Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine Interview Feedback Summary
El Paso, TX
Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 31% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
8.0
Above Average
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 233 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 Mixed
< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the applicant's motivation for pursuing medicine, specific experiences in healthcare or research, opinions on healthcare challenges and reforms, and future goals in the field. Some interviews were structured as an MMI format with nondisclosure agreements, while others involved open-ended and conversational questions focusing on the applicant's background, values, and knowledge of healthcare issues.
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What is kindness?
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Why medicine?
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What do you think are some of the biggest challenges in healthcare today?
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why this school
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Why medicine? Why El Paso?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine discussed a wide range of ethical and situational scenarios, including discussing Medicare for all, disclosing medical mistakes, patient communication regarding malignancies, and dealing with end-of-life situations. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) as respondents mentioned a variety of thought-provoking questions, with some alluding to nondisclosure agreements due to the nature of the questions posed.
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What would you say to a patient who has misdiagnosed themselves from the internet?
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What do you think about Medicare for all?
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What is the difference between mass and weight?
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I was asked about my thoughts on El Paso and the school. They really try to make sure you are enthusiastic about living in the city, or are able to stand it.
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Would you report a medical mistake made and subsequently corrected by a resident or attending that did not adversely affect the patient in the long run if he asked you to keep quiet?
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including explaining a low GPA, ethical dilemmas about research protocols, integrating faith into medical practice, roles of healthcare professionals, and challenges in doctor-patient relationships. Some respondents mentioned MMI format, suggesting a nondisclosure agreement might have been in place for certain questions, while others encountered questions about healthcare reform, alternative medicine, and handling patient deaths or ethical conflicts.
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What is your opinion in DEI?
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How should I explain your low GPA (3.6x) to the admissions board?
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Who invented the big bang theory?
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I was asked by my second interviewer about the different roles of the doctor and doctor-patient relationship.
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An inane and irrelevant ethical question besides the one mentioned in response to specific question 2.
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
What was the stress level of the interview?
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by conducting online research, reviewing their application materials, reading the school's website, seeking advice from previous interviewees, and participating in mock interviews. They emphasized the importance of being familiar with the school's program, reflecting on personal experiences, and staying updated on current healthcare issues.
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I did a practice MMI.
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Mock interview
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Reviewing my application. Reading the school's MSAR page. Reading the school's website. Reading prior SDN threads.
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a lot of online research, medical school headquarters, and sdn
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Read my application, essays, and common interview questions.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the new and state-of-the-art facilities, small class sizes, and innovative curriculum at the school. They also appreciated the welcoming atmosphere, friendly staff and faculty, opportunities for clinical exposure, and the unique features like the simulation center and Spanish immersion program.
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They sent be a very thick packet of materials in the mail.
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The city of El Paso. The simulation and standardized patient clinic.
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the smaller class size, the students begin grouped in house, the facilities, and the location of the school
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The curriculum, how personable the students were, both of my interviewers
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The tour, the staff and faculty's dedication to the students, and El Paso in general.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the lack of enthusiasm and professionalism among staff and interviewers, the lack of community and camaraderie among students, the school's location in El Paso, and the newness of the institution. Suggestions included improving staff attitude, fostering student connections, addressing safety perceptions in El Paso, and providing more information on housing and curriculum.
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The interview was exceptionally poorly run, and the pre-interview orientation included a lot of outdated information that the presenters kept having to counter.
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Admin was very rude when problems were brought up with them
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The lack of hospital tour. The small student lounge area. The unprofessionalism of one of my interviewers.
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How uninterested the admission staff and IT/tech staff looked during campus tours
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Nothing really.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wish they had known ahead of time that the interviews were relatively laid back and conversational, which would have helped alleviate anxiety. Additionally, many applicants recommended preparing questions for current students, emphasizing the importance of making early rental car reservations due to close proximity to the airport and the convenience of shuttle services.
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The interviewers pick their own questions.
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That my interviewer was going to grill me and not let me talk.
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How laid back and relatively conversational the interviews were. I would have saved myself from a lot of anxiety and worry!
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N/A
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City is terrible, try to stay with a student, even the hotels are terrible.
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the PLFSOM impressive, with unique curriculum, supportive faculty, and kind students. However, some expressed concerns about the negative vibe from certain individuals and the need for a more positive atmosphere to improve the school's reputation.
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I was really disappointed. Every stage of the process fell far below my pretty low starting expectations.
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I was overall impressed by PLFSOM. Their curriculum is unique, the students are kind, and the faculty is very invested in the success of their students.
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This school wasn't too high on my list before my interview, but I really enjoyed my time at the school. It is much higher now!
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better school than expected
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Great school, superb faculty, really took the best of each TX school's curriculum. So TTEP probably has the best curriculum in TX, but unfortunately one of the worst locations.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should improve communication with waitlisted applicants post-Match Day, increase enthusiasm during tours, provide a more organized interview process, include the hospital in the tour, and enhance the presentation on financial aid.
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Please, use a different interviewing software, and don't make applicants spend hours watching videos about cool programs you no longer offer.
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Contact your waitlisted applicants after Match Day to keep us updated instead of keeping us in limbo.
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Be much more enthusiastic when giving a tour! Every other place is selling their medical school hard and are highly energetic. You're doing your institution a disservice when you are yawning and monotone the entire time and responding to questions with a bare minimum answer. I will say that my interviewers and students I met were much more helpful
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Merlin application website is terrible
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See general comments.
📍 On-Site Experience ▼
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by Admissions staff personnel
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are in state students.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 7+ hours traveling to the interview.
What was your primary mode of travel?
Most respondents traveled by airplane to the interview.
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
Most respondents spent between $201 and $300.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used El Paso International Airport (ELP)
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AUS
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ELP
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El Paso
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El Paso Inernational
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El Paso International
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
The most commonly mentioned hotel among the responses is "Holiday Inn Express".
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America's best value inn
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Best Western
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Best Western Airport
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Hawthorne
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Hilton Double Tree
How would you rate the hotel?
Most respondents rated their hotel as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
Most respondents would recommend their hotel.
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
All Responses
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