Texas schools-- good option?

[jpatel]

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Now, it is time to apply and I have been visiting SDN much more often. My plan for this cycle is to apply to ~ 25 schools. My GPA ~3.9 MCAT 31L (8 verbal) Moreover,I have kind of average or below average ECs so I have to apply to many schools.

Now according to MSAR, there are couple of Texas schools that offer much better % interviewes and % acceptances of those who got interviewed to out of staters than most nontexas schools. Remember I am talking about %s not the total numbers. + they don't require insane stats and would take my 8 verbal. By the way, english is my second language. But anyways, not a bad deal but I am wondering if they require ties to that state or favor those in the surrounding states.

I have no idea about those schools. So what do u guys think?

 

[FIREitUP]

Now, it is time to apply and I have been visiting SDN much more often. My plan for this cycle is to apply to ~ 25 schools. My GPA ~3.9 MCAT 31L (8 verbal) Moreover,I have kind of average or below average ECs so I have to apply to many schools.

Now according to MSAR, there are couple of Texas schools that offer much better % interviewes and % acceptances of those who got interviewed to out of staters than most nontexas schools. Remember I am talking about %s not the total numbers. + they don't require insane stats and would take my 8 verbal. By the way, english is my second language. But anyways, not a bad deal but I am wondering if they require ties to that state or favor those in the surrounding states.

I have no idea about those schools. So what do u guys think?

My understanding is that for Texas schools you really need to have some sort of connection to Texas. If not, it is a long shot. Also, instead of AMCAS they use TMDAS (or something like that). I don't think applying to Texas schools is a good idea if you don't have any connection with the state.

 

[flip26]

My understanding is that for Texas schools you really need to have some sort of connection to Texas. If not, it is a long shot. Also, instead of AMCAS they use TMDAS (or something like that). I don't think applying to Texas schools is a good idea if you don't have any connection with the state.

I agree with this, and I am not so sure that the OP is correctly interpreting the chances of success as an OOS applicant to Texas schools - always my impression that Texas is a tough state for the OOS applicant.

 

[jpatel]

I agree with this, and I am not so sure that the OP is correctly interpreting the chances of success as an OOS applicant to Texas schools - always my impression that Texas is a tough state for the OOS applicant.

I am looking at 2 things in MSAR. % of students who got intervied from those who applied. and % of students who got accepted from those who interviewed. I am putting more emphasis on % who got interviews. That is what I think people should be looking at because that's what tells you the real information on your chances.

 

[flip26]

I am looking at 2 things in MSAR. % of students who got intervied from those who applied. and % of students who got accepted from those who interviewed. I am putting more emphasis on % who got interviews. That is what I think people should be looking at because that's what tells you the real information on your chances.

Wrong emphasis. For people who get an interview, the most relevant stat is the percentage who get accepted.

At an instate school, the pctg accepted vs interviewed is typically fairly high, in many cases greater than 50 percent, and sometimes much higher. As an OOS applicant, it is typically fairly low, maybe as low as 10 percent. For a broad range of private med schools, the percentage seems to fall in the range of 20 to 40 percent. Obviously, the higher this percentage, the better your chances. At some point, you have to question the value of attending interviews at OOS schools where your chances of acceptance are in the single digits...

What percentage are you seeing for select Texas schools? All I seem to remember is that of the aggregate class, it is 90 percent instate, 10 percent OOS. That is fairly low to begin with, meaning that only 10 percent of the seats are set aside for OOS applicants. Unless the stats you are reading indicate that if you get an interview, the odds of acceptance are up around, say, 30+ percent, I think this is a shaky proposition the lower it goes.

The problem you may face is that the percentage accepted appears to be acceptable, but the chances of getting an interview are low because they only interview people with strong ties to the state...

 

[TexasPhysician]

Most people who apply OOS for Texas have BIG Texas ties.

Also, your stats are low for OOS in Texas. My OOS buddy applied to all TX schools with close ties (MCAT of 37). He got 2 interviews with 1 acceptance, but was told during a phone call to the Dean of Admissions at a rejected school that his MCAT was considered low for OOS applicants.

If you have the extra cash, there is no harm in applying. You have a chance, but realize that it is low.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I wonder whats the percent of OOS applicants that actually get accepted. 10%>?

 

[flip26]

Most people who apply OOS for Texas have BIG Texas ties.

Also, your stats are low for OOS in Texas. My OOS buddy applied to all TX schools with close ties (MCAT of 37). He got 2 interviews with 1 acceptance, but was told during a phone call to the Dean of Admissions at a rejected school that his MCAT was considered low for OOS applicants.

If you have the extra cash, there is no harm in applying. You have a chance, but realize that it is low.

Yeah, I don't think the OP has stumbled upon some new, great strategy. I have never thought of Texas schools as a good strategy for any OOS applicant except for superstars with ties to the state.

Nice try, OP, but I don't think this is a viable plan for you.

 

[jpatel]

Wrong emphasis. For people who get an interview, the most relevant stat is the percentage who get accepted.

At an instate school, the pctg accepted vs interviewed is typically fairly high, in many cases greater than 50 percent, and sometimes much higher. As an OOS applicant, it is typically fairly low, maybe as low as 10 percent. For a broad range of private med schools, the percentage seems to fall in the range of 20 to 40 percent. Obviously, the higher this percentage, the better your chances. At some point, you have to question the value of attending interviews at OOS schools where your chances of acceptance are in the single digits...

What percentage are you seeing for select Texas schools? All I seem to remember is that of the aggregate class, it is 90 percent instate, 10 percent OOS. That is fairly low to begin with, meaning that only 10 percent of the seats are set aside for OOS applicants. Unless the stats you are reading indicate that if you get an interview, the odds of acceptance are up around, say, 30+ percent, I think this is a shaky proposition the lower it goes.

The problem you may face is that the percentage accepted appears to be acceptable, but the chances of getting an interview are low because they only interview people with strong ties to the state...

I dont think your quite getting it. But it will take time to sink in. It doesn't matter what fraction of seats they have for out of staters. if they ahve 5 seats for out of staters and only 20 apply then its a darn good deal. Theres 2 schools in texas that interview ~20 % of their applicant and most other interview ~10 % of their out of state applicant. Not a bad deal considering all take my 8 verbal. I am focusing more on interviews and not on acceptances because how I do in interview is under my control. But if they require significant ties with the state then its another thing.

 

[KTD]

Applying to Texas schools is pretty cheap relative to AMCAS schools and the TMDSAS application isn't that hard to fill out. A lot of the schools don't have secondaries. I am not sure about the OPs logic, but if he really wants to give it a shot I don't see a lot of harm in trying.

That being said, when interviews roll around if you are lucky enough to get any, you better come up with a good reason you want to go to school in Texas. The reason for the 10% rule (note, this is the maximum percentage students they can accept OOS, so for some schools it might be even lower than 10%) is because the point of Texas medical schools is to train Texas physicians. If you can't convince them you have some interest in being a Texas physician I don't see you as having much of a shot.

 

[mspeedwagon]

Texas school admissions as an OOS applicant comes down to two things:
- High stats (often 3.8+/35+)
- Strong ties to TX

I've known a number of people to apply from CA thinking it would be an easier route than CA and the ONLY people that get in seem to be the ones that have a large group of their family in TX. Many of these TX OOS rejects are currently at the UCs here in CA (granted, they were in-state in CA, but as you probably know that's really not much of an advantage).

With your stats and assuming you have no ties to TX, you have no hope. Granted, if you have the money to, doesn't hurt to apply. In my opinion though, you are better off adding more AMCAS schools with the money.

If you can't convince them you have some interest in being a Texas physician I don't see you as having much of a shot.

 

[jpatel]

Ok, I understand that Texas schools are probably not a good option for me because they require significant state ties and strong intention to practice there.

I dont understand what part of my logic people don't understand. I am sure we are all smart people and have done well in our math classes. But I dont get why everyone focuses on what fraction of out stater is the matriculating class. Probably that's why everyone appies to George Washington by looking at 99 % are all out of staters and not realizing they have less 1 % chance of getting in.

 

[NickNaylor]

I dont think your quite getting it. But it will take time to sink in. It doesn't matter what fraction of seats they have for out of staters. if they ahve 5 seats for out of staters and only 20 apply then its a darn good deal. Theres 2 schools in texas that interview ~20 % of their applicant and most other interview ~10 % of their out of state applicant. Not a bad deal considering all take my 8 verbal. I am focusing more on interviews and not on acceptances because how I do in interview is under my control. But if they require significant ties with the state then its another thing.

The problem with your plan is that you don't have outstanding stats to even get an interview. You have a good GPA, but your MCAT is below the mean. Even if you were an IN-STATE applicant this would be hard a sell. You said yourself that your ECs are less than amazing. Why would a school consider you when it gets its choice of a large pool of OOS applicants? Of course it depends on the school, but understand that it'll be an uphill battle the whole way.

And more than 20 people are applying for out-of-state spots. The MSAR has the exact numbers, but I'm sure they're significantly larger.

 

[mspeedwagon]

I think we all understand your logic (or at least I hope we do). The problem is it's hard to define OOS for TX. For example, if your parents are from TX and you grew-up there, but then established CA residency once you graduated college then you'd be as an OOS applicant (however, the TX schools would consider you as an OOS applicant with strong ties to TX). From those I know that got in, this was pretty much always the case.

You might get an interview (though unlikely given your stats); however, you better be ready with all your strong ties to Texas to discuss during the interview.

 

[jpatel]

All right, thanks everyone for their input. I think I have decided may be applying their as OOS isnt such a good idea. At least, I am more informed now.

 

[flip26]

I dont think your quite getting it. But it will take time to sink in. It doesn't matter what fraction of seats they have for out of staters. if they ahve 5 seats for out of staters and only 20 apply then its a darn good deal. Theres 2 schools in texas that interview ~20 % of their applicant and most other interview ~10 % of their out of state applicant. Not a bad deal considering all take my 8 verbal. I am focusing more on interviews and not on acceptances because how I do in interview is under my control. But if they require significant ties with the state then its another thing.

Umm, sorry. You have the wrong guy here. It is YOU who is being dense.

Since they only take a max of 10 percent from OOS, that is going to be a much more competitive pool of applicants, and the Texas schools are VERY choosy about whom they will even offer an interview, much less accept.

The proof is in the stats you give - if they only interview 10 percent of OOS applicants, that is probably on a par with what Harvard does. In other words, VERY competitive pool of applicants for what amounts to a handful of available seats.

This is akin to what Canadians face when they apply to US schools. Only a handful of seats at a smalll number of schools, thus to be successful, the Canadian has to have very strong stats, etc., to even get considered.

Edit: OK, I see your last post. Looks like it did "sink in" for you. Good luck.

 

[TexasPhysician]

The catch to your math is that Texas schools use OOS applicants to "pad" their numbers. Get the MSAR or whatever you call it and look up average numbers for Texas schools. Add on at least 4 points to the MCAT and .4 to the gpa and that is the rough minimum of what TX schools are looking for from OOS students.

The only school in TX allowed to take greater than 10% OOS in Texas is Baylor. I think they can take 30%.

 

[Coug42]

I agree with this, and I am not so sure that the OP is correctly interpreting the chances of success as an OOS applicant to Texas schools - always my impression that Texas is a tough state for the OOS applicant.

Check out my mdapps...I have no ties what-so-ever to Texas and by no ties I mean Zero. I had never been to Texas or known anyone who lived there until I went on my interviews. I'm not even from a neighboring state. It was definitely worth the extra hour to copy and paste my amcas info to tmdsas and pay the extra ~$160.

My only advice would be to apply as early as you can. I think I had my tmdsas submitted by the end of May and verified by the first week of June.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Moving to What are my Chances.

I don't know that you NEED to have Texas ties to be considered as an OOS applicant, but I do think you need to be a compelling applicant (either high stats or pretty unique ECs). The Texas states schools are required to accept only 10% OOS, and even Baylor only accepts ~30% tops.

That said, I'm not really sure what Texas schools are looking for from an OOS applicant, so these are just my best guesses. Good luck.

 

[flip26]

Check out my mdapps...I have no ties what-so-ever to Texas and by no ties I mean Zero. I had never been to Texas or known anyone who lived there until I went on my interviews. I'm not even from a neighboring state. It was definitely worth the extra hour to copy and paste my amcas info to tmdsas and pay the extra ~$160.

My only advice would be to apply as early as you can. I think I had my tmdsas submitted by the end of May and verified by the first week of June.

Reread my posts on this thread. I have not been talking up the "Texas ties." I was simply pointing out to the OP that he may be misinterpreting the admissions data for the Texas schools, and that OOS applicants need to be pretty special to get consideration from those schools given the limited number of seats available.

I see you were successful at other Texas schools too. You must have something really amazing in your app that isn't coming through your MDApps to have been that successful at not just Texas schools but the other dozen or so places you got accepted.

Mazel tov!

 

[jpatel]

Check out my mdapps...I have no ties what-so-ever to Texas and by no ties I mean Zero. I had never been to Texas or known anyone who lived there until I went on my interviews. I'm not even from a neighboring state. It was definitely worth the extra hour to copy and paste my amcas info to tmdsas and pay the extra ~$160.

My only advice would be to apply as early as you can. I think I had my tmdsas submitted by the end of May and verified by the first week of June.

Hey you have been very successful despite your not so good GPA almost everywhere. Do you mind sharing what was so unique about your application that made you so successful? Or any other tips. You can PM me if you want.

 

[justdoit31]

The catch to your math is that Texas schools use OOS applicants to "pad" their numbers. Get the MSAR or whatever you call it and look up average numbers for Texas schools. Add on at least 4 points to the MCAT and .4 to the gpa and that is the rough minimum of what TX schools are looking for from OOS students.

The only school in TX allowed to take greater than 10% OOS in Texas is Baylor. I think they can take 30%.

While this is usually true I got in as an OOS student with a 3.66 and a 27 MCAT- however my ties are extremely strong- I applied to 4 schools and got interviews at 2 of them so not bad for my numbers and I certainly didn't help their numbers.

Both of my interviews came fairly quickly after becoming complete (late Sept) and emailing directors of admissions- my accept was 10 days after my interview and I decided not to attend the 2nd schools interview since I knew my top choice was Tech.

All of this is not to tell the OP to apply (I think they would be wasting money/time) it is simply for anyone else reading this who has ties and is afraid to apply because of lower numbers.

 

[jpatel]

While this is usually true I got in as an OOS student with a 3.66 and a 27 MCAT- however my ties are extremely strong- I applied to 4 schools and got interviews at 2 of them so not bad for my numbers and I certainly didn't help their numbers.

Both of my interviews came fairly quickly after becoming complete (late Sept) and emailing directors of admissions- my accept was 10 days after my interview and I decided not to attend the 2nd schools interview since I knew my top choice was Tech.

All of this is not to tell the OP to apply (I think they would be wasting money/time) it is simply for anyone else reading this who has ties and is afraid to apply because of lower numbers.

I dont know about that. Looking at ur post it kinda makes me want to apply lol. There are 2 schools which are kind of friendly to out of state and if I apply early i might have some chance at them. BUt getting in any medical school is tuff anyways. But who knows. lets see if I am not too lazy to fill out TDMAs

 

[canjosh]

I dont know about that. Looking at ur post it kinda makes me want to apply lol. There are 2 schools which are kind of friendly to out of state and if I apply early i might have some chance at them. BUt getting in any medical school is tuff anyways. But who knows. lets see if I am not too lazy to fill out TDMAs

Are the 2 schools you keep referring to Baylor and Southwestern?

 

[jpatel]

Are the 2 schools you keep referring to Baylor and Southwestern?

Baylor is a good one but I doubt if I have chance there with my MCAT(31) but my GPA is on par 3.9.

I was thinking about applying to that new texas school. I dont know how many OOS they accepted. does someone know?

And basically 3 university of Texas in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. + they don't require secondary statements right? so those who are getting interviews have no chance to tell me how strong their Texas ties are right? correct me if I am wrong. For example, one in houston get 500 OOS, interview 100 , and accept 25. Not bad, cmon what u guys think. THats coming off the MSAR i got.

 

[AlexB]

Texas

 

[canjosh]

The new school is Texas Tech in El Paso. Also bound by the 90% quota. UTSW in Dallas avg matriculant GPA and MCAT is the SAME as Baylor's (~3.85/34.5). It's illogical to say in one sentence that you don't think you've got the numbers for Baylor, and in another sentence say you want to apply to UTSW. They're at the same tier. Average matriculant MCAT for UT Houston was 32 for the entering class of 2009.

Bottom line--Texas has a surplus of highly qualified in-state applicants. Texas is usually very low-yield for out-of-staters. That's what everyone is trying to tell you. I guarantee you that those 25 at UT-Houston were ABOVE AVERAGE applicants in more ways than one.

If you apply in Texas, your best chances (in terms of GPA/MCAT) are Texas Tech and Texas A&M. Go ahead an apply if you like, but just remember that your expectations should be pretty low.

 

[addo]

lets see if I am not too lazy to fill out TDMAs

Filling out the TMDSAS after you have filled out an AMCAS is just a matter of copying and pasting, especially the ECs. Also you can apply to up to 7 schools for under $150. After going on and on about your logic to apply to texas schools, and then not filling a tmdsas out you would be cheating yourself.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Baylor is a good one but I doubt if I have chance there with my MCAT(31) but my GPA is on par 3.9.

I was thinking about applying to that new texas school. I dont know how many OOS they accepted. does someone know?

And basically 3 university of Texas in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. + they don't require secondary statements right? so those who are getting interviews have no chance to tell me how strong their Texas ties are right? correct me if I am wrong. For example, one in houston get 500 OOS, interview 100 , and accept 25. Not bad, cmon what u guys think. THats coming off the MSAR i got.

Just FYI. My stats were better than yours, I was in-state for TX, and Baylor was the only program that out-right rejected me pre-interview.