Strange but true....

[DaveinDallas]

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This seems kinda strange to me. Turns out, I'm competitive for the schools outside of Texas as I've got all the prereqs and am just waiting to take the MCAT in August, but for TCOM, I'm lacking 6 hours of bio. Now, since most of the other applicants already have their 14 bio credits (I've got 8) and their MCATs, I'm probably not going to be competitive in my own state but will be outside of it. Go figure.

I would really prefer TCOM as it's close to home,family, church and I've lived here for most of my adult life (after the Air Force), but looks like if I want to get into school in 2005, I'll have to move. Just seems a little weird.

 

[TXsongdoc08]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought "2 years" of biology was the standard. I know ever since I graduated high school I was told it was safe to have 2 years of biology if interested in medical school. I guess I never even looked back at the prereqs lately b/c I knew I had them. It is strange that you could get to courses like A&P with only 8 hours. Did they not have prereqs for your bio courses? Or did you transfer in some AP credit or something. If you did, that counts toward the prerequisites. Also, if your MCAT and GPA are strong, I wouldn't be surprised if TCOM would bend their rules a little bit to accomodate you.

________________________________
TCOM 2008

 

[DaveinDallas]

Actually, according to the AOA website, most (I think TCOM and one other are the exceptions) osteopathic schools only require 8 hours of bio. Now, A&P I required Bio 1406 (at least at DCCCD). The person intimated that I would be competing against other candidates who already had all the prereqs and probably wouldn't be competitive. They also mentioned that I would probably have a real hard time with the MCAT lacking those extra 6 hours. Pretty much told me to wait another year.

The out of state schools all said - Take the MCAT, you're competitive, fill out the app and come see us.

 

[Robz]

If you have a year (while you apply) and you really want to get the extra bio for the school then take it to make the prereqs.

I'd call TCOM to talk to admissions dean about this and get clarification and explain your situation. I found most deans are pretty cool when discussing their schools and they want interested applicants.

Where there is a will there is a way....it just might not be warm happy and fuzzy....

😎

 

[sistahnik]

don't sweat it, just call the school and clarify it. the best thing is to always ask when in doubt because you may find out something that you didn't even know, at least this has been my experience. good luck!

 

[ken37]

You only need to finish the 14 hours of Bio for Texas schools before matriculating. It isn't necessary to apply, and shouldn't disadvantage you at all. I've known pleny of people in Texas schools that have been accepted and then finished the bio (or in one case didn't finish it and is now MS2 with no issues).

 

[DaveinDallas]

Thanks all -

The person I was speaking with was one of the asst. deans (I think). They mentioned that it would be harder for me on the MCAT and gave me the 'suggestion' to hold off a year as the potential for not doing well on the MCAT, plus lacking the 6 might not do me well. As that was emphasized in our conversation, I read the subtext on the sideband channel, but didn't know how to interpret it.

Just for fun - I got my results from my first Kaplan diagnostic mini-MCAT (no prep, no study, goofing off for the last two weeks, only 4 hours of sleep the night before) and I scored PS/VR/BS 5/8/5 for a total of 18 with 3 months to prepare. I'm shooting for a 35, but I'll be preparing while I'm working 40+ hours a week.

Don't get me wrong, TCOM is my first choice since I wouldn't have to uproot the family and want to work in the OMT research dept. and work in FP. But, there are other schools out there....

 

[kaikai128]

Thanks all -

The person I was speaking with was one of the asst. deans (I think). They mentioned that it would be harder for me on the MCAT and gave me the 'suggestion' to hold off a year as the potential for not doing well on the MCAT, plus lacking the 6 might not do me well. As that was emphasized in our conversation, I read the subtext on the sideband channel, but didn't know how to interpret it.

Just for fun - I got my results from my first Kaplan diagnostic mini-MCAT (no prep, no study, goofing off for the last two weeks, only 4 hours of sleep the night before) and I scored PS/VR/BS 5/8/5 for a total of 18 with 3 months to prepare. I'm shooting for a 35, but I'll be preparing while I'm working 40+ hours a week.

Don't get me wrong, TCOM is my first choice since I wouldn't have to uproot the family and want to work in the OMT research dept. and work in FP. But, there are other schools out there....

Study hard for the MCAT...do what you can to make sure that you get a score that you are giong to be happy with. Kaplan is only going to be helpful if you utilize all of the materials that they make available...going to the class and practice tests alone probably is not going to help your score very much. (Or it didn't for most ppl that I know). I found that most of my improvement came from the work that I did outside of the classroom utilizing all of the subject tests and extra practice tests, etc...I did it while working 40hr/week but would not work that much if I had to do it over again...I just didn't have enough time...Regardless...Good luck on the MCAT. 🙂