*~*~*~*Official TMDSAS Questions Thread 2016-2017*~*~*~*

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Hi everyone. I am registered to take my MCAT 5/20, but feel like I might change the date to 6/18. My application is already submitted, but of course it won't be looked at in great depth until my MCAT is there. If I change the date to 6/18 - the schools will not really look at my application until the end of July. I'm worried that even if I postpone the exam, I'll only get a couple points higher and is it worth the later application date. What's your opinion? Will my application still be considered early? Last year I sent in my application at the end of July and the schools didn't receive it until September. So that was definitely late..

Right now I'm averaging around 504 for the MCAT and even a couple points higher (506) would mean at least 5-6 percentile points, which is a lot. Let me know your thoughts.
 
I searched and couldn't find an answer, as far as math that is NOT calculus or stats, (since those are the only options I'm seeing), are we classifying them as "other science", this meaning it is NOT included in the BCPM gpa? But I read on this thread that it does, but the TMDSAS says it doesn't?? Thanks!


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Where would you put the same job, but through different institutions? I have 4 different employers for the same healthcare job, so do you guys think I should list them x4 under healthcare activities. They honestly vary a bit from each other in content, although I function the same.
 
prettyNURSEtoMD said:
I searched and couldn't find an answer, as far as math that is NOT calculus or stats, (since those are the only options I'm seeing), are we classifying them as "other science", this meaning it is NOT included in the BCPM gpa? But I read on this thread that it does, but the TMDSAS says it doesn't?? Thanks!


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Click to expand...

You have no option, but to put it under "other sciences" anyway. I'm sure it'll count as BCPM once a human eye reviews it.
 
prettyNURSEtoMD said:
I searched and couldn't find an answer, as far as math that is NOT calculus or stats, (since those are the only options I'm seeing), are we classifying them as "other science", this meaning it is NOT included in the BCPM gpa? But I read on this thread that it does, but the TMDSAS says it doesn't?? Thanks!


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Click to expand...

Applicant from last cycle here. TMDSAS will add all math classes to your BCPM. I'm pretty sure I was the one to ask this question on last year's thread, lol. Can confirm, all math goes into BCPM.


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So, the schools we have listed at time of submitting are it? What I mean is, can I just apply to 2 schools (or whatever number) and add more as I finish their secondaries? At the beginning of this thread there are some FAQs that state you cannot add schools after you submit, but TMDSAS says otherwise. -- https://www.tmdsas.com/frwqAskedQ/02-ChangingYourApp.html

"To add additional schools to your application, you must send an email request to TMDSAS [email protected] or through the internal message system within the application. The request must be received by the application deadline.

Include your full name, TMDSAS ID and list the schools you would like added to your application."

It will be tough for me to fill out every secondary by the time I want to submit (will delay my app). Was planning on submitting to a few schools and adding schools after I finish secondaries (read that you have to submit secondary at time of applying).



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FCMike11 said:
So, the schools we have listed at time of submitting are it? What I mean is, can I just apply to 2 schools (or whatever number) and add more as I finish their secondaries? At the beginning of this thread there are some FAQs that state you cannot add schools after you submit, but TMDSAS says otherwise. -- https://www.tmdsas.com/frwqAskedQ/02-ChangingYourApp.html

"To add additional schools to your application, you must send an email request to TMDSAS [email protected] or through the internal message system within the application. The request must be received by the application deadline.

Include your full name, TMDSAS ID and list the schools you would like added to your application."

It will be tough for me to fill out every secondary by the time I want to submit (will delay my app). Was planning on submitting to a few schools and adding schools after I finish secondaries (read that you have to submit secondary at time of applying).



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Click to expand...

Quotes from Anne at TMDSAS:

"If you are referring to TMDSAS schools, you can add additional schools up to the deadline Sept 30th. Once you submit the application, you will not be able to change or add any non-TMDSAS schools."

"You can add the TMDSAS schools after the initial submission. Please understand that the application won’t be reviewed by any school until the test scores are received."

This should answer your question. I agree the FAQs at the beginning of this thread is misleading. I had PM'ed @WedgeDawg, the moderator of this thread, to change it. Hopefully he will see this and do it.
 
DV-T said:
Quotes from Anne at TMDSAS:

"If you are referring to TMDSAS schools, you can add additional schools up to the deadline Sept 30th. Once you submit the application, you will not be able to change or add any non-TMDSAS schools."

"You can add the TMDSAS schools after the initial submission. Please understand that the application won’t be reviewed by any school until the test scores are received."

This should answer your question. I agree the FAQs at the beginning of this thread is misleading. I had PM'ed @WedgeDawg, the moderator of this thread, to change it. Hopefully he will see this and do it.
Click to expand...

Hi, sorry, I think I missed this PM, what should I change? (sorry pretty clueless about everything TDMSAS related!)
 
WedgeDawg said:
Hi, sorry, I think I missed this PM, what should I change? (sorry pretty clueless about everything TDMSAS related!)
Click to expand...

No worries WedgeDawg. Under the FAQs part at the beginning of this thread, "TMDSAS General FAQ 1) Can I add more schools after I submit? No."

"No" should be changed to "Yes", but not via the application, but via an email to TMDSAS or through the application's internal messaging system.

This is from the TMDSAS' website, ""To add additional schools to your application, you must send an email request to TMDSAS at [email protected] or through the internal message system within the application. The request must be received by the application deadline. Include your full name, TMDSAS ID and list the schools you would like added to your application."

Additional schools can be added after initial submission as long as it is before the September 30th deadline.

This is the site: https://www.tmdsas.com/frwqAskedQ/02-ChangingYourApp.html

Thanks!!
 
Sorry, if this is redundant, but does ALL "other science" count in BCPM or just the one with prefixes MATH etc? Thanks to the people who replied to my post!


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DV-T said:
No worries WedgeDawg. Under the FAQs part at the beginning of this thread, "TMDSAS General FAQ 1) Can I add more schools after I submit? No."

"No" should be changed to "Yes", but not via the application, but via an email to TMDSAS or through the application's internal messaging system.

This is from the TMDSAS' website, ""To add additional schools to your application, you must send an email request to TMDSAS at [email protected] or through the internal message system within the application. The request must be received by the application deadline. Include your full name, TMDSAS ID and list the schools you would like added to your application."

Additional schools can be added after initial submission as long as it is before the September 30th deadline.

This is the site: https://www.tmdsas.com/frwqAskedQ/02-ChangingYourApp.html

Thanks!!
Click to expand...

Alright, should be good to go! Thanks for bringing this to my attention!
 
prettyNURSEtoMD said:
Sorry, if this is redundant, but does ALL "other science" count in BCPM or just the one with prefixes MATH etc? Thanks to the people who replied to my post!


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Click to expand...

Only math classes will be added back into your BCPM. Everything else under Other Science is likely a science course without a BIO/PHYS/CHEM (or similar, whatever is used at your school) designation, so it stays out of the BCPM calculation.


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SweetCaroline7 said:
Only math classes will be added back into your BCPM. Everything else under Other Science is likely a science course without a BIO/PHYS/CHEM (or similar, whatever is used at your school) designation, so it stays out of the BCPM calculation.


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Click to expand...
Thank you, thank you!!!


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SweetCaroline7 said:
Only math classes will be added back into your BCPM. Everything else under Other Science is likely a science course without a BIO/PHYS/CHEM (or similar, whatever is used at your school) designation, so it stays out of the BCPM calculation.


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Click to expand...

That's kind of ridiculous then considering you can only put statistics/calculus as a designation when a class like "college algebra" is clearly a math class, just as clearly as it isn't statistics or calculus. Are you sure about this "other science" designation?
 
FCMike11 said:
That's kind of ridiculous then considering you can only put statistics/calculus as a designation when a class like "college algebra" is clearly a math class, just as clearly as it isn't statistics or calculus. Are you sure about this "other science" designation?
Click to expand...

She/he said it'll be added back into BCPM. I think it's just a categorical way for TMDSAS to keep track of everything. Your college algebra class at the end of the day should still be counted towards your BCPMath gpa.
 
popopopop said:
She/he said it'll be added back into BCPM. I think it's just a categorical way for TMDSAS to keep track of everything. Your college algebra class at the end of the day should still be counted towards your BCPMath gpa.
Click to expand...
Ok reading back I see what was said. My bad. !

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mcatstruggle said:
Hi everyone. I am registered to take my MCAT 5/20, but feel like I might change the date to 6/18. My application is already submitted, but of course it won't be looked at in great depth until my MCAT is there. If I change the date to 6/18 - the schools will not really look at my application until the end of July. I'm worried that even if I postpone the exam, I'll only get a couple points higher and is it worth the later application date. What's your opinion? Will my application still be considered early? Last year I sent in my application at the end of July and the schools didn't receive it until September. So that was definitely late..

Right now I'm averaging around 504 for the MCAT and even a couple points higher (506) would mean at least 5-6 percentile points, which is a lot. Let me know your thoughts.
Click to expand...

If you think you could benefit significantly from an extra month of studying, then do it. I took the MCAT in the third week of June last year; there is no way I would have been ready had I taken it in May, and I'm glad I invested that time in improving my score. I had a successful cycle, and honestly, I didn't submit as quickly as I could have even after my MCAT.

Take the MCAT only when you're ready, because you can't erase a poor performance. Submit your TMDSAS as soon as possible afterward, and start pre-writing secondaries while you wait to get verified.

Good luck on your MCAT and your applications!
 
I'm a little confused about "other science." I'm a chem major so I put all my upper level chem classes (p chem, analytical, etc.) under "other science" because the chemistry category specified general chemistry. Was that wrong?

Also I know for AMCAS schools can receive your application without your LORs. Does TMDSAS transmit applications to schools without the letters or do they wait until the letters have come through?
 
Skittsie13 said:
I'm a little confused about "other science." I'm a chem major so I put all my upper level chem classes (p chem, analytical, etc.) under "other science" because the chemistry category specified general chemistry. Was that wrong?

Also I know for AMCAS schools can receive your application without your LORs. Does TMDSAS transmit applications to schools without the letters or do they wait until the letters have come through?
Click to expand...
Yeah I saw that too the whole "General chem" part and I have other chemistry courses outside of gen chem and orgo too so I didn't know what to do
 
Skittsie13 said:
I'm a little confused about "other science." I'm a chem major so I put all my upper level chem classes (p chem, analytical, etc.) under "other science" because the chemistry category specified general chemistry. Was that wrong?

Also I know for AMCAS schools can receive your application without your LORs. Does TMDSAS transmit applications to schools without the letters or do they wait until the letters have come through?
Click to expand...

I've gotten the impression that the course classifications are fairly arbitrary and is something left to your judgement. If anything, I've read that when they review your app they will change the classification accordingly.
 
Sorry for all the questions! I'm filling out the awards section now, and I noticed that it specifies that everything must be after high school graduation. I received a competitive full-tuition scholarship for undergrad so I'd obviously like to put that on my application, but technically I received it before high school graduation. Should I leave the date as when I really got it, or make it when I matriculated college so it doesn't raise eyebrows as being before my high school graduation?
 
iforget2 said:
I've gotten the impression that the course classifications are fairly arbitrary and is something left to your judgement. If anything, I've read that when they review your app they will change the classification accordingly.
Click to expand...

This is accurate, they will change things once they have your transcripts if they don't like your classification.
 
I have been reading that our AAMC/TMDSAS IDs need to be included in the actual LORs, despite the fact that Interfolio allows you to assign each letter an associated ID. Is this correct? Also, if we are applying through both application services, do we need to have both IDs placed in the LORs? Is that standard or should we have the writers upload two letters with the different IDs? Trying to find the easiest way for my letter writers but can't seem to find a way around them having to do everything twice.
 
smr said:
I have been reading that our AAMC/TMDSAS IDs need to be included in the actual LORs, despite the fact that Interfolio allows you to assign each letter an associated ID. Is this correct? Also, if we are applying through both application services, do we need to have both IDs placed in the LORs? Is that standard or should we have the writers upload two letters with the different IDs? Trying to find the easiest way for my letter writers but can't seem to find a way around them having to do everything twice.
Click to expand...
Mine were not in the LORs; I attached the ID via interfolio ID. All three of mine have been verified on my TMDSAS account.

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FCMike11 said:
Mine were not in the LORs; I attached the ID via interfolio ID. All three of mine have been verified on my TMDSAS account.

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Click to expand...

Alright thanks. Are you also applying through AMCAS? Do you think they require the ID in the letters?
 
smr said:
Alright thanks. Are you also applying through AMCAS? Do you think they require the ID in the letters?
Click to expand...
Not sure about AMCAS, sorry. I don't even know where the info comes from that the ID numbers have to be in our letters.
 

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FCMike11 said:
Not sure about AMCAS, sorry. I don't even know where the info comes from that the ID numbers have to be in our letters.
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Thanks for the info. I have read about it on this forum, maybe it is outdated information.

Also, do you know what I should put for "Relationship to you" on TMDSAS for a doctor that I have shadowed for 3 years and have become really close with. She is really more of a mentor. I see practicing dentist but not physician?
 
smr said:
Thanks for the info. I have read about it on this forum, maybe it is outdated information.

Also, do you know what I should put for "Relationship to you" on TMDSAS for a doctor that I have shadowed for 3 years and have become really close with. She is really more of a mentor. I see practicing dentist but not physician?
Click to expand...
I actually put whatever the "other" option is. Was definitely strange for me as well; my DO letter was from a close friend who is also my personal physician. Seemed strange they had vet and dentist and no physician spot.

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For any EC, are you putting the total hours you have spent in the description if you already put down hours spent a week in one of those drop down menus? For example, if I say i did 20 hours a week for scribing, do I have to mention 500 hours total somewhere in my description?

Also, for a retail position, what qualities should I highlight? I worked in the shoe section...lol

Last question: I took a lab which was pretty much a semester long research project with a team. Involved all types of research techniques, experimental setup, and a final paper which was over 35 pages....I spent a lot of time on this class. My question is, can I put this under leadership since I took the role of leading my team during this lab. Like I had to tell everyone what they needed to do, troubleshoot any errors, basically I took assertive action on anything that needed to be done. Can I also put this under research experience?
 
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prince0fpersia94 said:
So if it says received/approved does that mean the letter writer included a proper letter header and signature?
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Not sure honestly. Interfolio is pretty good about asking for the required information (I filled in a good bit of their information) and then whatever was requests of my letter writers. I assume all of my stuff is good based on that message.

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FCMike11 said:
Not sure honestly. Interfolio is pretty good about asking for the required information (I filled in a good bit of their information) and then whatever was requests of my letter writers. I assume all of my stuff is good based on that message.

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Click to expand...

Hey I am confused about which letters to use for my 3 slots in TMDSAS. Some people in another thread have been saying physician LORs aren't that important and professor LORs are what need to be included. I know Baylor uses AMCAS, but they do specify that 2 letters need to be from professors. Do you know if the other Texas schools have specific requirements? I couldn't find any on their websites?
 
smr said:
Hey I am confused about which letters to use for my 3 slots in TMDSAS. Some people in another thread have been saying physician LORs aren't that important and professor LORs are what need to be included. I know Baylor uses AMCAS, but they do specify that 2 letters need to be from professors. Do you know if the other Texas schools have specific requirements? I couldn't find any on their websites?
Click to expand...
I've seen the same things. Some schools specify two professors and others don't mention specifics; some DO schools require a DO letter. Just to cover myself I have two professors letters (ochem & biochemistry) and a DO LOR.

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How long is it taking for yall's transcripts to be received? I feel like I've been waiting a while for mine now
 
Hey guys,
I applied last cycle and was fortunate enough to interview at all of the Texas schools. If you guys have questions about the process feel free to send me a message. It can be stressful, so just take it one step at a time.
 
For the TMDSAS transcript request form, is the signature field for us, the student? Or is that for the registrar?


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For the awards section:

I am part of a engineering design team at my school, and we won a total of five business plan competitions in a two year span. I was wondering if I should list each business plan competition separately (for a total of 9 academic awards) or group them all together (for a total of 5 academic awards)?
 
Would a course taken for research credit count towards the BCPM GPA? The class is course listed under the biology department.
 
So for a volunteering activity that I have been occasionally doing since 2013, I have 100 hours for it. What do I put for hours per week? When some weeks I wouldn't volunteer? Every shift was 3 hours each, so do I put 3 hours per week? But that wouldn't add up to 100 total hours.
 
For the TMDSAS transcript request form, we don't need to include the school name on any of them right? (like we do for AMCAS) do we just fill it out with our student information and send to the respective school registrars? I'm a bit confused because they don't have a transcript ID for a particular school like AMCAS does…
 
Also, for the languages section, I'm guessing an Indian language comes under Asian dialects correct? Or should I put "Other?"

Is it a disadvantage if my language does not show up in the TMDSAS multilingual language options? How will they know which language I speak and whether I can add onto their diversity that way? lol
 
Does anyone know if TMDSAS accepts official electronic transcripts?
 
040111333 said:
Also, for the languages section, I'm guessing an Indian language comes under Asian dialects correct? Or should I put "Other?"

Is it a disadvantage if my language does not show up in the TMDSAS multilingual language options? How will they know which language I speak and whether I can add onto their diversity that way? lol
Click to expand...
Hey, I'm a trilingual in Asian dialect and they are not listed as well. Just put other for now. Not a big factor that will affect the process, but it might come up in the interview. Good luck!

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What should I do for a discontinuation of work? I worked at two different hospital in the same hospital system. I got two different W2s so they are two different employer perse. I worked at one, stopped a few months, then came back to the first one. Should I list the first job x2 in the employment activities, and use different start and stop times? I'm asking, because I guess for the second time I'm listing the job, I can use the description section to explain why the transfer back.
 
This wasn't directly answered in the FAQ, but let's say I did a leadership activity for a weekend the August of 2012, 2013, and 2014. Would I put this as 3 separate leadership activities or combine it into 1? And if I did combine it into 1, how would I put down the start and end dates?
 
Question about secondaries- anyone know which schools automatically send them out vs applicants selectively receiving them? Thanks! Good luck everyone.


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