Hi guys! For anyone familiar with the Texas schools, all TMDSAS schools have to be ranked in the order in which you'd want to go to them and you'll be matched to one of them based on a mysterious algorithm where the schools rank the candidates and the candidates rank the schools. Further, I have received interviews from both AMCAS TX schools and accepted to UIW. What I'm left with is a mind-boggling list of Texas schools to rank and decide among, so I wanted to ask for your feedback. My interests are in border health, global health, rural health, Infectious diseases, pediatrics and family medicine.
The contestants, in order of interview request: UTMB, PLFSOM (accepted pre-match), SHSU, UHCOM, UIWSOM, and interviews upcoming at McGovern UTH, Baylor, Texas Tech Lubbock, and TCU-UNT.
Here's how I have them ranked currently in my head and heart:
1) Baylor: one of the two best schools in Texas. I absolutely lost my mind when I got their interview! I love everything about this school except the fact that I'm a dark-horse candidate there. 3 hours from my husband.
2) UT McGovern: also a powerhouse school, but I'm uncertain if it's really a good place for a primary care focus. If you have a thought about that, let me know! 3 hours from my husband.
3) UTMB: My lifelong passion for infectious diseases and Global Health make this one a great fit. I know no matter what shape my interests take, they'll be there to support me. Also, relaxed atmosphere and beaches! 4 hours from my husband.
4) Tech???: I'm really uncertain between here and El Paso. I know they're a better established school, but politically, I'm the polar opposite of Lubbock locals and I'm not sure the area fits me as well as Foster, but the education here is supposed to be top notch and med students here seem happy. Having an incredibly difficult time with this one. 6 hours from my husband.
5) Foster???: I'm in LOVE with this school! I feel at home here and have loved it since I toured here five years ago. I have heard that there are some questionable things about education but can't seem to find any more details than that. My interests in infectious diseases and border health make this seem like a really good fit, but I'm not sure. 8 hours from my husband, the thing that scares me the most.
6) UHCOM???: The innovative curriculum here scares the snot out of me. I'm also not completely dedicated to primary care and I'm not sure I want to dedicate myself to it in the way they're looking for. It's also a fairly new program. However, the location is better than the Tech schools in proximity to my husband, and I know they have excellent faculty because Dr. Gest who was well loved at El Paso and Dr Bush who was very respected at A&M both came to teach there, so I'm not sure how much those things are worth. 3 hours from my husband.
7) TCU-UNT: Again with the innovative curriculum, primary care focus, and new school, except also very expensive. Looks like students are happy, at least. 4 hours from my husband.
8) UIWSOM: Again with the innovative curriculum, new school, expensive but also DO. The lowest performing DO school in terms of passing rates in the US in their first round of board scores, but also refuses to publish its board scores. The only reason I would have wanted to go here was that they are only an hour away from my husband.
9) SHSU: New school, expensive DO, and further from my husband. Not sure what would make it worth attending.
Am I on the right track here? Does anyone disagree with my rankings? I'm especially unsure about the middle of the pack, in terms of UTMB - UHCOM. Thanks for any assistance!
The contestants, in order of interview request: UTMB, PLFSOM (accepted pre-match), SHSU, UHCOM, UIWSOM, and interviews upcoming at McGovern UTH, Baylor, Texas Tech Lubbock, and TCU-UNT.
Here's how I have them ranked currently in my head and heart:
1) Baylor: one of the two best schools in Texas. I absolutely lost my mind when I got their interview! I love everything about this school except the fact that I'm a dark-horse candidate there. 3 hours from my husband.
2) UT McGovern: also a powerhouse school, but I'm uncertain if it's really a good place for a primary care focus. If you have a thought about that, let me know! 3 hours from my husband.
3) UTMB: My lifelong passion for infectious diseases and Global Health make this one a great fit. I know no matter what shape my interests take, they'll be there to support me. Also, relaxed atmosphere and beaches! 4 hours from my husband.
4) Tech???: I'm really uncertain between here and El Paso. I know they're a better established school, but politically, I'm the polar opposite of Lubbock locals and I'm not sure the area fits me as well as Foster, but the education here is supposed to be top notch and med students here seem happy. Having an incredibly difficult time with this one. 6 hours from my husband.
5) Foster???: I'm in LOVE with this school! I feel at home here and have loved it since I toured here five years ago. I have heard that there are some questionable things about education but can't seem to find any more details than that. My interests in infectious diseases and border health make this seem like a really good fit, but I'm not sure. 8 hours from my husband, the thing that scares me the most.
6) UHCOM???: The innovative curriculum here scares the snot out of me. I'm also not completely dedicated to primary care and I'm not sure I want to dedicate myself to it in the way they're looking for. It's also a fairly new program. However, the location is better than the Tech schools in proximity to my husband, and I know they have excellent faculty because Dr. Gest who was well loved at El Paso and Dr Bush who was very respected at A&M both came to teach there, so I'm not sure how much those things are worth. 3 hours from my husband.
7) TCU-UNT: Again with the innovative curriculum, primary care focus, and new school, except also very expensive. Looks like students are happy, at least. 4 hours from my husband.
8) UIWSOM: Again with the innovative curriculum, new school, expensive but also DO. The lowest performing DO school in terms of passing rates in the US in their first round of board scores, but also refuses to publish its board scores. The only reason I would have wanted to go here was that they are only an hour away from my husband.
9) SHSU: New school, expensive DO, and further from my husband. Not sure what would make it worth attending.
Am I on the right track here? Does anyone disagree with my rankings? I'm especially unsure about the middle of the pack, in terms of UTMB - UHCOM. Thanks for any assistance!
