University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine

A community service experience. (150 words)

List three adjectives that characterize the community in which you grew up.

Describe how you decide if a person or source is trustworthy. (350 words or less)

A creative endeavor (anything that required you to be creative in your approach, such as fine arts, computer programming, web design, writing, etc. (150 words)

A position of responsibility/authority in which others depended on you for direction. (150 words)

[Optional] If you feel that the Admissions Committee should be aware of any academic discrepancies or extenuating circumstances, please explain them. (350 words or less)

The UTRGV SOM educates future physicians with the following values in mind: Patient Advocacy, Community-Focus, Cultural Awareness, Collaborative Leadership Style, Lifelong Problem Solving. Choose TWO (2) of these values and explain their importance to you and how they integrate with each other. Please explain how this integration will impact your medical school education. ( 300 words )

Our Mission at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School Of Medicine (UTRGV SOM) is to educate a diverse group of medical students and future biomedical scientists; to develop physicians who will serve across all disciplines of medicine; bring hope to patients and communities by advancing biomedical knowledge through research. Our goal is to provide a forward-thinking medical education experience dedicated to scientific, evidence-based, patient-centered medicine to serve all communities, including those underserved. How does your background and/or experiences align with UTRGV SOM Mission?

Becoming a physician is a very hard and a “life-long” learning career. What and when was the instant that you knew this was going to be your chosen career and why?

We are all experiencing life under a pandemic – COVID-19. As an aspiring physician, please tell us three (3) things you would do to educate and assist your community with relevant COVID-19 information. (150 words)

Describe a time when the awareness of your own limitations resulted in a favorable outcome for you or someone close to you. (350 words or less)

Is there any personal characteristic, capability, or experience that you believe would be important for us to know in order to assess your potential as a medical student and practicing physician? Note: This must be something you have not covered elsewhere in the primary or secondary application. (optional,150 words or less).

Do you have any suggestions for improving medical care and access in the community of the Rio Grande Valley? How can the School of Medicine help to improve the situation? (optional, 300 words or less)

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine has commitments to diversity, inclusion, and health equity. What do these terms mean to you? What is their importance to medical education and practice, as well as to the health of our society in general?

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine's Honor Code requires that medical students live honestly, advance on individual merit, and demonstrate respect for others. UTRGV SOM subscribes to the highest Code of Professional Conduct. Our aim is professional behavior beyond reproach. Briefly explain the relevance of a school of medicine’s honor code to your anticipated development as a future practitioner of medicine.

Which potential barriers and facilitators exist for medicine of the future? How will you make a difference in this regard? (350 words or less)

In the event that you are accepted by two or more medical schools, what factors would you consider most important when choosing a school to attend. (100 word max; bullet points are acceptable)

[Optional] Describe any major hardships you have overcome to reach this point in your life. (350 words or less)

[Optional] How have volunteer work, hobbies, and/or extracurricular activities informed your beliefs about health care and a career in medicine? (350 words or less)

Engaging with the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) communities is a core part of our mission. Please share how you might contribute to this aspect of our mission. ( 1500 words or less )

Why are you interested in UTRGV SOM? (500 words or less max; bullet points are acceptable).

REQUIRED [VIDEO Response] (In the past they have had you record your own video & upload the file) Submit a 2-minute video that answers the questions below. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine prepares future physicians in accordance with the following values: -patient advocacy -community focus -cultural awareness, -collaborative leadership style -lifelong problem solving Select TWO (2) of these values and discuss what you have done in the past that resonates with them. How will you support and strengthen these two values when you practice medicine?

Please describe any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your medical or non-medical service experiences, including any circumstances that impacted your engagement in activities, academics, and MCAT that would have helped to prepare you for medical school. (1500 words or less)

PART 1: Required A situation in which you interacted with individuals who were different from you. (150 words)

Many applicants express a desire to serve underserved communities, but true commitment goes beyond good intentions. What is a specific healthcare challenge disproportionately affecting the Rio Grande Valley, or a similar underserved area? Why do current solutions remain insufficient in addressing this issue? Given the constraints of limited resources, what practical and innovative approach could you propose to address this challenge, and how might it be implemented effectively?. (1500 words or less)

Briefly describe the community you anticipate practicing medicine in post-residency: (100 words or less)

DESCRIBE EXPERIENCES YOU HAVE HAD UNRELATED TO SCIENCE OR MEDICINE.