TMDSAS question about schools attended

[centralTX]

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Hello,

So I'm inputting information on the TMDSAS about the colleges/universities that I've attended and plan to attend before 2018 matriculation, and I'm wondering if someone can give me some advice on a specific question I have. I've already put in the information for my undergraduate school but I'm wondering about whether or not it is appropriate to input information for a "school" that is not a college but offers college credit through accredited schools.

To be more specific, I'm planning on taking a backpacking expedition course through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). NOLS is technically not a college or university but there are about 20 colleges/universities that offer up to a semester's worth of college credit for completion of a NOLS course. Although I am not trying to receive college credit for an expedition course, I am wondering if it is appropriate to include NOLS as an institution through which I will enroll before 2018 matriculation. For two reasons I think it is appropriate to include NOLS, even though it is not technically a college or university. For one, I am using a federal education award that is allowed only for post-secondary education (including NOLS), so therefore I think NOLS qualifies on my application to be included with my undergraduate school. Also, I want to showcase that I am taking a NOLS course for various reasons on my application but am worried that it might not be included elsewhere.

In any case, I can apply to one of the participating colleges/universities for NOLS and receive credit and input it that way, but it seems like a bit of a headache for me to apply to other schools while also applying to medical schools.

Any thoughts or advice are SO helpful. Thank you for reading this much!

 

[AnotherLawyer]

You should not include it. The TMDSAS handbook explicitly says that you should not list courses for which zero credit hours were awarded (unless zero credit hours are the result of failing the course). It does not matter that someone could earn credit for what you are doing. The point is you are not earning credit.

If you don't believe me, call TMDSAS. They answer quickly and don't require you to give identifying info before answering your question.

What I would do if I were you is list it as a leadership and an extracurricular activity. If it is really important, work it into one of the essays.

 

[centralTX]

You should not include it. The TMDSAS handbook explicitly says that you should not list courses for which zero credit hours were awarded (unless zero credit hours are the result of failing the course). It does not matter that someone could earn credit for what you are doing. The point is you are not earning credit.

If you don't believe me, call TMDSAS. They answer quickly and don't require you to give identifying info before answering your question.

What I would do if I were you is list it as a leadership and an extracurricular activity. If it is really important, work it into one of the essays.

Totally believe you. Thank you so much.