2016-2017 University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley Application Thread

[CognitiveSci]

So, the said they wanted to interview ~350 applicants. They take 50, so that means that the waitlist has 300 people on it? (theoretically, assuming no one withdraws and all 350 interview slots were used)

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Kgizzle]

So, the said they wanted to interview ~350 applicants. They take 50, so that means that the waitlist has 300 people on it? (theoretically, assuming no one withdraws and all 350 interview slots were used)

Not necessarily. Those 350 didn't all end up picking UTRGV #1 in their match list. So the number should be a lot less than 300 on the waitlist.

 

[CognitiveSci]

Not necessarily. Those 350 didn't all end up picking UTRGV #1 in their match list. So the number should be a lot less than 300 on the waitlist.

Ah, so only people who ranked them #1 will be on the list?

 

[Kgizzle]

Ah, so only people who ranked them #1 will be on the list?

Sorry, let me clarify. If students matched at a school that they ranked higher than UTRGV(because they got interviewed here) they wouldn't be part of the waitlist. If UTRGV is ranked higher/highest, then the students would be on the waitlist. So I'm sure that 300 number is a lot lower.

 

[CognitiveSci]

Sorry, let me clarify. If students matched at a school that they ranked higher than UTRGV(because they got interviewed here) they wouldn't be part of the waitlist. If UTRGV is ranked higher/highest, then the students would be on the waitlist. So I'm sure that 300 number is a lot lower.

Thanks for the clarification!

 

[thx1137]

Hi everyone, I am very grateful to find out that I came off the waitlist today, and I was offered a spot at UTRGV! For those already accepted, is there a Second Look Day for the school, has it already passed, and is it only for students who were prematched/matched? I was so excited to get my phone call today I forgot to ask about it. Thanks

 

[Heclecia123]

Hi everyone, I am very grateful to find out that I came off the waitlist today, and I was offered a spot at UTRGV! For those already accepted, is there a Second Look Day for the school, has it already passed, and is it only for students who were prematched/matched? I was so excited to get my phone call today I forgot to ask about it. Thanks

Congratulations!

 

[CognitiveSci]

Whoa, waitlist movement already?! Congrats thx1137

 

[cbt-MD2021]

Hi everyone, I am very grateful to find out that I came off the waitlist today, and I was offered a spot at UTRGV! For those already accepted, is there a Second Look Day for the school, has it already passed, and is it only for students who were prematched/matched? I was so excited to get my phone call today I forgot to ask about it. Thanks

Hi, congrats! It is on the weekend of April 7th. Make sure you join the UTRGV SOM 2021 group on Facebook to get in touch with everyone.

 

[Kgizzle]

Hi everyone, I am very grateful to find out that I came off the waitlist today, and I was offered a spot at UTRGV! For those already accepted, is there a Second Look Day for the school, has it already passed, and is it only for students who were prematched/matched? I was so excited to get my phone call today I forgot to ask about it. Thanks

April 8th weekend. I would call/email to RSVP if you have guests or food restrictions. By the way congratulations!

 

[CognitiveSci]

Have any of you heard anything about waitlist movement (other thank thx1137's acceptance)? The adcom said they'd communicate with us every few weeks, but it's been dead silent on their end so far...

 

[Calbant]

Have any of you heard anything about waitlist movement (other thank thx1137's acceptance)? The adcom said they'd communicate with us every few weeks, but it's been dead silent on their end so far...

No. I know another student who is waitlisted and he hasn't heard anything. They are probably worried more about funding being cut instead of contacting waitlisted students like us.

 

[CognitiveSci]

No. I know another student who is waitlisted and he hasn't heard anything. They are probably worried more about funding being cut instead of contacting waitlisted students like us.

Oh yeah, I read about that this morning! That really sucks, and I hope it doesn't affects the scholarship amount they promised to acceptees

EDIT: I hope the potential funding cuts doesn't lead them to truncate (or get rid of entirely) their waitlist like A&M did

 

[Calbant]

Oh yeah, I read about that this morning! That really sucks, and I hope it doesn't affects the scholarship amount they promised to acceptees

Yea I was wondering that too. I heard some people think Texas has too many medical schools but it's so hard to get in to even one.

 

[Calbant]

Oh yeah, I read about that this morning! That really sucks, and I hope it doesn't affects the scholarship amount they promised to acceptees

EDIT: I hope the potential funding cuts doesn't lead them to truncate (or get rid of entirely) their waitlist like A&M did

A&M did that? Were you interviewed there?

 

[Kgizzle]

Yup, apparently they also have some things going on financially. Let's hope we have access to that sweet sweet UT money.

A&M did that? Were you interviewed there?

 

[CognitiveSci]

A&M did that? Were you interviewed there?

I wasn't interviewed there, but there were post about it in the A&M thread. Apparently, a lot of funding got cut, so they're shrinking their class size and doing away with the waitlist for this year

Question: Why are some TX schools getting funding cuts while others seem to be doing business as usual?

 

[Calbant]

I wasn't interviewed there, but there were post about it in the A&M thread. Apparently, a lot of funding got cut, so they're shrinking their class size and doing away with the waitlist for this year

Question: Why are some TX schools getting funding cuts while others seem to be doing business as usual?

Not sure. I haven't heard about UTMB or UTHSCSA being affected. Also anybody remember that Dell medical school is being investigated for improper use of funds?

 

[sehnsuchtsermedico]

It's not just a problem at those mentioned school. It's a state issue. I think more have been more vocal or trying to deal with it before they hear the final results on budget cuts. Here's an atricle a friend posted from the local newspaper. EDITORIAL: UTRGV med school funds needed — Tell Texas lawmakers

 

[Kgizzle]

Not sure. I haven't heard about UTMB or UTHSCSA being affected. Also anybody remember that Dell medical school is being investigated for improper use of funds?

Wait what?

 

[Calbant]

Wait what?

Wait maybe investigation wasn't the best word. I know there are allegations about misuse of tax payer money.
https://communityimpact.com/austin/...legations-misspending-ut-dell-medical-school/

 

[nousername4444]

I wasn't interviewed there, but there were post about it in the A&M thread. Apparently, a lot of funding got cut, so they're shrinking their class size and doing away with the waitlist for this year

Question: Why are some TX schools getting funding cuts while others seem to be doing business as usual?

There are funding cuts across the board to some special item that different schools use differently. I think the special item is not meant to be an annual thing and law makers see it has a way schools are cheating the system. A&M probably use it to fund medical education more than they should which is why they are cutting their class size. There is no chance UTRGV cut their class size.

UTRGV SOM should be exempt for this cut since the special item is meant to help fund one time expenditure like those involved in starting a medical school. It looks like UTRGV will end up losing lots of funds but I doubt the state will start a medical school and leave it underfunded.

 

[GinnyWeasley]

Yup, apparently they also have some things going on financially. Let's hope we have access to that sweet sweet UT money.

I'm accepted to UT Houston, and (this is what I've heard, could be wrong) funding was cut, so all new faculty that were set to begin this fall were apparently cut.

 

[Kgizzle]

I'm accepted to UT Houston, and (this is what I've heard, could be wrong) funding was cut, so all new faculty that were set to begin this fall were apparently cut.

So it's a statewide thing that's terrible. But being in the UT system helps right?

 

[GinnyWeasley]

So it's a statewide thing that's terrible. But being in the UT system helps right?

I mean..I'm not happy about it at all. A shortage of faculty is not something you want to start medical school with. And with the way our government is going right now, I fully expect more cuts in funding. I don't think there's any difference between UT and A&M. Sure, the UT system gets more funding, but A&M had to cut their waitlist, and UTH had to choose between cutting the waitlist or cutting staff. So they were in the same boat. I'm debating between UTH and Columbia right now, and I'm getting so frustrated with our state government, who want to keep spending money on fighting transgender bathroom rules and abortion and keep decreasing funding for school, that I might just choose Columbia at this point.

 

[Michelle 0bama]

The opinion article on UTRGV SOM makes some very interesting points. I hope the school will address these concerns.EDITORIAL: UTRGV med school funds needed — Tell Texas lawmakers

 

[Kgizzle]

Do we know what the results of yesterday's vote are?

 

[Michelle 0bama]

Do we know what the results of yesterday's vote are?

I didn't find the vote results yet, but I did find this article which makes the following points about what may happen:

Senate budget guts funding for UTRGV School of Medicine

(Veronica Gonzales UTRGV President) Gonzales said UTRGV fully understands that this is a “lean year” for the legislature. However, she notes that “the amount being proposed in the Senate for our medical school reduces funding by almost two-thirds from what was received last session.”

Gonzales said at that level of funding, the School of Medicine would:

• Require cancellation of four new residency programs (20 new first year resident slots)
• Likely raise accreditation concerns from the LCME due to insufficient funding.
• Require closure of 2-3 existing GME programs (overall 33 percent reduction).
• Decrease research support by 85 percent, severely restricting the ability to support research needed for accreditation of educational programs.
• Decrease clinical recruitment and business development by 33 percent, impeding the school’s ability to decrease dependence on state funding and to recruit needed subspecialists to the Valley.

 

[Kgizzle]

I didn't find the vote results yet, but I did find this article which makes the following points about what may happen:

Senate budget guts funding for UTRGV School of Medicine

(Veronica Gonzales UTRGV President) Gonzales said UTRGV fully understands that this is a “lean year” for the legislature. However, she notes that “the amount being proposed in the Senate for our medical school reduces funding by almost two-thirds from what was received last session.”

Gonzales said at that level of funding, the School of Medicine would:

• Require cancellation of four new residency programs (20 new first year resident slots)
• Likely raise accreditation concerns from the LCME due to insufficient funding.
• Require closure of 2-3 existing GME programs (overall 33 percent reduction).
• Decrease research support by 85 percent, severely restricting the ability to support research needed for accreditation of educational programs.
• Decrease clinical recruitment and business development by 33 percent, impeding the school’s ability to decrease dependence on state funding and to recruit needed subspecialists to the Valley.

I don't understand why they are gutting a program that funds new schools for a new school. It would make more sense to prevent other schools from abusing this piece of legislature. Is there anything that we can do? I mean the vote already passed right?

 

[CognitiveSci]

Wow, this is really devastating for a new school, even more devastating for the Valley that really needs this med school!

This might be a bit crass given the circumstances, but I realllyyy hope this doesn't affect the waitlist

Hopefully wealthy Valley residents will step forward to help the school

 

[wysdoc]

The opinion article on UTRGV SOM makes some very interesting points. I hope the school will address these concerns.EDITORIAL: UTRGV med school funds needed — Tell Texas lawmakers

Well remember that this article is an editorial and contains some conjectures.
The Senate Bill CSSB 1 passed in the Texas Senate and now will go to the Texas House of Representatives for review and probably some changes.
Yes, UTRGV is a special case as it needs more startup funding as a new school. The Texas legislature is trying to set funding to stay within a standard budget and to have fewer of these "it's special" and "it's an emergency, honest, just this once we need the money" type of budget items. (Yes I was editorializing a bit in that last sentence!)
As of now there are only 1st year medical students so the issue of residency spots is further down the road, but funding for the 3rd and 4th year medical students to do their clinical rotations will be needed very soon. Planning and a budget are needed now to be ready for these rotations.

 

[Kgizzle]

@wysdoc what do you think will happen if you had to guess??

 

[wysdoc]

@wysdoc what do you think will happen if you had to guess??

Here is more info from the article in the Rio Grande Guardian (an online news source I trust) :
Senate budget guts funding for UTRGV School of Medicine

"The Senate’s UTRGV medical school budget is set at $25.9 million if one includes formula funding and proceeds from a tobacco lawsuit settlement. Thus far, the House budget has UTRGV SOM funding set at $70.6 million. Of this, $55.2 million is Special Item funding plus some other line items. “The Senate budget is way too low and while we don’t expect that will be our final number, if it were, we’d have to cut existing residency programs, cancel new programs, decrease our clinical recruitment and much more,” said a person close to the budget writing process.

The House and Senate are approaching the budgets very differently. The Senate wants to add $2.5 billion to their budget by delaying a transfer from General Revenue to the State Highway Fund. There are questions, though, whether this is constitutional. The House wants to tap the “Rainy Day” Fund, which is expected to reach $12 billion by the end of the fiscal year. The Senate does not want to tap the “Rainy Day” fund."

So, funding changes can still occur via the House of Representatives. Notice the "Special Item Funding" still exists in the House budget draft.

@Kgizzle if I had to guess what politicians will do I would not be very "wys".

 

[HMOC]

I mean..I'm not happy about it at all. A shortage of faculty is not something you want to start medical school with. And with the way our government is going right now, I fully expect more cuts in funding. I don't think there's any difference between UT and A&M. Sure, the UT system gets more funding, but A&M had to cut their waitlist, and UTH had to choose between cutting the waitlist or cutting staff. So they were in the same boat. I'm debating between UTH and Columbia right now, and I'm getting so frustrated with our state government, who want to keep spending money on fighting transgender bathroom rules and abortion and keep decreasing funding for school, that I might just choose Columbia at this point.

You got into Columbia and are considering NOT going? That seems crazy- Columbia is a VERY highly respected school which will certainly go a long way when it comes time for residency applications. Congratulations!!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[GinnyWeasley]

You got into Columbia and are considering NOT going? That seems crazy- Columbia is a VERY highly respected school which will certainly go a long way when it comes time for residency applications. Congratulations!!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

Well I go here for undergrad currently, so I know how prestigious it is haha. It's also about 60K per year for tuition. Housing costs an arm and a leg, and everything is more expensive in general. Basically if I went to a TX school, I would expect to spend around 120ishK total ( 100-120). Columbia would be around three times that. I think it's becoming more and more common for people to be more focused on cost. Thank you though I know that I'm very fortunate- and the direction our state is going is leading me to stay in Manhattan for another 4 years.

 

[HMOC]

Agree - it's strange times for sure


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Neuro2021]

Hey guys wanted to try and make sense of what’s been going on with the UTRGV SOM budget (some of this info has already been presented)

As of today the senate and house have 2 different amounts of funding for the SOM. The school requested 70 million for 2 yrs. The House thus far has appropriated 70.6 million (55.2 million from special item funding) and the Senate appropriated 25.9 million

The reason why the SOM needs the “special item funding” (SIF) is because the school doesn’t have the 220 students it normally would once all 4 classes are enrolled. Once this happens the school will not necessarily need the SIF and will use the equation for funding that other Texas medical schools currently use.

This is speculation but the reason why there is such a big difference between the House and Senate is that the two chambers will negotiate and hopefully come to something that they think is fair for everyone.

The Lt. Gov. has stated that he wants to get rid of SIF because he has said that some schools have abused this of appropriation in the past. The Lt. Gov. has said that medical schools are a passion of his and was quoted saying “I’m not sure where the medical school here, where it will finally shake out,” he said. “It won’t be where it was last year, but it will be a significant amount of money.”

From the inception of the medical school the RGV Senators Hinojosa and Lucio have been some of the biggest advocates for its creation and success. Since the Senate voted unanimously 31-0 to pass the budget, I am confident that the Senators wouldn’t have voted for the budget unless they knew that funding would ultimately change when the final budget was presented. We’ll have to wait for the what comes out of the Senate/House Conference Committee and see what type of funding the SOM receives.

I have confidence that at the end of the day the SOM will receive a fair amount of funds but people who don’t want to sit around should contact state congressman/woman and state senators (via phone, email or letter) to voice your support for UTRGV SOM.

I'll update once more info becomes available

 

[PhDandConfused]

Hey guys wanted to try and make sense of what’s been going on with the UTRGV SOM budget (some of this info has already been presented)

As of today the senate and house have 2 different amounts of funding for the SOM. The school requested 70 million for 2 yrs. The House thus far has appropriated 70.6 million (55.2 million from special item funding) and the Senate appropriated 25.9 million

The reason why the SOM needs the “special item funding” (SIF) is because the school doesn’t have the 220 students it normally would once all 4 classes are enrolled. Once this happens the school will not necessarily need the SIF and will use the equation for funding that other Texas medical schools currently use.

This is speculation but the reason why there is such a big difference between the House and Senate is that the two chambers will negotiate and hopefully come to something that they think is fair for everyone.

The Lt. Gov. has stated that he wants to get rid of SIF because he has said that some schools have abused this of appropriation in the past. The Lt. Gov. has said that medical schools are a passion of his and was quoted saying “I’m not sure where the medical school here, where it will finally shake out,” he said. “It won’t be where it was last year, but it will be a significant amount of money.”

From the inception of the medical school the RGV Senators Hinojosa and Lucio have been some of the biggest advocates for its creation and success. Since the Senate voted unanimously 31-0 to pass the budget, I am confident that the Senators wouldn’t have voted for the budget unless they knew that funding would ultimately change when the final budget was presented. We’ll have to wait for the what comes out of the Senate/House Conference Committee and see what type of funding the SOM receives.

I have confidence that at the end of the day the SOM will receive a fair amount of funds but people who don’t want to sit around should contact state congressman/woman and state senators (via phone, email or letter) to voice your support for UTRGV SOM.

I'll update once more info becomes available

Has there been any talk of RGV cutting seats for the class starting in July like A&M did, pending the outcome of this? Hopefully not!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[PhDandConfused]

Hey guys wanted to try and make sense of what’s been going on with the UTRGV SOM budget (some of this info has already been presented)

As of today the senate and house have 2 different amounts of funding for the SOM. The school requested 70 million for 2 yrs. The House thus far has appropriated 70.6 million (55.2 million from special item funding) and the Senate appropriated 25.9 million

The reason why the SOM needs the “special item funding” (SIF) is because the school doesn’t have the 220 students it normally would once all 4 classes are enrolled. Once this happens the school will not necessarily need the SIF and will use the equation for funding that other Texas medical schools currently use.

This is speculation but the reason why there is such a big difference between the House and Senate is that the two chambers will negotiate and hopefully come to something that they think is fair for everyone.

The Lt. Gov. has stated that he wants to get rid of SIF because he has said that some schools have abused this of appropriation in the past. The Lt. Gov. has said that medical schools are a passion of his and was quoted saying “I’m not sure where the medical school here, where it will finally shake out,” he said. “It won’t be where it was last year, but it will be a significant amount of money.”

From the inception of the medical school the RGV Senators Hinojosa and Lucio have been some of the biggest advocates for its creation and success. Since the Senate voted unanimously 31-0 to pass the budget, I am confident that the Senators wouldn’t have voted for the budget unless they knew that funding would ultimately change when the final budget was presented. We’ll have to wait for the what comes out of the Senate/House Conference Committee and see what type of funding the SOM receives.

I have confidence that at the end of the day the SOM will receive a fair amount of funds but people who don’t want to sit around should contact state congressman/woman and state senators (via phone, email or letter) to voice your support for UTRGV SOM.

I'll update once more info becomes available

Has there been any talk of RGV cutting seats for the class starting in July like A&M did, pending the outcome of this? Hopefully not!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Kgizzle]

Has there been any talk of RGV cutting seats for the class starting in July like A&M did, pending the outcome of this? Hopefully not!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

Nah doubt it

 

[Michelle 0bama]

So we had welcome back weekend @ UTRGV last weekend. The faculty and staff did a good job of addressing the concerns raised by the funding. There are no expected cuts to seats for students. So far, so good.

 

[swaggydoc13]

I was accepted to the UNTHSC MedSci program yesterday so I will be giving up my seat on the waitlist. Hopefully it helps move someone up enough that if someone drops they'll be in the right spot.

 

[AnotherLawyer]

I was accepted to the UNTHSC MedSci program yesterday so I will be giving up my seat on the waitlist. Hopefully it helps move someone up enough that if someone drops they'll be in the right spot.

Why would you drop off a med school waitlist after getting into an SMP program? Did you have to do this in order to secure your spot at UNTHSC?

 

[swaggydoc13]

Why would you drop off a med school waitlist after getting into an SMP program? Did you have to do this in order to secure your spot at UNTHSC?

Because my semester starts on May 30th so even if I come off the waitlist for UTRGV or TT I will already be in school. I would much rather go through MedSci and reapply.

 

[Kgizzle]

Because my semester starts on May 30th so even if I come off the waitlist for UTRGV or TT I will already be in school. I would much rather go through MedSci and reapply.

Did you drop tech too?

 

[swaggydoc13]

Yeah I'll be doing that tomorrow. I have to go speak with my pre medical advisor.

 

[reinesupreme]

I was accepted to the UNTHSC MedSci program yesterday so I will be giving up my seat on the waitlist. Hopefully it helps move someone up enough that if someone drops they'll be in the right spot.

Please don't do this. There were quite a few people who started Med Sci and then left during the summer semester because they got in off of school waitlists.

 

[KangarooMD]

Please don't do this. There were quite a few people who started Med Sci and then left during the summer semester because they got in off of school waitlists.

Let the man drops if he wants to, it's his life and decision after all (Who are we to question why he wants to drop out)... There are plenty of other people wanting to get into medical school off the waitlist. If this person wants to do this program and reapply later let him take his own destiny in his hands and choose his own way.

 

[swaggydoc13]

Please don't do this. There were quite a few people who started Med Sci and then left during the summer semester because they got in off of school waitlists.

Could you elaborate on that? I'm a first generation college/future med student so I'm not 100% in the know. I figured once we started classes we would be bound to staying. Especially since we would have paid for the courses already.

 

[swaggydoc13]

I'm also thinking of dropping because my undergrad college is UTRGV so I've heard through the grape vine that if no one hears anything after April 30th from UTRGV then that's that. Betty Montfort told me she "expected movement" but that they also believed that they had found their 50.