The Republic of Texas Part VII - Chuck Norris Strikes Back

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AJVic123 said:
Should I include all of my activities, awars, etc. in the personal chronology with as much detail as in the personal biography?

Also, it seems a if TMDSAS wants me to enter my planned course work for the entire senior year. What would I have to do if I decide to change or remove any of these courses after submitting my application? What would be the effects on my application?
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To your first question, yes, you should. As my pre-med advisor told me, your chronology basically takes your biography and puts it into chronological order. All awards, scholarships, leadership positions, mission trips, volunteer times, etc. need to go into the chronology. For me, I didn't have room for some stuff, so I took out some of my extracurriculars because it was obvious where they'd fall in from my biograpy.

To your second question, I'm pretty sure these are up for editing even after you've submitted. Let me check...yes, under your status of application and documents received, ALL OF your course work is up for editing, this is because if you mis-entered something from a transcript, TMDSAS will catch it and tell you to fix it. As well, you can edit future courses and stuff here and the grades you make while your application is still active for the 07-08 cycle.

To your third question, if you make good grades --> :thumbup:

-Sean
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AggieSean - I submitted and all my materials were received 5/21 of last year and everything was submitted to the schools on 6/14. Hope that helps you with timing
 
Thanks lilTX. I just want to be as early as possible this year.
 
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Is anyone having problems loading the formatted/printable application screen? Whenever I click on it a screen opens up telling me the webpage wasn't found.
 
I thought that it would not matter if I waited to submit my application until mid-July. Isn't the application submitted through the internet without delay? I thought they do not even start looking at the applications until July 1.
 
AJVic123 said:
Should I include all of my activities, awars, etc. in the personal chronology with as much detail as in the personal biography?

Also, it seems a if TMDSAS wants me to enter my planned course work for the entire senior year. What would I have to do if I decide to change or remove any of these courses after submitting my application? What would be the effects on my application?
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I doubt they'll care too much if you change your schedule, unless it goes from 18 hard science hours to 12 leisure hours.
 
AJVic123 said:
I thought that it would not matter if I waited to submit my application until mid-July. Isn't the application submitted through the internet without delay? I thought they do not even start looking at the applications until July 1.
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Someone told me this year the application opened earlier than last year... I don't doubt for one second that he could be mistaken, but if it really opened up for submission on May 1 I would submit mid-June. If it is the same as last year, mid-July is just fine. I submitted then and was finished with interviews sometime in October, which was enough time for the first Nov. 15 picks.
 
The website says you won't be able to do that until June 1st.
 
ToastyBubble said:
Is anyone having problems loading the formatted/printable application screen? Whenever I click on it a screen opens up telling me the webpage wasn't found.
Click to expand...

The website says that you won't be able to view that until June 1st.
 
Thanks Real Name.. I guess that makes it hard to submit before June 1st
 
AJVic123 said:
I thought that it would not matter if I waited to submit my application until mid-July. Isn't the application submitted through the internet without delay? I thought they do not even start looking at the applications until July 1.
Click to expand...

Oh my gosh!! SUBMIT ASAP!! After June 15th is late. Honestly. And with the way things went last year, people are submitting now. I've heard you can't submit until your spring grades are out, but that should be almost done by now. But oh no July is LATE! June 15th should be your goal to submit TMDSAS, then get secondaries in asap.
 
Do most people give responses in the two optional Special Experiences essays? If so, how long? Do you have any suggestions?

The prompts are:
1. Briefly discuss any unique circumstances or life experiences that are relevant to your application which have not previously been presented.

2. Please describe any personal characteristics and/or important or challenging experiences you have had that will contribute to the diversity of or provide educational benefits to the student body.

Also, for the second part of the personal chronology for "future activities," does that mean from the current date or between graduation and matriculation?
The prompt is: What do you plan to do between the present and planned entry date (AUGUST 2008) into Medical/Dental/Veterinary School? List the inclusive dates, brief description and location of the major activities in which you plan to engage.

Finally, should I include an activity that I will be doing next semester in my personal biography?
 
AJVic123 said:
Do most people give responses in the two optional Special Experiences essays? If so, how long? Do you have any suggestions?

The prompts are:
1. Briefly discuss any unique circumstances or life experiences that are relevant to your application which have not previously been presented.

2. Please describe any personal characteristics and/or important or challenging experiences you have had that will contribute to the diversity of or provide educational benefits to the student body.
Click to expand...

Most people I talked to said they filled out 1 of the 2. Less said they filled out none or both. I filled out one. I would say at least fill out one.
 
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I think prompt 1 is more of a place for you to explain a drop in grades, if you have had some big life experience (death of a parent etc.) or something like that. Our pre-med advisor said 2, while it is optional, should be filled out. I think we addressed it on the past Texas thread if you find it and pull it up. It should be linked on the Texas FAQ too.
 
AJVic123 said:
Do most people give responses in the two optional Special Experiences essays? If so, how long? Do you have any suggestions?

The prompts are:
1. Briefly discuss any unique circumstances or life experiences that are relevant to your application which have not previously been presented.

2. Please describe any personal characteristics and/or important or challenging experiences you have had that will contribute to the diversity of or provide educational benefits to the student body.
Click to expand...

Essays are over rated.... except the required ones. :thumbup:
Plus your interviewers will be grateful they don't have to read another "I'm Great and will Immensely Improve the Medical School" essay. :laugh:
 
Mardi-Bob said:
Essays are over rated.... except the required ones. :thumbup:
Plus your interviewers will be grateful they don't have to read another "I'm Great and will Immensely Improve the Medical School" essay. :laugh:
Click to expand...

Actually, I believe the "optional" essays aren't so optional, it's to your advantage to fill at least one out.
 
baylormed said:
Actually, I believe the "optional" essays aren't so optional, it's to your advantage to fill at least one out.
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I didn't fill out one optional essay and I never got questioned or discriminated for it. I got in everywhere I thought I would want to go and got to pick my school of choice.
That being said my numbers were above avg., I had excellent EC, and I'm a good interviewer.

If you already have a strong application let that speak for itself. There is no need to load up another essay saying how good you are. Then again if writing another essay is no problem for you then go ahead and do it. :)

Edit: not advocating being lazy like me :sleep:
 
So I just realized that one of my letters doesn't count as a "science" one...and since most OOS schools need 2 science letters, now I've got to find another one. Dang. Oh well, I do recall getting 3/4 interviews without having LOR last cycle! ;)
 
Mardi-Bob said:
Essays are over rated.... except the required ones. :thumbup:
Plus your interviewers will be grateful they don't have to read another "I'm Great and will Immensely Improve the Medical School" essay. :laugh:
Click to expand...

Like I had said before in the thread that armybound so nicely linked :), with the diversity thing, it was nice for someone like me (average/slightly good stats, white, female, doing well but not rich) to show how I can make the class different. My essay was very short, I didn't put too too much time into it, but almost all of my interviewers touched on it, and it was one of those life experiences that wasn't detrimental to my grades or health, but that did make me different that the other average white girl from A&M. I hope that makes some sense.
 
DianaUT06 said:
So I just realized that one of my letters doesn't count as a "science" one...and since most OOS schools need 2 science letters, now I've got to find another one. Dang. Oh well, I do recall getting 3/4 interviews without having LOR last cycle! ;)
Click to expand...

UH! why must OOS schools be so difficult! I'm sure you'll find a great one. OOS schools also seem to be more slow about all the interviewing and such so don't worry too much :)
 
aggiesarah2007 said:
Oh my gosh!! SUBMIT ASAP!! After June 15th is late. Honestly. And with the way things went last year, people are submitting now. I've heard you can't submit until your spring grades are out, but that should be almost done by now. But oh no July is LATE! June 15th should be your goal to submit TMDSAS, then get secondaries in asap.
Click to expand...

So, does anyone know when they start looking at apps? The ADCOM director at A&M told me they can start seeing them June 1; but that doesn't mean they'll start reviewing them, I'm guessing? Just wondering.

-Sean
 
oh my god, I just found out there are virtually NO CASINOS in Texas except for one in Eagle Pass. This is madness. How the heck am I going to survive!
 
How do you enter a poster presenation into the TMDSAS application?
 
I'm going to try to put this all in one post :)

There aren't casinos in Texas really since it is illegal to gamble. Go to Oklahoma. Winstar is great. On the Native American reservation. Free soda too.

I would assume the schools look at applications as soon as they can. I got my first interview invite on the 7th of July. I think the date everything was in and sent to all the schools was June 14th. (Cert page and money in May 24, committee letter and Lor's in June 8, just to give you an idea my timeline). So PLEASE apply early!!!!! For your own good!

And no, it isn't unhealthy. I think I did that for a while. When it begins to interfere with your normal day to day living, then it is unhealthy :)
 
AJVic123 said:
How do you enter a poster presenation into the TMDSAS application?
Click to expand...

Like a research poster? And for some sort of competition? I would put it in under chronology of events, but that is just me. If it was a research poster, I would ALSO put it in under significant research activities. Hope that helps
 
AggieSean said:
TMDSAS got everything but my HPAC packet today. Because it's a little early, will it still take them 3-4 weeks to process it all? Just curious.

-Sean
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Holy crap! You guys are turning your stuff in super early. I thought early june was considered "early." I better start hustling.
 
Yeah, I was thinking of getting everything done by June 15th at the latest. Mostly it's just this darn personal statement. I think the essays become easier after writing that darn thing.

Anyway, when is considered "late"? I just don't want to screw myself over.
 
armybound said:
yeah but we're overachievers here on SDN. I'm sure most normal people are still working on theirs, or about to start.
Click to expand...

Thank you ;)

I think neurotic/obsessive compulsive is the most fitting personal description for myself.

I guess now is a bad time to tell you I've used FedEx to send in all my stuff. I lost complete faith in the USPS after losing 3 articles of my mail. NO WAY I'm entrusting them with my med. school stuff.

-Sean
 
TheRealMD said:
Anyway, when is considered "late"? I just don't want to screw myself over.
Click to expand...

I would say, hit the submit button by June 15th. A lot of people who applied later in the season got burned last year by the pre-match offers.

Anyone heard any rumors about them easing up on the pre-match offers and actually USING the match like I thought they were supposed to? I mean, wasn't that the whole point of the match to begin with? :confused:

-Sean
 
AggieSean said:
Thank you ;)

I think neurotic/obsessive compulsive is the most fitting personal description for myself.

I guess now is a bad time to tell you I've used FedEx to send in all my stuff. I lost complete faith in the USPS after losing 3 articles of my mail. NO WAY I'm entrusting them with my med. school stuff.
Click to expand...

That's a good idea. I might FedEx it as well. I sent 2 of my transcripts in last week and they've only received the one I sent in later. Doesn't seem to be a good sign.

Are you guys also done with your secondaries? I'm assuming schools with secondaries don't interview until they have you complete on that.
 
AggieSean said:
Free soda?!! Holy crap!
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I know, makes all the money you lose worth it. All the Pepsi and Pepsi products you can drink. It would only be better if it was Coke Products (I :love: Diet Coke)
 
theunremarkable said:
Holy crap! You guys are turning your stuff in super early. I thought early june was considered "early." I better start hustling.
Click to expand...

This is totally anecdotal but..... My friend had submitted July 15th. She thought it would be fine! no prob!!! She got late interviews. The latest possible interview for her top school, though she did match at Tech. It was ROUGH seeing her go through it, when I submitted so early and ended up well. Especially since we were pretty close in stats. If you want in, you have to apply "early" on time won't cut it.

P.S. If I could give advice to people applying next year, do your PS over Christmas break!!! It is the hardest part, you need plenty of time to do it, and then you can have plenty of people read it, because that would be my second piece of advice. :luck: getting those p.s. done!
 
theunremarkable said:
That's a good idea. I might FedEx it as well. I sent 2 of my transcripts in last week and they've only received the one I sent in later. Doesn't seem to be a good sign.

Are you guys also done with your secondaries? I'm assuming schools with secondaries don't interview until they have you complete on that.
Click to expand...
same situation here with the transcripts, except they were both USPS and the reason they don't have my earlier one is probably because I forgot to include that form they wanted :oops:

I'm done with my secondaries, I did them the same day I submitted the primary. They're all pretty short and require minimal writing. They all ask the same thing basically, too.
 
aggiesarah2007 said:
P.S. If I could give advice to people applying next year, do your PS over Christmas break!!! It is the hardest part, you need plenty of time to do it, and then you can have plenty of people read it, because that would be my second piece of advice. :luck: getting those p.s. done!
Click to expand...
yup, good advice. I started mine a little later than I wanted, probably early March or so. I wanted to have it done for when I requested letters of recommendation from professors.
 
armybound said:
yup, good advice. I started mine a little later than I wanted, probably early March or so. I wanted to have it done for when I requested letters of recommendation from professors.
Click to expand...

oh that is a good point! my profs didn't want/need mine for my lors, but a lot of people do give their writers their ps. do we have a section for that in the Texas FAQ? Like pre application things to do?
 
aggiesarah2007 said:
oh that is a good point! my profs didn't want/need mine for my lors, but a lot of people do give their writers their ps. do we have a section for that in the Texas FAQ? Like pre application things to do?
Click to expand...
I don't think we do

I gave them my PS and resume. None of them requested it, but I think it helps them understand who you are better.
 
armybound said:
I don't think we do

I gave them my PS and resume. None of them requested it, but I think it helps them understand who you are better.
Click to expand...
One of my LOR writers wanted a short biography. So I wrote one and later used it as a rough draft for the Vandy secondary.

But most of them didn't request anything so I didn't give them anything - maybe that was a mistake? Oh well. Over now :)
 
Anastasis said:
One of my LOR writers wanted a short biography. So I wrote one and later used it as a rough draft for the Vandy secondary.

But most of them didn't request anything so I didn't give them anything - maybe that was a mistake? Oh well. Over now :)
Click to expand...
what's the Vandy secondary ask? :)
 
aggiesarah2007 said:
This is totally anecdotal but..... My friend had submitted July 15th. She thought it would be fine! no prob!!! She got late interviews. The latest possible interview for her top school, though she did match at Tech. It was ROUGH seeing her go through it, when I submitted so early and ended up well. Especially since we were pretty close in stats. If you want in, you have to apply "early" on time won't cut it.

P.S. If I could give advice to people applying next year, do your PS over Christmas break!!! It is the hardest part, you need plenty of time to do it, and then you can have plenty of people read it, because that would be my second piece of advice. :luck: getting those p.s. done!
Click to expand...

Really? I submitted like the 3rd of August and in a month had 3 invites: 2 september interviews and one for october. So you heard about interviews as early as July 7th?? Sweet, I can't wait! :)
 
armybound said:
same situation here with the transcripts, except they were both USPS and the reason they don't have my earlier one is probably because I forgot to include that form they wanted :oops:.
Click to expand...

Actually, (TMDSAS would probably hate me for revealing this), they'll accept your transcripts without that form. I called them and asked because inevitably I figured one of the 5 schools (long story) I have transcripts at will give me crap about wanting something included with them. Fortunately, none of them have.

Oh and AggieSarah, I :love: Diet Coke too. I seriously think if you did a CBC on me you'd find diet coke in there. I'd get sent back to College Station with pallets of the stuff from Sam's. :)

:banana:
 
AggieSean said:
Actually, (TMDSAS would probably hate me for revealing this), they'll accept your transcripts without that form. I called them and asked because inevitably I figured one of the 5 schools (long story) I have transcripts at will give me crap about wanting something included with them. Fortunately, none of them have.
Click to expand...
oh my TMDSAS ones are in, I was thinking of the AMCAS ones.
Anastasis said:
For a "brief biography" if I remember correctly.

Brief meaning 2000 words - I don't know about ya'll but I don't think I have 2000 words of life yet
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I hope I get the chance to answer, I really want to go to Vandy because my soon-to-be-fiancee goes there. I'm sure I'll get pre-screened due to my numbers though.
 
armybound said:
I don't think we do

I gave them my PS and resume. None of them requested it, but I think it helps them understand who you are better.
Click to expand...

at A&M they give you this list of things your writers should know about you for a good letter so I just answered all those questions in depth. I really love some of the stuff our advising office gives out. I wish I could put it all up and make it available for everyone.
 
aggiesarah2007 said:
I'm going to try to put this all in one post :)

There aren't casinos in Texas really since it is illegal to gamble. Go to Oklahoma. Winstar is great. On the Native American reservation. Free soda too.

I would assume the schools look at applications as soon as they can. I got my first interview invite on the 7th of July. I think the date everything was in and sent to all the schools was June 14th. (Cert page and money in May 24, committee letter and Lor's in June 8, just to give you an idea my timeline). So PLEASE apply early!!!!! For your own good!

And no, it isn't unhealthy. I think I did that for a while. When it begins to interfere with your normal day to day living, then it is unhealthy :)
Click to expand...


I am baffled. How can Texas Hold 'Em be illegal in Texas?!~!!
 
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