2019-2020 TCU & UNTHSC

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
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merk33 said:
Does anyone understand the point/reasoning behind the genetics prerequisite? Is TCU the only school in the country that requires this?
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Yeah, I have no idea! Based on this requirement, it seems I’m gonna have to withdraw my application from this school :/.
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andruw9786 said:
Yeah, I have no idea! Based on this requirement, it seems I’m gonna have to withdraw my application from this school :/.
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A physiology class is also required, which is likewise not a typical pre-requisite. If genetics is the only course you lack, you could take it in spring semester and still be done with the course before matriculation.
 
merk33 said:
I disagree. Usually only students majoring in biology will take genetics so they've limited their applicant pool severely. Further, if heavy genetics was needed in medical school, it would make sense for there to at least exist an extension on genetics outside the basic principles learned in other biology prerequisites and what is tested on the MCAT. My B/B score says I'm quite ready for medical school biology, even without genetics.
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my major isnt bio and i took genetics. fortunately it worked out for me here. It could be a way to limited the applicant pool some. UMKC requires cell bio which is an abnormal prereq as well
 
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Agentcross said:
my major isnt bio and i took genetics. fortunately it worked out for me here. It could be a way to limited the applicant pool some. UMKC requires cell bio which is an abnormal prereq as well
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Understood. I guess some schools just deviate from the norm slightly. Best of luck with TCU and the rest of the cycle!
 
wysdoc said:
A physiology class is also required, which is likewise not a typical pre-requisite. If genetics is the only course you lack, you could take it in spring semester and still be done with the course before matriculation.
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I totally would, but it would put me over 18 credit hours next semester! Thank god I have the physiology requirement, but no genetics. :\
 
andruw9786 said:
I totally would, but it would put me over 18 credit hours next semester! Thank god I have the physiology requirement, but no genetics. :\
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No shade meant, but didn't you all check the prereqs before applying? There are a lot of schools now that have requirements other than the courses needed for the MCAT.
 
They have an accelerated preclinical curriculum so in my mind it makes sense to require more pre-reqs.
 
futureneuro7 said:
No shade meant, but didn't you all check the prereqs before applying? There are a lot of schools now that have requirements other than the courses needed for the MCAT.
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No worries, you're good! I should've checked, but I thought I checked every school for genetics when I built my school list. I guess this one slipped past because all other 33 schools don't require it! Whoops lol
 
Required coursework for admission is determined by faculty as a means to be adequately prepared for our curriculum - why genetics? In addition to basic science content, our Future Accelerators of Medicine and Beyond course will engage students in design thinking, immersive interactions with data/technology and the approaches for applying technology to improve the health of patients and populations. Genomics, personalized medicine are a few concepts that require a foundation in genetics.

Our aim is not to create hurdles for applicants and certainly not our students - without required coursework, the academic fit would be unnecessarily challenging.
 
dno said:
They have an accelerated preclinical curriculum so in my mind it makes sense to require more pre-reqs.
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To clarify, our curriculum is not accelerated; rather, it is spiraled and applied. You will continue engaging in "preclinical curriculum" all throughout the four years. The first Phase (14 months) is the heavy lifting of basic science and during Phase 2 (15 months), students continue with basic science concepts while on their clerkships - this leads up to Step 1. Phase 3 (last 18+ months of medical school), you will continue to address patient-centered curricula with the knowledge to better apply the science to the clinical environment.
 
Is anyone else having problems submitting the secondary application fee?

Edit: never mind, switched browsers and it helped
 
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Has anybody else that was verified in June not recieve the secondary yet?
 
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Submitted my secondary today! Hoping to hear back! 🙂
 
Does anyone know if a pass/fail genetics course will satisfy the genetics requirement?
 
Received the secondary today! I never thought I be so excited for a secondary invite!

P. S. What is the average GPA and mcat for matriculants? I know the school only opened up last year, so I am not expecting a large amount of data.
 
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Scrizzy said:
Received the secondary today! I never thought I be so excited for a secondary invite!

P. S. What is the average GPA and mcat for matriculants? I know the school only opened up last year, so I am not expecting great data.
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Stats aren't bad at all. Here's a link if you want to read more about their inaugural class - https://mdschool.tcu.edu/news-item/fort-worth-m-d-school-welcomes-inaugural-class/
  • The average GPA for the inaugural class is 3.62, while the average MCAT score is 508.
 
wysdoc said:
A physiology class is also required, which is likewise not a typical pre-requisite. If genetics is the only course you lack, you could take it in spring semester and still be done with the course before matriculation.
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Physiology is also required? Most all students who are biology/pre-med don't ever take anatomy or physiology as a pre-req to graduate; but genetics is usually required. It's also unfortunate because ADCOMs of various medical schools have told me that you should not take anatomy/physiology in undergrad (or that you don't need to) because those schools want you to learn A&P "their way". Guess I'm going to end up taking it in the spring if I get an interview here.
 
Is genetics recommended or a hard requirement? As in, is there no point in sending a secondary without genetics?
 
Just submitted secondary... For the first essay, I thought I was doing the audio response test until the last second and realized it was the real deal. This led to tons of anxiety and nerves which I feel really took from my ability to craft an effective response. I definitely stuttered a lot and feel like much of what I said was unclear and I was unable to clarify the points I was trying to make.

@SOM Admissions how much weight do the secondary responses carry? Should I just assume I'll be rejected due to a poor secondary turnout, or can a primary that fits the mission well possibly salvage that?
 
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Still waiting on this secondary - two of my friends who added the school after me received it already :/
 
Just found out about this school and added it. Hope it is not too late.
 
wonder if the glitch causing the multiple complete emails is responsible for the no secondaries for some
 
How specific are the pre-req for the secondary? The only thing I lack is the physiology. Can I use another course that is similar to it, such as another biochem course, cell biology, or organic chemistry? I have already graduated and am not sure if I can squeeze in a course while working.

P.S. I am also using calculus for the statistic/biostatistic pre-req. I would be surprised if they do not allow this one though.

EDIT: After looking a the syllabus for their pre-reqs (https://mdschool.tcu.edu/admissions/how-to-prepare-a-competitive-application/), I feel like my research or quantitative analysis course could be used better in statistics, since both of them involve a lot of data analysis. However, I still find it difficult finding to match physiology other than biology, cell biology, and biochemistry.
 
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Scrizzy said:
How specific are the pre-req for the secondary? The only thing I lack is the physiology. Can I use another course that is similar to it, such as another biochem course, physics, or organic chemistry? I have already graduated and am not sure if I can squeeze in a course while working.

P.S. I am also using calculus for the statistic/biostatistic pre-req. I would be surprised if they do not allow this one though.
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There’s a way to put that you plan to take the course later.
 
YellowCard said:
There’s a way to put that you plan to take the course later.
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Would they allow me to take the course while attending the school? Because I believe all of the spring physiology courses would interfere with my work schedule.

EDIT: NVM, I just realize I can take a summer physiology course if they accept me. *face palm*
 
Scrizzy said:
Would they allow me to take the course while attending the school? Because I believe all of the spring physiology courses would interfere with my work schedule.

EDIT: NVM, I just realize I can take a summer physiology course if they accept me. *face palm*
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According to the academic calendar for the class that just entered, they start classes in mid July - hence, you'd have to take the physiology class this upcoming spring semester instead of next summer if you end up matriculating.

 
gulli_97 said:
Also don't have the physiology prereq and I have graduated. Possible to do it online for a CC credit?
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I think so. I'm currently doing an online and in-person (for lab days) physiology course at my local CC, as I also recently graduated and was lacking the physiology prerequisite.

This is what TCU's website has pertaining to it - "To meet admissions requirements, courses must be completed at an accredited institution, may be taken in various formats (e.g. online, in-person, blended)." When I emailed their admissions earlier this year, they told me community college credit would be accepted.
 
Jestermercenary said:
According to the academic calendar for the class that just entered, they start classes in mid July - hence, you'd have to take the physiology class this upcoming spring semester instead of next summer if you end up matriculating.

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Uh oh. So I sent in that I will be taking the course in my old community college I went to, that ends the course on July 11. However I found another community college that ends the in class lecture on July 3 and also has a online course that ends on June 4. Should I send in an email update to their admissions that I will be taking the course at another school? Is that even update worthy?

They wrote this on their FAQ section of the secondary...

"I recently completed a course, can I update my coursework?
All coursework must be verified by the AMCAS service. If at any time we require an update on outstanding pre-requisite coursework, we will contact you directly."

^This makes it seem like I should not send them an email.
 
FunkyFrog994 said:
Hi y'all. For those of you who have received secondaries would you be willing to share when you had your AMCAS verified. I submitted and was verified last week so i imagine it'll be a while for me, if at all.

I also had some questions about the prerequisite courses, specifically the genetics requirement. I'm fairly certain I've taken a course (cell, molecular and developmental biology) that covered all topic encompassed in the SOM's description of said genetics course, but I have yet to get a definitive answer.

If anyones got any questions about either of the campuses or the city of Fort Worth feel free to ask. I graduated from TCU before doing an SMP at UNTHSC so I'm very familiar with both schools. I can honestly say both are excellent in terms of resources offered and overall culture/environment.
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Verified 05/30 for me. As for your question about the pre-requisite, I think it would be best to email the school about that. Their responses to me have always been prompt! 🙂
 
FunkyFrog994 said:
Hi y'all. For those of you who have received secondaries would you be willing to share when you had your AMCAS verified. I submitted and was verified last week so i imagine it'll be a while for me, if at all.

I also had some questions about the prerequisite courses, specifically the genetics requirement. I'm fairly certain I've taken a course (cell, molecular and developmental biology) that covered all topic encompassed in the SOM's description of said genetics course, but I have yet to get a definitive answer.

If anyones got any questions about either of the campuses or the city of Fort Worth feel free to ask. I graduated from TCU before doing an SMP at UNTHSC so I'm very familiar with both schools. I can honestly say both are excellent in terms of resources offered and overall culture/environment.
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I submitted July 17 and was verified around Aug 6. Got my secondary invite yesterday Sept 1.
 
I'm sorry if this has been asked and answered, but can someone confirm if I'm able to see the secondary questions before having to record my response? Or is it like I click on it and then have to immediately record my response without clicking away?
 
cacophany said:
I'm sorry if this has been asked and answered, but can someone confirm if I'm able to see the secondary questions before having to record my response? Or is it like I click on it and then have to immediately record my response without clicking away?
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You get a minute to read and think about the question and 3 minutes to record your answer so you kinda have to think on your feet for this one, it's nothing crazy though. Just submitted mine
 
cacophany said:
I'm sorry if this has been asked and answered, but can someone confirm if I'm able to see the secondary questions before having to record my response? Or is it like I click on it and then have to immediately record my response without clicking away?
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60 seconds
 
cacophany said:
I'm sorry if this has been asked and answered, but can someone confirm if I'm able to see the secondary questions before having to record my response? Or is it like I click on it and then have to immediately record my response without clicking away?
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You click on “begin” then you get 1 minute to read the question and prepare. After that minute the message disappears and then you have 3 minutes to respond.

Edit: sorry didn’t realize this was answered.
 
adrummingdog said:
You get a minute to read and think about the question and 3 minutes to record your answer so you kinda have to think on your feet for this one, it's nothing crazy though. Just submitted mine
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CaptainPoopyPants said:
60 seconds
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fatpancakegg said:
You click on “begin” then you get 1 minute to read the question and prepare. After that minute the message disappears and then you have 3 minutes to respond.

Edit: sorry didn’t realize this was answered.
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Thank you guys for the responses!
 
Has anyone successfully used a MAc to answer the audio response questions recently? I have a macbook pro laptop that has a built-in mic that I am planning to use to do the audio response but TCU strongly recommend using PC. I do have a PC at home but just dont have a mic. Not sure if I should just use the Mac or be cautious and go get a mic.
 
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