*~*~*~* Official TMDSAS Questions Thread 2024-2025 *~*~*~*~*

[deleted1151381]

Hello, I am a Texas resident applying TMDSAS next cycle.

During the beginning of COVID, I opted to take a class C/NC because I felt I was going to do badly (I ended up retaking it later). Because I got less than a "C" (C-), it was marked as "NC" and did not have any impact on my gpa.

I have come across this line on the TMDSAS webpage:

A grade or symbol indicating failure (F, WF, NC, or in a pass/fail system, FL equals F) shall count as hours undertaken, but no grade points shall be earned.

The way I understand it, my "NC" will be factored into my gpa as an "F". However, when I called and emailed TMDSAS, two different individuals told me a "NC" does not count as an "F" in the gpa.

I am now very confused because that seems to be in contradiction with what their website states. Can anyone who is very familiar with TMDSAS shed some light on the matter?

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[wysdoc]

Hello, I am a Texas resident applying TMDSAS next cycle.

During the beginning of COVID, I opted to take a class C/NC because I felt I was going to do badly (I ended up retaking it later). Because I got less than a "C" (C-), it was marked as "NC" and did not have any impact on my gpa.

I have come across this line on the TMDSAS webpage:

A grade or symbol indicating failure (F, WF, NC, or in a pass/fail system, FL equals F) shall count as hours undertaken, but no grade points shall be earned.

The way I understand it, my "NC" will be factored into my gpa as an "F". However, when I called and emailed TMDSAS, two different individuals told me a "NC" does not count as an "F" in the gpa.

I am now very confused because that seems to be in contradiction with what their website states. Can anyone who is very familiar with TMDSAS shed some light on the matter?

It would be similar to auditing a class- if the class “wasn’t taken for credit” there is no grade
Having no letter grade ABCDF they will not be calculated into your GPA.
If it was a prerequisite you should take it again for a grade.

 

[L-Okla-Gonna]

Is it true that most of the TMDSAS schools just ghost applicants they aren't interested in after secondaries, even after the cycle is done?

 

[wysdoc]

Is it true that most of the TMDSAS schools just ghost applicants they aren't interested in after secondaries, even after the cycle is done?

You can conclude the cycle is done at an individual school if you have not interviewed by January 31.
If you have interviewed but don’t match, you can stay on the WL for those unless they officially turn you down

 

[L-Okla-Gonna]

You can conclude the cycle is done at an individual school if you have not interviewed by January 31.
If you have interviewed but don’t match, you can stay on the WL for those unless they officially turn you down

OK Thank you. So they don't send out a courtesy form letter for R's. Good to know that.

 

[Gigatt1234]

What is the advice on updating fall grades if they’re not so great? Say you take last course and get a B should u wait until after match to update or do so immediately?

 

[dionysusofhealth]

im waiting till they ask lmao. nothing any sooner.

 

[L-Okla-Gonna]

Personal opinion here... it is awfully hypocritical when schools who insist everyone take Casper, can't even be bothered to send out generic R emails.

 

[Mybosswontapproveofthis]

Is it worth sending Update letters to any schools we havent recieved II from since they have to complete their decisions by 31 JAN? Also where can I find what schools accept Update letters pre-II? I ask cause the MSAR said one thing and what Ive seen on here says something different from certain school.

 

[wysdoc]

Is it worth sending Update letters to any schools we havent recieved II from since they have to complete their decisions by 31 JAN? Also where can I find what schools accept Update letters pre-II? I ask cause the MSAR said one thing and what Ive seen on here says something different from certain school.

List the schools you are interested in knowing and people can comment
UTMB is done with interviews, Dell doesn’t accept pre- interview updates. Those are 2 that I know.

 

[Mybosswontapproveofthis]

List the schools you are interested in knowing and people can comment
UTMB is done with interviews, Dell doesn’t accept pre- interview updates. Those are 2 that I know.

McGovern, UTSA, TAMU and UTRGV

 

[L-Okla-Gonna]

McG only wants updates if you got an II.

 

[NOLAMedGirl]

Sending a letter of intent when you have had only one interview is not necessary, you know?
It's their only interview, of course they will attend if accepted.
All the TMDSAS schools have to be done interviewing by January 31.
If he's going to send a significant update, do it now.
If he's just writing to ask, "well, are you going to maybe interview me?" that will not be of any help

Didn't see this until now, but to me it still makes sense to send a letter of intent if you only have one TMDSAS interview. Texas schools have no idea how your AMCAS or AACOMAS cycle is going.

 

[vegyaki]

Hi! Just 2 quick clarification questions about the match:
1. Other than entering in our ranking and saving them on TMDSAS is there anything else that needs to be done to participate in the match?
2. I prematched to my top choice texas school which I will be ranking number 1, so will I be dropped from consideration from all other schools (including my other prematches) after the match?

Thank you for all your help!

 

[wysdoc]

Hi! Just 2 quick clarification questions about the match:
1. Other than entering in our ranking and saving them on TMDSAS is there anything else that needs to be done to participate in the match?
2. I prematched to my top choice texas school which I will be ranking number 1, so will I be dropped from consideration from all other schools (including my other prematches) after the match?

Thank you for all your help!

Yes you have it right- congratulations on your success and getting the early offer from your favorite school

 

[texasvandy]

Hi! Just 2 quick clarification questions about the match:
1. Other than entering in our ranking and saving them on TMDSAS is there anything else that needs to be done to participate in the match?
2. I prematched to my top choice texas school which I will be ranking number 1, so will I be dropped from consideration from all other schools (including my other prematches) after the match?

Thank you for all your help!

You could in theory drop out of other schools to open up spots now if you have more than one prematch.

 

[Determined2024]

Question #1: about the pre-match, I had 4 IIs and 2 pre-match offers (to McGovern and UTMB). I am to rank all 4 schools, but if I rank (for example) McGovern as #1, then I am done. I lose my UTMB pre-match offer, and lose any shot at admission at the other 2 schools. Is this correct?

Question #2: I did previews at both McGovern and UTMB and so I have a feel for each of them. What other resources do you recommend I explore for determining which will be the best fit for me? Are there forums where I can communicate with current students?

 

[wysdoc]

Question #1: about the pre-match, I had 4 IIs and 2 pre-match offers (to McGovern and UTMB). I am to rank all 4 schools, but if I rank (for example) McGovern as #1, then I am done. I lose my UTMB pre-match offer, and lose any shot at admission at the other 2 schools. Is this correct?

Question #2: I did previews at both McGovern and UTMB and so I have a feel for each of them. What other resources do you recommend I explore for determining which will be the best fit for me? Are there forums where I can communicate with current students?

If you rank one of your prematches as #1 that will be your school.
If you rank a school you didn’t prematch with higher, you could either
-match to that one
-match to your most highly ranked pre-match instead but can stay on the WL for your #1 school

To answer your specific question, whichever prematch school you rank lower should drop off your list.

 

[Determined2024]

If you rank one of your prematches as #1 that will be your school.
If you rank a school you didn’t prematch with higher, you could either
-match to that one
-match to your most highly ranked pre-match instead but can stay on the WL for your #1 school

To answer your specific question, whichever prematch school you rank lower should drop off your list.

Understood, and thank you very much!

 

[medapplicant4]

When will the waitlist for tx med schools end? Will they continue to pull people out of the waitlist until August?

 

[wysdoc]

When will the waitlist for tx med schools end? Will they continue to pull people out of the waitlist until August?

Theoretically it can run until each school’s orientation day. This date varies from school to school, from early July to late August.
My observation on the last 2 years:
Last year things wrapped up by the end of June, the year before they dragged out to late July

 

[texasvandy]

When will the waitlist for tx med schools end? Will they continue to pull people out of the waitlist until August?

The waitlist dates can be different for different applicants.
1. Waitlists end for anyone with an admission for IS applicants on May 15th.
2. Waitlists end for someone with no admission IS for a school they are waitlisted for when the school says they are done usually when their orientation starts.
3. OOS waitlists can exist theoretically until orientation day but most have their own commitment date at any school they are admitted to 3 weeks before their own orientation date (CTE). So they end up giving up their waitlists. There is also some speculation that at some point of time, schools choose instate waitlisted candidate (june/july) who has no admissions over finding a suitable OOS replacement.

I have known candidates who never received a release from their waitlist even after school started their orientation with a full class in the past.

 

[L-Okla-Gonna]

Now that the cycle is almost over and many of us have options (and many more do not sadly) here is a special shout out to those medical schools (a majority of TMDSAS sadly and some AMCAS too of course) who require Ca$per the unfriendly (where applicants don’t even get their own scores that they paid for!) while these same schools display the poorest “collaboration, communication, empathy, equity, ethics, motivation, problem solving, professionalism, resilience and self-awareness” imaginable.

In this process, secondaries seem to be sometimes utilized as a money grab grift and, in keeping with a theme here, some schools will ghost applicants once credit card charges go through. Sure, some schools act professionally and respectfully, but far too many (TMDSAS and AMCAS) have shown themselves to be the vilest of hypocrites. Re-watch some of the many info zooms recorded on TMDSAS with holier than thou AdComms espousing what they expect because it is all so caring and noble and “Ca$pery” …you’ll laugh and cry at the same time. The issue for many may not be which medical school to attend at this point, but rather whether it is a profession worth going into and if we do go into it, can we ever make the entry part of it at least more decent?

 

[soapapple]

Now that the cycle is almost over and many of us have options (and many more do not sadly) here is a special shout out to those medical schools (a majority of TMDSAS sadly and some AMCAS too of course) who require Ca$per the unfriendly (where applicants don’t even get their own scores that they paid for!) while these same schools display the poorest “collaboration, communication, empathy, equity, ethics, motivation, problem solving, professionalism, resilience and self-awareness” imaginable.

In this process, secondaries seem to be sometimes utilized as a money grab grift and, in keeping with a theme here, some schools will ghost applicants once credit card charges go through. Sure, some schools act professionally and respectfully, but far too many (TMDSAS and AMCAS) have shown themselves to be the vilest of hypocrites. Re-watch some of the many info zooms recorded on TMDSAS with holier than thou AdComms espousing what they expect because it is all so caring and noble and “Ca$pery” …you’ll laugh and cry at the same time. The issue for many may not be which medical school to attend at this point, but rather whether it is a profession worth going into and if we do go into it, can we ever make the entry part of it at least more decent?

"whether it is a profession worth going into". I guess most of us have this emotion overpowering us until we get that first A. That feeling miraculously disappears once we get an A and joy replaces that dreaded emotion.

 

[L-Okla-Gonna]

"whether it is a profession worth going into". I guess most of us have this emotion overpowering us until we get that first A. That feeling miraculously disappears once we get an A and joy replaces that dreaded emotion.

As someone with As, who has seen the randomness and poor treatment first hand this cycle …and vicariously through many equally deserving yet unlucky friends, acquaintances and even numerous strangers on line here and elsewhere, I still recognize the big problems and hypocrisy and hope the process improves at its inception and throughout. Everyone knows the applications and admissions processes are deeply flawed and then we are also told “Oh, just wait until…” so I don’t believe feelings miraculously disappear in a meaningful way. If folks do feel it’s all fine, having “got them theirs” well… goody for them but it’s sure quite a double edged sword for this profession and proves my point.

 

[soapapple]

As someone with As, who has seen the randomness and poor treatment first hand this cycle …and vicariously through many equally deserving yet unlucky friends, acquaintances and even numerous strangers on line here and elsewhere, I still recognize the big problems and hypocrisy and hope the process improves at its inception and throughout. Everyone knows the applications and admissions processes are deeply flawed and then we are also told “Oh, just wait until…” so I don’t believe feelings miraculously disappear in a meaningful way. If folks do feel it’s all fine, having “got them theirs” well… goody for them but it’s sure quite a double edged sword for this profession and proves my point.

I 100% agree about the making the process better somehow. I am sorry if I sounded insensitive in some way. My comment was specifically about the feeling of whether "the profession is worth going into" and what causes that feeling in us.

 

[L-Okla-Gonna]

SDN folks are mostly not the problem. I do a lot of preaching at the choir here. 😉

 

[waterglass]

Good Day! Food for thought: what happens if you interview at multiple schools and don't rank them by the deadline, January Thirty First? Like you just leave the rank inputs blank and then that page disappears?

 

[soapapple]

Good Day! Food for thought: what happens if you interview at multiple schools and don't rank them by the deadline, January Thirty First? Like you just leave the rank inputs blank and then that page disappears?

The mere mortals are neurotic and checking TMDSAS few times every week if the ranking is OK.
For displaying those saintly capabilities, that person will be offered whatever school they prefer in the entire world with full COA.

Jokes apart, this is the single most important thing to do at this stage. First, stop everything whatever you are doing now, go and put the numbers, whatever order you feel like and save. You have another week or so to contemplate and change the order if needed.

 

[wysdoc]

Good Day! Food for thought: what happens if you interview at multiple schools and don't rank them by the deadline, January Thirty First? Like you just leave the rank inputs blank and then that page disappears?

Please read the information on the TMDSAS guide - go to the section labeled “ after submission” then find “TMDSAS Match”.

If you do not enter ANY schools in the rank list, you will be withdrawn from them ALL and will not match - you will not even be “in “ the match.

Who would do that intentionally? Don't be that guy who dithers so long that they do it by mistake.
By the way, the deadline is 5 PM Central Time Zone on Friday January 31.

 

[bluemountain122]

This might be a dumb question, but I interviewed with one TMDSAS school and can't seem to find the "School Preference Rank" page. Is it supposed to be located on the right side under payment? It could be possible they didn't update my status, but it is close to the match deadline...

 

[wysdoc]

This might be a dumb question, but I interviewed with one TMDSAS school and can't seem to find the "School Preference Rank" page. Is it supposed to be located on the right side under payment? It could be possible they didn't update my status, but it is close to the match deadline...

The rank page is in your TMDSAS portal, not on the individual school’s site.

Go to Pending Actions on the TMDSAS portal

If you still don’t see it, call the school today and ask them kindly to update you in their system so you can rank them

 

[soapapple]

 

[bluemountain122]

View attachment 397952

Thank you!! I don't have a "pending actions" tab, so I think I'll call the school and hopefully it should pop up

 

[soapapple]

Thank you!! I don't have a "pending actions" tab, so I think I'll call the school and hopefully it should pop up

You have to login to TMDSAS and check there. TMDSAS Homepage . You don't see it there? That is strange.
Btw, is this your first II? I don't remember whether it appeared for me after my first interview or was it always there. If it appears only after the first interview is done, yes, you may need to check with the school.

 

[bluemountain122]

This is how mine looks (it was my first interview) ... the school told me they should update it within the next couple of days. Thanks again!

 

[texasvandy]

View attachment 397979
This is how mine looks (it was my first interview) ... the school told me they should update it within the next couple of days. Thanks again!

Are you IS?

 

[bluemountain122]

Are you IS?

yes!

 

[solle]

Hello, (likely) TMDSAS reapplicant here. Do my essays need to be about new topics? Like for the unique life experience essay, do I need to talk about a different event or can I use the same one but rewritten?

 

[texasvandy]

yes!

Should check with the school where you interviewed since it should be available to rank.

 

[bluemountain122]

Should check with the school where you interviewed since it should be available to rank.

it updated now and i was able to rank! thanks everyone

 

[Determined2024]

Hello, (likely) TMDSAS reapplicant here. Do my essays need to be about new topics? Like for the unique life experience essay, do I need to talk about a different event or can I use the same one but rewritten?

As a reapplicant I totally re-wrote my essays to both reflect my passions for medicine and include more current experiences serving as an MA and scribe. That's not to say you need totally different topics, but do consider if you have better and more current ones. I started my re-write very early (like now), asked friends, colleagues, and family to read them and offer comments. It was a pain, but in the end they were much more mature, and reflective of who I am. I can't say that the essays did it, but I did get IIs and pre-match offers this year, whereas I had nada last year. Best of luck and know that perseverance is an important trait in pursuing a career in medicine. P.S., because I started early, I was able to submit on the first day, another perk that should not be overlooked.

 

[wysdoc]

As a reapplicant I totally re-wrote my essays to both reflect my passions for medicine and include more current experiences serving as an MA and scribe. That's not to say you need totally different topics, but do consider if you have better and more current ones. I started my re-write very early (like now), asked friends, colleagues, and family to read them and offer comments. It was a pain, but in the end they were much more mature, and reflective of who I am. I can't say that the essays did it, but I did get IIs and pre-match offers this year, whereas I had nada last year. Best of luck and know that perseverance is an important trait in pursuing a career in medicine. P.S., because I started early, I was able to submit on the first day, another perk that should not be overlooked.

I agree with @Determined2024 's advice. But also very important is to get some insight as to what held you back last time:
If lacking in community service or other activities, fill that deficit
If you turned in your app late, be early this time
If you need a better school list, aim at the schools where you will have a reasonable chance

 

[striveformed]

After doing the ranking and submitting,it shows the dates on the right side of each school, but bottom it still shows the button submit your preferences.
Is that ok, is that button showing just in case to edit till 31 st.
Please advise.

 

[wysdoc]

After doing the ranking and submitting,it shows the dates on the right side of each school, but bottom it still shows the button submit your preferences.
Is that ok, is that button showing just in case to edit till 31 st.
Please advise.

Yes- the button will still be there in case you want to change the order before 5PM on Jan 31.
When you are happy with your list take a screenshot to save for yourself.
After the deadline that ranking page will no longer be visible on your portal

 

[striveformed]

Yes- the button will still be there in case you want to change the order before 5PM on Jan 31.
When you are happy with your list take a screenshot to save for yourself.
After the deadline that ranking page will no longer be visible on your portal

Thank you so much!

 

[etxaccepted36]

Quick FYI... I am noticing on my page that the ranking deadline has been extended to 1PM today. Not sure if everyone is seeing this - can anyone confirm? Here is what I see, and I am able to change my rankings:

 

[wysdoc]

Quick FYI... I am noticing on my page that the ranking deadline has been extended to 1PM today. Not sure if everyone is seeing this - can anyone confirm? Here is what I see, and I am able to change my rankings:
View attachment 398295

What made you check?
If it came officially from TMDSAS it’s legit

 

[etxaccepted36]

What made you check?
If it came officially from TMDSAS it’s legit

I was checking a message I got from TMDSAS (transcript-related, got it sorted) and saw that the page was available again. Not sure why there was an extension but besides that nothing on my page changed; all of my rankings were fortunately still there.

Unrelated note, I heard that [enter my top choice school here] was actually super terrible and raised their tuition to 1 billion dollars so everyone should rank it last while you still can.

 

[staycool4ever]

Quick FYI... I am noticing on my page that the ranking deadline has been extended to 1PM today. Not sure if everyone is seeing this - can anyone confirm? Here is what I see, and I am able to change my rankings:
View attachment 398295

Yup! It was there this morning and I went back and checked after 1 pm CST and it then said 2 pm CST. I checked after 2 pm CST and it was closed again. I just checked again andddd its open again....weird