TMDSAS: Huge Essay Blunder (Any advice would be greatly appreciated)

[toastymuffins]

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Issue: I was going back through my TMDSAS primary when I noticed that I accidentally submitted the same essay for both the personal characteristics essay and the optional essay. I was so sure I double checked everything before I submitted but clearly missed this somehow, and I’m freaking out.

What I’ve done: I immediately panic called TMDSAS, and they told me, as I expected, that nothing can be done once submitted.

Where I’m at: I’m a first time (now very panicked) reapplicant who got my GPA up to a 3.91 and MCAT up 6 points to a 515 over the past year since last cycle. I’ve heard the optional essay is not very important compared to everything else, but I’ve clearly made a huge error and I’m worried that my now good chances with the better stats have been destroyed.

My questions:
1. Does anyone know if my app will immediately be trashed by adcoms for this stupid copy-paste error on the optional essay?

2. My application was submitted on June 25, so I’m expecting it to transmit in the next day or two. Should I immediately reach out to all the Texas schools after it transmits and let them know about the situation and if there’s anything I can do?

3. Is it worth going through the time and spending all the money on secondaries?

4. Do I need to rely on AMCAS this cycle or does anyone know the admissions process well enough to say it might not be a huge deal?

 

[Goro]

Issue: I was going back through my TMDSAS primary when I noticed that I accidentally submitted the same essay for both the personal characteristics essay and the optional essay. I was so sure I double checked everything before I submitted but clearly missed this somehow, and I’m freaking out.

What I’ve done: I immediately panic called TMDSAS, and they told me, as I expected, that nothing can be done once submitted.

Where I’m at: I’m a first time (now very panicked) reapplicant who got my GPA up to a 3.91 and MCAT up 6 points to a 515 over the past year since last cycle. I’ve heard the optional essay is not very important compared to everything else, but I’ve clearly made a huge error and I’m worried that my now good chances with the better stats have been destroyed.

My questions:
1. Does anyone know if my app will immediately be trashed by adcoms for this stupid copy-paste error on the optional essay?

2. My application was submitted on June 25, so I’m expecting it to transmit in the next day or two. Should I immediately reach out to all the Texas schools after it transmits and let them know about the situation and if there’s anything I can do?

3. Is it worth going through the time and spending all the money on secondaries?

4. Do I need to rely on AMCAS this cycle or does anyone know the admissions process well enough to say it might not be a huge deal?

CALM DOWN!

The only drawback is that you won't get to state whatever it was you wanted to state in your optional essay.

There's a teaching moment here. ALWAYS have multiple eyeballs look over your app.

 

[toastymuffins]

Thanks for replying @Goro . From what you know about the admissions process with TMDSAS participating schools, do you think that this would be cause for adcoms to trash my app upon initial review, or would it be more of an item that can no longer strengthen it since I clearly mis-copy/pasted? I'm happy with everything else on my app, and I really worked hard to get my stats up since that was the main place where I was lacking the first round. I just want to know if I have completely done myself in and have to get ready for the next cycle instead of continuing to pursue a helpless cause and spend a lot more on secondaries.

 

[LunaOri]

Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
This is a simple mistake, not the end of the world.
You will have much scarier real problems to deal with when you are a physician.

 

[Goro]

Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
This is a simple mistake, not the end of the world.
You will have much scarier real problems to deal with when you are a physician.

What the wise Luna said!