*-*-* The Official TMDSAS Questions Thread 2011 *-*-*

[SweetRain]

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I have a question on Leisure activities. I lived in a foreign country all of my life before college and enjoy writing poems in that foreign language.
I've been doing it since high school and I'm still doing it because I've had some identity crisis after coming to the states. I feel like it's a strong tie that reconnects me to home.
Anyways, I've never talked to anyone about this hobby and I feel a little awkward entering it because it doesn't seem to be a very common hobby. What do you all think?

 

[bigslick]

I have a question on Leisure activities. I lived in a foreign country all of my life before college and enjoy writing poems in that foreign language.
I've been doing it since high school and I'm still doing it because I've had some identity crisis after coming to the states. I feel like it's a strong tie that reconnects me to home.
Anyways, I've never talked to anyone about this hobby and I feel a little awkward entering it because it doesn't seem to be a very common hobby. What do you all think?

I think you should definitely put it on there, especially if it's something you're passionate about and makes you unique.

 

[cher25]

I'm actually in a somewhat different situation~i am for sure taking the mcat again but will be taking it in late summer. Like, AMCAS should I submit my application early and just say that I will be taking it again (aka please don't judge my application until my 2nd score comes?) I know they are only human, but does this work or will/can they reject me w/o seeing the second scores? I know for AMCAS u can submit ur app with only one school (for verification purposes) and then add afterwards-does this system work the same?

You should be careful in doing this. Some schools won't wait for your new score if you already have one on file. I think I remember particulary UTSA, UTMB, and the Tech Schools had already sent my application to committee for review even though my new scores had not come in yet. (scores came in mid July from a June administration). UTH, UTSW, and A&M waited for my new scores. When the new scores came in I had to call each school so that they could take my app off hold and re-review it. To my limited knowledge, UTH, UTSW, and A&M were the only Texas schools that took a look after my new score came. It was quite frustrating.

 

[cher25]

I'm actually not interested in applying to Baylor :/ I know someone who's a first year there and loves it but the way the exam schedule is set up kind of bothers me. I'd really rather not have 5 exams in a week. My top choices are actually UTSW, UTH, UTMB, and A&M. I'm not quite sure on my order of preference though.

To my understanding from discussing with students when I interviewed there, UTH has a similar testing structure with 5 exams in a week at the end of a block. (armybound, please correct me if I'm wrong) Are you sure some of the others don't test this way as well? Be sure to crosscheck before leaving out Baylor.

 

[armybound]

To my understanding from discussing with students when I interviewed there, UTH has a similar testing structure with 5 exams in a week at the end of a block. (armybound, please correct me if I'm wrong) Are you sure some of the others don't test this way as well? Be sure to crosscheck before leaving out Baylor.

UTH is set up that way, you're right. We take a week of exams.

Baylor is actually very different. I think they have 1 exam that covers all subjects, then they'll take the rest of the week off.

 

[dallastxn88]

Is anyone having trouble saving changes to their application?

Every time I make a change and hit "save" or "add" the page takes forever to load and then ends up not loading at all.

 

[ninefivethree]

To my understanding from discussing with students when I interviewed there, UTH has a similar testing structure with 5 exams in a week at the end of a block. (armybound, please correct me if I'm wrong) Are you sure some of the others don't test this way as well? Be sure to crosscheck before leaving out Baylor.

I know UTMB does pretty much 1 exam every 4 weeks. I'm considering UTH because I'm from Houston and my brother went there and A&M because that's where I am now for undergrad. I don't think I really have the stats for Baylor lol and UTSW is a super long shot

 

[KTD]

I know UTMB does pretty much 1 exam every 4 weeks. I'm considering UTH because I'm from Houston and my brother went there and A&M because that's where I am now for undergrad. I don't think I really have the stats for Baylor lol and UTSW is a super long shot

No harm in having preferences, but I would also advise you to keep an open mind and to apply everywhere in Texas. My impressions of schools definitely changed after my interviews, usually positively. It's hard to form a good opinion about a school until you see it and I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the schools you see in Texas!

 

[PlacentaSac]

Just wanted to chime-in and say hello to everyone. I am a Cali resident, but I am going to try my luck with Texas Schools and see if I can get some love. Like the UC's, I think the UT schools are amazing. I'm still working on finishing up my TMDSAS. Here's to a long shot, but I hope I can be part of that small 10%.

Quick question, my grades for my last semester won't be up until next week and so my transcripts won't be sent until then. Have a lot of people already submitted this early?

 

[ninefivethree]

Quick question, my grades for my last semester won't be up until next week and so my transcripts won't be sent until then. Have a lot of people already submitted this early?

i've submitted my primary tmdsas app but i'm waiting for my transcript and letters to arrive. i haven't started the secondaries yet

 

[bigslick]

Just wanted to chime-in and say hello to everyone. I am a Cali resident, but I am going to try my luck with Texas Schools and see if I can get some love. Like the UC's, I think the UT schools are amazing. I'm still working on finishing up my TMDSAS. Here's to a long shot, but I hope I can be part of that small 10%.

Quick question, my grades for my last semester won't be up until next week and so my transcripts won't be sent until then. Have a lot of people already submitted this early?

At this point, I don't think a week will hurt, especially if those grades are good. You can always send in updates though, but you'll have to send in a second transcript. I'd probably just wait a week if I were you. Also last year, I had to mail a check in to pay for the fees, so account for that time if you want your app processed as early as possible, although again at this point it probably doesn't matter to much.

 

[addo]

During the year between now and hopefully starting med school, I am planning on finding a research job. Havent had luck yet, so i dont have any concrete prospects....should I put this on planned activities?

 

[LRAccord624]

During the year between now and hopefully starting med school, I am planning on finding a research job. Havent had luck yet, so i dont have any concrete prospects....should I put this on planned activities?

If you don't have anything concrete, and there's a good chance it won't happen, you might not want to put it down. If you end up getting a research job after you submit, you can send updates to the schools. I just wouldn't want someone to ask about one of my planned activities in an interview and be forced to tell them I ended up not doing it.

 

[LRAccord624]

Just wanted to chime-in and say hello to everyone. I am a Cali resident, but I am going to try my luck with Texas Schools and see if I can get some love. Like the UC's, I think the UT schools are amazing. I'm still working on finishing up my TMDSAS. Here's to a long shot, but I hope I can be part of that small 10%.

Quick question, my grades for my last semester won't be up until next week and so my transcripts won't be sent until then. Have a lot of people already submitted this early?

You'll be fine. Pretty much everyone should be submitting this stuff now at the earliest, since most schools just finished out the school year.

 

[LRAccord624]

go ahead and submit

you guys better be sure to let me know if/when you interview at UTH

+1!!

I probably should have done this post before the other two- I just wanted to pop in and say hi and good luck this cycle ! I will also try to help armybound, among others, answer any questions you guys may have over the next few months.

 

[SweetRain]

Do all Texas schools send you emails on updates? (Secondaries, Interview invitations etc)
My family lives abroad and I'll be out of the country during the month of July and August. I have friends that I can list as my mailing address but I really don't feel comfortable letting someone else open my letter before me.
It wouldn't matter if they send both emails and post mails..

 

[armybound]

They pretty much all email interview invitations.

I'm not sure if San Antonio has caught up with the rest of them.

 

[TexasHopeful]

Two questions, guys:
1) I'm kind of stuck writing the second optional essay. What sort of things are they looking for here? I have an engineering background, but I already spent a fair chunk of my PS talking about that. I feel like it would be stereotypical to talk about being a first-generation American. What about having volunteered with physicians in other countries? Could I elaborate on that here? I've also dedicated a considerable amount of time to learning medical/professional spanish and familiarizing myself with latin-american culture, but I feel like that would overlap with some schools' secondaries (UTSW, namely).

2) Can I submit my TMDSAS application before I request transcripts or send them my letters of evaluation?

 

[noshie]

Two questions, guys:
1) I'm kind of stuck writing the second optional essay. What sort of things are they looking for here? I have an engineering background, but I already spent a fair chunk of my PS talking about that. I feel like it would be stereotypical to talk about being a first-generation American. What about having volunteered with physicians in other countries? Could I elaborate on that here? I've also dedicated a considerable amount of time to learning medical/professional spanish and familiarizing myself with latin-american culture, but I feel like that would overlap with some schools' secondaries (UTSW, namely).

2) Can I submit my TMDSAS application before I request transcripts or send them my letters of evaluation?

1. It's such an open ended question that anything should be acceptable. I talked about my full time work history throughout high school and college and how graduate school enhanced my academic focus. Then I ended it by putting together my ability to use the skills that I gained in the work force and how it has allowed me to become successful academically. I also mentioned that I am a reapplicant and nontraditional, strengthening my closing about making a great addition to my medical school class due to my diverse life experience. Point is you need to tell them why you think you stand out, and why they should choose you for their class.

2. Yes, but you should really request those transcripts ASAP. It took about 2 weeks for them to receive and post my transcripts after I asked for them from my school... My letters are not going out until June 1st though (my premed committee is taking a while to write their letter), but I have already submitted my app and they are working on processing my application anyway.

 

[TexasHopeful]

1. It’s such an open ended question that anything should be acceptable. I talked about my full time work history throughout high school and college and how graduate school enhanced my academic focus. Then I ended it by putting together my ability to use the skills that I gained in the work force and how it has allowed me to become successful academically. I also mentioned that I am a reapplicant and nontraditional, strengthening my closing about making a great addition to my medical school class due to my diverse life experience. Point is you need to tell them why you think you stand out, and why they should choose you for their class.

@_@ I'll get right to work, I suppose.

2. Yes, but you should really request those transcripts ASAP. It took about 2 weeks for them to receive and post my transcripts after I asked for them from my school... My letters are not going out until June 1st though (my premed committee is taking a while to write their letter), but I have already submitted my app and they are working on processing my application anyway.

Thanks for the quick response. Tomorrow is the first day to request final transcripts at my university. Rest assured, I'm on it. 😉

 

[Sonyfan08]

I have a few questions:
-What courses are considered "other sciences?"
-I thought math courses were a part of the BCPM gpa, but I don't see an option for "math" besides stats and calc
-would astronomy be under "physics lecture" or "other sciences"?

Thanks!

 

[WhiteCoatFuture]

I have a few questions:
-What courses are considered "other sciences?"
-I thought math courses were a part of the BCPM gpa, but I don't see an option for "math" besides stats and calc
-would astronomy be under "physics lecture" or "other sciences"?

Thanks!

http://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas/medical/section_Overview.html

I think that should answer your questions. Scroll down a little more than half way and you should see where it lists the categories under which different classes should be placed.

 

[addo]

I am having some trouble getting my mcat scores uploaded to tmdsas. I have gone into mcat thx system, and requested the scores be sent to TMDSAS twice now, but for some reason it still says they have not received the scores even though the request is "completed" on thx. Anybody know what could be going wrong?

 

[ninefivethree]

So TMDSAS received my check today and they're in the process of submitting my application to schools. Should I be worried that my GPA that displays on the status page is extremely wrong?? Is anyone else still having this problem?

 

[noshie]

I am having some trouble getting my mcat scores uploaded to tmdsas. I have gone into mcat thx system, and requested the scores be sent to TMDSAS twice now, but for some reason it still says they have not received the scores even though the request is "completed" on thx. Anybody know what could be going wrong?

I already emailed them about this last week, they are doing a mass upload today or tomorrow.

 

[noshie]

So TMDSAS received my check today and they're in the process of submitting my application to schools. Should I be worried that my GPA that displays on the status page is extremely wrong?? Is anyone else still having this problem?

From what I have heard everyones is wrong. They have a note up on the front page after you sign in about this problem. They are trying to fix it now.

 

[addo]

I already emailed them about this last week, they are doing a mass upload today or tomorrow.

Oh ok, thanks for letting me know...maybe ill stop putting requests in for my scores to be sent.

Another question, before wanting to go to med school I took general biology intended for non-science majors, and certainly would not fulfill the pre-requisite for biology. I took the real biology courses later on- would the general biology class be considered under biology, or otherscience?

 

[noshie]

Oh ok, thanks for letting me know...maybe ill stop putting requests in for my scores to be sent.

Another question, before wanting to go to med school I took general biology intended for non-science majors, and certainly would not fulfill the pre-requisite for biology. I took the real biology courses later on- would the general biology class be considered under biology, or otherscience?

If it's offered by the biology department it will be listed as such.

 

[DrGILL]

I am currently sitting on an MCAT score that I am not extremely pleased with and am scheduled to retake July 16th. I have everything ready to go, but do not want to be screened out from schools who will not wait on my new score to arrive. My question is, is it possible to submit my application just to one school (my last choice) in order to get verified and then apply to the rest of the schools when my new score comes in? Would this be the best option for me, or should I just wait to submit everything when I have my new score in hand? I know I can do this for AACOMAS, just wasnt sure for TMDSAS...

Thanks for the help!

 

[TexasMDtobe]

They pretty much all email interview invitations.

I'm not sure if San Antonio has caught up with the rest of them.

San Antonio will e-mail your interview invite also.

 

[addo]

I am currently sitting on an MCAT score that I am not extremely pleased with and am scheduled to retake July 16th. I have everything ready to go, but do not want to be screened out from schools who will not wait on my new score to arrive. My question is, is it possible to submit my application just to one school (my last choice) in order to get verified and then apply to the rest of the schools when my new score comes in? Would this be the best option for me, or should I just wait to submit everything when I have my new score in hand? I know I can do this for AACOMAS, just wasnt sure for TMDSAS...

Thanks for the help!

I am in the same position, also re-taking the mcat july 16th. Ive seen this discussion come up, and from what I understand some schools will review your application only after your second mcat scores are in, if you listed the additional mcat test date on the application. However, other schools such as UTMB will review your application before the new mcat scores are in. You might want to search around this thread for additional info.

 

[texandoctobe]

Hey everyone,

On the descriptions of job, leisure activity, etc, do I need to make it first person, as in "At Company X, My rule is to blah blah and to do blah" or make it more bullet point format "Talk to people, Clean tables, Go crazy"?

I tried to ask the premed advisor at my school but he's on vacation :-/

Thanks

 

[GlamDoc]

Hey everyone,

On the descriptions of job, leisure activity, etc, do I need to make it first person, as in "At Company X, My rule is to blah blah and to do blah" or make it more bullet point format "Talk to people, Clean tables, Go crazy"?

I tried to ask the premed advisor at my school but he's on vacation :-/

Thanks

Thanks for asking this! I was wondering the same thing. Did you guys do more bullet point descriptions like "Performed such and such. Organized so and so" or "I did..." with first person. Personally, I prefer the former. Leaves more room for substance and sounds better, but at the same time, I don't know if it must be complete sentences.

 

[noshie]

Hey everyone,

On the descriptions of job, leisure activity, etc, do I need to make it first person, as in "At Company X, My rule is to blah blah and to do blah" or make it more bullet point format "Talk to people, Clean tables, Go crazy"?

I tried to ask the premed advisor at my school but he's on vacation :-/

Thanks

This is a REALLY good question... I had to do bullet points... They only give you like 300 characters! That amounts to less than what I can type in two text messages... 🙂 I feel like they gave me no choice but to bullet point everything. That way each sentence can start with a verb, it ends up looking like this however:

-Conducted clinical research with trauma patients. -Consented patients with traumatic brain injury for participation. –Frequently contributed to other trauma related studies.

You see, even if you put bullet points and put each on their own line, it ends up being put together in a paragraph... But I think it allows you to omit "I" or "my" thereby giving you more characters to actually explain what you did. My friend that’s a med student at UT Southwestern told me she did the same thing on her application so it seems to be the norm.

 

[nyinjuly]

Is anyone having trouble saving changes to their application?

Every time I make a change and hit "save" or "add" the page takes forever to load and then ends up not loading at all.

Yes! Mine loads when I click "save" but the changes revert to the original....I've been sending messages back and forth but they haven't figured anything out, and they said I was the only person having the problem.

 

[LRAccord624]

This is a REALLY good question... I had to do bullet points... They only give you like 300 characters! That amounts to less than what I can type in two text messages... 🙂 I feel like they gave me no choice but to bullet point everything. That way each sentence can start with a verb, it ends up looking like this however:

-Conducted clinical research with trauma patients. -Consented patients with traumatic brain injury for participation. –Frequently contributed to other trauma related studies.

You see, even if you put bullet points and put each on their own line, it ends up being put together in a paragraph... But I think it allows you to omit "I" or "my" thereby giving you more characters to actually explain what you did. My friend that’s a med student at UT Southwestern told me she did the same thing on her application so it seems to be the norm.

I also did a bulleted list. I think it's really important to create accurate, succinct descriptions of things you've done- you want to make it as easy as possible for reviewers to read through it quickly.

 

[locationsuit]

I was just checking to see if the calculated GPA issue had been fixed yet because my calculated GPA is still way off (mines like a 2.0 when it should be a 3.5).

 

[noshie]

I was just checking to see if the calculated GPA issue had been fixed yet because my calculated GPA is still way off (mines like a 2.0 when it should be a 3.5).

Mine has not been fixed yet... They better hurry up because my app should be ready for sending out as soon as they fix it.

 

[Democritus]

Can someone help me with the activities section?

If you are describing, say, an annual activity over several years how do you specifiy the number of hours per week? How is everyone here doing it?

I have been putting in the number of hours i spent each time I did it in place of "hours per week"

 

[LRAccord624]

For one-time-per-year activities, I specified the month it took place (that's as specific as you can be on the app right?) and number of hours I spent doing it, separately for each year. Then on the description I said, for example, _________ is an annual event that I coordinate and participate in through _________ organization. My responsibilities leading up to the event include, the purpose of the event is, and proceeds go to.... Etc.

 

[Democritus]

Yes, but it requires you to specify the number of hours spent per week specifically. How do you answer that for annual events spanning several years...

 

[LRAccord624]

I did exactly what you have been doing- putting in the number of hours i spent each time I did it in place of "hours per week"

Then I made sure to specify in each description that it was the same annual event.

 

[dusk2don]

.

 

[addo]

Hey guys, I've shadowed a variety of doctors in different specialties. Should I just combine them all into one description, saying I shadowed a "family doctor, emergency doctor, plastic surgeon, etc." or should I make a separate description for each one, which allows me to talk about my experiences a little bit more?

Id be interested to hear other opinions as well, but what i did was put 3 different doctors i shadowed under the same activity. Obviously cant go into detail, because of the 300 character limit, but it is a pretty standard EC, and if you feel like it, you can talk about it in the interview. You can also put any meaningful experiences in your PS. I have also volunteered in several hospital departments and also put them under the same activity.

 

[KTD]

Hey guys, I've shadowed a variety of doctors in different specialties. Should I just combine them all into one description, saying I shadowed a "family doctor, emergency doctor, plastic surgeon, etc." or should I make a separate description for each one, which allows me to talk about my experiences a little bit more?

I think I would list them separately if I were you, though I don't think there is necessarily a right or a wrong way to do it. I just figure it's better to make it seem like you have more clinical experience rather than less.

 

[texandoctobe]

Hey guys, I've shadowed a variety of doctors in different specialties. Should I just combine them all into one description, saying I shadowed a "family doctor, emergency doctor, plastic surgeon, etc." or should I make a separate description for each one, which allows me to talk about my experiences a little bit more?

I shadow an surgeon but not regularly--once every two months or so. How am I supposed to answer the hours per week question?

Thanks

 

[addo]

I shadow an surgeon but not regularly--once every two months or so. How am I supposed to answer the hours per week question?

Thanks

I ran across the same problem. I tried to be as accurate as I could in the total number of hours, I think thats what matters most. For the hours per week I put the number of hours I usually did the activity for. Then maybe mention something in the description about the activity not being on a week by week basis.
I dont know if this is the right way to do it though.

 

[gospurs09]

I have a quick question regarding the english requirement!! I know that schools require you to have taken one year of college english...and I was wondering if anyone knew if Old Testament Literature and New Testament Literature would complete this requirement? On the tmdsas website OT and NT Lit were listed as english classes...but I didn't know if this meant that they fit the 1 yr english requirement...

 

[ninefivethree]

one of the secondaries has 4 additional essays. one of my optional essays for tmdsas fits perfectly for one of the secondary essays. i don't really know how to rewrite it. should i just copy/paste or keep trying to change it?

 

[TexasHopeful]

one of the secondaries has 4 additional essays. one of my optional essays for tmdsas fits perfectly for one of the secondary essays. i don't really know how to rewrite it. should i just copy/paste or keep trying to change it?

Which school?