In this issue:
- Texas STAR Residency Data Dashboard
- Career Advising Tip of the Month
Texas STAR Residency Data Dashboard
This week you should be receiving an email from Microsoft Power BI with the subject line, “Hannah Cochran has shared Power BI Report ‘Texas STAR Dashboard 2026’ with you.” This is not a spam email, but is your personal link to access Texas STAR, a national data resource used to help demystify the residency application process. The dashboard contains five years of self-reported data from matched students at 136+ medical schools, including UWSOM, and is administered by the UT Southwestern Medical School.
How to access Texas STAR:
- Click the “Open This Report” button in the email you received from Microsoft Power BI with a subject of “Hannah Cochran has shared Power BI Report ‘Texas STAR Dashboard 2026’ with you.” Check your junk/spam box if you don’t see it in your Inbox.
- Your user account and password is linked to the UW NetID system (xxx@uw.edu). The password is the same as your UW NetID password.
- Your link is not transferrable to others.
- Bookmark the link for future reference.
- If your link expires, request a new invitation email by visiting this website and clicking “Request Access.” Enter your UW email address.
How to use Texas STAR:
- Texas STAR Demo Video
- User Access Guide is accessed on this website
- Career Advising’s Texas STAR Tutorial video
Career Advising Student Advisory Board Tip of the Month
This advice is for all MS2 students and includes first generation and BIPOC student lenses.
During rotations this year, try to secure at least one attending who can write a letter of recommendation for your residency application. If an attending offers to write you a letter in the future, take them up on it! If they don’t offer one, but you connected well and performed strongly on the rotation, consider asking if they would be comfortable writing you a strong letter of recommendation. Away rotation applications often require letters, so stay in touch with these letter writers! You can learn more about LORs on the Career Advising letters of recommendation page, including info on how attendings store letters until you need them for away rotation or residency applications.
Edited & reviewed by MS4 Cara Chapman. Originally written by alum Shanelle Briggs, MD.
Career Advising welcomes tips and ideas from all students. Please reach out to Career Advising at medadv@uw.edu.
This link takes you to past information for MS2s.