*~*~*~*Official TMDSAS Questions Thread 2011-2012*~*~*~*

[BMEN]

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Does anybody know how long it takes for TMDSAS to mark LOR as received? Thanks!

If your letters were uploading via the online TMDSAS system, that day. If not, they make take a while.

 

[TheTruckGuy]

If I have taken coursework since I have submitted...how do I update TMDSAS? Also, will it cause me to have to be re-verified? Does this slow down my application (like my place in line to be reviewed by schools who already have my app?)?

I both applied and graduated last year and took two courses this past spring. I just e-mailed TMDSAS in December when I registered for the courses and told them the course numbers, etc, and they input it on my application, no processing fee or anything.

So you should be able to do the same. I don't think it'll slow down your application, especially if it is already submitted.

 

[ilostmytail]

did anybody else get an email from virtualeval saying your LOR was sent by your advisor? I just got the email, but I was informed that my LOR's were sent a month ago by my school, and it showed up as complete on my tmdsas app as well.

 

[Laplace]

So a week after submitting, I realize that there's a future coursework option. Should I fill that in now or just wait till I submit my transcripts for the upcoming semester in December? Made the same mistake for AMCAS, I realize that everything that can go wrong this cycle pretty much has.

 

[jerris2011]

Hi Everyone!
I lived in Texas up until the age of 5. I really want to return to my home state to serve undeserved areas. I have some family members living in Tx. How will I convey this information in the TMDSAS application? 😕 Will I even have a chance as an OOS applicant with Texas roots?🙂

 

[Cinematographer]

About to enter panic mode, since I just noticed a mistake NOT MADE BY ME on my TMDAS application. Had to send them the following email:

Reviewing my application I notice that my re-applicant answer to "what have done to strengthen my application" was somehow deleted or lost during the processing period. I do not understand how this could have happened, since I indicated that I had previously applied to two Texas schools and answered with the following:

"I withdrew my application from last year's cycle soon after it was verified. I was not satisfied with my MCAT scores, so after discussing my application with my premedical committee, I decided to withdraw it and reapply this year. I retook the MCAT in April and scored four point increase, putting me at a competitive numerical range. Additionally, I have been conducting research on pulmonary disease under an NIH grant at Baylor College of Medicine, furthering my understanding of biomedicine. My volunteering at a clinic for the underserved has also continued since last year."

Character count was even under the 600 limit.

The message left on that box states that I didn't even answer the question of being a re-applicant. I am under the impression this will be a negative in the reviewing of my application. I can assure you that, after multiple times of reviewing my application before submission, I made it a priority to confirm that all information was right. I still cannot understand how this information was altered during its processing.

Please advice me on what to do with this issue,
Cinematographer

Anyone have anything like this happen to their application?

 

[TheTruckGuy]

So a week after submitting, I realize that there's a future coursework option. Should I fill that in now or just wait till I submit my transcripts for the upcoming semester in December? Made the same mistake for AMCAS, I realize that everything that can go wrong this cycle pretty much has.

If you can't edit your application and resubmit, e-mail TMDSAS and let them know. You don't want to walk into an interview and have them think you're hiding info from them or send some sort of wrong message.

Hi Everyone!
I lived in Texas up until the age of 5. I really want to return to my home state to serve undeserved areas. I have some family members living in Tx. How will I convey this information in the TMDSAS application? 😕 Will I even have a chance as an OOS applicant with Texas roots?🙂

If you've lived most of your life outside Texas, and probably have very few memories from when you lived here, how can you feel more connected to Texas than to your current state? What have you done to prove you want to serve in an underserved area? And why serve in an underserved area here, and not in your current state? Are you just saying you want to serve in an underserved area because you know that's what Texas is in need of?

Figure out how to answer those questions and be prepared for them to come up in an interview.

 

[jerris2011]

If you can't edit your application and resubmit, e-mail TMDSAS and let them know. You don't want to walk into an interview and have them think you're hiding info from them or send some sort of wrong message.



If you've lived most of your life outside Texas, and probably have very few memories from when you lived here, how can you feel more connected to Texas than to your current state? What have you done to prove you want to serve in an underserved area? And why serve in an underserved area here, and not in your current state? Are you just saying you want to serve in an underserved area because you know that's what Texas is in need of?

Figure out how to answer those questions and be prepared for them to come up in an interview.

I be quite honest , I do have a lot of memories from Texas , I visit my home town of Dallas once a year ( when I can afford it 😀), I feel like that's where my heart is. I mean I didn't have a say in whether or not I wanted to move to GA, but my family had to because of financial issues. I have worked with underseved communities for over 4 years(mentoring , tutoring , clinical/non-clinical volunteering). Heck I'm underserved and underrepresented when it comes to health care, these areas would be a good fit for me because I can really relate to what individuals in these areas go through( I live in a VERY RURAL underserved town in GA). I would be prepared if I'm drilled with those questions that you've stated.

 

[lashley02]

Does anyone know if its looked down upon to do individual lor's. My undergrad offers committee letters but it's not going to be done until sept and I want my texas app finished asap. I have 4 lor (2 sci, 1 pi, 1 humanities) in my credentials file...should I just send them individually or wait until sept for the committee letter? tia

 

[SanAntonian]

Does anyone know if its looked down upon to do individual lor's. My undergrad offers committee letters but it's not going to be done until sept and I want my texas app finished asap. I have 4 lor (2 sci, 1 pi, 1 humanities) in my credentials file...should I just send them individually or wait until sept for the committee letter? tia

IMO it's better to submit individuals and submit now rather than to wait near deadline. But I'm not expert.

 

[lashley02]

thanks!! will it matter if I don't have them fill out the evaluator form? i dont wanna bother them with more stuff since the letters are done already

 

[SanAntonian]

thanks!! will it matter if I don't have them fill out the evaluator form? i dont wanna bother them with more stuff since the letters are done already

I think the evaluator form is beneficial, but not necessary. It's fast and easy to fill out. Pretty sure it's just a few circles and/or check marks. The evaluator probably won't mind doing the additional form, if you ask nicely.

 

[zww]

Could anyone give me some advice on how to input my Community Service hours? I'm in a fraternity and we have several semesterly/annual community service events which last like 1 day or a week. For example in 2009/2010/2011 i volunteered for "Campus Clean-up" which was one day for ~7 hours. Would i list each of these separate or all together? And if all-together how do i calculate the weekly hours?

Thanks! And sorry if this is a re-post/similar to another question, I've been looking for the past hour and couldn't find anything.

 

[RenQun]

Could anyone give me some advice on how to input my Community Service hours? I'm in a fraternity and we have several semesterly/annual community service events which last like 1 day or a week. For example in 2009/2010/2011 i volunteered for "Campus Clean-up" which was one day for ~7 hours. Would i list each of these separate or all together? And if all-together how do i calculate the weekly hours?

Thanks! And sorry if this is a re-post/similar to another question, I've been looking for the past hour and couldn't find anything.

You could call the event "Annual Campus Clean-Up Day" and then simply put 7hrs/wk for 21 cumulative hours. Because you can enter the start and end dates, the math will hint that you did this community service 3 weeks/times over the past 3 years. If you're worried about confusing the reader, you could use your description box to emphasize the time commitment.

Although, if each of the events involved different activities for different communities, you might want to consider listing them separately...

 

[ilostmytail]

so I've recently discovered a dilemma in my application but i'm not sure which forum to post it in so I'm just gonna ask it here.

My app was transmitted on 6/13, but my undergrad university recently contacted me saying that there were some documents that failed to get "scanned in" with my health professions packet, which I assume to be my LOR's. I called my undergrade health professions office and was told that they resent my packet and tmdsas accepted it on 7/20. Therefore, the actual date of my app completion is 7/20. So I'm now worried that since I was not actually complete for over a month, did my application get tossed in a incomplete pile? will med schools even take another look at it? I feel like I no longer have the early application advantage.

I did receive an interview invite on 7/21.

 

[tpoc3]

hey y'all,

i know now's really late in the game, but i was wondering what y'all think about applying now as an oos applicant. the only real ties i have to tx are through extended family and friends. i am urm, have a solid gpa but lower mcat. my application is also centered around the work i've done with underserved populations, homeless populations, and health disparities.

a&m would be a dream.

 

[SanAntonian]

so I've recently discovered a dilemma in my application but i'm not sure which forum to post it in so I'm just gonna ask it here.

My app was transmitted on 6/13, but my undergrad university recently contacted me saying that there were some documents that failed to get "scanned in" with my health professions packet, which I assume to be my LOR's. I called my undergrade health professions office and was told that they resent my packet and tmdsas accepted it on 7/20. Therefore, the actual date of my app completion is 7/20. So I'm now worried that since I was not actually complete for over a month, did my application get tossed in a incomplete pile? will med schools even take another look at it? I feel like I no longer have the early application advantage.

I did receive an interview invite on 7/21.

I think they will take another look at it sooner or later. You can always try to call or email the schools. Congrats on the invite, that's a good sign.

hey y'all,

i know now's really late in the game, but i was wondering what y'all think about applying now as an oos applicant. the only real ties i have to tx are through extended family and friends. i am urm, have a solid gpa but lower mcat. my application is also centered around the work i've done with underserved populations, homeless populations, and health disparities.

a&m would be a dream.

Go for it! Worst case, you retake the mcat next year and reapply.

 

[Lederhosen]

this has probably been asked before (I dont really have time to sift through the posts) but can you get your letters of rec submitted after you turn in the primary application?

 

[SanAntonian]

this has probably been asked before (I dont really have time to sift through the posts) but can you get your letters of rec submitted after you turn in the primary application?

Probably not, unless they're additional ones.

 

[TheUltimate12]

Hi All,

I am wondering if it is too late to submit to TMDSAS? I have been verified at AMCAS for quite sometime, but have been debating submitting TMDSAS still. Any thoughts?

 

[Morzh]

Hi All,

I am wondering if it is too late to submit to TMDSAS? I have been verified at AMCAS for quite sometime, but have been debating submitting TMDSAS still. Any thoughts?

The application must be submitted by 5PM CST on 9/30. So technically it's not too late. But the best you could hope for would probably be Nov/Dec interview dates at this point. But every year people apply the last week and ultimately end up getting accepted.

 

[TheUltimate12]

The application must be submitted by 5PM CST on 9/30. So technically it's not too late. But the best you could hope for would probably be Nov/Dec interview dates at this point. But every year people apply the last week and ultimately end up getting accepted.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll try to submit sometime in the next day or two.

 

[rubisco88]

How important is having research experience for Texas schools?

Which schools place high importance on research experience? (I'm guessing mostly UT-SW, UT-H, and Baylor)

Anyone on here get in without research experience? What were your stats and ECs?

 

[SanAntonian]

How important is having research experience for Texas schools?

Which schools place high importance on research experience? (I'm guessing mostly UT-SW, UT-H, and Baylor)

Anyone on here get in without research experience? What were your stats and ECs?

I think research is a plus, especially at those schools. However, I personally would trade some of my good research experiences for more shadowing/healthcare experiences. As it seems the latter type of experience may be more beneficial to you in most cases.

 

[kkuhn]

I have... a question! Let's say I rank some schools now, in the TMDSAS system. Can schools see that before January? Could it affect their admissions decisions? HMMMM.

 

[KTD]

You can change them as much as you want until the deadline--but the schools can't see your rank list ever. A computer just figures out where you go based on your list and their rankings. It won't affect your admissions at all to play around with the rank list.

 

[Stumpyman]

So I heard TMDSAS asks for HS GPA, SAT scores, rank, etc. I was wondering, do they take any of these into consideration when applying? Are they fairly important?

 

[KTD]

Depends on the school. At San Antonio they told us they compare your MCAT to your SAT to see if you are over or under performing based on your potential.

They are the only school that mentioned it at the interview. My guess is most don't really look at it, but I don't really know.

 

[Got Em]

I know that AMCAS uses BCPM for science GPA calculation, but how does TMDSAS do this? Is it just BCP without math classes? I heard you have science, cumulative, and graduate GPA...is this true as well? I can't seem to find this information in the threads.

 

[SanAntonian]

Anyone else having trouble logging in to TMDSAS?

 

[RenQun]

TMDSAS was giving me errors when I tried to log in yesterday. However, I logged in just now to find the addition of a 'Click to Go To Pre-Match Withdrawal' button added.

Perhaps this new button has been the source of the recent login issues? (And perhaps it will also be a source of great joy when people start pressing it!! )

 

[NoNotYouLionel]

TMDSAS was giving me errors when I tried to log in yesterday. However, I logged in just now to find the addition of a 'Click to Go To Pre-Match Withdrawal' button added.

Perhaps this new button has been the source of the recent login issues? (And perhaps it will also be a source of great joy when people start pressing it!! )

Do they show your acceptances on TMDSAS?

 

[FutureMD23]

Do they show your acceptances on TMDSAS?

Yes, but they're not updated yet. I have two acceptances, but it says I have none.

 

[sector9]

Thread closed. Please refer to this year's version of the thread here.