Texas Fresh Start program after out of state bachelor's degree

[A_med_school_hopeful]

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Hi All,

I have been thinking long and hard about what I want to go back to school for. I already have a bachelor's degree from a Texas university (I live in Texas now also), but I want to get a second bachelor's degree online from an out of state university. I am doing this because I still want to be able to work while I am doing this degree so that I can save up and pay for medical school. However, if I am not going to be able to use the fresh start program, then I don't want to go this route. Does anyone know if I will still be able to use the Fresh Start program for this? I called the TMDSAS Fresh Start department, but I did not get my question answered.

Thanks in advance for your response!

 

[SpoiledMilk]

I do not believe you can use AFS with an out of state university simply because the out of state university will not be obligated to follow Texas law. AFS only applies to public in-state universities and colleges and even then, some will interpret/apply it differently. For example, some public universities in Texas will not allow you to declare AFS if you already have a B.A., while others will. (Search this forum for threads that will give you an idea about which schools in Texas will allow you to do so with a B.A. already in hand)

When you declare AFS, the TX school will print this disclaimer on your transcript, which when you apply to TMDSAS will allow it to disregard grades 10 years or older. Out of state schools will not print the AFS disclaimer on your transcript because they are not under any obligations to follow TX law.

Additionally, I think you should research all the TX medical schools to determine whether they will be receptive of online courses. Some do, while others might not be. If you want to save money while doing this, you might consider CC courses instead.

 

[esob]

One correction, the Texas schools don't even necessarily print anything different on your transcript (my school doesnt) so you have to get a letter from the registrar showing you invoked AFS when you entered, which you give to TMDSAS, which then disregards those grades which are > 10 years old. The whole thing is a bunch of hoop jumping; it's a great program but they certainly don't make it easy.

 

[SpoiledMilk]

I agree that you can get a letter from the register, but the school that I invoked AFS at has a disclaimer at the very top of my transcript that indicates AFS, semester, and year of invocation. School dependent, I suppose.

TMDSAS requires either the letter or the indication on the transcript.

Regardless, the out of state school will neither provide the letter or disclaimer on the transcript.