Has anyone actually contacted any of the Texas schools because you will be in the area? I live in NY and just got a UTSA invitation for 10/5. Flying to Texas is obviously kind of an ordeal and I would like to consolidate my interviews (if I get them). If anyone has contacted the Texas schools, I would really appreciate any feedback! Did they help you out? Laugh in your face? How did you contact them? Thanks so much!!
One of the girls in the Republic of Texas thread, maggie I think, contacted all of the schools to let them know that she'd only be in the area for a two week period and most of them seemed to work with her. All I can say is, it wouldn't hurt to do so. You'll never know if you don't try.
I'd don't know how well this will work. San Antonio isn't really close to any other schools. Texas is HUGE (as I'm sure you know)....I am in school in Texas, but at least 8 hours away from San Antonio (not sure of exactly how far). So, unless you're planning on being here for a while, I don't know how well this would work. Most schools do interviews on Fridays and none of the schools (except maybe Baylor and UT-Houston) are close enough to each other to actually interview at both in one day.
Hmm....Maggie lived in south/central Texas. I don't think that's who you are thinking about. I could be wrong though.
Maybe I'm dense, I just don't see how this could possibly work in Texas. "Hi, I'll be in the area....10 hours away...." I don't know. Maybe someone could break it down for you guys if they have done it.
Sorry JCM - hopefully it will work out, but CONGRATS on the UTHSCSA interview.
yes, i did this -- HOWEVER i was living in
southeast asia at the time and was trying to get all my interviews scheduled during one trip back to the States.
as aggie08 said, the schools themselves are all many hours apart, so a flight from another part of the country to El Paso, isn't really going to be that much different from a flight from Dallas to El Paso.
furthermore, a couple-hour flight is a whole lot different than a 22-hour flight, a 11 hour train ride, a 4 hour bus ride, multi-country customs procedures, visa approvals to enter/leave the country, and gross time zone interchanges... so just as a warning, the schools may not be as receptive.
Remember: there are LOTS of applicants from across the US in the same boat as you. i know that the interview season feels really expensive, but next year when you realize how much in debt you are with student loans, the couple thousand dollars spent this fall on interviews will be the least of your worries.
now, all that said, if you still want to do this
, this was my experience, which was directed by my premed advisor:
1. on my primary application under the 'special cirumstances' optional essay, i was upfront about the fact that i would be overseas during some of the interview months and requested scheduling consideration if/when the time came for interviews. (but i said it a lot more eloquently/humbly than that, lol!)
2. sat back and waited for interviews
3. i luckily ended up with 4 interview invites (
tech,
tcom,
houston,
el paso) that randomly had date options that fell within a 10 day period of each other.
4. I then contacted the other schools (
A&M,
san antonio,
soutwestern, and
utmb... didn't apply to baylor), reminded them of my situation, and asked if i could have an interview while home. Here's the actual email i sent to A&M that my premed advisor helped me write:
Dear Mr. Maldonado,
I am a 2009 TAMHSC College of Medicine applicant.
I am currently living in Mae Sai, Thailand for the 2008 summer and fall semesters, while volunteering with the Development and Education Programme for Daughters and Communities (DEPDC), a non-profit organization that combats human trafficking and child prostitution. DEPDC takes in the most impoverished children in Southeast Asia and provides them with the basic necessities of education, housing, and nourishment. My activities include teaching English at the school, and working on behalf of DEPDC with our English speaking benefactors and global partners.
Although this somewhat limits my interviewing schedule, I am planning a trip home to the States to complete interviews in accordance with my visa allowances.
As such I am seeking to cluster my interviews as close together as possible. (I currently have interviews scheduled for August 26, August 27, August 29, and September 4.)
Therefore, if TAMHSC is generously considering me for interview, I would be grateful for the opportunity to schedule such a meet during my time in the country.
Please let know if this is possible.
If you have any questions you can email me at [XXXemailXXX] and I can either reply via email or international call. For more immediate concerns, feel free to contact my pre-med advisor Karen Hudson (979-847-8938) who is aware of my situation and can be contacted on my behalf if urgent and/or needed.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the opportunity to meet with you in the upcoming months!
Sincerely,
[XXXnameXXX]
[XXXemailxxx]
TMDSAS# [XXXXX]
5. 2 of the schools (
san antonio and
a&m) were AMAZINGLY ACOMODATING and graciously agreed to work me into their interview schedule during those two weeks.
i never heard back from
ut southwestern, but my scores aren't exactly southwestern material.
utmb said they were interested in interviewing me--but unfortunately they couldn't get me in during that time, and told me to contact them when i got home (late november) and they would reschedule me, but by then i had other prematches and didn't renew interest.
so on a whole, i'd say asking is kinda hit-and-miss (2 out of 4 schools), even when you have a really good reason. For me it was absolutely necessary. but for you it may or may not be worth the risk... dunno. it's a call you'll have to make yourself.
hope this helps! if you have any other specific questions feel free to pm me! good luck!
