2013-2014 Texas Tech - Lubbock Application Thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Finally submitted. How long did it take before you guys could see/check any sort of status on Merlin?
**I just double checked on the website and this is normal....
 
Last edited:
I thought you don't see a status until u get a ii?
That's probably right. I just double checked and they say on their website if you have a status of "No Status" it's okay and normal. Thanks for responding!
 
For those who had completed the secondary: when I go back and look at my submitted secondary essay page, all my essays are merged together into one big noncontinuous block of text.

Is this what it's supposed to be like? Is anyone else seeing the same thing?

I see the same thing. What did you do about it?
 
After you submit everything, is everyone/does anyone see a grayed out exclamation point next to the application packet submit?

The website specifically says "The Application Packet has not been submitted until there is a check mark on the Application Packet Submit section." and El Paso has a green checkmark next to the application packet submit section but not Lubbock.
 
After you submit everything, is everyone/does anyone see a grayed out exclamation point next to the application packet submit?

The website specifically says "The Application Packet has not been submitted until there is a check mark on the Application Packet Submit section." and El Paso has a green checkmark next to the application packet submit section but not Lubbock.

Hmmm that is really strange... Both El Paso and Lubbock have those checks next to the "Packet Submit" for me. Is there any chance you didn't pay the fee yet perhaps? Or maybe other people are seeing this too?
 
After you submit everything, is everyone/does anyone see a grayed out exclamation point next to the application packet submit?

The website specifically says "The Application Packet has not been submitted until there is a check mark on the Application Packet Submit section." and El Paso has a green checkmark next to the application packet submit section but not Lubbock.

Give them a call if you can't figure out what you're missing. Both of mine have grayed out checks.
 
Just got off the phone, apparently this is a glitch that happened last year as well so if anyone is in the same boat I would suggest calling to confirm all materials have been received but otherwise, grayed out exclamation mark appears to be okay.

Extra scraps for the scavengers: Based on the discussion, I was told that reviews would start in approximately 2 weeks (which would make the II's later than initially anticipated) and first slot is ~Aug 8th.
 
Just got off the phone, apparently this is a glitch that happened last year as well so if anyone is in the same boat I would suggest calling to confirm all materials have been received but otherwise, grayed out exclamation mark appears to be okay.

Extra scraps for the scavengers: Based on the discussion, I was told that reviews would start in approximately 2 weeks (which would make the II's later than initially anticipated) and first slot is ~Aug 8th.
thanks for the update!
so they will be sending out ii only 1-2 weeks before the first date? good luck everyone!
 
In Merlin when I click on the Application Status Review button, the next page says NO STATUS FOUND.

What does everyone else see?
 
In Merlin when I click on the Application Status Review button, the next page says NO STATUS FOUND.

What does everyone else see?

I don't think it matters much. I am still on the waitlist from last year and my status still says 'no status found'. It never changed.
 
thanks for the update!
so they will be sending out ii only 1-2 weeks before the first date? good luck everyone!

They usually let you pick from a few dates through the Merlin system. I know there were 4-5 options available when I got my II when I applied

If you need to reschedule, they're usually very accommodating to that as well. Just call and ask!
 
They usually let you pick from a few dates through the Merlin system. I know there were 4-5 options available when I got my II when I applied

If you need to reschedule, they're usually very accommodating to that as well. Just call and ask!

cool! I was wondering mainly because I think I would have to fly in...now to just hope for an II 🙂
 
Any tips on how to approach the hometown question the secondary? I love my hometown but there's nothing particularly that I like or dislike about it. The only thing so far that I can think of is how the students in the public schools were materialistic. But I don't want to talk about that considering it's all in the past and I would probably come of as whiny if I did. Why is this part of the secondary...

>.>
 
Any tips on how to approach the hometown question the secondary? I love my hometown but there's nothing particularly that I like or dislike about it. The only thing so far that I can think of is how the students in the public schools were materialistic. But I don't want to talk about that considering it's all in the past and I would probably come of as whiny if I did. Why is this part of the secondary...

>.>
Maybe you can talk about the family and friends in that town that make it special, it's very important not to go negative about anyone or anything in your essays.
 
Any tips on how to approach the hometown question the secondary? I love my hometown but there's nothing particularly that I like or dislike about it. The only thing so far that I can think of is how the students in the public schools were materialistic. But I don't want to talk about that considering it's all in the past and I would probably come of as whiny if I did. Why is this part of the secondary...

>.>

I gave a ton of reasons why I loved my hometown, but I didn't write anything negative. I didn't want to answer a secondary question by complaining
 
Lol. Well I came up with something. It is negative but it is the way I feel about my city. I don't want to derail this topic but I also don't think it's important to make a separate thread about it. Does this sound okay without sounding too negative?

As fond as I am of my hometown of ________ the one thing I dislike is its appearance of material wealth, which detracts from the things that make it great. I have met many people who assume _____ is just a city full of rich people who drive fancy cars and live in mansions. This is an understandable judgment to make for a particular part of the city, where it is common to see teenagers driving BMWs and numerous high-class boutiques, beauty salons and country clubs. However, it is this area that people often associate with all of ______, which has much more to offer. The hiking trails, nature preserves, local restaurants and historic downtown all have a uniqueness to them that give the city its charm. It is just that this charm is hidden behind the upscale lifestyle of a small part of the city. Aside from that, I am proud of where I am from and am grateful to have been raised in ______.


I tried to put a positive spin on it but I'm not really sure what else to say. Suggestions?
 
Lol. Well I came up with something. It is negative but it is the way I feel about my city. I don't want to derail this topic but I also don't think it's important to make a separate thread about it. Does this sound okay without sounding too negative?

As fond as I am of my hometown of ________ the one thing I dislike is its appearance of material wealth, which detracts from the things that make it great. I have met many people who assume _____ is just a city full of rich people who drive fancy cars and live in mansions. This is an understandable judgment to make for a particular part of the city, where it is common to see teenagers driving BMWs and numerous high-class boutiques, beauty salons and country clubs. However, it is this area that people often associate with all of ______, which has much more to offer. The hiking trails, nature preserves, local restaurants and historic downtown all have a uniqueness to them that give the city its charm. It is just that this charm is hidden behind the upscale lifestyle of a small part of the city. Aside from that, I am proud of where I am from and am grateful to have been raised in ______.


I tried to put a positive spin on it but I'm not really sure what else to say. Suggestions?

I don't like it.

What if the doctor reading this essay has a teenager that drives a BMW? You make it sound like a bad thing.
 
How is it possible to mention something bad about your hometown without complaining? They're sort of asking for it..
 
How is it possible to mention something bad about your hometown without complaining? They're sort of asking for it..

Maybe something like the lack of good healthcare, and you want to be able to fix that by going to med school.

I just talked about all the things I like about my small town compared to big cities.
 
I tried to put a positive spin on it but I'm not really sure what else to say. Suggestions?

I imagine that it's fine to state your opinion, regardless of whether it is positive or negative. But what you are talking about lacks relevance to medicine. This is pure speculation, but they might be trying to gauge whether you're the kind of person who would be happy practicing in W. Texas.
 
Guys, not every question has to relate back to medicine. They may just be asking about your hometown just to get to know you on a more personal level. I used up all the available characters, and I don't think I even mentioned medicine.
 
Guys, not every question has to relate back to medicine. They may just be asking about your hometown just to get to know you on a more personal level. I used up all the available characters, and I don't think I even mentioned medicine.

Truth. Especially the one about favorite hobbies. I talked about all the things I like to do, and none were medically related. Though I did mention about my involvement in one student org building maturity and leadership.
 
Guys, not every question has to relate back to medicine.

Fair enough...but this is an application for medical school, so the adcoms want to know if you're going to be a good physician. And yes, there are plenty of ways to show them that (thank god, otherwise i would have quickly run out of material).

My point was that judging one's neighbors for the cars their kids drive make you come across as judgemental, and is therefore unlikely to make a good impression given that physicians have to care for people who have made all kinds of lifestyle choices.

Sorry for being unclear in my previous post. I guess I hadn't figured out exactly what bothered me about bunionberry's statement.
 
Last edited:
Lol. Well I came up with something. It is negative but it is the way I feel about my city. I don't want to derail this topic but I also don't think it's important to make a separate thread about it. Does this sound okay without sounding too negative?

As fond as I am of my hometown of ________ the one thing I dislike is its appearance of material wealth, which detracts from the things that make it great. I have met many people who assume _____ is just a city full of rich people who drive fancy cars and live in mansions. This is an understandable judgment to make for a particular part of the city, where it is common to see teenagers driving BMWs and numerous high-class boutiques, beauty salons and country clubs. However, it is this area that people often associate with all of ______, which has much more to offer. The hiking trails, nature preserves, local restaurants and historic downtown all have a uniqueness to them that give the city its charm. It is just that this charm is hidden behind the upscale lifestyle of a small part of the city. Aside from that, I am proud of where I am from and am grateful to have been raised in ______.


I tried to put a positive spin on it but I'm not really sure what else to say. Suggestions?

I feel like you have a good start, but I felt it was a little too negative...even if it's all true. When you start talking about hiking trails, nature preserves, etc. is when I really started to like it. You could always talk about how you've seen your city change and some advantages/disadvantages of that.

I have many of the same feelings about my hometown...I mentioned this changing dynamic, but focused on many of the characteristics that remind me of how it used to be. Many of those characteristics are similar to what I imagine West Texas to be like, and so I wanted to emphasize why those characteristics are important to me.

Good start! I'd spin it towards being more positive while still showing some of the things you don't like as much. Good luck!
 
I feel like you have a good start, but I felt it was a little too negative...even if it's all true. When you start talking about hiking trails, nature preserves, etc. is when I really started to like it. You could always talk about how you've seen your city change and some advantages/disadvantages of that.

I have many of the same feelings about my hometown...I mentioned this changing dynamic, but focused on many of the characteristics that remind me of how it used to be. Many of those characteristics are similar to what I imagine West Texas to be like, and so I wanted to emphasize why those characteristics are important to me.

Good start! I'd spin it towards being more positive while still showing some of the things you don't like as much. Good luck!

I agree. The content is interesting but to start with the negative aspects is not the best idea.
Talk about what you like about your hometown more than what you dont like. If you must mention it, I would just say that "despite the several aspects that make my city my home, it is sometimes misrepresented as an overly affluent place...... blah blah blah."
 
My point was that judging one's neighbors for the cars their kids drive make you come across as judgemental, and is therefore unlikely to make a good impression given that physicians have to care for people who have made all kinds of lifestyle choices.

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. I was trying not to sound judgmental but it is something that really does irk me about my hometown. I would have gone to a high school where it was normal to see kids get Hummers as their first car...and then get into an accident and have their parents pay for all of it. But I suppose that's more of a whiny gripe than a legitimate dislike of my hometown. I'll cut out the negative stuff like that and add in more positives.

Thanks for all the good advice everyone!
 
So I submitted my secondary yesterday, checked it today to copy one of my answers to another application, and noticed that only the 1st question and the hometown question are visible. I can't see the questions or answers I put down for the recreational activities and ideal practice questions. Anyone else having this issue?
 
II by email this morning! IS, submitted secondary on 7/1 🙂
 
My "Applicant Review Status" never changed, it's still the blue "i." Same with the "interview scheduling" option, but if I click on it, it shows the interview date I selected.

Hope this helps!
 
Just wondering if anyone applied through AAMC Early Decision? Or to the FMAT program? I did both June 12th and see these blessed people getting IIs already and am making myself crazy with worry! Congrats to those already invited!
 
Just wondering if anyone applied through AAMC Early Decision? Or to the FMAT program? I did both June 12th and see these blessed people getting IIs already and am making myself crazy with worry! Congrats to those already invited!

I submitted and had everything turned in June 1. I did not apply to any of those.
 
Top