2011-2012 University of Texas - Houston Application Thread

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I'm applying this summer and UTH is my #1 school. Any advice from people who are matriculating in August for those of us who are about to begin the app process? Congrats to everyone who got in!!
 
DrV1984 said:
I'm applying this summer and UTH is my #1 school. Any advice from people who are matriculating in August for those of us who are about to begin the app process? Congrats to everyone who got in!!
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Apply as early as you can and wear something other than a white shirt to yuor interview.
 
^^ What BA11 said. Don't rush through the app to where it's sloppy, but work efficiently and get it in as early as possible. Don't stress about the interviews- just be yourself, personable, friendly, and confident. Good luck!
 
DrV1984 said:
I'm applying this summer and UTH is my #1 school. Any advice from people who are matriculating in August for those of us who are about to begin the app process? Congrats to everyone who got in!!
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BA11 said:
Apply as early as you can and wear something other than a white shirt to yuor interview.
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DoItToIt said:
^^ What BA11 said. Don't rush through the app to where it's sloppy, but work efficiently and get it in as early as possible. Don't stress about the interviews- just be yourself, personable, friendly, and confident. Good luck!
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Also, do the "optional" essays for TMDSAS. Have fun at your interviews ... I think UTH did a great job of pairing me up with interviewers that matched my interests / background.
 
Whatyousay said:
Also, do the "optional" essays for TMDSAS. Have fun at your interviews ... I think UTH did a great job of pairing me up with interviewers that matched my interests / background.
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This can't be stressed enough. BOTH of my interviewers at UT-Houston brought up my optional essays and I think they played a huge role in me getting accepted.

The only reason I say wear a colored shirt with your suit instead of white is that 90% of applicants will wear white and something different makes you stand out and leaves a more memorable impression. A nice light blue, red or even deep green looks really nice.
 
Whatyousay said:
Also, do the "optional" essays for TMDSAS. Have fun at your interviews ... I think UTH did a great job of pairing me up with interviewers that matched my interests / background.
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UT-H has the best interview day of any school in Texas, period. All you C/O 2017 applicants are going to have a blast.

Also in regards to shirt color, anything that you wear that's different from the black suit, white shirt with neutral tie will work. I wore a grey, slim-fit suit with a white shirt and light green tie and it definitely set me apart at interviews around the state.
 
Apply as early as possible even if you have a late MCAT date. Make sure your committee letters are sent out in a timely fashion. Be personable during interviews and try to meet people during the days; many of them could be your classmates next year!

Be confident in yourself: if you've put in the work up till this point you'll do fine come this time next year.
 
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Thank you everyone!! I will definitely wear something besides white😉!
As far as the MCAT goes, I have it set up as of now for July 6...and am considering moving it to June 21 just to get it in a little earlier. Is that going to give me a more competitive edge? Or is it an unnecessary push that may just cause more stress...? If I can get to interview chair I'll feel pretty confident. I'm a really social person and I do well in those kinds of environments. It's the getting to that chair that is stressing me out!!

Edit: Also definitely planning to do the optional essays for TMDSAS. I've written my PS and it's almost completely edited...and I'm beginning to work on the optional essays outline...I assume they are the same each application cycle?? Planning to submit as early as possible. Just waiting on my LOR's (I don't have the option of having a packet at my school). I have an LOR from a pediatrician, one from an Osteopathic Surgeon, and 1 from my Organic Chemistry professor.
 
Is there an academic calendar available? I am trying to plan my Christmas vacation and need to know dates before booking flights. Or do any current student remember the days for their MS1 Christmas break?

Thanks
 
Anyone here live at the University Housing (specifically Cambridge- old)? I got an e-mail saying they came to me on the wait list but when I asked if I could go there and look at the place she said there is nothing she can show and that all there is to look at is "pictures on our website" There are like 6 tiny pixly pictures mainly of the outside lol.

Also, is it furnished and does the price include utilities?
 
MusicalHenry said:
Anyone here live at the University Housing (specifically Cambridge- old)? I got an e-mail saying they came to me on the wait list but when I asked if I could go there and look at the place she said there is nothing she can show and that all there is to look at is "pictures on our website" There are like 6 tiny pixly pictures mainly of the outside lol.

Also, is it furnished and does the price include utilities?
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I have friends who stay there but I don't think any of them post here. They're not furnished and I don't think utilities are included, but I texted a classmate to ask for you.
 
How likely is it that students will get off the waitlist between May 29 and June 1? I imagine there is a lot of movement after May 15th but it slows down after that.
 
Flumba said:
How likely is it that students will get off the waitlist between May 29 and June 1? I imagine there is a lot of movement after May 15th but it slows down after that.
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Why this particular time period?
 
June 1st is the last day that any Texas school can extend acceptances to those who already hold an acceptance.
 
nysw said:
June 1st is the last day that any Texas school can extend acceptances to those who already hold an acceptance.
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Oh my that's surprising. Is that really true? I keep hearing stories about some people getting accepted the day before classes start and etc.
 
BlakeV said:
Oh my that's surprising. Is that really true? I keep hearing stories about some people getting accepted the day before classes start and etc.
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The applicants who are accepted the day before class starts are those without an acceptance from another Texas medical school. More often than not, these are OOS applicants who only applied to one or two schools within the state. The agreement made between the Texas schools is such that no school can extend an offer of acceptance to an applicant who has already been accepted elsewhere within the state beyond the June 1st deadline. This is really a double-edged sword. Yes, it allows the schools to better assess their incoming class, but it also places restraints on the amount of time they have to fill the class with the best possible students. The student who gains acceptance the week before class would likely have been passed over had it not been for the fact that all the other applicants with an acceptance are off limits at that point.
 
And that's not meant to take away from that particular group of students. Applying to medical school is tough business, and I think we all benefit from a little luck somewhere along the way.
 
Hey y'all! I'm a Texas native doing a post-bacc in the northeast with application set for next year. This is my #1 school (with UTMB a close second) for many reasons, and aside from asking for advice (which many have done), I was wondering how everyone felt about the grading system at UTH. I've heard a lot of back and forth on the benefits and risks of the alphabetical grading system, but would like to know everyone's opinion and perhaps why you still chose to matriculate here. I'm really not in a position to judge the grading system here over pass/fail or other methods, but do you think the letter grades keep you constantly working harder? What benefits/risks are involved?

Thanks and I appreciate any answers!
 
I don't think a grading system should really make a difference. It doesn't define how much I study or how successful I'll be. It's one of those things I think people look a little too closely at with no real justification.
 
Jennet said:
Hey y'all! I'm a Texas native doing a post-bacc in the northeast with application set for next year. This is my #1 school (with UTMB a close second) for many reasons, and aside from asking for advice (which many have done), I was wondering how everyone felt about the grading system at UTH. I've heard a lot of back and forth on the benefits and risks of the alphabetical grading system, but would like to know everyone's opinion and perhaps why you still chose to matriculate here. I'm really not in a position to judge the grading system here over pass/fail or other methods, but do you think the letter grades keep you constantly working harder? What benefits/risks are involved?

Thanks and I appreciate any answers!
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I haven't matriculated yet, so obviously I can't speak from experience, other than of course the last 18 years of my school life, which have all been based on the traditional letter grade system. This is just my opinion, but I think a traditional letter grade (including the pseudo letter grade) system is more beneficial for those who work hard to do as well as they can on each exam; not solely for the purpose of making a grade, but more importantly in an attempt to master the material. Remember, all tests really are is a representation of how well you understand a given material set (in most cases, obviously there are exceptions due to poorly written exams etc...). So if you are someone who consistently does well on exams, which I'd venture to say most pre-meds are, then the traditional system rewards you for this effort.

It's not that I'm hyper competitive, a gunner, or whatever else you want to call it, but I just can't imagine working my tail off for four years, excelling in everything that I do, only to be judged as equal to another student who got by with marginal effort, doing only what was required to pass and nothing more. The fact is, when it comes time to start a residency training program, I will be better prepared than said student, but if there's nothing to differentiate us, then I stand no better chance of getting that residency spot than he/she does, all else being equal. This argument breaks down at top tier schools, where everyone seems to get the residency of their choice, regardless of their position relative to other students in the class. This may be unfair at times, but it's understandable, and that's why those schools can get away with a pass/fail grading scheme. But for the rest of us, who find ourselves somewhere in the middle of the reputation spectrum, we need something to help us stand out, to show that we can play ball with the big boys (for lack of a better sports metaphor). Clearly, there are a whole host of other factors that play a role in your success, but why take one of them off the table from the outset? Finally, the obvious disadvantage of a traditional grading system is that it can make you stand out in the wrong way. It can also be a source of added pressure in medical school, which, needless to say, is already difficult and pressure filled. IMO, the positives outweigh the negatives, but then again, I haven't experienced it for myself, so I may come back in a couple of years and regret feeling this way!
 
armybound said:
I don't think a grading system should really make a difference. It doesn't define how much I study or how successful I'll be. It's one of those things I think people look a little too closely at with no real justification.
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For the most part, I agree with the first part of this statement, but there is a legitimate argument to make that a grading system can influence how successful you will be. I've heard directly from a PD that the pass/fail grading scheme, especially when instituted at lower ranked schools, makes it incredibly difficult to judge the caliber and potential of an applicant. From a PD's perspective, the more information they have the better. I would feel much more comfortable admitting someone whose grades were clearly indicated on a transcript, rather than to have to decipher what exactly pass means, did he/she score 70% or 95% in the class or rotation? You really don't know what you're getting in the latter case. I've heard this sentiment echoed by faculty at UTHSCSA and UTSW.
 
JABWS said:
For the most part, I agree with the first part of this statement, but there is a legitimate argument to make that a grading system can influence how successful you will be. I've heard directly from a PD that the pass/fail grading scheme, especially when instituted at lower ranked schools, makes it incredibly difficult to judge the caliber and potential of an applicant. From a PD's perspective, the more information they have the better. I would feel much more comfortable admitting someone whose grades were clearly indicated on a transcript, rather than to have to decipher what exactly pass means, did he/she score 70% or 95% in the class or rotation? You really don't know what you're getting in the latter case. I've heard this sentiment echoed by faculty at UTHSCSA and UTSW.
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your Step score will be far more important than your grades, especially in the first 2 years. if pass/fail extends in to 3rd and 4th year (I've never heard of this, but it might exist), they'll use your shelf scores. I think most schools will use standardized measures over nonstandardized measures whenever possible, and grades are almost always subjective, with the exception of shelf scores. different courses and different clerkships have different grade cutoffs for H/HP/P, so the letter you're assigned doesn't really tell much about your performance either; you don't know if that P was a 65 or an 84.

I still stand by the idea that grading scheme is very, very low on the list of important things to consider when choosing a school.
 
armybound said:
your Step score will be far more important than your grades, especially in the first 2 years. if pass/fail extends in to 3rd and 4th year (I've never heard of this, but it might exist), they'll use your shelf scores. I think most schools will use standardized measures over nonstandardized measures whenever possible, and grades are almost always subjective, with the exception of shelf scores. different courses and different clerkships have different grade cutoffs for H/HP/P, so the letter you're assigned doesn't really tell much about your performance either; you don't know if that P was a 65 or an 84.

I still stand by the idea that grading scheme is very, very low on the list of important things to consider when choosing a school.
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These are great answers, thank you. I agree that grading scale will not break me from applying at UTH especially when so many other things are more important. What were some of the reasons you ultimately chose UTH, since the grading scale was low on the list?
 
UTH has a very friendly atmosphere. They made me feel like I was wanted. I liked the Texas Medical Center and all that it has to offer. Of the places I was looking at, Houston was the best location for my wife and me. It doesn't cost a lot.

Mainly, I was confident that I would be getting a great education in a comfortable, noncompetitive atmosphere. It has been proven true again and again in the past 3 years.
 
armybound said:
your Step score will be far more important than your grades, especially in the first 2 years. if pass/fail extends in to 3rd and 4th year (I've never heard of this, but it might exist), they'll use your shelf scores. I think most schools will use standardized measures over nonstandardized measures whenever possible, and grades are almost always subjective, with the exception of shelf scores. different courses and different clerkships have different grade cutoffs for H/HP/P, so the letter you're assigned doesn't really tell much about your performance either; you don't know if that P was a 65 or an 84.

I still stand by the idea that grading scheme is very, very low on the list of important things to consider when choosing a school.
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But that's not the question. I agree, the grading scheme is not a deal breaker, and your grades are outweighed by your Step score, but when given the option of traditional vs. pass/fail, I tend to think the traditional scheme favors the vast majority of high achieving students. And although H/HP/P can still be ambiguous, it is much less so than simply P/F in terms of resolution. Would you want the USMLE to be pass/fail? In principle, it's the same argument, degree of importance notwithstanding.
 
What would be wrong with letting Step be pass/fail? I guess at some point you have to believe that higher grades/higher scores somehow means better applicant for residency, or better doctor, and I'd very much disagree with that point.

Though I see what you're saying -- it's easy to endorse a system because you are at the top of that system and taking full advantage of it. That doesn't mean it's the right way to do things, though.

These are tools used by residency programs to sift through applicants, much like the MCAT and your undergrad GPA. It's a crutch they use so they don't have to find a better way to figure out who the best applicants for their positions are.
 
armybound said:
What would be wrong with letting Step be pass/fail? I guess at some point you have to believe that higher grades/higher scores somehow means better applicant for residency, or better doctor, and I'd very much disagree with that point.

Though I see what you're saying -- it's easy to endorse a system because you are at the top of that system and taking full advantage of it. That doesn't mean it's the right way to do things, though.

These are tools used by residency programs to sift through applicants, much like the MCAT and your undergrad GPA. It's a crutch they use so they don't have to find a better way to figure out who the best applicants for their positions are.
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I'd be the first person to stand up and say that applicants are far more than their numbers, and I'm thankful to have been given a shot at several great schools, despite the fact that I don't have a 40 MCAT and 4.0 GPA. But while all this idealism is well and good, the reality is that there has to be some standardized measure by which programs can assess the caliber and potential of the applicants. There is no doubt that standardized tests are inherently flawed, but they are a practical solution to a difficult problem. I don't necessarily believe that a higher step one score always equates to a better physician, but I would have more confidence placing my bet on someone who did well on their boards, rather than taking a risk on someone who didn't. The boards, just like the MCAT, are meant to be a reflection of the amount of effort put forth by the student. No one looks at an MCAT score and says, "I want that student because they clearly have a firm grasp of Newton's Laws." No, they want the high scoring student because, at least in most cases, their score is indicative of consistent effort, of the student's commitment to mastering the material, and more importantly, their commitment to excellence in pursuing a career in medicine. You see it as a crutch, but I think the methodology is much more subtle and refined than you're acknowledging.

Lastly, imposing a P/F scheme for the USMLE would destroy so many medical student's chance of working their way up the academic latter. A student from [insert top-tier school here] would win out over a student from [insert mid/low-tier school here] almost every time. What the test does is allow people like you and me to prove ourselves, to make the case that we are as good as Mr. Ivy League. It gets our foot in the door, so that we can call attention to all of the other things that make us great candidates for a given position. Trust me, I've never been at the top of this system looking down. Instead, I'm the one who started at the bottom. I've had to prove myself every step of the way, and that's why I feel so strongly about these means (MCAT, USMLE, traditional grading scheme) of upward mobility.
 
armybound said:
What would be wrong with letting Step be pass/fail? I guess at some point you have to believe that higher grades/higher scores somehow means better applicant for residency, or better doctor, and I'd very much disagree with that point.

Though I see what you're saying -- it's easy to endorse a system because you are at the top of that system and taking full advantage of it. That doesn't mean it's the right way to do things, though.

These are tools used by residency programs to sift through applicants, much like the MCAT and your undergrad GPA. It's a crutch they use so they don't have to find a better way to figure out who the best applicants for their positions are.
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Also agree that grades are outweighed by step and the grading scheme shouldn't be a factor to choose a school. But, and I'm a bit ashamed to say this, I would not work as hard in a P/F system. I know that ideally you should always strive to do your best, but things do get overwhelming sometimes, or you might not care for a particular subject or a number of other things, and then its really easy to say, ill study enough so i can JUST pass. Then you get a 70 on a test that with a bit more motivation could have easily been an 85. Obviously when you're a doctor your motivation to care for pts isn't going to derive from grades, but from the satisfaction that you are doing your job right. Im just saying, if for nothing else, grades are good to motivate you to do better during the tough academic times.

Also i don't think H/HP/P is really that ambiguous. I guess it could be if you have nothing but Ps, but if you have some HP and H here and there, the assumption will be that the P is closer to 84 than to 65. If anything P/F could be more ambiguous, which would place even more weight on step scores.
 
There's actually a lot of criticism directed toward the USMLE being used comparatively and it was originally designed to be a pass/fail measure. Doctors being doctors will always find a way to turn something into a competition though - cause that's what's important 🙄.

My advice is focus on yourself, you seem really worried about how you look in comparison to others, and although that set of neuroses may be selected for in med students, it's really not a healthy or helpful attitude. Best of luck 🙂
 
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eli20 said:
There's actually a lot of criticism directed toward the USMLE being used comparatively and it was originally designed to be a pass/fail measure. Doctors being doctors will always find a way to turn something into a competition though - cause that's what's important 🙄.

My advice is focus on yourself, you seem really worried about how you look in comparison to others, and although that set of neuroses may be selected for in med students, it's really not a healthy or helpful attitude. Best of luck 🙂
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Its not about competition. If a classmate were to ask for my help I would do all I could to try to help him. Its just about that last block/final exam time, when youre so tired that you could just settle for a pass and not try your hardest... for me if it wasnt for that HP/H motivation, Id burn out easier. At the end of the day it feels the same getting an H vs a P tbh, but whatever, it at least feels good working for it.
 
eli20 said:
There's actually a lot of criticism directed toward the USMLE being used comparatively and it was originally designed to be a pass/fail measure. Doctors being doctors will always find a way to turn something into a competition though - cause that's what's important 🙄.

My advice is focus on yourself, you seem really worried about how you look in comparison to others, and although that set of neuroses may be selected for in med students, it's really not a healthy or helpful attitude. Best of luck 🙂
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That's not what's important, but what is so bad about a little competition? On this forum, you're either a gunner, or diametrically opposed to anything remotely cutthroat. Is there no middle ground? Is there not a healthy form of competition?
 
addo said:
Its not about competition. If a classmate were to ask for my help I would do all I could to try to help him. Its just about that last block/final exam time, when youre so tired that you could just settle for a pass and not try your hardest... for me if it wasnt for that HP/H motivation, Id burn out easier. At the end of the day it feels the same getting an H vs a P tbh, but whatever, it at least feels good working for it.
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Sorry I wasn't very clear... my comments were more directed towards JABWS than you. I agree grades can be a good motivator to do well in something.

I don't necessarily think there's anything wrong with a friendly competition in the right place, but when the entire process of learning to be a physician gets turned into steps on how to beat out your peers I can't help but feel like your missing out. For me, its about motivation - motivating yourself to be better is one thing, worrying about making good grades so you look better than others is another. Is your goal to be the best physician or to out-compete everyone else?
 
eli20 said:
Sorry I wasn't very clear... my comments were more directed towards JABWS than you. I agree grades can be a good motivator to do well in something.

I don't necessarily think there's anything wrong with a friendly competition in the right place, but when the entire process of learning to be a physician gets turned into steps on how to beat out your peers I can't help but feel like your missing out. For me, its about motivation - motivating yourself to be better is one thing, worrying about making good grades so you look better than others is another. Is your goal to be the best physician or to out-compete everyone else?
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Are these two things mutually exclusive? They certainly aren't in the world I live in.
 
JABWS said:
Are these two things mutually exclusive? They certainly aren't in the world I live in.
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It's probably not worth having this conversation, I'm never going to understand a world view in which never-ending competition is a source of happiness, like I said good luck 🙂
 
eli20 said:
It's probably not worth having this conversation, I'm never going to understand a world view in which never-ending competition is a source of happiness, like I said good luck 🙂
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Good luck to you too 🙂 Although I believe it's the sad reality of medicine today, I really don't want to have this conversation either. I'm more interested in the friendly form of competition, the kind that pushes everyone to work a little bit harder and rise a little bit higher to reach their full potential.

And in response to your prior post, which I didn't realize was directed primarily at me, I agree. If anything, I spend a lot more time 'comparing' myself with my own expectations. The competition is internal. I always feel like I could be doing something better; it's a constant struggle. Being so harshly self-critical can be a double-edged sword, but I truly hope it makes me a better physician. My ultimate goal is to be great at what I do, not just for my sake, but for my patients. I'm sure you can understand that world view.
 
just got in off the waitlist! got an email from Amanda today :laugh:

anybody want to catch me up to speed on any important deadlines comin up?
 
Papa J said:
just got in off the waitlist! got an email from Amanda today :laugh:

anybody want to catch me up to speed on any important deadlines comin up?
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Congratulations!! And yeah, what armybound said. The criminal background check should probably be your first order of business. Also, they'll mail you some paperwork you need to sign and return. The deadline for submission of the MS2/MS1 buddy match info is May 14th, so you may want to check into that as well.
 
Email or phone call? Congratulations !!
 
Just got accepted. I'm going to think on it for a day, but I'm probably going to withdraw. Good luck to those of you still waiting.
 
does anyone know the proper protocol for withdrawing from a school you matched with? I matched and accepted admission at another school, but now that I am accepted off the waitlist at UTH (and plan on attending UTH) what should I do? Is it as simple as sending emails to both admission offices? Or is there something more formal through TMDSAS or so?
 
Papa j what school are u withdrawing from?
 
LOL I guess its not creepy since its available to everyone, but yeah it was A&M
 
Just got accepted off the waitlist!
 
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