2024-2025 UT Rio Grande Valley

[wysdoc]

2024-2025 UTRGV Secondary Essay Prompts: (changed from last year)
UTRGV Interviews are two-part: First you go to the school in-person, then register for two remote 1:1 interviews on a different day
See link explaining here: UTRGV Interviews EY 2025

Secondary Essays:
Part 1 (2 required essays)
1. Engaging with the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) communities is a core part of our mission. Please share how you might contribute to this aspect of our mission. (1500 words or less)
2. Why are you interested in UTRGV SOM? (500 words or less max; bullet points are acceptable).

Optional Essay (truly optional)
1. Please describe any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your medical or non-medical service experiences, including any circumstances that impacted your engagement in activities, academics, and MCAT that would have helped to prepare you for medical school. (1500 words or less)

Learning Experiences​

Part 2: REQUIRED [VIDEO Response]
Submit a 2-minute video that answers the questions below.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine prepares future physicians in accordance with the following values: patient advocacy, community focus, cultural awareness, collaborative leadership style, and lifelong problem solving. Select TWO (2) of these values and discuss what you have done in the past that resonates with them. How will you support and strengthen these two values when you practice medicine?

Good luck to all applying!
Interview Feedback:

University of Texas Rio Grand Valley School of Medicine Interview Feedback

Review of University of Texas Rio Grand Valley School of Medicine Interview Feedback. Get the latest information, opinions of fellow students, and LizzyM and SDN Rankings.

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[Adiemus]

Supplemental Questions​

Part 1
1. Engaging with the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) communities is a core part of our mission. Please share how you might contribute to this aspect of our mission. (1500 words or less)
2. Why are you interested in UTRGV SOM? (500 words or less max; bullet points are acceptable).

Optional Essays

1. Please describe any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your medical or non-medical service experiences, including any circumstances that impacted your engagement in activities, academics, and MCAT that would have helped to prepare you for medical school. (1500 words or less)

Learning Experiences​

Part 2: REQUIRED [VIDEO Response]
Submit a 2-minute video that answers the questions below.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine prepares future physicians in accordance with the following values: patient advocacy, community focus, cultural awareness, collaborative leadership style, and lifelong problem solving. Select TWO (2) of these values and discuss what you have done in the past that resonates with them. How will you support and strengthen these two values when you practice medicine?

@wysdoc

 

[IWishICouldPhysics]

Supplemental Questions​

Part 1
1. Engaging with the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) communities is a core part of our mission. Please share how you might contribute to this aspect of our mission. (1500 words or less)
2. Why are you interested in UTRGV SOM? (500 words or less max; bullet points are acceptable).

Optional Essays

1. Please describe any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your medical or non-medical service experiences, including any circumstances that impacted your engagement in activities, academics, and MCAT that would have helped to prepare you for medical school. (1500 words or less)

1500 words?!

*also, thanks for this!

 

[Adiemus]

1500 words?!

*also, thanks for this!

yea...

 

[IWishICouldPhysics]

yea...

.do they really expect us to fill all of that? I could maybe hit 600 max 😢

@wysdoc any guidance on this?

 

[wysdoc]

...do they really expect us to fill all of that? I could maybe hit 600 max 😢

@wysdoc any guidance on this?

Cool your jets, let’s wait for someone else to confirm

 

[berrycake]

Yes, it's 1500 words! The counter at the bottom also notes that.

 

[wysdoc]

Yes, it's 1500 words! The counter at the bottom also notes that.

Last year I think they had you write 4 essays of 300-350 words each.
Be happy there are only 2 essays and when you have written what you need to make your point, that’s a good place to stop.

 

[Determined2024]

Can someone comment on the optional essay? I am a bit confused by the use of the word "service experiences" when it also asks about impacts to "academics and MCAT." Any idea if the question is limited to impacts to service experiences or just asking about any extenuating circumstances that impacted preparation for medical school?

"Please describe any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your medical or non-medical service experiences, including any circumstances that impacted your engagement in activities, academics, and MCAT that would have helped to prepare you for medical school."

 

[wysdoc]

Can someone comment on the optional essay? I am a bit confused by the use of the word "service experiences" when it also asks about impacts to "academics and MCAT." Any idea if the question is limited to impacts to service experiences or just asking about any extenuating circumstances that impacted preparation for medical school?

"Please describe any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your medical or non-medical service experiences, including any circumstances that impacted your engagement in activities, academics, and MCAT that would have helped to prepare you for medical school."

This seems to me to be a "holdover question" from the COVID-19 pandemic mostly, when doctors and hospitals were swamped and could not accept shadowers or volunteers, and MCAT testing centers were closed or limited for months at a time. In 2021-2023 many applicants would have had a significant essay to write here. I would say that currently, most of you won't write this one.

The question could still be used to discuss other issues or problems like serious illnesses, time missed from school, etc.
If it doesn't apply to you, you can enter N/A (not applicable).

 

[Determined2024]

This seems to me to be a "holdover question" from the COVID-19 pandemic mostly, when doctors and hospitals were swamped and could not accept shadowers or volunteers, and MCAT testing centers were closed or limited for months at a time. In 2021-2023 many applicants would have had a significant essay to write here. I would say that currently, most of you won't write this one.

The question could still be used to discuss other issues or problems like serious illnesses, time missed from school, etc.
If it doesn't apply to you, you can enter N/A (not applicable).

Thank you, this makes sense.

 

[ricefanatic]

pls reply with how many words you guys are writing for the first one. I simply don't have enough thoughts in my brain to fill 1500 uh :/

 

[Determined2024]

pls reply with how many words you guys are writing for the first one. I simply don't have enough thoughts in my brain to fill 1500 uh :/

600

 

[IWishICouldPhysics]

pls reply with how many words you guys are writing for the first one. I simply don't have enough thoughts in my brain to fill 1500 uh :/

I'm hitting about 700-800, but stories make up a bulk of it. I'm struggling to really flesh out my ideas without veering too much into my "Why RGV" essay; maybe it's just a me problem...

 

[anonymous1234556]

Has anyone got their video responses working so far?

 

[wysdoc]

Has anyone got their video responses working so far?

Last year people had trouble with the file size.

Save your video.
Make a copy (duplicate) of your video to work with in case your editing experiments don’t work LOL
Look up “how to compress video files” and keep compressing until it fits the max size allowed.
Or ask your most hi-tech friend to help you!

 

[ricefanatic]

I received an email saying "We are emailing you to inform you that we are currently experiencing technical difficulties with the video portion of the secondary application. Please be assured that our team is diligently working on resolving the issue.

We understand the importance of your emails and once we have a workaround, we will be sure to promptly notify you."

Does this mean I shouldn't submit anything until they notify me? I'm reaching the 2 week mark of having received their secondary soon and I've completed the essays and just waiting on this tech issue.

 

[wysdoc]

I received an email saying "We are emailing you to inform you that we are currently experiencing technical difficulties with the video portion of the secondary application. Please be assured that our team is diligently working on resolving the issue.

We understand the importance of your emails and once we have a workaround, we will be sure to promptly notify you."

Does this mean I shouldn't submit anything until they notify me? I'm reaching the 2 week mark of having received their secondary soon and I've completed the essays and just waiting on this tech issue.

I don’t know if it allows you to upload the essays but not the video, but if I were you I would definitely wait to hear from them that the technical issue has been fixed, and turn it all in at once

 

[anonymous1234556]

I received an email saying "We are emailing you to inform you that we are currently experiencing technical difficulties with the video portion of the secondary application. Please be assured that our team is diligently working on resolving the issue.

We understand the importance of your emails and once we have a workaround, we will be sure to promptly notify you."

Does this mean I shouldn't submit anything until they notify me? I'm reaching the 2 week mark of having received their secondary soon and I've completed the essays and just waiting on this tech issue.

Thanks, also thanks doctor for the information

 

[Determined2024]

Unfortunately, the application does NOT allow you to submit without the video so we are stuck. I did reach out on Friday and was told to hang tight and they would send a mass email when they fix the technical problem. I hope they will not hold it against us if we submit past the 2 week deadline as I am approaching it as well.

 

[ricefanatic]

Unfortunately, the application does NOT allow you to submit without the video so we are stuck. I did reach out on Friday and was told to hang tight and they would send a mass email when they fix the technical problem. I hope they will not hold it against us if we submit past the 2 week deadline as I am approaching it as well.

Yes, exactly. Feels frustrating. Pls post when you get the update email!

 

[Adiemus]

Unfortunately, the application does NOT allow you to submit without the video so we are stuck. I did reach out on Friday and was told to hang tight and they would send a mass email when they fix the technical problem. I hope they will not hold it against us if we submit past the 2 week deadline as I am approaching it as well.

Understood, thanks for getting this info to us

 

[anonymous1234556]

Unfortunately, the application does NOT allow you to submit without the video so we are stuck. I did reach out on Friday and was told to hang tight and they would send a mass email when they fix the technical problem. I hope they will not hold it against us if we submit past the 2 week deadline as I am approaching it as well.

Thanks for the information.

 

[gamingdoc]

Hi friends, any update with the video response issue? It seems I'm having similar problems and my 2-week deadline was today ;-;
Seems like the 2ndary doesn't upload videos over 1min and there's no way to upload non-pdf files through the "upload documents" tab. Any suggestions are appreciated. Might have to ride it out until it's fixed with y'all.

 

[V1ct1n1]

Does RGV have a “2-week deadline” like McGovern does? I saw nothing on the portal that hinted towards that

 

[wysdoc]

Does RGV have a “2-week deadline” like McGovern does? I saw nothing on the portal that hinted towards that

No.

 

[ricefanatic]

Hi friends, any update with the video response issue? It seems I'm having similar problems and my 2-week deadline was today ;-;
Seems like the 2ndary doesn't upload videos over 1min and there's no way to upload non-pdf files through the "upload documents" tab. Any suggestions are appreciated. Might have to ride it out until it's fixed with y'all.

same I've reached my 2 weeks and this is my concern

 

[Adiemus]

Hi friends, any update with the video response issue? It seems I'm having similar problems and my 2-week deadline was today ;-;
Seems like the 2ndary doesn't upload videos over 1min and there's no way to upload non-pdf files through the "upload documents" tab. Any suggestions are appreciated. Might have to ride it out until it's fixed with y'all.

Thirding that, seems that it won't let you upload anything but pdfs anyways. Well, patience is a virtue, I'll let them sort it out and sit tight.

 

[gamingdoc]

Does RGV have a “2-week deadline” like McGovern does? I saw nothing on the portal that hinted towards that

No. Sorry for giving you a scare, I was referring to the unsaid/unofficial 2 week “deadline” for secondaries. It’s not an actual set rule so no need to worry 🙂

 

[CYaL8Er01]

Has UTRGV fixed the video submission yet?

 

[Adiemus]

Has UTRGV fixed the video submission yet?

They seem to have added a slot for uploading .mp4 video responses. We appear to be good to go folks. Also, it seems that video files cannot exceed 25mb in size, which explains a lot. I recommend using online .mp4 file compressors for those having issues.

 

[ghostpants512]

Just wanted to let everyone know that thanks to @Adiemus, I submitted the UTRGV secondary today. You can find the video file upload under the "document upload" section. To double check that you've uploaded the correct video file, you can go back to the "learning experiences" section to see if you've uploaded it correctly. Make sure the file size corresponds to what @Adiemus has noted above.

 

[anonymous1234556]

They seem to have added a slot for uploading .mp4 video responses. We appear to be good to go folks. Also, it seems that video files cannot exceed 25mb in size, which explains a lot. I recommend using online .mp4 file compressors for those having issues.

Hey this might be a not smart question. But, how do you upload the mp4. I am on the page "learning experiences" and I only have the option for stop and start recording.

 

[anonymous1234556]

Just wanted to let everyone know that thanks to @Adiemus, I submitted the UTRGV secondary today. You can find the video file upload under the "document upload" section. To double check that you've uploaded the correct video file, you can go back to the "learning experiences" section to see if you've uploaded it correctly. Make sure the file size corresponds to what @Adiemus has noted above.

What category did you put it under?

 

[Adiemus]

Hey this might be a not smart question. But, how do you upload the mp4. I am on the page "learning experiences" and I only have the option for stop and start recording.

Go to the "Document Upload" tab and select "Application Form Video Response" as the type. Happy applying.

 

[wander21]

How is UTRGV's regional bias for applicants? Is it as much as UT Tyler or is it worth applying as someone with no ties to the region

 

[wysdoc]

How is UTRGV's regional bias for applicants? Is it as much as UT Tyler or is it worth applying as someone with no ties to the region

Matriculants come from all over, so apply if interested.
Their only restriction is that only those who are RGV locals can apply Early Decision.
Also UTRGV likes to publish press about what % of the class grew up in the 3 RGV counties, because it makes local mamas happy.

 

[anonymous1234556]

Go to the "Document Upload" tab and select "Application Form Video Response" as the type. Happy applying.

Thank you! I assume you were successful in the status of the page saving.

 

[surgicaldreamer]

Hi guys, I uploaded my video in the document upload tab and chose the Application Form Video Response option. I still cannot submit as my Learning Experience video tab is marked as incomplete. Any advice? Does it take a few hours to sync?

 

[Dopaminergic Cells]

Hi guys, I uploaded my video in the document upload tab and chose the Application Form Video Response option. I still cannot submit as my Learning Experience video tab is marked as incomplete. Any advice? Does it take a few hours to sync?

I am having the same issue. The Learning Experience page does not recognize that I uploaded the video in the Document Upload tab.

 

[anonymous1234556]

I am having the same issue. The Learning Experience page does not recognize that I uploaded the video in the Document Upload tab.

That is why I am hesistant to do the video upload. I did not know if it would actually register under the learning experience page. Adiemus liked my comment, so it looks like it might have saved on their end.

 

[Adiemus]

That is why I am hesistant to do the video upload. I did not know if it would actually register under the learning experience page. Adiemus liked my comment, so it looks like it might have saved on their end.

I did it in a sort of weird way. I had a test video done through the learning experience page, then edited the file in the document upload tab. That way it counted the section as complete, while uploading the correct video hopefully. For those of you having trouble with the application being counted as fully complete, this method might be worth a try.

That said, I did shoot an email to the admissions office about this, so I will let you all know what they say. Do what you can, and don't stress about it.

In any case, the application portal has been very iffy in general. It took me nearly 30 minutes of buffering to actually submit my application haha.

 

[anonymous1234556]

I did it in a sort of weird way. I had a test video done through the learning experience page, then edited the file in the document upload tab. That way it counted the section as complete, while uploading the correct video hopefully. For those of you having trouble with the application being counted as fully complete, this method might be worth a try.

That said, I did shoot an email to the admissions office about this, so I will let you all know what they say. Do what you can, and don't stress about it.

In any case, the application portal has been very iffy in general. It took me nearly 30 minutes of buffering to actually submit my application haha.

How were you able to create a test video when the start and stop video buttons do not work? Just curious

 

[Adiemus]

How were you able to create a test video when the start and stop video buttons do not work? Just curious

Your start and stop video buttons don't work? Hm, I just wasn't able to get longer videos to work in the in-app recorder, but I did not have any issues besides that. Maybe try using a different browser?

 

[anonymous1234556]

Your start and stop video buttons don't work? Hm, I just wasn't able to get longer videos to work in the in-app recorder, but I did not have any issues besides that. Maybe try using a different browser?

sorry, my start video button works, but my stop video button does not work so I end up stuck on video recording. Did you successfuly stop the the recording?

 

[CYaL8Er01]

Should I wait until UTRGV emails us to let us know the secondary portal is fixed or should I try what @Adiemus did to submit? I know the UTRGV admission did send a email saying they would notify us when it is ready.

 

[anonymous1234556]

Should I wait until UTRGV emails us to let us know the secondary portal is fixed or should I try what @Adiemus did to submit? I know the UTRGV admission did send a email saying they would notify us when it is ready.

Adiemus was able to get a video in before and his stop button worked. So, his method may not be working right now for everyone.

 

[Adiemus]

Should I wait until UTRGV emails us to let us know the secondary portal is fixed or should I try what @Adiemus did to submit? I know the UTRGV admission did send a email saying they would notify us when it is ready.

Just got word from UTRGV support that they are aware of the discrepancy between the file shown in the learning experiences section and the document upload section, and confirmed that they be viewing the correct uploaded video. So my method should work if you can do it.
It seems like they're still working through the other kinks, however, so don't stress folks.

 

[ricefanatic]

Anyone getting this? It's been more than 2 weeks for me having received this secondary. Do you think this is a bad look for me? They won't penalize me for not being able to submit right?

 

[Rednoise]

Anyone getting this? It's been more than 2 weeks for me having received this secondary. Do you think this is a bad look for me? They won't penalize me for not being able to submit right?

Just got this same error message today. I already emailed them. I’ll see what they say about it. But I wasn’t able to upload the video in both sections and got the error 30 minutes later right before I tried to save the page.

But no they will not penalize you for the unofficial 2 weeks…they do not have a 2 week deadline, although ik many people go by that.