*~*~*~*Official TMDSAS Questions Thread 2021-2022*~*~*~*

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premedchances2021 said:
If an organization I was in had a multiple different volunteer opportunities (i.e. clothing drive, food bank) that I was involved in heavily. Could I separate those activities to be by themselves or is that double dipping?
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You could separate those into different volunteer activities if you wish, if you would like to say more about how you played a part in each one.
Just take an honest look at your activity list when you are done and ask, "Does this look like I am just trying to pad my resumé?"

You just want to separate out the hours as well if you do that. In other words, 100 hours clothing drive and 75 hours food pantry distribution organizer will stand on their own. You won't also list those 175 hours as "President of good boys and good girls club"
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premedchances2021 said:
If an organization I was in had a multiple different volunteer opportunities (i.e. clothing drive, food bank) that I was involved in heavily. Could I separate those activities to be by themselves or is that double dipping?
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I think I’d put them all together in one
 
For the planned activities, if the activity is one that you mentioned in current activities, is it a rule of thumb to copy and paste the exact same description, or could you talk about a different aspect of what you learned (for more space to talk about your experience)?
 
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june22 said:
For the planned activities, if the activity is one that you mentioned in current activities, is it a rule of thumb to copy and paste the exact same description, or could you talk about a different aspect of what you learned (for more space to talk about your experience)?
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For planned activities just keep it to the description, because you can't predict what you will like about it in the future 🙂
 
I have a question about the medical school TMDSAS application. I earned a "Z" grade in my science lab course and it is interpreted as "no grade reported" on my transcript. How should I put it in the app? I made A in science class (4.00 credit hour). This is what appears on my transcript:
CHEM 1111 LAB GENERAL CHEM LAB 1 0.00 (CREDIT HOUR) Z (GRADE) ( I don't need to list any course where 0 credit hours were earned.)
CHEM 1411 LEC GENERAL CHEM 1 4.00 (CREDIT HOURS) A (GRADE)

Am I supposed to put in General Chem Lecture or General Chem Lecture and Lab? I just want to make sure that the schools don't misinterpret that I did not take lab section.
I had a couple of Bs (for blood bank, hematology ...etc) during the clinical training in another institution but those grades were not counted towards my G.P.A. I finished the program, grades were sent back to my primary school and I graduated with 4.0. Will that affect my GPA to apply to med school?
Thanks!
 
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I have a question about my activities section: I volunteered at a hospital from September 2019-mid December 2019. Then, I had a 1.5 month(7 weeks) break and resumed volunteering from Feb 2020-March. Should I list these as two separate entries, or just lump them together into one?

If I lump them, the hours per week vs. cumulative will be off, but it isn't necessarily a long gap, so I'm not sure.
 
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Aiyu said:
I have a question about my activities section: I am volunteered at a hospital from September 2019-mid December 2019. Then, I had a 1.5 month(7 weeks) break and resumed volunteering from Feb 2020-March. Should I list these as two separate entries, or just lump them together into one?

If I lump them, the hours per week vs. cumulative will be off, but it isn't necessarily a long gap, so I'm not sure.
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I think if you volunteered at the same place, it will be okay to lump it together.
 
Garfield007 said:
I have a question about the medical school TMDSAS application. I earned a "Z" grade in my science lab course and it is interpreted as "no grade reported" on my transcript. How should I put it in the app? I made A in science class (4.00 credit hour). This is what appears on my transcript:
CHEM 1111 LAB GENERAL CHEM LAB 1 0.00 (CREDIT HOUR) Z (GRADE) ( I don't need to list any course where 0 credit hours were earned.)
CHEM 1411 LEC GENERAL CHEM 1 4.00 (CREDIT HOURS) A (GRADE)

Am I supposed to put in General Chem Lecture or General Chem Lecture and Lab? I just want to make sure that the schools don't misinterpret that I did not take lab section.
I had a couple of Bs (for blood bank, hematology ...etc) during the clinical training in another institution but those grades were not counted towards my G.P.A. I finished the program, grades were sent back to my primary school and I graduated with 4.0. Will that affect my GPA to apply to med school?
Thanks!
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@Garfield007 send me a PM with the name of your undergrad school. I have never heard of a Z grade
 
Aiyu said:
I have a question about my activities section: I am volunteered at a hospital from September 2019-mid December 2019. Then, I had a 1.5 month(7 weeks) break and resumed volunteering from Feb 2020-March. Should I list these as two separate entries, or just lump them together into one?

If I lump them, the hours per week vs. cumulative will be off, but it isn't necessarily a long gap, so I'm not sure.
Click to expand...
since TMDSAS does not limit the number of EC entries you can make, you can list them as 2 separate time periods.
 
I took classes during summer after my freshman and junior year. Transcript just says Summer 20xx so should my TMDSAS course work academic status for these courses say FR/JR or SO/SR?

Thanks in advance
 
wysdoc said:
For planned activities just keep it to the description, because you can't predict what you will like about it in the future 🙂
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Thank you for the response!! Also, one more question, for the activities that overlap (leadership & community service), can you also input it under the 2 different categories with 2 different explanations (so 300 each, 600 total)? Also, if it's a continued position beyond October 2021, would that technically be 4 activities (2 for current, 2 for planned)? Sorry if this sounds super confusing, and thank you so much for your help
 
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berrybluedd said:
I took classes during summer after my freshman and junior year. Transcript just says Summer 20xx so should my TMDSAS course work academic status for these courses say FR/JR or SO/SR?

Thanks in advance
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@berrybluedd Group the summer classes with the year following:
summer after Freshman = sophomore classes
summer after Junior = senior classes
 
lebronthegoat said:
I was wondering if a june 18 mcat exam is too late for tmdsas
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@lebronthegoat When you finish with your TMDSAS primary, including entering spring 2021 final grades manually, you can submit it for verification without your MCAT score.
Be sure to list the upcoming score date in your app, and be sure to tell MCAT to release your scores to TMDSAS.
 
june22 said:
Thank you for the response!! Also, one more question, for the activities that overlap (leadership & community service), can you also input it under the 2 different categories with 2 different explanations (so 300 each, 600 total)? Also, if it's a continued position beyond October 2021, would that technically be 4 activities (2 for current, 2 for planned)? Sorry if this sounds super confusing, and thank you so much for your help
Click to expand...
The number of activities on TMDSAS is not limited, but the way you classify them is limited to one category for a specific activity.
Decide which aspect of an activity you want to highlight.
If on one of those community service projects you did more of the organizing, assigning jobs, publicizing, whatever, list it under leadership.
If on the other one you were one of many worker bees, list it under community service.
Don't list the same thing twice in 2 different categories.
 
What can you guys tell me about Texas A&M’s EnMed program applying as an OOS? My stats are >90% for MCAT and at average GPA for OOS.

I do not have an engineering background as my university does not have a BME program, however I do have a background in therapeutics and industry with a working knowledge of BME principles

I was filling out TMDSAS and saw the check box pop up, out of curiosity I googled it, first time I have ever heard of it, I am in love.

Like this is my perfect match as a program. Word for word from their website:

“Gain experience contributing to all parts of the innovation process through research, design and commercialization projects...Pursue the design and efficiency of innovative medical technologies to advance patient care and clinical practice.”

And from one of my MMEs:

“Stepping into the role of project lead for XYZ, I found myself becoming a driver and contributor towards science, research, and innovation....This program has fostered in me an entrepreneurial spirit, seeding the drive to bring the bench-to-the-bedside through the development and usage of novel therapeutics, medical, and surgical technologies.”

See why I love this program? Anyways.....what can anyone tell me about it beyond what I see on the website given the context of me?
 
2021-2022-NonTrad said:
What can you guys tell me about Texas A&M’s EnMed program applying as an OOS? My stats are >90% for MCAT and at average GPA for OOS.

I do not have an engineering background as my university does not have a BME program, however I do have a background in therapeutics and industry with a working knowledge of BME principles

I was filling out TMDSAS and saw the check box pop up, out of curiosity I googled it, first time I have ever heard of it, I am in love.

Like this is my perfect match as a program. Word for word from their website:

“Gain experience contributing to all parts of the innovation process through research, design and commercialization projects...Pursue the design and efficiency of innovative medical technologies to advance patient care and clinical practice.”

And from one of my MMEs:

“Stepping into the role of project lead for XYZ, I found myself becoming a driver and contributor towards science, research, and innovation....This program has fostered in me an entrepreneurial spirit, seeding the drive to bring the bench-to-the-bedside through the development and usage of novel therapeutics, medical, and surgical technologies.”

See why I love this program? Anyways.....what can anyone tell me about it beyond what I see on the website given the context of me?
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You might go on the A&M thread from last cycle & see if any current students can comment for you.
Also go to the Texas Health Education Service YouTube page and find the interview with the director of the EnMed program, lots of information there.
filed under "videos" and "Courage Sessions". https://www.youtube.com/c/TexasHealthEducationService/videos
 
As a reapplicant, I was wondering if TMDSAS schools will see the AMCAS schools that we have applied to previously? If so, is it actually harmful for them to see that we have applied to 10-20 schools out of state?
 
galbijjim said:
As a reapplicant, I was wondering if TMDSAS schools will see the AMCAS schools that we have applied to previously? If so, is it actually harmful for them to see that we have applied to 10-20 schools out of state?
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Was wondering the same thing, I see we have to list all other schools and other associated activities, wasn’t sure if the TMDSAS schools actually saw that.
 
i plan on sending my primary this month. if i take the mcat june 18 i will send my score in july 20. during the month between june 18 and july 20 i plan on prewriting secondaries, so right when i get the secondaries i will be able to send them. does tmdsas take time to process secondaries or will my app be reviewed before august and in july right when i send the secondaries
 
2021-2022-NonTrad said:
Was wondering the same thing, I see we have to list all other schools and other associated activities, wasn’t sure if the TMDSAS schools actually saw that.
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@galbijjim and @2021-2022-NonTrad check page 10 of TMDSAS handbook re: reapplicants.

It only says something about being a reapplicant for TMDSAS schools. If you did so much as submit the primary in the past but didn't follow through, you are still a re-applicant. Texas schools see a lot of reapplicants, so don't feel worried.

Since I'm not an applicant and can't see the app from the inside view, I don't know if it asks for a list of other schools you have applied to such as AMCAS. If one of you in the process knows this, chime in here to help out your fellow applicants.
 
lebronthegoat said:
i plan on sending my primary this month. if i take the mcat june 18 i will send my score in july 20. during the month between june 18 and july 20 i plan on prewriting secondaries, so right when i get the secondaries i will be able to send them. does tmdsas take time to process secondaries or will my app be reviewed before august and in july right when i send the secondaries
Click to expand...
@lebronthegoat that sounds like a good plan for your workflow.

All of you should be aware that you will be sending your secondaries directly to the individual schools, you do not send them to your TMDSAS portal.
TMDSAS is not the middleman / does not do any processing of secondary applications. Secondaries are between you and each school 🙂
 
wysdoc said:
@galbijjim and @2021-2022-NonTrad check page 10 of TMDSAS handbook re: reapplicants.

It only says something about being a reapplicant for TMDSAS schools. If you did so much as submit the primary in the past but didn't follow through, you are still a re-applicant. Texas schools see a lot of reapplicants, so don't feel worried.

Since I'm not an applicant and can't see the app from the inside view, I don't know if it asks for a list of other schools you have applied to such as AMCAS. If one of you in the process knows this, chime in here to help out your fellow applicants.
Click to expand...
Yes, it asks for a full list of all non TMDSAS schools md, do, dental and veterinary. Not sure if this is transmitted though. Do you see it on the ADCOM side? Or just previous TMDSAS applications and amcas/Caribbean/foreign acceptances (as those are reported too)
 
2021-2022-NonTrad said:
Yes, it asks for a full list of all non TMDSAS schools md, do, dental and veterinary. Not sure if this is transmitted though. Do you see it on the ADCOM side?
Click to expand...
I'm not an ADCOM. I just know stuff.
 
wysdoc said:
@lebronthegoat that sounds like a good plan for your workflow.

All of you should be aware that you will be sending your secondaries directly to the individual schools, you do not send them to your TMDSAS portal.
TMDSAS is not the middleman / does not do any processing of secondary applications. Secondaries are between you and each school 🙂
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for the response.
So what you are saying is saying is that medical schools receive our secondaries right away?
And also, if some texas medical schools prescreen, how long will it take to get my secondaries since I will be getting my mcat score July 20th? Only reason I want to know this was because I saw a chart showing june and july is the best time to have application complete.
 
lebronthegoat said:
Thank you so much for the response.
So what you are saying is saying is that medical schools receive our secondaries right away?
And also, if some texas medical schools prescreen, how long will it take to get my secondaries since I will be getting my mcat score July 20th? Only reason I want to know this was because I saw a chart showing june and july is the best time to have application complete.
Click to expand...
Those charts reflect when the primary application was submitted, so if you submit it in May or June you are golden.
You must wait for your TMDSAS primary to be transmitted to schools before you can start any secondaries.

Secondary Applications for TMDSAS
Schools that screen before sending secondaries all have their own methods and timeline. They will not all hit you the same day.
You will write them & send them back to the school, according to their instructions, when you are happy with your essays. Some schools want it via email, some via their school portal.

A&M, and UTSW don't prescreen, and you will just find the prompts on their site and write & send in.
Long has no secondary.
All the rest you will need to wait for an email from the school.
 
wysdoc said:
Those charts reflect when the primary application was submitted, so if you submit it in May or June you are golden.
You must wait for your TMDSAS primary to be transmitted to schools before you can start any secondaries.

Secondary Applications for TMDSAS
Schools that screen before sending secondaries all have their own methods and timeline. They will not all hit you the same day.
You will write them & send them back to the school, according to their instructions, when you are happy with your essays. Some schools want it via email, some via their school portal.

A&M, and UTSW don't prescreen, and you will just find the prompts on their site and write & send in.
Long has no secondary.
All the rest you will need to wait for an email from the school.
Click to expand...
sorry, so what you are saying is submitting secondaries by august would be okay?
 
Regarding Texas residency status, I am planning on conducting classes out of the state starting in August. I am independent, but my immediate family lives in Texas.

Would this affect my residency in Tx? I read in a previous thread that if the relocation is temporary in nature and for educational purposes, you can remain a resident in Tx. However, it also mentions that you need to be living in Tx for 12 months immediately preceding the application deadline.

Thanks in advance!
 
CJF2131 said:
Regarding Texas residency status, I am planning on conducting classes out of the state starting in August. I am independent, but my immediate family lives in Texas.

Would this affect my residency in Tx? I read in a previous thread that if the relocation is temporary in nature and for educational purposes, you can remain a resident in Tx. However, it also mentions that you need to be living in Tx for 12 months immediately preceding the application deadline.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
@CJF2131 if you are leaving the state to attend school elsewhere, you will not lose your TX resident designation.
 
For academic honors such as the Dean's and President's List, do you recommend condensing them into one entry or making a separate entry for each semester that the honor was received?
 
nah2016 said:
For academic honors such as the Dean's and President's List, do you recommend condensing them into one entry or making a separate entry for each semester that the honor was received?
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I suggest one entry for each and list the relevant terms
EX: Dean's List sophomore , junior, and senior year. Criteria for Dean's list are GPA of q.qq and minimum course load qq hours.
President's List xx terms, selection based on adcdefg
 
another question lol.
can i submit my primary without my letter of rec or do letters of rec have to be submitted for primary to be verified
 
lebronthegoat said:
another question lol.
can i submit my primary without my letter of rec or do letters of rec have to be submitted for primary to be verified
Click to expand...
You need to list all 3 of your recommenders with their email addresses in the application.
TMDSAS will email them to give instructions on uploading their letters.
The application can be submitted and the recommenders have the responsibility to upload their letters when ready.
 
wysdoc said:
You need to list all 3 of your recommenders with their email addresses in the application.
TMDSAS will email them to give instructions on uploading their letters.
The application can be submitted and the recommenders have the responsibility to upload their letters when ready.
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but im sending my lors thru hpac. they said i should replace one of my lor with another. so im asking a prof right now and am wondering when i should ask for her to be done by
 
lebronthegoat said:
but im sending my lors thru hpac. they said i should replace one of my lor with another. so im asking a prof right now and am wondering when i should ask for her to be done by
Click to expand...
A committee letter packet? You will indicate that and give the contact info of the committee.
 
Does hospital volunteering fall under healthcare activities or community service? also, how important is it that we submit right at 8 am tomorrow? Thanks in advance for the help. Good luck y'all 🙂
 
FutureDr820 said:
Does hospital volunteering fall under healthcare activities or community service? also, how important is it that we submit right at 8 am tomorrow? Thanks in advance for the help. Good luck y'all 🙂
Click to expand...
That depends on whether you had direct patient contact or were more stocking shelves & answering phones.
Before you submit, print out your whole app as a .pdf and proofread every line - 2 or 3 times !
 
wysdoc said:
That depends on whether you had direct patient contact or were more stocking shelves & answering phones.
Before you submit, print out your whole app as a .pdf and proofread every line - 2 or 3 times !
Click to expand...
Okay perfect I'll change it. Thanks for your help! I'll do that for sure
 
Is submitting my primary sometime later in the week going to be at a big disadvantage, will I miss the benefit of submitting early? I am still waiting on Spring grades to be posted.

Do I need casper before secondaries are sent? I am scheduled to take casper May 20th, and I believe scores come back in two weeks.
 
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