know you wont change careers again?”
“Can I reiterate the Cost question?!”
What would you like me to say to the admissions committee as your representative?
“Tell me about a time you were misunderstood or mistreated.”
“What languages do you speak?”
What medical schools did you apply to? Why did you choose XYZ University?”
“How would you balance school & whats important to you.”
“Does MIT have that many pre-meds?? (yes! we do!)”
How do you intend to juggle medicine with your extracurricular activities?
“Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?”
“Why do you want to be a doctor?”
“Do you believe that healthcare professionals should enforce a rule requiring vaccination?”
“When was a time you were angry”
Tell me about your volunteer work and how you support your neighborhood.
“Why did you apply here?”
“What would I do if I dont get in”
“Tell me about your healthcare activities”
“Talk about your experience working with groups”
What would you do if you weren’t accepted into medical school?
My research was in chemistry, but I majored in microbiology, so I suppose she was wondering why it was outside of what I studied. “How did you get into your research?” she asked.
“When has someone misjudged you and how did you respond?”
“Explain how you developed the mindset of serving others”
What do you anticipate will be the most difficult situation in medical school?
“Do you display good judgment?”
What would you do if this cycle you weren’t accepted?
“What is something negative you saw in healthcare?”
“How do you handle stress?”
“What are your strengths and weaknesses”
What was the most recent movie or book you watched or read?
What would be your most memorable quality from this interview, if anything?
What have you thought so far about the UTMB interview day? “.
“Tell me when your interest in medicine first began.”
The second interview consisted of a series of quick-fire questions like, “Why medicine? Why not law, business, engineering, or finance? Do you think intelligent people are choosing to pursue medicine today? How does the oil and pharmaceutical industries affect healthcare? Do you drink? What are your views on drinking and smoking? You have this: MCAT, research paper, read these journals, write an article, and present on a topic. You have two days. What stresses you out? How do you prepare? Could you do it without sleep? Would you rush to finish a presentation that takes 30 minutes to get to if you woke up late and only had 20 minutes? Very demanding interview but very interesting/exciting haha”.
“What is one of your strengths? What is a weakness?”
“What have been your happiest and saddest moments?”
“Tell me more about this EC?”
“Tell me about a problem you encountered and overcame without the assistance of your parents or legal guardians.” “.
“Why become a doctor? Why not pursue medical research? What do your parents think of your decision to pursue medicine?”
“What are your top three schools”
“What do you think about the current health-care reform.”
“What difficulties did you encounter during your undergraduate years? What kind of teamwork experience do you have? How would you handle a scenario where there was a member of your team who was not cooperative?”
“Why should I recommend you over other applicants?”
What gives you the impression that you are up to the challenges of medical school?
“What if you dont get in this cycle?”
“Tell me about your experience with medicine.”
“What areas of medicine are you interested in?”
Do you believe having a career in medicine will make it difficult to maintain a family life?
“Can you handle the demands of medical school?”
“When did you know you wanted to be a doctor?”
“Do you know what kind of specialty you want to pursue?”
“As a doctor, you’ll frequently work 14-hour shifts in the hospital,” How will you support your family as a doctor, in particular your children?”
“When I walked into my interviewer’s office, the first thing he asked me was, “What questions do you have for me? “.
“Why did you choose your undergraduate school?”
“Tell me about your research, your family, what keeps you from practicing medicine from your experience with patients, and another experience that makes you want to,” What would you do if a parent objected to a child receiving a necessary medical procedure? Should vaccinations be required even for those who object? Should the US have a more socialized healthcare system? What specialty do you want to pursue? What medical advancement do you see on the horizon? How would you handle a patient you know you can’t cure?
“Why would you want to return to India when there are so many people trying to leave?”
How do you think having a family in the future will be affected by your work as a doctor?
“which specialty do you think you want to purse”
“Why did you choose medicine?”
Typical strength/weakness material, such as “think about 10 years from now, what if med school doesn’t work out, etc.” “.
(One interview) “How will your psychology major help you in medical school?”
“What were the best and worst times in your life?”
“How will you pay for medical school?”
“Where do I see myself in the next 15 years?”
“What did you learn from this specific extracurricular activity?”
“What do your parents do?”
How will you balance being a doctor with your personal, family, and social life?
“Describe some experiences where you have shown teamwork.”
“What do you like to do for fun?”
“What do you picture yourself in 15 years?”
“What about UTMB do you like?”
What do you believe to be the most challenging aspect of being a doctor?
“How has your work as a teacher affected your choice to pursue a career in medicine?”
“How did you decide to apply to medical school?”
What kinds of actions should the country take to enhance healthcare?
“Tell me about your research experiences.”
Are you familiar with Galveston and have you ever been there?
“What type of specialty are you interested in?”
“Where do you see yourself in ten years?”
“Asked about specifics in my personal statement”
“How have you arrived at this point in your life?”
“What diseases are caused by genetics mutation?”
“Do you have any questions for me?”
“Why do you think you’re the best applicant out there?”
“What will you do if you dont get in?”
“Why do you want to do medicine?”
“what would you do if you didnt get in?”
How would you like to apply your knowledge of bench research to the clinical setting?
“Do you like birds?” asked one of the interviewers who was interested in bird watching. I replied that I didn’t. “.
“How did your interest in ophthalmology come about?”
“How do you plan on paying for medical school?”
“A query regarding how medical professionals can aid in problem prevention rather than fixing things after they have already occurred “.
What have you learned about patient-doctor and doctor-other healthcare professionals relationships from your work experience?
“How did you prepare for a career in medicine?”
There will be a lot of criticism directed at you, both positive and negative. (Option to answer or not respond on that one. )”.
How has your major in philosophy influenced your choice to pursue medicine?
“what do you think about Health Care Policy?”
“How will you adjust to the intensity of medical school?”
“Do you have any questions about Galveston?”
Why do you want to work in primary care or OB/GYN when you are aware of all the insurance and malpractice issues that those specialties currently face?
“What specialty are you interested it?”
“What influenced you to want to become a doctor?”
“When they ask if you have any questions for them, make sure to inquire about PBL classes, among other things. They may have experience teaching those courses and can give you advice on how to do well in them or whether they are even a good fit for you and your learning style. “.
“Tell me about your research. “
“What has impressed you about hour school?”
What aspect of medical school do you anticipate being the most difficult or overwhelming for you?
“Who influenced you to want to become a doctor?”
“What specialty do you want to get into?”
“What specialties are you considering? Why?”
“Whats your biggest weakness? “
“Why did you decide to enroll in the undergraduate institution that you do now?”
“How do you take/give criticism?”
“How would your research experience fit into your medical career?”
“How do you know that you’ll be able to handle the demanding coursework in medical school?”
“How do you plan on handling the stress”
“Do I have any questions?”
“What do you think of our school?”
What do you envision yourself doing in five or ten years?
“Is anyone else in your family a professional?”
What resemblances do you see between these two religions?
if you weren’t accepted to medical school, what would you do?
If you’re not admitted to medical school, what will you do?
“What characteristics do you seek in a physician, and do you possess these characteristics?”
“What do you want me to know about you?”
“Why do you want to be a doctor?”
If I only knew the reason I wasn’t accepted the first time. “.
“Tell me about this specific section of your application,” he said, naming something in particular “.
“What are your priorities in choosing a medical school?”
“What was your favorite class?”
“Why do you want to come to Galveston?”
“Why didnt you take X or Y class?”
How do you think you’ll balance family life and medical school, and how does your husband feel about your choice of profession?
“How do you handle criticism?”
“Whats the last good book you read?”
“What is your oppinion about terminally ill patients?”
“What specialties are you interested in?”
“Describe yourself and explain why I should choose you as my doctor. “.
“Tell me about your family.”
“What was THE deciding factor leading you to medicine? (The interviewer asked me to provide a specific point and time after I replied that it was a combination of factors.) weird)”.
“What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?”
“What is the most pressing issue today?”
Tell me about a time when you didn’t engage me as well as you could have.
“What do you know about problem based learning curriculum”
“What not related to academics are you currently interested in”
How have your experiences equipped you for teamwork?
“Typical questions were asked. No surprise/interesting questions.”
“You only raised $XXXX for the race you directed?”
“What was the most interesting class you took in college?”
“Parents arent putting pressure on you to be a doctor?”
What does “professionalism” mean to you? What sort of person irritates you?
“Why not become a teacher?”
“What type of friends do you like to associate with”
“During the interview, I took on the role of my best or closest friend and discussed myself from her perspective.” “.
We spent a lot of time discussing Galveston’s history and the school’s connections to the city during my first interview. Our conversation was very informal and naturally took this turn. “.
“Give me a middle child perspective on growing up,” the PhD requested after mentioning that he had three children and that I was the middle child. “”.
“Describe one of your friends to me. What do you like about him, and what do you think is one of his flaws?
“How does oil/the oil industry affect your individual health?”
“Based on your personality, what would a patient of yours experience”
“Not much interesting? Seemed like laid back, routine interview?”
“do you have any questions for me?”
“Your hobbies seem very introverted. Why are you drawn to working with people as a doctor?
“All pretty standard stuff…nothing out of the blue.”
Did the passing of your father make you bitter toward medicine for a while?
“How do you think the aging process occurs?”
“How will you break the news to the family and the patient if you have a 6-year-old patient and you know they have one and a half years to live?”
“My second interviewer was totally chilled and awesome. It was very conversational and enjoyable. “.
How will you manage both working as a doctor and raising a family?
“Is there one question you would like to ask me?”
“None were particularly interesting in a good way”
“A question that referenced my personal statement”
“None, really — pretty standard questions.”
“What was the happiest moment in your life?”
“As a doctor, what do you believe you would provide to your patients?”
“What do you see as the future of healthcare?”
What is your favorite place and what was the happiest time in your life?
“How do you think insurance effects the practice of medicine?”
(Before beginning, a discussion about how antibiotics are losing their effectiveness How would you explain to a mother of a sick infant that it would be best if the child did not take antibiotics if you were a pediatrician?
What resources do you use in the classroom and how do you prepare lessons as a teacher?
“All the questions were interesting and nice”
How would you approach telling a family that their child had a prognosis of death?
Who would you choose to have dinner with, whether they were alive or dead?
“What books have you read in the past year?”
“what does your dad do?”
“What was the lowest point in your life?”
What location would you choose to visit and why, if you had unlimited funds? (The questions weren’t particularly interesting; they were more of the straightforward conversational variety.)
“How would you handle a young boy whose parents you had to amputate his legs?”
“During my PhD interview, the interviewer mentioned that his daughter was experiencing abdominal pain and asked how I would go about diagnosing her.” “.
“None were really interesting. Mostly standard fare.”
“Consider a situation in which a companion joins you, but they are unable to describe the issue.” How do you help them solve the problem?”.
How do you think you’ll handle working in a male-dominated field as a woman?
(Considering my background in business) “Do you have a problem with the idea of taking out loans to pay for medical school?”
“What do you know about skin?”
“Do you normally take the initiative in group discussions or do you prefer to listen?” “.
“How is the big mud hole up north?”
“How will having a financial background benefit my career in medicine?”
“Cant think of any. “
“How do you feel about the cervical cancer vaccine?”
What criticism of others have you heard that has irritated you the most?
Nothing; the first interviewer was friendly and the second didn’t ask many questions. “.
How do you intend to balance your personal and romantic life with that of a doctor?
“Explain a healthcare issue in psychiatry and offer a potential fix” (It appeared as though he wanted to discuss the overdiagnosis of ADD.) )”.
“So what does your email address mean?”
“How are you going to finance your education?”
“None, they were all typical.”
“Have you had any encounters with monkeys?”
“Not many questions at all. I asked most of the questions. Other than that it was more like a conversation. The most intriguing query, in my opinion, was “Where do you see yourself in 10 years? “.
“When did you feel the happiest in your life?”
How would you go about setting up this research experiment, given the specifics of the issue?
“More conversational… not a lot of questions.”
“Whats the hardest thing youve ever had to do?”
We were discussing some policy research I was doing when someone asked, “How do cancer survivors know when they are survivors?”
“Explain your research to your mother as if you were explaining it to her”
What occurred in college that you would consider to be a defining moment or decision?
“Who is your hero and why”
“How dou you define Professionalism? “
“What would you do about the situation in Pakistan?”
So, what are your thoughts on Iraq? (Just a casual inquiry; perhaps because I’m Muslim) “.
Are you still married? Why did you join the military?
“How would you overcome the dichotomy between providing excellent patient care and seeing many patients?”
How prepared are you for the sacrifices a career in medicine demands?
How does India’s healthcare system stack up against that of the United States? S. ?”.
What drawbacks do you perceive in American and Nigerian medicine, respectively?
“If a child fell from a 10 ft. What is the first thing that you as a doctor would do if a patient arrived at the emergency room seemingly unharmed with no visible wounds or abrasions and no apparent mental impairment?
What do you think of this painting? (His son actually gave it to him as a gift.) ) “.
“One interviewer started asking me about health care policy and whether I thought it should be a privilege or a right when he saw that I was a political science major. “.
“Standard stuff; why medical school? What field are you interested in?”
“What is the one criticism that makes you most sensitive?”
“Do you feel pressure to succeed because you’re the oldest person in your generation?”
What has been the most difficult situation you have faced in life?
“Nothing very interesting…just ordinary questions”
“it was all pretty conversational- nothing too interesting”
I felt like my interviewers were genuinely interested in me and weren’t asking me really difficult, what-if questions. “Any interesting questions I had were directly related to the material in my file.” “.
What have you done to strengthen your application as a repeat applicant?
“If you could visit any location in the world, where would it be and why?”
“Nothing. All questions were either standard or badgering.”
“How come you didnt apply to Baylor?”
How does playing hockey, a physically demanding sport, prepare you to practice medicine with composure and compassion?
“Tell me about a happy time in your life.”
“How did you become interested in medicine? (standard questions…nothing special)”
“What characteristics drew me to UTMB”
(I have a degree in finance) “Have you calculated the net present value of going into medicine over the potential future earnings in Finance?”
“Do you know any doctors from your hometown?”
“I didnt get any non-standard questions.”
What do you think of our new BSL-4 since you are interested in microbiology research?
What function does a doctor perform in the twenty-first century?
“Pretty standard interview questions. Nothing too interesting.”
“What is the biggest problem facing healthcare and medicine today?”
“What was the unhappiest time in your life?”
“I’m here for anything you have to ask me, not just about the school,” “.
How do you anticipate managing the debt you will accrue while attending medical school?
“When does the U. S. Which sector of the medical system spends the most money over the course of the average person’s lifespan?
“(In the future). A couple requests that you use gene therapy to modify their unborn child’s intelligence and eye color. What do you do?”.
Do you believe you are prepared to dedicate yourself to the challenges of a medical school curriculum?
“How do you deal with people you don’t like? (There were several questions before this one.) )”.
“What do you like to do to relieve stress?”
“What do I think about telemedicine?”
“What should I tell the committee about you?”
What would you do if you started medical school and found that it wasn’t really intellectually stimulating?
“Im a student in your group. No one likes me because I’m difficult to get along with and among the students They approach you to try to rectify the stituation. What would you do? “.
“What is something very unique about you?”
“When you reflect on your entire life, what do you feel has been your greatest achievement?”
“About my family’s history and the neighborhood I grew up in” “.
Describe a moment from the Er that inspired you to pursue a career in medicine. “.
I was a film major, so I asked, “How would you shoot this scene (the interview) if you were filming a movie?”
What traits do you possess that will make you a successful doctor?
“What books do you read?”
“Do you know that going to medical school is expensive? Later, how do you intend to pay for it? again, have you thought about the cost of going to medical school? (I guess it is?)”
What have you done since submitting your previous application, as a reapplicant?
Why is [my school’s] acceptance rate to medical school > 90%?
“my thoughts about correctional medicine”
“What kind of books do I enjoy?”
“nothing really interesting—just talked about myself”
How would I manage school and my marriage, and how much of my free time would I give up to study?
“I had a male and female interview, and the male interview was by far the more interesting one.” he asked, “who is your role model?””.
“You study politics. What are some challenges posed by capitalism on medicine?”.
“Does your little sister want to be a doctor, too?”
“Do you enjoy teaching yourself?”
“Describe a situation in which you had to deal with a challenging person and how you handled it.” “.
“How will you avoid bias when the patient’s beliefs, religion, and culture differ from yours?”
“How would you fix healthcare”
How can you respond to the question “What do you think is an important human rights issue? ” without bringing up anything particularly divisive “.
Give an instance of a time you disagreed with a policy and what you did in response.
“How many genes are in the human body?”
“The questions about my research”
“A time someone misjudged you and how you responded”
“If not medicine, then what career would you choose?”
“List your top 5 careers and bottom 5 careers. Tell me why you dont want to be each one. “.
“How will you prevent burnout during school?”
What if I said you weren’t prepared to be a doctor?
“Explain why you believe you will be able to handle our course material. “.
If you didn’t want to be a doctor, list five careers you would pursue and five you would never do.
“During the interview, I took on the role of my best or closest friend and discussed myself from her perspective.” “.
The second interviewer questioned me regarding the ethics of organ transplants, including the kind of ethics and role you as the doctor play in this area. “.
Was there a catalyst (an occasion or a person) that inspired you to pursue medicine?
“What is a professional to you?”
What aspects of being a doctor do you think you won’t enjoy?
“Are you going into medicine for the prestige? (The interviewer asked. I replied, “No, and explained why. I wasn’t sure how to interpret his response or whether he liked my answer.)”
“What is a weakness of yours?”
When I clarified that he wasn’t asking about my philosophy of life or of a specific topic, he responded, “No, your philosophy,” and then lectured me for not having a proper philosophy. oh well)”.
“do you have any questions for me?”
“What is your biggest weakness? Describe a time when something terrible happened to you and you managed to turn it around.” “.
“Why a doctor? You can still help people. as a nurse or EMT or another healthcare personel. “.
How do you envision yourself interacting with your patients and how do you envision your career developing?
Tell me about yourself (shouldn’t have been bad, but it was the first question in a real interview, so it was a little difficult to get going)
“Would you do anything, and if so, what course of action would you take, if you were living in the dorms and a fellow resident was under the influence of drugs before going on a date?”
“Is healthcare a right or priviledge”
“The first interview grilled me on the question “why medicine. She kept saying things like, “You could have been a nurse to care for others,” and “You can get a PHD and teach,” even though I was trying to emphasize the “combination” of all these things. She also told me not to get pregnant until after residency (I’m married) for at least five minutes. Overall, she was very intimidating, and the encounter wasn’t pleasant. “.
What do you believe the cause of your failure to enter this cycle would be, and what would you do in this situation?
“What is your greatest weakness?”
“The interviewer described a situation where a patient was unquestionably near death and asked you (the doctor), is there any hope?” The interviewer asked me how I would handle the situation and then went off on a very long tangent about hope and things that happen after death. Tons of weird religious undertones, kind of uncomfortable. “.
“Why should you be accepted to UTMB over other applicants?”
“Describe the last situation where you had to use teamwork.”
“If you couldn’t practice medicine, what would you do?”
“Do you agree with the way House (from the t. v. why or why not) treats patients and instructs the residents?”
What would you do if you weren’t accepted to medical school?
“why a doctor and not a scientist”
“During Katrina, one of the doctors stayed behind to care for his patients and was forced to divide them into three groups based on their likelihood of surviving the aftermath.” He requested the patients who he believed would not survive’s permission to be euthanized as the supplies ran low. He then euthenized them. Would you find him guilty or not guilty if you were a jury, and if you were the doctor, would you find him guilty or not guilty?”
“Why didnt you work in a biochemistry lab doing research?”
What do you regret most about your life? How does an fMRI work? Should an HIV-positive doctor have to tell his patients that he has the virus?
“Are you a good fit for this school given the curriculum and style, given this?”
“Describe a situation when you took on a leadership role. (actually not that difficult, but there was nothing difficult really)”.
If you were a health insurance provider, would you discriminate against people who visit the doctor too frequently?
I’m a little younger than you, but how will that affect your time at our medical school?” just about everyone!)”.
(She knew I was a Christian because of my involvement in Younglife) “How do you see yourself handling a patient who comes to you wanting an abortion?”
“A role-play scenario of a group member who was challenging and not contributing to the group’s success” “.
“What do you know about skin?”
“What is the most significant medical situation you have dealt with?”
You obviously have a wide range of interests outside of medicine. why are you even going into this field?”.
“Feelings about the cervical cancer vaccine”
“Compared to your peers, how competitive are you?”
Nothing; the first interviewer was friendly and the second didn’t ask many questions. “.
“None really. One ethical dilemma was challenging because you couldn’t know the right response (not right or wrong response) until you were in that situation. “.
“They were all basic interview type questions.”
“I’m just trying to graciously handle my second interviewer’s bitter and overt attempts to dissuade me from medical school, which isn’t really hard if you have thick skin,” the applicant said. I think I pulled it off. He relented and escorted me to my next stop. “.
What are some of the challenges that a doctor might run into?
“I wasnt really bombarded with questions. we talked about the hurricanes. It was extremely conversational. “.
“Whats the hardest thing youve ever had to do?”
What do you anticipate being the most challenging aspect of medical school?
“Have you considered the logistics of overseas medical relief work?”
“Where do you see yourself in ten years?” was a question I received from each interviewer. They might just want to ask a question from their prepared list to get the conversation going. “.
How will becoming a doctor change your plans for starting a family? (I believe this is an inappropriate question, but I responded to it.) )”.
“Again… not a lot of questions.”
What is an instance in which you believe you were misjudged?
“Are there good physicians and bad physicians?”
“What would you do if you were an OB/GYN and asked to perform an abortion? How do you feel about abortion?” “.
“same as the most interesting question”
What do you know about a doctor’s life? (This seemed difficult because the interviewer kept repeating the question, emphasizing life, and didn’t seem satisfied with my answers. “.
“real laidback nothing really all that difficult”
How would you handle a fellow student who simply won’t cooperate with you?
If you don’t end up becoming a doctor, what will you do?
Even after I finished asking all of my questions, both interviewers kept asking if I had any for them.
“My first interviewer drilled me on ethics for almost 50 minutes.” “.
What, in your opinion, distinguishes patients with psychological illness who have developed physical illness from those who are ill initially?
What can you tell me about the current state of the US healthcare system?
“Same – Im not an art enthusiast by any means. It was so random and out of the blue that it was difficult to respond, but do you have any odd personality traits? “.
He was interested in psychiatry, so when I inquired about his doctoral research, we started talking about suicide and euthanasia.
What does your mother think of your decision to not pursue law like she did?
“This really isn’t difficult, but she really kept pushing the issue as if my answer wasn’t good enough, why medicine and not nursing, etc. “.
“In essence, what would you tell the father if you were treating a child whose diagnosis included revealed some level of infidelity on the mother’s behalf?”
The interviewer asked me, “You haven’t had a very hard life have you.,” which was funny, but I haven’t had any murders take place next door or anything. “.
“To keep in mind the lines from a poem I wrote and had published in the literary magazine of my college my sophomore year. I didnt remember – they were both disappointed. “.
“What makes you a better candidate compared to other interviewees?”
Why did you pick a school where you were confident you would not be challenged?
Of course, I complained about this interviewer to the appropriate parties, and I was given a second interviewer who asked me, “Do you really mean it when you say you want to become a primary care physician or are you being dishonest? “.
What was the most recent interpersonal conflict you dealt with, and how?
Who will pay for socialized medicine? Why should the person who works hard have to pay for the person who doesn’t? What if someone works hard and someone else doesn’t?
“Nothing really difficult at all. I think the question about how you’ll balance family life and medical school was the one for which I was least prepared. ” I should have seen that one coming, though. “.
“Where do you see yourself in 10-15 years?”
No ethics or current events questions were asked; instead, he may have asked what I believed to be the biggest issue in modern medicine. “.
How did I intend to work in research, raise a family, and practice medicine?
“Tell me about yourself. (no difficult questions at all)”
How would you balance a family and a career, and what are your plans for one?
“What do you think about the current healthcare system?”
“Do you think you will get bored with family practice?”
What was your biggest letdown, and how did you handle it?
What do you think is wrong with healthcare today, who is to blame, and who will fix it?
“Instead of becoming a doctor, why not pursue another career in medicine?”
“What should I know about you?”
“Does your husband know what he is getting into?”
Are you too old to apply to medical school, do you not think?
If you weren’t accepted into medical school this year, what would you do? If you were not accepted into medical school, what would you do?
What are your academic interests outside of medicine, and what are your weaknesses?”
If practicing medicine is as unsatisfying as your current job, what will you do?
“How would you like to get paid as a doctor?”
There are many underserved medical areas in the nation. How do we go about fixing this problem?”.
“none that i can recall”
“What should I tell the committee about you?”
“Where does UTMB rank in your list of preferences?”
“Nothing too difficult. There was probably some wacky inquiry along the lines of, “When deciding your priorities in life, what values/beliefs do you base your decisions on?” He appeared unsatisfied with my response, or perhaps I was dozing off. ) “.
“What could be a barrier that could stop you from getting a MD?” “.
“How do we fix the public school system?”
“Describe my professional career ten years from now.”
“Give me three adjectives that your friends would use to describe you, both positive and negative.” “.
“Why didnt you take anatomy or biochem? “
“None, the interview was very conversational”
Why do you want to become a doctor if your parents’ divorce was caused by the fact that your father is a doctor?
What would you like me to say to the admissions committee as your representative?
“Tell me about a particular time when your perspective on the world was completely altered.” “.
“Why i want to do pediatrics and not family practice. The interviewer was very pushy and kept asking me for more details. “.
“Specific questions about my recomendations.”
“what do i do for fun intelectually”
“No real hard questions. Everything was chatty & get-to-know-you stuff. How much of a sacrifice would I be willing to make to attend school?
What challenges do you envision facing your future medical practice, and what do you envision yourself doing in 20 years?
“Do you have a partner?”
“Describe a situation where you failed at something.”
“Didnt do much, it felt a lot like Casper”
“SDN questions, mock interviews with friends. Look up useful interview skills. PRACTICE”.
“SDN, Reddit, researching school, practice, advice from other students”
“Student doc questions, practicing with family”
Pre-med years podcast, questions for medical students, one practice interview, read-through app
“SDN, interview book, advice from friends who attend the school.”
“Practice questions with friends of family. Looked over my application.”
“Reviewed my own interview notes and application a few nights before the interview.” “.
“Review my application and mock interviews”
“A little light online reading about medical schools in general and interview techniques.” “.
“Sdn interview feedback, mock interview”
“SND, mock interviews, and practice questions online.”
Visit the school’s website, SDN, and conduct one practice interview.
“SDN. Reviewed current events and health care reform online. Reviewed my application. Information from student ambassadors on interview day. “.
“Practice questions from the internet, read about the school. Practice questions helped a lot”.
“school history, the UTMB motto, UTMB future objectives, speak to older students” “.
SDN, consider the health policy in effect, speak with family members, peruse AMCAS, and take a deep breath.
“Student Doctor, reviewing all the information I provided for my medical school application, researching healthcare regulations, and reading the UTMB website”
“SDN interview feedback, other med school interviews”
The feedback from my SDN interview, the UTMB website, and healthcare reform weren’t too different because it was my fifth interview overall.
“Read the schools website and curriculum. I stayed with a student host who filled me in on a lot of information about his time at the university. “.
“Read SDN and the schools website. Looked at health care reform”.
“Looked at questions on SDN”
“Researched PBL format, UTMB website, SDN.”
“Only skim through a few pages of information on wikipedia about UTMB and health care reform.” “.
“SDN, talked to 1st year medschool students, internet “
“sdn, read my personal statement and TMDSAS app.”
“Since this was my second interview, I didn’t do much to prepare other than browse the school website, which was ineffective because one of the links to an informational page wasn’t working, and I couldn’t get the downloadable video file to play on my computer. “.
“Practiced responding to inquiries from the SDN and the health professions office at my school. “.
“Reviewing my application and cover letter, reading a book on healthcare reform, articles on healthcare, learning about UTMB’s general information and curriculum”
“I read through my application a few times, read SDN, and kind of made a list of my favorite books and movies and basic characteristics I wanted them to know about me.” and rested “.
“Prepare standard questions. Talk to med students there.”
“re-read application, went over potential questions”
“SDN, looked at possible questions, researched the school”
“I became fully aware of every aspect of how the school operated.” Learned the curriculum and pace of learning. Learned all of the current news of the school. “.
“Didnt really do anything special”
“SDN, stayed with a first-year friend, spoke with faculty ahead of time”
“SDN, reading topics in healthcare, “
“reviewed my application, looked at practice questions, visited schools website”
“SDN, good sleep, unwinding, and playing a board game with friends.” “.
Read articles on medical ethics and policy, the Health section of the New York Times, my statements again, and the UTMB website.
“SDN, GRAD interview questions, read PS and reserach stuff.”
“read app, talk to med students”
“Read sdn, read healthcare materials, and read my resume.”
“I prepared for the sdn interview using experience from the utsouthwestern interview”
“SDN, read books on ethics and healthcare issues, prepared for potential interview questions, and went way beyond the recommended level of preparation.” There is nothing wrong with being overly prepared because it may be useful.
“Read a portion of a book on healthcare, followed the instructions in a book on medical interviews, and conducted a practice interview”
I tried looking at the website, but it wasn’t very helpful. Did attend the night-before social. “.
“sdn, reading my personal statement, talking to my dad and other doctors, considering my opinions and stances on hot-button issues”
“SDN, good nights sleep, talk to friend who is MS2”
“SDN interview feedback, TMDAS, mock-interviewing”
“SDN feedback, read my app”
“student doc & school website”
“SDN; Schools website; Various websites with interview advice”
“sdn feedback, school website, my application”
“Read up on UTMB, read recent medical articles, and reread my application”
“SDN, mock interview, looked over application”
“SDN; mock interviews; classes in Medical Ethics, Health Policy, and Health Disparities; reread my personal statement; peruse the school’s website; serve as an interviewer for the undergraduate admissions office of my own university”
“SDN, mock interview, Health Care Meltdown, UWash Bioethics, current events, reviewed my ps, reviewed my pubs, read about school, Understanding Health Policy,”
“SDN, Reread application, spoke to medical students that morning and the night before,”
“SDN, UTMB website, reviewed application”
“SDN, mock interview, schools website”
“Online web page, SDN, talked to friends”
“read sdn feedback, utmb site, my app”
Review the school website, look over my application, and create a resume for the interviewers, student doctor,” “.
“I used the internet to research a variety of topics pertaining to the school.” I also sent an email to a UTMB student who attended the same undergrad program. school that I go to. “.
“I browsed this site and the school website, read through some sample interview questions, and prepared responses.” “.
“SDN Interview Feedback and reread my application.”
UTMB website, SDN, review applications, practice tests, and books on social policy and ethics
“this cite, read my thesis and application, practiced questions”
“reviewed this website and the schools website”
SDN, have a look at my application and the school’s website.
“Read over my app, SDN, momMD. com, Ask. The Insiders Guide to Medical School Admissions is a website for health-related issues.
“Read SDN, my app, educate yourself on moral dilemmas, news, etc.”
“Since this is my second application, the procedure is routine for me.” I simply took it easy the previous day and had a restful night’s sleep. I was aware of my application’s purpose for writing my essay, as well. “.
“read SDN, read my application”
“SDN, I read up on PBL, I wrote some common questions and practiced my answers,” “.
“Reviewed my personal statement and did some research on the school.” “.
“This website, MSAR, practiced with my wife. “
“I reviewed SDN, my personal statement, and prepared responses to ethical-related questions.”
“went over SDN interview feedback”
“Read SDN, Application and practiced answers to common questions.”
“this website, read over my appl”
“Reviewed my application, health policy concerns, ethical concerns, fundamental inquiries, SDN “.
I studied a list of interview questions to see if I could generate quality responses on the spot.
“reading this website, reviewing my apps, brushing up on current events”
“google, sdn feedback, talking to current students (best resource)”
“Didnt do much. Read the SDN website and relaxed.”
“read my application thoroughly, researched the institution, spoke with students, and made up responses to likely questions”
“School web page and friend in PA school at UTMB”
“sdn, looked over utmb website.”
“I went to the school after my interview in Houston and got to meet a lot of students, hang out with the locals, and take a tour of the campus, including the gross lab, among other things. That prepared me pretty well. “.
“Read on here and on the UTMB website. Talked to other people who had previously interviewed. “.
“reviewed my research, read my application, read the SND interview feedback, and practiced question-answering”
Practice responding to potential interview questions, use this website, and advice from friends who have already had interviews.
“Mock interview, talked to students at night before social.”
“Read my application and this site. “
“Read this site, my application”
“Read my app, read the news “
“I looked at this website, the UTMB course catalog, and spoke to people who had previously interviewed there.” “.
“interview feedback, looked over application”
“Read old interview questions. Re-read my application.”
I didn’t know about this website; I just anticipated their questions, researched the institution, and typed up some answers.
“sleep, this website, mock interview”
“didnt. I assumed I knew the procedure because it was my sixth one. “.
“Mock interview, read school website and this website”
“Reviewed this website, brainstormed ideas, and conducted mock interviews with friends.” “.
“researched UTMB website, asked current students what to expect”
“SDN, UTMB website FAQ section, Mock interview”
“I read the UTMB website, took a virtual campus tour, wrote answers to hypothetical questions, and received feedback on my SDN interview.” “.
“Read the website, my application, studentdoctor.net”
“I reviewed my application and personal statement, perused the school viewbook, reviewed the comments on SDN, perused the website, and slept well.” “.
“this website, a friend from texas, www.utmb.edu “
“Just read about UTMB, SDN, and went over my application.”
Without practicing a word-for-word response, I researched the questions on this site and others and came up with my own answers. “.
“I read the UTMB website and reviewed my application.”
“Stayed with a medical student the night before and relaxed.”
“The usial stuff I read their website consulted the MSAR. I read every article on this website and slept well the night before. “.
“1. StudentDr. Net feedbacks 2. Knew application, my own CV 3. Thought about likely questions 4. School website – Know about the new PBL-style curriculum”.
“SDN, mock interviews, talked to current med students”
“Smile. Interviews are always a mixed bag. Sometimes you get the friendly ones, sometimes the grillers. Completely random. “.
“SDN, schools website, personal statement, my research publications”
“relaxed, talked with current students, read over my personal statement”
“web site, talked to students”
“Had conversations with UTMB students and former TX A&M students now enrolled at UTMB.” “.
“I read the application, went to the dinner or meeting the night before at the school, researched the school, and spoke with doctors.” “.
“this site, talking to alumni”
“I read the comments on this website, read my essay and application, had a mock interview with my pre-med advisor (and he gave me a book on how to prepare for the interview — it helped a lot! ), talked to medical students (my friend attends UTMB and she took me to one of her classes), prayed, and unwind[ed] before the interview.” “.
“Relaxed and went to Moody gardens the night before. “
“reviewed my application and looked at the site’s feedback”
“read my personal statement,studentdoctor. net, thought about my experiences and talked to physicians/med students. “.
“read SDN, my app, and slept”
“I reviewed the interview feedback, visited the website, read the correspondence, and practiced answering questions.” “.
“read about UTMBs curriculum, read SDNs feedback”
“Nothing much. Just read over my file.”
“SDN, looked up health care issues on the web”
“Went over my application, read interviewfeedback.com, UTMBs website”
“The friendliness of the interviewers and their love for UTMB”
Interviewers were very laid-back and sincere, and one of them had obviously read through my application.
“The atmosphere seemed relaxed and everyone (interviewers and the student panel) seemed happy at UTMB,” said one interviewer.
“Everyone was so nice, and they tried to have interesting conversations.” “.
“The student and faculty collaborative culture”
“The second interviewer was really conversational”
“emphasis placed on students well-being”
“The laid-back environment and the fact that every student seemed genuinely happy to be attending this school” “.
“The atmosphere is very non-competitive. Everyone seems to genuinely want to help each other. Interview was very relaxed and comfortable. “.
“the historic culture of Galveston, the campus (size, buildings, and history), the students’ high scores and curriculum, the students’ calm demeanor, the cheap tuition, distinction tracks, medical school fraternities, student organizations, location (1-1) 5 hours from home)”.
“The facilities and programs in place were all exceptional.”
“Research opportunities and friendliness of everyone”
“How incredibly calm and relaxed everyone is. The environment is incredible. Everyone is so friendly. “.
“How friendly the students were, and how the new medical facilities will be used for rotations.” “.
“You can do rotations at the prison hospital on campus – I did not know this coming in! The school is close to the beach! You can do third year rotations in Houston. “.
“How joyful everyone was, the curriculum is excellent, the testing is board-style and is pass/fail, and you can live a fulfilling life” “.
“Everything. The campus. The course schedule (which is essentially one class every eight weeks for the first year) The extracurricular activities available. How relaxed the students were. The city, which feels like a small town but is actually a large one, The beach. “.
“How relaxed the students are. They have time for their life outside of medical school. “.
“The facilities, how at ease and devoted the students were to the school “.
“Problem-based learning! It is the future of medicine. Any school that forces students to spend seven hours a day in a classroom is doing them a great disservice. “.
“The curriculum. Students appear to have plenty of free time to spend at home or participate in extracurricular activities. USMLE scores are the second highest in Texas. “.
“How incredibly NICE everyone was”
“Both interviewers were very nice, very relaxed. One was also very complimentary. No questions I felt unprepared to answer. “.
“I loved the global health track option. The students were laid back, the other students were friendly, the faculty was supportive, and there was more time to prepare for Step 1 and more free time.” Campus hardly looked touched by Ike. “.
“Half day schedule. Students seemed very relaxed and laid back. Students were happy to be there. “.
“The tour was great! Learned a lot about the school. The schedule was fairly good and provided plenty of time for study and free time. “.
PBLs, a strong USMLE I average (234), excellent research opportunities, and a return to form by UTMB following IKE “.
“At the reception, the students and faculty appeared to be very friendly and enthusiastic about the school.”
“How hard they toiled to make the whole day a good one.” “.
“Wonderful atmosphere, great curriculum, schedule, community-like campus”
“Everyone here, including the faculty and students, is genuinely friendly,” The speed with which they rebuilt the majority of the campus after the hurricane “.
“The Board score; Everyone I encountered there (not just people in the medical school) was very nice and friendly; Good curriculum, integrated, 8am–12pm Also, they served awesome food during the interview. :D”.
“The curriculum, the chance to take electives abroad, the relaxed atmosphere, and the class schedule “.
“Above all, the warm and welcoming atmosphere. The students and faculty are all so nice and encouraging. Additionally, the curriculum and teaching methods appear to give students a strong foundation in medicine, as evidenced by their high board scores. “.
“I liked the location because it was a small town close to a big city and by the beach (for me, that’s the best of both worlds), and I liked the schedule, curriculum, and USMLE scores because the students seemed happy and carefree.”
“Very chill interview. Students are happy there. Seems like a great environment. 1st interviewer just asked standard questions. Second interviewer discussed UTMB and his life while I mainly just asked questions. “.
“Student/faculty attitudes – everyone really nice & really happy”
“Faculty and staff very positive. Seemed supportive and accessible to students. Even with the hurricane, they were prepared for both those who were interviewing and their current UTMB students. “.
“Everyone was so laid back and so nice. Everyone was friendly and having a good time. Everyone was just cool. Great board scores. My student host was chill and good to me. The student body is close-knit and participates in numerous activities as a group. “.
“The PBL, the clinic run by medical students, community involvement, lack of competition, incredibly nice students, BL-4 lab, awesome USMLE scores and pass rate, computerized mannequins, and lack of competition” “.
“Very laid-back and friendly school, fantastic curriculum”
“The calm atmosphere and willingness to help others.”
“The integrated curriculum and the students’ USMLE passing rate”
“Everyone was nice and helpful.”
“the laid-back atmosphere and the happy students. “
“How happy everyone was to be there. When we entered an M1 lecture, everyone was smiling and in a good mood. I also like their high test scores and the computerized mannequins they use to practice. “.
“The enthusiastic faculty, perfect weather (I know everyone else says it’s hot), and problem-based learning strategy,” “.
“Staff and student camaraderie, a general atmosphere of support and fostering growth, curriculum, and facilities”
“I loved the school and their curriculum.”
“calm environment, students had real lives outside of medical school”
“The students are very nice and willing to answer your questions, the curriculum is clinically based, they have higher board scores than any other public medical school in Texas, and they have many opportunities to develop your clinical skills.” “.
“The incredibly happy people, the welcoming atmosphere, the laid-back attitude that seems to lead to a less stressful medical education, and the abundance of programs to join,” “.
The student panel included a lot of parents and spouses who managed to balance family life and school life, and the tour guide LOVED the school.
High step 1 scores, PBL sessions, and lots of afternoon free time
I had low expectations for UTMB, but I was pleasantly surprised. Galveston really wasnt that bad. Since it is obviously a small city, you shouldn’t anticipate that. “.
“board scores of course, highest in Texas, significantly above average nationwide” authority on infectious diseases”.
They repeatedly told me that their board scores were the highest in Texas and that PBL (problem-based learning) was their idea of the greatest thing ever. Also, a lot of prep for USMLE is very helpful. Additionally, there is a clinic run entirely by students that you can assist with right away, putting you in contact with patients within the first WEEK! Compared to other Texas universities, Galveston has a ton of cool research facilities that are unique to it, including a BSL4 lab. “.
They have a brand-new Global Health track, great students, frequent away rotations, an organ systems-based curriculum, and many PBL opportunities.
“how content the students are, extremely high test scores, residency matches, problem-based learning and curriculum structure, and a beautiful campus”
“The positive attitude and diversity of the students. The problem-based curriculum. “.
“Compared to the other medical schools in Texas, nothing was really a super positive, but I did like the IMC,” the student said.
The facilities were nice, but a little dated, and the students were friendly.” “.
“Anatomy lab was awesome. Also, everyone seems so relaxed. like medical school is easy :)”.
“The emphasis on student life, the mock operating room, and first-year patient contact “.
“The numerous hospitals, the PBL curriculum “
“I liked the anatomy lab and their curriculum”
“The laid back atmosphere and the USMLE preparation”
“The students were very approachable and kept promoting UTMB as a fantastic, balanced environment for medical school,” The second interviewer was really nice, informative, and encouraging. “.
“My first interviewer. I think this man was the best interviewer I’ve ever had because I could really, really relate to him. Excellent person. “.
“UTMB’s curriculum, students, SimMan, above-average USMLE Step 1 pass rate, number of facilities, anatomy lab, and the Galveston National Laboratory under construction,” “.
The gross anatomy lab is nice, and the aerospace program seemed interesting. The students were all very open. The second interviewer was friendly and laid-back. “.
“International opportunities, how CHARMING the facilities and town are!”
Beautiful lab atop a stunning, old building with enormous windows. Great volunteer opportunities at St. Vincents. Galveston is very lovely, and my interviewer walked me to my next interview. “.
They all have wonderful board results and are friendly and enthusiastic. “.
“Their PBL curriculum is adaptable and provides examples of what you learn in lectures from real-world situations. The board scores were v. the students and faculty were extremely happy to be there, and the new grant they received will be used to build some awesome new facilities that will be ready in 2008. They have an excellent international program and are a great place for medical students with families or children.
“The quality of the gross anatomy laboratory.”
“The medical students were very honest and real.”
“The USMLE pass rate is 99%; everyone was friendly; classes were only half a day long and only one course at a time.”
“The presenters had a sense of humor, and the other interviewees were nice,”
“The facilities were excellent, the students were friendly, and the faculty seemed to genuinely care about the students,”
“The curriculum and degree of learning freedom provided by the program”
They have good board pass rates (99% pass; average is around 226).
“I like the emphasis on problem-based learning combined with lecture in the curriculum,” a student said.
“The school pays actors who serve as Standard Students. Impressive are the Practice of Medicine course and problem-based learning. “.
“Students were really friendly. Stimulation center is a plus. Love being in a campus. “.
“UTMB is one of the more affordable schools in Texas, but it doesn’t skimp on instruction,” Galveston appears to have low living expenses, at least comparable to Houston. “.
“the curriculum, Big Red, the people “
The history (they even have a 100-year-old building with enormous heave doors; it was only one of 3 buildings to withstand the hurricane of 1900), the welcoming staff, the way they presented their curriculum, their use of standardized patients, and more) and the fact that they have a history. “.
“The faculty, staff, and administration were all incredibly kind and helpful.” When they saw you walking around campus, all the students grinned and said hello. The curriculum. PBL. “.
“Board scores, curriculum (their time in class for free time/self study is reduced)”
“PBL (problem based learning), intergrated cirriculum. saw alot of kids from my school”.
“Friendliness of faculty and students, volume of research conducted at the facilities “.
“Great diversity program. They have like 33% URMs. (and no, Im not URM) Great facilities. The anatomy lab is the best I have seen. It has natural lighting and is actually very inviting. “.
“The integrated curriculum, the faculty and student sense of community”
“the whole visit was very laid back”
“Students were nice, the facilities seemed pretty good too.”
“The facilities were amazing and the laid back atmosphere. “
“Curriculum emphasizes clinical skills early on, standard patients, and friendly staff, faculty, and students”
“The summer travel and research opportunities, everyone’s friendliness and ease, half-day classes, problem-based learning, and standard patients “.
“The easy atmosphere of life in Galveston. When I was a child, I used to live there, but I never truly appreciated it. The school aslo fit this easy-going atmosphere very well. “.
“The university does a lot for the prison population; the school is lovely and close to the beach.”
The integrated curriculum prepares you for the USMLE and forces you to think critically about clinical situations. The students and faculty were laid back. “.
“PBL curriculum, friendliness of the students. It is a very pretty campus. Also, the lunch here is the best. “.
“That the students’ USMLE Step 1 scores are above average despite the fact that they attend class considerably less frequently than students at other schools I like free time. “.
“The setting, comfort, friendliness of the students, affordability of housing, and all the new research buildings “.
“Very friendly people. Very relaxed atmosphere. Class 8-12 only. One subject at a time. Community service and travel abroad opportunities. able to obtain fourth year credit during your first summer so you can complete medical school earlier Problem based learning seems cool. “.
The curriculum is really customized to meet the needs of the students and produce the best doctors possible. Its really easy to go abroad your first summer. The students were really into what they were doing. “.
“The friendly and positive attitude of the faculty and students. They certainly appeared to be focusing more on recruiting than judging. “.
“learning facilities, nice campus, students “
“I like the school’s location on an island and the old, historic town.” I appreciated the problem-based learning and the morning-only class schedule. “.
“The students were very friendly”
“Loved to hear about organ-based curriculum and problem-based learning. Also liked hearing about Frontera de Salud. The students were also really cool and friendly. I had the impression that UT Houston was all about fakery and constant advertising of the school. “.
“They have everything you need to become a good doctor,” Their new bioterrorism facility is second only to the CDC. “.
“How laid-back everyone was. The island seems like it has a slower lifestyle. Additionally, the campus is lovely, and the hospitals are very contemporary. Although the formaldehyde smell after lunch made me a little queasy, the anatomy lab was interesting. “.
Medical students are friendly and helpful, and the curriculum has an interesting concept.
“Nearly everything. Pre-interview social, facilities, three free meals, innovative curriculum, faculty and student friendliness, Galveston, etc. , etc. “.
“Very laid back. They sold me on their curriculum. I’m unsure of how my viewpoint will change once I hear what other schools have to say. I believe the workload is lighter here than it is at other schools. Despite this, they assert that the curriculum’s design enables them to learn just as much as students at other schools. “.
I like the campus because it’s small, has nice buildings, and nice students. Although it’s not necessarily automatic like with Southwestern, I like that out-of-staters can receive in-state tuition. I like PBL schools. They have extensive standardized patient program. “.
The interviewers at UTMB-Galveston appeared to be interested in learning more about me as a person in addition to assessing my potential.
“The interviewers were excellent, the school was very laid back, and I liked the palm trees on campus. The campus is pretty nice and the school seemed to be moving forward.” “.
“The students I met seemed really easy to talk to. There is a board exam review class, and the curriculum places a strong emphasis on patient experience. One of the interviewers had read my application in its entirety and appeared to be very interested in the procedure. “.
They appear to be successful in preparing their students to learn clinical skills early and thoroughly thanks to their PBL (problem-based learning) curriculum. “.
“The school had incredible research centers, and it seemed to have a wider national reach than some of the other Texas schools,” the student said.
“the students, faculties seemed really new, CURRICULUM”
“The students seem very down to earth. They all seem very happy where they are. “.
“The curriculum is very unique”
“Nice anatomy lab, strong sense of unity among students, friendly atmosphere”
“Students said faculty bends over backwards for medical students. Although the school and students have a very relaxed atmosphere, you can tell that it produces competent and caring doctors. “.
“The curriculum is absolutely awesome. I adore how the courses are organized and how the testing is done. Although neat, the separate laboratory for clinical skills was somewhat intimidating. By the way, lunch was fantastic!”.
“Students seem to really enjoy being at the school.”
“The campus was very nice. UTMB has a greater mission to educate than other university affiliated hospitals because it owns its own hospital. Additionally, there is not much traffic, and the campus does not have a busy atmosphere. “.
“The amenities, the instruction, the opportunities in the humanities, and the general relaxed atmosphere “.
“Their financial stability (they own their hospitals and have numerous government contracts)” Their facilities are great. Their out-of-state tuition is only $17,000, compared to my in-state tuition at UVA, which is $21,000. “.
“The first interviewer was cordial and just a wonderful person in general.” The students had nothing but positive things to say about UTMB as a place to attend college. The anatomy lab was incredible. “.
“The faculty and students are very welcoming and approachable.” “.
“The curriculum is innovative and unique. Also, board scores have been very high in recent years. “.
“I liked that it was laid back and that the curriculum seemed to be more grounded in the real world than stuffy and formal.” Everything was really relaxed. It sounds really cool that there will soon be a Bio terror research lab and a new Level 4 virology facility. Everyone agrees that the anatomy lab was excellent, so it must be true!
“Staff was welcoming, interviews were informal, and students seemed to enjoy attending classes there.”
“nice campus, current MS seemed genuinely happy”
“They sell the integrated curriculum very well.”
a relaxed atmosphere, top-notch facilities, and the chance to spend a full year in Austin (third or fourth year)
“The students were awsome. They were all really happy being there. “.
Classes are only half a day, giving students more time to study and live their lives.
“The friendly atmosphere throughout the entire school, the fact that it’s on a real campus, and everyone wanted to help you out in any way they could”
“The faculty and students are very proud of their curriculum and program, and they would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have about it,” “.
“Hmm…anatomy labs, old red, i suppose…”
“The students were very personable. Despite the class’s 200 students, they appear to know each one of them very well. This is not a cut-throat school. The students have even been observed passing on textbooks to the following classes for essentially no cost. Their curriculum is great. According to the previous poster, the students were unaware of the third- and fourth-year options for spending time in Austin. I think this is because all of the tour guides were beginning second-year students. There was a student panel consisting of second- to fourth-year students, but no one inquired about the possibility of spending time at Breckenridge in Austin. The curriculum’s advantage is that you start school earlier in your second year. This gives every student a 6-week window at the end of their second year to focus solely on studying for the boards. This, in my opinion, is the reason their passing rate is increasing and will remain high. “.
“The interview environment was very laid back and stress free. It may have helped that it was my second interview of the season, but it was much less stressful than my first one. I enjoyed Galveston’s small-town atmosphere, history, and obvious character. “.
“Facilities were excellent. The lecture halls and labs are all roomy and well-equipped. I liked the atmosphere of the island. Very laid back. The neighborhood that borders the school is lovely (although there is also a less desirable neighborhood there as well). ) The student gym is fantastic. Fraternity housing appeared to be reasonable and inexpensive ($360 per month, all bills paid, including food). )”.
“Some of the campus was pretty. In order to give the students more time to study outside of class, they only meet from 8 until noon. “.
“Anatomy lab has windows and is fairly nice and modern”
“I liked the school’s curriculum and the camaraderie among the medical students.”
“The excellent attitudes, friendly students and faculty”
Most people were complaining about the self-directed learning in the curriculum, but I find that it helps me learn. I prefer having half of the day to study on my own since I am notorious for skipping lectures to begin with; who really wants to spend the entire day in class? “.
“The curriculum’s PBL component, which is combined with lectures and early exposure to clinical settings,” “.
“Anatomy labs were best Ive seen yet. Gorgeous with skylights on the top floor and an amazing specimen collection that includes everything from infants to geries If you’re not prepared to see bodies in jars, don’t enter. )”.
“The anatomy lab and the skylights. Plus, the students were quite friendly and easy-going. “.
“the old red is beautiful”
“Students’ attitudes and the size and quality of the campus “.
The “old red,” a gorgeous structure in the center of campus It was the first structure to house this medical school, which is the oldest in Texas. so pretty old. but very pretty!”.
The medical education building’s top floor is home to the amazing anatomy labs, which are lit by skylights. Very impressive. Additionally, some locals were very eager to assist me in locating my first interviewer. They went above and beyond, and I wasn’t even lost.
“they were so laid back. more like conversations than interviews”
“The students – they are awesome.”
“The school’s preference for older applicants and applicants with families when choosing third-year campuses”
“One interviewer obviously hadn’t read my file, despite the file being open,”
“One of my interviewers asked some “gotcha” questions. Usually, follow-up questions are meant to test my mental agility. Not cool. “.
“Virtual interview with two faculty members who struggled with their English”
“Robot-like interviewers. Neither were MD/DO. Both held PhDs.”
“The first interviewer was a nightmare to speak to”
“Campus tour was extremely hot.”
“Cool being near the beach but Galveston is ehh.”
“There seemed to be some disarray, but nothing too serious.” “.
“My interviewers used questions from a list provided by the school; they weren’t new questions. I was asked the SAME set of questions in BOTH interviews, and I was also unable to elaborate on any of my responses because I was interrupted by an unrelated question during my interview. Both of my interviewers appeared more focused on finishing their list of questions than they did on assessing my candidacy. “.
“The weather in Galveston is horrendous in the summer. HOT AND HUMID AF. “.
“Tour was not particularly entertaining at the end of the day.” Did not complete it, and the students leading the tour were not enthusiastic about promoting the school. “.
“I didn’t like how few people there seemed to be on the campus and in the medical center. It was difficult to assess the quality of the facilities because we did not tour the hospital. Both of my interviews were strange. My second interviewer didn’t know he was supposed to interview me because my first one kept leaving the room because he was also seeing patients while he was interviewing me. “.
“The heat, and the heat, and the heat”
“One of my interviewers was obnoxious and appeared uninterested in the entire process,” However, if you feel that one of your interviews didn’t go well, the school permits a third interview, so that was nice. “.
The second interviewer questioned me and didn’t seem particularly impressed by any of my responses.
“We had to independently locate the office of our interviewers.” The first time, a student led the way, but if you had an interview right after, you had to navigate the campus using a subpar map. “.
“Humidity and traffic into Houston.”
“One of my interviewers said that after Hurricane Ike, research at this location suffered a setback because many of their gene knockout animals perished. “.
Galveston is a decent but not particularly pleasant place. The way I see it, however, is that time is what you make of it. Its only 30 minutes away from your city amenities. Since they don’t have a specific class for it, students openly acknowledged that they are always at a disadvantage when studying for Step 1 in pharmacology. “.
“Facilities still show signs of Hurricane Ike. Students appeared to want more activities in Galveston and to have too much free time. “.
Finding interviewers’ offices required going through buildings and around the campus It would have been preferable if all interviews had taken place in one location.”
“How relaxed the students and some faculty seemed. I dislike it because I prefer a serious environment. “.
“EVERYTHING except the curriculum. Everything went wrong…”
“The buildings still seemed to be suffering from the hurricane”
The environment outside the campus is more like a small town with many decaying buildings, but you shouldn’t be too upset about that because they are still recovering from Hurricane Ike. “.
“Also, its quite laid back”
“Hurricanes; And I was worried about Galveston’s crime rate, but they said it’s more theft than violent crimes like rape and murder,” I guess that is less concerning. “.
“Galveston itself is not that appealing. After Hurricane Ike’s damage, “Old Red” probably won’t be reopened. Although they have plans to do so, Shriners Children’s Hospital has yet to reopen. “.
“Galveston is nothing spectacular, but its not too bad either.”
“There is still some ambiguity regarding some aspects of the future, but it seemed like most of that won’t directly affect medical students.”
“Facilities are not as new.”
“the area around the school kind of sucks”
“Galveston is poor and small. Even though I wouldn’t enjoy it, I could live there if that were my only option. “.
“The location, the mosquitoes. Wish I could have seen the anatomy lab. “.
“Some of the older facilities”
“The area around the school”
“Just the fact that its galveston.”
“Galveston is a small island town with not much to do.” “.
“Nothing except my second interviewer never showed up. she didnt even have me listed on her calendar. However, a different physician (who obviously hadn’t read my application) crammed me into his schedule, and he was fantastic. “.
They simply let you go after the morning orientation to find your interviewer. Finding your way around is like navigating a maze because of all the construction, and I actually got lost. Just be ready and don’t be shy about asking for directions from students on campus. “.
“The emphasis on how carefree the school is was almost overdone.”
“Galveston is a small town.”
The interviews were very challenging, and there were a ton of questions asked. I would guess at least 20 each. “.
“not much to do on the island”
“weather was hot&humid and some of the faculty seemed unenthusiastic”
It was a little challenging to find a place to park because some street signs didn’t appear to exist, but that was only a minor inconvenience. “.
“students were meh. I absolutely detested the location because Galveston is such a terrible city.
“Galveston and its oldness. The hospitals showed their age too.”
“Some areas of the hospital are bleh. Island itself could definitely use some improvements. Beaches in Galveston are not worth swimming in. “.
“I like Galveston, but there aren’t a lot of medical facilities there,” Since I’m from Houston, I frequently make comparisons to the TMC. “.
Because it was freshmen orientation week, we were unable to visit the simulation center or the anatomy lab, but I’ve seen them before and they’re pretty impressive.
“The admissions staff was notably absent after the morning introductions. Never met the dean of admissions. No chance to ask faculty or staff questions after interviews/tours. “.
The tour guide was terrible, the city was awful, and it just seemed a little disorganized. “.
“The scent of the island as you enter Galveston by car”
“My second interviewer was late. In addition, he only asked me two questions when he finally arrived. Took 5 minutes and he sent me away. “.
Several of the medical students told me they had never been to the building where my first interview was held when I asked them for directions.
“Location . Galveston is somewhat impoverished, but I’m willing to put up with it. “.
“Im not a fan of Galveston Island honestly.”
“The location… on an island”
“The first interviewer kept interrupting me!”
“The second interviewer. was supposed to be closed, but he persisted in asking about my MCAT and GPA. Was late and only read my file for 20 minutes while intermittently asking questions. Not conversational and not relaxed at all. “.
The ongoing construction could indicate that work is progressing, which is a good thing. Some of the buildings’ high levels of security bothered me a little bit, but I can see why they were there for valid reasons. “.
“The tour wasnt that great. We only visited the day surgery, the student lounge, and the anatomy lab to see the
“The second interviewer didn’t do the school justice, but I’ll put it down to personal matters,”
“To get from one place to another, you have to keep going outside”
“Certain students were very close-minded and conservative. Small town, small minds. You run into ten of your classmates when you want to go out. People were TOO laid back. One class a month in lab is a game show. They have fraternities. people seem to think theyre still in college. “.
“Its hard for spouses to find jobs on the Island.”
“The campus wasnt very pretty from the outside. Only one or two nice buildings. “.
“My first interviewer was unprofessional and rude.”
“Hurricane risk at the location”
“Galveston isnt a large city”
There was an odd solid in my apple juice, and the campus occasionally smelled like a zoo with lots of mosquitoes.
“The students were mostly concerned with how simple it was there and how you could get away with doing the bare minimum of work,” They pretended that the school was regarded as being inferior to other Texas schools while highlighting the relaxed atmosphere as a benefit. “.
“the city – its a bit ghetto”
“Only 10 minutes before the scheduled time, we were allowed to leave the morning introduction session for our interviews. I did not worry too much because I was able to find my way around the school easily, but I felt bad for those who were lost. “.
“Part of the campus is a little run down. A little concerned about safety. “.
“The focus on research dollars earned. I’m just not interested in spending money on research; a PhD is not for me. “.
“The second interviewer seemed distant; the entire interview, she just maintained a straight face without cracking a smile.” “.
“There are longer walks and numerous entrances that are closed due to construction, but considering that it’s for a BSIV research facility, I think I could handle it.”
“mosquitoes! Im one of those people that always get bit. Im going to have to always have off on hand”.
“also PBL (possibility of being stuck with a poor group/facilitator). must stomp through the heat to interviews in arbitrary buildings in the medical center. The interviewer appeared to be busy and was in the middle of the workday. Some took calls, random people walked in. all very distracting. You began to have doubts despite everyone’s assurances that Galveston is safe from natural disaster. “.
Galveston appears to have some activity restrictions, though the students vehemently dispute this “.
“My first interviewer seemed shallow and only interested in furthering her career,” acted as if being married would make attending medical school impossible. “.
“With all the campus construction going on, there isn’t much to do in Galveston.”
I have mosquito bites on my face and legs all over the place.
“Galveston and the non-appearance of my second interviewer Although they found a replacement, I was forced to skip most of lunch.
“I had to walk across campus in a black suit on a scorching day to get from the first interviewer to the second interviewer”
“people seemed too laid back”
One of the morning speakers mispronounced Hippocrates’ name after stating that he was one of her favorite philosophers because of the curriculum’s half-day length of instruction.
“The interviews were rather pointless; I got the impression that they really weren’t trying to set me apart from other applicants.” It essentially proved that admissions decisions are made before you arrive. “.
“Nothing about the school. The entire day was cloudy and we had to conduct the tour in the rain before the interview. Bring an umbrella!”.
Some students seemed almost too carefree, as if they weren’t going to put in as much effort in medical school as they had in undergrad. And that worries me a little. I want to learn everything I can in medical school in order to become the most qualified doctor I can be. “.
“The food during lunch and the mosquitos”
“Galveston is not the most beautiful of resort cities. Although I adore the course material, I would rather reside in Houston. “.
“I had an afternoon interview, so a md/phd student gave me a tour; I felt like she was responding to all of our questions with phd answers,” the interviewer said.
“The adage “work hard, play hard” just isn’t for me When they say they play hard, they truly mean it. I went out that evening with some first-year friends because the day of my interview happened to be the day of a first exam. Its true. “.
“There was some construction on parts of the campus.”
“The facilities were less than state-of-the-art. One of the interviewers badgered me. “.
“Very ghetto parts of Galveston scared me. Homeless people were asking us for money. “.
“The heat of the Texas weather. “
“How few people were around. This town is not exactly bustling. “.
“disorganization, difficulty finding buildings, no residency program in EM (my preferred specialty)”
“Um, not much. Our tour guide appeared a little frazzled, but I believe that was because she had just finished her OB/GYN rotation and was a mother of a two-year-old who lives 45 minutes from campus. The associated hospitals lacked Parkland in Dallas’s “exciting” atmosphere. “.
“um…maybe Galveston if you dont like small towns”
“Staying with a medical student. It wasn’t the best experience, but I understand that I can’t say much about the school based on this. Probably just bad luck. “.
“A very nice interviewer spent all but five minutes of our time talking about Galveston’s history, the school, etc. Now for the bad news: He bluntly stated that I wouldn’t perform as well on my boards if I attended UTMB as opposed to Dallas. But I dont know. Im a 34/4. 0 and I want to work really hard there to do well. I’m going there (I won the bet and got in), but I’m a little concerned that I’ll have to drive for almost an hour to get to the closest sizable mall. I won’t worry about it until I get there because I rarely go shopping. “.
The UTMB students who were supposed to host the event the previous night made it a joke by failing to even show up. As a result, the pizza was delivered to me and the other interviewees, and we eventually spoke with a student using the facility. “.
“Driving through Houston to get here. Houston traffic is bad.”
There didn’t appear to be many things to do on Galveston Island. Some of the students seemed somewhat too laid back. “.
“the PBL curriculum impressed me positively and negatively. Depending on the type of learner you are and how much structure and time management you will need for your medical education, it leaves a lot of free time for independent study, which can be good or bad. “.
There is absolutely nothing to do in Galveston; just think of spending four or more years of your life stranded on Galvatrez. The student only attends lectures for about an hour a day; the remaining time is spent using PBL to teach THEMSELVES how to become doctors. The student complains that they seriously need a pharmacology class in order to pass the USMLE because the curriculum is not structured well enough. Be prepared to conduct A LOT of independent research and learning IF you are interested in performing well and performing highly on the boards to get into a good residency. I believe that schools overburden students with responsibility, as if there weren’t enough things to worry about already. “.
“Students are way too laid back, and I sense a lazy attitude among them.”
“The facilities are starting to look a little too old. The Night Before event was a waste of my time because when I arrived 10 minutes late, nobody was there (they had left without saying).
When I visited in August, there were “jillions” of mosquitoes. so probably a bad time. “.
“The student giving us a tour of my school said he wasn’t very social and only hung out with a select group of friends. I didn’t feel any sense of camaraderie among the students as a result. Additionally, during the 45 minutes of my interview, my second interviewer spoke for 35 minutes, but I’ve been told that’s normal for him. “.
“The HORRIBLE humidity and heat.”
Because there were no major airports in Galveston, the shuttle ride from Galveston to Bush Intercontinental in Houston took four hours. Its not that big of a deal really. Because the majority of your men are traveling from other regions of Texas, The last shuttle departs Bush International at 9 PM and costs $60. “.
The welcome speech began at 9:35 and continued until 9:50, leaving no time to make it to the 10am interviews. “.
“Being called old several times during the second interview. Many of the students I met were more interested in describing the nightlife and parties than learning experiences, so what do they want, babies? Instead of the group of individuals I had anticipated, they appeared to view learning about medicine as a chore that required frequent breaks. “.
“The tour. It was uncomfortable to sit for two to three hours. “.
“Galveston is not very exciting and a pretty small town.”
“The humidity was positively oppressive the day before because it had rained all day.” “.
We were the only people present at the “Night Before” event, along with a number of students who were waiting for the pizza to arrive. I could have skipped it and not missed a second day of class. “.
“Galveston…not the bustling city Im used to being in. “
“The school is in a crappy part of the island”
“i got a bad rash (eczema). I’m not sure if it was the weather or something I encountered while residing in a frat house.
At first, it appeared as though everyone was promoting their excellent board scores this year. I wondered how genuine the enthusiasm really was. “.
“GALVESTON. I’m sorry to be a city snob, but I’m not sure if I’d enjoy living in such a cramped, muggy, and monotonous place for four years (yes, I am aware that you have no free time while attending medical school, etc.). etc. Moreover, none of the people I spoke to had listed Galveston as their top choice. “.
“I think this self directed studying is great. However, I believe some people don’t learn well in this manner. You might not enjoy this format if this is not how you learn best (you prefer information given to you directly). However, I believe it is a fantastic method of learning and would fit in with the way I learn. “.
The faculty and students both appeared a little hesitant to fully support the recently introduced curriculum. Some third- and fourth-year students claimed that they didn’t feel as prepared as they might have in a more conventional setting for the Step One Exam. However, overall, the curriculum appeared to be beneficial for those of us who are motivated. Galveston is probably more important for the character and make-up of the class than most places because you learn so much from your peers there. “.
There appear to be two different types of students here, The self-learning curriculum they felt had given them too little time and guidance under faculty and in classes (which are minimal at UTMB) to allow them to master the enormous amounts of information required for the USMLE board exams led to unhappy students and party-crazy frat types who only talked about beer, parties, and bars. “.
Students seemed incredibly disinterested, the interviewer wasn’t knowledgeable about the procedure (she didn’t know what the MCAT entailed), Galveston was awful (when I got back into my car, there was a film of sticky mess on my windshield from the extreme humidity, pollution, and sea salt, I assume), the facilities were subpar, the school was close to the worst part of town, and there was a fraternity (drinking, parties, etc.), among other issues. One of the students said, “Most of us try to just coast here, they can’t fail us all,” referring to the activities that the majority of the students participate in. “.
Several MS III and IVs were present at the student mixer the night before the interview to answer any questions. They talk mainly about the frats, the bars they frequent at night, and how they pay for their ski trips with their student loan money. No wonder they cant pass the boards. Students appeared to fall into one of two categories: geeks or party frat types. No middle ground. Also, the hospital and facilities seemed fairly run down. “.
“Not much!! I loved it”
Galveston is extremely desolate and has only one Walmart (and tragedy is imminent)!
“Galveston is a pretty small city.”
“They tried to sell the schedule: classes 8am-noon. It also seems like a party high school; might be a lame environment for anyone mature enough to handle that; to me that meant less time being taught by professionals & more time struggling to teach myself. “.
“The curriculum and general deterioration of the buildings, though new ones are being built The match list. “.
Not very impressive, UT Galveston’s step one pass rate is around 85%.
“Galveston – humid and ugly.”
“the area. There isn’t much to do on the island, and the beaches are unsightly. And because it’s near the gulf, the mosquitoes were insane when I was there. I got like 30 bites!! yuck!”.
“the weather – really humid”
Students are generally dissatisfied with the curriculum at UTMB, which stressed self-directed learning and had very few lectures. “82% board pass rate vs natl avg=93% Dean is a crazy person. “.
“The idea of learning on prison patients.”
How little time there would be for questions during the interview – If I had known this, I would have engaged in more conversation during the student panels instead of freaking out in front of the camera about the interview, lol.
“Current event issues and what to do about them.”
How unbearably hot it would be that day (early September) and how much outdoor walking we would do They send you off to find your interviewers by yourself. They can be located ANYWHERE on campus. Fortunately, mine were very close to one another, but others had to essentially walk from one side of campus to the other. They were probably drenched with sweat by the second interview. Additionally, because access to buildings was required, some had to call the interviewer to open the door. A building where some interviews were conducted required security checkpoints Ridiculous. “.
Interviews can be scheduled for the morning, the afternoon, or the late afternoon.
“Not to stress so much about the actual interview”
“One interviewer didn’t ask me any questions; they only provided answers to the ones I had,” I had a few questions prepared, but not nearly enough to fill a full 30 minutes. “.
There was a lot of walking between events because of how big the campus was.
“I wish I had known that the questions were provided by the school and that they were only general “what is your personality/are you a good person questions” as opposed to inquiries about my research or what specifically qualifies me,” the applicant said. “.
“Read up on current events more.”
“Definitely attend the social! (I did) It was fantastic and exactly what I needed the night before my first interview to relieve my anxiety and to chat amiably with current students. “.
Even though one interview turned out to be somewhat stressful, it was a great day, and they wanted you to be there, so try not to overthink it. “.
Because of how large and spread out the campus is, there is a lot of walking. There was definitely more walking than I expected. Wear comfortable shoes. “.
“Galvy is hot and gross”
“Super hot when I interviewed. Don’t be afraid to remove your jacket during summer school interviews in Texas.
“The parking garage’s keypad is difficult to see from the street, so I didn’t even notice the thin silver pole until I circled around a few times,” the person said. “.
“The campus is pretty big. You might have to walk far to get to your interviews, depending on where they are. Make sure you are ready for long distance walking and allow plenty of time. “.
“That they wouldn’t have access to my file or ask me a single ethical question.” “.
Unlike what many people claim, Galveston is not as “OMG it’s hot here!” Very hot, yes, but thats Texas. “.
“Galveston aint that great of a town lol.”
“That they would interview before giving campus tour.”
“Not to go. I spent a lot of money traveling from CA”.
“that one of my interviews wouldn’t have air conditioning” in august :(“.
Attend the night before social if you can; talking to medical students and other applicants in a relaxed environment really helped me decompress.
Wish I had brought a larger bag so I could fit my high heels, water bottle, and umbrella. “.
Some applicants had to walk through the rain to make it to their interviews on time because it rained on our day. Oh, and if you have to drive through Houston be prepared for some soul crushing traffic”.
“Wish we could have seen the campus.”
“What galveston was like (humid, hot, run-down)”
“That my first interviewer would probably be a little crazy” That I should bring mosquito repellent. “.
I wished I had driven to the campus the previous evening to determine my route.
Because it was my first interview, I didn’t have many questions prepared for the interviewer. This gets easier with more interviews. But it worked out. I am going to Galveston this Fall!!!”.
“Nothing, reading the responses on SDN were very helpful.”
“Nothing. Though I am very grateful that I brought comfortable walking shoes for the tour. I would have been in some major pain otherwise. “.
“Both of my interviewers were PhD researchers and not MDs. So, most of my interviews were about my research. Good thing I have good research experience. “.
“Scholarships are automatically applied for for all matriculants. For students who are interested in studying international medicine, there is a Global Health Tract. “.
“How nice their curriculum is.”
“The social hour is very casual.”
“That the breakfast would be rinky-dink.”
“houston traffic is a b****”
“That UTMB is really a nice university with amiable and relaxed people,” “.
“The quality of the interview really depends more on who you get than how well you apply,” If the interviewer is laid back, you’ll think the UTMB is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but if they’re tough, you might end up throwing in the towel. Some things you just cant control!”.
I’m glad I discovered it while I was there because it made the day interesting.
Bring bandages for your feet because of all the walking, and be aware that interviews are more like conversations than anything else.
“UTMB is a large, dispersed campus that is heavily under construction.” Even with a map, it can be difficult to navigate the area!
“How informal the interview would be”
“Bring comfortable shoes for the tour.”
“Not much . the feedback from sdn prepared me enough. “.
“A lot of the same questions came up both times because both interviewers used the same set of questions as the foundation for their interviews!”
I was warned that the shuttle I was taking would be running late both ways. “.
The night before the interview day, there were severe thunderstorms in the Houston/Galveston area. My flight almost missed picking up my rental car because of the delay. plan accordingly. I should have done a better job. however everything worked out great!”.
“Come with a lot of questions. questions from the tour guide, medical students, interviewers, and faculty who joined us for lunch. By the end of the day, I had to ask the same questions again. “.
“that Galveston does not like to label their streets clearly”
“Bring an umbrella. yes it was raining and I had to walk outside. “.
“How great their board scores are. PBL is the key.”
“They actually feed you lunch on china plates :)”
“Medical Fraternities are not much different that Undergraduate Fraternities.”
“International opportunities available, Bioterrorism labs”
“International medicine program is top notch”
“that the interview would be so easy”
“that any school in Texas had the highest board scores”
“That they would ask so many ethical questions.”
They only attend school for a half day for the first two years, presumably so they can “study” in the afternoon (i.e., walk to the beach) because of how close the school is to it (4 or 5 blocks). go to the beach). “.
“that it would be freakin hot”
“The campus tour was a little tiring.”
That the curriculum is not simply “learn on your own,” as many first- and second-year students at other schools informed me There are numerous PBL groups and small group discussions to prevent you from falling behind. “.
“facilities didnt seem that great. “
Despite its potential reputation as a lower-tier type of school, UTMB’s board scores are actually significantly above the national average. “.
They exceeded my expectations in terms of their program’s impressiveness. Good board pass rates/means for their lower MCAT scores. They have some sort of NASA residency program. (sounds cool) “.
that I wouldn’t be asked any questions in the interview that were directly related to medicine
“i should bring insect repellent”
“Their board scores are better than most Texas schools.”
“The expense of hotels on Galveston Island.”
“I was finished by 2:30 because I had my interviews in the morning.”
“The excellent infectious diseases research theyre doing. “
“UTMBs funding and USMLE scores are better than I expected”
The student giving the tour told me that there aren’t many pediatric patients, so the exposure isn’t as good as it is in other places, so the pediatrics program is definitely not ideal.
“UTMB goes by numbers or “diversity” now; if you have a strong GPA, MCAT score, or are an URM, you’ll get in.” Funny thing is, according to the deans I spoke with, there isn’t much of a correlation between MCAT and step 1 scores. If you pass the initial board exam, Missouri offers “Step 1 bootcamp.” The students seem to dislike the assistant dean of admissions/student affairs and are somewhat offended that she implemented a minimum MCAT requirement for admission (there never used to be one at this formerly “party school”). If all future UTMB graduates resemble cookie-cutter products of the asst., I am concerned that they won’t be contributing to society. deans vision. “.
“The international health program, which is something Im interested in.”
Despite using a H/HP/P/F graiding system, everything is on a curve. which is strange because they dont rank. “.
“Bring earplugs if you stay with a student!”
“All UTMB hospitals are public hospitals and owned by UTMB. “.
“that I would be done by 3pm.”
“Bring bug spray. There are lots of mosquitos this time of year. And an umbrella. The best way to learn how things operate at UTMB is to stay with a student. “.
“One of the major teaching hospitals is the state jails.”
The gross anatomy lab tour was offensive and sickening. “.
“Galveston is scary in some parts.”
“How humid and uncomfortable the weather is. But I am spoiled since I live in southern calif. “.
“Learn more about the PBL curriculum and the number of opportunities for study abroad.” “.
“The staff wasn’t as personable as other schools, and the day was very disorganized.”
“A moth ate some holes in my pants. (I dont think anyone else noticed). “.
I rushed to several buildings to find where my interviewer actually worked because the room number I’d been given was for his secretary, who wasn’t there. “Be sure your interviewer is actually where they say he is! “.
“How remote the surrounding area is.”
“It is the oldest medical school in Texas. and they essentially just rely on their reputation as Texas’s pioneers to survive. there is nothing much else for them to brag on. just my . 02”.
“how much walking there was!”
“UTMB has a space medicine program”
“The school has way more to offer than I thought. UTMB serves the prison population in Texas”.
“Be ready to walk everywhere on the tenth-largest medical campus in the United States.” Familiarize yourself with campus if possible. Your interviewers’ names and locations are given to you along with a map, and it is up to you to go find them. “.
“Nothing. Everything went really well; just as I had expected.”
“That I would like it as much as I did.”
that I was to receive a token from them to exit the parking garage I did inform them that I had parked in the garage, but I was not given a ticket. I guess it was an oversight. The security guard was nice enough to let me out. “.
“The parking garage location. The provided sheet provided adequate directions, but there are numerous parking garages on campus that all have the same labels. “.
“The interview ends at 2 PM.”
No ER residency program, so be prepared to walk; when they say you need an umbrella, they really mean it. “.
“There’s a campus tour and you walk a LOT; be ready.” Additionally, there are two 30-minute one-on-one interviews that are very informal and stress-free. “.
“You could request a third interview on the same day if you believed that one of your interviews did not accurately reflect who you are as a candidate.” “.
“The campus is much nicer that I had been thinking. Probably my favorite campus layout of all the Texas schools. Very spacious with lots of room and no traffic. The schools’ policy is that students will never spend more time in lectures than in PBL, regardless of how much time they spend in PBL. Amazing. Although it seems like it would help them become good diagnosticians, I can see how it has hurt their test scores. Despite this year’s improvements, the teaching style doesn’t seem to be conducive to passing the USMLE. “.
“that students frequently travel to clinics on weekends to observe doctors and lend a hand (even during first year) “.
“I learned a lot more about the integrated curiculum. They helped make it more clear to me. “.
“How many different options are there for students to customize their medical educations? “.
Although it didn’t rain, it appeared to be raining, so I advise anyone interviewing later to bring an umbrella. “.
“They have a Medical Humanities Department that seems to offer a lot of opportunities, not just for dual degree programs but also for some deeper exploration of the human side of medicine even if one is only interested in a four year program,” one student said. While I was there, the staff was not very helpful in connecting me with the appropriate people to pursue this, and they only provided a brief overview of it in the morning presentation. When the day was over, I had to go find the department myself, and they gave me some contact information and a packet. Even though I expressed a lot of interest in it, they didn’t seem to promote it, which seems counterintuitive given that a chance like that would be a motivating factor in a student’s evaluation of the school. “.
The USMLE pass rates at this school, according to my tour guide, have been in the low to mid 80s for the past few years, while the national pass rate is between 91 and 93%. It appears that the curriculum emphasizes little in the way of formal instruction and lots of “self-learning,” which amounts to “teaching yourself” medicine (no wonder their board pass rates are less than ideal). )”.
“There is a bunch of walking. Be prepared.”
Because two of my interviews were quite far away, I didn’t wear high heels.
“Bring extra shoes for the tour. I did for all of my previous interviews and thought there would be less walking for this one. I don’t know why I had that thought, but I made the mistake of not bringing them to this one.
“900 people interviewed; 600 names submitted to TMDSAS; 250-300 names ranked.” The remainder are not ranked and are on the alternate list. “.
“I wish I could have switched my interviewer. She seemed to be biased against me because of my race, in my opinion. “.
“I wish I could have switched my interviewer. I felt like she was biased against me. “.
Many of the students I spoke with claimed that if they could go back in time, they wouldn’t choose to visit Galveston.
“I should have worn OFF!!! Mosquitos!”
“read up on what UTMB has to offer. They have an excellent medical humanities institute, for instance, that offers electives like “medicine and the law.” ” “.
Ah, I should have let my hair naturally curly instead of trying to straighten it. the humidity really messed it up. “.
“The interview day at UTMB was laid-back and enjoyable, and I think it’s a great place to get a medical education;”
“Very positive feeling, open communication with faculty which is rare”
“My interview was conducted virtually thanks to Covid-19, but I felt like I could communicate with the interviewers using Zoom,” The interview was thorough but still relaxed. They did have a lot of questions, but they weren’t particularly unusual. Great experience overall. “.
“The interview was pretty chill. They do look at your CASPer scores when making decisions. Both the interviewer and the committee have to ask certain questions. Be aware of your weaknesses and be prepared to explain some application-related weak points. “.
“Overall, I came away from interview day happy with how I did and eager to consider attending the school.” Everyone was very nice. “.
“Conduct interviews in a single building to prevent the sweatfest that my interview group experienced.” Im sure other days were the same. “.
As far as Texas schools go, UTMB was last on my list. After visiting it is near the top. Every single student and member of staff discussed how the curriculum is designed to promote collaboration. not competition. You will undoubtedly learn how to work in a team and interact with nearly all medical students thanks to the p/f grading and PBL-style curriculum. Being the first medical school in Texas and home to the infectious disease research center, the campus is large and very historic. The neighborhood is a little sketchy, but considering that I grew up in a suburban area and now reside in a nice city, it’s probably not too bad. Despite the oppressive humidity and erratic rain, everyone seemed to genuinely enjoy themselves. Since I only have a medical degree, it was disappointing that both interviewers had PhDs, but they both seemed to be implying that this interview is mainly a formality to pick apart applicants who are similarly qualified. Use the interview to determine if the location is one you could see yourself living in rather than stressing out about it. “.
“Very chill interview and super conversational.”
Interviews went reasonably well, and I was very impressed with this school. I rambled more than I wanted to during my second interview because I wasn’t sure the interviewer understood some of what I said and had this confused expression 50% of the time. Overall, I believe I did well, and I will continue to make this my top pick!
“Great school, awesome history. Would love to matriculate here!”
“This was my worst interview thus far. I no longer even wanted to be a doctor after this interview. I adored the school’s curriculum, campus, track programs, and pretty much everything else about it, but after such awful interviews, I am certain that I would take a gap year before enrolling in a university that places such a low value on finding qualified applicants. “.
“Had a great time. Easily rose to the top of my list after everything I observed and heard at the school. VERY VERY impressed. “.
“Laid back interview but somewhat stressful.”
Despite some aspects of the medical center and my actual interviews, I liked the school overall. “.
“The students were amazing, and with the new hospital, it should be an appealing school to anyone,” said the interviewer. “.
I’m very impressed with this school overall and would love to be able to study here. Hope I get in!”.
“Great school, everyone is really relaxed.”
“Excellent curriculum, fascinating track programs, incredibly fun and engaging interviews, affordable housing, and happy students!”
“UTMB is a fantastic interview location and a fantastic medical school to enroll in.” I kept reading about how relaxed their medical interviews were, but until I had one of my own, I didn’t believe it. I was astonished by how relaxed both of my interviewers were; they were very nice, friendly, and personable.
“Great interview, great town, great school!”
“UTMB is a great place. Excellent, amiable students, a ton of opportunities outside the typical MD path, Galveston National Laboratory was fantastic “.
“Make sure you where good shoes for walking : )”
“Best lunch on Interview day is served here.”
“Really liked the people at this school. My first interview didn’t feel at all like it went well. First interviewer was a PhD who was very talkative but mostly self-centered. The second was with an MD who was cordial and had prepared questions based on my application. One of the biggest issues I had with this school was that I thought they were trying to cover up the storm damage. The few places they took us to were lovely, but it seemed like the rest of the hospital and school system was still in a state of disarray. My first interviewer informed me that his department only made up 10% of what it once did, and he believed this to be the case throughout the UTMB system. I’m aware that the rebuild is progressing significantly, but I have no idea how quickly. “.
“This is a no-stress event so be relaxed and comfortable.”
“We got to see the cadavers which was soooo cool!!”
“It was over all a great day for me. Good luck everyone!”.
“–My interviews were more like conversations than question and answers. They were both very laid-back, and I even had a conversation with the first one for almost an hour. Not stressful at all!”.
The food is not nearly as bad as everyone claims, the food is good, and the interviews at UTMB are very relaxed. Theres nothing to stress about. just be yourself. “.
“I absolutely adored this school and really hope they extend an offer to me!”
“open file except for GPA/MCAT great school. even with ike, they havent skipped a beat. I would not have any trouble coming if I could just get in here. “.
“GREAT school. Really, really enjoyed it. “
“The school has above-average test scores and provides substantial residency application support.” Interview was conversational style. “.
“Good school–much better than the city its located in. They truly care about their students, and everybody is amiable. The laid back atmosphere is perfect for certain people. I think this will be my back up school. For the best experience, I believe I need a medical school that is a little more demanding in terms of “fit.” Galveston just doesn’t fit my personality because it’s so relaxed and chill. “.
“After the interview, I went from thinking that this place might be kind of cool to thinking that I could really see myself enjoying studying here.”
“Great school and very personable students and staff. The oldest medical school west of the Mississippi has a fascinating history. “.
I ended up enjoying school more than I anticipated.” “.
“I LOVED the school. The pupils appear to be very content and well-prepared to become doctors. I appreciate that you have real patient contact as an MS1 rather than simulated patient contact. The classes seem well diverse which is a plus. My interviews were pretty much conversational. simply wanted to get to know me rather than judge me (Kudos to our tour guide, Patrick-he sold me on PBL!!)”.
“the interviews were very relaxed. When we first started talking, a few inquiries about my application were made, but as soon as we got going, we ended up chit-chatting for the entire time about everything. it was more like a flowing conversation than an interview. “.
“Really enjoyed the school. The tour was greatly improved by my tour guide’s enthusiasm for showing us around the school. The schedule and emphasis on students having lives outside of school are both really appealing to me. Very enjoyable experience. “.
High board scores (higher than Hopkins), a laid-back atmosphere, a prison hospital, nice area, impressive teaching methodology
“I was very impressed with the atmosphere at UTMB. The students and faculty all look and sound very happy. The students had very few complaints about the school, with the biggest one (that Galveston needs a huge mosquito net) focusing more on Galveston than UTMB, which says something about how they feel about the school’s curriculum. It’s exciting that UTMB is one of the few locations in the nation with a BSL-4 facility, and there are opportunities to work in global health, research, volunteer work, and community service projects, among other things. “.
“It was very relaxing and exciting. My interviewers were really nice and got to kinow me. My first interviewer took 45 minutes, and my second took about 7 minutes. I received a lot of advice about medical school from my second interviewer. Overall, ill say it was good. “.
“very relaxed atmosphere, interviews are very conversational”
“I didn’t have high expectations going into the interview, but after leaving I don’t understand how this school isn’t ranked with their high board scores and their clinically based curriculum,” the applicant said. However, the interviews were very informal, and the interviewers were very kind. “.
“I felt like I was being grilled. They scrutinized my prior education and asked a ton of hypothetical questions. I didn’t feel like I was having a conversation to learn more about myself; instead, I felt like I was defending myself and outlining why my personal decisions were appropriate for a career in medicine. “.
“I anticipated really relaxed interviews, and one of them was, but the other interview was intense, with questions about medical ethics and fMRI (I work on a study that uses it, but I’m not expected to know the technical aspects of how it works) “.
“Overall, it went well; there were no challenging questions asked,” They primarily discussed the curriculum and whether it was the right choice for me because both of my parents had PhDs and were professors of some of the first-year courses. What makes this school stand out to me are the students’ laid-back demeanor and the exceptionally high board scores. It was extremely frustrating to be stranded in Houston after my car broke down on the way back to Dallas. “.
“I thought the staff, students, and interviewers I spoke with were all very polite and informative, and they did what all the schools are trying to do,” recruit intelligent students. It amazes me how quickly people criticize things like the food they served, as if this were how you should choose a school or that it was somehow their fault that you didn’t like it. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but you should still consider everything you read on this site with a grain of salt. I’ve had interviews almost everywhere in Texas, and despite the fact that each place is different, I have never had a bad one. I’d consider it a blessing to attend any of the schools. The purpose of SDN should be to prepare individuals for the environment and interviewing philosophy to be anticipated. It was a very pleasant day. Galveston is indeed different from Houston, Austin, or Dallas, so if you approach it with that expectation, it won’t be for you. They have a well-thought-out curriculum and genuinely care about their students’ education, as evidenced by their excellent board scores, but once more, if you live in a big city, don’t waste your time, money, or UTMB’s resources traveling there. “.
“UTMB is a decent university, but I really detest the surroundings and campus,” the construction going on was annoying. The first interview I had was with a surgeon at a hospital, and even though he didn’t read my file, he was very nice and interested in getting to know me. He spoke a lot, but he also gave me a lot of time to express my wants, so that was beneficial. When my second date realized how much I was into research, he pulled out a paper he had published in nature (!) during our interview. I really liked his research as well, despite the fact that his lab looked very dated, and he was a very nice guy who asked insightful questions about my research. food was HORRIBLE. “.
“Very laid back and informative. I was given morning interviews, so after a quick introduction over breakfast, I left for my two interviews right away. My first interview with a PhD professor went very well, and even though the allotted time was only 30 minutes, we ended up talking for 45 minutes. My second interview with an ID doctor went well as well, but instead of asking me questions, he mainly focused on outlining the opportunities at their institution. After lunch, we took a tour of the campus. “.
“Interview was pretty nice. After a brief tour of the school, I had my interview in the morning. There are interviews everywhere on campus, including some areas of the hospital (for MDs). Given my preparation, the interview wasn’t too stressful, but it could have been better. Nothing too obvious, other than to be aware of the shortcomings in your application and be ready to address them. Nothing compares to attempting to respond to a question like, “Why haven’t you done any research? or “Why don’t you have more clinical experience?” because, in all honesty, there is no good answer to those questions, and attempting to dodge them can be extremely damaging. Additionally, keep in mind that while you are interviewing there is no bias because they are unaware of your GPA or MCAT results. “.
“Good. Nice people. The first interviewer went over my entire application with me (they didn’t have scores though). Was very pleasant and easy to talk to, and there weren’t any challenging questions. 2) We had a conversation about health policy rather than once mentioning my app. Really liked the guy. “.
Work hard, play hard is a strategy that UTMB has mastered, and that contributes significantly to the uplifting environment there. Their match rates and board scores demonstrate how successful the curriculum is. But unlike other places, the students here appear to be very content and have plenty of time for things like exercise, intramurals, family time, etc. The atmosphere at UTMB is what sold me. Its not about competition at all. They all share the mindset that they are all training to become doctors and that they will do whatever it takes to make the experience better in any way. Its quite amazing, really. This place is definitely not for you if you’re looking for a competitive, prestigious type reputation. However, if you are like me and desire a good, solid medical education with a positive environment and the opportunity to have SOME fun while in medical school, you will likely enjoy this location. “.
“If only it werent in Galveston…”
I had hoped to fall in love with UTMB, but I soon realized that it was not the right school for me. seems way too laid back. the facilites are outdated. Almost every medical student I spoke to in Galveston said they had been victims of crime at some point or another, making it seem like a dangerous place to live. “.
“I was nervous because it was my first interview. Other than that, meeting other applicants, the medical students, and touring the facilities was a great experience. “.
“It was great. definately one of my top choices. Interviews were very relaxed and stress free. The campus and hospitals are nice. The students only discussed their free time and how much fun they have at school during the enjoyable lunch period. “.
It was only a 10-minute drive away, and the Quality Inn Suites was a very nice place to stay. The day of the interview was rather windy, so it was uncomfortably windy outside. Overall, it was a great first interview experience. “.
“I’m not sure if it was because it was my first interview, but I really enjoyed the tour and had a great time,” People were chill, I was excited to express myself, and the questions weren’t particularly difficult. It was more like getting to know a friend. I’ve heard that UTMB Galveston students are required to visit the prison and provide care for inmates, but I believe that would only be a beneficial educational opportunity. You don’t get to pick the patients you treat, after all. Definitely go on a tour of a medical school. It will inspire you like nothing else, making you realize how much you want to pursue this line of work. At least it did for me. Even though I already know how much I want to go, visiting the school helped me imagine what it would be like if I were actually there, which made me even more excited. “.
“The first interviewer asked questions almost exclusively from a form. The second interviewer was fantastic and essentially said that he didn’t think any of those general questions applied to whether or not I would make a good doctor. He just wanted to get to know me. Neither were MDs, both were PhDs. “.
“Overall both interviews went well.”
“The interview day was more enjoyable than it was nerve-racking. My section of the group went on a tour in the morning with a student who was fairly sarcastic but nonetheless entertaining and truthful. The facilities were nice, and plenty of work is being done on projects that should be finished soon. The two interviews took place in the afternoon. I arrived early for the first interview, which lasted almost an hour. The interviewer then escorted me the first half of the way to the next interview. The second interviewer was very easy to talk to. “.
“The weather was fantastic, and fortunately I didn’t have to deal with all the humidity and heat that people at UTMB usually have to,” The hotel I stayed in had bugs, wasnt too great. the facilities between Houston and SA were better than the campus itself, which was fine. No matter where you go in Texas, the people are generally the same and seem to be wonderful. My interviews were mixed. The first one was just simply awesome. I had a good feeling about the doctor because we had similar interests and he was very engaging and educational. The second interviewer ruined the whole experience for me. He was late (understandable), but he read my file for 20 minutes while intermittently asking questions. additionally inquired about MCAT/GPA when the file was supposed to be closed Then he got beeped away (understandable). I just wish my interview had been more conversational, but hey, win some, lose some. “.
“I arrived in Galveston about midnight the night before. It was a wise choice for me to stay with a MS II because he showed me around campus, explained when orientation would be, and showed me where I could park. My interviews were in the afternoon, so half of the interviewers split off to their morning interviews, and those with afternoon interviews went on a tour of the campus; lunch was from 11:30 to 1:30; they went into detail about the history of the school, its many attributes, and the curriculum, which to me is the best of all the medical schools in Texas. I departed early enough to arrive at my 1:15 and 2:15 interviews on time. Despite the fact that both interviews were only scheduled to last 30 minutes, I was fortunate to have a lot in common with my interviewers (a Ph D. and an M. D. ) that time flew by faster than we thought. The interviews themselves were casual but serious at the same time. they really got to know me well. I do intend to make this my top selection out of at least four schools. The MS II I was staying with invited me to a class on colorectal cancer in the afternoon after my interviews. pretty cool. I then spent some time with some medical students before driving back to Hobby to catch my flight. “.
“I was impressed by the morning information session; I had no idea the school was a leading expert on infectious diseases.” Despite the average tour, the faculty and medical students were all very cordial. My second interviewer reassured me that I would have no trouble getting accepted after my first interviewer seemed to be unfavorable from the start. I felt like they were using the “.
It was very friendly and enjoyable, but different from all the others.
“UTMB is a really decent school. Anyone who gets accepted should really consider going. “.
“They were the most low stress conversations ever.”
“It was my first interview. I went into it expecting to be tested and interrogated, but I came away with the impression that I had wasted an hour by not really giving them any reasons to choose me over anyone else. To me, anyone can sit and have a decent conversation. They had a very relaxed attitude and mainly just wanted to gauge my personality. Although UTMB has a very interesting curriculum, I am not drawn to it because of its location and its recent financial difficulties. “.
“They sold me on the place. Their anatomy lab is incredible. You won’t find skylights in the anatomy lab anywhere else. They really sold me on the place. Everyone there loves to be there. “.
“Extremely pleasant. Everyone was friendly and helpful. Interviewers were extremely interested in me as a person. Location is good and reasonably priced. “.
“I stay the night at a fraternity house. The fraternity guys werent very hospitable. My interviews went fantastic. I was able to learn a lot about the course material and the programs that interested me. The interview was more like a conversation. The tour was good. We got a demonstration of their artificial intellegence maniquins. Their gross anatomy laboratory was impressive. “.
“I had both the worst and the best interviews I’ve ever had,” the person said. “.
“Good overall. The second interview was more engaging than the first, which was fairly standard. We discussed international travel and health care systems a lot. “.
“Overall it was a great day. Although my first interviewer adored me and wished we could continue talking, I had to leave for my subsequent interview. The second interview went well, but the man conducting it was one of those who preferred to inform me about the institution and its admissions policies rather than showing much interest in me. I really liked the school. “.
“My first interview was very conversational. The discussion topics included my experiences working with underserved groups, destination weddings in Mexico, rock climbing with priests and professors, and more. I was the “second of four of these today,” which seemed to annoy the second interviewer Although she lacked much personality, I believe things went well. “.
“Overall, it was a positive experience; the people were warm and helpful.” The purpose of the laid-back day was to better familiarize the school with the applicant. “.
“The interviews were very relaxed. More of a conversation than anything. The 2nd interviewer talked more about himself than about me. “.
“Overall, the interview experience was very relaxed.”
“Don’t really like Galveston, but the professors and students seem nice.” “.
“My first interviewer was a PhD and very casual; he was casual in a t-shirt and jeans.” No real inquiries were made; instead, he simply got to know me. My second interviewer was a general surgeon. The interview was generally similar to the first, with a casual conversational style, though he seemed a little retentive. “.
“really laid back. almost unnervingly easy interviews. lots and lots of walking around construction”.
“The first interviewer was great. Talkative, and jovial. The 2nd was a stark contrast. He didn’t seem the chatty type, so he just asked me direct, stern questions without showing any emotion. Seemed very different from the first interviewer. I freaked out and got a 3rd interviewer. He appeared to be much more cool, but because he didn’t know anything about me until the very last minute, we mainly discussed books, Iraq, and the UTMB administration. “.
“Extremely laid back. I was quite anxious as I entered my first interview because he was a neurosurgeon. I complied with his request to sit down, and when I did, he said, “I don’t believe in canned questions.” I think theyre a bunch of bullsh!t. ” Right away, I knew I was home. “.
“Really great time. Number one choice!”
Breakfast is served from 8:30 to 9:00, followed by introductions, 10-11 interviews, 12-1 lunch with a student panel, and 1-2 tours.
“Very laid back kind of atmosphere. The admissions staff and students were cordial and highlighted their cooperative spirit. This is actually one of the nicest places to receive an education; I actually completed an internship there, so I am aware that it is not just a show. The interviewers were a bit strange; the first was an OB-GYN who initially asked a lot of direct questions before switching to more casual conversational style. The second man (Rabek) was a PhD who presented a number of bizarre hypothetical scenarios. questions that I would not be able to definitively answer without first having experienced them I just hope my answers didnt sound too out there. “.
“The 2 interviews were night and day. The first one was probing. She wasn’t very polite and thought that nobody could really want to study medicine so they could help people. The second interview was a discussion (I discussed a shadowing experience with a great doctor who made next to nothing but was making a significant difference in his community). She didnt ask me anything except if I liked birds. At the conclusion of the conversation, she expressed her hope that I would attend this institution and noted that my credentials exceeded their requirements. “.
Since this was my first interview, I probably went too far in my preparation. But everyone seemed so friendly and laid-back, which undoubtedly made things simpler. “.
“the interviews were very conversational”
“My first interviewer asked many difficult theoretical ethics questions. I was ready to respond to such inquiries, just not in-depth for 45 minutes. His lack of eye contact and mumbling while speaking (MD interviewer) didn’t help. Even though I was running late and it wasn’t with the person I was supposed to meet with, my second interview couldn’t have gone any better. “.
“Overall it was a great interview. I’m not sure if I was accepted, but it was a good experience. “.
“I really like this school, especially the people and the curriculum. In addition, even though the students only attend lectures for a few hours per day, they still perform very well on the boards.”
“Great. Both interviewers were extremely nice. The first didn’t look at my application but had a list of questions to ask. The second interview (also without my application) was more conversational, with sporadic “Tell me about yourself” and “why do you want to be a doctor?” inquiries interspersed. I LOVED this school. “.
I don’t think they learned anything from me other than the fact that I could speak English and make eye contact; it was very simple and low-stress.
“The interviewers were both great and very different. When I arrived, one had already printed out my application while the other had read it from top to bottom. I accompanied the second doctor when he had to visit a patient and observed an endoscopy.
“Interviewers were very laid-back and relaxed; the medical student I stayed with was fantastic (I highly recommend this experience! ); lunch was great (catered mexican food);”
“The interview is meaningless at UTMB. Although receiving a free meal and a tour is nice, the interviewers are instructed to keep their time with you brief, which I found to be quite offensive. I put a lot of effort into getting here, but I’m not just a number.
“I adore this institution; it is undoubtedly among my top choices. “.
“Galveston makes me a little uneasy because it is a small island encircled by impure Gulf of Mexico water.” However, it is a very historic town, and if you like cities that have a quaint, old-fashioned feel to them, it isn’t too bad. Students appear to have their own fun because of the small city’s extensive extracurricular program. The campus itself is lovely, and plenty of work is being done on biocontainment facilities and other things. Although they schedule an hour for interviews and claim that most last 30 minutes, both of mine lasted longer. Out of all the schools in Texas, the food is the best. However, I’ve never been a fan of open-ended interviews (I feel like people always stray off topic), and both of these asked me some of the most difficult questions I’ve ever been asked. The biggest concern I have about this school, though, is that I’m not sure if a PBL-focused curriculum is best for me. “.
“Very enjoyable day. Very relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.”
“overall a great experience. Being my first interview, I felt fantastic about the entire day. It was occasionally difficult for me to understand my first interviewer, a PhD from Japan, but he was very encouraging and down to earth. My second interviewer was very relaxed and eager to learn more about me and my past experiences. “.
“I LOVED my interviewers. They were both so outspoken and genuine. We had a great conversation as my first interviewer read me a poem he wrote when he was a sociologist and showed me pictures of toddlers. My second interviewer was also excellent. The curriculum is fantastic; they have worked incredibly hard to support their students, and it shows in their above-average USMLE scores. On a path video from a first-year lecture, the professor made some hilarious jokes that I found to be entertaining. When I came in for the interview, I didn’t think I would like this school AT ALL, but now it’s probably my top choice. “.
The facilities are excellent, the faculty is laid-back, and for the past two years, UTMB has had the highest scores on the USMLEs, so it was a great interview day. “.
“One of my interviews went over an hour when it was only supposed to last 30. They asked the usual interview questions (why doctor, what specialty), so I didn’t submit any specific queries. ). “.
“Overall, the interview experience was great. The day’s interview portion was what I most looked forward to. Folks are very helpful and friendly. The tour was very educational, and I thought the anatomy lab was attractive. “.
The students are nice, but some of the researchers there will badger you if you use them as interview subjects. It was ok, but not great. “.
“Very laid back day. Someone will be happy to reschedule your interview if you feel that you did not have the opportunity to present yourself in a positive light to your interviewer. No butthead interviewer should stand in the way of everyone receiving a fair chance at acceptance because that is what they want. I thought that was pretty cool!!”.
“The school is great but the climate sucks.”
“The curriculum, the facilities, and the school all really impressed me.” My only worry is that, after four years, Galveston might become a little monotonous. “.
“Pretty decent if you ignore the problems with the administration”
“I really believe I may be ranking Galveston #1 because I loved it so much.” The people there were awesome. I never thought a medical school could be so chill. “.
“Pretty much what the previous poster said. I was glad that this was my first interview. very low key, low stress. They welcomed us warmly and gave us the impression that they genuinely wanted us to visit. The majority of the students chose UTMB as #1 on their match, and they appear content with where they are. Interviews were conversational, nothing really hard or unexpected. However, one interviewer simply kept looking at me and seemed to be waiting for me to say something, but I have no idea what. They give you a tour of the campus that lasts about an hour. Despite the beautiful weather in Galveston, nobody got hot.
“I was amazed with how low stress the day was. This was my first interview and I was expecting more. The interviews were very conversational. I could pretty much talk about whatever I wanted because the interviewers asked really ambiguous, open-ended questions and did not really try to guide the conversation. NOTE: The interviews were open records, but the interviewers were not permitted to see your test or grade results. “.
“Good day. Organized. Helpful faculty & students. Students all insist that they are happy. “.
“It was a really good interview. I was impressed with the school, curriculum, and faculty overall, but I was disappointed in the event the night before.
“Don’t worry about it; the school is nice and the interviews are simple.” Take it easy and you will do fine. “.
“Both interviewers were really laid-back. I was joking and laughing with both of my interviewers by the end, and it seemed like the interviews were entirely conversational. “.
The school does a great job of pitching the PBL curriculum to you. I’m not sure if it’s for me, but they do a good job of persuading you that it works and turns out excellent doctors. “.
“I loved the school, had a great interview with one interviewer, and a mediocre experience with the other one.” Although the file is closed, I noticed that one of my interviewers had my grades and MCAT!!!!!
“UTMB is a great school, with great students. They are there to train to be doctors, not to impress anyone. The interviewers simply wanted to get to know me, not just the me who appeared on paper. I found this really refreshing. They were mainly conversational. No tough questions. Overall, I really enjoyed it. Galveston is actually really pretty. “.
“The interviews are spread out and not very organized. I had two interviews, but I didn’t think any of them were with MDs. “.
“Relaxed. Thankfully, there were no formulaic questions about morality or current affairs in the interviews.
“I will rate UTMB as my top choice. They interviewed me before they had my MCAT results. The attitude of the students is excellent, and everyone seems to get along well. My first interviewer was a physician. He gave me a tour of his residence and some other locations. Even more impressive, he accompanied me to my follow-up interview. My second interview was with an MD/PhD. He was very approachable and very easy to talk to, just like the first time. “.
“Overall, the day went very smoothly. There wasn’t much downtime, and the day was over fairly quickly. The island is great!”.
I believe this to be a fantastic institution with a welcoming environment. “.
“UTMB provides free parking in the parking garage. The opening presentation was short and sweet. One interview after another was scheduled, but each was only to last 30 minutes, so there was plenty of time to get to the next interview. Both of my interviewers were very pleasant and thoroughly addressed all of my inquiries regarding UTMB and Galveston. The interviews were stress free and conversational instead of grilling. The campus tour was interesting, and because there were only 4 of us plus the student guide, it was easy to ask questions. Lunch was delicious, and they gave us candy because it was Halloween. He showed us a cadaver in the gross anatomy lab and took us to the “control room,” where they observe you as you work with a standardized patient (an actor). Overall, UTMB has excellent facilities, wonderful students and faculty, and Galveston is wonderful if you like a small city and island weather. “.
“UTMB receives a bad rap because of its low board pass rates following the implementation of its new curriculum.” But now that they have ironed out the kinks, they have a 97% pass rate. I was really impressed by the whole experience. “.
“Even before I arrived at the school, I was very excited.” After taking the virtual tour, I was astounded by the school’s beauty. This was a sentiment that many of my interviewees also expressed. My two doctors, one with a PHD and one with an MD, were questioned. The PHD was interested in my research. The MD expressed concern about my undergraduate performance and appeared satisfied with my response (I hope). There are things to do in Galveston. My PHD informed me that the waves do get large enough to surf, and my MD informed me that the municipal golf course’s greens fee is only $10. “.
“It was a decent interview experience. The night before event was not too helpful. The interviews were not at all stressful, which surprised me oddly. Not that I like stress. but it almost seemed like they didnt really care. ? “.
“The first interview went great, there was no stress, just a nice conversation and a few questions,” everyone else reported about their interviews. The second interviewer gave off the impression that he was eager to point out any errors in my application and question me about them. It was more stressful, and I got the impression as soon as I walked in the door that he didn’t want me to succeed. Although he didn’t actually say anything offensive to me (other than calling me old), I got the impression that he was hostile and was trying to see how I would handle stress. I was disappointed that it wasn’t a more enjoyable experience than the first interview. “.
“It was an overall good experience. Board scores are up at this program. It appears that UTMB is making an effort to improve its standing in comparison to its sister programs. “.
“I was very impressed by UTMB. Their new curriculum is excellent for highly motivated, disciplined, and independent learners. The faculty and students are friendly. The UTMB campus looks like a small town college campus. “.
“I had a great time during this interview, which was my first of the season. It did give me the chance to meet my fellow interviewees and to sort of share our anxiety about the night before, even though I did not get too much out of the night before the interview program. Many of my questions were answered, and I now had fresh ones to ask during my interview the following day. I made it a point to ask both of my interviewers—scientists rather than physicians—about their research. overall it was laid back and non threatening. “.
“Very positive. Great school, nice people!”
“Incredibly laid-back. The interviews appear to be used by UTMB to simply learn more about you. Theyre not trying to stump/stress you. Both interviews felt like conversations rather than interviews. The day starts @ 8:30AM, ends around 2PM. I was generally impressed by the faculty, students, and campus. “.
“I had only heard negative things about Galveston, but my attitude definitely changed after visiting.” This is another fine medical school. Just dont forget your can of OFF. “.
“Both of my interviewers were really nice. Your interviewers view your application, but they are unaware of your MCAT or GPA results. To determine whether you would be a good fit for the school, they really want to get to know you as a person in addition to your academic performance. They responded to many of my questions, which was another benefit of the students. “.
“In addition to the region’s extensive exposure to community medicine In Texas prisons, UTMB also provides care (a lot of end-stage pathology). Their curriculum is what really draws me in because it corresponds with my preferred method of learning. “.
“Everyone’s enthusiasm for the curriculum, including the interviewers, really impressed me. There were a ton of students around, and they seemed like a really nice group of people. Very relaxed and positive experience. “.
“Just wanted to clarify on the previous 2 posts. Austin: Third and fourth years have the option of spending their entire year there or participating in a few rotations there (Brackenridge, Childrens). If you stay for the entire year, you must secure your own housing. There are probably 24 third-year students who are completing the entire year there. Housing is provided for free if you complete a few rotations in Austin (4 students per 2-bedroom apartments) because they don’t want you to have to pay rent for two residences. Internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics rotations that call for a patient simulation to demonstrate your knowledge of history-taking and physical exam techniques will require you to return to Galveston for the exam (travel expenses are reimbursed, but are limited). You can request to travel anywhere in Texas for family medical care. Boards: It can be difficult to determine whether the curriculum has any impact. If the results are positive, the administrators will respond “yes,” and if the results are negative, “it’s too early to tell.” We didn’t spend as much time in class as other schools, which is both good and bad. If there are too many classes, students skip them anyway. The bottom line is that how motivated you are to study for exams depends on you, as do your friends’ motivational efforts. The class with a bad reputation for low test scores and pass rates recently graduated (or at least ought to have). The current 4th years did better than that class, but they were still around the UTMB average (210, natl avg 215) because the worst performers were the worst performers overall, which lowered the average. But many of the students in the current 4th year class excelled because they were horrified by the performance of the class that came before them. We freaked out too. The current 3rd year class studied early and studied hard. And it’s difficult to slack off when everyone is studying for the Boards. Anyhow, following the second year, we have always had a 6-week summer vacation. I’m not sure if the dean mentioned it during the information session, but the dean’s office bought a free national prep course and question bank for the exam. We could pay to upgrade our access to the bank. Additionally, third- and fourth-year students tutored us for free or a small fee. That probably made the difference. The 97% pass rate they’re quoting you is equivalent to a 225, but the national average for this year is a 217. At least 24 students had scores that were equivalent to a 99, and at least 111 students scored above 221 (corresponding to a score of 90). Obviously, this has both students and faculty very excited, and they want to continue the upward trend. Hope this helps. Best of luck with interviews!”.
“This is a school that is selling itself. Instead of the feeling. Show them why they should accept you; in fact, the opposite should be true. The interview is basically them selling the school to you. This attitude spills out into everything else. This is a fantastic institution, as evidenced by all of its advantages. The match will be the top choice for applicants who value the welcoming environment. “.
For those, like myself, who are drawn to a smaller, more intimate community, Galveston seems to be a wonderful place to live. The clinical facilities seemed to have a lot of opportunities, and it was very appealing to spend the majority of your third and fourth years at Breckenridge in Austin. (However, once more, no one seemed to be particularly knowledgeable about this either. The school feels more like a campus than many other Texas universities. They have a good student center, a lot of quiet study spaces, and a nice gym. During your basic science years, the curriculum allows for a ton of time off, which suggests that you probably do most of your learning at home. Since the curriculum is only five years old, it was really difficult to get a clear answer about how this formula worked out in terms of future residency success. They emphasized that their second year class this year had a 97% pass rate for Step Ones and that their mean score was significantly higher than the national average because they are aware of their reputation for producing low board scores. It’s difficult to determine whether this reflects curriculum revisions or a special class. I tend to lean toward the former. “.
“Very stress-free. The interviewers were very relaxed and only wanted to talk to me and learn more about me. I do value that the school considers the entire person rather than just statistics and numbers. “.
I believe that UTMB has significantly decreased in quality recently. I’m hoping the school can reclaim some of its former splendor. “.
“I had a very positive interview. I learned a lot about the school and its curriculum. The students are awesome!”.
“I really liked this school, and it has moved up to number two on my list mainly due to the curriculum and its background.” My interviewers were excellent as well and provided me with a lot of helpful information about living there. However, some of the students didn’t seem to be content there, and they seemed to be the kind to grumble about anything. “.
Although the emphasis on PBL may not appeal to all applicants, this is a great school with genuinely friendly faculty and students. Interviews are very relaxed, so no need to be nervous. “.
“Excellent interviews! They were much more interested in me as a contemplative person than as a pre-med student. Very innovative curriculum; without a doubt, the best school in the state in a few years “.
“Horrible! :(“
“The interviews at UTMB were pleasant. I had fun visiting the school, but I had a very unfavorable opinion of it. “.
“the interviews were really laid back and everyone was friendly. Although it’s not my first choice, I had a decent experience in Galveston. “.
“The interviews were very laid back. They appeared to mainly be trying to determine whether you would fit in with the communal and friendly environment. This was the best organized & friendliest interview Ive had. “.
Although both of my interviewers ended up talking a lot more than I did, I thought it was almost a waste of my plane ticket and time for me to even be sitting there, aside from the 30 bug bites I received. But they were fairly nice, so that was good. “.
“The first one was a little strange, but still friendly,” the second was much better. When they converse with you, the interviewers don’t take notes. I suppose they’re just there to gauge your personality. no need to plug your C. V. here, just be very personable. “.
“it was a really nice, laid-back day. no rough questions. One of the interviewers spent an hour and a half talking with me before giving me his highest recommendation (wow). I was informed that they give interviewers instructions to keep the sessions informal and relaxed. And they really were. “.
“Students say they have had few positive interactions with the faculty and feel like an “experiment” with the new PBL-based curriculum. Faculty is arrogant (with an 82% pass rate! Students claimed that since the school implemented the self-directed learning curriculum, the annual USMLE step one pass rates there have decreased. “.
“UTMB was really great. The students seem to really love it. Our tour guide was extremely friendly and helpful. The interviews are semi-open file. Your application is there, but neither your grades nor your MCAT results are. “.
2018 University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine Interview Formats
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University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine Interview Prep
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Find out more information about this institution by contacting the U of Texas Medical Branch SOM Office of Student Affairs and Admissions at 301 University Boulevard in Galveston, Texas, at (409) 772-6958 or (409) 747-2909.
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Who was the tour given by?
“Like other schools, please make a pdf brochure to send to interviewees.”
“Awesome day and awesome school!”
“Perhaps ensure that the interviewers can comprehend the interviewees in depth.” “.
“Find more appropriate faculty to conduct interviews”
Other than that, it was a great day! Just make sure the interviewers are aware that they are supposed to be conducting interviews.
“None. Almost everyone there was super helpful, nice, and funny!”
“More substantial vegetarian options for lunch!”
“Great Job!!! Everyone was very nice and helpful!!”
“Find enthusiastic tour guides; avoid scheduling tours during times of high humidity; show us the SIM center; we don’t need to see the rare book room; find a welcomeer who won’t sound like they’re undermining our motivations for attending medical school.” “.
The tours could be better because our guide ended up taking us into a lot of hurric”
FAQ
How long does it take to get hired at UTMB?
During the busiest application season in December/January, this procedure could take at least 6-8 weeks.
What is unique about UTMB medical school?
Early clinical exposure, problem-based learning with teams, an integrated curriculum with numerous research and clinical opportunities, and a wide range of diverse clinical rotations throughout the state are just a few of the outstanding educational opportunities that medical students at UTMB enjoy.
What is UTMB Health known for?
UTMB Health is setting the standard for diabetes education and management for people in the Greater Houston and Galveston areas and beyond with evidence-based clinical practices and a CDC fully recognized Diabetes Prevention Program.
What does UTMB stand for in Galveston?
University of Texas Medical BranchMottoDisciplina praesidium civitatis (Latin)PresidentBen G. Raimer, MD12,000 Administrative staff3,169 students (2,826 full-time equivalent) (Fall 2015)Galveston, Texas, United States3,169 students
