UNTHSC/TCOM Discussion Thread 2011-2012

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Prob not. I warned y'all last week that you would probally not hear anything or get anything in the mail till the summer. No worries this is normal.
 
starstudent said:
For those of you who pre-matched: Have you received any forms or info from TCOM since the pre-match agreement form?
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I received an email invitation to myUNT day for March 3rd I believe. I also started to take care of my financial aid paperwork and stuff, so I've had to call them a couple of times, but nothing else other than that.
 
Yep, there is not much paperwork to be done after your acceptance. The longest form you'll have to sign is probably your apartment rental agreement.

Don't forget to do your FAFSA.
 
costales said:
Yep, there is not much paperwork to be done after your acceptance. The longest form you'll have to sign is probably your apartment rental agreement.

Don't forget to do your FAFSA.
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When is the FAFSA due?

Just to add to everyone's info, if you missed it on the acceptance form, it said you need to send updated transcripts from all colleges/universities directly to TCOM (ie: they will not use the tmdsas ones)
 
^ I would the fafsa as soon as possible. Odds are u won't get government cash but turning it in earlier apparently helps. It's not that bad and u have to do some loan training with it too. So make sure u take care of that
 
slammer922 said:
^ I would the fafsa as soon as possible. Odds are u won't get government cash but turning it in earlier apparently helps. It's not that bad and u have to do some loan training with it too. So make sure u take care of that
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If you haven't done it already, join the TCOM Class of 2016 Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/136131923166059

I'd do the FAFSA as early as possible, and also be sure to submit the UNTHSC General Scholarship application.
 
slammer922 said:
^ I would the fafsa as soon as possible. Odds are u won't get government cash but turning it in earlier apparently helps. It's not that bad and u have to do some loan training with it too. So make sure u take care of that
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Fox800 said:
If you haven't done it already, join the TCOM Class of 2016 Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/136131923166059

I'd do the FAFSA as early as possible, and also be sure to submit the UNTHSC General Scholarship application.
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Thanks for the info guys! and already part of the FB!

I've seen the UNTHSC General Scholarship App on myHSC, is FAFSA to be filled out through UNT as well or just the .gov FAFSA site?
 
: (
Still haven't heard anything yet. I thought my interviews went really well and I interviewed 2 days after another person on this thread (who has been accepted). They said not to call until mid-March. So, should I just hang tight and hope for the best? When is the latest anyone has been called for an acceptance? Is everyone from here on out (after the match) waitlisted? Does TCOM always call for acceptances or will they email/mail a letter? Thanks for any answers, I'm just trying to calm my nerves.
 
pixiefh said:
: (
Still haven't heard anything yet. I thought my interviews went really well and I interviewed 2 days after another person on this thread (who has been accepted). They said not to call until mid-March. So, should I just hang tight and hope for the best? When is the latest anyone has been called for an acceptance? Is everyone from here on out (after the match) waitlisted? Does TCOM always call for acceptances or will they email/mail a letter? Thanks for any answers, I'm just trying to calm my nerves.
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Waitlists don't really move right now as people are holding on to their acceptances. No reason to panic just yet.
 
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pixiefh said:
: (
Still haven't heard anything yet. I thought my interviews went really well and I interviewed 2 days after another person on this thread (who has been accepted). They said not to call until mid-March. So, should I just hang tight and hope for the best? When is the latest anyone has been called for an acceptance? Is everyone from here on out (after the match) waitlisted? Does TCOM always call for acceptances or will they email/mail a letter? Thanks for any answers, I'm just trying to calm my nerves.
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http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=738411&page=13

The notorious Noshie was accepted on June 21 of the last year so thats probably a good estimation of the latest they will call but I have heard that they have done it a few days before classes begin. Goodluck
 
mnkyman said:
Thanks for the info guys! and already part of the FB!

I've seen the UNTHSC General Scholarship App on myHSC, is FAFSA to be filled out through UNT as well or just the .gov FAFSA site?
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Just do the .gov FAFSA site. UNTHSC will be able to access your information once you finish it.
 
pixiefh said:
: (
Still haven't heard anything yet. I thought my interviews went really well and I interviewed 2 days after another person on this thread (who has been accepted). They said not to call until mid-March. So, should I just hang tight and hope for the best? When is the latest anyone has been called for an acceptance? Is everyone from here on out (after the match) waitlisted? Does TCOM always call for acceptances or will they email/mail a letter? Thanks for any answers, I'm just trying to calm my nerves.
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I understand how you are feeling, but at some point in your career as a physician (either preparatory or while practicing) you will realize that there are numerous barriers to becoming a doctor, one of them is getting the right education.
I would suggest you channel your anxiety and energy in thinking about how to improve your application for next year, although you may hear from TCOM this year. I'd start by figuring out what may have hindered you from an acceptance this year, and work to significantly improve that. Don't forget to show your community/medicine commitment by volunteering. And also don't forget you have many of the characteristics sough after by TCOM admissions already.
One of the skills of a good physician is to know how to recognize, accept and deal with problems. Keep going in a positive direction and you will reach not only medical education, but the tremendous privilege to heal others. Best of luck!!
 
Here is a spread sheet that compares match lists, GPA/MCAT scores of matriculates, COMLEX scores, and other types of data. It includes:

-2011-2008 Match lists for many osteopathic schools
- comparison of match results between schools
-GPA/MCAT scores, a profiles of average matriculating students compared between all Osteopathic schools,
-COMLEX scores for some schools
- You'll also find comparison of tuition / graduate indebtedness between schools

https://sites.google.com/site/osteopathicreference/home
(I can't host the spread sheet on the forums because of size limits)

I apologize in advance that I will be mass posting this through out the forums this afternoon but many people have been looking for this data and I want the to be able to find it!
 
pixiefh said:
Does TCOM always call for acceptances or will they email/mail a letter? Thanks for any answers, I'm just trying to calm my nerves.
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They have been known to call or email (and not always both), but they will definitely follow that with a letter. You still have until June to hear back so just sit and wait (not always the easiest). If you don't get in this year, you always have the next (it's not the end of the world). I wasn't even interviewed by TCOM last year, this year I was accepted!

Fox800 said:
Just do the .gov FAFSA site. UNTHSC will be able to access your information once you finish it.
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Thanks!👍
 
Cool, thanks for the all the info and support everyone. Congrats to everyone who was accepted so far!

I will channel all of my patience and try not to think about it ^__^
 
Does anyone know where people look to find roommates? I'm going in for my first year and am looking for someone to room with.
 
Arielace said:
Does anyone know where people look to find roommates? I'm going in for my first year and am looking for someone to room with.
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Yup. Most ppl made friends on Facebook and met ppl during tcom day; that's the best way to find a roommate. Also last year we posted tons of "about me posts" (which some have already done on the 2016 page) and ppl connected with other ppl (by chatting and messages) who had similar intrests.

Random roomates work out sometimes but not always. There is also a housing section in the unthsc website that posts some things about housing and possibly a roommate finder, I dont know the exact link but if you dig you will find it.

Just FYI if you are worried about cash there are plenty of very inexpensive places to live, spliting housing doesnt necessarily mean cheaper. You can always make friends and change housing 2nd year.
 
Arielace said:
Does anyone know where people look to find roommates? I'm going in for my first year and am looking for someone to room with.
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Join the Facebook 2016 group. There are a few conversations there that talk about how students go about it.
 
Yep, FB is a great forum for incoming students to ask questions. There are quite a few current students on there to help when they're not studying.
 
costales said:
Yep, FB is a great forum for incoming students to ask questions. There are quite a few current students on there to help when they're not studying.
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haha. actually the number of posts go up dramatically as we get closer to a test... its the only way to stay sane
 
I know the feeling. Exams suck. Boards suck worse, much worse. And then things kinda suck less, even a lot less - because you've already put all that stuff into your head and got tested on it several times. There is a method to the madness LOL.
 
Glad you mentioned the marathon. It's also a good opportunity to get your TCOM volunteer hours on the medical team.
 
slammer922 said:
Hope y'all enjoyed myTCOM day. Keep the questions coming.
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I was wondering how ppl pay for internet services...I know is a sort of random question but I'm trying to work my budget and would like to know how much would internet cost and what are the popular providers there?
 
HealDreamer said:
I was wondering how ppl pay for internet services...I know is a sort of random question but I'm trying to work my budget and would like to know how much would internet cost and what are the popular providers there?
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High-speed DSL from AT&T runs about $25 a month. You should call and see if there is a deal for your location.
 
Has anyone who is on the waitlist heard back from TCOM yet???? Thanks! =)
 
I am applying May/June 2012. I am sending in individual letters for TMDSAS because my school does not have a committee. I am planning on sending in 3 letters for TMDSAS- a LOR from an MD, a LOR from a science prof, and a LOR from my volunteer supervisor. Is it possible to send in an extra DO LOR to just TCOM separately? I'd rather send in the MD LOR in my main TMDSAS packet since the rest of the Texas schools are MD schools, but I would still like to send in a DO LOR to TCOM.
 
rubisco88 said:
I am applying May/June 2012. I am sending in individual letters for TMDSAS because my school does not have a committee. I am planning on sending in 3 letters for TMDSAS- a LOR from an MD, a LOR from a science prof, and a LOR from my volunteer supervisor. Is it possible to send in an extra DO LOR to just TCOM separately? I'd rather send in the MD LOR in my main TMDSAS packet since the rest of the Texas schools are MD schools, but I would still like to send in a DO LOR to TCOM.
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It is definitely to your advantage to give TCOM a DO letter, since there is a fundamental difference in the philosophy of practice between DOs vs MDs. You should email admissions and pose the same question you posted here. Simply be honest in saying that you'll apply to more MD schools than DO schools, and therefore you feel your MD letter is more significant for the TMDSAS package. Don't be surprised if when you interview (if you do) at TCOM, you have a change of heart about it if it isn't your top choice. 🙂
 
rubisco88 said:
I am applying May/June 2012. I am sending in individual letters for TMDSAS because my school does not have a committee. I am planning on sending in 3 letters for TMDSAS- a LOR from an MD, a LOR from a science prof, and a LOR from my volunteer supervisor. Is it possible to send in an extra DO LOR to just TCOM separately? I'd rather send in the MD LOR in my main TMDSAS packet since the rest of the Texas schools are MD schools, but I would still like to send in a DO LOR to TCOM.
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HealDreamer said:
It is definitely to your advantage to give TCOM a DO letter, since there is a fundamental difference in the philosophy of practice between DOs vs MDs. You should email admissions and pose the same question you posted here. Simply be honest in saying that you'll apply to more MD schools than DO schools, and therefore you feel your MD letter is more significant for the TMDSAS package. Don't be surprised if when you interview (if you do) at TCOM, you have a change of heart about it if it isn't your top choice. 🙂
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So heres the deal. I really don't think a do letter is that big of an advantage especially if u have good stats. Most of my classmates did not shadow a do and most only submitted an md lor. So I think ur good on that front. You can also submit a DO lor with your secondary if you like, or bring it to your interview and ask it to be included in your file. I was asked at my interview if I had any updates or was planning to submit another letter.
 
HealDreamer said:
It is definitely to your advantage to give TCOM a DO letter, since there is a fundamental difference in the philosophy of practice between DOs vs MDs. You should email admissions and pose the same question you posted here. Simply be honest in saying that you'll apply to more MD schools than DO schools, and therefore you feel your MD letter is more significant for the TMDSAS package. Don't be surprised if when you interview (if you do) at TCOM, you have a change of heart about it if it isn't your top choice. 🙂
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If by "difference in the philosophy of practice between DO vs MD" you mean take an extra class in med school then I guess thats true, I would bet most DOs practice the exact same way as their MD counterparts.
 
For those of you who were matched to other schools via TMDSAS, does your status page still say accepted?

I think I may have gotten accepted into the DO/PhD program and I have no idea what is going on. Got an email about summer workshops for incoming students so.. :idea:
 
I never shadowed a DO or got a LoR from one, and that seems to be the case with many of my classmates, so if you don't have either one of those, don't fret. It doesn't seem to be a huge deal.
 
nysw said:
For those of you who were matched to other schools via TMDSAS, does your status page still say accepted?

I think I may have gotten accepted into the DO/PhD program and I have no idea what is going on. Got an email about summer workshops for incoming students so.. :idea:
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Haha. They must not have gotten the memo. If u matched else where just call up admissions and tell them u want to give ur spot to an equally awesome candidate...congrats and best of luck!
 
slammer922 said:
Haha. They must not have gotten the memo. If u matched else where just call up admissions and tell them u want to give ur spot to an equally awesome candidate...congrats and best of luck!
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lol I'll def. do that - maybe I just fell through the cracks or something? Seems rather odd. Will be making the call and withdrawing later tonight, so hopefully one of you will be closer to getting in <3
 
Bobcat 2006 said:
If by "difference in the philosophy of practice between DO vs MD" you mean take an extra class in med school then I guess thats true, I would bet most DOs practice the exact same way as their MD counterparts.
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No Bobcat, that is not what I mean at all. It's true there's much overlap in the way DOs and MDs practice today. The osteopathic philosophy, however, holds true. It is my understanding the foundations of osteopathic medicine grew out of the necessity to address to root causes of problems affecting patients (a lifetime challenge in our present day, of course), and not simply mask problems that have a real solution. This in fact is the reason why physicians are having such a hard time in providing healthcare. OMM was the initial attempt to cure patients, and continues to be so, but Osteopathy has grown up to be a much larger idea.

Also, just as there are DOs that practice like allopaths, there are a lot of MDs that practice like osteopaths.
 
HealDreamer said:
No Bobcat, that is not what I mean at all. It's true there's much overlap in the way DOs and MDs practice today. The osteopathic philosophy, however, holds true. It is my understanding the foundations of osteopathic medicine grew out of the necessity to address to root causes of problems affecting patients (a lifetime challenge in our present day, of course), and not simply mask problems that have a real solution. This in fact is the reason why physicians are having such a hard time in providing healthcare. OMM was the initial attempt to cure patients, and continues to be so, but Osteopathy has grown up to be a much larger idea.

Also, just as there are DOs that practice like allopaths, there are a lot of MDs that practice like osteopaths.
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It's not that there are DOs that practice like MDs or vice versa, it's just that there are different ways physicians practice as a whole. As much as a DO school would love to say that us DOs practice differently, in the real world that is rarely the case. Most DOs never practice OMM after graduation (and learning it for 2 years in med school will not make you that competent at it, it takes years of experience). If a patient wants OMM, they go to an OMM specialist, which are not exactly all over the place. And in the real world, patients usually come to see you for a quick fix with medication, not an osteopathic treatment that, although might work, takes longer to help than popping a muscle relaxer or a painkiller. And doctors these days have about 15min to visit with a patient, take history, and diagnose, and still meet a decent quota of patients per day, so even if a DO wanted to perform OMT, there isn't enough time to do so while still seeing an adequate number of patients.

Yes, the osteopathic philosophy is certainly admirable, but it's not like MDs are not taught to look at the whole patient and treat the cause of a problem as well. Who wouldn't want to help the patient in the best way possible? The differences between a DO and an MD are very slight if noticeable at all. The only true advantage of being trained in a DO school, in my opinion, is that us DO students are exposed MUCH more to how to feel with our hands and we come out with a stronger understanding of anatomy and bio-mechanics in general because that's the basis of OMM.
 
somekindof said:
It's not that there are DOs that practice like MDs or vice versa, it's just that there are different ways physicians practice as a whole. As much as a DO school would love to say that us DOs practice differently, in the real world that is rarely the case. Most DOs never practice OMM after graduation (and learning it for 2 years in med school will not make you that competent at it, it takes years of experience). If a patient wants OMM, they go to an OMM specialist, which are not exactly all over the place. And in the real world, patients usually come to see you for a quick fix with medication, not an osteopathic treatment that, although might work, takes longer to help than popping a muscle relaxer or a painkiller. And doctors these days have about 15min to visit with a patient, take history, and diagnose, and still meet a decent quota of patients per day, so even if a DO wanted to perform OMT, there isn't enough time to do so while still seeing an adequate number of patients.

Yes, the osteopathic philosophy is certainly admirable, but it's not like MDs are not taught to look at the whole patient and treat the cause of a problem as well. Who wouldn't want to help the patient in the best way possible? The differences between a DO and an MD are very slight if noticeable at all. The only true advantage of being trained in a DO school, in my opinion, is that us DO students are exposed MUCH more to how to feel with our hands and we come out with a stronger understanding of anatomy and bio-mechanics in general because that's the basis of OMM.
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I certainly agree with some of your points here, but again I don't think we see osteopathic medicine in the same way and I would like clarify a little more of what I mean. You mention above that doctors are able to see a good number of patients in a day and that most of those patients come in for a quick fix. This is true for someone with an acute problem like an infection. But you cannot say the same for patients who go to the doctor's office on a regular basis for prescriptions and check-ups relating to chronic problems like type 2 diabetes, specially adults and the elder. Obviously people want to be healthy. But because being healthy seems almost impossible now days, patients and doctors settle for the 2nd "best" option - drugs. Yes, medications bring relief and are essential at times, but in many cases they do not address the root cause of problems for which there are real solutions. Sadly enough most diabetic patients, to use the same example, live the rest of their lives both depending on drugs and suffering a lot because of complications that stem from their conditions (#1 cause of amputations in the US for example). Yet for years there has been a large body of data that supports significant improvement of type 2 diabetes, including eradication, if central obesity is addressed. To broaden the scope a bit, one merely needs to look at our lists of top killers in the nation: 95% largely associated with diets and sedentary practices and lifestyles.

I know many doctors talk about not being able to help patients change core practices like nutritional habits, addictions, and/or physical inactivity. But those are the reasons a lot of us live in a medically undeserved areas. We are getting sicker every year and no one is doing anything quick enough to change it - and these includes most medical schools in the US. In the 70s there were only like 3 or 4 obese states in the US. Today, all states are obese (large part of the population has surpassed a threshold...I think is 30% of people with BMI>30). Med schools and healthcare authorities like to think that our demands for healthcare are merely associated with population growth, when in reality a similarly large factor is that a kid that is born today is almost guaranteed a chronic condition some years from now.
Here's where I define osteopathic medicine. Osteopathic medicine differs from allopathic medicine in that it gives doctors an opportunity for change, because osteopatic medicine is that in itself - a philosophical attempt to solve the problems that conventional medicine cannot handle. OMM is, per say, a vestige from a revolutionary medical movement, and it remains a versatile tool to help patients today. But osteopathic medicine is a force driving a different approach to cure patients.
Of course addressing obesity, or any of our pressing health problems, needs to involve the government if real efficacy is desired. Our healthcare system is sick too, since we still don't know how to help many patients in the best way possible. And this topic can go much further, because a large portion of healthcare focuses on making money, not on curing people (perhaps the highest price one pays in capitalism).
But doctors can change things. Our "OMM" today should be (and hopefully will be) a tool involving nutrition, psychology, and people skills that can help us (future and current doctors) harness the best use from the doctor-patient relationship. We are not the government, but we can stimulate real change that will ripple farther than we imagine. We are in charge of changing what's wrong with out present-day healthcare. Only then we will live up to the legacy of those physicians who trusted their genuine desire to live for the greater good, a legacy that is passed down to us in schools like TCOM.
I don't think medical education entails a vision for revolution in healthcare, frankly because there isn't enough time (we are busy trying to solve our current problem short term) nor enough stimulus. So clearly not many will agree with this post (including those who don't read it 🙂 )
I'm sorry this turned out to be so lengthy. I just wanted to share what DOs have taught me about their art and science of healing. Maybe my past post will make more sense henceforth.
 
I agree with what you are saying concerning prevention and patient education, but I don't see any reason to believe that our fellow MD counterparts aren't also taught these same principles and ideals. I don't see any of this as being exclusively an osteopathic trait. I think it might vary from school to school, but I don't see it as a division down osteopathic/allopathic lines. Like I said before, some MDs will be simply pill-pushers, but so will some DOs.
 
Anyone got any tips on getting off the waitlist?
 
somekindof said:
I agree with what you are saying concerning prevention and patient education, but I don't see any reason to believe that our fellow MD counterparts aren't also taught these same principles and ideals. I don't see any of this as being exclusively an osteopathic trait. I think it might vary from school to school, but I don't see it as a division down osteopathic/allopathic lines. Like I said before, some MDs will be simply pill-pushers, but so will some DOs.
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Yes, the principles and ideals are the same, hence my previous comments about some MDs and DOs practicing under the same philosophical core values. But historically, a doctor turned against common practices and decided to fight against what he saw wrong with the medical system of his time. So I claim that is what we need to today and that as DO student we have a better chance of doing it, if one starts with the right philosophy in mind. My question is how do DO students start with the right philosophy in mind?
 
MelonMan said:
Anyone got any tips on getting off the waitlist?
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I got in off the waitlist last year. Not really much you can do besides wait, unfortunately. I sent in a letter of interest, but it may have done absolutely nothing to help as it was at least a month later until I got in. For all I know, it was thrown in the garbage.

Best advice I can give: Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
At this point last year I was taking classes at a university and was getting ready to re-take the MCAT. Being cautious never hurts. I know this is something nobody wants in this sort of situation wants to hear, but it's always better to be safe.
 
Good News and Bad News.
Good News: I got accepted to KCUMB. =)
Bad News: I am still waitlisted for TCOM

I am a TX resident and already submitted my matriculation for KCUMB. Should I stick around on the waitlist for TCOM or should I remove myself off? Any recommendations, advice, and suggestions would be appreciated! THANKS!! =D
 
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