2014-2015 University of Texas Southwestern Application Thread

[gettheleadout]

---

Members don't see this ad.

1. If you think that one or more of the following interests apply to you, check the appropriate box(es) and list specific experiences (academic, co-curricular, employment, personal, etc.) related to and supportive of this interest in the text box provided below. Do not use a paragraph format; list in bulleted format.

Interested in establishing a medical practice in an underserved area
Interested in a career in research
Interested in a career in teaching
Interested in a career in primary care medicine

2. In the text box provided below, describe the setting in which you envision conducting your medical career. Also include how and why you think this setting would help fulfill your interests related to the practice of medicine.

Good luck to everyone applying!

 

[NaomiM]

So excited to be applying here! Does anyone think that for the secondaries, listing experiences that occurred before undergrad is too long ago?

 

[shllleedee]

So excited to be applying here! Does anyone think that for the secondaries, listing experiences that occurred before undergrad is too long ago?

I think the prevailing advice on SDN is that it is too long ago to list. That being said, if it's a significant experience, there shouldn't be too much harm in listing it!

Also excited to be applying here 🙂

 

[acquiescing]

1. If you think that one or more of the following interests apply to you, check the appropriate box(es) and list specific experiences (academic, co-curricular, employment, personal, etc.) related to and supportive of this interest in the text box provided below. Do not use a paragraph format; list in bulleted format.

Interested in establishing a medical practice in an underserved area
Interested in a career in research
Interested in a career in teaching
Interested in a career in primary care medicine

2. In the text box provided below, describe the setting in which you envision conducting your medical career. Also include how and why you think this setting would help fulfill your interests related to the practice of medicine.

 

[cbc818]

where did you guys access the secondary?

 

[acquiescing]

https://studentaffairs.swmed.org/gateway2/login.aspx

Just create a new account and from then on it is fairly self-explanatory I believe.

 

[BillrothI]

Does anyone know if/when UTSW will be implementing PBL?

Thanks!

-Bill

 

[JBtt]

So, for the second question, they have allocated a limit of 3,500 words for the response. Honestly, I have written 3 incredibly descriptive essays about myself already, and I'm running out of things to say at this point! I have answered the question in about 1,500 words and am satisfied with my response and think it includes all necessary details. Do you think I'm hurting myself by not writing more? I cut a lot of material I wanted to put in my answer because I felt like it was a repeat of some parts of my PS.

 

[acquiescing]

So, for the second question, they have allocated a limit of 3,500 words for the response. Honestly, I have written 3 incredibly descriptive essays about myself already, and I'm running out of things to say at this point! I have answered the question in about 1,500 words and am satisfied with my response and think it includes all necessary details. Do you think I'm hurting myself by not writing more? I cut a lot of material I wanted to put in my answer because I felt like it was a repeat of some parts of my PS.

Just submitted mine and to give you an idea of structure I had, by paragraph: how I want to use my MD (some contribution to research and/or teaching in addition to practice); my experiences that have led to those desires; how I see it playing out in my career; summary that clearly states how I see myself working.

 

[BillrothI]

2. In the text box provided below, describe the setting in which you envision conducting your medical career. Also include how and why you think this setting would help fulfill your interests related to the practice of medicine.

Does anyone know exactly what they mean by "setting?" Are they referring to clinic vs. hospital or rural vs. urban or specializing vs. primary care? I'm just starting to pre-write this secondary and don't want to head off in the wrong direction!

Thanks,
Bill

 

[trailblazer518]

Just submitted the secondary! Fingers crossed for good news (for all of us) in the near future 🙂

 

[flashlightpen]

Does anyone know exactly what they mean by "setting?" Are they referring to clinic vs. hospital or rural vs. urban or specializing vs. primary care? I'm just starting to pre-write this secondary and don't want to head off in the wrong direction!

Thanks,
Bill

I would like to know this as well... I think it can be as vague as you want it to be. As long as you don't go totally off beat and start talking about Pokemon you'll be fine. 😀

 

[acquiescing]

I wrote about what I saw myself doing in the future as a physician and then tied it back to how a certain type of location would allow me those opportunities.

 

[Porter]

I wrote about why I would like to be in a specific type of broad medical setting (research/teaching hospital, rural setting, clinic ect) then talked about why it best suited my goals in medicine. After that I talked about what I would like to achieve in the setting I described.

 

[BillrothI]

I wrote about what I saw myself doing in the future as a physician and then tied it back to how a certain type of location would allow me those opportunities.

I wrote about why I would like to be in a specific type of broad medical setting (research/teaching hospital, rural setting, clinic ect) then talked about why it best suited my goals in medicine. After that I talked about what I would like to achieve in the setting I described.

Thanks! Both approaches sound perfectly reasonable. Appreciate your input.

-Bill

 

[Porter]

HAs anyone actually submitted their app? I am thinking July 1 will be the day for me.

 

[Porter]

Double post I know but its been a few days, Any Interview invites yet?

 

[Jackaroo]

The first interview invites went out last year on August 8th for dates in mid-September, so it might be a little early now. However, A&M and Lubbock were almost a month early this year in sending invitations. Maybe UTSW will be early too?

 

[meteor]

does southwestern have application fee for secondary?

I can not find anywhere indicate there is application fee. Just want to make sure I did not miss something here.

 

[nonocat]

There is no application fee.

 

[amad01]

Two years of biology?..... didn't see that one coming

 

[accueil]

Two years of biology?..... didn't see that one coming

Yeah, all TMDSAS schools require 14 hours of biology

 

[amad01]

Yeah, all TMDSAS schools require 14 hours of biology

Is it ok if it is in my future coursework?

 

[RugbyTX]

Is it ok if it is in my future coursework?

Keep in mind that there are a lot of classes that count as biology, like neuroscience for example.

 

[teefero]

The first question in no way warrants 3500 characters does it? What if we just have 2 lines? Do they wish for us to be descriptive?

 

[teefero]

Would it be strange to say I want to be a traveling doctor? I know a lot of medical schools want you to eventually be a doctor in that state but I want to place emphasis on the fact that I want to travel to different rural areas within and outside of the US. Is this a 'turn-off'?

 

[Porter]

The first question in no way warrants 3500 characters does it? What if we just have 2 lines? Do they wish for us to be descriptive?

Would it be strange to say I want to be a traveling doctor? I know a lot of medical schools want you to eventually be a doctor in that state but I want to place emphasis on the fact that I want to travel to different rural areas within and outside of the US. Is this a 'turn-off'?

I think that on the first question they want you to be concise. They say ' Do not use a paragraph format; list in bulleted format' so i assume they know spaces and tabs will take characters. I think you should be descriptive if you can do it in one or two sentences but again..no paragraphs.

From what i have heard about the second question you should write honestly and passionately about your goals in medicine and what setting you see best furthering these goals. I can only assume that they know it may change but are looking for people who have similar goals to their own in medicine..but that is pure speculation.

 

[DirkN]

Just wondering if for the first question, is it recommended to check all the boxes? Probably overthinking this, but are they even interested in somebody who wants a "career in research," as opposed to a career in medicine? And honestly I'm not sure I'm interested in a career in primary care, but maybe it would be advantageous to check the box...

Oh the struggles.

 

[accueil]

Just wondering if for the first question, is it recommended to check all the boxes? Probably overthinking this, but are they even interested in somebody who wants a "career in research," as opposed to a career in medicine? And honestly I'm not sure I'm interested in a career in primary care, but maybe it would be advantageous to check the box...

Oh the struggles.

Check whichever boxes you are interested in and can support in the second question. UTSW is most certainly interested in students that are research focused as it is a major site for biomedical research.

 

[CitrusJ]

Submitted! Still waiting on my TMDSAS to process and get sent bleh.

Terrific school especially at the In-State price.

For the first question, I literally just listed my relevant (research) experiences. A sentence or two is probably fine for description, but I would be very careful not to let it turn into an essay/paragraphs on accident.

 

[GonefromTX]

No doubt UT Southwestern is currently one of the best medical schools in Texas (along with Baylor).

However, with the Dell Medical School opening in 2016 at UT Austin, I'm wondering if all the other schools in the University of Texas System (e.g UT Houston, Southwestern, UTMB) will lose their prestige because obviously branch schools can never be as prestigious as the parent.

 

[CitrusJ]

No doubt UT Southwestern is currently one of the best medical schools in Texas (along with Baylor).

However, with the Dell Medical School opening in 2016 at UT Austin, I'm wondering if all the other schools in the University of Texas System (e.g UT Houston, Southwestern, UTMB) will lose their prestige because obviously branch schools can never be as prestigious as the parent.

Maybe in the distant future, but it takes years for a medical school to build the legacy and credibility that are key to prestige

 

[PantherPride]

So if we've submitted our primary and submitted the secondary are we done with everything for the school? Do we get an email confirming they have everything?

 

[taina]

how did yall know there was a secondary? i got an email from them but it didnt mention a secondary and now I'm concerned..lol

 

[nonocat]

how did yall know there was a secondary? i got an email from them but it didnt mention a secondary and now I'm concerned..lol

Once you completed your TMDSAS, the site lists all the schools that require a secondary. For UTSW, their secondary is actually on their website. https://studentaffairs.swmed.org/gateway2/login.aspx

So if we've submitted our primary and submitted the secondary are we done with everything for the school? Do we get an email confirming they have everything?

I received a confirmation email for my secondary once I submitted and another confirmation email for my application being received. The last email stated they'll contact you via email if you're selected for an interview.

 

[taina]

Once you completed your TMDSAS, the site lists all the schools that require a secondary. For UTSW, their secondary is actually on their website. https://studentaffairs.swmed.org/gateway2/login.aspx



I received a confirmation email for my secondary once I submitted and another confirmation email for my application being received. The last email stated they'll contact you via email if you're selected for an interview.

Thanks! I was kind of confused cause I received the email about the interviews without submitting a secondary, but I'll fill it out now!

 

[ME!]

Any interview invites yet? I am also wondering if there is a way to check our application status, or do we just assume if we never get an invite for an interview we were rejected? Thanks guys!
3.96 GPA and 31 MCAT in state. Do I even have a shot? This looks like an amazing school

 

[ME!]

Is it ok if it is in my future coursework?

Yes, many students including myself still have classes to complete.

From their admissions process website it states "You've taken the Medical College Admission Test, applied to UT Southwestern Medical School through the Texas Medical and Dental Application Service, and made sure you've completed or are completing all required courses for admission"

As long as you've demonstrated you can do well in science classes and show you are going to take all the required class my academic adviser said it is just fine.

 

[giggglesngrins]

"Any interview invites yet? I am also wondering if there is a way to check our application status, or do we just assume if we never get an invite for an interview we were rejected? Thanks guys!
3.96 GPA and 31 MCAT in state. Do I even have a shot? This looks like an amazing school"

I went to an info session hosted by the assistant dean of admissions, and if I remember correctly, he said something along the lines of "no guarantees, but typically 3.6 and 31 is enough to interview each year for in-state, 3.7 and 32 for out of state." Each year it fluctuates a little, but definitely apply!

 

[trailblazer518]

"Any interview invites yet? I am also wondering if there is a way to check our application status, or do we just assume if we never get an invite for an interview we were rejected? Thanks guys!
3.96 GPA and 31 MCAT in state. Do I even have a shot? This looks like an amazing school"

I went to an info session hosted by the assistant dean of admissions, and if I remember correctly, he said something along the lines of "no guarantees, but typically 3.6 and 31 is enough to interview each year for in-state, 3.7 and 32 for out of state." Each year it fluctuates a little, but definitely apply!

So LizzyM of ~67 for IS? I hope that's right, but honestly seems kind of low for Southwestern. Honestly was expecting something more like ~75

 

[giggglesngrins]

75... Nope. I am only unsure up to one MCAT point but no more, leaving us at 68 LizzyM (keeping in mind Dean Wagner was pretty specific on what MCAT/GPA comprised the minima--not so much a LizzyM combo). Again, this is for interviews. For acceptance I cannot vouch.

 

[Earl Simmons]

The LizzyM based off median GPA and MCAT for the matriculates last year was 71.6, so the LizzyM to get an interview can't be anywhere near 75.

 

[4forsmores]

75... Nope. I am only unsure up to one MCAT point but no more, leaving us at 68 LizzyM (keeping in mind Dean Wagner was pretty specific on what MCAT/GPA comprised the minima--not so much a LizzyM combo). Again, this is for interviews. For acceptance I cannot vouch.

I'm well below the GPA listed above, but still wanting to remain hopeful!

 

[giggglesngrins]

@4forsmores APPLY!!!! These were the "if you are in-state with these stats, you are almost guaranteed an interview." This is to say that there are other spots that are very much open to lower stats with interesting stories, and if you compensate in MCAT/research/life experience/grit, by all means apply!

 

[PantherPride]

Honestly there's no reason not to apply. The secondary is free and pretty simple compared to other schools in Texas

 

[4forsmores]

@4forsmores APPLY!!!! These were the "if you are in-state with these stats, you are almost guaranteed an interview." This is to say that there are other spots that are very much open to lower stats with interesting stories, and if you compensate in MCAT/research/life experience/grit, by all means apply!

I did! I didn't want to regret not applying and wondering what might have been. I appreciate the encouragement!

 

[ME!]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the feedback. Keep me posted on II please!

 

[trailblazer518]

Yeah 75 was just a number I pulled out of nowhere. If matriculates was 71.6, then something in the 67-68 range sounds good!

 

[Whatyousay]

Current MS3 here. I'd be happy to answer any questions y'all have about the school.

Best of luck with the application process!

 

[Earl Simmons]

Current MS3 here. I'd be happy to answer any questions y'all have about the school.

Best of luck with the application process!

I must tip my cap to you. You definitely have the most entertaining MDApps I have ever read.

What type of research (clinical, translational, basic) do most medical students at UTSW pursue, and what percent of medical students at UTSW pursue research during their four years? To go off that last question, how popular is the MD with Distinction in Research and does it mean anything in the long run (ex. residency applications)?

Also, what is your opinion of the more traditional 2-year science curriculum at UTSW as a current student who has been through it i?

Thanks!