2020-2021 TCU & UNTHSC

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Something interesting... I completed the TCU secondary a couple weeks ago and my girlfriend completed hers today. We were talking about how it went and our responses to the individual questions and realized we had different prompts... has anyone else talked to a friend about it? I’m curious if our prompts are related to the results of the surveys...
Members don't see this ad.
 
Washerman said:
Something interesting... I completed the TCU secondary a couple weeks ago and my girlfriend completed hers today. We were talking about how it went and our responses to the individual questions and realized we had different prompts... has anyone else talked to a friend about it? I’m curious if our prompts are related to the results of the surveys...
Click to expand...
Maybe just a random pull from a pool of questions, who knows. That would be so cool if the survey actually changes the questions
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
After almost two weeks of putting this secondary off because I was nervous about what was in store... I took it today and actually enjoyed it a lot! :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Members don't see this ad :)
SOM Admissions. Do you accept updates or additional documents to be uploaded upon secondary review. My sophomore year grades are lower due to personal reasons however just looking at my transcript you wouldn't be able to understand the story behind it!
 
This is BY FAR the best secondary I completed - TCU, you really nailed it.

To anyone wondering:
1. You don't have to complete all questions during one sitting, you can continue or log-out after each of them
2. Questions aren't hard or tricky, they ask about things unique to you (i.e. typical MMI-style questions)
3. You cannot re-play or re-record after you answer the question
4. The system works on a Mac but you must use Chrome or Firefox (+ incognito mode helps)
5. You will laugh afterwards as this is way more pleasant than essays (as you can use the tone of your voice etc)
6. The prompts are not public as the school asks to treat the whole 2° as confidential
 
  • Like
Reactions: 7 users
greg129 said:
This is BY FAR the best secondary I completed - TCU, you really nailed it.

To anyone wondering:
1. You don't have to complete all questions during one sitting, you can continue or log-out after each of them
2. Questions aren't hard or tricky, they ask about things unique to you (i.e. typical MMI-style questions)
3. You cannot re-play or re-record after you answer the question
4. The system works on a Mac but you must use Chrome or Firefox (+ incognito mode helps)
5. You will laugh afterwards as this is way more pleasant than essays (as you can use the tone of your voice etc)
6. The prompts are not public as the school asks to treat the whole 2° as confidential
Click to expand...

Agreed. This was much less painful than a lot of other secondaries.
 
prelaib said:
Agreed. This was much less painful than a lot of other secondaries.
Click to expand...
so does this mean I shouldn't waste time "studying" for it? Just go ahead a bite the bullet and answer them naturally?
 
kpeezy24 said:
so does this mean I shouldn't waste time "studying" for it? Just go ahead a bite the bullet and answer them naturally?
Click to expand...
Yes. No need to study. If you have been previously writing secondaries for other schools then you should be ready for all the questions.
 
kpeezy24 said:
so does this mean I shouldn't waste time "studying" for it? Just go ahead a bite the bullet and answer them naturally?
Click to expand...

Exactly. Personally, I kept a scratch paper near me and when it gave me the 60 seconds to contemplate the prompt, I quickly wrote down a structure of what I wanted to say during those three minutes.
 
boomchickapop said:
Exactly. Personally, I kept a scratch paper near me and when it gave me the 60 seconds to contemplate the prompt, I quickly wrote down a structure of what I wanted to say during those three minutes.
Click to expand...
Booryan said:
Yes. No need to study. If you have been previously writing secondaries for other schools then you should be ready for all the questions.
Click to expand...
prelaib said:
For sure. There’s not much studying you can do.
Click to expand...
Awesome thanks guys!
 
Members don't see this ad :)
I will go as far as saying you don't need any scratch paper. You definitely don't need any preparation. The questions are a mix of asking for situational judgment (i.e. a more clear version of CASPer) + things from your life.
It looks like the main goal of these is for the comitte to know you better personally. It's like meeting someone in an elevator and talking with them about your passion & how you do things.

Honestly speaking? In my opinion this is a much better way to know someone than essays perfected for hours. If you truly love your pathway you shouldn't have a problem talking about it.

Lurking around their website I also found the following short:


I think it shows how the school really runs and what they believe in. Picking a school is a two-way process - you have to like your schools too ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 7 users
Just submit my secondary, I enjoyed the audio responses but don't think I did super well :dead::whistle:
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
Complete yesterday 8/11, hopefully we see some IIs soon! Good luck to everyone
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users
greg129 said:
This is BY FAR the best secondary I completed - TCU, you really nailed it.

To anyone wondering:
1. You don't have to complete all questions during one sitting, you can continue or log-out after each of them
2. Questions aren't hard or tricky, they ask about things unique to you (i.e. typical MMI-style questions)
3. You cannot re-play or re-record after you answer the question
4. The system works on a Mac but you must use Chrome or Firefox (+ incognito mode helps)
5. You will laugh afterwards as this is way more pleasant than essays (as you can use the tone of your voice etc)
6. The prompts are not public as the school asks to treat the whole 2° as confidential
Click to expand...


This sounds great! But I'm a little confused. When does the timer start? There are two tabs, "Mission-fit Inventories" and "Mission-fit Essays"; does the timer start as soon as you click one of the tabs? Should we not press it until we are ready?

Also, which is the audio recording, the "inventories," the "essays," or both? Thanks!
 
XyZ1000 said:
This sounds great! But I'm a little confused. When does the timer start? There are two tabs, "Mission-fit Inventories" and "Mission-fit Essays"; does the timer start as soon as you click one of the tabs? Should we not press it until we are ready?

Also, which is the audio recording, the "inventories," the "essays," or both? Thanks!
Click to expand...

The audio recordings are in the "essays" tab and the timer will not start until you manually begin each individual question
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
ShottyJames said:
The audio recordings are in the "essays" tab and the timer will not start until you manually begin each individual question
Click to expand...

Thank you! So no timer will start if we just click either of the tabs?
 
XyZ1000 said:
Also, which is the audio recording, the "inventories," the "essays," or both? Thanks!
Click to expand...


The "inventories" contains two click-through tests. Nothing starts surprisingly, you have to confirm every step of the way ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
Is the secondary a video audio prompt? Do I need to dress up? Or is it just an audio recording? Thank you:)
 
To confirm most of the above responses: that was a great secondary. You have enough time to jot down some notes and take a deep breath before you respond. I found quick notes helpful because I have a tendency to ramble, but I didn't really need them.

Good luck to everyone applying!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
Agree with everyone above. Did it yesterday. Unfortunately, I felt like I wasn’t as coherent as I usually am. Don’t know what happened :(
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
sos-sos said:
Agree with everyone above. Did it yesterday. Unfortunately, I felt like I wasn’t as coherent as I usually am. Don’t know what happened :(
Click to expand...

I feel it... I found it significantly harder to talk to my computer than to an actual person. Hoping I get a real interview so I can redeem myself
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
I know it will sound stupid but I was actually talking to a picture of a plant, which made me smile and almost laugh at the situation ;)

Probably the hardest part is not having non-verbal cues from the other side, so you can adjust how you speak and from what angle you're actually describing the problem :thinking:
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
Just received my secondary today! My application was just processed/verified yesterday and it was a nice surprise to hear back so soon. I just finished my master's at UNTHC's graduate school and would love the chance to return to Ft. Worth/UNTHSC - great campus, amazing professors! Definitely was thrown off by the audio secondary but I do enjoy being able to give my responses a literal voice. However I am nervous about sounding more informal in my responses - does anyone else worry about this since its a little more on the spot than pre-written essays??
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Does TCU screen for secondaries? I never got it? I has gotten II from other schools already, so I don't think there's any major redflag in my app. Was the secondary inv in yall's spam folder?
 
HeretoSeekAdvice said:
Does TCU screen for secondaries? I never got it? I has gotten II from other schools already, so I don't think there's any major redflag in my app. Was the secondary inv in yall's spam folder?
Click to expand...

I am not positive in saying that they don’t screen, but I received the secondary an hour after I was verified by AMCAS
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
HeretoSeekAdvice said:
Does TCU screen for secondaries? I never got it? I has gotten II from other schools already, so I don't think there's any major redflag in my app. Was the secondary inv in yall's spam folder?
Click to expand...
when i received their secondary in the email it said they review our AMCAS app and then send the secondary. Not sure what the cutoff is
 
Just submitted the secondary! The audio essays are a nice touch and feel more like a mini-interview.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Just did secondary. I like the audio responses, wish everyone did this. My only complaint was I couldn't see the question once the recording started.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users
type1fiber said:
Just did secondary. I like the audio responses, wish everyone did this. My only complaint was I couldn't see the question once the recording started.
Click to expand...
yea halfway through one of the prompts i was like hold up what was the second part of the prompt again? o well..
 
  • Haha
Reactions: 1 user
About to do this audio secondary and kinda freaking out lol here goes nothing
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
YeMustBeBornAgain said:
About to do this audio secondary and kinda freaking out lol here goes nothing
Click to expand...
UPDATE: I like it. Was super nervous at first but I think I did decent! A few "uh's" but thats unavoidable lol. 2 of the questions i had solid answers to. 1 of the questions kinda threw me off and I literally had to think on my feet for. Overall, it is different and I enjoyed it AND I didnt have to write essays so thats always nice ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 users
Just got an email saying they will reevaluate my application after October 13th (when all MCAT scores for 2020 been released) so they are screening.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
Rxbound said:
Just got an email saying they will reevaluate my application after October 13th (when all MCAT scores for 2020 been released) so they are screening.
Click to expand...

When were you complete?
 
Rxbound said:
Just got an email saying they will reevaluate my application after October 13th (when all MCAT scores for 2020 been released) so they are screening.
Click to expand...
Do you not have an MCAT score yet?
 
Are we allowed to replay and listen to what we said ? or once its done recording u cant even hear it again
 
I-cry-everyday said:
Are we allowed to replay and listen to what we said ? or once its done recording u cant even hear it again
Click to expand...

It's locked once you've recorded so you can't hear yourself. You can use the test recording to determine how you would generally sound in their audio recording.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Ahhhh I just finished it I'm cringing so hard

Really do not like how they don't show the question during the recording. Definitely lost track and forgot the question during the 3 minutes
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
You must log in or register to reply here.
Next unread thread

Similar threads

wysdoc
2021-2022 TCU
12 13 14 15 16
Replies
787
Views
172K
aquamarine8787
aquamarine8787
wysdoc
2022-2023 TCU
13 14 15 16 17
Replies
841
Views
148K
GodFirst07
G
PapaGuava
2019-2020 TCU & UNTHSC
17 18 19 20 21
Replies
1K
Views
190K
wysdoc
wysdoc
koffeekween
2021-2022 Ponce-STL
2 3 4
Replies
184
Views
24K
amazinmedicine
A
TheDataKing
2020-2021 Vanderbilt
14 15 16 17 18
Replies
857
Views
300K
srstudent
S
Top