University of North Texas (UNTHSC/TCOM) Discussion Thread 2015 - 2016

AlteredScale · May 6, 2015

Space reserved for prompt.

Please PM the essays or lack thereof to me when the secondary is available and I will update this.

Good luck to everyone applying!

FYI - UNTHSC is the institution (University of North Texas Health Sciences Center), TCOM is the specific college (Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine).

Here's the secondary essay questions:

1) In your own words, explain the concept of osteopathic medicine as you understand it. (1000 Characters or less)

2) What experiences and/or relationships have motivated you toward a career in osteopathic medicine? (1000 Characters or less)

txbound · May 9, 2015

AlgernonMed · May 10, 2015

Hey everyone! Good luck with the upcoming application season. I applied two years ago as an OOS applicant and couldn't be happier. TCOM provides an amazing opportunity for exceptional education. If you have any questions for a current second year/OOS student, please feel free to message me.

Cawolf · May 20, 2015

Really excited about TCOM after everything I have read - applying from OOS.

swolebrah · May 22, 2015

Hopefully can get some activity here, applying here as well! In state applicant

Jeremy2019 · May 26, 2015

Applying here too, love this school hope I get some love from it

costales · May 28, 2015

Here are some pics to break the monotony - Class of 2015 graduation:

xxabi · May 31, 2015

Also applying to TCOM OOS. Here's to hoping there's some OOS love for all of us!

Statemed · May 31, 2015

I was looking at the residency placement stats and noticed that most went into primary care (IM, EM, FM, Peds, etc..). Is this because the students chose those specialties or because of other limitations? I myself am interested in primary care but I was just curious about the distribution I saw.
http://web.unthsc.edu/info/200679/admissions_and_outreach/2827/residency_placement_data

Harker Heights · Jun 1, 2015

I think it's a combination of TCOM's historical mission to produce primary care physicians for Texas and self-selection on the part of applicants and students. For example, in the most recent match, the #1 student in the class who got a prestigious award for academic excellence chose to go into family medicine, which is what he actually wanted to practice, while another student who graduated at the bottom 3 of the class and with a below average board score received well over 20 interviews from ACGME EM programs and matched EM, which has become a more competitive field. Another thing to keep in mind is that over the years there have been TCOM people who matched internal medicine and then went on to a subspecialty like cards, GI or nephro following their IM residency; however, they were officially counted as primary care in the school statistics at the time of their TCOM graduation. It is true, however, that there is a large contingent of students who want to do primary care. Personally I see nothing wrong with being a primary care physician, who is the focal point for most patients. Likewise I find nothing lacking in the excellent quality of the clinical training that TCOM gives its students, which I have seen firsthand in Fort Worth.

Elleiram · Jun 9, 2015

Just submitted my application yesterday. Any tips on the secondaries? Or better yet, anyone willing to review mine? I have an outside chance as a below average/OOS re-applicant, so I have to maximize my chances. I feel like my secondary is not unique enough :\

atx0593 · Jun 9, 2015

Hi guys! I am an in-state applicant but my stats aren't great =/
Overall GPA: 3.4
sGPA: 3.1
Non-sci GPA: 3.7
MCAT: 23 (V:10, BS: 7, PS: 6)

I believe my extracurriculars and activities (healthcare and non-healthcare) are great and make me more all-around. And I submitted TMDSAS on 5/28, it got transmitted to TCOM on 6/4, and I submitted the secondary on 6/5. Are my chances ok? Plausible for interview at least, maybe acceptance?

Thank you!

Harker Heights · Jun 9, 2015

Honestly both your sGPA and MCAT score are problematic if you look at the matriculant stats, so I would apply very broadly.

Akat16 · Jun 10, 2015

Hey Guys! Good luck applying! I know this time can be stressful. I am about to start my first year at TCOM, and while I obviously can't answer questions about how the school is, I can answer application questions you may have. I was a non-traditional applicant with two undergraduate degrees and a lot of hours going towards my cGPA. In the end I received two interviews, TCOM and LSU New Orleans. Feel free to message me with any questions!

Stats:
cGPA: 3.6
sGPA: 3.8
MCAT: 28

Elleiram · Jun 10, 2015

Where is a good place to discuss "Why Texas?". I didn't mention it in my PS or optional essay.

FoodisGood163 · Jun 12, 2015

Has anyone gotten a II from them yet? I was submitted on 06/05, but haven't gotten anything from them.

Cawolf · Jun 12, 2015

I am just marked "This application is Complete." and I submitted the secondary on 5/18.

Last year the first reported interview invite was 6/25, so just check your portal.

drkash · Jun 13, 2015

I've been eying this school since sophomore year. Primary application sent 5/29 and secondary should be finished and submitted in the next few days. I had a bad freshman/sophomore year with academics. Since then it's been a lot better. Over 2000hrs of hospital experience. No DO shadowing though. Any thoughts?

Overall GPA: 3.4
sGPA: 3.1
MCAT: 30 (VR:8, BS: 9, PS: 13)

Edit:
last ~90 hours GPA: 3.68
last ~50 hours sGPA: 3.588

Mrduralast · Jun 14, 2015

drkash said:
I've been eying this school since sophomore year. Primary application sent 5/29 and secondary should be finished and submitted in the next few days. I had a bad freshman/sophomore year with academics. Since then it's been a lot better. Over 2000hrs of hospital experience. No DO shadowing though. Any thoughts?

Overall GPA: 3.4
sGPA: 3.1
MCAT: 30 (VR:8, BS: 9, PS: 13)

Edit:
last ~90 hours GPA: 3.68
last ~50 hours sGPA: 3.588

I think you're good for at least an II. The GPA is offset by the upward trend and above average MCAT. The lack of a DO letter doesn't seem to be a huge factor as long as you can effectively explain your decision to go into osteopathic medicine.

atx0593 · Jun 15, 2015

Has anyone received their EUID from TCOM yet? They said they will send in an email our login info but I haven't got that yet so I was wondering if I should just make my own account?

Cawolf · Jun 15, 2015

atx0593 said:
Has anyone received their EUID from TCOM yet? They said they will send in an email our login info but I haven't got that yet so I was wondering if I should just make my own account?

You should go do your secondary if you have not already.

For the EUID you cannot make your own account. I received mine 4 days (2 business days) after my application was transmitted.

When were you transmitted?

atx0593 · Jun 15, 2015

I completed my secondary and submitted it on June 5th. TMDSAS was submitted on May 28th and reached TCOM on June 4th.

Cawolf · Jun 15, 2015

atx0593 said:
I completed my secondary and submitted it on June 5th. TMDSAS was submitted on May 28th and reached TCOM on June 4th.

If you didn't get an email from TCOM with an EUID I would call them.

atx0593 · Jun 15, 2015

I called and got my EUID. They weren't too sure why that happened, but everything is all good now and my status says the application is complete for now!

drkash · Jun 19, 2015

Did TCOM's secondary app have an application fee?

Cawolf · Jun 19, 2015

drkash said:
Did TCOM's secondary app have an application fee?

Nope, it was free.

15applicant · Jun 20, 2015

So I have a few questions for anyone who might know.
What is the deposit to hold your spot at TCOM?
Do you have to move a lot for your rotations?
What is the attrition situation for current students?
How safe is the campus at night?
Is there cheap housing in Ft. Worth?

LChristmas · Jun 20, 2015

15applicant said:
So I have a few questions for anyone who might know.
What is the deposit to hold your spot at TCOM?
Do you have to move a lot for your rotations?
What is the attrition situation for current students?
How safe is the campus at night?
Is there cheap housing in Ft. Worth?

1. No deposit
2. You can move if you want, but you rotate at JPS in Fort Worth.
3. Very low
4. Very safe. You can get a 1 bdrm for $500.

costales · Jun 20, 2015

15applicant said:
So I have a few questions for anyone who might know.
What is the deposit to hold your spot at TCOM?

It's $0. If you don't show up, they'll give your spot to the waiting list. (But don't be a no-call no-show. Walmart routinely fires people for this.)

15applicant said:
Do you have to move a lot for your rotations?

Only if you want to. JPS is the main teaching hospital for TCOM and there is a ton of TCOM alumni of all stripes in the DFW area. 3rd year core rotations are typically done at JPS - surgery, ob/gyn, EM, psych, etc. Peds is usually done at Cook's Children (you can choose Driscoll in Corpus Christi but you have to sign up early). Many people do FM in the campus clinic and IM at Plaza/JPS. 4th year electives can be anything and anywhere you choose. Some people move back to Austin/SA/Houston for family reasons and spend their entire 4th year there. (For electives, be proactive and start making arrangements during 3rd year. As a rule, if you want a slot when you want where you want, do not procrastinate.)

15applicant said:
What is the attrition situation for current students?

Here's the most recent data for Class of 2015: 222 graduated last month, 231 matriculated 4 years prior. Now there are a few repeaters in every class because of remediation, as well as people who want extra time because of research or a leave of absence or an extra degree and whatnot, but generally I'd say 3-4% fail out on a cumulative basis. In my own class, most attrition was due to personal choice - mostly in 1st year ("WTF, there is so much stuff!", "I don't want to do this") and very few in 3rd year ("I can't do this anymore", "I hate medicine").

15applicant said:
How safe is the campus at night?

TCOM is in the museum district which is probably the most secure area in Fort Worth, and the campus is patrolled 24/7 by the UNTHSC police department which has 24 full-time employees. I have no idea how they entertain themselves.

15applicant said:
Is there cheap housing in Ft. Worth?

There are plenty of affordable apartments within 10-15 minutes. If you can stand a roommate, get something downtown and split the rent.

GEToutLADYits6AM · Jun 21, 2015

GEToutLADYits6AM · Jun 21, 2015

Mrduralast said:
I think you're good for at least an II. The GPA is offset by the upward trend and above average MCAT. The lack of a DO letter doesn't seem to be a huge factor as long as you can effectively explain your decision to go into osteopathic medicine.

How much emphasis do they give to an upward trend? Do they actually calculate the last 60 hours and do they put less emphasis on freshman year grades?

LChristmas · Jun 22, 2015

GEToutLADYits6AM said:
How much emphasis do they give to an upward trend? Do they actually calculate the last 60 hours and do they put less emphasis on freshman year grades?

Don't know exactly about specifics, but upward trends are looked upon favorably. My freshman year was terrible, so it seems like they can forgive poor performance if you turn things around.

JCrewton · Jun 22, 2015

costales said:
Here are some pics to break the monotony - Class of 2015 graduation:

I think it's great that graduates receive doctoral hoods. I'm not sure that all schools do this, and I really wanted to complete my higher education collection after my master's program.

JCrewton · Jun 22, 2015

I am excited to see this thread grow as folks receive II's. Good luck to everyone applying. Fort Worth is an awesome place. I am most drawn to TCOM's commitment to primary care in underserved areas. Can any current or former students give their experience with the ROME rural scholars program? I applied and would like to know what the application process was like for those of you that went through this track.

Thanks!

shy12a · Jun 22, 2015

For those of you who took the new MCAT, has your scored been received by TCOM yet?
I released mine to TMDSAS on the day the scores came out 6/16 and TMDSAS has it marked as received on the 17th but on the UNTHSC portal it says not received.
Not sure if I should contact them yet as I imagine they are pretty busy processing all the scored.

Cawolf · Jun 25, 2015

II today (I think)!

No phone call but I checked my portal and "You have been invited for an interview".

swolebrah · Jun 25, 2015

Cawolf said:
II today (I think)!

No phone call but I checked my portal and "You have been invited for an interview".

That's awesome ! I'm hella nervous now since that means they have started reviewing applications! Best of luck man. Mine still says I'm complete.

JCrewton · Jun 25, 2015

Cawolf said:
II today (I think)!

No phone call but I checked my portal and "You have been invited for an interview".

Yeahhhhh, congratulations! Where exactly does it say this in the portal once it appears?

LChristmas · Jun 25, 2015

Cawolf said:
II today (I think)!

No phone call but I checked my portal and "You have been invited for an interview".

That's how I found out too! Good luck!

Statemed · Jun 25, 2015

This is the one I usually check : https://my.unt.edu/psp/papd01/EMPLOYEE/EMPL/h/?tab=NTPA_GUEST

As of now, the status indicates "this application is complete." Is this the portal where IIs are shown?

drkube · Jun 25, 2015

Does anyone have a problem logging into the portal? It keeps telling me my password is expired after I changed it

Cawolf · Jun 25, 2015

JCrewton said:
Yeahhhhh, congratulations! Where exactly does it say this in the portal once it appears?

Statemed said:
This is the one I usually check : https://my.unt.edu/psp/papd01/EMPLOYEE/EMPL/h/?tab=NTPA_GUEST

As of now, the status indicates "this application is complete." Is this the portal where IIs are shown?

Thank you, I am thrilled to interview at my top choice DO school!

I clicked "Applicant Status" and it appears above the table with Academic Institution, Term, etc.

Cawolf · Jun 25, 2015

LChristmas said:
That's how I found out too! Good luck!

Awesome, are you matriculating here?

LChristmas · Jun 25, 2015

Cawolf said:
Awesome, are you matriculating here?

Sure am!

Statemed · Jun 26, 2015

Cawolf said:
Thank you, I am thrilled to interview at my top choice DO school!

I clicked "Applicant Status" and it appears above the table with Academic Institution, Term, etc.

I see "You have been invited for an interview" !!! Thank you!

riptide55 · Jun 26, 2015

Congrats guys! Got an II here as well! I'm so excited!!

Do you know if we need to call the office to schedule the interview or should we just wait for an email for more details?

Statemed · Jun 26, 2015

As far as I know, TCOM often calls applicants to schedule an interview.

lomm · Jun 26, 2015

II this morning! IS

lomm · Jun 26, 2015

Also does anyone know what number they would call from? I always ignore random numbers

Cawolf · Jun 26, 2015

Past threads say it is "unknown."

University of North Texas (UNTHSC/TCOM) Discussion Thread 2015 - 2016

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