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University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Medical School

Dallas, TX

Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit

⭐ Overall Impressions

How did the interview impress you?

Positively

What was the stress level of the interview?

2 out of 10

How you think you did?

8 out of 10

How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?

8 out of 10

How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?

9 out of 10
💬 Interview Questions

What is one of the specific questions they asked you?

Open file interviewer (clinical faculty) seemed to have been impressed with my application even before (s)he met me. (S)he asked me about each of my main research projects, my plans in medicine and what I would do if I didn't get into med school (but then (s)he assured me I would get in :)). (S)he was extremely nice and tried to assure me I was doing well.
PS only interviewer (research faculty) was also very nice but a little socially awkward, asked me about my personal background (based on my PS), what was the last book I read (followed by a somewhat awkward discussion, because (s)he hadn't heard of any of the books or authors I talked about) and what were my interests/hobbies. (S)he also seemed to follow some list of questions: What I would do if I saw a classmate cheat on a test? Which 3 people would I take to talk to the President about stem cell research? What is a main ethical issue in medicine now? Overall, (s)he focused mainly on my background/interests and personality/ethics.

What was the most interesting question?

No responses

What was the most difficult question?

No responses
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics

How long was the interview?

25 minutes

How many people interviewed you?

2

What was the style of the interview?

One-on-one

What type of interview was it?

Open file

Was this interview in-person or virtual?

No responses

Where did the interview take place?

At the school
📍 On-Site Experience

Who was the tour given by?

Student

How did the tour guide seem?

Enthusiastic

How do you rank the facilities?

9 out of 10

What is your in-state status?

In state

What were your total hours spent traveling?

0-1 hour

What was your primary mode of travel?

Train or subway

About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?

< $100

What airport did you fly into?

No responses

Where did you stay?

Home

What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?

No responses

How would you rate the hotel?

5 out of 10

Would you recommend the hotel?

No responses

What is your ranking of this school's location?

6 out of 10

What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?

7 out of 10

What are your comments on where you stayed?

No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions

How is the friendliness of the admissions office?

10 out of 10

How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?

8 out of 10

How did you prepare for the interview?

Read about the school on the school's web site and SDN, read SDN feedback (very helpful!), read some med school interview books, had 2 mock interviews, have been following on current events in medicine

What impressed you positively?

There were plenty of opportunities to talk to current students. Everybody was very friendly and helpful, students were by no means as weird or socially awkward as one could think after reading this site. The new Parkland and University Hospital scheduled to open in 2014 and 2015, correspondingly, right in time for the class of 2018 clinical training, are pretty exciting. The Colleges system seems to be a hit with students. MS3 and MS4 students get a lot of hands on experience and have calls like grown ups :) It was great to tag along with a team on hospital rounds. 2nd year systems-based block schedule with non-cumulative exams every 3 weeks. Opportunities for clinical electives and away rotations in MS4. A 4 year MD/MPH. Burgeoning global health opportunities (UTSW wasnot really big on global health opportunities, but it seems to be improving). Financial information talk.

What impressed you negatively?

Nothing really. The preclinical curriculum is not the most exciting, and there are not that many non-clinical electives, but who cares about preclinical stuff when you get an awesome clinical training? Grading during the second semester of MS1 and during MS2 and MS3 (p/f the first semester of MS1 and during MS4) may not be to everyone's liking, but: 1) it's a chance to distinguish oneself for competitive residencies (and quite a few UTSW graduates go to competitive residencies) and 2) grading is not curved. MS3 is quite hard because students are given a lot of responsibilities and are fully involved in patient care - but then again, you get to learn a lot this way. None of these are really negatives for me, but I can see how they may be negatives to other people.

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

I think I had a pretty good idea about UTSW and about interviewing at UTSW before the interview, but some advice for those who may be not as well prepared: 1) do wear comfortable shoes, 2) do prepare a list of questions/topics that are of most interest/importance to you, so you can ask them when you get a chance, 3) Friday morning clinical rounds is a great opportunity to see (some of the) clinical training in action, 4) the view of Dallas from the 14th floor cafeteria is pretty awesome.

What are your general comments?

The interview was very well organized and there were plenty of opportunities to talk to current students, which is how I got the information that is most important to me (details on how clinical training is organized). UTSW may not be the most "hip" school, but it certainly provides a solid clinical training; graduates go to very good residencies in competitive specialties.

What are your suggestions for the admissions office?

No suggestions. Everything was organized very well, thank you!