2025-2026 Dell

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

wysdoc

Plain-spoken Texan
Administrator
Volunteer Staff
Lifetime Donor
7+ Year Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Messages
15,806
Reaction score
25,679
Dell Med does not utilize a written secondary application, but will screen applicants and offer those they are interested in an invitation to complete a video-response secondary.
Dell only sends secondaries to about 20% of applicants.


Good luck to all applying!

Interview feedback;
 
Podcast (link removed)

Moderator's note: A lot of applicants are quoting podcast episodes about Dell (from blog.accepted.com or from Case Western's All Access Med School admissions podcast) that were helpful at the time in 2020 but are now out of date.

New Dell dean since then, new Dell admissions director, and a somewhat different process of screening primary applications.
The thing that hasn't changed is a close reading of your TMDSAS primary before sending out secondary applications, spaced out over time.
The secondary is still a video-response secondary, and getting one isn't automatic.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
i am curious about what the profile is for dell
i've read online that they consider much more nontraditional / older students
also Joel Daboub just recently retired!
Dell did not send me a secondary so it is clear they are not interested in having the best of the best. (kidding)

The nontrad focus is a common rumor I see everywhere but I know plenty of Dell students that were traditional. As of now the profile is not well known admittedly… the only bias we can currently guess based in historic trends is UT students, but that makes sense.

Their class size is incredibly small so that’s another factor to consider. I imagine they are looking for a delicate balance in their class composition to round it out nicely. That can be tough to do with so few people.
 
Do all applicants receive a "Receipt of Application" email from Dell? I didn't receive one last year, but did this year, so slightly confused (may be overthinking this of course).
 
Last edited:
Do all applicants receive a "Receipt of Application" email? I didn't receive one this year, but did this year, so slightly confused (may be overthinking this of course :3 ).
I don’t think most schools send that kind of email.
When TMDSAS tells you they have transmitted your app, that is your notification.
The next time you will hear from a TMDSAS school is if/when they send you a secondary.
You’re a reapplicant, you should know that
 
dang so only 1 person has *reported* receiving a secondary so far?
 
Last edited:
dang so only 1 person has received a secondary so far?
One person on SDN has reported that they have received a secondary. It’s still June, plenty of time yet to get one. Someone from last cycle had an early submission that turned into a November secondary -> II -> WL -> A. It’s a long cycle so get good at being patient!
 
dang so only 1 person has received a secondary so far?
Dell issues secondaries one at a time after reading the primary for a fit. Its quite possible they issued 30-50 already but only one reported it. Not everyone is that vested in reporting secondaries. Dell is a small school which means they restrict the secondaries and effectively the size of the interview pool.
 
Dell issues secondaries one at a time after reading the primary for a fit. Its quite possible they issued 30-50 already but only one reported it. Not everyone is that vested in reporting secondaries. Dell is a small school which means they restrict the secondaries and effectively the size of the interview pool.
yeah that's a good point
 
One person on SDN has reported that they have received a secondary. It’s still June, plenty of time yet to get one. Someone from last cycle had an early submission that turned into a November secondary -> II -> WL -> A. It’s a long cycle so get good at being patient!
haha very true! Good point
 
hey guys! I was wondering what dell med screens for. their mission seems a little vague for me, and since they screen heavy i was wondering if anyone knew any particulars
 
hey guys! I was wondering what dell med screens for. their mission seems a little vague for me, and since they screen heavy i was wondering if anyone knew any particulars
Only admissions knows for sure. Also see:
Dell did not send me a secondary so it is clear they are not interested in having the best of the best. (kidding)

The nontrad focus is a common rumor I see everywhere but I know plenty of Dell students that were traditional. As of now the profile is not well known admittedly… the only bias we can currently guess based in historic trends is UT students, but that makes sense.

Their class size is incredibly small so that’s another factor to consider. I imagine they are looking for a delicate balance in their class composition to round it out nicely. That can be tough to do with so few people.
 
hey guys! I was wondering what dell med screens for. their mission seems a little vague for me, and since they screen heavy i was wondering if anyone knew any particulars
imo they gave interviews to me and my friends seemingly in order of stats 😭
 
Would anyone who received Dell's secondaries mind telling me what the video questions are?
 
Would anyone who received Dell's secondaries mind telling me what the video questions are?
Video-response secondaries are meant to get your spontaneous reply to the questions.
Would knowing the questions be of real use to you, or would it make your responses seem too rehearsed and staged?
What a conumdrum !

I know we freely share the secondary essay questions on our SDN threads, but most schools with a video question will ask the students not to share it with others.
 
Received 2 this morning. Anyone do it yet and/or have tips?
congrats! if you don't mind, could you share TMDSAS primary submission date and if/when you got notification that Dell received your application?
 
congrats! if you don't mind, could you share TMDSAS primary submission date and if/when you got notification that Dell received your application?
I know someone who received the secondary without getting the email notification that Dell received the app, and they were anxious about that but still got it!
 
I know someone who received the secondary without getting the email notification that Dell received the app, and they were anxious about that but still got it!
ah congrats to them!! thanks for your response! yeah just was checking cause I received that email that they received the app yesterday but was just wondering if there is a specific screen just for stats or if they read everything and then send a secondary out! thanks again for your help!
 
If you get a receipt of application, does this mean you will get a secondary? I submitted my TMDSAS on the first day, completed all the other secnodaries, and I just got a receipt of application from Dell today.
 
Just got receipt of application today as well. Hoping to update but not holding my breath LOL
 
If you get a receipt of application, does this mean you will get a secondary? I submitted my TMDSAS on the first day, completed all the other secnodaries, and I just got a receipt of application from Dell today.
Same timeline for me too to a tee. I've seen a few report they got a receipt of application but no secondary...but crossing my fingers that that's uncommon :xf:
 
Same timeline for me too to a tee. I've seen a few report they got a receipt of application but no secondary...but crossing my fingers that that's uncommon :xf:
same thing for me. I submitted on the 28th, and Dell just reported this Monday that they received my application, but no secondary yet -fingers crossed. Good luck!
 
congrats! if you don't mind, could you share TMDSAS primary submission date and if/when you got notification that Dell received your application?
I was transmitted on 5/21 and got my email for confirmation from them on 6/23 and within 2 hours got my secondary
 
I was transmitted on 5/21 and got my email for confirmation from them on 6/23 and within 2 hours got my secondary
ahh I see ok. I also got confirmation of receipt on the 23rd, but no news from them (keeping fingers crossed!). Good luck to you and everyone who has gotten secondaries so far!
 
I just finished the secondary videos... I felt decent. Anyone in previous years who didn't feel so confident after the video question, still got an interview? I feel like I rambled sometimes but I got the answers out and connected to my story. Hoping to get a call for an interview soon.
 
+ IS Secondary, got it yesterday morning!
I just finished the secondary videos... I felt decent. Anyone in previous years who didn't feel so confident after the video question, still got an interview? I feel like I rambled sometimes but I got the answers out and connected to my story. Hoping to get a call for an interview soon.
I also felt the same way, submitted today as well - I somewhat rambled as well lol, hopefully everything works out 🤞, good luck!
 
ahh I see ok. I also got confirmation of receipt on the 23rd, but no news from them (keeping fingers crossed!). Good luck to you and everyone who has gotten secondaries so far!
When did you receive your secondary invitation? I got the receipt of application on the 23rd, but no secondary yet, unfortunately.
 
When did you receive your secondary invitation? I got the receipt of application on the 23rd, but no secondary yet, unfortunately.
Same timeline for me too to a tee. I've seen a few report they got a receipt of application but no secondary...but crossing my fingers that that's uncommon :xf:
No. Dell is selective as to who they send their secondaries to. It's not automatic like all the other schools. Dell is beginning to prioritize higher stats as well, looking at their most recent accepted mcat median on MSAR.
 
When did you receive your secondary invitation? I got the receipt of application on the 23rd, but no secondary yet, unfortunately.
I got it on the 30th! I was similarly scared lol, I think wait it out a bit - they say that they continually re-review, and so I think you still have a chance for at least the next few weeks. Good luck!
 
Top