2016-2017 Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (Foster) Application Thread

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Has this school sent out mass II's or does it seem like they are extremely picky sending out II's randomly to a few people at a time?
 
Hey all. Current MS1 here in the MD/MPH program at PLFSOM. I remember being in your shoes a year ago, so let me know if you have questions and I'll do my best to help.
 
Just sent my primary last week. Processing is going to take a while so I am using the time to work on secondaries. Any advice on tackling the first prompt?
 
Rovar0 said:
Any advice for interview day?
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It sounds simple, but the best advice is to be confident and be yourself. The interviewers are obviously good at reading people, so they want to see who YOU are and why YOU desire to pursue medicine, not someone else or something you rehearsed (that's not to say don't think about how you would answer the questions, cause that's obviously important to premeditate in an honest way). Know your application well and review some high-yield interview questions online. My interviews at El Paso were both very conversational, and both interviewers asked me several questions about items I included on my application. PLF has a very unique vision compared to the rest of the schools in the US, as we are on the border, so think about border health specifically and why it would interest you/help you become the best physician you can be.

Side note, this school is fantastic. Although we're relatively new, you'll learn we have one of the best, most innovative, and most coveted curriculum in the country (yes, the whole country). Hope to see you all here!
 
JD_Patriots said:
Yes, we do! I believe you would contact Admissions or Student Affairs (not sure which one tbh) to schedule staying with a student host.
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Did you stay with one during your interviews?

I called Ms. Olivas, and she said they didn't have any.
 
FootballFoot said:
Did you stay with one during your interviews?

I called Ms. Olivas, and she said they didn't have any.
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There wasn't anything in the interview confirmation email. I just figured they weren't offering any.


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Rovar0 said:
There wasn't anything in the interview confirmation email. I just figured they weren't offering any.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
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There was something about staying with a med student in the original II email, at least for me.
 
Cytokine123 said:
Congrats! I hear it's a lovely school. What time were you complete with primary and secondary, and would you be willing to share stats via PM?
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Its an awesome school! I had my pick of medical schools and I am very glad I chose this one!
 
II yesterday at around 5:00 PM. 😀

For anyone curious, my stats are LizzyM ~67, non-trad, fairly extensive extra curricular stuff. I am also a re-applicant.

I submitted my TMDSAS around late May and the secondary early June.
 
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Did anyone request a fee waiver for secondary application fee? If so, tell me the process. I have AMCAS fee waiver.
 
orangeblue said:
Did anyone request a fee waiver for secondary application fee? If so, tell me the process. I have AMCAS fee waiver.
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They have nothing to do with AMCAS. The application is through TMDSAS, and there is not a fee waiver.
 
fball22 said:
They have nothing to do with AMCAS. The application is through TMDSAS, and there is not a fee waiver.
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It said on their website if you received a AMCAS fee waiver, you can get the 2nd-ary fee waived.

No problem if no one here has done it! 😀
 
Please describe how a parent, guardian, friend, relative, or mentor influenced your aspirations to obtain a medical degree. If not applicable, please so indicate. (300 words or less)

What is the rational behind this question? What qualities / traits are they assesing or trying to gather?
 
orangeblue said:
Please describe how a parent, guardian, friend, relative, or mentor influenced your aspirations to obtain a medical degree. If not applicable, please so indicate. (300 words or less)

What is the rational behind this question? What qualities / traits are they assesing or trying to gather?
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They are not trying to gather any traits or qualities. They are just asking for a person who made a difference in your life. Does not have to be specifically medicine, but could be someone who unlocked your potential in general.
 
What dates are yall getting for interviews? Just curious how far into the year they've already filled.
 
TJ15 said:
So if you submitted the secondary in the beginning of June, they're probably a few months behind I"m assuming. Congrats!
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I don't think they're behind necessarily. I know El Paso at least continuously cycles through apps. So someone who submitted in July could probably be invited for an interview before someone who submitted in May.
 
JD_Patriots said:
Hey all. Current MS1 here in the MD/MPH program at PLFSOM. I remember being in your shoes a year ago, so let me know if you have questions and I'll do my best to help.
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I'm interested in primary care and hope to work in an academic medical center.. What sort of resources are available for a) students interested in primary care, community outreach / volunteering and b) research?
 
What is the average MCAT? On the website it says 28 but the MSAR says 30.
Also the website says gpa is 3.7/3.7, but MSAR says 3.8/3.8. Thanks guys and good luck!
 
Kgizzle said:
I'm interested in primary care and hope to work in an academic medical center.. What sort of resources are available for a) students interested in primary care, community outreach / volunteering and b) research?
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Very good question. For starters, we have a program called Scholars in Primary Care (or something to that effect) for those interested in Primary Care. I didn't apply for it, but from what I understand it is a prestigious, four year long mentorship program where you work directly alongside a PCP to get experience, make connections, and experience what it's like to be a primary care doc. Other than that, we have several clinics open for students to serve at, including a medical student run clinic (yes, it is run by medical students, which is really cool), and there is also several interest groups for PC. We do several preceptorships per semester, and this first semester is primary care (and maybe next as well? Not sure). I believe my doc personally is a FM doc in town. Regarding research, each student is required per our curriculum to participate in a research project. It can virtually be whatever you want, so long as you get approval for it; therefore, you could gear it towards PC if you so desire.

I hope that helps give an idea. Let me know if you have other questions.
 
FootballFoot said:
Did you stay with one during your interviews?

I called Ms. Olivas, and she said they didn't have any.
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I did not. I just stayed at a nearby hotel (there are many off of I10). They may not begin student housing until after August.
 
TJ15 said:
Thank you!! There are some schools that I consider within my LizzyM score that seemed like reaches by looking at the MSAR. Glad to see I'm not the only one that was confused.
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I think you'll learn pretty quick the only true numbers you can quote/trust are the ones they tell you on interview day. You'll find different numbers all over the internet. And this goes for anywhere you interview.
 
JD_Patriots said:
Very good question. For starters, we have a program called Scholars in Primary Care (or something to that effect) for those interested in Primary Care. I didn't apply for it, but from what I understand it is a prestigious, four year long mentorship program where you work directly alongside a PCP to get experience, make connections, and experience what it's like to be a primary care doc. Other than that, we have several clinics open for students to serve at, including a medical student run clinic (yes, it is run by medical students, which is really cool), and there is also several interest groups for PC. We do several preceptorships per semester, and this first semester is primary care (and maybe next as well? Not sure). I believe my doc personally is a FM doc in town. Regarding research, each student is required per our curriculum to participate in a research project. It can virtually be whatever you want, so long as you get approval for it; therefore, you could gear it towards PC if you so desire.

I hope that helps give an idea. Let me know if you have other questions.
Click to expand...

You are a gentleman and a scholar! Thanks for the answers
 
prince0fpersia94 said:
I didn't necessarily emphasize primary care or rural medicine in my secondaries.
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I don't think that's as important to get a II as people think. UTSW matched almost 50% of their students into primary care last year, more than El Paso or Lubbock.
 
i dont see how i can be liked by a school if people submitting after me are getting II...
 
The email is saying that the interview finishes around 3:00 PM. I want to buy a ticket for a flight out the same day, but it's at 5:30 PM. For anyone that interviewed, did the day end around 3 pm? I know that they have a shuttle that takes you to the airport too.
 
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