2010-2011 Texas Tech (El Paso) Application Thread

[RedRobin]

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For those of you pre-matched,
did you get a congratulations email from your interviewers?
I got one today and I'm not sure if I should reply to it or not. I want to say that it's an automated message but not sure...

 

[eli20]

I got a phone call from both of my interviewers a couple of weeks after my prematch, which was a tad awkward because I had declined the offer via snail & email earlier that day...

 

[sch]

Guys, I have a question about ranking. I am invited for an interview on 13th jan, which is post 10th january deadling to rank. So how i will rank el paso without giving interview. any suggestion??

 

[kadiaz2]

Hey guys,

Pre-matched with scholarship to PFSOM awhile back. I chose this school because I personally love this city and the school is great. I was born and raised in El Paso and am currently finishing my undergraduate here. Any future interviewees, if you want me to take you around the city (even show you the nightlife), or if you just have questions about living in El Paso, shoot me an e-mail.

Good luck!

 

[readdoc]

Worried!!!! Are they still interviewing!!!

 

[longwhorn]

For those of you pre-matched,
did you get a congratulations email from your interviewers?
I got one today and I'm not sure if I should reply to it or not. I want to say that it's an automated message but not sure...

First one I got seemed automated but the second for sure wasn't. I replied but didn't get a response so who knows. You planning on attending?

 

[RedRobin]

First one I got seemed automated but the second for sure wasn't. I replied but didn't get a response so who knows. You planning on attending?

As of now, yes. I'm still hoping for another school in February

 

[Tone]

Hello everyone. I have a question for everyone who has interviewed here so far and everyone who goes here. If you stayed with a student host, where did you stay? An apartment? house? condo? Also, how were living expenses? Is rent here expensive? And another question is how much traffic is there usually on El Paso roads? Is there a rush hour? Does it take long to get to different places. I'm asking because the deadline to rank schools for the match is coming up. I interviewed here, and I LOVED the school but I don't remember what life in El Paso is like. Thanks everyone!

 

[longwhorn]

There was plenty of traffic the day I was there, nothing like Houston, but still some traffic. Housing is dirt cheap there, comparable to Lubbock.

 

[Tone]

There was plenty of traffic the day I was there, nothing like Houston, but still some traffic. Housing is dirt cheap there, comparable to Lubbock.

Thanks! I guess I'm just having a hard time ranking both Texas Techs. not sure which I should rank higher... And the deadline is tomorrow!

 

[doctor freak]

Thanks! I guess I'm just having a hard time ranking both Texas Techs. not sure which I should rank higher... And the deadline is tomorrow!

think abt it this way: el paso is only temporarily accredited and board scores haven't been released yet...im sure it's a good school, but I'd feel a bit uncomfortable going through med school as a guinea pig :/

 

[Tone]

think abt it this way: el paso is only temporarily accredited and board scores haven't been released yet...im sure it's a good school, but I'd feel a bit uncomfortable going through med school as a guinea pig :/

wow i did not know it was only temporarily accredited. thanks for the info.

 

[KTD]

wow i did not know it was only temporarily accredited. thanks for the info.

It's only temporarily accredited bc it hasn't graduated it's first class yet. There's no reason to believe it won't receive full accreditation when those guys graduate.

 

[gametime66]

it looks like i will be declining el paso and the 60,000 dollar scholarship. i'm very grateful for the acceptance. However, the temporary accreditation, no board scores, violence across the border, and mandatory classes are deterrents. Good luck to everyone who hasn't received an acceptance from here.

 

[gametime66]

Worried!!!! Are they still interviewing!!!

their last interview day is jan 13th. they had extended it.

 

[Tone]

I'm still having a tough time with this decision... And the clock is ticking. I have to work until 10pm today. lol that doesn't help at all.

 

[DrDrummer]

it looks like i will be declining el paso and the 60,000 dollar scholarship. i'm very grateful for the acceptance. However, the temporary accreditation, no board scores, violence across the border, and mandatory classes are deterrents. Good luck to everyone who hasn't received an acceptance from here.

Here's hoping for some trickle-down scholarship action.

 

[bradtech]

Here's hoping for some trickle-down scholarship action.

That would be nice!!!!

 

[eli20]

I got offered 15/yr also and am choosing a different school so there are at least two free for others!

 

[longwhorn]

Sweet, send it my way..

 

[bradtech]

I got offered 15/yr also and am choosing a different school so there are at least two free for others!

I will take it!!

 

[mDrake22]

I heard this place is going downhill from a friend. They are making more and more classes mandatory attendance without really telling or consulting students, do not have video lecturing as promised and told my friend and all his classmates that they were a disappointment last week without any clear reason. What the heck is wrong with this place? I am glad I did not list them first!!!

 

[Tone]

they actually called the class a disappointment? what happened over there?

 

[longwhorn]

I heard this place is going downhill from a friend. They are making more and more classes mandatory attendance without really telling or consulting students, do not have video lecturing as promised and told my friend and all his classmates that they were a disappointment last week without any clear reason. What the heck is wrong with this place? I am glad I did not list them first!!!

A 1 post Troll..

Take your BS somewhere else.

 

[mDrake22]

Excuse me? Talk to the students there now! Sorry I have not been obsessed with this site up to this point. (Sometimes those that speak up the least have the most to say.) I recently learned of some sad developments and felt the need to share because I felt that I had been deceived on my interview day. If you would like to discuss these issues in further detail I am open to it. I would like you to prove any one of my points as incorrect...

1) They recently DID make more classes required over the holiday break.
2) They do NOT have video recordings like they told the class that just started. My friend said they might not have it for at least another month! That is well in to his first year.
3) They did in fact cut down the class last Friday and say some pretty hurtful things without specific feedback.

These are just the things I heard recently when I was talking to him about my decision. Sorry, if you are upset.

 

[mDrake22]

they actually called the class a disappointment? what happened over there?

thought they would be better behaved or something, heard it wasn't constructive. sound like they arent picking who they really want. is that the students fault though?

 

[RedRobin]

You make it sound like your story is coming from the entire school.
It's just coming from ONE of your friends, and although I'm pretty sure whatever he said is true, it can be interpreted in many different ways.
Maybe your friend is pessimistic and likes to complain.

Just because the classes are mandatory and the school's first set of students were not up to their expectations doesn't mean the school is going downhill. Your friend doesn't know that.

And just remember that many of us are happy to have pre-matched here. I don't care if your friend isn't happy where he is. You don't have to make us sound like a whole bunch of losers for being happy to attend this school.

 

[mDrake22]

It comes from two students actually. (I know not THAT much more creditable, but you are jumping to conclusions.) Also, I didn't say anything against those planning to attend. We are all in the same boat and anyone that gets in anywhere is a quality student. If a school calls them something bad it is because they have failed to nurture their potential. I listed it as my second choice! I also liked it during the interview!

The three points I made are facts. I dont see how someone being "pessimistic" could influence them. More required classes means more required classes (it was their weekly 2 hr ethics class which has been added to the 'required' list), no video lecture recordings means no video lecture recordings and they actually used the word disappointment. Simple as that.

Sorry, if saying anything negative about a school is upsetting. Each school has its flaws and it is ok to discuss them. Isnt that the point of a forum?

 

[Obi184]

I'm sorry mDrake but WTF are you talking about? I interviewed there Thursday of last week and talked with basically every med student I could. All were very complimentary about the school. I even specifically asked if classes were mandatory, with the answering being 'no' except for the end-of-week group discussion with a physician. Indeed, I talked with two separate students that skipped classes earlier THAT DAY. Troll harder. 0/10

 

[TheTruckGuy]

If a school calls them something bad it is because they have failed to nurture their potential.

Kids these days are nurtured too much anyways. If someone sucks, they need to be told they suck. No room for 5th and 6th place trophies in the real world.

 

[mDrake22]

Got more details for those that need it. For one, this new ethics class being mandatory was made clear to the students beginning THIS week so last Thursday they did not really know. (So yeah, you are wrong Obi184.)

They HAVE to go to the physician case example things, they HAVE to go to spanish. Now they are 'encouraged' to go to the ethics thing or else the dean writes something bad about them in their letter to residencies. Weird. So basically they HAVE to go to that too. But you are right that they can skip the strict science classes which is the majority of the class time (keep in mind they have NO lecture recording or scribes).

The school has a lot going for it. It is new and up-to-date and is fully integrated, which is AWESOME! Students said a lot of great things about it and seemed to like it over all. Hence, I ranked it 2nd.

Two of the points I brought up (NO video lecture recording as promised to students and more required classes) are things I felt were not made clear at my interview (or are new). Lets be objective.

Truckguy. I actually agree a little, but if you are going to tell people they suck, you should probably tell them details so they can improve or just yell at those that actually suck and not everyone...

 

[effie25]

Kids these days are nurtured too much anyways. If someone sucks, they need to be told they suck. No room for 5th and 6th place trophies in the real world.

So each school should just accept one applicant...their number 1? Yeah, that will solve the doctor shortage... Brilliant.

Sorry, couldn't resist. 🙂

 

[longwhorn]

Whats the deal with the one posters today?

Anyways, it was the tone of your post that struck a nerve. For many on here, this is their only chance for attending an MD school and thus its very upsetting to see you post something like "Glad this wasn't my top choice" and "this school is going down hill." Surely you can see why this would be upsetting.

If you had simply said the facts that you have heard, everyone would have been much more receptive. Anyhow, thanks for the information. I was under the impression that they were setting up recorded lectures so thats important to know.

Do they not have audio recordings of their lectures?

 

[mDrake22]

Do they not have audio recordings of their lectures?

Sorry, didn't meant to offend. To answer your question, no. They do not have any sort of recordings. No audio and no video. No scribes either. It was supposed to be in place for my friend's class last fall but the still don't have anything. I think they are the only school in Texas without. They keep telling them it will be in place by a certain date and keep pushing it back month after month. So yes they are trying to set it up, but they have been trying for over a year now...

Says the frustrations are pretty new especially on top of the new ethics class requirements when they got back from break and the sort of class-wide lecture telling them they expected more without details last week. Hopefully things will get better.

 

[DrDrummer]

For what it's worth, when I was equivocating between A&M and PFSoM, I e-mailed a dozen students that I tracked down and got replies back from 80% of them-- 100% of the replies were positive about virtually all aspects of the academic side of life there. Made me very comfortable ranking it first among my pre-matches. Most of the highlights they focused on were the curriculum being essentially aligned with First Aid and the Step I, so hopes are high for good scores there (though it remains unproven), and on the excellent teaching and good relationships between peers. The pass/fail system doesn't hurt either. I really like the curriculum, and (I've been teaching for the past three years) the focus on strong pedagogy over research.

We'll see what happens-- if I go to UTH, I'm sure I'll miss out on some excellent teaching (not to mention the P/F grading), and if I go to Paul Foster, I can't really imagine feeling like I'm missing out on much that I haven't already seen here in Houston. Here's hoping it works out.

 

[Eleven48]

Is anyone going to the post-match Interview on January 20? How is the interview process there compare to other schools?

 

[RedRobin]

Is anyone going to the post-match Interview on January 20? How is the interview process there compare to other schools?

I felt like everyone was trying very hard to make sure that we weren't confused or stressed that day. Our tour was guided by faculty members, whereas at other schools it's done by students. It may be because Tech El Paso doesn't have very many students yet.
There was at least one person on every floor during the interview to make sure that we didn't get lost or anything.
And the school was also really good about letting us all out in time to take the shuttle to the airport.

I had one interviewer who was really laid-back, and one who was a little hard core but still nice. Overall it was a good experience and I enjoyed my time there.

 

[CmRuLz88]

Does anyone know how many of their students they will be accepting through the match this year?

 

[TheTruckGuy]

Does anyone know how many of their students they will be accepting through the match this year?

Based off various websites, individuals here, and what I remember from interview day, my guess is 50-60 out of a class of 80.

 

[fosterregret]

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[fosterregret]

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[fosterregret]

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[CaptainSSO]

.....

 

[Beets]

I'm calling it! Troll!

I mean, who in the heck else would come in here and tell us not to go to a school unless we absolutely have to after we've already turned in our match rank lists? 🙄

 

[fosterregret]

.

 

[RedRobin]

Hmm...I have a feeling you will hate your school regardless of what school you end up with.

I know who the pharmacology teacher is, I had her for my interview..She didn't seem like the friendliest type but was not rude or condescending. If she were really that kind of person, it would've shown. I've also talked to many people who also interviewed with her/people in her college and they all seemed very happy with her.
It's either you or the school that's the problem. I'll let the readers decide.

 

[noshie]

Look, you are not always going to like the environment you are in or the people who surround you, especially in this field... You make the best of what you are given and move on. If you walk around for the next four years and loathe every day that you are at this school, you will be losing out on an opportunity to become a stronger person and overcome the obstacles you face. You should take this opportunity to learn tolerance and perseverance, you should learn to succeed in an environment where you think everyone is holding you back. I have had several jobs where I hated the people I worked with, and quitting/finding a new job crossed my mind many times… But I always ended up realizing that it is these hardships in life that will make me a better person. Then I can learn to deal with anyone and always end up on top… You need to stop whining and do the same… Don’t be the typical student that complains that their success is hindered by the people around them, it is not your professor that is holding you back, you are the only one that decides how successful you become.

 

[Beets]

Noshie, if we both end up at this school, I think we should take fosterregret out for lunch because clearly they need a hug... Haha.

 

[noshie]

Noshie, if we both end up at this school, I think we should take fosterregret out for lunch because clearly they need a hug... Haha.

Yes... I guess I understand... I imagine that the first year away from your family and in a very new environment must be really hard no matter what is going on with school... 🙁

 

[Beets]

Yes... I guess I understand... I imagine that the first year away from your family and in a very new environment must be really hard no matter what is going on with school... 🙁

I can vouch for that, being a Texan that moved to Maryland for college. It's just really important not to feel all 'Charlie Brown' about it and realize that where you're at isn't necessarily inherently bad, just different than you imagined.

Foster, you can take my words with a grain of salt, considering I'm not a medical student, but I bet that everyone has their gripes about particular professors or aspects of their medical school. I knew a few kids who went to med school in Memphis that had the same feelings that their professors were out to get them/didn't care/had unreasonable expectations. You say that El Paso is the worst medical school out there, but then again, it's the only one you've attended. 😛 I'd say that once you get into the groove and get settled, you'll realize that everything's gonna be okay and that you'll be able to study for the step 1 there just as much as most people at other schools. Sure, they may make you show up for a lot of mandatory classes/sessions, but perhaps they're afraid that without that, you might never come out of hiding! A student at Lubbock told me that in medical school, it's all to easy to become a nervous recluse, which could mean that you never really feel at home at your school or get settled in. Just some food for thought...