Edinburg, TX
Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 40% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did okay.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
6.8
Mixed
Mixed experience; organization and communication appear average with varied impressions and occasional stress.
Based on 33 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 Mixed
< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school as average compared to other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most rank this school as average compared to other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was moderately responsive.
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the applicant's background, such as "Tell me about yourself" and "What got you into medicine?", as well as situational questions like "What would you do if you saw another student cheating?" These questions provide insight into the candidate's motivations, ethics, and ability to handle challenging scenarios during the interview process.
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Tell me about yourself
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What is your biggest weakness?
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What would you do if you saw another student cheating?
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Tell me more about your MCAT retakes in detail.
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What got you into medicine?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Texas Rio Grand Valley School of Medicine discussed a range of topics, including surgical experience at a young age and ethical dilemmas faced by physicians. It appears that the interviews may have been in a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, as some responses referenced ethical scenarios and hands-on procedures while others mentioned nondisclosure agreements.
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Tell me more about your surgical experience and how you were able to perform so many hands-on procedures at a young age.
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I was asked a handful of ethical/dilemma questions. Like what would you do if you were the physician and your patient...
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Texas Rio Grand Valley School of Medicine discussed scenarios testing trust, reactions to weaknesses, and concerns about multiple MCAT attempts affecting performance in medical school. These questions suggest a focus on ethics, self-awareness, and academic readiness, reflecting common themes in medical school interviews.
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How do you know if you can trust someone?
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Threw multiple scenarios at me about how would I react based on my weakness. Kept bringing it up.
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Do you think you're multiple MCAT attempts will foreshadow you struggling in medical school?
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had a closed file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by conducting mock interviews and researching the school extensively, including details about the curriculum, alumni experiences, and the school's culture. Researching the specific school and its values, along with practicing interview scenarios, were common strategies among applicants to prepare effectively for their interviews.
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Mock interviews
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I visited their website for details about the medical curriculum. I am a UTRGV Alumni so I knew most of the details of the school beforehand.
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Research the school and how involved they are. Know the culture that surrounds the school.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were positively impressed by the engaging interviewers, kind admissions staff, diverse rotation locations, and the abundant opportunities for volunteer work, research, and internships at the growing school that aligns with its mission of community service.
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One of the interviewers was very engaging and encouraging me throughout the responses.
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The kind admissions staff and positive attitude of the students.
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The wide range of rotation locations all throughout the RGV.
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The school is new and growing. Tons of volunteer, research and internship opportunities readily available. The school really aligns to their mission statement of serving the community.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions about the small campus size and facilities, particularly the small buildings where classes were held. Some also mentioned concerns about the surrounding community, although they appreciated the affordability. Suggestions include expanding campus facilities and addressing any safety or community concerns.
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Very small campus. But it is growing.
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The small building where the classrooms were located.
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The surrounding community is not the best but it is very affordable.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wish they had known in advance about the varying interview formats, the significance of class size and acceptance rates, and the time commitment of the entire interview day.
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One would be closed and one would be open interview
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The small class size/acceptance rate.
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The whole interview day runs from 8 am to 5 pm.
What are your general comments?
Applicants commonly praised the school for its close-knit and supportive community, noting the family-oriented atmosphere and small class sizes as major strengths. Many also expressed excitement about the program's growth and new facilities, highlighting the abundant opportunities available within the intimate learning environment.
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The school has a laid back and very family orientated vibe. The small class size means the students and staff know each other well and overall everyone is caring for one another. The program is getting new buildings and growing. Opportunities are everywhere and the small class size is never going to reach over 70.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should provide more timely and transparent updates to waitlisted candidates to avoid leaving them in limbo without responses to their inquiries.
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Please keep your waitlisted applicants up to date on WL movement. Sucks being in limbo and having no responses to my emails.
📍 On-Site Experience ▼
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are in state students.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 7+ hours traveling to the interview.
What was your primary mode of travel?
Most respondents traveled by automobile to the interview.
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
Most respondents spent between $101 and $200.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
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San Antonio
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
Best Western Plus
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Best Western Plus. Make sure you park before 9pm because the parking lot fills up because of a food truck there.
How would you rate the hotel?
Most respondents rated their hotel as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
Most respondents would recommend their hotel.
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
All Responses
| Application Cycle ▿ | Impression | Performance | Interview Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | Positively 🙂 | Average | Virtual |
| 2022-23 | Positively 🙂 | Good | In Person |
| 2019-20 | No change 😐 | Good | N/A |
| 2018-19 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2018-19 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2017-18 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
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