2014-2015 University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston Application Thread

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Gotcha. The thread has been so quiet I was just trying to see if there had been another wave of invites. I applied late (Transmitted 8/27, MCAT score 9/9) but I have already received an invite for UTHSCSA so I was trying to see where everyone was in the process. UTMB is one of my dream schools (as is UTHSCSA) so I'm on edge about it! 3.84 cgpa, 3.76 sgpa, 31 MCAT, 100 hours clinical volunteering, 3rd year teacher nontrad. This whole process is nerve wracking and exhilarating!

I think they review applications in batches. It took me 2 weeks to get a complete email, but it took someone who submitted a week before me less than a week to get a complete email.
 
This school is awesome. They said they were even talking about moving the grading system to pass/fail for this upcoming year for the first 2 years.
 
This school is awesome. They said they were even talking about moving the grading system to pass/fail for this upcoming year for the first 2 years.
OMG. I want to go there even more now! I also really love their global health emphasis. Wowwww.
 
This school is awesome. They said they were even talking about moving the grading system to pass/fail for this upcoming year for the first 2 years.
That's interesting because they never mentioned that when I interviewed around early August. Sounds like a great idea to me!
 
That's interesting because they never mentioned that when I interviewed around early August. Sounds like a great idea to me!
Yea, it was during the student panel. They said they were not 100% sure if it was going to happen yet, so I guess they want to keep it on the down low for now. The way they said it though was pretty reassuring that it was a strong possibility.
 
Yea, it was during the student panel. They said they were not 100% sure if it was going to happen yet, so I guess they want to keep it on the down low for now. The way they said it though was pretty reassuring that it was a strong possibility.

Did they mention if it would be a true P/F or ranked P/F?
 
Unfortunately, they did not 🙁 Hopefully someone on this board who has an upcoming interview can ask more questions to the student panel and update us with the answers.

I have an interview with UTMD this Friday and will try to ask for you guys!

Also this is gonna be my first interview, so I'm kind of nervous! Did you guys all have good experiences on your interview day?
 
I have an interview with UTMD this Friday and will try to ask for you guys!

Also this is gonna be my first interview, so I'm kind of nervous! Did you guys all have good experiences on your interview day?
I had an awesome experience. Both of my interviewers were very nice and the interview was more of a conversation than anything else. Of course, be prepared to answer "Why medicine" but again, things flowed into a conversation and it felt like the interviewers just wanted to get to know me personally.

But alright, thanks! Just ask what their plans are for pass fail in the student panel (Which was sometime after lunch I believe), and if it will be ranked.
 
I have an interview with UTMD this Friday and will try to ask for you guys!

Also this is gonna be my first interview, so I'm kind of nervous! Did you guys all have good experiences on your interview day?

Essentially all the interviewers on my day had great experiences at UTMB. My advice is to prepare for the common questions: Why medicine, strengths/weaknesses, be prepared for "Tell me about yourself", and know your application (this means know how you would describe your activities if asked about them. It seems harmless enough, but it's important to know what you want to convey...not memorized, but just a general idea of what you would say if they asked about ____ activity).

Best of luck! You're going to rock it!
 
I have an interview with UTMD this Friday and will try to ask for you guys!

Also this is gonna be my first interview, so I'm kind of nervous! Did you guys all have good experiences on your interview day?
And above all, just relax. The interviewers will not see the real you if you are too uptight and nervous.
 
I have interviews at El Paso, San Antonio, ATM....haven't heard from Houston, Lubbock, or UTMB yet :/
application complete 7/7 with updated MCAT 9/3
stats: Post bach all prereqs 4.0, overall BCPM 3.73, undergrad 3.42 MCAT 31

Getting anxious that I haven't heard back for II ....
 
I have interviews at El Paso, San Antonio, ATM....haven't heard from Houston, Lubbock, or UTMB yet :/
application complete 7/7 with updated MCAT 9/3
stats: Post bach all prereqs 4.0, overall BCPM 3.73, undergrad 3.42 MCAT 31

Getting anxious that I haven't heard back for II ....

It might just be that now that you have an updated mcat from not too long ago it's just a matter of time. Did you get the other II's after the new mcat score?
 
It might just be that now that you have an updated mcat from not too long ago it's just a matter of time. Did you get the other II's after the new mcat score?
I actually received II from SA early the other two in september after
 
Im a nontrad IS, with ~2.9 uGPA in challenging science degree. Did an SMP masters finished with a 3.85, have a 33 MCAT.
Lots of research at top tier schools, clinical experience, and community service/leadership.

Havent heard anything from Texas. Not really sure what to think at this point, I have been complete since end of June.
 
II!!!! Transmitted 9/12/2014, received "under review" email 9/23/2014. Interview on 10/24/2014. :soexcited::clap:
 
II!!!! First one! Transmitted 9/4, "under review" 9/17
OOS 3.68cGPA, 3.86sciGPA 34MCAT
For Nov 21st interview (may be so late because I am OOS).
 
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Now I'm starting to get worried. 3.84 cgpa, 3.76 sgpa, 31 MCAT (10/10/11), 3year teacher nontrad, transmitted 8/27, only one interview from UTHSCSA.
 
Now I'm starting to get worried. 3.84 cgpa, 3.76 sgpa, 31 MCAT (10/10/11), 3year teacher nontrad, transmitted 8/27, only one interview from UTHSCSA.

Don't worry! Your stats are great and this process is so random, you can hear back any time between now and December! Galveston hasn't even started November interviews!
 
Don't worry! Your stats are great and this process is so random, you can hear back any time between now and December! Galveston hasn't even started November interviews!

I got an II earlier today for mid-November!
 
Does anyone know the difference between a blind and open interview? Why both might be conducted in same day as well?
 
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Does anyone know the difference between a blind and open interview? Why both might be conducted in same day as well?
Blind interview is where you need to be blind folded.... just messing with you, it's when the interviewer doesn't know much about you (doesn't know your stats and activities) and tries to know you as a person.
As you can guess the open interview is where they know all about your activities and stats, therefore they generally ask you about them.
I guess they hv both types at the same day because they want to know you as a person and still be able to ask you about things in your application.
 
So I had to reschedule my interview here to November 14 due to a conflict with another interview. Could I still prematch on the 15th?
 
So I had to reschedule my interview here to November 14 due to a conflict with another interview. Could I still prematch on the 15th?
I'm actually wondering the same thing, I really hope it's possible but I think it's too close tho
 
Is anyone else going to the social tomorrow night? Feel free to message me if you are, we can meet up! :happy:
 
Good luck you guys and Congrats to all who have an interview! I'm an MS4 at this program and you guys can PM if you have any questions.

I truly loved this school and all the opportunities it has to offer.
 
Good luck you guys and Congrats to all who have an interview! I'm an MS4 at this program and you guys can PM if you have any questions.

I truly loved this school and all the opportunities it has to offer.
I am going to have an interview at this school in about a week. Any advice or the type of question they ask would be a great help.
 
I am going to have an interview at this school in about a week. Any advice or the type of question they ask would be a great help.
I Interviewed here fairly recently, and the only atypical question I had was since I had listed on TMDSAS that I had applied to several "elite/Ivy" schools, why was I interested in UTMB. Otherwise, both of my interviewers asked pretty standard questions and were really nice and friendly. You'll have a great time, everybody I talked to at UTMB seemed to love being there.
 
anybody else going to the social the night before the interview next week??
 
I would say I had very general tell me about yourself, why did you go into medicine? Type of questions. My biggest advice is be personable. I had one doctor whose office was plastered with pictures of her kids. I asked questions about raising children during residency/ parenting as a doctor etc. It ended up being 30 minute conversation instead of a question and answer session. Be yourself and show the qualities that you have to make you a great physician.
 
I would say I had very general tell me about yourself, why did you go into medicine? Type of questions. My biggest advice is be personable. I had one doctor whose office was plastered with pictures of her kids. I asked questions about raising children during residency/ parenting as a doctor etc. It ended up being 30 minute conversation instead of a question and answer session. Be yourself and show the qualities that you have to make you a great physician.

Strangely, UTMB was the one school where I wasn't asked "Tell me about yourself" or "Why Medicine." I presume its because both interviewers had already read my personal statement and application, and it would have been pretty redundant. I was able to elaborate on it, but I'm glad I got to use the time to talk about other things I felt were important.

I definitely agree with the above though. Just be personable, you want the interviews to cruise by rather than drag on.
 
Strangely, UTMB was the one school where I wasn't asked "Tell me about yourself" or "Why Medicine." I presume its because both interviewers had already read my personal statement and application, and it would have been pretty redundant. I was able to elaborate on it, but I'm glad I got to use the time to talk about other things I felt were important.

I definitely agree with the above though. Just be personable, you want the interviews to cruise by rather than drag on.
Dude same here! Though one of them did ask "How are you sure that being a doctor is for you?"
 
Does anyone know how many utmb interviews/accepted? Just curious 🙂
 
I don't know about acceptances but about 22% of IS interviewees matriculate (~17% OOS). I hope to be part of the 17%!
 
I'm a bit surprised at all the positive responses people have had to the UTMB interview in this thread. I interview 11/14, but at my other interviews people talked about their UTMB interviews with what almost amounted to PTSD. I'm talking straight up looks of horror, insane questions, etc. I talked to around 15 people that all had horrible interview experiences (despite having positive experiences at other schools) and not a single person who had a positive UTMB interview. It's been freaking me out!

Here's hoping my interview experience is more like y'alls than theirs.
 
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