2020-2021 UT Southwestern
Started by TheDataKing
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You will answer the questions. There are plenty of them!
Thank you! So just to confirm, I should fit in "why utsw" in my secondary answers even though they don't explicitly ask for them
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There isn't a "why UTSW?" question, so don't try to wedge that into one of the questions they do ask 🙂
If you look at the TX other schools, they don't really have one either. Some of the others do ask specifically "Why do you want to live in this part of Texas?' or "What are your ties to the area?"
You're applying to UTSW, they know you are interested in UTSW.
There is not a long essay to be written at most medical schools as to why you want to attend there. What you do is fit in some sentences in each essay to make your interest known as to why. If you have 2500 character essay, you should tie off towards the end (allocate 300-400 characters) to link whatever you have written to tie it back to school.
I wouldn’t advise it. Maybe one but not two.
Only if you continued with them at least part of the college like research or volunteering that started in high school.
If you are a reapplicant, they may not send you an email again this year. At least they didn't for me. The instructions on the site say to wait (Admissions) but I tried to login using my old username on a whim and used the forgot password option and I was able to get access again.
"Describe a time that you have witnessed someone acting unethically or dishonestly, or an experienced behavior of harassment or discrimination. Consider the following in your response: What did you do? What made the situation difficult for you personally? Describe your reaction and what you might do differently now in retrospect."
Is the bolded section asking us if we have ever been harassed or discriminated against, or what we did when we watched someone get treated this way?
Is the bolded section asking us if we have ever been harassed or discriminated against, or what we did when we watched someone get treated this way?
I interpret that question as an either/or choice. Talk about witnessing someone acting unethically or dishonestly. -or- if you have been subject to harassment or discrimination, talk about that.
In both cases they also want to hear how you handled it, or how you wish you would have. Show your thought process.
"Describe a time that you have witnessed someone acting unethically or dishonestly, or an experienced behavior of harassment or discrimination. Consider the following in your response: What did you do? What made the situation difficult for you personally? Describe your reaction and what you might do differently now in retrospect."
Do you guys think talking about witnessing a crime is straying too far from the prompt? I was walking home at night when I intervened in a situation where a guy was suspiciously following a girl that was stumbling home intoxicated.
Do you guys think talking about witnessing a crime is straying too far from the prompt? I was walking home at night when I intervened in a situation where a guy was suspiciously following a girl that was stumbling home intoxicated.
sounds good as a topic - and sounds scary!
Thanks for the quick response! And yes looking back at it I could've been easily hurt or worse
Secondary received, OOS MSTP applicant
The sorts of public service activities included in the first prompt to which you alluded, the Peace Corps, TFA, &c. suggest to me that they're looking to see something truly remarkable highlighted, if it's applicable. I could be wrong, however.
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4. Have you engaged in any public service activities for a duration of one year or greater in length (examples: Military, Peace Corps, Teach for America, etc.). Yes or No? If so, please describe the experience and impact on your personal and professional development. (Optional)
Current Character Count: 0 /2500
The public service questions are mostly applicable to people who took gap years to do service. The schools are trying to give them additional weight based on that specific type of service and not meant for volunteer work where you might not get paid. So if you did not work full time in one of these types of jobs and acquired educational credits it is not applicable to you (they pay some money towards future education and not pay you directly in these programs).
Current Character Count: 0 /2500
The public service questions are mostly applicable to people who took gap years to do service. The schools are trying to give them additional weight based on that specific type of service and not meant for volunteer work where you might not get paid. So if you did not work full time in one of these types of jobs and acquired educational credits it is not applicable to you (they pay some money towards future education and not pay you directly in these programs).
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I believe this thinking applies more to the TMDSAS primary application (aka the "Unique Experience" essay).
For secondaries, I think it is more important to make sure your answer always directly responds to the prompt. It doesn't appear that your volunteer work would equal the same level of commitment as the public service activities they describe so including it for that prompt would likely be looked down upon. However, you could still talk about it in your "group project" or the "difficult task" prompt if an experience during your volunteering fit into one of those prompts!
For the "extenuating circumstances" essay, I would probably only include a diversity-themed response if it helps explain a shortcoming in your application; I wouldn't include it just to score more points with an admission committee since an extenuating circumstance is defined as "a situation or condition that provides an excuse for an action."
Does anyone know if the first round of IIs have been extended?
From what I've seen, no. Possibly next week or the week after? In normal cycles, they usually give out near Mid-July or the end.
Does anyone know if UTSW needs our CASPer transmitted to get an interview? Or are they like some other TX schools and they will interview without it?
In their emails it just says we're required to take it for the selection process. Its vague on whether or not they require it to be invited for an interview, but I assume you need it BEFORE they invite you to interview because to be considered "complete" for review it has to be checked off on the UTSW secondary portal.
Yeah that part of the email confused me too! Thank you for the reply though. It makes sense that you’d have to be complete.
Don’t assume things, just do what you can discover is required.
Only 2 TX schools have clearly stated that they want to review CASPer results before selecting for interviews ( UTMB and Texas Tech El Paso). Long has said they will look at CASPer as an additional factor after interviews.
Nonetheless, since most Texans apply to almost all the TX schools, it is to your advantage to get CASPer done early, after your MCAT and TMDSAS submission.
What wysdoc said. If you are a Texas resident, please apply and take CASPer ASAP. I see 6 different Texas medical schools requiring the test and so it would make no sense to pinpoint at what point they require it if so many of them do.
What do you guys think the gpa/mcat criteria is for the "auto" interview
hopefulMD023
New Member
My letters of rec and MCAT score are received by TMDSAS but still show "Not Received" by UTSW's secondary portal. Also I took CASPer in June and it has been sent to UTSW, but again is still not showing on the secondary. Does anyone know about how long these typically take to be received my schools? My TMDSAS was only verified yesterday finally, but I'd just like to know if anyone else has experience with this! Thanks!
I had a similar issue where it said they didn't receive my letter but when I clicked on it it said received on X date. I emailed through the portal and got a complete email the next day. might be worth a shot
Does anyone know what the CAS requirements are? They're marked incomplete for me.
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I had the same issue, but I emailed UTSW and they told me they have everything and my app is under review
Elsewhere on this forum and on Reddit, I’ve seen claims that UTSW automatically extends interview invites to those who meet certain GPA/MCAT thresholds. Am I correct in assuming this is a myth?
Not a myth. But they don’t share what their numerical cutoff is.
Oh. Well, that’s somewhat reassuring. Thanks for the reply. I’m hoping the first round of invitations will be released soon, but I understand it might be a few weeks.
Lizzy M 81.6? I think you will be ok friend.
N=1 from last cycle, late submission by Texas timeline (mid-late August primary and secondary completion), LizzyM ~75, assuming automatic interview since I got the invite within a week of completion. Was definitely anxious about my chances since people had already interviewed before I was even complete.
They are looking at CASPer this year and no one knows their scores to know how they will be treated as part of the selection process.
I have assumed auto invites are 3.85/517 as a starting point since that is what their matriculant stats show. Lizzy M 74 does not seem to work if you have low GPA and high MCAT but you will get picked in later rounds once they finish the autos. You probably need a 77 or higher OOS auto invites but since they limit the slots for interviews and control admits very tightly for OOS, there will be additional factors under consideration.
@wysdoc caveat applies - early interviews does not mean admits and late interviews does not mean waitlists. They are interviewing you because they see potential. Dont assume that you have no shot because you get interviewed in December or January or admitted because you are interviewed in September. Prepare well for your interview and try to impress.
I have assumed auto invites are 3.85/517 as a starting point since that is what their matriculant stats show. Lizzy M 74 does not seem to work if you have low GPA and high MCAT but you will get picked in later rounds once they finish the autos. You probably need a 77 or higher OOS auto invites but since they limit the slots for interviews and control admits very tightly for OOS, there will be additional factors under consideration.
@wysdoc caveat applies - early interviews does not mean admits and late interviews does not mean waitlists. They are interviewing you because they see potential. Dont assume that you have no shot because you get interviewed in December or January or admitted because you are interviewed in September. Prepare well for your interview and try to impress.
significantcobbler8
Full Member
Did anyone get an II from utsw? I wanna know if they started sending them out. Thank you
Can any current students or admin/professors comment on Southwestern's curriculum?
I really liked the flipped classroom at Dell and can see that Southwestern has a team-based learning center along with some active learning opportunities.
Does Southwestern also used flipped classroom? I am also wondering how much time is spent doing more passive learning (lectures) versus active learning opportunities.
I really liked the flipped classroom at Dell and can see that Southwestern has a team-based learning center along with some active learning opportunities.
Does Southwestern also used flipped classroom? I am also wondering how much time is spent doing more passive learning (lectures) versus active learning opportunities.
For UTSW's 4th question (public service prompt), would it be applicable to talk very briefly about a full-time AmeriCorps job that I started recently? I don't know if AmeriCorps is considered public service, but I'm guessing it is. If it is, I'm unsure if it's okay to mention it briefly (since I just started it) or if it's better to just leave it blank.
Yeah, I think AmeriCorps would definitely fit UTSW's public service description. It's essentially a domestic version of the Peace Corps, right? If yes, I don't think you should leave this answer blank. If you don't have much experience, talk briefly about what you've learned and then pivot to talking more about what you hope your future experience(s) will teach you. However, if the experience will be less than one year (once complete) then that would exclude you from the question (since it calls for 1+ year experience in the described public service activities).
If this is your current job, you should be discussing it. The reason the essay exists is because they are adding weight to applicants who are spending a year or more doing public service type of jobs. It is true that you have not already finished one year but you are expected since you must have a contract.
afaik everyone who applies is sent a secondary application after the primary is transmitted. If you haven't received one and your primary is in then you might want to email their admissions contacts.
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Thank you for the help, do you know maybe what the admissions contact email is? Thank you
[email protected]
Admissions
Applying to UT Southwestern Medical School requires taking MCATs, submitting two applications and secondary documents, and an in-person interview.
www.utsouthwestern.edu
You should store the email addresses for admissions for all the schools you apply to.
The address you submit your secondary apps to might be different, or might be a portal you have to log in to. (save that info also).
You need to be organized, y'all, you will need those addresses over the next year.
Thanks for this! Definitely will be talking about my AmeriCorps position, then.
Thank you for this I will definitely save this email address for the future.[email protected]
Admissions
Applying to UT Southwestern Medical School requires taking MCATs, submitting two applications and secondary documents, and an in-person interview.www.utsouthwestern.edu
You should store the email addresses for admissions for all the schools you apply to.
The address you submit your secondary apps to might be different, or might be a portal you have to log in to. (save that info also).
You need to be organized, y'all, you will need those addresses over the next year.
Internationalphysician
Full Member
Could you please post the prompts for MSTP?
