It has been a while since I posted a blog. The last few weeks have been incredibly busy and tiring. However, this is a good problem, because it is due to all the interviews for medical school I have received. I interviewed at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX on October 16; at the Texas A&M College of Medicine in Temple, TX on October 22; at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX on October 23; and at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, TX on October 30. I have two more interviews scheduled at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX on November 7 and at the Texas Tech School of Medicine in Lubbock, TX on November 20.

All the driving has made me tired all the time and has convinced me that I definitely don’t want a job that requires a lot of traveling. Each interview process has been a lot of fun as well as very informative. Of the schools I have interviewed at so far, Baylor is my top pick, followed by either UTMB Galveston or UT Houston. The interview at the A&M school in Temple was fine but the town seemed rather boring and I did not like how they split up their student body after the first year and a half at Brian-College Station.

Of the two interviews I have yet to attend, I expect that UT Southwestern will be comparable to Baylor, and Lubbock comparable to A&M. However, that being said, I have received good vibes from every school I have visited, so it will be a tough choice deciding where I want to spend four years. The way the system works is that I will rate the Texas public schools which I have received interviews at from first choice to last by January 21 on my application at the TMDSAS website. If I have already received a pre-match offer from my top choice school, then that is where I will go (unless I also receive an offer from Baylor, which is a private school and not in the Texas medical school system, and decide to attend there).

If I have not received a pre-match offer, I will go through match where my preferences will be combined with the preferences that each school has put out and will be waitlisted if I am not offered an acceptance at my top choice based on the algorithm that is used. I have until sometime in June to either accept one of my other offers or hold out to see if a spot opens at my top school (which would not be a very wise decision).

At this point, I will more than likely either be living in Dallas or Houston for the next four years starting in August of 2016. I am currently comparing what I believe to be the pros and cons between Baylor and Southwestern. If any of my readers live in either of these cities or used to do so and want to chime in on what they did or did not like about them, please do so. I have a feeling this is not going to be an easy decision. However, that being said, this is definitely a great problem for me to have!

People I have talked with say it is good to stand out from the other interviewers so you will be better remembered. Well, there are two aspects about me that definitely set me apart. First, I was the only music major at my interviews (as far as I know). Also, I was the only bald person among the interviewees, although I did meet one bald medical student or with whom I got along great.

I purchased a new medium-gray suit which fits me very well at a reasonable price about a month ago that I have used on my interviews. It was fun making a pocket square (or rather trying to make one and being helped out by Mom – I suck at sewing) which made the suit look snazzy. I am also trying to wear ties based on the colors of the medical school at which I am interviewing.

All in all, the application and interview process has been exciting if also somewhat stressful. It definitely costs money and takes time but I feel incredibly honored to be able to attend medical school and look forward eagerly to a fulfilling career in medicine. The field I am currently most interested in pursuing is Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. However, we will see if this holds once I start doing clinical rotations!