Do Texas Medical Schools Intercommunicate?

[GonefromTX]

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When handing out acceptances, do the medical schools in Texas know which other schools and applicant is getting acceptances from? In other words, will getting an acceptance at one school lower your chances at another school?

Also, I'm a bit confused by the TMDSAS rank system. Are we supposed to rank our preferences on TMDSAS after getting acceptances? Otherwise, how does it work? Thanks in advance!

 

[vfr670]

I'm so glad I am not the only Texas resident confused by the whole pre-match system!

 

[PantherPride]

When handing out acceptances, do the medical schools in Texas know which other schools and applicant is getting acceptances from? In other words, will getting an acceptance at one school lower your chances at another school?

Also, I'm a bit confused by the TMDSAS rank system. Are we supposed to rank our preferences on TMDSAS after getting acceptances? Otherwise, how does it work? Thanks in advance!

Nope. Basically, you rank schools and schools rank you, so you get matched to the school you ranked highest that also ranked you high. A pre-match is just an offer of acceptance before the match date. If you rank a particular school #3 that prematched you, and you dont match to your # 1 or 2 schools, you are guaranteed a spot into that #3 school. Plenty of people don't prematch anywhere, but end up getting into a school through the match system in February.

 

[vfr670]

And schools could also not select for you at all?

 

[vfr670]

so naturally you would rank your prematches dead last right?

I would assume only if it wasn't your top choice...if I got pre matched for uthscsa then I would list it first because I like being in San Antonio and I feel settled here...I think it depends on where you inevitably want an education...

 

[clairephillips]

so naturally you would rank your prematches dead last right?

Noooo, my understanding is that if you got matched into a school you ranked higher, you would automatically be removed from the acceptance list at the other school. Regardless of prematch, rank in order of where you want to go.

 

[PantherPride]

so naturally you would rank your prematches dead last right?

like vfr670 said you would just rank your schools in order of preference. To continue on his example, say you are given a prematch offer to uthscsa and that is your absolute top choice, but you dont prematch to utmb. If you rank utmb #1 and uthscsa #2 come match day, and it turns out utmb also ranked you high, then you would be matched to utmb instead of san antonio. In this case it makes sense to rank san antonio #1 because thats the school you want to go to.

 

[DokterMom]

I don't believe (but am not certain) the schools know prior to the match who has received a pre-match offer where. Each school just sends out as many pre-match offers as they want to those students they most want to attend. (It's flattering for the student to receive a pre-match offer, and can move a school up somewhat in the student's mind.) So some students receive multiple pre-match offers; some receive none. Some schools send lots of pre-match offers, filling most of their class. Other schools send far fewer and rely on the match to do the work.

The match algorithm is similar to the residency match and is absolutely worth reading about at least once. But in a nutshell, it works from the student's preferences first, matching 'Student A' into his/her first choice school if that school is willing to accept them. If more students prefer that same school, and the school ranks those other students higher than A, then A is bumped down to his second choice school. A computer does all the crunching and iterations.

Because of the way the process works, there is no reason for a student to rank schools in any order other than their genuine preferences, and no reason for the schools to rank students in any way other than their genuine preferences.

Post match, things change --

 

[GonefromTX]

Is it important to submit your ranking as soon as possible?

 

[GonefromTX]

And thanks for the help guys!

 

[DokterMom]

Is it important to submit your ranking as soon as possible?

Submitting your ranking early is of no benefit whatsoever. Just go on every interview you're invited to until you receive a pre-match offer you're thrilled with. Then, perhaps, decline interviews at schools you're certain would be less appealing to you than the one that already accepted you. Submit your rank list be the deadline and you're good to go --