2013-2014 Texas A&M Application Thread

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Secondary prompts:
1. The honor code for the Texas A&M College of Medicine is: "A Texas A&M medical student is a professional who exhibits leadership, honesty, integrity, compassion, respect and self-discipline." Please briefly discuss what activities or personal attributes demonstrate best that you would be a good custodian of our honor code (3500 character maximum).

2. Describe any circumstances indicative of some hardship, such as, but not limited to, financial difficulties, personal or family illness, a medical condition, a death in the immediate family or educational disadvantage. (Do not leave blank. If not applicable, please so indicate. The character limit on this essay is 3500).

3. OPTIONAL QUESTION: List the area (or areas) of medicine that appeals to you and briefly explain. (Limit your explanation to 50 words or 250 characters for each area of interest you list.) Do not leave blank. If not applicable, please so indicate.

Good luck everyone!
 
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I live in Houston, Texas. I will apply here this season to get in for 2014. Does anyone know anything about commuting here from Houston to College Station as a med student provided you get accepted to the College Station campus?. Any current med students here that do it?
 
southerngrl said:
I live in Houston, Texas. I will apply here this season to get in for 2014. Does anyone know anything about commuting here from Houston to College Station as a med student provided you get accepted to the College Station campus?. Any current med students here that do it?
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The process of campus designation depends on essays you write after your accepted. If you have family/need/aspirations etc they consider everything before assigning locations. I got C/S (and am from Houston) and I know many others who got their first choice too.. I think it only gets a little tricky near the end of the season when your being chosen off the waiting list.. then it's more about luck where you end up.
 
In regards to yippiekiyay's response this is helpful! Thanks for your input... I am very interested in this school...
 
yippiekiyay said:
The process of campus designation depends on essays you write after your accepted. If you have family/need/aspirations etc they consider everything before assigning locations.
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Can you elaborate on the essays? Is it a simple prompt of "tell us where you want to go and why?" or a little more complex.
 
#19 essay is so weird for me to write (the one with the honor code). I wrote it using my experiences and belief, but it doesn't flow very well.
 
SCX1 said:
#19 essay is so weird for me to write (the one with the honor code). I wrote it using my experiences and belief, but it doesn't flow very well.
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Dude the A&M secondary is my last one as well. sooo many essays. I feel sorry for the MD/PhD students...

If you want, I can look over it and offer pointers.
 
trs88 said:
Can you elaborate on the essays? Is it a simple prompt of "tell us where you want to go and why?" or a little more complex.
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Yes. That's basically what they asked. They also wanted us to rank the different tracks. i.e. 4 years Bryan/ College station, 4 years Temple, etc. The rankings and the essay are the only two factors used by them to determine which track you're selected for.
 
GandalfTheWhite said:
Dude the A&M secondary is my last one as well. sooo many essays. I feel sorry for the MD/PhD students...

If you want, I can look over it and offer pointers.
Click to expand...

Thanks man, but I submitted it already today.
 
What are yall's opinion on the hardship question? I usually avoid all the disadvantaged/hardship questions in secondaries, but I don't know if I should just indicate not applicable.
 
hookem29 said:
What are yall's opinion on the hardship question? I usually avoid all the disadvantaged/hardship questions in secondaries, but I don't know if I should just indicate not applicable.
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Its my last one. I had a death in my family that helped expose me to medicine and I am a first generation college student, but IDK if I should fill it out either because they technically arent hardships...
 
GandalfTheWhite said:
Its my last one. I had a death in my family that helped expose me to medicine and I am a first generation college student, but IDK if I should fill it out either because they technically arent hardships...
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Yeah, I'm not sure about that question either. I'm thinking about leaving it blank...but still debating
 
miss chievous said:
Yeah, I'm not sure about that question either. I'm thinking about leaving it blank...but still debating
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I did. I dont want to make any excuses for my grades or life choices. There are people with far worse predicaments then a death in an extended family.

I just submitted today, but the default page was for the 2013 app.... I gotta call them tomorrow and see what I can do about that.😳😳
 
I went ahead and answered the hardship question. I haven't had anything super traumatic happen in my life, but I've had plenty of instances where I've overcome great challenges. To me it was better to not have left anything blank. Even though my struggles are different from yours as yours are from everyone else's, surely you can come up with a few times that you've been faced with seemingly immense obstacles and worked to overcome them. If you truly haven't ever faced anything remotely challenging, don't make anything up though.
 
annawmc said:
I went ahead and answered the hardship question. I haven't had anything super traumatic happen in my life, but I've had plenty of instances where I've overcome great challenges. To me it was better to not have left anything blank. Even though my struggles are different from yours as yours are from everyone else's, surely you can come up with a few times that you've been faced with seemingly immense obstacles and worked to overcome them. If you truly haven't ever faced anything remotely challenging, don't make anything up though.
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unless its one of the reasons provided such as "financial difficulties, personal or family illness, a medical condition, a death in the immediate family or educational disadvantage" I dont think its a smart idea to utilize the passage.

For example, Im a first generation college student, come from a family that earns 50K or less over the past 8 years, and my uncle died (who raised me instead of my dad during my childhood). I also lost 80 pounds after combating pre-diabetes and high BP.

But I chose to leave it blank because they do not adversely affect your outcome.

A lot of the hardships people go through are more than likely echoed in their personal statements or the optional TMDSAS secondaries. Its redundant and frowned upon to reiterate what you have already said elsewhere.
 
^False. It's better to re-iterate what you have already expounded upon. If you have a good story share it in a unique way. 5000 characters in the personal statement still wont shed light on the culmination of your experiences.

If you have something to say that will give the adcoms a little more about you, always do it.
 
nck2007 said:
^False. It's better to re-iterate what you have already expounded upon. If you have a good story share it in a unique way. 5000 characters in the personal statement still wont shed light on the culmination of your experiences.

If you have something to say that will give the adcoms a little more about you, always do it.
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Actually its true.

And there are three essays on TMDSAS... not just one.

Maybe you should call them like I did and ask them if its smart to reiterate your PS or ideas from other essays... because I did and they said it wasnt a good idea.
 
GandalfTheWhite said:
Actually its true.

And there are three essays on TMDSAS... not just one.

Maybe you should call them like I did and ask them if its smart to reiterate your PS or ideas from other essays... because I did and they said it wasnt a good idea.
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alway heard the same thing. If you mentioned it before but not in great detail you can go ahead and expand upon it in other essays. But if youve already pretty much used it up in the tmdsas essays then do not repeat the exact same info onto secondaries
 
Hey guys!

I was just wondering if anyone else has everything in (stated in secondary), but are still listed as PENDING.

Thanks!
 
Dallasmavs said:
alway heard the same thing. If you mentioned it before but not in great detail you can go ahead and expand upon it in other essays. But if youve already pretty much used it up in the tmdsas essays then do not repeat the exact same info onto secondaries
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Exactly Quality >> Quantity. Its hard as a neurotic pre-med to accept that. Myself included.
 
I actually called and talked to someone in admissions as well about the topic and they said that it would be wise to expand upon your experience. To each his own on that one.

It truly doesn't matter at this point as long as it results in an interview
 
How many characters did y'all end up using in the secondary essays? Just wondering about how long they should be
 
This secondary is hella annoying. 3500 characters...that's more than the length of all our optional essays on the primary. Ridiculous.
 
rolex5425 said:
How many characters did y'all end up using in the secondary essays? Just wondering about how long they should be
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I used about 2800 for the first one, 3400 for the second one, N/A for the third.

miss chievous said:
This secondary is hella annoying. 3500 characters...that's more than the length of all our optional essays on the primary. Ridiculous.
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I know... and there are 3 of them for regular MDs...
6-7 for MD/PhD...
 
GandalfTheWhite said:
I used about 2800 for the first one, 3400 for the second one, N/A for the third.





I know... and there are 3 of them for regular MDs...
6-7 for MD/PhD...
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Both of mine will probably be around 2,000 lol. I hate this damn secondary. I still haven't completed the 2 tech ones either...gotta finish those before sunday hopefully.

And dude, I keep hear mixed opinions about the third question. Some people say to do it, some say don't...ugh
 
miss chievous said:
Both of mine will probably be around 2,000 lol. I hate this damn secondary. I still haven't completed the 2 tech ones either...gotta finish those before sunday hopefully.

And dude, I keep hear mixed opinions about the third question. Some people say to do it, some say don't...ugh
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Do what you think is right. I didnt do it because I dont like to make excuses for my actions/grades/outcomes.

If you are a first generation college student, they will know. If you have had real hardships in life, you have probably mentioned it in your statement.
 
GandalfTheWhite said:
Do what you think is right. I didnt do it because I dont like to make excuses for my actions/grades/outcomes.

If you are a first generation college student, they will know. If you have had real hardships in life, you have probably mentioned it in your statement.
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Good point.

And I just looked at your MDapps. Your improvement from one cycle to the next is absolutely ridiculous. I'd be surprised if you don't get at least 5 interviews in Texas.
 
miss chievous said:
Good point.

And I just looked at your MDapps. Your improvement from one cycle to the next is absolutely ridiculous. I'd be surprised if you don't get at least 5 interviews in Texas.
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👍 I just hope the Adcoms feel the same way.

Getting 0 interviews (and getting rejected) is a powerful motivator 🙂

I just hope I get into an MD school.

Your MDApps says youre a female... might want to fix that... otherwise these premeds will start to holler..
 
GandalfTheWhite said:
👍 I just hope the Adcoms feel the same way.

Getting 0 interviews (and getting rejected) is a powerful motivator 🙂

I just hope I get into an MD school.

Your MDApps says youre a female... might want to fix that... otherwise these premeds will start to holler..
Click to expand...

I tried updating last week but forgot my password...hahaha.

Don't stress. You'll get into multiple MD schools man, no question.
 
GandalfTheWhite said:
👍 I just hope the Adcoms feel the same way.

Getting 0 interviews (and getting rejected) is a powerful motivator 🙂

I just hope I get into an MD school.

Your MDApps says youre a female... might want to fix that... otherwise these premeds will start to holler..
Click to expand...


Hahaha the thirsty premed dudes.

Yea dude I am rooting for you too! You have made your presence well known among these Texas schools threads haha.
 
SCX1 said:
Hahaha the thirsty premed dudes.

Yea dude I am rooting for you too! You have made your presence well known among these Texas schools threads haha.
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Thanks!
Its probably because I'm just at home right now searching for a job..
Playing video games/ browsing SDN in the meantime 😀

I think pretty much everyone will know me by the time this interview cycle is over hahaahah
 
GandalfTheWhite said:
when were you complete?

My primary and MCAT score are not showing as 'true' yet... but im waiting on LORs so that might be it.
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Hey bro, you submitted A&M's secondary right? I'm thinking about using the same essay for the "honor code" as I did for El Paso. Did you also do that?
 
miss chievous said:
Hey bro, you submitted A&M's secondary right? I'm thinking about using the same essay for the "honor code" as I did for El Paso. Did you also do that?
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Nah I wrote separate ones for that. One is only 400 characters or words while the other is 3500... its a big differnece so i opted to go unique on each.
 
GandalfTheWhite said:
Nah I wrote separate ones for that. One is only 400 characters or words while the other is 3500... its a big differnece so i opted to go unique on each.
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My 400 words is about 1,900 characters. I think I might just add a paragraph and make it around 2500. 👍
 
This was by far my least favorite secondary and I did it last.

I feel like after every secondary I did the next one got better lol.
 
also I finished my secondary and paid yesterday but it does not say true for secondary fee. for primary and secondary it says true.

Did you guys have to wait a bit for that as well??
 
Dallasmavs said:
also I finished my secondary and paid yesterday but it does not say true for secondary fee. for primary and secondary it says true.

Did you guys have to wait a bit for that as well??
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I waited weeks before mine updated 🙁
 
Dallasmavs said:
also I finished my secondary and paid yesterday but it does not say true for secondary fee. for primary and secondary it says true.

Did you guys have to wait a bit for that as well??
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LOL for mine it says true for the secondary app and fee but nothing for the MCAT/Primary...
and i submitted TMDSAS on 5/1
 
GandalfTheWhite said:
Yea I wont have those transmitted until 6/30-7/07 since its a committee letter.

I just figured atleast the MCAT scores would be loaded.
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I'm pretty sure I remember reading that for mcat score it will never say true. Just make sure on TMDSAS it says reviewed.

I don't have a committee letter cause my school kinda messed up the process for me so I'm sending my letters as a packet of 3 🙁. Hopefully that won't cost me.
 
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