2011-2012 University of Texas - Houston Application Thread

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
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Never thought I'd want a UT-H interview so bad, the play hard-to-get thing is working 😡
 
I have practically given up on hearing back from this school, which is insane since all the other UT schools (including southwestern) and Baylor have sent me invites. At this point I find it more plausible to get an interview from one of the University of California schools and other out-of-state ones before ever hearing from UTH, which sent a "app complete" email to me on 08/16.
 
Cinematographer said:
I have practically given up on hearing back from this school, which is insane since all the other UT schools (including southwestern) and Baylor have sent me invites. At this point I find it more plausible to get an interview from one of the University of California schools and other out-of-state ones before ever hearing from UTH, which sent a "app complete" email to me on 08/16.
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Same here! I was complete on 8/25 and have UTSW interview but have yet to hear from UTH! Maybe they are slower?
 
Yep i submitted in june and i still haven't heard back from them either 🙁 I got interviews to all the other schools I applied to before aug 29th! 🙁
 
Cinematographer said:
I have practically given up on hearing back from this school, which is insane since all the other UT schools (including southwestern) and Baylor have sent me invites. At this point I find it more plausible to get an interview from one of the University of California schools and other out-of-state ones before ever hearing from UTH, which sent a "app complete" email to me on 08/16.
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+1

haha the funny thing is last year they interviewed me when I applied in like early September and my app was much worse.

This year i got both baylor and SW interviews and nothing from Houston, with a late june submission too.
 
I'm always interested in knowing why people say "But I've gotten Baylor and Southwestern interviews, why hasn't UT-H invited me?"

Our school is different than other schools. We look for different things in applicants. The assumption that it's a hierarchical structure where you must be "good enough" for UT-H if you're "good enough" for Baylor/SW suggests that medical school admissions is only about numbers. It also suggests that UT-H would only act as a fall-back for students who can't get into SW or Baylor, which are not necessarily the kind of students UT-H wants to accept.
 
what would you say they look for then that differs from ut sw or baylor?
 
While I do agree that each school has a different set of criteria that they look for in an applicant, and that this might differ from what UTSW and BCM search for in a candidate, I have got to ask:

Is UTH's selection criteria so drastically different as to deem an applicant who has received interview invitations at all other UT schools and BCM unfit for theirs?
 
Cinematographer said:
While I do agree that each school has a different set of criteria that they look for in an applicant, and that this might differ from what UTSW and BCM search for in a candidate, I have got to ask:

Is UTH's selection criteria so drastically different as to deem an applicant who has received interview invitations at all other UT schools and BCM unfit for theirs?
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Don't take it personally, they don't send invites out based on how many other UT schools you have interviewed at. Besides, its not over yet 🙂.
 
I don't know what UTSW or Baylor are looking for, so I don't know how to answer that. Either way it seems clear that UTSW and Baylor have seen something in your application that they like, whereas UT-H either hasn't gotten to your application or there's something that they value that the other schools prioritize differently.

Don't forget that UT-H also started interviewing later this year, so they've got more applications to go through and still have more interview dates left than the other schools.
 
armybound said:
I'm always interested in knowing why people say "But I've gotten Baylor and Southwestern interviews, why hasn't UT-H invited me?"

Our school is different than other schools. We look for different things in applicants. The assumption that it's a hierarchical structure where you must be "good enough" for UT-H if you're "good enough" for Baylor/SW suggests that medical school admissions is only about numbers. It also suggests that UT-H would only act as a fall-back for students who can't get into SW or Baylor, which are not necessarily the kind of students UT-H wants to accept.
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Thats not how I meant it at all.

I do know what you are saying though, and you see it more flagrantly on the UTSA thread (since UTSA seems so weird about who they interview and a lot of people have gotten a whole bunch of Tx interviews but not SA), and I do think its silly especially after reading the Baylor vs UTSA admissions powerpoint highlighting their very different criteria. This is on the thread itself in case anyone wants to find it.

I meant that my numbers are probably there since I got those other interviews, and my inferior application last year was good enough for an interview, so I was wondering why I didn't get one this year...
 
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armybound said:
We've had some change in personnel recently, so things might not be done the same way or as quickly as before.
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Yea cause I was even at the re-applicant workshop last year and Dr. Love was like "you'll probably be fine next year" after I told her about what I have been doing and my grades since applying. I mean I know that doesn't mean I am entitled to an interview or anything...
 
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Gotta love it when students at the other UT schools try to make their school sound special. At my UTMB interview, everyone was like "yeah I interviewed everywhere but chose UTMB since it's such a great school". They leave out the part about not getting accepted at any other schools. Let's be serious, all schools look for practically the same thing (exception being schools with a rigorous rural program or something).
 
Every school in Texas is great. I hope I'm not coming off like I'm trashing the other schools. Even San Antonio, despite their stupid legal trouble, is a great school. I know several physicians who trained there recently and they clearly got a great education.

You can't go wrong at any school in Texas. I know everyone likes the opportunity to choose exactly where they want to go, but we're all privileged to be able to study medicine at all, regardless of where you end up. Even if you get accepted to your last choice, you'll find how fulfilling that acceptance will be for you.
 
armybound said:
Every school in Texas is great. I hope I'm not coming off like I'm trashing the other schools. Even San Antonio, despite their stupid legal trouble, is a great school. I know several physicians who trained there recently and they clearly got a great education.

You can't go wrong at any school in Texas. I know everyone likes the opportunity to choose exactly where they want to go, but we're all privileged to be able to study medicine at all, regardless of where you end up. Even if you get accepted to your last choice, you'll find how fulfilling that acceptance will be for you.
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Agreed. The only time I'm actually happy to be a Texas resident.
 
Semi-relevant question: since when have med students been such a happy group? At UT-H when I interviewed, the student guides went out of their way to emphasize how much they liked being in med school, and a lot of other schools' students said the same. Is this a self-selection issue? I was pleasantly surprised, because my image of medical students up until the last few months was not... happy and well-adjusted.

That being said, I'm even more glad that I chose this route now.
 
alienwares said:
Semi-relevant question: since when have med students been such a happy group? At UT-H when I interviewed, the student guides went out of their way to emphasize how much they liked being in med school, and a lot of other schools' students said the same. Is this a self-selection issue? I was pleasantly surprised, because my image of medical students up until the last few months was not... happy and well-adjusted.

That being said, I'm even more glad that I chose this route now.
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There's definitely griping that goes on behind the scenes, but being in med school is pretty awesome. The stuff you learn, the people you meet, the things you get to do... tons of fun. Yeah you sometimes get beat down a little and things can be rough, but overall I think we realize how privileged we are to be able to do what we're doing.

I had an interviewee a couple weeks ago tell me "I can tell you're a third year, you look so sad." I was like wtf, I'm on vacation.. I'm in a great mood. Maybe it's from working 80 hour weeks, I dunno.

Becoming a physician is great. And when you have awesome classmates, it's guaranteed fun.
 
I am looking into getting a Master's degree before applying to Medical School. Would it hurt to go with the Biomedical Engineering route instead of a natural science degree? I would like to have a back-up plan just incase I don't get in.

Thanks!
 
JEPATTERS said:
I am looking into getting a Master's degree before applying to Medical School. Would it hurt to go with the Biomedical Engineering route instead of a natural science degree? I would like to have a back-up plan just incase I don't get in.

Thanks!
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You always have to think about your future career opportunities while working on getting in to medical school. Do what's best for you.
 
Officially the slowest school ever, pretty much given up on an II at this point. 🙁
 
II for December 2! Trying to get it rescheduled because I have a final that day but from past posts I can see that my chances of rescheduling are slim..

For the current students, do you kno if how early you get an interview affects your chances of getting in? (I know the ideal answer is no, but in reality is that true?)
 
Papa J said:
II for December 2! Trying to get it rescheduled because I have a final that day but from past posts I can see that my chances of rescheduling are slim..

For the current students, do you kno if how early you get an interview affects your chances of getting in? (I know the ideal answer is no, but in reality is that true?)
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Nope, it doesn't really affect your chances
 
Papa J said:
II for December 2! Trying to get it rescheduled because I have a final that day but from past posts I can see that my chances of rescheduling are slim..

For the current students, do you kno if how early you get an interview affects your chances of getting in? (I know the ideal answer is no, but in reality is that true?)
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When did you transmit?
 
Laplace said:
When did you transmit?
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You applied out of state. That is why you are not receiving an II from UT-Houston. Read their mission statement, the Texas schools are not passing interviews like candy anymore. They are looking for applicants that actually fit and will actually come. If you apply out of state for medical school you probably will for residency.
 
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Papa J said:
II for December 2! Trying to get it rescheduled because I have a final that day but from past posts I can see that my chances of rescheduling are slim..

For the current students, do you kno if how early you get an interview affects your chances of getting in? (I know the ideal answer is no, but in reality is that true?)
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I honestly think it might be better for you to try and reschedule your final (i.e. take it earlier) versus trying to reschedule UTH. Not a lot of interview dates after Dec. 2 to play around with.
 
therunner12 said:
Well that's not true.
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I think he means I didn't apply to only in-state schools but either way that puts me in the majority so it seems ridiculous. The more plausible reason is I submitted my TMDSAS late.
 
MayoorBust said:
You applied out of state. That is why you are not receiving an II from UT-Houston. Read their mission statement, the Texas schools are not passing interviews like candy anymore. They are looking for applicants that actually fit and will actually come. If you apply out of state for medical school you probably will for residency.
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Yea...I dont think so.
 
Laplace said:
I think he means I didn't apply to only in-state schools but either way that puts me in the majority so it seems ridiculous. The more plausible reason is I submitted my TMDSAS late.
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Actually the majority of applicants in Texas only apply in Texas. Applying out of state is actually uncommon. I am not an authority It is just a guess. I know people who turned in their application after you and still got invite to UT-Houston, and they even had lower stats.


Admissions Criteria

The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, in conformity with the purpose assigned it by the Texas legislature and its mission statement, selects the best qualified students for its entering class who demonstrate a potential to become competent and caring physicians who will serve the identified needs of the State of Texas. To that end, the committee considers the totality of each application and gives importance to the factors enumerated below:


I could be wrong though.. just speculation.
 
MayoorBust said:
Actually the majority of applicants in Texas only apply in Texas. Applying out of state is actually uncommon. I am not an authority It is just a guess. I know people who turned in their application after you and still got invite to UT-Houston, and they even had lower stats.


Admissions Criteria

The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, in conformity with the purpose assigned it by the Texas legislature and its mission statement, selects the best qualified students for its entering class who demonstrate a potential to become competent and caring physicians who will serve the identified needs of the State of Texas. To that end, the committee considers the totality of each application and gives importance to the factors enumerated below:


I could be wrong though.. just speculation.
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You are wrong. They don't discriminate based off where you apply.
 
MayoorBust said:
Actually the majority of applicants in Texas only apply in Texas. Applying out of state is actually uncommon. I am not an authority It is just a guess. I know people who turned in their application after you and still got invite to UT-Houston, and they even had lower stats.


Admissions Criteria

The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, in conformity with the purpose assigned it by the Texas legislature and its mission statement, selects the best qualified students for its entering class who demonstrate a potential to become competent and caring physicians who will serve the identified needs of the State of Texas. To that end, the committee considers the totality of each application and gives importance to the factors enumerated below:


I could be wrong though.. just speculation.
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Yea...I think you read into that wrong. Its just basically saying we want physicians for Texas based on our mission statement and criteria. Texas Resident, good enough. If your theory was the case myself and several other people here would have not gotten invites...
 
I applied out of state AND I submitted tmdsas after laplace. however, both of my interviewers asked me about applying out of states fwiw
 
Any tips on interviewing here?! This is my first interview out of three coming up! It's on Friday and I don't know what to expect.
 
Bbad said:
Any tips on interviewing here?! This is my first interview out of three coming up! It's on Friday and I don't know what to expect.
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Just try to relax and enjoy the day. Focus on having a conversation with your interviewers, and try not to dwell on things you said during the interview later (you will anyways!). 🙂 :luck:
 
For any current students here, I was looking at the curriculum schedule and the whole "test week" where you seem to take a test for every individual class once a day for a whole week seems pretty intense...do you guys prefer it for any reason? or has it ever been a reason that you regret choosing uth instead of a school with a different exam schedule?
 
Papa J said:
For any current students here, I was looking at the curriculum schedule and the whole "test week" where you seem to take a test for every individual class once a day for a whole week seems pretty intense...do you guys prefer it for any reason? or has it ever been a reason that you regret choosing uth instead of a school with a different exam schedule?
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we like it because you know exactly when tests are so you can plan your study schedule accordingly. you know they're all 6 weeks away (or however long), so you can take it easy for a while right after exams, then ramp up studying. it's better than constantly having to study for an upcoming test, then cram for another. I always encourage interviewees to ask the MS1s how they like block exams since they are just getting used to it. You hardly ever hear negative comments about it.

sure, it's intense... but I'd like to see a medical school curriculum that's not. It's really not as bad as it looks. And it works for us... you should see our exam averages on national standardized exams.

either way, there are so many advantages to UTH that even if you weren't the biggest fan of the test schedule, it's still an overall win.
 
armybound said:
either way, there are so many advantages to UTH that even if you weren't the biggest fan of the test schedule, it's still an overall win.
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Hey armybound,

Can you elaborate on some of the advantages and more possible questions that would be worth asking. I have an interview on the 18th.
 
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