2024-2025 UT Houston (McGovern) (2024)

McGovern 2024-2025 Secondary Essay Prompts (question 3 is changed from last year and question 4 is added)

Question 1: (2500 character limit)
Please discuss one of the following:
* A challenging situation or obstacle you have faced in the past
* Any academic road bumps in your academic career (low academic performance, failing course, dropping/retaking of courses)
In your answer include: Why was it challenging? How did you handle it? Knowing what you know now, would you do anything differently? What did you learn?

Question 2: (2500 character limit)
Describe a time or situation where you have been unsuccessful or failed. What did you learn from this experience and how have you applied this learning to your work and/or life?

Question 3: (2500 character limit)
From what you understand about the rigors of medical school, what do you think will be the biggest challenge for you? How do you think you are prepared for these challenges?

Question 4: (2500 character limit)
What hesitations or reservations, if any, do you have about joining the medical profession?

Good luck to all applying!
Interview Feedback:

christopherincorporated said:

My app was verified 5/15 and sent 5/23; I know mcgovern sends secondaries to all applicants, but any reason why I wouldn't have received the secondary yet?

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Always check your spam or promotions folder.
If you are using your college email address, the college system sometimes quarantines emails with attachments.
Otherwise, it’s probably going to reach you soon because they are getting a big influx of primaries

wysdoc said:

I believe the character limit for each of these 4 questions is 2500, but I'll ask someone who has received the secondary to verify for us here.
Thank you!

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I haven’t yet, but someone on the TMDSAS thread said they were able to copy paste a whole 5000 characters and nothing happened; same with a friend of mine who received the other day. Might be an early error, but just wanted to share!

christopherincorporated said:

My app was verified 5/15 and sent 5/23; I know mcgovern sends secondaries to all applicants, but any reason why I wouldn't have received the secondary yet?

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I am in the same boat. Are you IS or OOS?

IWishICouldPhysics said:

I haven’t yet, but someone on the TMDSAS thread said they were able to copy paste a whole 5000 characters and nothing happened; same with a friend of mine who received the other day. Might be an early error, but just wanted to share!

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More isn't always better!

wysdoc said:

More isn't always better!

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Yep, people will just ignore after a couple of paragraphs.

wysdoc said:

More isn't always better!

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Would you suggest sticking to 2500-3000-ish, assuming the "no character limit" stays? I wouldn't mind the extra characters to add depth to certain points (though I doubt I'd get beyond 4000), but I also don't want to bore the poor readers

IWishICouldPhysics said:

Would you suggest sticking to 2500-3000-ish, assuming the "no character limit" stays? I wouldn't mind the extra characters to add depth to certain points (though I doubt I'd get beyond 4000), but I also don't want to bore the poor readers

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wait for confirmation, aim for 2500

wysdoc said:

wait for confirmation, aim for 2500

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It is 2500 character limit!

christopherincorporated said:

My app was verified 5/15 and sent 5/23; I know mcgovern sends secondaries to all applicants, but any reason why I wouldn't have received the secondary yet?

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same I did not get mine either and I was verified and transmitted on 5/17. I have checked all my junk and spam mail. I think maybe they are screening or something to determine the order in which people get secondaries.

CheeesyBoi said:

I am in the same boat. Are you IS or OOS?

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IS. Also weird because I've been getting the secondaries for a bunch of other schools

christopherincorporated said:

IS. Also weird because I've been getting the secondaries for a bunch of other schools

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I think @texasvandy ’s comment is the most relevant, that McGovern will do a batch weekly and not send them out every hour as they come in.

wander21 said:

What could we say for the fourth question that wouldn't be a red flag?

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Not sure if this would be a red flag or not but I wrote a small blurb about how much family means to me and being worried that I won't be able to provide emotionally for my wife as well as I have historically, but then I mention how much her and I have discussed it and that we both feel prepared. Someone can let me know if this will come off red flag-y

TheDeadrok said:

Not sure if this would be a red flag or not but I wrote a small blurb about how much family means to me and being worried that I won't be able to provide emotionally for my wife as well as I have historically, but then I mention how much her and I have discussed it and that we both feel prepared. Someone can let me know if this will come off red flag-y

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I wrote about something very similar to this

wander21 said:

What could we say for the fourth question that wouldn't be a red flag?

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I spoke about burnout with some context from physicians I’ve spoken with, and how I plan to combat it (as well anyone can)