Did not get interviews at Texas state schools due to Permanent Resident status

[paul411]

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Background: applied to Texas state schools and didn't get interviews at TAMU and UTSA. I have been a permanent resident of the USA since June 2006 (moved from Canada) and I get my citizenship processed around this June.

Today, I met with A&M med schools dean of admissions, Filo (who, btw, was very helpful) and he informed me that I did not get an interview at A&M because I was a permanent resident and they made a separate pile for PR and that my file "fell through the cracks". However, he went on to go over my whole application, section by section, and tell me what I was doing well in and what I should improve upon. Fortunately, he assured me that he will personally make sure my file gets through to an interview at A&M when I reapply this cycle.

I also called UTSA and they confirmed that I didn't get an interview because I was a permanent resident.

Hopefully, one of the other schools I interviewed at isn't lame and doesn't penalize me for my citizenship status. I had always assumed that a PR was equivalent to citizenship but I guess not at Texas state schools :/

Sighhhhhh.... All this work and effort I put was rendered futile by a simple citizenship status -_- lame.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

yet another reason to stay out of texas

 

[flakpilot]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but on the MSAR all the schools as far as I can remember, say you can apply and eventually enroll as a permanent resident of the US. Including Texas schools. Are you sure they weren't talking about state residency instead permanent US residency/citizenship? That would be totally different. Each state has different laws on how to consider a person a resident of that state or not. If they were referring to state residency, then that makes sense because, for what I understand, most texas schools accept very few OOS. It might be that under Texas laws you're not consider a texas resident.

Again, correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[paul411]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but on the MSAR all the schools as far as I can remember, say you can apply and eventually enroll as a permanent resident of the US. Including Texas schools. Are you sure they weren't talking about state residency instead permanent US residency/citizenship? That would be totally different. Each state has different laws on how to consider a person a resident of that state or not. If they were referring to state residency, then that makes sense because, for what I understand, most texas schools accept very few OOS. It might be that under Texas laws you're not consider a texas resident.

Again, correct me if I'm wrong.

I've lived in Texas for over four and a half years: two years of high school + two and a half years of college at Texas A&M University. As far as I know, I fulfil the state residency requirement. The dean explicitly told me it was my US permanent resident status that kept me from getting an interview.

 

[deleted357625]

I've lived in Texas for over four and a half years: two years of high school + two and a half years of college at Texas A&M University. As far as I know, I fulfil the state residency requirement. The dean explicitly told me it was my US permanent resident status that kept me from getting an interview.

yea that's weird 😕

 

[mtbtx]

he informed me that I did not get an interview at A&M because I was a permanent resident and they made a separate pile for PR and that my file "fell through the cracks."

Please... A simple update letter would have gotten you that interview. You should have also made that appointment 6 months ago.

 

[eli20]

Was that really necessary? I'd say that a minority of applicants send in update letters, let's not act like everyone should have just known this just because it worked out well for you.

 

[jhamaican]

Permanent Resident status is code for 8 on verbal

 

[PrettyFishy]

So sorry to hear that, my fellow Canadian-turned-Texan! I honestly do not know why UTHSCSA and TAMU would deny you an interview while other TX schools granted you one (looking at your MDAPPS). I call BS. I wish you the best of luck next application cycle and be in touch with the admissions office from the get-go explaining your situation. Also, how long have you had your greencard? After that time you may be eligible to apply for citizenship. I moved to the US in 9th grade and became a citizen my junior year of undergrad. Also, this may be the elephant in the room, but you may want to think about retaking the MCAT if you have time. Your score is plenty good enough for many TX schools, but it could show the adcoms something you have done to improve your application and make you a better candidate for the more competitive schools like UTH and UTSW. An acceptance from one of those and you can tell UTHSCSA and TAMU good riddance

 

[mtbtx]

Was that really necessary? I'd say that a minority of applicants send in update letters, let's not act like everyone should have just known this just because it worked out well for you.

The point I'm trying to make is that OP should have done something proactive about their status rather than blame the situation on the fact that his app "fell through cracks". The fact is hundreds of apps fall through the cracks every year whether they are residents, OOS or PR. I sent an update/interest letter based on the advice I got from this site and would recommend that everyone else do the same. It's a fail safe way to bring attention to yourself.

 

[exptherainbow]

Background: applied to Texas state schools and didn't get interviews at TAMU and UTSA. I have been a permanent resident of the USA since June 2006 (moved from Canada) and I get my citizenship processed around this June.

Today, I met with A&M med schools dean of admissions, Filo (who, btw, was very helpful) and he informed me that I did not get an interview at A&M because I was a permanent resident and they made a separate pile for PR and that my file "fell through the cracks". However, he went on to go over my whole application, section by section, and tell me what I was doing well in and what I should improve upon. Fortunately, he assured me that he will personally make sure my file gets through to an interview at A&M when I reapply this cycle.

I also called UTSA and they confirmed that I didn't get an interview because I was a permanent resident.

Hopefully, one of the other schools I interviewed at isn't lame and doesn't penalize me for my citizenship status. I had always assumed that a PR was equivalent to citizenship but I guess not at Texas state schools :/

Sighhhhhh.... All this work and effort I put was rendered futile by a simple citizenship status -_- lame.

I don't believe that at all. No dean of admissions with any value for his position would ever tell a potential applicant that for fear of discrimination suits.

What's more likely is that there were other more competitive applicants in the permanent resident pile with better stats than you.

 

[paul411]

The point I'm trying to make is that OP should have done something proactive about their status rather than blame the situation on the fact that his app "fell through cracks". The fact is hundreds of apps fall through the cracks every year whether they are residents, OOS or PR. I sent an update/interest letter based on the advice I got from this site and would recommend that everyone else do the same. It's a fail safe way to bring attention to yourself.

Yeah, should've done that as soon as I realized I wasn't getting an interview. Now I know what to do next time around. I just kept holding out thinking I'll get an interview soon, especially after getting interviews at the other schools - just didn't realize my application was sitting in a separate pile.

I don't believe that at all. No dean of admissions with any value for his position would ever tell a potential applicant that for fear of discrimination suits.

What's more likely is that there were other more competitive applicants in the permanent resident pile with better stats than you.

Well, to be fair, they didn't say "you didn't get an interview because you're a PR". They said something along the lines of: you were put in a separate pile because you were a PR and we didn't really that many people from that pile. So I guess what you're saying is correct; there were more qualified candidates than me in the PR pile. I'm just surprised that the PR pile is a separate pile.

Edit: I'm not trying to vent or exonerate myself; I mostly wanted to post this in case some future applicants who might be permanent residents applying to Texas medical schools search the forums for this. I searched the forums and the responses have been ambivalent and non-specific to Texas schools. Having this information beforehand would be immensely helpful for others.

 

[jhamaican]

Yes, you didn't get in because of your resident status. Didn't have anything to do with your young age or 8 verbal.

 

[donttazemebro]

i dont believe that they reject pr's or even make a seperate file. its unrealistic, sounds like a discrimination suit, and u said that ALL texas schools have this specific method of weeding out applicants. one or two is understandable but ALL?!

edit: if there was anything in your status that caused problems, it would be that you were considered an international, not pr.

 

[ArkAngel]

Yes, you didn't get in because of your resident status. Didn't have anything to do with your young age or 8 verbal.

I turned 21 about 3 weeks ago so for the most of my app cycle, I was 20 yet this did not, in an way, shape or form, hinder me. I don't know where people get this idea that being young is some sort of massive detriment. As long as you can evidence maturity and life experience both in your essays and potential interviews, I don't think it is a problem. Also,

 

[WeAreNotRobots]

Aren't you the 20 yr old guy that went 0-5 for interviews? Why are you complaining about how residency affected your prospects for interviews? Or am I missing something here?

And you can't go to A&M now anyway. They're only accepting students for the class of 2149.

 

[bookfreak89]

And you can't go to A&M now anyway. They're only accepting students for the class of 2149.

 

[texahn]

lol just because you didnt get interviews at those places doesnt mean its necessarily b/c of your status.. why would anyone tell you over the phone why you didnt get in?

 

[paul411]

Hmmm... I was just relaying what I heard from the dean at Texas A&M when I met him today. So most of this info only applies to Texas A&M, where I did not receive an interview.

At the places I did interview (0 acceptances for 5 interviews), not getting in was probably a result of my lackluster interviewing skills, my 8 MCAT verbal, and my apparent emotional immaturity resulting from my lack of meaningful experiences due to my age, etc. However, at A&M, the dean made it very clear that the PR status played a big role AT A&M in not getting an interview there... He went over my application with me for almost an hour and was mostly positive about it. He did comment on my age and my lack of leadership.

 

[ozzi22]

Hmmm... I was just relaying what I heard from the dean at Texas A&M when I met him today. So most of this info only applies to Texas A&M, where I did not receive an interview.

At the places I did interview (0 acceptances for 5 interviews), not getting in was probably a result of my lackluster interviewing skills, my 8 MCAT verbal, and my apparent emotional immaturity resulting from my lack of meaningful experiences due to my age, etc. However, at A&M, the dean made it very clear that the PR status played a big role AT A&M in not getting an interview there... He went over my application with me for almost an hour and was mostly positive about it. He did comment on my age and my lack of leadership.

Do you have a green card? Because if you do, you are suppose to get an interview. I have a link that says so about all medical Schools but I want to confirm that you do have a green card before I post it.

 

[IwillbeanMD]

Do you have a green card? Because if you do, you are suppose to get an interview. I have a link that says so about all medical Schools but I want to confirm that you do have a green card before I post it.

You can only be a permanent resident if you have a green card... otherwise you're illegal...

 

[kami333]

Thanks for the info OP.

Interesting, this is the first time I've heard of medical schools making a distinction between citizens and permanent residents. Not that I was going to apply to those schools (Texas gets tornadoes and ice storms on the same day, no thanks) but good to know. I was planning to apply for naturalization after I got in but maybe I need to accelerate my plans or hold off on applying.

Anyone else heard of any other schools?

 

[4ksibe]

You can only be a permanent resident if you have a green card... otherwise you're illegal...

you can be legal without a greencard ...like if you are a refugee or asylee or whatever its called

 

[texahn]

yes you can be legal without a green card lol

 

[Musclemass]

First:

he informed me that I did not get an interview at A&M because I was a permanent resident

Then:

The dean explicitly told me it was my US permanent resident status that kept me from getting an interview.

Then:

Well, to be fair, they didn't say "you didn't get an interview because you're a PR".

I'm not sure why the story was so emphatic and then it changed, but maybe you're hearing only what you want to hear.

I think the Dean was trying to be polite and trying to avoid being too harsh with you. Had your story been more compelling, your app would have jumped to the top of a pile, and would not have been "misplaced" (which frankly I think is BS)

You had plenty of other interviews, you didn't capitalize on the opportunities. There's no reason to think that had you had a few more that the outcome would have been any different at this point.

I know it's hard, but the key to getting an acceptance lies with you and the changes and enhancements you work hard to accomplish. Forget what schools do or don't do, it really doesn't matter.

 

[bucks2010]

Seems like you're making a mountain out of a molehill. You still had 5 interviews. There are simply too many other variables to blame your lack of an AM interview on your residency status. If you got denied with a 3.99/44S, it'd be a different story.

 

[kami333]

you can be legal without a greencard ...like if you are a refugee or asylee or whatever its called

But you wouldn't be a permanent resident, you'd be a conditional resident (or more broadly a lawful immigrant).

Maybe he was trying to say that to put down that you were a permanent resident without actually having the status (having a greencard/I-551) would be illegal, which it is.

 

[ceng2doc]

Thanks for the info OP.

Interesting, this is the first time I've heard of medical schools making a distinction between citizens and permanent residents. Not that I was going to apply to those schools (Texas gets tornadoes and ice storms on the same day, no thanks) but good to know. I was planning to apply for naturalization after I got in but maybe I need to accelerate my plans or hold off on applying.

Anyone else heard of any other schools?

I was rejected by the USC premed postbacc last year for the very same reason. They had told me over the phone that it would be difficult for them to provide me with financial aid for my postbacc studies. But, thank God, it now seems to me like a blessing in disguise since I've been studying my second-bachelors for a fraction of the tuition at USC while receiving direct federal loans for my studies as well. I'm about to wrap up with everything in this year.

P.S.: I've recently been naturalized as a US citizen, so I guess I'm through with it, if there's such a discrimination against permanent-residents at "some" of the schools.

 

[paul411]

But you wouldn't be a permanent resident, you'd be a conditional resident (or more broadly a lawful immigrant).

Maybe he was trying to say that to put down that you were a permanent resident without actually having the status (having a greencard/I-551) would be illegal, which it is.

I have a green card; I've had it since October 31, 2006. I even had to upload my green card to the TMDSAS application website.

 

[texahn]

so basically this is all moot.

 

[ozzi22]

I have a green card; I've had it since October 31, 2006. I even had to upload my green card to the TMDSAS application website.

http://www2.fiu.edu/~preprofc/International_Students_School_Policies.htm
clearly, the adcoms wear lying or something is just wrong with your app because the link says that the Texas schools interviews green card holders and even accept them, so man what really happened there?

 

[plzNOCarribbean]

Wow, this makes me seriously worried. I am a Texas resident and I have lived in texas since 6th grade!! (college senior now) and I am only a permanent resident and have yet to receive full, US citizenship. I am very worried, having read this thread because I am applying this cycle. Thanks for the insight OP, I really hope it works out for you.