Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 19% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did well.
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 questions at medical school interviews revolved around personal motivations for pursuing medicine, experiences mentioned in the application, strengths and weaknesses, future goals in medicine, and specific details on academic or extracurricular backgrounds. While there was a wide range of questions, the focus was on understanding the candidate's character, interests, and preparedness for a career in medicine.
More of the questions were about my primary applications and my experience especially since most of my clinical experience was from TMC where the school is located.
Second interview was closed file and conversational yet interview-like, "what's been one of the greatest highs and one of the greatest lows in your life?"
Did not happen to me, but I was told one interviewer likes to ask questions that even a resident couldn't answer just to see how you react in a high-stress situation when you don't know the answer. Don't get flustered; tell them what you know if you can answer it, and if not, be honest about that too. Trying to BS won't usually pay off
What do you do for fun? (They will follow up to make sure you're being honest, for example they will ask you to list what novels you've read recently.)
First question out of the gate: Do you think death panels are real? Followed by 'How do you feel about our current situation in medicine?' ect ect.
**They told us we wouldn't be asked about health care reform and I was so have a neutral opinion ready just in case.**
My 2nd interviewer didn't ask me a single question... as I walked in, I started small chit chat, and from there our conversation flew naturally from topics of both our choosing, with skillfully placed segways.
One interviewer went by that ''worksheet'' with the standard ''how do you deal with stress'' and ''what are your strengths and weaknesses'' kind of thing. Advice: turn it into a convo.
After shadowing multiple doctors, what have they taught you about medicine that will make you a better physician? What characteristics in them do you want to exemplify in your own practice and will you be able to? (i.e. how?)
In working with the abused children at BAIR Foundation, were any of them infants? How do you think that you would handle having an infant that was critically ill or abused?
What kinds of things did you do in high school and what leadership positions did you hold? I honestly could not remember much b/c I never thought she would ask this! I am still remembering things I wish I could have told her.
Tell me about yourself? What have you been doing since you graduated? What has motivated you to pursue a career in medicine? What specialty interests you?
What was your favorite class? Your least favorite class? Why? Why did you do poorly in XYZ class? How do you know you won't face the same problem again?
Any guesses as to what specialty you might want? (Ironically my personal statement was dedicated to my experiences in my specialty and why I chose it.)
What has impressed you most about the school today? I actually answered that the friendly students, faculty, staff were impressive. I wouldn't suggest using this answer - true as it was, I don't think it was what the interviewer wanted to hear.
Students said most interesting questions asked at University of Texas Medical School-Houston discussed a wide range of topics including personal motivations for pursuing medicine, handling ethical dilemmas, preferences in music and food, views on healthcare challenges, and scenarios related to patient care. While the interviews covered diverse areas, some respondents mentioned MMI format, suggesting a potential nondisclosure agreement due to the unique nature of questions asked.
Do you like to cook?
What kind of music do you like?
What sort of activities do you enjoy in your free time?
(I thought they were interesting since they were so unrelated to medicine specifically.)
If your 98yr old great grandmother had a abdominal aneurysm would you support surgical intervention? then when I said no and stated why was asked, how do you think she would feel?
My 2nd interviewer had a list of questions the admissions office provided him to ask us...He said scratch the questions.. just "Sell Yourself to me..."
How do you feel about illegal immigration? What if an illegal immigrant came to you to be treated medically but resources are scarce, what would you do for them or tell them given the Hippocratic oath that physicians have historically sworn by?
Two along the same lines...The interviewer first asked me, ''What's the hardest question I could ask you?'' (say that question is). Then he asked me what's the hardest question I could come up with for him.
I was given a scenario where somehow the top five doctors' knowledge was programmed into a machine that could replace a doctor in practicing medicine. I was the chief counselor to the president who would be making the decision on whether or not to incorporate this miracle wonder into today's healthcare system. I needed to give 5 pro's and 5 con's.
Interesting? I started talking with an interviewer about his research and he started asking me questions (testing me I suppose) about how I would go about solving a certain problem. Good thing I remembered some cell bio.
If you were a pediatrician, and you had been seeing the same girl for 16 years, and now she wanted birth control pills but wanted you to keep the information from her parents, what would you do?
There wasn't any particular interesting question asked most of it was about my background, having come from out-of-state, and then the rest of it was just conversational questions.
Conversational so not a whole lot of outright questions. Talked about the knowledge base being so wide that doctors are now more managers. Also alot about my study abroad exp.
Nothing too out of the ordinary. One interviewier talked a whole bunch and then towards the end asked, "what is the one thing about yourself that you want me to convey to the admissions board?"
Why did you go to ____ for your undergraduate degree? (when I said that I had some attachments to my family, she proceeded to ask me whether that would play a role in me going to medical school in Texas)
My interviewer asked me if i had applied to TCOM and if I didn't why not? I knew it was a D.O. school and I just gave her a truthful answer. I'm not sure if she was a D.O. or not.
"Many years ago, I was reading an article from the literature that criticized the biomedical model and suggested that it should be referred to the biopsychosocial medical model. What do you think biopsychosocialmedical model means?"
A list of 1st & 2nd year medical school basic science courses were presented. The interviewer went through each one and asked if I had any experience/background in the subject from undergrad.
Do you want to explain your GPA for Fall of your Soph. year?...this wouldn't have been interesting if my GPA hadn't been above a 3.5 for that semester. It was my lowest GPA, but it didn't effect my cumm.
If you can tell me what this is and convince me why it is what you think it is, you will get into medical school. (showed me a case containing a kidney stone)
Pretty standard questions. Unfortunately the most interesting questions had to do with hindsight and whether I would change anything about myself or my experiences.
My 1st interviewer didn't really ask me any standard questions. He just said, "Tell me what you want to know about the school. Ask me anything." We still managed to talk for about 30 minutes, but it was different from what I was expecting.
I somehow ended up with 2 very laid-back interviewers. They didn't really ask many questions - we just talked. I also got the quesiton "Do you know what your getting in to?" This was my first interview and it couldn't have a better introduction. Everyone was so very nice. Very minimal stress.
My 13 year old daughter is about to lose her virginity so she comes to you for birth control pills. Do you give her the pills and what do you tell her?
Hmm.. the questions were pretty standard- background, motivation for medicine, comparisons between access to healthcare here and in Nigeria where I grew up. My first interviewer wanted to know why I was applying to the school instead of other well known schools-I'm from Houston but went to school out of state. Hobbies etc....
I was given a series of ethical questions. The one I received is a common one but one that I feel was very interesting.
John has a terminally ill wife. There is a new type of private drug out in the market. However, this drug is very expenisive. John is not wealthy and therefore can not afford to pay for the medication. He tries to collect money, attain loans, talk to the company, basically everything in his power to do this legally. He comes to you to discuss a plan to steal the drug. What do you tell him?
Why do we as a country spend more on health care than another nation yet still ranking in the middle as far as life expectancy or infant mortality? How can we fix this?
since I didn't have a whole lot of clinical experience one interviewer asked how I knew for sure that I wouldn't pass out during a surgey. (no idea what the proper response is)
What the economy was like in my hometown? I think they asked this to see if I was really interested in staying in Texas or heading back home to Nebraska.
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Texas Medical School-Houston discussed diverse topics such as US healthcare challenges, career choices, diversity, ethics scenarios, and personal attributes. While some mentioned specific questions like abortion, PCMH concept, and GPA fluctuations, others highlighted the conversational and relaxed nature of the interviews, with occasional unexpected inquiries, anatomy questions, and ethical dilemmas.
Tell me your overall impression about the US Healthcare system and its challenges.
Nothing really. First interview was a bit awkward because the interviewer seemed uncomfortable/not conversational. Maybe the healthcare issues one but that's a pretty common questions so not too unexpected
Explain to me the concept of the PCMH (patient centered medical home). We had been discussing the PCMH in regards to the above topic, so this question was expected.
What do you think of the ethics involved with Michael Jackson's doctor? He was getting at the fact that doctors have to choose whether or not it is ethical to prescribe medications outside the standard amount based on patient needs (eg painkillers).
What are you looking forward to least about medical school? (Hard to answer honestly without shooting yourself in the foot or having them doubt your ability to handle med school)
What will you do if you don't get into medical school? (It was difficult b/c then he told me if I didn't get in I should go back and get more clinical experience, and that if I got into the other school I interviewed at, to take the spot, haha)
After my response to "What would you do if you didn't get into medical school after multiple tries?" the question was "Why not go to dental school, there you've got patient interaction, specialties, and can get in with lower scores?"
Why didn't you apply to UT Dallas (South Western)... [I couldn't say because I didn't have a chance without research, for fear of making both myself and UT Houston appearing 'lesser']
(after explaining that one reason i liked the location was my significant-other's job industry was there)
''Significant other. What, are you a lesbian?''
I really did not have any difficult questions. It was really laid back. It was conversational.
However, one of the interviewers made his interviewees DRAW KIDNEY and asked them to locate kidney stone.
My first interviewer didn't seem like he took the time to look over my application and didn't seem to ever understand where I was from, so explaining this over and over again was frustrating.
What would you do to prevent the influx of illegal immigrants coming to the U.S.? What needs to be done in their countries to ameliorate their situation?
There wasn't any difficult questions asked. The 2 interviewers just seemed interested in esatblishing an idea of what extracirriculars I participated in during my college years.
Pretend I'm a government official from a rural town in Texas: why should my taxpapers' money goes towards your medical education if you practice overseas?
Surprisingly, nothing difficult at all! No ethical no issues no nothing substantial. He did ask me about my childhood and father, but he could tell from my reaction that it was a touchy subject for me and told me that I didn't have to talk about it.
Role-play: "Imagine that you are a doctor attempting to get me to sign a consent form for a spinal tap and I am the patient. Tell me how you would ask me to sign this form."
How many friends do you have? What are they like? Do you go out and have fun with them? How often do you see them? Are they your own age? etc. I really got the feeling that she thought I couldn't get along with people my own age.
What specialty are you interested in? Yes, it is standard, and I was prepared, but I still maintain that it is impossible to know until you have experienced all of the areas.
She threw a couple of questions out that I really hadn't considered mostly because I thought Houston stuck with the basics. They were kind of hard during the interview because I wasn't expecting them, but I thought on my feet and she said I did well. Some of them were: How would you handle cross-cultural differences as a physician? Why is educating the community as a physician important? Why is it important for a physician to make a patient feel comfortable and confident when they are in your office?
Where does UT-Houston rank among all the med schools you have applied to--i.e. How serious are you about returning to Houston (I grew up there but am currently out of state)
How seriously are you considering UT Houston? . . . Uh huh, so are you considering UT Houston very seriously? . . . Yes, but it seems like it would be very convenient for you to go to Southwestern . . .
A man has tried everything to raise enough money to buy a new, expensive drug that cure his possibly terminally ill wife but fails. He comes to you as a friend and tells you that he plans to outright steal the drug from the pharmacy. What do you tell him to do?
see above- everything was pretty standard- nothing too difficult. I didn't get asked any ethical questions- just my stance on access to healthcare and ethnic disparities in access to health care (based on my file).
Most of the questions were very basic and conversational. However, one interviewer asked my stance on the current HMO structures and on the Clinton Plan.
I was asked where I would be in 15 years and I mentioned possilby out of state. don't say that, later in the interview he said UT Houston wants to train TEXAS doctors.
A man's wife is near death and the only medicine to save her life is much too expensive. After thinking about it, he decides to steal it from a local pharmacy. What are your thoughts? Is he justified in his actions?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
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?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by reviewing their application materials, reading interview feedback on platforms like SDN, conducting mock interviews, researching the school's website, and staying updated on current healthcare issues. Mock interviews, reviewing application materials, and familiarizing oneself with common interview questions were also popular methods of preparation.
Read previous interview questions on SDN and read my primary and secondary applications.
Practice interview with the prehealth advising department at my undergrad. SDN interview feedback. SDN forums. Writing out answers to stock questions. Reviewing my file.
SDN, reviewed my application, went through standard interview questions, did some research on the school and did a mock interview with my health professions office.
I read through the interview feedback section on SDF, I read the articles on SDF, I read the Sunday Times, I googled about the current health care debate and the most recent bill, I went over possible questions in my head, I read up on UT-H mainly through the website.
The book: The Medical School Interview, SDN, looking over essays, mock interview ect.
Note: one interview was open file, one closed. It was obvious that the open file interviewer just skimmed the information.
That interviews don't require a huge amount of preparation, just answer: 1) why do you want to become a doctor?;2)What have you done to evidence your interest in medicine?; 3) What do you know about the state of healthcare?
i read a short book about med school interviews, did research on healthcare and controversial topics and prepared some facts in my mind about who I was and I want to be a physician. seemed to work; i pre-matched to UT-H.
SDN feedback, med school interview book (by Dr. Fleenor), read-up on health care policies and watched Sicko, reviewed my app, reviewed my research, prepared some answers to common questions
SDN, looked up and practiced sample questions, re-read my application especially my personal statement, updated myself with insurance policies...way too over prepared!!!
Read interview feedback on SDN, read through my notes from med sociology class (totally unnecessary), got drilled by my good friend who used to do debate and is a fellow pre-med (best thing), got my nails done ;)
Went around Houston and found a Lebanese restaurant/hookah bar, hung out with friends, basically cleared my mind of anything related to medicine. It was pretty relaxing, and there is no need to be uptight at UT-H.
Had an answer (not memorized) ready for any possible question or situation by compiling huge list of questions ever asked. WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY OVERPREPARED. You really need not do this, though there are just some you should expect. Know why you chose your major if it isn't the typical science. =)
Mock interview, read sample questions on this website and other books, researched managed care, brushed up on health care issues addressed by 2004 presidential candidates, attended the night before event to ask questions from the med students that were there, and reviewed my application
reviewed my personal statement/application; read up on current events in the world, government & medicine; reviewed ethical debates/issues while trying to formulate my own opinions & thoughts; 3 mock interviews; re-evaluated my own motivations to become a doctor and attempted to verbalize those thoughts to myself; prepared a portfolio with extra copies of my personal statement/application, a pen, a notepad, & thank you cards; visited school the day before so I knew exactly where everything was located on the day of the interview
I went to Houston a day or 2 in advance to make sure I could find the building/parking garage. Looked on their website for info about subjects that are of interest to me to help develop some questions
Brwosed SDN quite a bit, visited the school's website and the area of medicine at the school that I was interested in, read up on faculty research at the school in my area of interest.
I read all the feedbacks on this website, searched the web for questions and answers, read about UT - Houston, reviewed my application, outlined what i wanted to say about some basic questions, watched smallville to relax =)
Read up on UTH website. Tried to collect my thoughts on such things as managed care, genetics, etc. The interviewers will be able to tell if you're spouting out something from TIME magazine last week, versus really know what you're talking about.
Applicants were positively impressed by the extensive resources available in the Texas Medical Center, the friendliness and collaborative environment among students and faculty, the state-of-the-art facilities, and the genuine support and enthusiasm displayed by everyone involved in the interview process. Many highlighted the happy and accommodating student culture, the impressive faculty accessibility, and the remarkable opportunities for learning and research within the school and the medical center, emphasizing the overall positive and welcoming atmosphere of the institution.
The amount of resources available in the Texas Medical Center
The friendliness and collaborative environment of the school. MS1s always had incredible things to say about MS2s. Class boasted (in a good way) about having a page filled with notes and anki decks.
The TMC for sure. Also how happy the students seemed and how much they talked about the collaborative environment. Free STEP 1 prep materials (UWorld and First Aid) for med students is cool too.
The huuge TMC! How happy and friendly students were. Several random students wished me good luck, just because they saw me in a suit! The students seemed to be a good mix of people.
Everything
TMC, facilities, how much the staff supports the students, friendliness of everyone involved in interview day, tour (though not necessarily the length of it ~2hrs).
Texas Medical Center. The incredible hospitality and friendliness of the students, staff, and locals. My student hosts drove out to the airport to pick me up, took me to the interview social, boarded me an extra night, and answered my follow-up emails promptly and thoroughly. Texas Medical Center. NOBODY hosts an interview day like UTH (not even close) - from the first meeting through the closing session every part is top notch. The lunch is fabulous. Did I mention Texas Medical Center!
TMC (need i say more?), Dr. Kellaway, the students (at lunch they were so funny I almost spit my ice tea out), the video at the beginning of the day (it was corny but kinda broke the ice for the day).
Dr. Kalloway is as great as every says. I was impressed with friendliness of everyone I encountered. Brand new facilities. Looks state of the art. I like how they want you succeed.
The students were super-friendly, and were happy to answer all of my questions. You could tell that they really loved being there. The school is within the largest medical center in the nation. The second largest is only 1/4 of the size. Therefore, the educational opportunities are endless!
Tour was AMAZING - i have worked in, lived next to, been a patient in the TX medical center, but it is still astounding. Open heart surgery and a helo landing - what more can you ask for?
Amazing facilities, supportive environment, ability to individualize medical education, medical students down to earth and kind, school does incredible things to ensure the success of students, university housing is cheap, nice and safe. Work hard play hard attitude.
Dr. K's philosophy and genuine concern for us. TMC!!!! I saw a code 3 land on the helipad then an open heart surgery from the dome. The Gross Anatomy Lab and the Surgical and Clincal Skills Center are top notch facilities.
The facilities were great. TMC is great. The students and administration were INCREDIBLY friendly. It was very laid back and chill. The interviewers were very relaxed and fun to talk to. I had a great experience overall.
People were incredibly FRIENDLY. I got lost on my way to an interview because my paper didn't have a letter in front of the number, and when I stopped a person in the hallway, he (ended up being a surgeon) stopped and rallied about about 3 other people (I think also surgeons) to help me. The students seem pretty laid back, and are into the "work hard play hard" attitude. I like the non-competitiveness as well. The TMC, clinical opportunities, I loved it.
The enthusiasm of the students, the incredibly welcoming and cooperative environment with students and faculty. The facilities in the TMC, namely technology and how they are catered for learning.
The facilities had to be refinished after flooding a few years ago, and they are absolutely stunning. The anatomy lab and other areas in the basement are top-notch and have the latest technology. The medical center itself is huge. The admissions staff is extremely friendly and easy to talk to.
Students were nice, honest. The faculty seemed more concerned with producing good doctors, not high stats. The school seems to care about each student as a person. Memorial Hermann
TMC is incredible. Clean, state-of-the-art. surgical and clinical skills center. you can do your clinical rotations anywhere in TMC....this includes MD Anderson. WOW.
The hospitals at the TMC & school facilities were amazing. The whole interview day was very organized. The staff, faculty & students were very friendly and really tried to sell you the school.
the facilities are absolutely amazing! there are few other places where you can get the opportunities for seeing as many patients and rare conditions as you can get here (world's largest medical center). the current students were awesome, very friendly and genuinely seemed to love going there. houston's cultural and social atmosphere is great, for those few free times you'll have during school.
The students at Houston are so supportive of each other. Everyone seems to take their studies seriously without taking themselves too seriously.
Also, the resources and campus are amazing!
The facillities and monetary resources are just incredible. The scope of the medical center floored me, and it was way way nice than other places I interviewed! They struck a good note between being a supportive program with laid back, happy students and being a resource-rich high-quality top-notch institution. Also: excellent living facilities for students, incredible rec center, support mechanisms for spouses, community-feeling.
The facilities are AMAZING, the possibilities in the Texas Medical Center (largest in the world) are limitless, and the wonderful camraderie between the students (they email out review sheets they make, helpful tips, etc), that there are no curves or anything competitive, everyone can honor, high-pass etc a course.
Everything! The students are incredibly friendly and laid back, the faculty is involved, they do a great job of integrating you into the school, and their resources and facilities are amazing.
Great location, great facilities (brand new), school seems to have a good balance of work and free time, amazing hospitals for 3rd year-two world class and one indigent.
The facilities were state of the art and the medical center is the largest in the world. The people there are extremely passionate about their work and your success. (Both students and faculty)
They seemed to have the best facilities of anywhere I've interviewed. I would love to go to school here because of all the opportunities you have right there at the Texas Medical Center.
How warm everyone was: from the admissions people to the students to the president himself!! I really felt like they genuinely loved their school, and it made me love it too. It was almost like a day long promo for UT-Houston, even my 2 interviews!
The Texas Medical Center is so HUGE and the whole vibe of it was really great. Everyone just loves what they do and it gets you really excited. Most of the facilities and equipment are new and state-of-the-art. Also, all of the students are really nice.
The TMC is really impressive. It seems like its own city inside Houston. The hospitals all seemed like hotels and were big with huge resources. The UT school was nice and since the flood had alot of new things like the learning center and a new simulation lab. The staff was very nice and made the day go really smooth.
The breadth of facilities in the Texas Medical Center. The pleasantness of the students at the luncheon, during tours, and at a mixer the night before.
The friendliness of students/faculty/staff; the vast medical facilities available; the fact that students are not so "cut-throat" competitive;
Everything. No competition between students b/c of the standard grading. Grades are Pass/Fail. Eight hospitals join together! Baylor Med is right across the street.
The facilities as many have commented on were quite impressive. Beyond the facilities the faculty and students were very friendly both those participating in the interview day as well as those just doing routine things on campus. I had first year students who were studying for exams wish me luck. The faculty seems to have quite an "open door" policy for the students which was a very impressive point. It also seems that cut-throat nature of competition ends once you get admitted into UT Houston which is nice. The entire ambiance was friendly, warm, and welcoming.
I loved my interviewers! They were both women, and I felt like I connected with them very well. The med students and professors greatly emphasized the non-competitive atmosphere and the helpfulness of the faculty.
The clinical facilities (Hermann)are absolutely amazing...there are so many resources that UT-Houston draws on, virtually the entire medical center is available for your education. Also, much of the basic training area was renovated since the flood in 2001, so they are all new and clean.
My interviewers were both awesome. I swear my first interview was the best medical school interview anyone has ever had! My application made her start crying and then I started crying and then we started hugging. It was awesome :)
The familial feeling that everyone portrayed throughout the whole process. They were all helpful with one another and the school did not have that cut-throat feel to it.
The facilities are amazing! MD Anderson is one of the best oncology centers in the world, got to see an open heart surgery at TX Heart Institute. The students were genuinely happy to be there.
Newly renovated facilities (thanks to the flood), friendly and warm atmosphere. The 2nd tour I took of MD Anderson was from a student who was a former patient at the cancer center. Really left a positive impression. Also the food was good and my interviewers were considerate and kind and seemed geniuinly interested in me.
The students that we met seemed very positive and supportive. They made it seem like there is a very tightly-knit community. All the facilities were new or renovated since the flood took out a lot of buildings.
The students were willing to show me where an office was, even tho they were in the middle of tests. The interviewers were not grilling me, and were very candid.
The facilities are amazing and people in the area are helpful. The clinical opportunities there are endless and it seems a great place to balance a social life with academics.
The school is very pretty. The medical center in Houston is awesome. The facilities are great. Everyone was very nice. Herman Hospital is state of the art.
The facilities at the TMC are absolutely incredible. The students and faculty were very friendly and helpful. I liked the comradre amongst the med students
The facilities. The Health Center has it all- Level I Trauma Hospitals, Cancer Research centers, Baylor and UT Houston Med Schools, School of Public Health, etc.
The facilities (fantastic!), the students (positive, helpful, and happy), access to lectures online. Interviews were scheduled very close together, so reduced stress.
The Texas Medical Center is AMAZING! I don't think anyone will get a better training anywhere else! The new anatomy lab and Learning Resource Center are great new facilities. I toured M.D. Anderson and was very impressed.
MD Anderson was really awesome. I liked the whole idea of trying to make it feel more like a hotel than a hospital. I didn't get to see any of the other tours.
The second interviewer was really really nice and caring and seemed to want to get to know me. Also, the Texas Medical Center is very impressive, I liked the tours of Memorial-Hermann and MD Anderson hospitals.
the medical center complex is AMAZING and the med school (some of it anyway) is being renovated. Food was good. One of the Doc's let us see pt.'s with him!
Lots of shiny fantastic people all around at UT-Houston. The students seemed candid, kind & sincere about there medical school experiences. Faculty/staff were congenial, genuine & true role models for their prospective fields. The Dean of Admission's opening remarks/speech was notable for not only providing inspiration and eliciting excitement for the field of medicine but also grounding "eager all-conquering&invincible-soon-to-be-doctors" by acknowledging the not-so glamorous-realities of medicine and imprinting the commitment and responsibilities that come with the honor of being a doctor. The Texas Medical Center is the WORLD's (not the nation's) largest medical center and the opportunities to be exposed/study/learn medicine are limitless. The medical school has it's own gymnasium with cardio equipment, weights, bb court, aerobics room & locker rooms; There are no letter grades or class rankings; Classes can be viewed and accessed over the internet at any time which frees up students' mornings/days for more hands-on experiences with doctors/hospitals. There are many preceptership programs & research opportunities...enough in quantity & variety to suit every students needs, likes, & personalities.
The medical center itself is amazing. The tour of the heart hospital was impressive. We were actually allowed in the observatory dome of an OR during surgery.
Students and faculty are outstanding, the dean is very personable and involved, excellent facilities available to students, opportunity to stay with a first year student the night before the interview, good speakers, good food
The Texas Medical Center is huge. We saw a surgery in progress during the Texas Heart Institute Tour. Classes are available online one hour each lecture in streaming video format. The students were supportive of one another. There is a huge emphasis on clinical care (as opposed to research). My interviews (along with others whom I met) were with doctors (MD and PhD) in areas I had listed as being interested. They offer some interesting programs, one of which allows students to analyze paintings in a nearby museum for subjects' emotions in order to more efficiently diagnose a patient. They also have the Problem Based Learning program and something along the lines of a spirituality in medicine program like those mentioned in Newsweek's recent article.
Student, faculty, staff attitudes. Staff and faculty introduced themselves to me and made small talk, students in the hallway smiled at me and asked me how things were going.
The students are unbelievably friendly. They help each other and really are invested in creating a positive school community. They seemed to care about who would be joining them next year.
The students are a very tightly knit group. They are almost like a family. The TMC (Texas Medical Center) is also very impressive and a great place for clinical experience.
The students were great and the Dean of Admissions was really nice, his speech at the beginning was great. The interviewers were both really nice and personable.
the students were so amazing. I stayed with a student the night before and she was very friendly and helpful-- a great cheerleader for her school. And she gave out a lot of information what it is like to go to UT Houston.
the housing for students and tranportation to and from the med school is wonderful.
Friendliness of students, faculty. Emphasis on student education and happiness. The students seemed really happy and funny as well. I really liked UT-Houston.
The students love their school. Everyone I talked to ranked Houston as number one. I even talked to a guy who, due to strange circumstances, was admitted to Houston and Southwestern. He chose Houston.
The atmosphere and attitude of the students. Everyone was so friendly, and students that I hadn't even met would stop and ask if I needed to find where I was going, or just to ask how everything was going for the day. Everyone seems to know each other very well, whick I liked a lot.
How everyone was so laid back. The interviews are very conversational. The students are extremely friendly and social. The overall atmosphere created a casual, fun tone.
the students and faculty were very friendly and were obviously very proud of their school. it seems very noncompetitive amoung the students and alot of the students have families as well.
The students were very nice. That day was a beautiful Houston day that I know never happens, but it was a pleasure to be at the Medical Center and walk around. The Texas Heart Institute is amazing and Hermann Hospital is beautiful. I really enjoyed this whole experience
The students - they were really helpful and laid back and sounded excited about the school. Even people who had nothing to with the interview process (e.g., other physicians and staff) would stop me and ask if I was interviewing, give me advice, and wish me good luck.
The camaraderie of the students. UTH will sell this on you -- and they are right in doing that, because it's really apparent. The faculty is supportive as well. And lunch is great, too - fully catered.
The whole Texas Medical Center how everything is right there in one area. Plus, we got to see the Texas Heart Insitute with doctors performing surgury (which I'm hoping to do) so I could have spent the entire day there.
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions about the disorganization of the interview day, the lack of professionalism from some interviewers, the outdated facilities, the stress and competitiveness among students, issues with parking and traffic in Houston, and the unfavorable weather conditions. Suggestions included improving organization, enhancing facility aesthetics, addressing the stress culture, and providing more transparency about the curriculum and student life.
Parking/traffic is expensive/awful. Everyone said to live in a close apartment with a free shuttle or to live along the rail (some type of public transit rail system). It's like $100/month for parking in the TMC for your first and second year, so no one drives
The second interviewer (from Egypt) kept ending every question with "and don't lie now" or "and tell the truth" or something like that. I could tell he was kind of joking but it made things awkward nonetheless.
it snowed my day (yeah SNOWED in houston), so they had to cancel the bus tour which was just disappointing. The social the night before was ok, but the music was SO LOUD that it was hard to talk to everyone.
No relationship with Texas Children's is a little bit of a downer. The size of the class makes it feel like a bit of a 'doctor factory'. Traditional curriculum leads to 'hell weeks' of exams throughout the preclinical years. Not P/F.
One of my interviwers was a guest faculty member so when I asked him a question about UT Houston, he said "I don't know" and left it at that....
You have walk a long ways to each interview. My second interview was on the other side of the TMC. MD Anderson tour was cancelled because of the rain. School is run down
The school tried to be personal. My first interview was very rushed. The guy was 15 minutes late, the next interview was already there so all in all it lasted 15 minutes and would have been shorter had I not asked a lot of questions that I had.
I hate Houston. I just hate it. It's in as nice an area of Houston as I think it gets, but its still sprawlsville. But I could come up with nothing negative about the school.
the tour was long and it was a big group in the afternoon...it was hard to hear the tour guide, found myself just gong through the motions to finish the day...cuz my interviews were in the morning
That final exams were in place, so many of the students were holed up in classes, and my tour guide was exhausted, having just come out of a gross anatomy final. Gotta admire his dedication to the school for doing a tour after a final!
I feel that they tried too hard to illustrate their ''laid-back'' mentality. Unless you're a genius, I don't feel medical school should be taken lightly.
Well, the construction that is going on due to the latest flood, but that is expected. Also, because the students were having tests that day, I was unable to really converse with any of them.
The first student that was leading my tour group seemed arrogant and pretentious... which made everything that he showed me seem unimpressive. But other students seemed cool and nice.
Parking is an issue, a couple of big city assholes lurk around the school. They tell you to go to a different elevator because they don't want to go down to the ground floor with you when they're going to floor 11. Anatomy labs are 8 people to a body...
They cut out all the speeches about the school and most of the information about the school and area was answered by the students which wasn't that bad. Walking around in the heat before the interviews made everyone really hot and sweaty.
I'm kind of an architecture snob, so the layout and appearance of some floors on the school bothered me. Some older, unrenovated floors seemed dark, secluded, and slightly depressing. The ones renovated after Allison, however, looked great!
Leaving Houston during rush hour on a Friday afternoon is definitely a bad idea; I had to catch a flight out of Dallas the next morning so I had to leave then; I wouldn't recommend leaving Houston at that time
School felt bland - didn't offer anything I couldn't find elsewhere, and I couldn't go on many tours. Also the actual structure inside the school looks and feels very old.
1st and 2nd years pay $10 per day for parking or find alternate transportation. Also tours were given by first years that didn't know the place. We got lost 6 times. Absolutely rediculous!
Although most faculty members tried to sell their school, some mentioned that UT-H can't compare to schools like Baylor or Duke (my home institution). "I'm sure you will get many choices, so perhaps you should consider the name and reputation of each school before you decide on one to attend." It just made them seem less confident in their own school.
My first interviewer was 30 min late (althought she was the sweetest lady so I didn't mind too much). The second interviewer did not take any notes or have anything on her desk except for a diet coke. It seemed like she did not want to be there.
Admissions Director Dr. Gunn must be one of the most rude people I have ever met. Also, the day is not that well organized. Such a strong school clinically should do a lot more to sell their school, but the interview day doesn't give you the impression that the Admissions people don't seem to have the charisma or enthusiasm that any medical school admissions recruiters should have. I thought A&M did a far better job selling their school, even though academically and even clinically they might not be as strong as UT-H.
The student of the 1st tour said some negative things about the school across the street. I don't care much for elitism in the first place so I don't want to be in a place with a bunch of people with inferiority complexes. Luckily this wasn't so about the rest of the students I met, just this guy.
The medical center is huge and crazy. There is no parking. Their board scores were under national average last year. The administration and faculty were avoiding discussion of the board scores like the plague.
This is the least organized interview day of the TX schools. I think they interview way too many students and they are understaffed for it. Tours could possibly be more organized to allow you to see everything
i got EXTREMELY lost coming into houston; it was my first time there and i spent 9 hrs in my car the day before, fighting traffic and getting lost; i only had one interview because they were understaffed; students didn't seem as friendly as those in other schools
almost everything: female ophthalmologist interviewer was 30 mins late and rude (she was in her office with another interviewee the whole time; heard she has done this before). better school just across the street. unhappy, complaining students (wishing to have gotten into baylor). ~1 month to study for step 1. below average board scores. 8-5pm days. weird and quirky dean (who talks in detail about anal exams during a welcome address?). curriculum not integrated. lana gaines.
The parking and humidity were awful. Also the maps were not very good so I ended up walking quite a ways in the morning to find the main entrance (the main entrance is on the east side of the medical school building next to the library).
Houston is HOT. Goodness, I came from Dallas where it was a little breezy so I brought with me a very light jacket. Stepping out in Houston I looked like a freak! I had no idea there was such a weather difference. I was sweating walking on the different tours outside. Also, traffic is horrendous, but that is to be expected in any big city downtown area. I got lost trying to find the school.
I didn't even get to go on the school tour because there are so many things going on at once. Also, we pretty much only got to talk to second-year students (the first years were taking tests), and from what they said, they seem to be in lectures all of the time.
the fact that most of the day was just spent sitting around. Both of my schedules conflicted with the tours such that I was only able to make 2 tours and missed the other two speeches.
My second interviewer kept me waiting 30 min, but she was so nice it made up for it. Also, the heat/humidity was awful and the day was kinda disorganized (I couldn't go to half the tours I wanted to.)
Houston traffic. It took me nearly two hours Friday afternoon to go from the school to the west side of Houston! And I'm not used to the traffic...everybody kept honking at me and I thought I was driving fine! LOL!! :)
The first interviewer. I had to wait 90 minutes to talk to him and he only talked to me for five minutes, asked almost all questions straight off my application, didn't seem interested in getting to know me at all. Also, the lunch they served was chicken-fried steak and succotash--gross! I hate the south sometimes.
a bit unorganized but it was their first round of interviews so it'll prob. get better. Not just too many students around (but it was the first week of classes). Parking sucks. The whole place is one big confusing mess.
Not much! Parking is tight but it seems like a small trade-off for a world class institution and infinite facilities/resources. Currently there is quite a bit of construction/noise because of the terrible flood, but most of it is projected to be completed soon & the final outcome promises to be spectacular!
Parking totally sucks, run-down med school building, both faculty interviewers were complaining about the administration, the dean of admissions is a stooge (said some sexist off-color comments). the curriculum is EXTREMELY traditional, and there doesn't seem to be much student input in fixing things. tuition is going up 50% over the next 2 years, but still dirt cheap compared to out-of-state students.
Disorganization and disinterest of interviewers at times. All interviews take place in faculty members' offices. So after finding the office in the maze of color coded hallways, my first interviewer treated me like an annoyance; seldomly making eye contact, didn't shake my hand, asked vague questions, sighed...a nightmare come true. I confirmed with a fellow interviewee that they received similar treatment from the person. My second interview was much better and more laid back, but still seemed disorganized. Overall, my interview felt like trivial in regards to my interviewers.
Students were stressed because they had tests in each subject at roughly the same time. One student I talked to wondered aloud how everyone was learning so much yet did not do well on board exams.
The medical school building... it's falling apart... old and outdated. Morning comute into the TMC, parking as latter a medical student, high cost of living in TMC, students are TOOOOOO laid back, seems like everyone is out for themselves even though they say that they all "work together".... working to maybe in the bars or what not... but I think that the students are all quitely competing against each other.
The dean's speech at 7:45am left a lot to be desired, especially because he had to cut it short once he realized he had been talking for over an hour and people had to leave for interviews. Many people were unable to take tours because of interview scheduling. The overall feel was a little "too" laid back - the grading systems, the lack of class rankings, classes acknowledged by students as those of the obvious 'blow-off' variety. Traffic and parking sucked as well.
some of the students on the Q&A panel were rolling their eyes when the other students were answering questions; didn't get to do a school tour because of the way my interviews were scheduled
Almost all of the students come from UT schools or A&M. They almost all end up in TX for residency. (I am a resident but go to school out of state and don't necessarily want to stay in TX for the rest of my life.) Also the facilities are in such a state of disrepair that it was sad. The "gym" is not impressive at all.
The dean talked like he was on crack, complete with an extremely sexist comment or two. The facilities were pretty grungy. The students seemed a little dippy.
It's a long day, begins at 7:45 and my last interview didn't finish until 4:45. Lots of faculty talks, which are interesting but can be long and disjointed.
Houston is really busy. I mean, there's traffic and parking's a hassle. These seem like small things and sacrifices to make for a great medical center. But, I think as a medical school student, I would have enough stress anyways and to add worries of transportation on top of that would be a pain...
I had an interview scheduled at a nearby building, to which a single shuttle was provided. As a result I missed out on several tours while waiting before and after my interview.
Houston is one of the most polluted cities in the country. The medical school itself wasn't that nice, they are about to tear up the whole ground floor from the flood that happened like 2 yrs ago that they are just now fixing.
Nothing really, some of the lab facilities look a bit old. MD Anderson is incredible though. Parking is the worst ever, they try to make excuses about it, but its just horrible horrible planning.
I had a hell of a time getting to where I was supposed to be in the morning due to the enormous size of the complex and road construction due to previous flooding and the future light rail system. After finally finding where I was supposed to park, I tried to find the room we were meeting in. I ended up in a building across the street and a doctor escorted me to exactly where I was supposed to be. I was very close to being late.
There was a huge flood in the medical center the summer before last, and the entire basement is sort of tornn up because of it. They are in the process of fixing everything now...although no one seems to know when they'll be finished.
Downtown Houston. The flood damage is still severe, and it looks like they're not going to fix it any time soon. I don't know if the school tries to attract the top academic students - they repeatedly stated that "your grades and MCATs don't matter to us"
The reconstruction. It was flooded last year, so now they have to rebuild the first floor. Compared to Baylor, it is not asthetically pleasing to look at.
My interviewer. The interview only lasted 15 mins. He didn't seem interested in what I had to say and he cut the interview off short because he had paperwork to do.
The amount of time I spent at the school. Most of us had one interview in the morning and another one 4 or 5 hours later. They tried to keep us occupied with tours, however.
some of the students that led the tours were very arrogant (there were some very helpful ones also); every school i have been at has touted the community-like atmosphere of the students yet only one school has actually been able to support it with examples (that school wasn't UTH)
Several of us got stuck at the psychiatric facility (had to take a bus there) for our second interview. We sat in the lobby while each person interviewed. That was kind of a waste of our time (although I enjoyed meeting the other applicants) and we missed a lot of the afternoon activities. A student gave me a personal tour of the med school and Hermann hospital at the end of the day though.
Interviews were scheduled at random times and you had to walk to the interviewer's office, which was usually in another building. It was hard to catch all the presentations and tours.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the relaxed and conversational nature of the interview process at UTHouston, the importance of comfortable shoes for tours, potential traffic and parking challenges, and the vast size of the Texas Medical Center. Suggestions included arriving early, preparing questions for interviewers with varying experiences, and familiarizing oneself with the school's curriculum and facilities.
That the interview will be chill as it was. As an immigrant, it was pleasant that I was interviewed by a faculty who is also an immigrant.
Nothing really. It was a very low stress day. Laura Avery did an incredible job!
I would say, if you get the unlucky draw of afternoon interviews I feel for you. I interviewed in the morning but after that tour (1 hour of walking) I was surprisingly worn out
I wish I had known the following details:
There were 56 students interviewed on my day. We were split into 2 groups. One started at 7:45am and finished at 2:30pm. Mine started at 9:45am, and finished about 4:30pm. We were a little bigger than the morning group with about 30 students. Morning group did interviews first, afternoon group did interviews last. Here was my schedule for the day.
I arrived in the parking garaged and went to the very top floor (8) to find parking by the elevators. It probably took at least 10 minutes to get parking and walk to registration. Budget extra time to get there. Walk straight out of the parking garage across the street into the building across the street. Go in and walk straight. You'll see the security guard. Make a left and you will see the registration table. They give you a bag containing materials for you, including a pen and notepad, maps of the area, day schedule, and interview schedule. They have breakfast for you. Opening remarks start after 10am. Nice room. Table in back of room with bagels, danishes, juice, water, and other breakfast foods. Before 10am is a great chance to start talking to other interviewees and MS 1 and 2s. Multimedia presentation about Why UT-Houston. We then went on a Bus tour. Lunch at noon (Beef, chicken, mushroom fajitas with rice and beans + chips and salsa, fruit, cookies and cake, bottles of water, tea). 1 faculty and 1 MS at each table. Med students answer questions to the whole group at the end of lunch. After lunch, we went on the walking tour (morning group had opposite tour times). We even went up to where the helicopters take off. My interviews were scheduled for 2:30pm and 3:30pm. Those who had the 2pm and 3pm did not have any break after the tour to prepare. Walk into the day ready to interview.
4pm we regrouped with Dr Kalloway and Ms Murphy to answer questions. They had water and soda and snacks for us as we filled out the evaluations.
Everything is pretty relaxed and organized. Lots of opportunities to talk with current med students and other interviewees. I went to the social the night before. It was fun. I stayed late.
At the social, there was a large variety of dress. At the interview day, everyone wore a suit besides me. Mostly dark colors with the girls wearing brightly colored blouses underneath. More pant suits than skirts. Most had their hair tied back. Only about 3 or 4 girls with their hair down. Like me, Dr. Kalloway wore a 3 piece outfit that wasn't a suit.
Most of the interviewees were from the big name Texas Schools and the most prestigious schools around the country. I met a lot of fellow Longhorns. Lot of non-trads. Variety of ages.
That it is so difficult to commute to this school. The housing situation could be difficult. Student housing seems good, if that works for your situation.
In MHMP building the different sets elevators go up to different sets of floors. Don't just hop into an elevator if you are running late. by the way, we finished the tour of the school with 5 min to get to interview and hit bathroom.
That interviewers can ask controversial questions, and that what kinda suit, shirt, or tie, you wear seems not to matter at all. That they won't really ask you about anything in your app, but really want to see how you handle stress or pointed questions.
That it would be so laid back and easy to handle. There's no reason to stress out about this interview, just be aware of your file and have answers to the typical "Why do you want to be a doctor?" questions.
UT Houston really really really wants to attract med school students. They are SO nice. The atmosphere is GREAT, and the admissions dean is SO affectionate.
there's this 80ish old-school-medical-establishment type who I think just likes for mess with with his (female?) interviewees. I think he's just amusing himself and seeing how you handle it, but I got the most inappropriate questions! it wound up being a great, engaging conversation, if somewhat of a debate, but if I hadn't had a sense of humor... I can't believe this man hasn't gotten sued.
don't place the parking or validation ticket next to a cell phone because the magnetic strip will get jacked up and it won't work at the end of the day when you are in a rush to get out of houston...you will have to call an attendent and they take about 10 minutes to get to you....
The community that UT Houston has is amazing. They were very supportive. Even current students came up to me on the tour to ask how I was doing and would almost force me to ask questions.
Just what a fanastic school it was. I kinda scrimped on my preparation so I think I didn't do as well as I could have. Don't underestimate this school!! It is fantastic.
It was my first interview, so I wish I'd brushed up on my ENTIRE application ahead of timeâ€â€not just the narrative sections.
I wish I would have known more about the school. Also I was intervied by a PH.D. and M.D., the PH.D. really did not know much about the school he was only involved with interviews.
Parking...parking...parking. It cost me $20 to park overnight thursday, and another $10 to park the next day. Neither of which was very convenient and still required a lot of walking. If possible look up the routes for the metro rail (sort of like a subway) which lets out right in front of the medical school, or just hail a cab.
If you are lost do not follow just anyone in a suit. There are tons of others there interviewing for other stuff. =) It is easy to get lost, though most people can help you find your way.
Ladies, bring comfortable shoes for tours, even if they look funny with your interview attire! Besides, no one on the tour is going to influence whether you get in or not. Also, be aware that you might have to go to various buildings around the medical center to meet your interviewer.
how to get from the parking garage to the med school. Go out of the garage on the ground floor and walk southwest (probably the way you drove in) toward the long brown building (Herman hospital will be on your right). If that just confused you (it did me) then ask someone for directions (just like i did).
I wish I had known that the pre-interview social took place outside on a restaraunt patio. It was a bit cold and I would have dressed warmer had I known.
Eat a LOT before you go. They offer muffins and juice for breakfast but it didn't hold me over and I was trying to be too cautious with the fajita lunch they served. Be prepared for traffic.
My second interviewer was on the admissions board and I would have liked to work him a little harder. One interviewer had read my file and asked many questions in reference to my essay and work history. The other had only glanced at my profile.
To relax. Everyone at this school is very friendly. They are much more concerned about getting to know you as a person than they are finding out where you might be weak as a doctor (they make no attempts to expose you).
If you're running late in the morning, don't wolf down a big meal. I almost threw up during the orientation. And the dean wasn't that bad of a speaker either. Some people only had one interview.
That they are honestly very casual and there is no need to stress. I spent a lot of time thinking up answers to hypothetical questions... it was a complete waste of time. Best advice I can think of is to relax and not worry about the interview at UT Houston
The tours during the daytime are excruciatingly hot. DONT take a tour outside of the building you are in until after your last interview, otherwise you will be all sweaty and dishevelled.
The fact that they have PBL (problem based learning). I would have wanted to find out more about it ahead of time. It actually wasn't that big of a deal though, because it was explained to me in detail at some point in the day.
Most interviewers just want to know about you as a person and what motivates you to become a doctor. Intense preparation is not really necessary at all.
DO NOT stay at the days inn!!! i had read that it was bad but stayed anyway- big mistake! i didnt get my wake up call, the a/c broke that night, and i didnt have hot water the next morning!
Don't knock on the door if it is your turn to be interviewed. Wait outside. I did and interupted the interview before mine. The interviewer was really nice so it didn't matter but yours might not be.
The medical school building and map they give you is a little bit confusing, so make sure you get there ahead of time in case you get lost. I got lost but thankfully I was there 15 minutes early so I could ask for directions. I kept getting lost on the way to my interviews but someone always was willing to help me. It was a nice way to get to know people.
Bring another comfortable pair of shoes - some girls were walking around with suits and tennis shoes while we were touring and no one cared because it's only the students who give the tour and they're really relaxed.
In your field of interest (i.e. neurology), look up some of the faculty's research interests at UTH. It is likely that one of your interviewers will be a Ph.D. and the other an M.D. Apparently, I was informed that one interviewer sits on the admissions panel and the other is just to find out some additional background info on you (they do not tell you which they are).
Applicants generally found the interview day at UT-Houston to be impressive and enjoyable, with friendly faculty and students, informative tours, and a relaxed atmosphere. The school's facilities, the Texas Medical Center, and the opportunities available were highlighted as major positives, with some variation in interview experiences noted, ranging from conversational and stress-free to more challenging encounters.
TMC is literally world-class. McGovern culture seems super collaborative and legit. The food all day long was honestly the BEST I've had yet. (chick fil a breakfast --> fajita lunch)
My preconceived notions of Houston (negative) were forgotten about after interviewing here. The school, medical center, and students/faculty were all amazing. Countless opportunities as well.
BRING FLATS. I did, and it was the best decision I ever made. You do a LOT of walking.
Also, since interviewing there, I have heard a lot of people say it's cutthroat/competitive there. I didn't get that at all, and in fact students said that the opposite was true. (Though I suppose they would have to, during a tour.) Just, take those criticisms with a grain of salt? Maybe they're not true.
I would seriously consider moving to Texas to have a better chance of matriculating here. I cannot say enough good things about the students and this school. Texas Medical Center absolutely dwarfs other medical complexes.
I really really loved this school. I like their philosophy and the feel of the school. I hope that I match there! It seems like everyone has a good experience in their interviews which was nice but at the same time, I wish I had more a barometer of how I did (just cause I had two good interviews- I laughed a lot in both) I still feel like I have NO IDEA if I have a chance getting in.
I definitely recommend staying with a student host. I stayed with an MS3. I stayed up talking to her for about 2 hours. I felt like I had the insiders perspective when I went on Friday. Going the day before helped me to relax and to get a good feel for the real medical student life.
Interview: It seemed like both interviewers had looked through my application and were trying to get to know me more. The first one almost seemed like he was verifying what I wrote down. The second was fun to talk to. I guess that is why you interview with you 2 people. Ms Murphy said at lunch that they look at who interviews you and if you get a bad review they often will just throw it out when they present you to the admissions committee. I guess she anticipated my experience when I said who I was interviewing with. They did not ask me any ethical questions or questions related to anything besides me or my application. I felt like I was the one directing the conversation and could say what I wanted to. I did hear about a couple people being asked basic Texas History (who was the first president: Sam Houston, etc). Good luck.
Stayed with a student, and went to Little Woodrow's the night before. Student host was absolutely wonderful, and went out of his way to make sure I was well taken care of. West University/Rice Village seems pretty cool.
They interview a lot of people and accept a good amount. However, keep your patience b/c prematches are hard to come by here. Speak with Dr. Kellaway, she's very approachable.
all students very friendly- great tour- really showed all of school. included a look at the vivarium, helicopter pad where they do life flight. food at lunch sucked though!
School has great facilities and superb learning environment. The philosophy is extremely contagious, and it seems that all the students have bought into it. This was my first interview though, so I have nothing to compare it to.
relaxing interviews, great staff. The second one popped out random questions at me from time to time. I guess, to make sure I wasn't just taking it easy.
UTH cares about their students and their lives outside of school. The faculty members were warm and caring. My first interviewer couldn't access my application on his computer. I let him see a copy of mine that I had on me. Very laid back interview.
I enjoyed the entire day. The students and faculty I interacted really seemed to enjoy their school. The tour was very informative and impressive. The interviews were very conversational and not stressful at all.
overall, the interview day was very informative. the school is trying to impress you as much as you are trying to impress them. the interviewees( about 40 total)were divided into two groups: one toured in the morning with afternoon interviews and the other had morning interviews while touring in the afternoon. i interviewed in the morning, first with a male resident who was all business, then with a PhD who was a sweet older woman. both interviews were about 30 min long and consisted of basic get to know you questions. the interviews were open file and they read them very closely as i was able peek at my interviewer's and noticed she had several things highlighted. time will go by quickly so make sure you steer the conversation to cover your bases.
Watched a video made by the students, went on a 2.5 hour tour of the facilities including the new Surgical and Clinical Skills Center, anatomy lab, Texas Heart Hospital, M.D. Anderson, and Mem. Hermann. Then had two interviews that lasted ~45 minutes each. The interview questions were mostly predictable and conversational.
This was my very first interview so, of course, I overpreapred and spent hours reading on healthcare, abortion, stem cell, social medicine, etc. Not to say that it was to no avail (I got asked about a couple topics on later interviews) but it was a little much. I stayed with a married couple. The husband was an MSI and the wife just started working in admissions (after he got accepted). They were friendly and she was helpful in easing my nerves. You probably could not find a better first interview experience.
The best interview day I've had. The whole interview day was very enjoyable. The tour of the facilities and the people there really sold the place for me.
UT Houston, even as my prior top pick, impressed me so much I feel like not interviewing elsewhere (but still will). The admissions people were frank in their aspirations toward each candidate.
It was a wonderful experience overall. I can't say I love the Houston weather, but the school seems to more than make up for it with it's facilities, students, and faculty. I have to admit I hadn't given Houston much interest before, but now I know I'd really enjoy going there. Staying with a student host was great. She told me tons about the school and she helped get me to the right place the next morning. You can have either morning or afternoon interviews, just depends on what group you get. My first interview lasted for an hour (really casual and conversational), the second for 30 min (more typical question and answer). The lunch was good.
I really enjoyed my time at Houston. I was able to stay with a student which helped a lot by giving me more insight to the school before having to interview. Everyone there was very welcoming and it was the least stressful interview you could have.
Lively, engaging, not informal but not stressful: I left thinking that I hate Houston, but if they accepted me, I don't think i could turn them down (Short of getting into Yale or something that far-fetched).
It was a good experience. Great staff and educational opportunities, as well as, great student body. Bring comfortable shoes for the tour and make sure you know your way to the school before interview day.
Positive overall, no hard questions, just conversational. If you have research experience review beforehand, and don't come up with excuses about the negative aspects of your app...just be able to explain them
The faculty and students are extremely approachable and nice. Almost every student that saw the interviewees stopped by to talk to us and ask us how we are doing. All of them gave us advice and told us about the school honestly. Everyone there seemed genuinely happy and as they stressed since the beginning, very ''family-like.'' Also, TMC is amazing.
I had the best experience yet at UT-Houston. My interviewers were extremely genuine and made the day very easy. The food was great and afterwards, while on the tour, we got to peek in (through an observation dome) at an open heart surgery being performed. Also had the chance to go out on the helipad and watch a crew land and take off. Overall, the day was long, but very relaxed and informative.
It was good. In retrospect, I wish I could have changed a few of my sentences but overall felt that I did well. I would love to be admitted to this school!!
This interview day was the best I have had by far. The tour was well-organized, the fajitas were great, and the interviewers were very friendly. The only negative thing was the board scores; they are only slightly above the national average.
Very laid back. The students take a great interest in you, as does any person from the school that you might run into. I had doctors in passing conversation asking me how it was going. The student I stayed with even got me a little souvenir from the bookstore before she had even met me. They definitely make you feel welcome and impress you while you're there.
I showed up that morning after struggling to find the specific parking garage. They gave us a ut-houston bag with all of the information we could possibly need. We had a little orientation meeting before the tour for those interviewing in the afternoon. It was kind of sobering, but humorous to watch a video with the song we are the world about the Katrina volunteer efforts. I was very impressed with the facilities. I had read over and over in the Baylor view book about how wonderful the Medical Center is, but the student resources for UT-H look incredible. The lunch was spectacular. We actually had fajitas (other schools should take note!). My two interviews were really laid back, but I had trouble understanding my first interviewer's thick hebrew accent! Overall, the day made me think twice about going to a different school with a possibly bigger name.
Well, I really enjoyed this interview. The University of Houston Medical School knows how to sell their school and make you put them on the top of the list. I loved the TMC and had a pleasant experience.
Both of my interviewers were very nice. Basically had 2 30-minute easy conversations, no hard questions!! Overall, had a GREAT experience. The students and faculty are very nice and supportive. Top choice so far!
The facilities are really nice (thank you hurricane allison) and the professors and admissions people were so friendly and easy to talk to. Most of the students seem happy, which is the major determining factor of a school for me.
The school, faculty, students, and administration are fabulous. The lunch was fabulous, the whole experience was fabulous. Great for my very first interview. I overheard some people had some trouble with their interviews, but mine were just fine. I wish I had known how relaxed it was, because I really needed to calm down and not be so tense. Both interviewers of mine had a lot of questions, so I got to speak alot. Topics ranged from typical questions to questions about family, movies, and just general discussion.
It was a fun day. They really put together a great program for you and are very welcoming and relaxed. The new facilities are very impressive. The students were nice and helpful as were the faculty. I would love to go here.
The first interview was only 10 minutes but went very well. The second interview was 30 minutes and went well for the most part. The only bad thing about the second interview was that he had nothing good to say about out of state students and repeatedly asked me why I wanted to go to a school in Texas.
Both were in offices. One a researcher, the other the former Dean of Admissions. Both were laid back but they jumped right into the hard questions, making sure you knew yourself and able to display that you are balanced.
This was a fabulous experience! Everyone should take the opportunity to visit the Texas Medical Center, it truly is amazing. Everyone was professional and friendly. The facilities and resources are first class and the opportunities are endless; this is a good school that will someday be a top-tier school. Tours were great.
UT-Houston is the best place to have your first interview. You'll feel so at home and so special. My two interviewers were so nice. The first one talked about half the time, mostly about UT-Houston- she was a resident here and is now faculty, plus she's meds/peds which is what I want to do! So that was basically a conversation. The other was more like an interview but still very warm, as is everyone else. I love it here!!
The first one was kind of bad...I had to wait an hour to actually talk to the guy. It was a doctor and professor of nuclear medicine, and he was nice, but I think I was just really nervous (it was my first interview) and didn't convey my thoughts as well as I could have. He also asked me some tough ethical questions. The second interview, on the other hand, was really great! It was a professor who was really just interested in getting to know me better.
Got confusing directions as to when it began so I was there very early. Got some coffee and chatted with the students, soothed my nerves and helped me get a better read on the student body. I had two morning interviews; both were wonderful friendly people. I felt a real connection with the school. In the afternoon we went on a tour and other than the obscene Texas heat, I was really impressed with the medical center.
I had two interviews with a cardiologist and a pediatric plastic surgeon. Each was one on one and i think they only had my ps and my gpa and mcat score but not the list of courses i had taken.
My interviews were back-to-back, and since they were my first ones, I was more nervous than I should have been.
The first was with a pediatric emergency medicine doctor. She had a moderate accent which I had to parse at first; this also increased my nervousness. But she was very calm and sweet. She was mainly interested in my motivation to study medicine and how my extracurricular interests complemented my studies. By the end it was very much a conversation: we talked about the need for empathy but not sympathy for a patient, how to deal with terminal patients, and cultural factors of healthcare. She ignored her secretaries knocking for five minutes in order to finish up the conversation.
The second interviewer was a Ph.D. specializing in elctron microscopy. I went arrived early, he invited me in, then took a few minutes to type a brief emailâ€â€fingertapping with only his index digit! Combined with his age (early 70's, I'd guess) and his crusty surroundings, I began to get some neagtive vibes. These were only increased when he finally turned around, picked up my app (obviously for the first time ever), scribbled some notes, and then asked, "So tell me about your extracurricularsâ€â€starting in freshmen year." He aura seemed displeased that I hadn't done any research.
However, I took it upon myself to improve the situation and win him over. After a few minutes of me fumbling to remember the exact chronology of some of my extracurriculars and explaining some light periods in them due to very busy courseloads, things got rolling. He was very surprised and interested in my language background and my readings in Russian literature (which also form the basis of my undergraduate thesis). I think he was very impressed that I was a humanist who still had a very strong love of science beyond the core requirements. Things went really well from this point on. I had a great conversation with him for 90 minutes, by the end of which he was having me read some research grants and was showing me Powerpoints of his work (including some really awesome images of the PDC that were in my biochemistry text!). I was really flattered when he told me that he'd never had an interviewee like me in fourteen years and gave me advice about picking between schools!
Both interviews were one-on-one. The first one was a bit more intense in the sense that my interviewer asked a lot more questions and our encounter was more engaging; the second interview was a bit more laid back and it kept getting interrupted but that wasn't really an issue; we talked about my college experience more vs. my qualities or attributes to becoming an MD; both interviewers were friendly and were never condescending or negatively putting me on the stop if you will;
My interviews went very well. The first interviewer was a PhD that had been with UT-H for many years. He was very easy to talk to and really seemed impressed by me; we talked for an hour! The second interview was much shorter, and with an M.D. He kept getting paged, however, and so we kept getting interrupted. He was very nice and responsive also, though...
I got to stay with a student. This is like money in your pocket! Two reasons, one it keeps money in your pocket so you don't spend it on a hotel. Two you get to ask them all kinds of questions that you don't know. Like, "What the hell do I ask the interviewer when he asks me if I have any questions?" or if they really like the school.
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My first interviewer was an MD, a very amiable pediatrician who was so personable you couldn't possibly be intimidated by her. We have a very casual conversation beginning with where she practiced and then onto questions regarding my volunteer experiences. She spent 1/3 of the interview giving me a "sales pitch" for UT Houston and also allowed time for me to ask her questions I had which was helpful. The first interview lasted 25 minutes. The second interview was with a PhD in pathologies and lab and was different. Though his style came off as more abrasive and was drastically different from the first it was a pleasant experience as well. He wanted more of a timeline of my college experience and asked me some questins regarding the content of my personal statement. We then discussed some of the research he is working on in the lab and even discussed some of his health issues. The second interview lasted 45 minutes. All in all the interview epxerience was pretty smooth and a pleasant exprerience. Certainly not as nerve wracking as I had expected!
my second interviewer was very personal because we were alot alike. she took me personally to the pediatric ward and walked me around. she asked alot about my family and even asked if i wanted to invite my dad to come tour the hospital with us. overall the campus was impressive but huge. i didn't have time to go on all the tours either.
Standard questions by both interviewers. First one was a PhD who asked where I saw myself in a few years and who was concerned with what set me apart from other applicants. Friendly guy, very relatable. Second interviewer was a cardiologist, and this session went very easily.
This was the most laid back interview that I have had. They just seemed like they wanted to get to know me and didn't bother with the typical stressful interview questions.
It was fine, I got lost a bit and there is a "g" floor and a 6th floor. When a doctor writes a "g" it resembles a 6. I was wandering around on the 6th floor for a while before I figured it out. One interviewer didn't read anything of mine until I walked in the room. He just went through my transcript with me.
I was impressed with what I saw at UT-Houston. The atmosphere among the students seems very laid back and friendly, yet they have the world's largest medical center around them. The Hospital tour was nice, we saw an actual helicopter landing and a guy get rushed to the ER. The interviews were conversational and low-pressure, and if you have good credentials they will immediately shift to selling their school to you. My first interviewer was a community relations guy who gave me a book he wrote detailing the history of UT-H and the Medical Center...not a bad read if you're bored. The second was friendly and encouraging, though a bit more rushed for time. Overall, UT-H is one of my top choices now.
This was my first interview so I was pretty nervous. I was really excited about this school since it is in H-town, but I felt that it was really busy, there were too many interviewees. It seemed pretty unorganized.
the texas medical center and the student body are really what makes this school stand out. my first interview was very casual and lasted for more than an hour, but the second interviewer scheduled interviews in 15 minute interviews and it was so rushed it was discouraging.
Both interviewers asked me interesting off the beaten track questions. I clicked with both of them so well that I went over the alloted 30 min each time and they both gave me their contact information without me having to ask for it.
There weren't enough students giving tours and the initial speech by Dr. Gunn was a bit dry. Other than these things the schools seems pretty good. I think that the faculty I interviewed with were great. No hard questions, just conversation about me and the current state of medicine.
Overall, the experience was very good. There seemed to be little structure in the tours, but the rest of the day went fairly smooth. The student panel was very helpful.
Overall, I like the school and the resources it has to offer. the faculty seem really nice and so do the few students I got to meet. The school should do a better job of presenting itself though. The tours were poorly organized, sometimes there was no student to lead the tours, sometimes they were led by first years who didn't really know what was going on yet. I was one of the 6 people being interviewed at the psychiatric center off campus which meant I missed a lot of the talks and tours anyways.
The day started at 7:45 AM. Dr. Gunn, the Dean of Admissions, was very unimpressive. He was rude to my dad (even though the invitation said spouses and family were allowed) and basically asked him to leave. His presentation wasn't any better. He constantly rambled about all sorts of random issues and never really talked about the school very much. It seems that A&M people (or at least the 3 I met) sometimes are stuck with only one interview: so, the moral of the story is make your interview count, b/c it's ur only chance. I left the TMC around 11 AM, but some others had to stay until 5 PM. A student panel also came and talked in the morning, and they were very informative and helpful. Like I said earlier, b/c I had only one interview, and b/c they said you can leave as soon as u finish your interviews, I left at 11 AM and missed the tours and all the other things they had scheduled for later in the day. I had some engagements I had to attend to, but I guess they might be worth your time if you want to stay. I've already seen the medical center as part of a summer program, so nothing was that new to me. My 1 interview was kind of interesting. Dr. Covinsky was a kind of eccentric guy. He even called himself that. Since this was my only interview at UT-H, I really wanted to make a lasting impression on him. He asked me about some of the service I had done in India and what I had learned from it. He then asked me one thing that wasn't on my application that I wanted to tell him about, and I talked about my lifelong tennis career. The rest of the interview was spent with he and I having a long conversation about Baylor and UT-H and the differences between the two schools, as well as his opinions of UT-Houston. He had a couple of interruptions with pathology samples he needed to take care of, but the wholet thing was very conversational and I came away from it knowing he probably didn't get to know so much about my passion for medicine, but he got to know what I do outside of school so I thought that was significant. All in all, I think it went very well.
It was great. The lunch was good, the people were awesome and made you feel right at home. It completely changed my perception of UTH. I had thought that it was just kinda a sad little school that wanted to be Baylor, but they have totally different ideas and ways of doing things and I absolutely loved it.
the first interviewer kept talking about his research and i couldn't get a word in edgewise. the second guy was really interesting. we ended up just having a discussion about nationalized healthcare, it was a very good experience.
Extremely positive, one from a pediatrician and one from a phd. The first didn't ask a whole lot but seemed to try to sell the school and told me how they evaluated me. The 2nd interviewer we talked for over an hour about X countries health system vs the US. Overall great so I ranked this number 1 in the texas match.
This was my first interview so I was not sure of what to expect. I probably studied up on the school too much because I wasn't presented very many opportunities to flaunt my knowledge in the interview. They really just want to get to the heart of who you are and occasionally ask you a hard question from which they will be able to judge your ability to respond and stay composed. I came out of there very excited and positive about UTH, but my later interviews turned out to be the same thing.
This is my number one choice of the state funded schools in TX. There is not enough time to go on all of the tours due to interview schedules. However, there are so many opportunities in the TMC to pursue anything you're interested in
I was great. I got there on time and really poured out my heart on why I want to become a Doctor. Both of my interviewers were great and nice. I could not have ask for anything better. Also all of the other students were nice as well and really wanting to talk to you. If you just sit back and listen you hear what people are saying and how they try to "work" the interview process, which I thought was wrong.
I got there on time, and the dean had already started talking. His presentation was very impressive and encouraging for the students. My first interview was scheduled in the wrong place (luckily I arrived early, asked someone, and got there on time). I lucked out with the interview, because we had a lot of things in common and had an enjoyable hour long talk. Then lunch was "interesting," chicken fried steak and potatoes (needed caffene for my last interview after that). My last interviewer was also awesome - we talked about balancing family and profession. No hard/ ethical questions. I got the sense that neither was on the adcom, tho both said they wanted me back next year. :)
Overall, the interviewers were extremely friendly. The first was extremely straightforward and asked me typical interview questions (listed below) and lasted 30 minutes. The 2nd was very conversational. In fact the second interviewer talked more about his philosophy of practice rather than asking me questions. So I had to work to get my 2 cents in. Lasted one hour. The people seem to make the school great, and the doctors seem very much like caring and compassionate individuals.
I came in with extreme reservations about this school, thinking I had absolutely no chance of getting in b/c of my major, which they list on their website is not looked upon favorably. Fortunately, my interviewer did not feel the same way - she was just awesome and told me she would give a high recommendation to the admissions committee. It is so important to be yourself. If you want this badly enough and are motivated by the right reasons, they can tell. Also, the student tours were nice - try and get a small one b/c you have more one-on-one and opportunities to ask questions and find out about life there.
I really enjoyed the whole experience,except for my feet hurting from all the walking. Everyone was very friendly, my interviewers both worked in avenues I am strongly interested in, so my questions weren't hard.
Like others have said, the day was really disorganized with interviews going on throughout the day and at least 3 tours going on at the same time. Since most of the tours are only offered once, there is absolutely no way that you can go on all of them. Instead, once your interview(s) is(are) over, you suffer downtime until the next one begins. Not a whole lot of students were anywhere to be seen (on a Friday) and so I didn't get a lot of chances to ask them questions about the school. My particular interviewer seemed to be more interested in my social and family life rather than my academics and I guess I never felt that either of those fields were really appropriate things for me to talk about during an interview for medical school, so I wasn't prepared with say, a tally of friends and a list detailing how often I see them.
The first interview was great and he made me very comfortable; the second wasn't so great. The woman was VERY relaxed and wanted to answer any questions I had about the school... She didn't really ask me anything
My first interview was done by an MD in the radiology dept who just asked straightforward questions and didn't really expand on my answers, so it only lasted 25 mins. Second interview was done by a PhD in the Dental School and was more conversation-like. The 2nd one lasted about 50 mins.
Very good interview experience, but I'm not sure if I "connected" with my first interviewer. At the end, he asked if I had any questions, and I used the time to expand on why I would make a good physician. Only time will tell. Very conversational interviews. No questions on healthcare reform, stem cell research, etc. I absolutely love the UTH facilities, teaching method, and integration of sprituality into the curriculum. Everything is available.
I had an excellent experience. It was my first interview and I was very nervous but that all disappeared within minutes. The administration, facutly and students are incredibly friendly and very caring. I had very relaxed interviews with nothing tough.
Very low stress level! As everyone else is saying, it was conversational and less of an interrogation, although some of my fellow interviewees had different experiences...
My first interviewer focused more on my race and when my parents immigrated here as opposed to me. I left that interview really annoyed. The second interviewer was much better. She was so nice and easy to talk to.
The day started with a BORING talk by the dean of admissions Dr. Gunn. He tried to be interesting, but just seemed unenthusiastic. UT Houston's interview day is not very organized, and like the previous feedback stated, it's hard to make all the tours because of your interviews. They scheduled my two interviews about 6 hours apart, which pissed me off (lot of downtime). The speech by this OB/GYN faculty member during lunch was pretty inspiring. The Texas Medical Center is amazing and UTH's facilities are great (Hermann, MD Anderson, Texas Heart Institute). I even got to view a bypass surgery on the tour of THI (really cool). The night before social was really cool...med students outnumbered interviewees by 3:1.
Overall it was a pretty good day despite the lack of organization on their part. They tried.
I went in thinking it was just a 'practice' interview, but I had a really great time, and was VERY impressed by the TMC and UT-Houston facilities (the latter of which have been recently renovated.) Though I was really against going here before I visited, I might rank it as #1 or 2 now.
Overall it was a good experience and I felt like Houston would be a good fit. The students seemed to get along and the speaker at lunchtime was an alumni of the med school and he seemed to be an enjoyable person to be around.
The day was great! I really enjoyed UTH. I only had one interviewer that day. Around lunchtime I was told that my second interviewer had an emergency and that they did not have any back-up interviewers. She proceeded to tell me that the first one was on the admissions committee and that I was free to go for the day or go on additional tours. It was a relief, but at the same time I wanted another chance to say all the things I forgot to mention in the first interview.
Also, I would highly recommend staying with a med student host and going to the night before social. Both were fun and very insightful.
No chicken-fried steak this time. We had some kind of baked lemon chicken and some yummy cookies.
I interviewed with one PhD and one MD. The PhD was Dr. Pate from the dental branch for some reason and he basically asked me very standard questions. By the end of the interview I did not feel like he had gotten to know ME that much but I had answered his questions. The second one was GREAT. Dr. Potts, the assistant dean of surgery and he was very nice. We talked about baseball and fencing and my future plans in medicine. I actually felt like I connected with the second guy much better. Overall the interviews went really well.
I really enjoyed the whole experience. The school seemed laid-back which goes well with my own personality. Everybody I interacted (students, docs, and administrators alike) were all excellent ambassadors of their school. I was pleasantly surprised that my interviewer was in my sub-specialty of interest. She gave me a lot of great advice and insight. She also put me at ease by openly expressing her support of me. I believe she could be a great mentor for me in the future. My interview experience has bumped this school up on my list!!
It was really strange because the first interviewer was so bad and the second one was so good. I didn't much care for the dean, he seemed to just tell us all that we'd make bad doctors. The students seem really laid back, they were pretty cool.
My first interview went flawlessly. The interviewer seemed very interested in me and my experiences. The second interviewer literally asked every question you can find on SDN. He didn't ask me at all about my previous research experiences.
I thought the day was disorganized and unnecessarily long. It starts early and students have interviews throughout the day. Some were done by lunch, some had one in the morning and another late in the afternoon. Some of the tours weren't even available when they said they would be. Some of the previous feedback entries talked about an interviewer who said, "If you can tell me what this is (some kind of stone), you'll get into medical school." Well, it's true...when the doctor came to speak to us about the admissions process, he said that he just likes to shock people and see their reactions. He seemed like a fun guy to interview with.
both interviewers were a bit, say, nonpersonable. The first one lasted 17 minutes, the second was better and a bit longer. Fairly standard questions, nothing out of the ordinary. Overall good impression of the school.
I attended the pre-interview social the night before which acquainted me with some of the current students and prepared me for what was going to take place the next day. It was also nice to see familiar faces the next morning amongst all the anxiety. We were greeted by many happy & smiling faces & a nice continental breakfast @ 7:45am sharp. This was followed by an extraordinary speech by the Dean of Admissions. Afterward, there were a variety of tours to choose from throughout the day which had to be carefully selected so as not to miss your assigned interview times. I had an 11am interview and a 3pm interview. My first interviewer (a surgeon) got caught in surgery at the time of my interview so her colleague in the same office ended up interviewing me. She was very kind & comforting and since she had not seen any information regarding my background the interview was conducted in a very informal get-to-know you style. Afterward I returned to the main hall for lunch and more speeches. The second interviewer was a PhD and was much more formal and a bit more intimidating, but nonetheless nice & informative. My second interview seemed a little non-typical too. She would ask questions, but allow very little time for thorough answers (she would give me approx 20-30 seconds). Then she would quickly shift to another thought/question which may or may not have correlated with the previous thought/question. She also went through each basic science course listed as part of the 1st & 2nd year med students' curriculum and asked which classes I had any background in from my undergraduate studies. Towards the end of my interview she presented me with a folder which contained summer preceptorship & research opportunities for 1st year med students. Towards the end of the day, I made some quiet-time and wrote out thank you cards for each of my interviewers & delivered them to their secretaries. At this time, I also completed a survey provided in the interviewee packet. The day concluded around 5pm.
The students are normal kind people. The faculty seem jaded and upset by the administration. The dean of admissions is a relic from the old days (complete jack-**s)
My first interview was pretty short (about 25 minutes); however, the interviewer did warn me at the beginning that she tended to conduct short interviews. Second interview was longer (almost 1.5 hours) but i was basically just conversing with the interviewer the whole time. Almost all of the questions I was asked were based on my personal statement and experiences listed in my application.
Overall is was a great experience. Not too stressful! Go to the mixer the night before, you really get a feel for the students' perspectives of the school from that - invaluable because we'll be in their shoes soon hopefully. Also staying with a med student for the night was incredibly helpful. Go on the tours, the facilities are impressive! One interviewer was very relaxed, very conversational in her approach. The other was more formal, but not grilling. Neither my interviewers nor the other applicant's interviewers discussed were "out to trap or intimidate" us. ON the whole it has become my first choice of Texas schools.
The whole process was very stress-free. The interviewers I got were both very friendly. Besides the question asked above, the interviews were very easy. They seemed to be more interested in making small talk and getting to know me than with any of the research or clinical experiences I have had.
The social dinner was a nice touch to meet a few students before the big day. The med students that showed up were easily approachable but I thought it was more beneficial to meet the other applicants. As one student put it, these would be the people with whom I would potentially be spending the next 4 years of my life. There was a lot of time for social interaction during interview day as well. I was a little uninmpressed by the cavalier attitude from some of the students and faculty I met. They seemed to lack focus and bragged about sleeping in all day only to watch their classes later that night while having a beer or three. My first interviewer was very dry and only asked questions directly from my application. In fact, he was reading it during the interview and would just ask questions as he went along in the exact order I had listed them on the app. My second interviewer was awesome. She is a PhD in surgery and ended my day on a positive note. Her questions weren't exactly difficult, but I at least felt like she learned something about me not evident on from the piece of paper in front of her. If I decide to go to UT-Houston it would be mainly for the Texas Medical Center, some of the unique programs offered, and the focus on clinical care.
I was very unimpressed by my interviewers' questions. I have significant research experience including a publication in a major journal, but neither interviewer asked for details on that. I also discuss health care policy at length in my application, but one of my interviewers didn't even know enough about current politics to have a discussion with me! Overall a very disillusioning process, but hopefully good practice for future interviews.
I didn't go to the night before mixer, which was at some bar. I heard from a friend that the med students were totally drunk while the premeds were all uptight and trying to be good. The interview day began early at 7:45, which was kind of bad, although they provide coffee, juice, and muffins (they were HUGE). The dean gave a nice motivational speech, and it probably would have been more interesting had it not been so long and so early in the morning. Interview times were scattered through the day and often overlapped with tours. I only got to go on 10 min of the med school tour because I had an interview. Also, the hospital tours were cancelled because of rain. The interview was partially open file; they only had my personal statement, list of courses, GPA, and MCAT, nothing else, but that's the important stuff. I had one physician and one PhD interviewer. THey were both really nice but the PhD seemed more conversational. I talked with him for over an hour. The area around the Texas Medical Center isn't too busy, and seems like a liveable area. Didn't get to see the gym but apparently it's right across the street from student housing. The medical students seemed glad that they chose Houston and they all said it was their first choice. Problem based learning seems helpful in honing diagnostic skills also. One med student said that they tape all the lectures and put them on the internet so that you can watch live or later on. Pretty nice school, will rank it first.
Basically everyone was very nice, the school was renovating the first floor. UTH seems very laid back but also wants to produce competent, caring doctors. The dean's speech was cool also.
Overall the falculty tried to make the experience as pain free as possible. The students were very helpful even though some of them were in the middle of exams.
I interviewed in the faculty members office. The interviewers were very approachable and tried to carry a conversation with you and not an interrogation. I left feeling good about each one.
UT Houston is a great school, and what really stood out were the students. They seem to really like what they are doing, and they get along so well. It is a place where I can see my self being happy.
UT Houston is a top notch medical shool with a long history. They matriculate a large class of about 200, but interview about 1200. The med center has a premier Heart Institute, Children's Hospital and level 1 trauma center. The facilities looked pretty good, the students seemed genuine and friendly, as did the faculty. Both of my interviews were fairly laid back. There were still a handful of candidates there at about 4pm when I left, so it is a long day.
It was a wonderful first interview experience. It has given me confidence to go into my next interview, so that I don't break out in hives again! (Yes, it happened and my interviewer commented on it.) Just to clarify, only one of my interviews was over an hour, the other was 35 minutes.
I was very impressed at just how relaxed the whole process was. I really enjoyed seeing the facilities. I was able to observe coronary bypass surgery at the Heart Institute.
Fantastic. Loved meeting the students. One of the few schools that puts on a mixer with students the night before the interview. Students and admissions faculty go out of their way to make the interview day a good experience for all.
It rained the day of the interview, so bring an umbrella along. There are many tours given throughout the day, and they do involve outdoor walking. Going to Two Rows the night before is also invaluable - you get to meet lots of students and fellow interviewees.
The school seemed really great, and everyone who goes there seems to really enjoy being there. They are really family oriented, which is good if you are married or whatever, and the professors seem like they are very willing to be there for you and to provide you with further opportunities to learn if you just ask.
One thing to know when interviewing here, the faculty will use your profile to take your questions from. I had several direct questions on my educational background. Also, faculty are only given your essay and profile page to look at (the one you get a copy of from TMDSAS). They do not see evaluations or additional information.
I really enjoyed UT Houston! This is a great school for people who want a more laid back medical school environment. Also, all the students I talked to loved their school and said the faculty went out of their way to help them.
Dr. Gunn is a motivational, inspiring admissions chair. His rousing speech easily cleared any doubts that I had about pursuing medicine. UT Houston is doing a lot of construction, but they promise the bulk of it will be done by late next year. Stay with a student for the best experience...
This was my first interview, and it was a wonderful introduction. Yes I was nervous but I put my best foot forward. The people were very nice and the day went rather smoothly for me.
It was a very good experience, the hospital tours were great. Not quite as "touchy feely" as some other schools but that isn't a drawback. My interviews were very different from the ones I had before this. (see questions)
UT-Houston definitely impressed me, I really enjoyed talking to the faculty and the students. The students themselves were pretty funny and easy-going.
Medical students were in the middle of exams so the pre-Interview social was cancelled. The students that were able to make it were very friendly and helpful. Overall, I ejoyed my vist to the school.
First interview lasted an hour; second one lasted maybe 30 minutes! The interesting thing was when we had to evacuate the building first thing that morning because someone pulled a fire alarm. Definitely not an experience I'm used to!
My first interview was short- like 20minutes which kind of freaked me out but my second interview was 35min. Both interviewers asked standard questions. The lunch was really good- they give you a real hot meal no sandwiches. lots of time to talk to and interact with current medical students.they also had a great info session on having a family and being a doctor which was great.
I really enjoyed interviewing at UT Houston. The students and faculty were generally nice and excited to speak to the interviewees. I had one difficult interviewer who nit-picked me because of the school I attended; however, the overall experience was positive and my second interviewer was the most pleasant I have had yet.
Overall good. They have limited tours one or two of which are likely to conflict with your interview. The interviewers are relaxed as are the students. Everyone I met seemed to genuinely like it there. I also went on a tour where we saw the Helipad, which was cool.
I left with a much better impression than I started with. I was impressed with all the facilities (hospitals, clinics, etc.) but wonder if it would be too large for me.
My first interviewed was a cross between a stoner and a cheap zombie from the Thriller video. He hadn't read my file and was clearly not really interested in conducting an interview from the get-go. All of his questions were very bland and could easily have been answered by reading my file. Bleh. Hopefully that was just the interviewer and not representative of the school - my second interviewer was great, very conversational. The students were very helpful, though I got a feeling of a whole lot of Texas A&M-ness, which may or may not be a detractor for you. Overall, it was a pleasant day, and the message from the Dean that started the day was very inspirational - they are indeed serious about their patient-care there, so I think it may be a better place for clinical medicine than others.
Just be yourself and everything will be fine. Most students had good interviews. I was asked the ethical question above probably because that interviewer was a Ph.D in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
Overall a very good experience. I was only stressed a lot because it was my first interview. My 2nd interviewer rushed me a little because he had a patient waiting for him, but I was very impressed and would love to attend UT Houston.
I enjoyed my interview experience. I could not wish for a better first interview. Keep your confidence level high and be affable during the entire process. UT Houston has many more postives than I previously thought. Its non-competitive atmosphere makes this school attractive
It was nice. I was not put on the spot by the itnerviewers, and rather it felt more like a friendly chat than an inquisition I was expecting. When I expressed interested in clinical research, both of my interviewers discussed the opportunities for that and encouranged me, rather than ask me why I didn't just get a PhD then.
I really love UT houston. I felt very much at home and relaxed. The students are vey nice and willing to give you advice. Medical school building was not that exciting but the hospitals around were very nice. The first interviewer was a man and he was vey encouraging and nbice. The second was a lady and she was sweet although in a hurry.
A really great day. It is true what they say about the incredible quality of students that UT Houston attracts. They made the day really cool and informative for all of the applicants. Doesn't hurt that a lot of Aggies go there either!
Overall, a great experience for a first interview. They really make you feel at home. And relax, it's so low stress! They even say they're not out to rattle you like some other schools. They're just looking for who's a good fit. Also, I get the impression that they are not focused on the numbers game...ECs are more focused upon.
I went to the night-before outing at Two Rows on Thursday. That was really fun.
I ended up being rejected from UTH, and I found out that I scored poorly on my interviews even though they seemed fine to me. The interviews are very friendly and laid back though, so it's hard to evaluate what they thought of you.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest that the admissions office consider being more flexible with interview date changes and provide better guidance or maps for interviews. Overall, applicants appreciate the emphasis on student feedback and the friendly, well-run nature of the admissions process.
To provide guidance, or at least maps, to the interviews. I wandered around lost for a good 10 minutes! Though at least they give you enough time to do that.