TEXAS Med Schools Entering Class *2005* Applicant Thread part 01

[AsianDoc816]

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Yes, heading out tomorrow for San Antonio. I should be a rather experienced interviewer by now 🙂

 

[USCTex]

FYI: You're allowed to answer "will file later" and estimate what you'll be putting on your tax return. You can update it later when you have done your taxes. I've heard that certain awards are prioritized depending on when you filled out your FAFSA so it's best to get it done ASAP.

Really? Dang.
When is FAFSA actually due? I really want to talk to someone in a fin aid office...I've got so many damn questions...maybe I'll call UTSA today and see what happens.

 

[Ylime]

If you mark "will file later" and estimate your taxes, how do you go about figuring out the amount of income tax paid for the year??

 

[Brain]

When is FAFSA actually due? I really want to talk to someone in a fin aid office...I've got so many damn questions...maybe I'll call UTSA today and see what happens.

I don't think there is actually a due date. However, there are priority deadlines that depend on the particular school (ie, it's Feb 15th for all Emory students). If the schools run out of money, then people who filled it out earlier get priority. This is based on my limited experiences at a private, out of state university so this may not be applicable to TX medical schools. I would suggest calling the lady from Texas A&M. She gave a great review of financial aid and seems to really know her stuff.

 

[Brain]

If you mark "will file later" and estimate your taxes, how do you go about figuring out the amount of income tax paid for the year??

I just put what I had on my tax return last year since it probably won't be that different for me. You can update it later. I think taxes are about 6.5% (?) so you may be able to estimate it that way. Also, some checks from companies list that info on pay stubs. You could also go ahead and get a tax booklet and use the info in the back to estimate.

 

[EvoDevo]

Hiya folks!

Remember that Houston-area meet n' greet we talked about earlier? I've posted a thread for it here (and in the Lounge). Come on out and meet me and other cool ass members of the SDN community (some med students, other health care team members, etc), have some good food, and hopefully some laughs.

 

[roja]

NY is more fun than houston. 🙂-

 

[jdovez]

NY is more fun than houston. 🙂-

Really? Who woulda thunk it. 😉

 

[OrthoFixation]

I just put what I had on my tax return last year since it probably won't be that different for me. You can update it later. I think taxes are about 6.5% (?) so you may be able to estimate it that way. Also, some checks from companies list that info on pay stubs. You could also go ahead and get a tax booklet and use the info in the back to estimate.

You must not have worked much. 6.5% In my dreams. Federal tax rates vary from 15% to 36%. Then comes state taxes, unless you live in a few lucky states (TX, FL, . . .)

You might pay less depending on where your numbers wash out.

 

[Brain]

You must not have worked much. 6.5% In my dreams. Federal tax rates vary from 15% to 36%. Then comes state taxes, unless you live in a few lucky states (TX, FL, . . .)

You might pay less depending on where your numbers wash out.

Yes, my effective tax rate was about 6.5% last year so I am that poor. I decided to do the mph program before med school so I could get a full blown experience at CDC. Well, there just isn't much money in public health for students but it's been a great experience. I guess my point is that tax rates should be about what they were last year (unless I'm ignorant of some new legislation). If you're making roughly the same salary, you can use your last years tax rate to estimate what you'll pay this year for the purposes of getting your fafsa in early.

 

[OrthoFixation]

Yes, my effective tax rate was about 6.5% last year . . .

I can certainly understand that when you go to school full time. Now, if you could just eak out a dependant SSN that wonderful gift of EIC would come your way. Do you have a dog or cat


Dizzydog, don't feel like the Lone Ranger . . . I only had two. You may have a slight advantage over someone who ranks the school lower, but you've got to be deemed "acceptable" after the interview. I'm hoping my massive ranking of two schools will be a leg up too. UTSA is highly regarded by many applicants though.

 

[fotolilith]

Guys...
I'm freaking out a little...I only had 1 interview from a Texas school (UTSA) and I think its safe to say I am not going to get anymore...(Applied kind of late, and I'm "non-traditional")
It seems that everyone I know that has gotten a Texas interview has gotten multiple interviews...Has anyone heard of people just getting 1 TX interview?
ARRRRghh! 😱

Yeah, my physician hero... he got 1 interview at UTMB, and was accepted there. He still questions what they were thinking... but hey, miracles happen.

 

[fotolilith]

It's odd seeing where everyone got interviews...seems sort of biazzare whatever standards were used in handing out interviews *shrug*

Man, it gets even weirder when they start handing out acceptances. ;-P It's totally a craps shoot sometimes - heck, the first person that UTH's MD/ PhD program rejected after interview was the applicant with the highest scores. 😱

Well, for all this second guessing and stress, I've made myself a promise that I am going to relax, do nothing, and READ the summer before med school starts (whatever entering year that happens to be ;-P).

 

[Aptamer]

Is anyone interviewing at Tech this Friday?

 

[USCTex]

Is anyone interviewing at Tech this Friday?

I'll be there.

 

[Bright Star]

I'll be there.

I'll be there also.

 

[utlake]

AUSTIN AREA MATCH PARTY class of 2009

Lets have a party in Austin to celebrate acceptance to medical school. It would be a great opportunity to meet future fellow classmates.

For anyone interested, does Friday Feb. 4th sound good?

 

[Assistant]

FAFSA Texas school codes:

UTSW: 010019
UTMB: 013976
UT-H: 013956
UTSA: 003659
TTech: 016024
TAMU: 003632

On a side note:
I am so proud UT won!

Does anyone have the FASFA code for TCOM handy?

Thanks! 🙂

 

[cluelesspremed]

AUSTIN AREA MATCH PARTY class of 2009

Lets have a party in Austin to celebrate acceptance to medical school. It would be a great opportunity to meet future fellow classmates.

For anyone interested, does Friday Feb. 4th sound good?

I'm pretty sure a ton of people, myself included, will be goin out on the 1st itself...why wait?

 

[USCTex]

It'll only be 10 p.m. in Cali when I get the news...meaning no matter what it is I have hours upon hours to drink...

 

[txguy]

Hey guys,

Does anybody know if our Fall 2004 grades will be calculated into our GPA? The GPA on my app profile is still the same from when it was processed.....

Thanks!

-tx

 

[UTKB]

Hey guys,

Does anybody know if our Fall 2004 grades will be calculated into our GPA? The GPA on my app profile is still the same from when it was processed.....

Thanks!

-tx

I don't think your GPA on your profile will change. I think they want transcripts, especially final transcripts, to verify coursework and graduation. If you get on a waitlist, the schools will use it if a spot opens up and they want to look at waitlistees again. If you are waitlisted and they have a spot open up in say, March, when your spring grades aren't in yet, they'll have an updated transcript to look at. I think some of the TX schools rank people on their waitlists, and other schools don't rank and look at your entire file, and any updates, if they have an open seat.

 

[DualSuperLead]

Hey guys,

Does anybody know if our Fall 2004 grades will be calculated into our GPA? The GPA on my app profile is still the same from when it was processed.....

Thanks!

-tx

My GPA was changed to include my Fall 2004 grades 2 days after they received my new transcript. ( December 20 and 22), so I know that they do recalculate. I have no idea if the new GPA is sent to the schools or if it has any influence on admissions at this stage of the game.

 

[txguy]

My GPA was changed to include my Fall 2004 grades 2 days after they received my new transcript. ( December 20 and 22), so I know that they do recalculate. I have no idea if the new GPA is sent to the schools or if it has any influence on admissions at this stage of the game.

Thanks for the info! 👍

Mine was rec'd on 1/3, so I'll wait a few days before I call TMDSAS....

-tx

 

[Brain]

I wouldn't think they'd use Fall grades in the admissions game at this point. My stupid school didn't have them ready until yesterday, they take 2 days to process a transcript request (can't imagine why), plus ~6 days to travel from Atlanta to Austin, and then sometime before TMDSAS gets to opening it (they aren't known for their blazing speed). So I wouldn't think they'd use them for some but not all applicants.

 

[DualSuperLead]

I wouldn't think they'd use Fall grades in the admissions game at this point. My stupid school didn't have them ready until yesterday, they take 2 days to process a transcript request (can't imagine why), plus ~6 days to travel from Atlanta to Austin, and then sometime before TMDSAS gets to opening it (they aren't known for their blazing speed). So I wouldn't think they'd use them for some but not all applicants.

That would make sense to me, I guess TMDSAS just wants to keep track of all our records so that they are handy for matriculation.

 

[fotolilith]

Thanks foto and ortho...I wish the whole process were a little more transparent so we could know why a school did or did not select us. Dr. Jones from UTSA seemed to put a lot of emphasis on the student's life experiences...Good for me as I needed something to distract them from my mediocre scores and slight medical experience!

Anyway, good luck to everyone on match day!

Yeah, UTHSCSA likes older/ more experienced applicants - the school invites a lot of them to interview, and the interviewers respond very favorably to such individuals. Most of the current students I met at the pre interview social seemed to be either reapplicants (before they got in), or non-traditional applicants.

As for why they do or do not select us...that's easy. It's either numbers or you have something that they want. All of that translates into: "they find the best fit." The schools cannot get much clearer than that, since it would probably open them up lawsuits/ bitching by insulted premeds.

 

[roja]

Who you calling old????? more experienced, definately. 😉 but not old.

 

[fotolilith]

Who you calling old????? more experienced, definately. 😉 but not old.

I thought of you personally when I put "more experienced" in there. 🙂

 

[roja]

Nice save. 😀

 

[EvoDevo]

Nice save. 😀

I think of you constantly. 😍

 

[roja]

Yah, Yah Yah....

that's why my PM box is full. 😉

 

[SFAJess]

bump 🙂

 

[papunjabi]

This has probably been asked before. What is the Last RCW Update on Applicant Profile on the TMDSAS site mean? I know there is Last MAster File update and Validation date, but what is "Last RCW Update"? Also my Validation Date is 000000. Does that mean I have not responded favorably to any of the schools I interviewed with?
Thanks! 🙂

 

[SFAJess]

I was validated today...did we decide that they do this when you turn in your transcript?

It's hard to believe we're less than a month away!! 👍 👍 Only 10 days to get our final match lists posted and then 26 days until the BIG MATCH!!!! Hopefully we will all receive good news!! 😀

Good luck to all!!!

 

[txguy]

This has probably been asked before. What is the Last RCW Update on Applicant Profile on the TMDSAS site mean? I know there is Last MAster File update and Validation date, but what is "Last RCW Update"? Also my Validation Date is 000000. Does that mean I have not responded favorably to any of the schools I interviewed with?
Thanks! 🙂

RCW = Recent College Work.

SFAJess--I was validated around the time TMDSAS got my new transcript....

Good luck all as we finalize our rankings!!

-tx

 

[runner1979]

I was validated today...did we decide that they do this when you turn in your transcript?

It's hard to believe we're less than a month away!! 👍 👍 Only 10 days to get our final match lists posted and then 26 days until the BIG MATCH!!!! Hopefully we will all receive good news!! 😀

Good luck to all!!!

I don't think there has been any conclusion on the whole validation date issue. It appears that most have been validated when the latest transcript has been recieved. But who really knows?...All my transcripts have been to TMDSAS since July (non-trad) and my validation date is listed as yesterday.

I'm not reading anything into it and can't wait until 1 Feb. Good Luck all!

 

[true blue]

I don't think there has been any conclusion on the whole validation date issue. It appears that most have been validated when the latest transcript has been recieved. But who really knows?...All my transcripts have been to TMDSAS since July (non-trad) and my validation date is listed as yesterday.

I'm not reading anything into it and can't wait until 1 Feb. Good Luck all!

Maybe validation has to do with how many interviews you got? Like for instance if someone interviewed at all of the schools then they would get validated first as opposed to someone who only had one interview.

Just my guess.

 

[true blue]

Am I the only pre-med in Texas that did not know you are supposed to send your interviewers a thank-you note? I talked to a doctor friend and she made it sound like its absolutley essential...Geesh, I feel so out of the loop. 😳

Nah! I think you are OK. I know a lot of people that didn't send thank-you's that got in. It is always a nice gesture but not necessary. Besides, by the time your interviewer receives your thank you note, the committee has probably already met and discussed your app.

Good luck!

 

[GutsyGal]

Yikes! Only 10 more days until it's completely out of our hands. Has everybody finalized their lists or are there others like me who are still on the fence?

 

[true blue]

Yikes! Only 10 more days until it's completely out of our hands. Has everybody finalized their lists or are there others like me who are still on the fence?

I only interviewed at one school so I guess mine is!

 

[true blue]

Me too! If you don't mind me asking, where did you interview? (Mine was UTSA) Relieved by your post ref. thank you notes...Although I'm still thinking about sending one belated. The choice is between appearing as a procrastinator or an ungrateful applicant.

By the way, anyone who hasn't done so may want to check their TMDSAS applicant profile...Mine has been updated for the fall coursework, however for some odd reason only 5 of 11 credit hours are reflected.

Hi Dizzydog!

I interviewed at TAMU and I REALLY loved it. However, I am fretting because statistically speaking, your chances of getting in go up with the number of interviews you have. Oh well, I am trying to stay positive!

I think if you sent a note now it would be OK. Just throw in a few updates about what you have done since you turned in your application to mask the delay 😉 and you should be good. I think that anyone who bothers (doesn't matter when) to at least acknowledge their gratitude to someone is always appreciated. Who knows? You may even make someone's day by sending them a positive note!

 

[true blue]

This has probably been asked before. What is the Last RCW Update on Applicant Profile on the TMDSAS site mean? I know there is Last MAster File update and Validation date, but what is "Last RCW Update"? Also my Validation Date is 000000. Does that mean I have not responded favorably to any of the schools I interviewed with?
Thanks! 🙂

RCW = Record of College Work

I don't think anyone knows the real deal with validation dates. Don't even worry about it. Just enjoy the cold weather. 😉

It will be 90 degrees sooner than we think.

 

[getunconcsious]

Okay, ticking off the boredom....

What does your screen name mean? Mine refers to the fact that my graduate degree was in large part concerned with Evolution and Development.

Go. 😀

1. The pain and confusion that goes along with being alive, conscious, and in touch with reality really sucks

2. The madonna song "Bedtime Story" which implores us to "Get Unconscious"

Can I be the official goth kid of the Texas premeds now? 😀

 

[ajnak182]

So the validation mystery was squashed a bit earlier in the thread. Straight from the horse's mouth, the TMDSAS website, the validation date only has to do with the process that ensures that you have completed all of Texas' premed reqs. I forgot who posted it, but I think that evo might have posted it on page 1? 😕 Anyway, I haven't been validated, so I really hope that that is in fact the case! On another note, I drastically changed my match list late last night, and I'm thinking about changing it back to the way it was previously. I had an epiphany that I didn't want to be out in the boonies for school, aka College Station, yet today, I'm thinking that it would actually be a pretty sweet place to spend 2 years. They do in fact have one kickass climbing wall... I think that I will lose all of my hair by Feb. 1st. Between this process and genetics, I'm screwed.

AJ

 

[AsianDoc816]

I've sent in all of my transcripts, and interviewed at all 7 schools. I have not been validated to date, but am planning on calling TMDSAS tomorrow just to "make sure" that everything is okay. I interviewed at UTHSCSA today (finally, yay!) and loved it! I'm so confused as to how I'll rank the schools now.... 😕

 

[IndyZX]

im going to be so happy on feb 1st when i have something to wrap my hands around. for those that want to know, heres my rank...

1. UTSW
2. UTH
3. UTMB

i wouldve ranked galveston over houston in terms of the school itself, but i just dont think i could live in galveston.

 

[AsianDoc816]

i wouldve ranked galveston over houston in terms of the school itself, but i just dont think i could live in galveston.

Yes, I think that UTMB would be a good fit for me minus the yucky brown-water island life. My boyfriend's best friend is a first-year there, and has told me that living in Galveston isn't TOO BAD (you can always "escape" to Houston for good Asian food, shopping, etc.), but then again, he isn't too hard to please. Making the transition from Austin (the best city in Texas!) to Galveston would be tough....

Anyway, to solve this little "dilemma" in my mind, I'm gonna make a visit out to the island before this LONG winter break is over. I'm anxious to take classes again next semester!

 

[runner1979]

im going to be so happy on feb 1st when i have something to wrap my hands around. for those that want to know, heres my rank...

1. UTSW
2. UTH
3. UTMB

i wouldve ranked galveston over houston in terms of the school itself, but i just dont think i could live in galveston.

I have the same exact ranking and the same rationalization. I definately like UTMB as a school MUCH more than UTH.... but Galveston?!?! Then I think about the possibility of doing clinical rotations at Brackenridge in Austin and sway back to UTMB. But UTH has the med center and Houston. Shizers, I waffle back forth about every hour or so.

 

[Bright Star]

I was validated on the 4th but they also received my fall transcript on the fourth. I'm interviewing at Tech tomorrow and then I'll make my final decision on my list. Jess how are things going for you? Dr. Bevo/txguy..you are in the DFW area..I was thinking that all the other major TX cities were having celebrations for match day and we should have one here in DFW..although I'm not sure how many of us are out here but i imagine it's many