El Paso, TX
Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 30% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
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
💬 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 motivation behind pursuing medicine, challenges in healthcare, personal interests, handling ethical dilemmas, explaining academic performance, describing research experiences, and discussing healthcare policies or reforms. Additionally, some interviews were in an MMI format, where respondents may have been subject to a nondisclosure agreement regarding specific questions asked during the Multiple Mini Interview process.
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how do you feel about the homeless camp ban in Austin?
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Why medicine?
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Tell me about yourself?
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What do you like to do for fun?
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What do you think are some of the biggest challenges in healthcare today?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including opinions on Medicare for all, ethical dilemmas like disclosing medical mistakes or discussing end-of-life situations, and scenarios involving patient care preferences and professional integrity. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on responses mentioning nondisclosure agreements, with questions covering patient care, ethical decision-making, and personal motivations for pursuing medicine.
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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?
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Your patient has a malignancy and if you tell her something bad could happen. Would you tell her?
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 low GPA, roles of a doctor, negative research outcomes, faith in medical practice, healthcare reform, patient deaths, handling criticism, ethics, and cheating incidents. Some respondents mentioned an MMI format and possible nondisclosure agreements, while others highlighted questions on alternative medicine, HPV vaccine, and concentration of physicians on policy or individuals.
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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.
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How do you feel about the possibility that the protocol your researching could produce negative results, showing that it was actually detrimental to the patient's outcome or even harmful?
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
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.
📍 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.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents rank the facilities as below average.
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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there's only one in el paso
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dfw, elp
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There is only one
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Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport
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El paso airport... ELP
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
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Studio Six
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Quality Inn
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Motel 6
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Mariott springfield suites
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La Quinta Airport West
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 is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Many applicants prepared for the interview by conducting mock interviews, reviewing their applications, reading school websites and SDN forums, and practicing common interview questions. They also focused on researching the school's specific programs and values, getting a good night's sleep before the interview, and staying updated on current healthcare issues.
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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.
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SDN, school website, talking to people who had previously interviewed, and paying attention to the presentations the day of prior to my interview.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the brand new and state-of-the-art facilities, the small class sizes, the innovative curriculum emphasizing clinical exposure, and the friendly and enthusiastic faculty and staff. Many also highlighted the unique aspects of the school, such as the Spanish immersion program, the simulation center, and the close-knit student community, which left a lasting positive impression.
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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.
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The atmosphere was extremely positive.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the unprofessionalism of staff and interviewers, lack of community and camaraderie among students, disinterest from admissions and IT staff, the area of El Paso, and the newness of the school. Suggestions included improving staff professionalism, fostering a sense of community, and addressing concerns about the location and facilities.
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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.
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El Paso.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the laid-back and conversational nature of the interviews, the importance of preparing questions for current students, the potential for back-to-back interviews, and the convenience of shuttles in El Paso. They also noted the limited time spent in one building during the early years of medical school, the safety of the city, and the need to plan transportation to the airport in advance.
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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.
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eat breakfast! they only had cookies
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found PLFSOM to have a unique curriculum, supportive faculty, and friendly students. Some expressed concerns about negative vibes from certain individuals and the school's location, but overall, many were impressed by the relaxed interviews and the potential for the school to improve its reputation.
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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.
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I went to this interview with very high expectations based on past feedback, comments by other interviewees at other school interviews, and commentary on SDN threads. I found myself extremely disappointed in this school due to the extremely negative and disinterested vibe I got from the students, some of the admissions staff, and a few of the faculty. That being said a couple of faculty members were upbeat and left excellent impressions. Unfortunately the bad impressions significantly outweighed the good. It is really a shame, because I wanted to love this school. Unlike other interview experiences almost none of the students I interacted with seemed to love this school. That is a very bad sign. Maybe there is some truth to the negative comments posted in past application threads on SDN. It is very apparent the school is eager to shed its status as a back-up/last resort school, but until the faculty, staff, and students are able to work together to develop a sense of community and a positive atmosphere this school will not be able to improve its status in most applicants' rank lists. I hope they are able to get it together, because this school has the potential to be much better. However, currently I would not attend this school even with the offer of a 15k/yr merit scholarship.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should improve communication with waitlisted applicants post-Match Day, enhance the enthusiasm and organization of tours, and include the hospital in the tour experience. They also recommended improving the Merlin application website and the presentation on financial aid.
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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.
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Wish the hospital was included in the tour.
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