TMDSAS (pre)Match: Long vs. UTMB vs. Dell vs. McGovern

[IWishICouldPhysics]

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Hey everyone! Was hoping for some help with my TMDSAS decisions. I've been fortunate to receive five prematches, and am trying to figure out which to prioritize and how to rank. I'd appreciate any help or advice you can give.

A Bit About Me
- Currently in Dallas, would like to stay there but UTSW did not come through, and I'm moving forward with the defeatist mindset that I'm getting rejected from all of my top choices, IS and OOS.
- Not sure what I'm into, but seem to like ENT, ophthalmology, ortho (subject to change)
- Hate cold weather (hence why I moved here in the first place 🙂)

The Situation
UTSW and Baylor are my #1 and #2 respectively; now I'm trying to figure out how to rank UTMB, Long, Dell, and maybe? McGovern as my next top choices. I've also pre-matched to both Texas Techs and Texas A&M, but they're not high on my list.

Long (pre-match)
Pros -

• Solid PD rankings and decent prestige (please don't flame me for this one)
• Matches well
• Good rotations and connections.
• Students seemed really nice and community seemed there

Cons -

• BIG ONE - graded curriculum, seems needlessly difficult and annoying (anyone can Honors from what I know, but still seems like an extra stressor to an already stressful time)
• Large class size

Notes -

• San Antonio seems okay? No strong feelings there.

UTMB (pre-match)
Pros -

• P/F!
• NBME exams
• Genuinely great environment and very supportive
• Matches pretty well?
• Less prestigious as far as I know

Cons -

• I've heard things about the admin doing shady things with their match lists and rankings, someone could potentially elucidate me
• Galveston is not my favorite city, and the weather scares me
• Large class size

Dell
Pros -

• INSANE match list and connections
• Small class sizes
• The Free Year
• P/F
• Austin is near some family, which would be nice after four years of being ~1000 miles away from family

Cons -

• Heard bad things from students about how prepared students are for residency
• Constant changes from administration
• One year preclinical
• Still new and unknown
• Poor rotation

McGovern

Pros - ?
Cons - ?
Notes: I know nothing about McGovern and have no strong feelings, other than I haven't seen them matching ENT (a favored current specialty, but God knows what I'll like in six months, let alone three years) much in the last few years; I wasn't really considering it but now I'm wondering if I should be? Any advice?

So far it seems like Long and Dell are the superior winners over UTMB, but I just don't know anymore. Thank y'all for any help, it comes much appreciated! Have a great day 🙂

 

[wysdoc]

why do you say Dell matches are so great? to me, meh

 

[IWishICouldPhysics]

why do you say Dell matches are so great? to me, meh

I am but a little pre-med, but from what I've seen (and given newness of their program and small class sizes), the fact that they're matching into very well-regarded programs with neurosurg, derm, ortho, some plastics, so on seems a good indicator. Anecdotally, they also have strong connections to well-known figures. But insight is much appreciated, could you explain why you think that?*

 

[pdidd3]

I would go

1. Dell
2. UTMB
3. McGovern
4. Long