*~*~*~*Official TMDSAS Questions Thread 2013-2014*~*~*~*

[mmmcdowe]

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Please post any questions relating to the TMDSAS Application here.

This thread is brought to you by the Pre-Allopathic Volunteer Staff. Ask away, and good luck!!

Please remember that each thread has a search function in the header labeled "Search this Thread". Please use it to avoid repeating questions.


Please use the TMDSAS Application site as your first resource for questions. The website has a list of FAQ's and plenty of other information.

http://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas/medical/homepage.html

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)




If you have FAQ's you would like posted, feel free to send me a PM with the question and answer.

 

[oxnanaxo]

Okay so this will be the first question ever and it's not even a great question but I couldn't find answer online..

I know transcript request form should accompany official transcripts and I'm wondering if this request form can be scanned copy that is printed by someone at the registrar? Or should I mail in the request form for them to include in the envelope?

Thanks!

-------- Never mind the lady at TMDSAS replied super fast. And I quote her in case someone else is wondering: "Yes, that is fine. We do not need the original request form. A copy or scanned copy will be acceptable."

 

[3bamboo]

Question about academic status: It is based completely on # of hours complete not on the specific term right?

For example for Fall of 2013 I took 4 classes, I am listing my first two classes as Junior and my second two classes as Senior (because I would have completed 90 total hours by class #3) Even though they are the same term, is this right?

Also, I took Genetics but it also had this strange class called "genetics discussion" which appears on my transcript but it does not have any credit, nor is it graded. It is just 0.0 all the way. How do I enter this if I am not allowed to enter 0.0 credits? Should I just skip it?

 

[konotsu]

edited

 

[konotsu]

Question about academic status: It is based completely on # of hours complete not on the specific term right?

For example for Fall of 2013 I took 4 classes, I am listing my first two classes as Junior and my second two classes as Senior (because I would have completed 90 total hours by class #3) Even though they are the same term, is this right?

Also, I took Genetics but it also had this strange class called "genetics discussion" which appears on my transcript but it does not have any credit, nor is it graded. It is just 0.0 all the way. How do I enter this if I am not allowed to enter 0.0 credits? Should I just skip it?

I went by their guideline of 0-30 semester hours = freshman, 30-60 = sophomore, 60-90 = junior, 90+ senior. I'm coming from a quarter system school so it was a bit weird, but whatever

 

[N7chell]

Would being an instructor at an elementary after school program count as a leadership experience?

 

[schmo]

I took some supplemental courses that show up on my transcript- 1 credit and not graded. Should I add that to the courses? What about PE classes? Thanks!

 

[Greedo]

I took some supplemental courses that show up on my transcript- 1 credit and not graded. Should I add that to the courses? What about PE classes? Thanks!

My question is similar. I'm confused about how to enter classes I withdrew from. There's a spot to enter W as your letter grade but then you can't enter credit hours less than zero, so what do you do?

 

[Greedo]

Also, you can send a message to TMDSAS with questions. I did this yesterday and they answered within 2 hours. The link is on the top right of the page once you're logged in.

 

[schmo]

Also, you can send a message to TMDSAS with questions. I did this yesterday and they answered within 2 hours. The link is on the top right of the page once you're logged in.

oh cool thanks 🙂

 

[TwistinD]

I talked to a very helpful woman at tmdsas yesterday, and she said not to report any classes on your transcript that have 0 credits.

Sent from my ADR6410LVW using SDN Mobile

 

[Greedo]

I talked to a very helpful woman at tmdsas yesterday, and she said not to report any classes on your transcript that have 0 credits.

Sent from my ADR6410LVW using SDN Mobile

Does that include classes that you withdrew from, or just stuff like PE classes?

 

[3bamboo]

I wonder if my terrible SAT/ACT scores will count against me..

 

[PescadoAmor]

how do I enter ap credit under class prefix and class number if it is just listed as
ap (insert ap test name). units earned?

 

[3bamboo]

Does that include classes that you withdrew from, or just stuff like PE classes?

If the class in question was never designed to give credit, and was never designed to be graded then you leave it out.

You still enter classes you withdrew from, and you put down the credit it would have been worth

 

[3bamboo]

how do I enter ap credit under class prefix and class number if it is just listed as
ap (insert ap test name). units earned?

AP/CLEP credit is accepted only if the school granting the credit lists
the specific course(s) and number of units granted per course on an official transcript. Lump sum credit is not accepted

In other words, if it doesn't say: counts as Stats 101 or something then you leave it out. If you want to get credit for it then you must send an official letter from your school's registrar saying they counted it as Stats 101

 

[PescadoAmor]

AP/CLEP credit is accepted only if the school granting the credit lists
the specific course(s) and number of units granted per course on an official transcript. Lump sum credit is not accepted

In other words, if it doesn't say: counts as Stats 101 or something then you leave it out. If you want to get credit for it then you must send an official letter from your school's registrar saying they counted it as Stats 101

yeah, I need the credit if possible, unfortunately I think it's institutional policy to list all classes that way on the transcript even though it is used to substitute for a specific course. do I just send an email to my registrar asking them to include a letter explaining this when they send my transcript I tmdsas? even with the letter how would enter the prefix? just the class that the ap yes would be substituting for?

 

[miss chievous]

I went by their guideline of 0-30 semester hours = freshman, 30-60 = sophomore, 60-90 = junior, 90+ senior. I'm coming from a quarter system school so it was a bit weird, but whatever

Question about academic status: It is based completely on # of hours complete not on the specific term right?

For example for Fall of 2013 I took 4 classes, I am listing my first two classes as Junior and my second two classes as Senior (because I would have completed 90 total hours by class #3) Even though they are the same term, is this right?

Also, I took Genetics but it also had this strange class called "genetics discussion" which appears on my transcript but it does not have any credit, nor is it graded. It is just 0.0 all the way. How do I enter this if I am not allowed to enter 0.0 credits? Should I just skip it?

I'm still confused about this. So is everyone here saying 0-30 hours is freshman? this would mean some of my sophomore year classes are junior classes.

Would being an instructor at an elementary after school program count as a leadership experience?

I did the exact same thing, and I'm counting it as leadership 🙂

 

[miss chievous]

hey guys, to make this go as swiftly as possible, if anyone finds the answer to a question that more than one person has asked, put it in bold so it'll catch people's attention.

Question: Do we use the 0-30 hour classification system for freshman vs sophomore year, or do we go by what's on our transcript.
Answer: Go by hours. I just called TMDSAS.

 

[trs88]

I submitted my application the other day, paid the same time as well. They received my e-check and have also received my LoRs. TMDSAS sent me an e-mail today, informing me that they went ahead and sent my application to the schools. My question is that since they haven not received my official transcripts how were they able to skim through my hand entered classes and decide what was correct and what wasn't? I know they made some changes because my science gpa dropped a .0something. And, how/why did they forward my application to the schools if I was still missing a few things? No mcat score yet.

I wasn't too concerned about the above, otherwise I would of contacted TMDSAS, I was curious if anyone had any insight. Thanks

 

[whatbout2morrow]

I submitted my application the other day, paid the same time as well. They received my e-check and have also received my LoRs. TMDSAS sent me an e-mail today, informing me that they went ahead and sent my application to the schools. My question is that since they haven not received my official transcripts how were they able to skim through my hand entered classes and decide what was correct and what wasn't? I know they made some changes because my science gpa dropped a .0something. And, how/why did they forward my application to the schools if I was still missing a few things? No mcat score yet.

I wasn't too concerned about the above, otherwise I would of contacted TMDSAS, I was curious if anyone had any insight. Thanks

https://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas/medical/application-instructions.html

Important: Applications are transmitted to schools even if TMDSAS has not received all supporting documents. Schools are updated on a daily basis with supporting documents.

 

[Status Sciaticus]

is anyone filling out the Unique experience essay??

also does anyone have a link to example optional essays?

 

[trs88]

https://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas/medical/application-instructions.html

Okay, thanks. Should of known it was something simple like that.

 

[MorganaMD]

is anyone filling out the Unique experience essay??

also does anyone have a link to example optional essays?

I have a similar question. How optional do you all feel the optional essays are. Is it expected that we submit essays for both?

 

[Status Sciaticus]

I have a similar question. How optional do you all feel the optional essays are. Is it expected that we submit essays for both?

Oh well, I submitted mine last night. transmitted this morning.

I filled out the personal characteristics, but not the unique experience. The way I understood it was that this is to mention any hardships that one might have faced... and i didn't want to exploit that.

 

[MorganaMD]

Ok thanks! I think you're right because it does explicitly say to only include info that is nowhere else on your application.

Oh well, I submitted mine last night. transmitted this morning.

I filled out the personal characteristics, but not the unique experience. The way I understood it was that this is to mention any hardships that one might have faced... and i didn't want to exploit that.

 

[PescadoAmor]

This might seem like a silly question- but how does the letters of eval get handled?

I think I read somewhere that an email is sent to the professor/letter writer as soon as you fill in the placeholder and hit save. Right now, under letter status it says "Pending" for me, does this change to "received" or something to that effect once the letter writer submits their letter?

Also, if for some reason, my letter writer doesn't go through, I have to change this information before I submit my application right? I seem to recall that once you submit, you can't change letter writer information unlike AMCAS.

 

[PescadoAmor]

Another question. If I have taken the GRE before, even though under TMDSAS it says to list the test date- do I have to send offical score reports even though it's to Texas A&M Vet school??

 

[Darcy Austen]

I have a similar question. How optional do you all feel the optional essays are. Is it expected that we submit essays for both?

Do them all. It is optional, but every essay helps, especially if you have good/strong experiences to write about

 

[PescadoAmor]

Do them all. It is optional, but every essay helps, especially if you have good/strong experiences to write about

If you wrote the optional essays, do the interviewer usually bring them up?

 

[lovemango]

If you wrote the optional essays, do the interviewer usually bring them up?

Things from my optional essays came up in most of my interviews, and I had some great conversations with my interviewers that stemmed from what I wrote about. I highly recommend doing the optional essays.

 

[Status Sciaticus]

Things from my optional essays came up in most of my interviews, and I had some great conversations with my interviewers that stemmed from what I wrote about. I highly recommend doing the optional essays.

how important were the secondary app essays?

 

[MorganaMD]

What section is best to put publications? I was thinking the research activities section but then I'm not sure what to put for start/end date, hr/week and cumulative hours. Would it look weird to just put 0 or N/A?

 

[PescadoAmor]

What section is best to put publications? I was thinking the research activities section but then I'm not sure what to put for start/end date, hr/week and cumulative hours. Would it look weird to just put 0 or N/A?

I'd like to know this too, I was under the impression that you can't do this on tmdsas

 

[Status Sciaticus]

I'd like to know this too, I was under the impression that you can't do this on tmdsas

I didnt mention that I had a first author publication... because there isnt a place to put it separately. you do have a box to describe your research experience... i used a sentence to say that i had a publication based on my research.

On a side note, double check your PS before you submit... I just re-read mine that was already submitted and the copy/paste thing deleted a word... anyone know how detrimental that looks?

 

[PescadoAmor]

I didnt mention that I had a first author publication... because there isnt a place to put it separately. you do have a box to describe your research experience... i used a sentence to say that i had a publication based on my research.

On a side note, double check your PS before you submit... I just re-read mine that was already submitted and the copy/paste thing deleted a word... anyone know how detrimental that looks?

I personally wouldn't worry too much about it...Since the application is done entirely on a web page, I'm sure it's not terrible uncommon for this to happen.

 

[PescadoAmor]

I'm not sure if this has been answered earlier- but for the letters of rec, it seems like you can't change the recommenders you put in after you submit the application.

My question is, if there was an extenuating circumstance that made it so my letter writer couldn't submit the letter (too busy or decided not to) after I submit my application, is there anyway I can change this section?

Thanks in advance!

 

[lovemango]

I'm not sure if this has been answered earlier- but for the letters of rec, it seems like you can't change the recommenders you put in after you submit the application.

My question is, if there was an extenuating circumstance that made it so my letter writer couldn't submit the letter (too busy or decided not to) after I submit my application, is there anyway I can change this section?

Thanks in advance!

Yes, you can change your letter writer. Per TMDSAS website:

"We understand that evaluators may change. You MUST update TMDSAS of an evaluator change immediately.

Once you have secured a different evaluator, please notify TMDSAS of the new evaluator. To make this change, email [email protected]. Include your full name, TMDSAS ID and the name of the evaluator that needs to be removed. Provide the following information for the evaluator that should be added:

Salutation (i.e. Dr, Prof, Mr, Mrs, etc.)
First name of Evaluator
Last name of Evaluator
Suffix (i.e. MD, PhD, etc.)
Relationship to you (Academic Advisor, HP Advisor, Professor, Business Associate, Work/Volunteer Supervisor, Other)
Letter delivery method (upload directly to TMDAS or through Interfolio)
Email address of evaluator if he/she will upload directly to TMDSAS"

 

[premed2000]

hey guys. I am not too famliar with TMDSAS because I am from Cali. But I am thinking about applying to some texas schools. Is submitting the TMDSAS app anytime in June considered as early?

 

[Status Sciaticus]

hey guys. I am not too famliar with TMDSAS because I am from Cali. But I am thinking about applying to some texas schools. Is submitting the TMDSAS app anytime in June considered as early?

its relatively early. I submitted mine on 5/2/13. Most 'early' people on SDN finish their part of the app by May, and have their materials - transcripts/letters/MCAT- sent to the school by mid june.

With that said, a lot of people submit in June/July and consider it early.

 

[phys2med]

What's the prevailing wisdom on putting in multiple awards on the activities section? I won student of the year twice and seeing as I consider that fairly significant I want to list it as two separate activities (one for each year). However, I have a bunch of scholarships and many of them I won multiple times and I'm wondering if I should list each scholarship by itself but put that I won it X times and do the same with Dean's list/honor roll. I'm trying to balance not just filling space but making sure they see all of my awards.

How much is everyone writing in the description for their awards? I'm basically just putting "This was awarded based on academic performance ...".

 

[Greedo]

What's the prevailing wisdom on putting in multiple awards on the activities section? I won student of the year twice and seeing as I consider that fairly significant I want to list it as two separate activities (one for each year). However, I have a bunch of scholarships and many of them I won multiple times and I'm wondering if I should list each scholarship by itself but put that I won it X times and do the same with Dean's list/honor roll. I'm trying to balance not just filling space but making sure they see all of my awards.

How much is everyone writing in the description for their awards? I'm basically just putting "This was awarded based on academic performance ...".

That's how I'm describing the awards too. Also, for awards, do you know how exact the date has to be? I've been guesstimating.

 

[phys2med]

I'm absolutely guessing too. I know approximately ie early may or mid april, but there's no way I know or could find out when exactly. Especially with scholarships for the semester i'm going to just put the semester awarded.

 

[Greedo]

What do you guys think about including leadership roles that you're now embarrassed about? For two years in college I was an officer in a political club and was very enthusiastic about it, but now (three years later) my political views are a lot different.

 

[Greedo]

And does training new lab members count as a "leadership role"?

 

[Status Sciaticus]

What do you guys think about including leadership roles that you're now embarrassed about? For two years in college I was an officer in a political club and was very enthusiastic about it, but now (three years later) my political views are a lot different.

lol if you dont like it, leave it out

I was debating putting pledge educator... but chose not to🙄

 

[Greedo]

lol if you dont like it, leave it out

I was debating putting pledge educator... but chose not to🙄

Haha nice!

 

[phys2med]

So I filled in my letter writers info w email address. Is it correct that they will receive an email saying that I am asking for a letter with instructions on how to do it? Or do I have to send them a link?

 

[Wipeout416]

Is it imperative to mention all schools that you are currently applying to or have applied to? Not trying to skirt the issue but just curious.

 

[miss chievous]

What's the prevailing wisdom on putting in multiple awards on the activities section? I won student of the year twice and seeing as I consider that fairly significant I want to list it as two separate activities (one for each year). However, I have a bunch of scholarships and many of them I won multiple times and I'm wondering if I should list each scholarship by itself but put that I won it X times and do the same with Dean's list/honor roll. I'm trying to balance not just filling space but making sure they see all of my awards.

How much is everyone writing in the description for their awards? I'm basically just putting "This was awarded based on academic performance ...".

I have the same issue (multiple scholarships, although they are the same). So is everyone putting the same thing multiple times? I really want to do it, but it looks weird to have "Dean's List' over and over again :/