Nope. I was told to never ever leave anything blank in an application (unless you are not applying for a specific program such as MD/PhD - then leave that part blank or write not applicable)
2014-2015 Texas A&M Health Science Center Application Thread
- Thread starter gettheleadout
- Start date
Nope. I was told to never ever leave anything blank in an application (unless you are not applying for a specific program such as MD/PhD - then leave that part blank or write not applicable)
Well, the first day of orientation the dean gave a presentation on the history of the school etc. He mentioned that incoming classes (2019-) will probably have a research requirement. He also made a brief aside that they might add this into our curriculum (co2018) somewhere down the road. I am not sure how the class as a whole would feel about this but I am looking forward to giving it a shot.
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2011
- Messages
- 470
- Reaction score
- 273
Eh, in this case I don't think it was a big deal to write "Not applicable," judging by the examples they gave of hardship (financial difficulties, personal or family illness, a medical condition, a death in the immediate family or educational disadvantage). I would rather not write anything than come up with something small or make something up.
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2013
- Messages
- 165
- Reaction score
- 120
Agreed. If you have something to write about, then sure this is the space to do it. Don't feel like you absolutely must do it though. For what it's worth, I left this question blank.
Last edited:
- Joined
- May 6, 2014
- Messages
- 36
- Reaction score
- 22
II! Transmitted 7/15 idk when I completed and went under review
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2014
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
Are all of the A&M interviews in Temple?
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2011
- Messages
- 598
- Reaction score
- 479
Nope, some are in Bryan too.
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2014
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
Do you know if the locations are randomly assigned?
- Joined
- May 6, 2014
- Messages
- 36
- Reaction score
- 22
In the email I received, they said that it was because of my location that they assigned me to a particular campus.
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2014
- Messages
- 3
- Reaction score
- 5
Hey guys I just finished my interview at A&M on the 31st so if y'all have any questions let me know! I will say, they are completely changing up the curriculum and I absolutely love it.
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2014
- Messages
- 80
- Reaction score
- 56
.
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2014
- Messages
- 80
- Reaction score
- 56
Can you explain the new curriculum/grading? Also, any information on a research requirement before graduating?
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2014
- Messages
- 3
- Reaction score
- 5
So the new curriculum is taking a bit from each school. It will be 18 months with a 4 month summer break between year 1 and 2 and a USMLE prep course (free of charge) at the end of year 2. It also will be Pass/Fail/Honors so none of that High pass/Marginal pass stuff.
As for the research, EVERY student will be required to do some kind of research before graduating. Whether that be completing a masters or just doing a summer program with a professor, every student will have completed research before graduation. If I remember correctly (don't quote me on this), they were going to allow you to also take an elective during 4th year and apply it to your research credit.
As for the interviews, I had two PHD's. Some of my friends had MD's though and one had the associate dean of admissions. It's all completely random but they were all extremely kind and conversational. I have not heard of one person saying negative things about TAMHSC interview day. I'm not going to lie, because of the fantastic interview day, A&M is now one of my top choices.
Hope this helps! 🙂
D
deleted632431
Will this change be for the students that start medical school in Fall 2015?
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2013
- Messages
- 127
- Reaction score
- 88
Reposting this to answer common questions I'm getting.
Classes are split into blocks so the block we are on now is Core Principles of Medicine 1 (CPM1). This block covers Histology & Gross Anatomy with the labs. For each block we have 3 exams. Each exam counts as 31% of that block and quizzes account for 7%. Throughout the year we have Intro to clinical skills and Becoming a Physician (ethics/humanities).
We are on a H/P/F scale now. To pass a block you need 70-100%. Failing a block is <69.5%. To get honors you need to be in the top 15% of your block.
Your interviewers will be either MD's, Ph.D's, or student interviewers. The best advice I can give is to be genuine during your interviews. Be passionate about what you are saying instead of robotically repeating your answers.
Look here for info: http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/current/index.html
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2014
- Messages
- 80
- Reaction score
- 56
According to the TAMHSC website, the curriculum shows a block schedule with June-July as the summer break between year 1 and year 2. Is this correct or is it a four month break as you stated? Thanks for all the info!
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2013
- Messages
- 127
- Reaction score
- 88
So A&M is doing some major overhauling of their curriculm such as taking lab practicals on ipads, moving everyone to bryan, changing the grade system. c/o 2018 is doing 2 years of basics but your year could very well be transitioning to 1.5 years of basics.
oh yeah you guys are also getting a new multimillion dollar gross anatomy lab on the HSC campus so you dont need to drive to the undergrad campus anymore.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2011
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 11
Hi PhysToMed,
It is my understanding that TAMHSC COM holds interviews once each week on Thursdays.
Wishing you the best!
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2013
- Messages
- 165
- Reaction score
- 120
I am getting more and more excited about all the positive changes that seem to be in store for our class! Both UTSW and A&M undergoing huge overhauls. Can't wait to interview here and learn more!
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2011
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 11
All:
In our 2nd week as M1's at TAMHSC COM, it finally occurred to me to take a look at the SDN website I watched this time last year like a Labrador retreiver watching his tennis ball. Seeing your posts here brought me back quickly to what seems a radically different existence only 12 months removed. Believe me, I can feel the emotions you are all feeling this very moment. This time last year, I made a promise to myself that if I were fortunate enough to find myself on "the other side" at this point, I would offer what I could to those still anticipating all of the incredible events and emotions I have indeed been fortunate enough to experience in the past year:
1. It is worth it. You have poured a large proportion of everything you are into the pursuit of your dream. Hours of study in undergrad, hours of study for the MCAT. The phrase, "C's get degrees" doesn't apply to you. You have held yourself to a higher standard. You have pursued a depth of education and of experience that many of your peers may not completely comprehend. You have pursued excellence, in every sense of the word. You have not only pursued it, but you have proven your commitment to it by dedicating countless hours to it when there were innumerable opportunities to divert your attention elsewhere. In many cases, including mine, you doggedly pursued your dream in the face of adversity and rejection for the simple reason that you could not possibly imagine not doing so. You have investigated, explored, challenged, and developed yourself in the pursuit of the singular goal of having the privilege of serving others, through some of the highest, through some of the lowest, and most intense periods of their lives. The effort you have poured into the day you will don your white coat, and the privilege of training for the profession it represents is pretty unusual. From looking around the room at my classmates every day, it clearly takes a very special person to make that sustained pursuit without guarantee of success, for the sole reason that it is simply, "Who they are".
You likely don't know me, but I can unequivocally promise you this: The day you walk across that stage, and accept the honor of that white coat from, and with 200 or so of the finest people you could possibly imagine, IS WORTH EVERY SINGLE MOMENT YOU SPENT TO BE THERE.
2. You may read #1 and think, "This is great, and I hear angels singing, but I already know what I, and those around me, have invested in this effort. What I really need is hard, cold, advice to bring that effort to fruition." I understand. If you have read this far, I owe you the best I can offer, so here it is:
In my humble opinion, if you have been invited for an interview, it is for the sole reason that your application represents a candidate they feel has the character, ability, and integrity to become not only a member of the medical profession, but an Aggie Doc. They, and we, take that very seriously because every person, past, present, and future, that emerges from school an Aggie Doc, has an enormous impact on every other member of the medical profession, and every other Aggie Doc, past, present, and future.
On your interview day, your objective should be that every person you meet, meets precisely the person your application says you are.
In our 2nd week as M1's at TAMHSC COM, it finally occurred to me to take a look at the SDN website I watched this time last year like a Labrador retreiver watching his tennis ball. Seeing your posts here brought me back quickly to what seems a radically different existence only 12 months removed. Believe me, I can feel the emotions you are all feeling this very moment. This time last year, I made a promise to myself that if I were fortunate enough to find myself on "the other side" at this point, I would offer what I could to those still anticipating all of the incredible events and emotions I have indeed been fortunate enough to experience in the past year:
1. It is worth it. You have poured a large proportion of everything you are into the pursuit of your dream. Hours of study in undergrad, hours of study for the MCAT. The phrase, "C's get degrees" doesn't apply to you. You have held yourself to a higher standard. You have pursued a depth of education and of experience that many of your peers may not completely comprehend. You have pursued excellence, in every sense of the word. You have not only pursued it, but you have proven your commitment to it by dedicating countless hours to it when there were innumerable opportunities to divert your attention elsewhere. In many cases, including mine, you doggedly pursued your dream in the face of adversity and rejection for the simple reason that you could not possibly imagine not doing so. You have investigated, explored, challenged, and developed yourself in the pursuit of the singular goal of having the privilege of serving others, through some of the highest, through some of the lowest, and most intense periods of their lives. The effort you have poured into the day you will don your white coat, and the privilege of training for the profession it represents is pretty unusual. From looking around the room at my classmates every day, it clearly takes a very special person to make that sustained pursuit without guarantee of success, for the sole reason that it is simply, "Who they are".
You likely don't know me, but I can unequivocally promise you this: The day you walk across that stage, and accept the honor of that white coat from, and with 200 or so of the finest people you could possibly imagine, IS WORTH EVERY SINGLE MOMENT YOU SPENT TO BE THERE.
2. You may read #1 and think, "This is great, and I hear angels singing, but I already know what I, and those around me, have invested in this effort. What I really need is hard, cold, advice to bring that effort to fruition." I understand. If you have read this far, I owe you the best I can offer, so here it is:
In my humble opinion, if you have been invited for an interview, it is for the sole reason that your application represents a candidate they feel has the character, ability, and integrity to become not only a member of the medical profession, but an Aggie Doc. They, and we, take that very seriously because every person, past, present, and future, that emerges from school an Aggie Doc, has an enormous impact on every other member of the medical profession, and every other Aggie Doc, past, present, and future.
On your interview day, your objective should be that every person you meet, meets precisely the person your application says you are.
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2011
- Messages
- 470
- Reaction score
- 273
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2014
- Messages
- 31
- Reaction score
- 21
would you mind telling us when you submitted your secondary?
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2011
- Messages
- 470
- Reaction score
- 273
My secondary was submitted on July 11th
D
deleted632431
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2013
- Messages
- 568
- Reaction score
- 285
About a month after match day (match day Feb 1, campus selection sometime in early March). You'll get to rank your preferences and a chance to explain your rankings.
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2014
- Messages
- 15
- Reaction score
- 7
II 8/28 🙂 OOS average mcat, high GPA, I submitted secondary at the very end of May. And I did not answer the hardships question fyi
D
deleted632431
I have TRUE listed for everything on my application. However, my app is still pending. Does anyone what happens after the PENDING status?
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2013
- Messages
- 112
- Reaction score
- 52
After pending you go "under review". But I was stuck on pending for about two weeks, so just give it some time.
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2014
- Messages
- 80
- Reaction score
- 56
.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2011
- Messages
- 470
- Reaction score
- 273
That's a tricky question. Every interview you get is an opportunity for an acceptance. It is risky imo to turn away interview offers before you have an acceptance in hand. It would be even more expensive to go through the whole application process twice. On the other hand, you must be a fairly strong candidate to get many interviews this early in the cycle, so if there are any schools you really don't see yourself attending, you might be able to afford skipping them.
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2014
- Messages
- 80
- Reaction score
- 56
Very true statement regarding the cost of re-applying, didn't think of it that way until now. Thanks for the advice!
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2013
- Messages
- 47
- Reaction score
- 5
I was in pending status for about 6 weeks... Don't worry.
Although it doesn't hurt e-mailing the adcom about it.
D
deleted632431
Congrats! Do you know when your application status went "under review"? I submitted my secondary August 4 also but the status is still "pending".
- Joined
- May 29, 2014
- Messages
- 170
- Reaction score
- 188
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2014
- Messages
- 400
- Reaction score
- 258
Yes they are!
yo. long time lurker of these forums, first time poster.
i interviewed here on 8/14. after the interview my BAMF status went from 'under review' to 'INTERVIEWED' and today it went back to 'under review.' i checked with another person that has also interviewed and they're still on the 'INTERVIEWED' status. i tried looking through the '13/'14 thread and i didn't see a post similar. does anyone have some insight into this??? this is definitely a top choice school for me, and i don't know if this status change is a good or bad thing! maybe i'm looking to much into it? idk.
i interviewed here on 8/14. after the interview my BAMF status went from 'under review' to 'INTERVIEWED' and today it went back to 'under review.' i checked with another person that has also interviewed and they're still on the 'INTERVIEWED' status. i tried looking through the '13/'14 thread and i didn't see a post similar. does anyone have some insight into this??? this is definitely a top choice school for me, and i don't know if this status change is a good or bad thing! maybe i'm looking to much into it? idk.
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2014
- Messages
- 400
- Reaction score
- 258
I think you are looking too much into it, honestly. If it is still bothering you by the end of the week (and hasn't changed back), I am sure you could give the admissions office a quick call to put your mind at ease.
Edited to fix sentence, add content.
If anyone is curious, I ended up emailing the admissions office and it turns out they were in a transition period with BAMF and things were screwed up for multiple people and they were glad that I brought it to their attention. My status is now back to INTERVIEWED.
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2012
- Messages
- 520
- Reaction score
- 193
Got my first interview invite today for 9/4! Nervous & excited, but more nervous, lol.
