tmdsas personal characteristics essay examples

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How to write the tmdsas personal characteristics essay.

Reviewed by:

Jonathan Preminger

Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine

Reviewed: 6/23/23

Applying through the TMDSAS? Read on to learn more about personal characteristics essays for TMDSAS schools! 

If you’re preparing to apply to medical school, you’re probably familiar with AMCAS . However, if you’re planning to apply to medical, dental, or veterinary school in Texas, you’ll need to apply using the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) .

On top of your personal statement, you’ll need to write a personal characteristics essay. We’ll highlight everything you need to know about the TMDSAS personal characteristics essay and how to craft a narrative that maximizes your chances of getting accepted into your dream Texas medical school .

Get The Ultimate Guide on Writing an Unforgettable Personal Statement

Purpose of the TMDSAS ‍

Texas is a large and populous state; the purpose of the TMDSAS is to provide a centralized application service for Texas-only medical, dental, and veterinary schools. 

In fact, the TMDSAS pre-dates the AMCAS! The following medical schools participate in the TMDSAS network:

• The Baylor College of Medicine
• The Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio
• The McGovern Medical School at UT Health Houston
• The Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• The Texas A&M College of Medicine
• The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at El Paso
• The Texas Tech University Health Science Center School of Medicine at Lubbock
• The University of Houston College of Medicine
• The University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
• The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School
• The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
• The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School

Two Texas medical schools don’t participate in the TMDSAS:

• The TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine requires applicants to use the AMCAS .
• The University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine requires applicants to use AACOMAS . 

Be sure to stay up-to-date with Texas medical school application procedures and visit the school websites to use the correct application portal.

TMDSAS Essay Overview ‍

Like AMCAS , the TMDSAS also requires a personal statement. The TMDSAS requires a personal characteristics essay and allows candidates to write an additional optional essay. 

The personal characteristics essay is unique to TMDSAS, so let’s highlight some key information, such as its purpose, tips on how to write a compelling narrative, and sample personal characteristics essays that thoroughly answer the prompt.

Purpose of the TMDSAS Personal Characteristics Essay

The TMDSAS personal characteristics essay must be 2,500 characters or fewer (including spaces). Applicants must respond to the following prompt:

“Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics (background, talents, skills, etc.) or experiences that would add to the educational experience of others.”

The way this prompt is worded might sound confusing and challenging, but we can simplify it – you can think of this as a diversity essay . Diversity has different contexts for this prompt. These may include your: 

• Unique background (ethnic, racial, socioeconomic, etc.) 
• Perspectives
• Ideas, talents, or skills
• Experiences
• Critical thinking

A strong personal characteristics essay connects your diverse background to medical school and illustrates how your peers, program, and the medical school can benefit from your diversity. 

Every entering class consists of diverse students with differing cultures, upbringings, socioeconomic statuses, birthplaces, educational experiences, and more. A diverse student body can expose students to new perspectives, insights, and information. 

This student body can challenge one another to grow, empathize with others, and foster a global mindset that is open, accepting, and critical in medicine. This is the heart of the personal characteristics essay, and what medical schools are looking for in future leaders – how will you add diversity and value to the class? 

How to Write the TMDSAS Personal Characteristics Essay

The TMDSAS personal characteristics essay is only 2,500 characters, including spaces, so every word must count. Here are tips for writing a strong and compelling personal characteristics essay:

1. Brainstorm Ideas That Demonstrate Your Diversity

Brainstorming is an effective technique to recall memories and experiences you can write about. You aren’t editing or revising your thoughts; don’t worry about grammar, structure, or spelling at this stage. 

You simply want to write down every idea that comes to you that may be relevant to your narrative. Here’s a list of questions to get started with thinking about diversity:

• Who are you at your core, and what experience(s) defined you?
• How do you identify yourself?
• Where did you grow up, and what was it like to live there?
• What was your family like?
• What have you done or experienced that shaped who you are today?
• Have you traveled abroad?
• Have you learned another language?
• Did you serve in the military?
• Have you volunteered in your community?
• Are you a part of any teams, groups, or organizations?
• Have you suffered or had to overcome disability, injury, or illness?
• Have you been a caregiver for someone with a disability or illness?
• Have you had to face and overcome rejection?
• Have you been bullied? How did you overcome it?

2. Pick Your Most Meaningful Anecdotes

After brainstorming, pick one to three stories that fulfill the prompt and are meaningful in your pursuit of medicine. Remember, you don’t want to choose similar experiences to those outlined in your personal statement! 

3. Outline the Structure of Your Essay

Create an outline to structure and organize your essay. Although the personal characteristics essay is relatively short, you want your narrative to flow. 

The essay should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion:

4. Write Your First Draft 

After completing your outline, begin writing your first draft. Your tone should be professional yet conversational – you don’t want to be too stiff or casual.

It’s important to show rather than tell; instead of writing “I am compassionate,” tell a story that conveys your compassion. Remember, your first draft doesn’t have to be perfect, and it may even exceed the word limit the first time – changes can be made in the next step. 

5. Edit Your Work 

Review your first draft for spelling, grammar, clarity, and sentence structure errors. If there are weak sentences, cross them out and rewrite them. You can also check for concision – does every word serve a purpose? Eliminate wordy phrases to leave more room for rich descriptions. 

The introduction should flow seamlessly to the body and the body to the conclusion. Another pair of eyes can help provide a fresh perspective on your work – consider an admissions counselor’s help to ensure your writing aligns with what Texan med schools seek! 

TMDSAS Personal Characteristics Essay Examples

Here are some personal characteristics essay samples to help inspire you as you write your own drafts:

TMDSAS Essay Example #1 

Here’s the first TMDSAS essay example: 

“Being South Asian, I have firsthand knowledge of what it means not to access basic healthcare. As a child, my mother took me to Pakistan every year, where I spent summers with my grandfather, a top pediatrician in the nation. He had a free clinic attached to his home in Faisalabad, and his practice was so renowned and respected that people from all over the country would travel great distances to have my grandfather treat their children.  Pakistan is a developing country where a significant part of the population remains illiterate and uneducated due to the lack of resources and opportunities. This population is the most vulnerable, with extremely high numbers of infectious disease and mortality rates. Yet, it is entirely underserved. With the lack of hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices in rural Pakistan, parents of ailing children must travel great distances and wait in long lines to receive proper healthcare.  Every summer at my grandfather’s clinic, from ages five to seventeen, my job was to open the doors to long lines of tired, hungry, and thirsty parents with their sick children. I would pass out bottled water and pieces of fruit. I would record names, where the patients came from, and reasons for their visit. I would scurry back inside with the information for my grandfather to assess, and then he’d send me running back out again to let the next family inside. I learned in my formative years how to communicate with diverse patient populations with special needs and lack of basic necessities. I learned to listen to every family’s unique reasons for their visit, and some of their desperation and pleading for the lives of their children will stay with me forever. When I get into medical school, I hope to share the story of how Gulzarah carried her dehydrated daughter for twelve miles in the Pakistani summer heat without rest (thanks to my grandfather, she later made a full recovery). I want to tell my peers that doctors like my grandfather are not only healers in biology but healers in spirit when he made up heroic songs for the children and sang the fear out of their hearts. I want to show my peers that patients are unique individuals who have suffered and sacrificed to trust us with their healthcare, so we must honor their trust by providing quality treatment and empathy. My formative experiences in pediatrics contributed to my globally conscious mindset, and I look forward to sharing these diverse insights in my medical career.”  This essay connects the writer’s ethnic background and experiences interacting with underserved patients.  The communication skills they learned, their experiences with diverse individuals, and the stories patients shared with them will allow them to add diversity to the incoming class while sharing new insights and perspectives with their peers.  

TMDSAS Essay Example #2

This diversity essay example was adapted from a personal statement but still checks the boxes to showcase the author’s experiences and interests:

“Hatha yoga emphasizes the ability to sculpt the human form into a fit, healthy, balanced vehicle for self-awareness and discovery…My instructor, John, encouraged me to push myself further until full splits and headstands could be achieved with ease. Yoga therapy and instruction became a way for me to connect to people in many aspects of my life…  I cherish the diversity I encounter. It is what excites and motivates me. My study of yoga grew from my interest in exploring the philosophies of Eastern cultures. Traveling, mostly independently, to over 20 countries and living in Germany challenged me to continuously learn more about the diverse world around me. Ordinary tasks such as getting water and preparing food can become unique challenges as different modes of operation and cultural differences come into play. Incorporating “sanuk,” the Thai description for playful contentment, became a key tool for overcoming the obstacles of traveling alone in Asia.  Living abroad afforded me the opportunity to learn a language in a shorter time than studying in an English-speaking environment. Having studied Spanish and German encouraged me to be precise in the messages I want to convey. As I continue to travel, I am touched by the sincere desire and efforts of people to improve their English speaking skills. This invigorated my desire, and I find myself jumping at the opportunity to practice my language skills. These experiences will be valuable resources in establishing trust and building thoughtful communication with patients… Since college, I have been committed to volunteer work as a means of improving social conditions and quality of life. As a therapist, I offered massages and yoga instruction to low-income individuals in exchange for donations to Habit for Humanity and Doctors Without Borders. I was able to raise hundreds of dollars for these organizations while providing massages to people who would ordinarily not be able to afford such services. …Observing work done in hospitals in India provided an insight into the ways in which I can incorporate a desire to work in underserved communities into my career as a physician… Though the path I have chosen may be arduous at times, my practice of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness will help keep my own physical and emotional health in balance. It is this integrated balance, along with a sincere desire to help people, that I have to share with my community and the medical profession.”  This diversity essay showcases the writer’s passion for yoga and how their pursuit of new experiences in new places invigorates them. While they connect their travels and other experiences to how it will help them become a better doctor, they could have been more direct about what they could teach their peers. 

TMDSAS Essay Example #3  

Here’s another TMDSAS personal characteristics essay sample : 

“I grew up in a household of six, and I am the youngest of four siblings, with two older brothers and one older sister. I spent the first eighteen years of my life living in Cedar Hill, a suburb of Dallas with a population of 50,000 and around 50% of that being Black. All of my siblings played sports, and everyone was very competitive, but in a good way…It was more about doing better than your previous best than being the other person. This was especially true after I became a swimmer in higher school. Before every race, my swim coaches always made sure to tell me that it was me against the clock, not against the people who were swimming around me. It instilled in me a very internally motivated hard work ethic. I want to improve myself because I know that my full potential has not been reached, not because other people are doing better. As a medical student, this will only make me a better doctor, as I will always be striving to become a better caregiver than I was before, whether that means learning more about the body and disease or learning how to become more compassionate so that I can serve my patients to the best of my ability. But hard work is not all that is necessary for success.  My life has been heavily affected by my Blackness. My dad used to give me lessons on what to do if I were stopped by the police. He said that because of the color of my skin, I would have to be as subservient as possible that there was less of a chance of my name becoming another hashtag. When I walked to school, I saw confederate flags flying on people’s houses. I was told, “You’re so lucky you’re black,” referring the the advantage in college admissions people thought I received because of my race, disregarding the struggles that come with growing up black, including the criminalization of Black people. The same criminalization that has a very negative impact on Black people, causing us to see things such as the color of our skin as negative…But because I had such a strong support system and grew up in a family full of Black role models, I did not see my Blackness as a detriment, but something to be celebrated.  It is important and uplifting to see people who look like you as successful. It is even more important that you have a connection with these people, and my Blackness taught me the value of mentorship. If I had not had powerful Black people pouring into me, things would be a lot different. Because mentorship influenced me so much, I became a mentor while at Vanderbilt, leading mentorship organizations such as Project I Am and After School Program. I want to continue to be a mentor and role model as I pursue my career as a doctor, being a positive example for aspiring Black doctors and communities of color in general. Yes, hard work is necessary to succeed, and you will accomplish much by being hard-working, but you need mentors and role models. Everyone needs someone to look up to who will guide, encourage and care for them.”  This essay showcases various aspects of the writer’s background, interests, and insights. They’ve seamlessly tied their home upbringing, racial identity, perspectives on competition, and appreciation for mentorship.  They clearly reference how they want to be a mentor and role model for other doctors who are Black or POC. 

Still have questions about the TMDSAS’ personal characteristics essay? Then check out these FAQs! 

1. What Does Diversity Mean in the TMDSAS Personal Characteristics Essay? 

For the TMDSAS essay, diversity doesn’t only mean racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, or gender diversity. You can broaden the definition and think of any unique event or experience that’s meaningful and shows how your acceptance would benefit your peers.

2. What’s the Difference Between the TMDSAS Personal Statement and Personal Characteristics Essay?

The personal statement addresses why you’re the right candidate for med school. The personal characteristics essay focuses on your diversity and the insights you can bring to the class to educate your peers and add value to the program.

3. What Do I Write About In My Personal Characteristics Essay? 

Ideally, one to three events or experiences are sufficient to answer the prompt. It’s better to have quality over quantity. The essay should be clear, well-organized, and professional. It’s easier to achieve a compelling, coherent essay by focusing on a couple of key ideas.

4. What Should I Avoid in My Personal Characteristics Essay?

Some things to avoid in your TMDSAS essay include rehashing your resume, writing controversial or alienating statements, being overly negative or critical, not editing, using filler words, and lying or embellishing. 

5. What Is the Character Limit of the TMDSAS Essays?

The TMDSAS personal statement is 5,000 characters (including spaces). The TMDSAS personal characteristics essay is 2,500 characters (including spaces). 

Final Thoughts 

The personal characteristics essay is a required TMDSAS component that shares your diversity and how it would enhance the entering class. With our guide, you’re well on your way to crafting a successful TMDSAS personal characteristics essay that showcases your diversity, fit, background, and experiences! 

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The time has come for you to complete the essay portion of the application. This is your opportunity to shine in a way that is less driven by data and more driven by your personal experiences and your unique perspective.

4 Things to Remember About Essays

• Timing - The application can time out on you, especially when completing this lengthy portion. Avoid losing your essays or other data by saving frequently!
• Spacing - Watch your spacing! Remember that the character count includes spaces.
• Abbreviations - Spell out all words. Do not use shorthand or abbreviations.
• Formatting - Avoid formatting issues by typing your essay directly into the TMDSAS application, rather than copying and pasting your essay from word processor programs. Copying formatted text into the application may result in issues that cannot be edited once your application has been submitted.

Dental Applicant Personal Statement  

The personal essay asks you to explain your motivation to seek a career in dentistry. You are asked to discuss your philosophy of the dental profession and indicate your goals relevant to the profession.

The essay is limited to 5000 characters, including spaces.

Medical Applicant Personal Statement  

The personal essay asks you to explain your motivation to seek a career in medicine. You are asked to include the value of your experiences that prepare you to be a physician.

Podiatry Applicant Personal Statement 

The personal essay asks you to explain your motivation to seek a career in podiatry. You are asked to include the value of your experiences that prepare you to be a physician.

Veterinary Applicant Personal Statement 

The personal essay asks you to describe opportunities and challenges (veterinary-related and non-veterinary-related) you have experienced and how these have helped to prepare you to enter the veterinary profession.

Personal Characteristics 

 required of all applicants.

Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics (background, talents, skills, etc.) or experiences that would add to the educational experience of others.

The personal characteristics essay is limited to 2500 characters, including spaces.

Optional Essay 

There is one optional essay available for all applicants. This essay is an opportunity to provide the admissions committee(s) with a broader picture of who you are as an applicant. The essay is optional; however, you are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.

Optional Essay:

Briefly discuss any unique circumstances or life experiences that are relevant to your application, which have not previously been presented. Optional Essay is limited to 2500 characters, including spaces.

• Additional Essays

DO/PhD & MD/PhD Program Essays

• Explain your motivation to seek a MD/PhD or DO/PhD dual Discuss your research interests and career goals as an applicant to a dual degree program.
• Describe your significant research Include the name and title of your research mentor as well as your contributions to the project. List any publications that have resulted from your work.

Each essay is limited to 5000 characters, including spaces.

DDS/PhD Program Essays

• Explain your motivation to seek a DDS/PhD dual
• Describe your significant research experiences, research interests and career goals as appropriate for an applicant to the DDS/PhD dual degree program.

Table of Contents

• Dental - Personal Statement
• Medical - Personal Statement
• Podiatry - Personal Statement
• Veterinary - Personal Statement
• Personal Characteristics
• Optional Essay

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Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

September 14, 2023

Writing Your Essays for the TMDSAS (Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service)

The Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) has its own application process. You can begin filling out the organization’s electronic application on May 1, similar to the AMCAS application . On the TMDSAS application, there are two required essays and one optional essay. 

Ready to get to work on your TMDSAS application? Read on. 

TMDSAS application essay tips

Tmdsas medical application deadlines and important dates, personal characteristics essay (required of all applicants).

Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics (background, talents, skills, etc.) or experiences that would add to the educational experience of others.

The personal characteristics essay is limited to 2500 characters, including spaces.

The Accepted consultants recently had a productive discussion about the Personal Characteristics Essay from this year’s TMDSAS application.

Is this primarily a diversity question ? A question about one’s unique educational experiences? A combination?

Here’s what Dr. Herman (Flash) Gordon , one of our expert med school consultants, had to say:

“As a med school educator and former chair of admissions, I see this as a purposeful question. Medical education is changing from the old didactic style to peer-peer education (a subset of “interactive learning”). Typical models are case-based instruction, team learning, and [think-]pair-share. For this to be most effective, there needs to be something to learn from your peers. In general, the more diverse your peers, the more you will learn.

“So I see this prompt as trying to elicit how well the candidate will fit into the new model of med ed. It would be good for applicants to describe experience with such educational models and to reflect on what they got out of the experience, as well as what they were able to contribute to others.”

In other words, this is both a diversity essay and something more than that. The prompt is asking you to think through the ways that your unique background and experiences will help you contribute to an evolving peer-to-peer education model. Being able to discuss previous experiences in a meaningful way will help you here.

A diversity essay, like any personal essay, can be anxiety producing for applicants: some people get caught up in telling the stories they think the committee wants to hear (without putting their own unique imprint on them) or block their writing process by convincing themselves they don’t have an experience worth sharing .

The best essays will also reveal the outcomes of each activity. Because this essay is only a half page in length, be strategic in selecting your characteristics – the best examples will show how well you work with others . Be honest! Have fun with this one.

Medical applicant personal statement

Explain your motivation to seek a career in medicine. Be sure to include the value of your experiences that prepare you to be a physician. (max 5000 characters)

The length of this essay equals roughly one page. If you have already written a personal statement for the AMCAS application, you can adapt that essay to this purpose. If not, we recommend creating a timeline of your life that includes all the important events that have encouraged you to become a doctor. You can begin with your childhood, if relevant. This might be the only place in your application that you can discuss your activities or volunteer work from middle and/or high school. Make sure you cover the most important details of your preparation for a career in medicine.

Optional essay (all applicants)

There is one optional essay available for all applicants. This essay is an opportunity to provide the admissions committee(s) with a broader picture of who you are as an applicant. The essay is optional; however, you are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.

Briefly discuss any unique circumstances or life experiences that are relevant to your application, which have not previously been presented. Optional Essay is limited to 2500 characters, including spaces.

Even though this is labeled an “optional” essay, it’s not really optional . It will hurt your application if you do not write it. Looking through what you have already covered in your other essays, are there any challenges or unique circumstances that you have overcome? If you struggled academically or with the MCAT, this section would be the most appropriate place to address any concerns that the selection committee might have about your application. Do you speak any other languages? Have you completed a medical mission in another country? Or do you have a unique approach to leadership that you would like to discuss in more depth? This section will allow you to go into detail about anything you feel would be important for the selection committee to know about you.

**Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with TMDSAS directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

Source: The TMDSAS website

If you get stuck on any of these essays, it can be helpful to have the guidance of an expert. We recommend that you start your essays early to avoid the stress of an impending deadline. Most students do their best work when they are not under the pressure of a deadline.

You need to work hard if you want to submit a winning TMDSAS application – and we can help! Check out , which provide complete application guidance, from conceptualization to final review. Your experienced consultant will guide you through your entire application, ensuring that you make the best use of your time to create a compelling portrait of yourself as a future leader in the medical field.

For 25 years, Accepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to their dream healthcare programs. Our outstanding team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, admissions committee members, pre-health advisors, postbac program directors, and doctors. Our staff has guided applicants to acceptance at allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools, residencies and fellowships, dental schools, veterinarian schools, and physician assistant programs at top schools, including Harvard, Stanford, Penn, UCSF, Johns Hopkins, and Columbia. Want an admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• The Quick Guide to Acing Your TMDSAS Application , a free guide
• Do’s and Don’ts of Medical School Recommendation Letters
• Teamwork in Medical School Admissions: How to Show You’ve Got It

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2024 TMDSAS Personal Statement Guide

• By Med School Insiders
• January 31, 2024
• Personal Statement , TMDSAS

The TMDSAS personal statement is an opportunity to tell your story and explain how your journey has led you to medicine.

Why do you want to become a doctor? What drew you to medicine? What drives you? Admissions committees expect a lot more than a rehash of your CV. This is your chance to show an admissions committee who you are beyond your grades.

This post will cover TMDSAS personal statements, including how the TMDSAS personal statement differs from AMCAS, how to write a personal statement for Texas medical schools,  and common mistakes to avoid.

Not sure what type of application you need to submit? Read our guide on AMCAS vs. AACOMAS vs. TMDSAS Med School Application Differences to discover how the three application services compare to one another.

What is a Medical School Personal Statement?

A medical school personal statement is an opportunity to share your story about why you want to be a doctor and the people and moments in your life that led you to this vocation. While excellent grades and a stellar MCAT score are big parts of your medical school application, your personal statement is the heart of your application and your chance to sell yourself to admissions committees.

Why do you want to spend the next eight or more years of your life studying to become a doctor? What moments in your life made you realize you were meant to heal people? Who inspired you to take this first big step and apply to medical school? What drives you? Why are you more qualified than your fellow applicants? What makes you great?

Your personal statement is not a rehash of your CV or a list of your accomplishments; your personal statement will show admissions committees who you are beyond your grades. It’s your very own superhero origin story.

The Anatomy of a TMDSAS Application

Every year at the beginning of May, the TMDSAS application opens for submissions. Around mid-June, colleges start to receive applications. To maximize your chance of acceptance, it’s important to submit your application as soon as possible after submissions open.

Do not procrastinate. Rolling admissions means the odds you will be accepted decrease dramatically the later you submit your application. Submit your primary and secondary applications long before the actual deadline for submissions, as keeping on top of your deadlines could be the difference between acceptance and rejection.

Take a look at our timeline below. It includes both possible and ideal schedules.

The personal statement is only one component of your primary application. For your application to be successful, you must work on multiple application pieces at once.

• GPA and MCAT Score
• Personal Statement
• Letters of Evaluation (also called Letters of Recommendation)
• Experiences and Achievements Section
• Mini Essays
• Depending on the schools you choose, you may also need to take a Casper test .

Read our complete TMDSAS Application Guide for more information about the other application components.

What Makes the TMDSAS Personal Statement Different?

The TMDSAS personal statement is virtually the same as the AMCAS personal statement, but with one key difference. The TMDSAS personal statement has a maximum of 5000 characters versus the AMCAS personal statement, which allows for 5300 characters.

If you plan on applying to medical schools both inside and outside of Texas, ensure your TMDSAS personal statement is 5000 characters or less so that you meet the lower character limit.

5000 characters or less isn’t very much room; it’s less than 1.5 pages of single-spaced 12-point Times New Roman font. This means the challenge isn’t filling the space—it’s choosing which key events from your life to include and writing about them in a way that’s engaging and revealing, yet concise.

How have your experiences shaped your desire to become a doctor? Your TMDSAS personal statement is your chance to sell yourself to admissions committees and demonstrate why you have the determination and passion needed to excel in a Texas medical school.

How to Write a TMDSAS Personal Statement

1 | Reflect on Your Life and Past Experiences

Take the time to sit back and reflect on all that’s happened in your life. Don’t worry about being creative yet, and don’t think of it as brainstorming. Simply take the time to explore your memories and reflect on how and why you are where you are right now, applying to medical school.

Where does your passion for medicine come from? What’s the driving force behind your ambition? What makes you different from your fellow applicants? Go beyond your accomplishments and grades—odds are, the students you’re applying with have similar statistics. This is your chance to sell yourself.

Think of your personal statement as your own personal superhero origin story. What key moments from your past made you realize you wanted to practice medicine?

Take your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, Peter Parker. Why does he put on a suit and spend every day fighting crime and protecting the innocent when he could use his extreme intelligence to start a business and get rich? Yes, he was granted superhuman abilities when he was bitten by a radioactive spider, but why use those abilities to save people?

Well, Peter Parker was told by his Uncle Ben that “with great power comes great responsibility.” Then, Peter’s uncle was murdered in part because Peter looked the other way instead of using his powers for good. This forever changed Peter’s life and made him realize that his extraordinary abilities made him morally obligated to serve humanity.

Do you have someone in your life like Uncle Ben who inspired you to pursue medicine? Is there a moment from your past that shattered your illusions about life and changed you forever? Deeply consider your past and how different events and people in your life have shaped your values and impacted your aspiration to become a doctor.

2 | Mind the 5000 Character Limit

Applicants who are applying through both AMCAS and TMDSAS need to pay close attention to the character limit. 5000 characters is not a lot of space to tell a compelling story about your journey toward medical school.

You can write one personal statement that’s under 5000 characters, which can be used for both AMCAS and TMDSAS applications, or you can write one <5300 character essay for AMCAS, and another slightly shorter <5000 character essay for TMDSAS. If you choose the latter, make sure the words you cut don’t hinder the quality of your story—and don’t mix the applications up!

You might choose to cut an AMCAS personal statement down to 5000 characters to fit for TMDSAS, but never intentionally try to add unneeded words to a TMDSAS personal statement just to get closer to the AMCAS character limit. It’s okay to have fewer characters than the limit, so long as you thoroughly answer the essay question.

If you are applying from out-of-state, carefully consider your decision to apply to Texas medical schools. Only 10% of acceptances to Texas medical schools go to applicants outside of the state, which significantly lowers your chances. Plus, you’ll need to take the time to familiarize yourself with two separate application services.

How to Decide Which Medical Schools to Apply to (12 Important Factors)

3 | Illustrate Your Points With Examples

What are your best, most favorite qualities? What moments in your life have you demonstrated these qualities? Telling an admissions committee that you’re ‘compassionate’ or ‘brave’ isn’t enough; they need to see these qualities reflected in the anecdotes you share.

Show, don’t tell.

Admissions committees aren’t going to take you at your word. They need to be convinced with tangible evidence. Let’s say you want the admissions committee to know you’re brave. Why do you believe yourself to be brave? When have you acted bravely in the past? Tell that story. Sharing a story about a moment in your life where you had to be brave is far more impactful than simply claiming you’re brave in a sentence.

If there’s a specific quality you want admissions committees to know you have, help them to infer it through an engaging story. How can you demonstrate the quality without stating it explicitly?

4 | Develop a Cohesive Narrative

Standing out amongst a sea of thousands of applicants with similar grades, accomplishments, and motivations isn’t easy. What makes you different? Why should an admissions committee pick you over someone with the same or higher MCAT score?

Your personal statement is what makes you stand out. There’s a lot more to medical school acceptance than good grades. Think of this as your chance to distinguish yourself from the competition. Repeating your CV but in complete sentences is boring and monotonous. It’s not intriguing, and it doesn’t tell the admissions committee anything more about you.

Your personal statement must be a story that ties into the overall narrative of your application. It’s not a list of your accomplishments or a bunch of appealing adjectives like ‘resilient,’ ‘compassionate,’ or ‘hardworking.’ Craft a story that helps admissions committees infer those qualities about you. Demonstrate how your abilities and experiences make you an asset to the school.

Just like every good story, a personal statement should have a beginning, middle, and end. How have your experiences led you to this point in your life? If someone’s making a movie about your life, which moments absolutely have to be included so that your story makes sense?

5 | Utilize Clear and Direct Language

You may be crafting an engaging story, but don’t think that means you need to include a lot of flowery language and impressively long words. Tell your story clearly and concisely, and avoid looking to a thesaurus to find more interesting words when a simpler one will suffice.

For example, instead of saying ‘in perpetuity,’ say ‘forever.’ Instead of saying ‘indomitable,’ say ‘invincible.’ Instead of saying ‘vinegarish,’ say ‘harsh.’

If you think you can find a simpler way of saying something, do it. You only have 5000 characters; don’t waste them on trying to be poetic.

6 | Take Your Time

Writing your personal statement is going to take a great deal of time. Do not procrastinate. It will take a while to reflect on and select the key moments from your life you want to write about in your personal statement.

Plus, there’s still plenty to do after you complete your first draft. There will be many versions and iterations of your personal statement before you land on the one that you’re going to include in your application. This is a good thing. It shows you are gathering critical feedback and making the necessary adjustments to perfect your story.

Show your personal statement to friends, family members, and mentors you trust. If you know someone who has recently successfully matriculated to medical school, their feedback is invaluable, as they know exactly what it takes to write an effective personal statement.

Be sure to also take all the time you need to carefully edit for spelling and grammar . Don’t let a typo sink your chances of acceptance.

Get started on your personal statement as soon as possible so that you have plenty of time for revisions. Your personal statement is the heart of your application, so take your time and ask for feedback from trusted experts.

For a more in-depth look at writing a personal statement, read our Personal Statement Guide , which includes 11 steps for starting, writing, and editing your personal statement.

Common Personal Statement Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t make these common mistakes in your personal statement. The personal statement is a vital piece of your application that requires careful planning and thorough editing.

• Not developing a cohesive narrative across your application.
• Leaving your personal statement to the last minute. (You should begin months in advance.)
• Restating your CV and extracurriculars.
• Listing favorable personal qualities without backing them up with real life examples.
• Including personal anecdotes you won’t feel comfortable discussing with someone during in-person interviews.
• Lying about your personal experiences or fabricating stories.
• Overusing the word “I.”
• Overlooking spelling or grammar errors.
• Using a thesaurus for the sake of including larger words.
• Explaining what medicine is about to admissions committees.
• Using clichés. (Every applicant likes science and wants to help people.)
• Making excuses for poor grades or a low MCAT score.
• Speaking negatively about another physician or healthcare professional.
• Pleading for an interview or acceptance.
• Editing your personal statement by yourself.

Make Your TMDSAS Personal Statement Stand Out

Med School Insiders will help you create a stand out TMDSAS personal statement. We offer a range of personal statement editing packages , from general editing to unlimited editing with a physician who will be there to advise you every step of the way.

We’re dedicated to creating a generation of happier, healthier, and more effective future doctors. Our Comprehensive Medical School Admissions Packages are tailored to your needs and the specific schools you are applying to. We can help you with every aspect of your application, including MCAT tutoring , mock interviews , secondary editing , and student advising. Our team is built of doctors who have years of experience serving on admissions committees, so you’ll receive key insights on the selection process.

Med School Insiders

2024 TMDSAS Activities Section Guide

Learn about the TMDSAS activities section, including why it’s important, what’s included, how the chronology works, and how to prepare.

2024 TMDSAS Application Guide for Texas Medical Schools

Use our TMDSAS medical school application guide for key insight into the primary application process. We’ll outline an ideal application timeline, what you need to include, mistakes to avoid, and FAQs.

2024 TMDSAS Letters of Recommendation Guide

Learn what makes TMDSAS letters of recommendation different, strategies for acquiring the best letters, and how to submit through the TMDSAS Evaluator Portal.

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Definitive Guide to TMDSAS (2024)

Introduction.

We understand that applying to Texas medical schools can seem like an overwhelming process. However, by understanding more about the application systems, you will realize that applying successfully is not as difficult as it seems. The majority of medical schools in Texas participate in TMDSAS (Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service) which is the common medical school application for all state funded medical schools in Texas. However, if you plan on applying to medical schools in Texas, it is likely that you will also apply through at least one other medical school application system depending on how many medical schools you plan on applying to. One Texas allopathic medical school and one Texas osteopathic medical school participates in AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) and one Texas osteopathic medical school participates in AACOMAS (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service). The focus of this article will be on TMDSAS.

Which medical school participate in TMDSAS? Below are medical schools listed by type (allopathic or osteopathic) and the application service in which the schools participate.

Table of Contents

Allopathic Medical Schools in Texas that participate in TMDSAS

• Baylor College of Medicine  
• McGovern Medical School (UT Houston)
• University of Houston – Fertitta Family College of Medicine
• Texas A&M University College of Medicine (also uses AMCAS for MD/Phd and non-resident EnMed Applicants)
• Foster School of Medicine Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Lubbock
• Long Medical School (San Antonio)
• University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School
• John Sealy School of Medicine University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine at Galveston
• University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
• University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
• University of Texas Tyler

Medical Schools in Texas

Related Article: Medical Schools In Texas

Osteopathic medical school in texas that participates in tmdsas.

• Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine – University of North Texas
• Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Allopathic Medical School in Texas that participate in AMCAS

Texas Christian University and the University of North Texas Health Science Center (Burnett School of Medicine at TCU)

Osteopathic Medical School in Texas that participates in AACOMAS

University of Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine

Applying to Medical Schools in Texas through TMDSAS

The cost to apply to all Texas medical schools through TMDSAS is a flat rate of $215. Nine TMDSAS medical schools require a secondary application with costs varying from $0-$60.

TMDSAS Acceptance Rate, Average MCAT, Average GPA

Entering year 2022 (the most recent data available):

• 6,833 applicants applied via TMDSAS
• 3,483 applicants INTERVIEWED via TMDSAS (85% TEXAS RESIDENTS)
• 2,544 applicants ACCEPTED (89% TEXAS RESIDENTS)
• 37% of TMDSAS applicants ACCEPTED 
• 2143 accepted applicants MATRICULATED to TMDSAS medical schools (93% TEXAS RESIDENTS)

It is important to keep in mind, however, that some applicants accepted to Texas medical schools using TMDSAS ultimately choose to attend AMCAS medical schools.

• Average TMDSAS MCAT for matriculants: 511.7
• Average overall TMDSAS GPA for matriculants: 3.82
• Average TMDSAS BCPM GPA matriculants: 3.77

To complete the TMDSAS application, you will need to compose a personal statement, employment and activities entries, as well as two additional essays.

TMDSAS Application Components and Character Limits

What are the written components of the TMDSAS application with characters limits?

• TMDSAS Personal statement (5000 characters with spaces)
• TMDSAS Personal characteristics essay (2500 characters with spaces)
• TMDSAS “optional” essay (2500 characters with spaces)
• TMDSAS employment and activities entries (300 characters with spaces)
• TMDSAS three top meaningful activities entries (500 characters with spaces each)

TMDSAS Personal Statement

The TMDSAS personal statement is one of the most important pieces of your medical school application.

The TMDSAS personal statement prompt is as follows:

Explain your motivation to seek a career in medicine. Be sure to include the value of your experiences that prepare you to be a physician.

This TMDSAS prompt is very similar to the AMCAS personal statement prompt. The TMDSAS personal statement character limit is 5000 characters with spaces whereas the limit for AMCAS is 5300 characters with spaces. Most students use the same essay (with very minor modifications, if necessary) for both application systems.

Relate Article: Successful Med School Personal Statement Examples

Tmdsas additional essays.

In addition, Texas has two additional essays one of which is required and the other which is optional, but, applicants are encouraged to complete. The TMDSAS personal characteristics essay character limit is 2500 characters with spaces as is the “optional” essay.

TMDSAS Personal Characteristics Essay

Essay Prompt: Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics (background, talents, skills, etc.) or experiences that would add to the educational experience of others.

The personal characteristics essay is a required essay and limited to 2500 characters, including spaces.

When writing this essay have an open mind about what defines diversity. You might have a distinctive interest, background, path, or viewpoint. Try to think outside the box when writing this essay.

TMDSAS Optional Essay

Essay Prompt: Briefly discuss any unique circumstances or life experiences that are relevant to your application which have not previously been presented. This is not an area to continue your essay or reiterate what you have previously stated; this area is provided for you to address any issues that have not previously been addressed.

The optional essay and limited to 2500 characters, including spaces.

Again, we encourage all applicants to complete this optional TMDSAS essay. Like the personal characteristics essay, think outside the box when writing this essay trying to highlight experiences or circumstances that have been influential to you.

TMDSAS Work and Activities / TMDSAS Employment and Activities Entries

The final part of the TMDSAS application is the employment and activities section. Here you will write about all of your experiences, from between high school to August of the application year. “Healthcare and employment activities may be listed in each category if the experience was a paid position; otherwise, do not list experiences in more than one section.” For example, a scribing job would be listed in both Healthcare Activities and Employment.

For each experience entry you are only allowed 300 characters with spaces. The TMDSAS system list your activities in chronological order automatically.

TMDSAS will also generate a “chronology of activities” document automatically that serves as a resume or CV for medical schools. This document contains only the first 50 characters of each description. We do not recommend going overboard to try and make these 50 characters suit the purpose of the chronology.

TMDSAS also asks you to identify three top meaningful activities for which you are allowed 500 characters each.

The Employment and Activities categories are as follows:

• Academic Recognition
• Non-Academic Recognition
• Research Activities
• Healthcare Activities
• Community Service
• Extracurricular & Leisure Activities
• Planned Activities
• Identifying Top Meaningful Activities

For University of Incarnate osteopathic medical school, you will complete the AACOMAS application. (the cost for AACOMAS is $196 for one school and $46 for each additional school. Secondary applications are extra and in the same range as AMCAS).

TMDSAS Medical Schools that Require a Secondary Application

Texas Medical Schools with Secondary Applications (cost $60 – $100 per school):

• Baylor College of Medicine
• UT Southwestern Medical Center
• Dell Medical School

John Sealy School of Medicine at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

• UT Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
• McGovern Medical School
• Sam Houston State University
• Texas A&M University College of Medicine
• Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine at University of Houston
• Texas Tech University HSC School of Medicine
• The University of North Texas HSC – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Texas Tech University HSC El Paso Paul L. Foster SOM

TMDSAS Medical Schools that Require Casper

• Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio
• University of Texas Southwestern
• The University of Texas at Tyler

Texas Medical Schools that Use AMCAS

• Texas A&M University School of Medicine (for MD/PhD and non-resident EnMed Applicants)
• Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at TCU

Texas Medical Schools that Use AACOMAS

• University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine

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• May 1, 2023: TMDSAS opens for submission
• May 15, 2023: TMDSAS applications submitted to medical schools
• Mid-July: Interviews begin
• August 1st: Early decision deadline
• August 15th: All supporting material must be received (transcripts, letters, score for Early Decision applicants)
• October 1st: Early decision results announced.
• October 15th: Medical schools begin extending offers.
• November 1st: Submission deadline for applications.
• November 15th – January 31st: Prematch offers can be extended to Texas residents only
• February 2nd: Submission deadline for RANKING of SCHOOL PREFERENCE for the TMDSAS admissions match; must be entered online by 5 p.m. CST
• February 16th: Match results announced
• March 3rd: Medical applicants with multiple offers must decide which program to attend and withdraw from other schools
• April 30th: Medical applicants with multiple offers must decide which program to attend and withdraw from other schools
• May 15th: Medical schools can no longer make offers to Texas resident applicants holding another seat

Ideally applicants should submit the TMDSAS application as early as possible. TMDSAS application processing takes two to four weeks, and, even though the application system opens May 2nd, the majority of applications are submitted in June (33% of applicants last year).

How does the Texas Medical School Match Work?

Only Texas residents are eligible for the Texas medical school match.

Between November 15th and December 31st of the application year, medical schools can extend prematch offers to Texas residents. If a student receives multiple offers, he or she can hold those multiple acceptances. Even if a student receives a prematch offer, she must still participate in the Texas match and can match at a higher ranked medical school.

By February 17th, each applicant ranks all of the medical schools at which he or she interviewed. The medical schools then rank the applicants according to preference.

On March 3rd, match results are released. If a student is accepted to a lower ranked school, that student will still remain active at any higher ranked school and can gain admission to those higher ranked medical schools during the rolling admissions process. However, the student will not remain active at any medical school ranked lower than the one to which he matched. This is indeed confusing and TMDSAS has a published video that clarifies the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeoLLjkKvng

TMDSAS Letters of Recommendation

TMDSAS applicants are required to submit either three individual letters of evaluation or a health professions committee letter packet. A letter packet can have more than three letters of evaluation so, if you have more than three letters to send, ideally you should send a letter packet. For individual letters, TMDSAS recommends the following: “It is recommended that your evaluators be current/former professors that can speak to your academic ability in the sciences.”

TMDSAS will also allow you to submit one additional letter of evaluation which you can indicate on the application.

Some Texas medical schools will also allow you to send additional letters directly to the medical schools.

RELATED ARTICLE: Medical School Letters of Recommendation

Tmdsas mcat.

MCAT scores, which must be sent directly to TMDSAS, can be up to five years old!

Are you Competitive for Medical School Admissions in Texas?

When applying to Texas medical schools, it is important to determine if your application is competitive. While researching medical schools, pay attention to the average MCAT scores and GPAs of accepted students, and acceptance rates. If you are considering medical schools in Texas as an out-of-state applicant, it is imperative that you also research what percentage of each entering class is comprised of in-state students. Most medical schools in Texas prioritize in-state applicants, which can make it especially competitive for out-of-state applicants..

So, how difficult is it to get accepted to a Texas medical school? To determine your competitiveness you must consider the average metrics for matriculated students.

• The average MCAT score for all TMDSAS matriculants was 510.8.
• The average overall GPA for TMDSAS matriculants was 3.8.
• The average BCPM GPA for TMDSAS matriculants was 3.73.

As mentioned earlier in this article, only 7% of TMDSAS matriculants were from outside the state. However, when reviewing this data please keep in mind that many students who apply to Texas medical schools opt to attend medical school out of the state.

See the article Medical Schools in Texas for the average MCAT scores and GPAs, interview rates for in state and out of state applicants, acceptance rates, percent of entering class that is in state, and tuition for all medical schools in Texas.

If you want help figuring out how to distinguish yourself, contact MedEdits. We have been working with medical school applicants for more than ten years. This year, our students enjoyed a 93% medical school acceptance rate!

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Personal Statement and Essay Prompts 2020: AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS

Looking for a comprehensive index of all required essay prompts for the AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS applications?

Look no further. Personal statements, short essays, experience descriptions - it’s all covered here.

All the prompts and character limits were gathered online from primary sources ( AAMC , AACOM , etc.) or from our past 2019 students. We’ve tried to ensure that this information is accurate and up-to-date, but please note that it’s subject to change.

We want to be a one-stop shop for all the medical school primary essay prompts, so please let us know if you notice any discrepancies. Don’t forget to brush up on the AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS Deadlines .

Oh, and if you’re looking for tips and examples, you’ll find those here, too.

Just follow the links:

Table of Contents

2020 AMCAS Essay Prompts

Personal Statement Prompt

Institutional Action Prompt

Disadvantaged Information Prompt

Experience Descriptions Prompt

Most Meaningful Remarks Prompt

2020 AACOMAS Essay Prompts

2020 tmdsas essay prompts.

Personal Characteristics Prompt

Optional Essay Prompt

Most Meaningful Essays Prompt

BONUS: All Medical School Secondary Essays 2019-2020 (by state)

2020 AMCAS PERSONAL STATEMENT PROMPT

(5300 characters max)

Use the space provided to explain why you want to go to medical school. The available space for your response is 5300 characters, or approximately one full page. You will receive an error message if you exceed the available space. For additional assistance, click "help" on the tool bar at the top of the screen.

There are a few follow up questions to help you:

• Why have you selected the field of medicine?
• What motivates you to learn more about medicine?
• What do you want medical schools to know about you that hasn't been disclosed in other sections of the application?
• Unique hardships, challenges, or obstacles that may have influenced your educational pursuits.
• Commentary on significant fluctuations in your academic record that are not explained elsewhere in your application.

SAVVY PRE-MED TIPS:

Whew, where to start? Hmm… probably here:

Savvy Pre-med's Ultimate Guide to Writing Your Personal Statement

But seriously, the personal statement is a complex, multifaceted process, so you might want to target certain areas. Here are some elements we’ve covered:

Getting Started on Your Draft

Writing Attention-Grabbing Hooks

Average vs. Compelling Personal Statements

Crafting Your “Why Medicine” Answer

Cliches to Avoid

How to Know Your Personal Statement is Finished

Our full archive of articles on the personal statement

Jump back to the Table of Contents .

2020 AMCAS INSTITUTIONAL ACTION PROMPT

(1325 characters max)

MILITARY DISCHARGE

The question asks if you’ve ever been discharged by the Armed Forces. If you answer Yes, you’ll be asked if you received an honorable discharge or discharge under honorable circumstances. If you answer No, you must explain in 1,325 characters the circumstances of your discharge, including the circumstances leading to your discharge, your period of service, and your rank at the time of discharge.

FELONIES AND MISDEMEANORS

You must indicate if you have ever been convicted of, or pleaded guilty or no contest to, a felony crime or misdemeanor, excluding

(1) Any offense for which you were adjudicated as a juvenile

(2) Convictions that have been expunged or sealed by a court (in states where applicable).

You need not disclose any instance in which you:

• Were arrested but not charged

• Were arrested and charged, with the charges dropped

• Were arrested and charged, but found not guilty by a judge or jury

• Were arrested and found guilty by a judge or jury, with the conviction overturned on appeal

• Were arrested and found guilty but received an executive pardon

If you answer Yes, you’ll have 1,325 characters to explain the circumstances of your conviction, including the number of conviction(s), the nature of the offense(s) leading to conviction(s), the date(s) and location(s) of conviction(s), the sentence(s) imposed, and the type(s) of rehabilitation.

Academic Probation

You must answer "Yes" if you were ever the recipient of any institutional action resulting from unacceptable academic performance or a conduct violation, even if such action did not interrupt your enrollment or require you to withdraw. You must answer "Yes" even if the action does not appear on or has been deleted from your official transcripts due to institutional policy or personal petition. If you answer Yes, you’ll have 1,325 characters to explain the circumstances.

If you are not certain whether or not you have been the subject of an institutional action, contact the registrar, student affairs officer, or other appropriate party at the institution for confirmation of your record. Applicants who become the subject of an institutional action after certifying and submitting the AMCAS application must inform their designated medical schools that an action has occurred.

Don't feel obligated to fill all 1325 characters for this essay:

PARAGRAPH 1

1-2 sentences to explain the factors that led to the institutional action

It's wise to let the facts speak for themselves. If there were extenuating circumstances that led to this anomalous blip in your record, make sure to include those as evidence, BUT DON'T editorialize or try to make direct excuses for what happened. The goal in the beginning is to just acknowledge and own up to the IA.

PARAGRAPH 2

3-4 sentences to explain how you've rectified the situation

This will depend a lot on your situation, but typically, it will involve some kind of probation, mandatory classes, written letters, court appearances, etc. Beyond explaining the requirements you fulfilled and your current good standing, discuss the ways you've sought to improve overall as a person.

PARAGRAPH 3

1-2 sentences to explain the growth, personal qualities, and lessons you’ve gained

Again, this will depend a lot on your situation. Perhaps there's some activity or endeavor that you can use as "proof" of your growth as a person (i.e. tutoring other struggling students or serving on the student judiciary board). If not, just explain what you learned from the experience and how it's turned you into a better person moving forward.

2020 AMCAS DISADVANTAGED INFORMATION PROMPT

When you click the box on the AMCAS application to see if the status applies to you, here is what AMCAS provides:

Underserved: Do you believe, based on your own experiences or the experiences of family and friends, that the area in which you grew up was adequately served by the available health care professionals? Were there enough physicians, nurses, hospitals, clinics, and other health care service providers?

Immediate Family: The Federal Government broadly defines “immediate family” as “spouse, parent, child, sibling, mother or father-in-law, son or daughter-in-law, or sister or brother-in-law, including step and adoptive relationships.”

State and Federal Assistance Programs: These programs are specifically defined as “Means-Tested Programs” under which the individual, family, or household income and assets must be below specified thresholds. The sponsoring agencies then provide cash and non-cash assistance to eligible individuals, families, or households. Such programs include welfare benefit programs (federal, state, and local) Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC or ADC); unemployment compensation; General Assistance (GA); food stamps; Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Medicaid; housing assistance; or other federal, state, or local financial assistance programs.

If you think there are other circumstances that have contributed to your disadvantaged status that are not listed, don't feel constrained by the above.

In addition to requesting family financial data, AMCAS provides the opportunity for a 1,325 character statement explaining why you should be considered disadvantaged.

EXAMPLE PARAGRAPH 1

2-3 sentences to explain the factors that contribute to your disadvantaged status

I am blessed to have been adopted by my grandparents, who provided a stable life by removing me from a destructive environment with an absent father and drug-addicted mother. However, due to my grandparents’ age and physical limits, I missed out on many things people take for granted, like playing catch with one’s father or enjoying student-parent activities.

EXAMPLE PARAGRAPH 2

5-6 sentences to illustrate the day-to-day struggles as a result of your status

I am a first-generation college student who has been financially independent since age 18. My discipline stems from my teenage years when I worked manual labor on construction sites. This translated into dedication and focus, as I later sought a scholarship to subsidize my schooling and worked full-time alongside a rigorous course load. To fund my college experience, I attended a local university and gained merit-based aid, balancing school (20+ unit semesters) and three jobs (totaling 40+ hours/week). My lack of expendable income prevented me from accessing certain opportunities off-campus. Luckily, the Wilkinson Honors Scholarship provided a dorm stipend that covered most of my living expenses. However, to further cut costs, I went without a car and obtained an on-campus job and research opportunity.

EXAMPLE CONCLUSION

1-2 sentences to explain the growth, personal qualities, and lessons you’ve gained as a result of your status

Overall, my obstacles have given me more resolve to plan ahead, meet my goals, and help others do the same.

2020 AMCAS EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTIONS PROMPT

(15 activities or less, 700 characters max for each)

The Work/Activities section of the application is designed to give you the opportunity to highlight your work experience, extracurricular activities, awards, honors, or publications that you would like to bring to the attention of the medical schools to which you are applying.

You may enter a maximum of 15 experiences, and you may enter four separate date ranges for recurring experiences. This section cannot be edited or updated after the original submission of your application. Work and activities will appear on your application in chronological order and may not be rearranged. However, please be aware that medical schools sort your entries and view them in a variety of different orders to suit their specific review processes.

Medical schools receive your Work/Activities descriptions as plain text. Therefore, formatting options such as bulleted lists, indented paragraphs, and bold/italic fonts do not appear for reviewers and are not available.

You have the opportunity to describe or summarize each experience. The space allotted for each description is 700 characters.

We often get questions about whether it’s better to use bullet points or paragraphs for these descriptions. Either is fine! The key is being consistent in the way you choose to format your descriptions. Here’s an example of both methods:

BULLET POINT EXAMPLE

Outreach Coordinator                St. Augustine Orphanage, Tijuana, Mexico

- Planned, fundraised, and led a volunteer service trip to impoverished communities in Mexico

- Coordinated and managed a team of 20 volunteers and faculty

- Executed simple, precise interventions to spread change across a population

- Improved communication and bedside manner while engaging locals about their health problems and barriers to care

- Lived alongside children in multiple orphanages in Tijuana and poorer rural areas

- Brought clothes and supplies and provided hygiene demos for the children

- Gained insight into disparities and social determinants of health in underserved populations

- Wrote detailed protocol and reflection exercises for future leaders to use on their trips  

PARAGRAPH EXAMPLE

As outreach coordinator, I fundraised and led a service trip to impoverished communities in Mexico. In this role, I managed a team of 20 volunteers and faculty to execute interventions and spread change across a population. As part of this experience, we lived alongside children in multiple orphanages in Tijuana while donating supplies and providing hygiene demos. I improved my communication and bedside manner while engaging locals about their health problems and barriers. During this time, I gained insight into disparities and social determinants of health for the underserved. After the trip, I wrote a detailed protocol and reflection exercises for future leaders to use on their trips.

In your experience descriptions, try to show your “Trackable Progress”:

“Trackable progress” can be any number of things:

- Earned promotion within first three months of working for Lab XYZ

- Assigned new responsibilities of training recent hires and creating orientation manuals

- Ran promotional campaign that tripled our club’s active membership

- Garnered over half of the company’s referrals during the last two years

- Updated and improved the lab’s protocols to cut costs by more than half

If possible, support these bullets with quantitative evidence and stats (EX: raised membership by 50%, trained 50+ employees, etc). This data will show a lot about your contributions without taking up too much space.

020 AMCAS MOST MEANINGFUL REMARKS PROMPT

(choose 3 of your activities, 1325 characters max for each)

You may identify up to three experiences that you consider to be the most meaningful. This designation will allow you an additional 1,325 characters to explain why the experience(s) was particularly meaningful to you.

When writing your summary, you may want to consider the transformative nature of the experience, the impact you made while engaging in the activity, and the personal growth you experienced as a result of your participation. If you have two or more experience entries, you will be required to identify at least one as the more or most meaningful.

You may change which experience(s) you designate as Most Meaningful until the initial submission of your application. The text you entered in the Experience Summary section will be lost if you remove an experience from those you have designated as Most Meaningful. Your Most Meaningful selection(s) will be designated as such by a check-mark in the Work/Activities main screen.

If you’re in doubt about what to choose, many students will include one medically oriented activity, one leadership activity, and one extracurricular (research, service, etc). As long as you’ve invested significant time and energy into the activity (compared to your others), then it’s fair game for a most meaningful essay.  

Once you’ve narrowed down your possible choices based on time and commitment, you’ll want to ask yourself some brainstorming questions to determine the best activities and angles to explore in your most meaningful essays.

Remember that it’s okay to overlap the experiences of the personal statement and most meaningful essays, as long as you don’t repeat stories or lessons verbatim.

BRAINSTORMING QUESTIONS:

Which of the activities had the most setbacks or failures? Can you recall one or two specific moments that required your resilience?

Which of the activities presented the steepest learning curves? Why were they so challenging? Did you have to change something about yourself to succeed?

Did any of the activities expose you to people much different than yourself? Were their difficulties in communicating and collaborating with them?

Which of the activities most surprised you? Can you recall any moments within them when your perspective on medicine or life shifted?

Did you get more than expected out of a particular activity? Why? Vice versa, were there activities that disappointed you for some reason? How did you respond?

Which of the activities made you the most apprehensive? Why? Can you recall one or two moments that pushed you outside your comfort zone?

Which of the activities taught you a new skill that you otherwise wouldn’t have learned? Did you learn or realize how you could apply this skill moving forward?

How-to Guide and Most Meaningful Essay Example

5 Reasons You Should Apply to DO Schools - MUST READ!

2020 AACOMAS PERSONAL STATEMENT PROMPT

This section is where you can write a statement, which is shared with all your osteopathic medicine schools. Once you submit your application, you cannot edit this section.

• Keep your topic general : Keep the statement general as this essay is sent to all the programs you apply to. If you plan to only apply to one program, we still strongly recommend keeping your statement general in case you later apply to additional programs. Once you submit your application, the essay cannot be edited or changed.
• Do not exceed the maximum length : Refer to the number below the field in the application. This is the number of characters (not words) that you can use in your essay. As you type, you can see how many characters are still available. Characters include spaces, carriage returns, and punctuation. You cannot save your essay if it exceeds the character limit.
• Use your own words : Plagiarizing any part of your essay is a violation of the code of conduct and may subject you to sanctions.
• Use simple formatting : Formatting such as tabs, italics, multiple spaces, etc. will not be saved. To delineate paragraphs, type a double return between each paragraph.

Thankfully, the AACOMAS recently decided to give candidates more space, as compared to past years when you only had 4500 characters.

Still, most candidates face the challenge of converting an MD personal statement into a DO one. What to cut? What to add? What are the essentials to include?

We’ve distilled our years of wisdom from helping candidates down into:

5 Simple Steps to Turn Your AMCAS Essay into Your AACOMAS Essay

2020 AACOMAS DISADVANTAGED INFORMATION PROMPT

There is no essay on the AACOMAS to explain your disadvantaged status, but the application has a series of questions to categorize you:

(Yes/No) Your parent's family income falls within the table's guidelines and you are considered to have met the criteria for economically disadvantaged.

(Yes/No) I am from a family that lives in an area that is designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area or a Medically Underserved Area.

(Yes/No) I graduated from a high school at which many of the enrolled students are eligible for free or reduced price lunches.

(Yes/No) I am from a school district where 50% or less of graduates go to college or where college education is not encouraged.

(Yes/No) I am the first generation in my family to attend college (neither my mother nor my father attended college).

(Yes/No) English is not my primary language.

Savvy Pre-med Tips:

Use some space in the personal statement to elaborate on your disadvantaged background, especially if the circumstances require contextual explanation.

Also keep in mind that the DO secondary essays tend to be rather generous in the amount of space they provide (sometimes up to 500 words per essay). These essays will give you additional opportunities to discuss disadvantages.

Refer to our tips for the AMCAS Disadvantaged Information Prompt .

2020 AACOMAS INSTITUTIONAL ACTION PROMPT

(500 characters max)

Applicants will be asked to disclose information regarding prior criminal offenses. Failure to accurately and truthfully disclose such offenses on the AACOMAS application may result in an offer of admission being rescinded or, if the omission is discovered after enrollment in medical school, in dismissal.

Have you ever been disciplined for student conduct violations (e.g. academic probation, dismissal, suspension, disqualification, etc.) by any college or school?

Have you ever been disciplined for academic performance (e.g. academic probation, dismissal, suspension, disqualification, etc.) by any college or school?

Have you ever been convicted of a Felony?

Have you ever had any certification, registration, license or clinical privileges revoked, suspended or in any way restricted by an institution, state or locality?

Have you ever been convicted of a Misdemeanor?

If you answer Yes to any of these questions, you’ll have 500 characters to explain.

Refer to our tips for the AMCAS Institutional Action Prompt .

2020 AACOMAS EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTIONS PROMPT

(600 characters max for each entry)

Key differences between AACOMAS and AMCAS experience descriptions:

• AACOMAS does not have Most Meaningful Remarks
• AACOMAS gives you 100 fewer characters for your descriptions
• AACOMAS breaks its “Supporting Information” into Experiences and Achievements - no limit on the total number of entries for either
• AACOMAS has fewer category distinctions for Experiences (only volunteering, healthcare experience, or paid/non-healthcare experience)
• Achievements include honors/awards, presentations, or publications
• Distinguish your AACOMAS hobbies as “non-healthcare experience”

Refer to our tips for the AMCAS Experience Descriptions Prompt .

2020 TMDSAS PERSONAL STATEMENT PROMPT

(5000 characters max)

The personal statement essay is limited to 5000 characters, including spaces. Explain your motivation to seek a career in medicine. Be sure to include the value of your experiences that prepare you to be a physician.

Refer to our tips for the AMCAS Personal Statement Prompt .

2020 TMDSAS PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS PROMPT

(2500 characters max)

The personal characteristics essay is limited to 2500 characters, including spaces. Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics (background, talents, skills, etc.) or experiences that would add to the educational experience of others.

It’s wise to choose one of your Most Meaningful AMCAS essays and expand upon it (from 1325 to 2500 characters).

Is one of your three Most Meaningfuls more distinct than the other two? Does one focus on a more atypical pre-med activity? If so, that’s probably the one to choose, since this prompt is looking for “diverse backgrounds and experiences.”

If all three of your Meaningfuls feel equally distinct (or equally average), pick the one that would give you the most useful insights to share with your future classmates (i.e. “add to the educational experience of others”).

When adding content (~1000 characters) to your Most Meaningful, here’s where to focus your attention:

Add 1-2 sentences to the “hook” of the essay (paragraph 1) to make the experience even more vivid and concrete for the reader

Add 3-4 sentences to the “plot” of the essay (paragraph 1 or 2) to expound on your biggest responsibilities, contributions, and accomplishments

Add 3-4 sentences to the “reflection” of the essay (paragraph 2 or 3) to explain how this activity and its lessons make you a diverse and valuable candidate

Refer to our tips for the AMCAS Most Meaningful Essays Prompt .

2020 TMDSAS OPTIONAL ESSAY PROMPT

The optional essay is limited to 2500 characters, including spaces. The optional essay is an opportunity to provide the admissions committee(s) with a broader picture of who you are as an applicant. This essay is optional; however, you are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. Briefly state any unique circumstances or life experiences that are relevant to your application. This is not an area to continue your essay or reiterate what you have previously stated - this area is provided to address any issues which have not previously been addressed.

If you’ve written or will be writing a Disadvantaged Essay for the MD application (discussed in the following module), then it makes sense to use that same essay here and expand upon it (from 1325 to 2500 characters).

When adding content (~1000 characters) to your Disadvantaged Essay, here’s where to focus your attention:

Add 1-2 sentences to the “hook” of the essay (paragraph 1) to make your backstory even more vivid and concrete for the reader

Add 3-4 sentences to the “plot” of the essay (paragraph 1 or 2) to expound on your biggest challenges, obstacles, limitations, etc.

Add 3-4 sentences to the “reflection” of the essay (paragraph 2 or 3) to explain how your hardships and their lessons make you a valuable candidate

Even if you’re not disadvantaged, you should still answer this TMDSAS Optional Essay by using another one of your Most Meaningfuls. With the two choices remaining, choose the one that has more autobiographical or personal relevance, or perhaps the one that better illustrates your exemplary qualities (leadership, creativity, problem solving, innovation, initiative, etc.).

Add 3-4 sentences to the “reflection” of the essay (paragraph 2 or 3) to explain how this activity and its lessons make you a valuable candidate

2020 TMDSAS DISADVANTAGED INFORMATION PROMPT

There is no essay on the TMDSAS to explain your disadvantaged status, but the application has a series of Yes/No questions to categorize your socioeconomic standing:

1st generation undergraduate:

1st generation graduate:

Parent/guardian of dependent children:

Primary language:

Bilingual or multilingual:

Fluent in languages other than English:

Household size:

Household income:

Residential property value:

Ever live in subsidized housing:

Ever receive benefits from the Federal Free and Reduced Meal program:

Responsibilities raising other children in household while attending elementary and/or high school:

Were you required to contribute to the overall family income (as opposed to working primarily for your own discretionary spending money) while attending high school:

Zip Code to age 18:

Lived outside US to age 18:

Percentage of college expenses provided by:

Academic scholarships:

Financial need-based scholarships:

Jobs/Employment:

Other Sources:

Received a Pell Grant during undergraduate education:

Still full-time student:

Use the TMDSAS Optional Essay to elaborate on your disadvantages.

Refer to our tips for the TMDSAS Optional Essay Prompt .

2020 TMDSAS INSTITUTIONAL ACTION PROMPT

(600 characters max)

If you answer Yes to any of the following questions, you’ll be given 600 characters to explain.

(Yes/No) Has your education ever been interrupted for any reason?

(Yes/No) Were you ever the recipient of any action by any college or professional school for unacceptable academic performance?

(Yes/No) Were you ever the recipient of any action by any college or professional school for conduct violations?

(Yes/No) Have you ever been sanctioned or received disciplinary action by a State Licensure Board of any kind (i.e., nursing, pharmacy, legal, etc.)?

(Yes/No) Are you currently under charge or have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, or have you ever received a felony or misdemeanor deferred adjudication?

2020 TMDSAS EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTIONS PROMPT

(300 characters max for each entry, no limit on number of entries)

Healthcare and Employment Activities may be listed in each category if the experience was a paid position; otherwise, do not list experiences in more than one section. For example, a scribing job would be listed in both Healthcare Activities and Employment. The Employment and Activities categories are as follows:

• Academic Recognition
• Non-Academic Recognition
• Research Activities
• Healthcare Activities
• Community Service
• Extracurricular & Leisure Activities
• Planned Activities
• Identifying Top Meaningful Activities

REFER TO OUR TIPS FOR THE AMCAS EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTIONS PROMPT .

2020 tmdsas most meaningful essays prompt.

(choose 3 of your activities, 500 characters max for each)

This section was recently added last cycle. The TMDSAS now asks you to identify three top meaningful activities.

With only 500 characters, try to capture the activity through an emotionally-gripping or inspirational scene:

As our team approached the scene, we were greeted by the scorched remnants of Dave’s trailer - four deflated tires and a melted frame - the result of an arsonist attack. This was my first ride-along with the American Red Cross. The Disaster Action Team provided clothes, water, blankets, and a few hundred dollars, but it was clear Dave needed more than temporary supplies. A humble realization set in - I will not be able to save everyone, but I will always strive to be a buoy to keep them afloat.

499 characters

END OF CONTENTS

We hope you find this resource useful. Make sure to bookmark it as a reference throughout your application cycle!

If these essays feel overwhelming, you can BOOK A FREE MEETING with our expert medical school advisors for more guidance. We’ve helped hundreds of students write their personal statements and essays, and we’d love to help you on your writing journey!

Good luck!  

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• Medical School

TMDSAS Ultimate Guide

Including samples of tmdsas essays.

TMDSAS is the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service . This unique medical school application service is used by medical schools in Texas and other professional programs. TMDSAS programs are not easily accessible to out-of-state and international students, even though some of them are the easiest medical schools to get into . In this blog, you will learn absolutely everything you need to know about TMDSAS, including its application components and timeline, how to fill out your employment and activities history, how to write stellar TMDSAS essays, and how to proceed with your TMDSAS secondaries!

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Listen to the blog!

Article Contents 19 min read

Tmdsas participating allopathic medical schools.

• The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
• Baylor College of Medicine
• The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
• McGovern Medical School
• Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio
• Texas A&M University College of Medicine
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in Lubbock
• Texas Tech University Heath Sciences Center El Paso Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
• The University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
• University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta College of Medicine 
• The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine

TMDSAS Osteopathic Schools

• Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

TMDSAS Dental Schools

• Texas A&M University School of Dentistry
• Texas Tech University Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine
• The University of Texas Health San Antonio School of Dentistry
• The University of Texas Health School of Dentistry at Houston

TMDSAS Veterinary Schools

• Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine

The Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) application is somewhat similar to AMCAS. There are components highly reminiscent of the AMCAS Work and Activities  section as well as the AMCAS personal statement . However, TMDSAS is distinct in many ways and has its own set of deadlines, components, and expectations for applicants to medical schools in Texas.

Many medical, dental, and some of the best vet schools in Texas utilize TMDSAS, and it is up to the student to know which institutions do and do not use this unique application system. Students should still review the full application handbook for specific dates for each cycle, and other key information about this multifaceted application service.

Anybody wishing to apply to med school through TMDSAS should know that according to the latest medical school acceptance rates and DO school rankings , Texas medical schools give unprecedented preference to in-state applicants. And while there is a small number of out-of-state matriculants, the goal of prioritizing the local population and their educational needs is the reason why Texas has devised its own independent medical school application system.  ","label":"Important note","title":"Important note"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

Aside from standard personal information, demographic information, education history, information about financial status, and the like, the TMDSAS requests all information on your educational history, employment, professional affiliations, and  extracurriculars for medical school . In addition, letters of evaluation (sometimes referred to as medical school recommendation letters ), and information about any standardized tests may be required for your chosen discipline.

Please refer to the following medical school application timelines to coordinate your TMDSAS application:

Offers of admission "}]">

Now, we’ll take a closer look at the many components of the TMDSAS application!

1. Applicant History and Personal Information

The first step in completing your TMDSAS application is, of course, to fill in all your personal and background information. This includes:

• A photo of yourself (smaller than 100kb. Must be jpg, png, bmp or gif)
• Contact information, including legal name, phone, email and mailing address
• Demographic information
• Socioeconomic information and language fluency
• Military service
• Family information – here you can list if you have a parent who is a physician or dental applicants can list any practicing dentists in their close family. You may also list up to 6 people who had a significant impact on your life
• Financial information
• Felonies and misdemeanors

If you are a previous TMDSAS applicant, as in you have previously completed and applied through TMDSAS, you will be classified as a reapplicant. Your previous application materials will NOT roll over, and you’ll need to complete a new application package. This includes resubmitting your letters of evaluation and transcripts. You will not need to resubmit your MCAT score or DAT score if you previously released it to TMDSAS. If your application was never submitted or was withdrawn during processing, you are not considered a reapplicant.

Here's a quick recap of the most important elements of the TMDSAS application process:

2. Education History and Coursework

This section of the TMDSAS application includes information on:

• Your high school education (including GED or homeschooled applicants)
• College education and all colleges attended, including transcripts
• SAT/ACT scores
• MCAT or DAT score, if required by the program
• Any interruptions to your education or disciplinary action taken
• Self-identification as a non-traditional applicant *

*If you identify as a non-traditional applicant, you will be asked to write a short essay on this prompt: “Describe the factors that have defined you as a non-traditional candidate and how they impact your application.” (1,000 character limit)

Transcripts can be arranged by the applicant, so long as they arrive in an official, sealed envelope from the school’s Registrar and are less than 1 year old. TMDSAS also has a Transcript Request Form, where you can submit an official request for transcripts to your educational institution(s) through the application system. You need to submit transcripts from all colleges/universities you've attended in the U.S., U.S. Territories, and Canada. Note that the TMDSAS website recommends applicants use this Transcript Request Form to expedite processing of your transcripts, and to ensure there are no errors that could delay your application. Do not send in your transcripts until TMDSAS sends you a request for your transcripts as they will not be kept on file.

Along with transcripts, TMDSAS also requests you include information on all institutions attended, coursework, marks as indicated in your transcript, and credit hours, as part of the application process. This also includes a space to enter planned enrollment and coursework yet to be taken, as well as for information on any disciplinary action, violation of conduct, or similar institutional punitive action that may be present in your permanent/academic record.

Each TMDSAS school may have specific minimum thresholds for applicant’s GPA and MCAT scores. The average GPA of TMDSAS matriculants is 3.68, and the average MCAT score of matriculants is 505. If you are applying to specific medical schools in Texas, you can use MSAR to determine where you meet the minimum admission requirements.

Did you know that 29% of all TMDSAS medical school matriculants had a GPA between 3.9 and 4.0?

3. TMDSAS Employment and Activities

In filling out your activities and descriptions of those activities, there are different regulations depending on the program to which you are applying – Medical, Dental, or Veterinary. Much of the application process up to this point is universal across programs, so you must be very careful to ensure you’re following the instructions specific to your desired program as you move forward. We’ll highlight those aspects specific to medical school applicants, to help you focus your efforts as you put together your application. 

Medical school applicants

Medical school applicants can list employment and activities they have been engaged in or awards received since graduating high school. Veterinary applicants can list activities and employment from the beginning of high school.

There is no limit to the number of entries you can include, but take note that some entries have a character limit of 300 and others have a character limit of 500.

There are multiple categories for your employment experiences and activities. Medical school applicants can include activities in the following:

• Academic Recognition – academic awards, honors and other recognitions received (300 character limit).
• Non-Academic Recognition – non-academic awards, honors and other recognitions (300 character limit).
• Leadership – 500 character limit
• Employment – 300 character limit
• Research – 500 character limit
• Healthcare (human healthcare related activities only) – 500 character limit
• Community Service – 500 character limit
• Extracurricular and Leisure/Hobbies – 500 character limit
• Top Meaningful Activities – Similar to the AMCAS most meaningful experiences section, you will be asked to choose 3 of your most meaningful experiences from previous entries. 500-character limit per entry.
• Planned Activities – i.e., activities to be done after applying but before beginning the program to which you are applying. 500 character limit.

An activity can be included in both the health care and employment categories if it is a paid position and fits under both categories. Leadership experiences can be entered in multiple categories as well. ","label":"Note","title":"Note"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

Many students struggle to determine which hobbies and leisure activities to include in their application. If you need help with this section, check out some AMCAS hobbies examples to get some ideas. While entering your Employment and Activities items, you should include all relevant activities from the time of your high school graduation to the present, minus any gaps longer than 3 months.

Each activity must be categorized, and must include the full details of the activity, including your role or title, relevant start and end dates, location information, hours (if applicable), and a brief description of the entry (300 characters, including spaces). You must ensure you have full and accurate information for each and every entry. Ideally, you will keep a record of all such information as you complete each activity, or you will begin compiling such a list as soon as possible. It is advisable to begin such a list in your first year of university, if you are planning to apply to med school in the future. Having a clear and thorough record, including dates, hours, contact information for supervisors or verifiers, and the like, can save a lot of headaches later.

300 characters for each entry is precious little space - just 2-3 sentences. So, you'll really want to craft a clear and specific role or title for yourself that highlights your key function, in that section of the entry. That is to say, you won't just want to refer to yourself as a "Lead Volunteer", but rather, "Lead Hospice Volunteer, Patient Companion and Team Manager"; not simply a "Flautist", but rather, "Flautist, First-Chair, Wind Ensemble"; and so on. Then, use precise action verbs and concise language to summarize the most impactful and pertinent aspects of your experience.

Also take a look at this TMDSAS activity section example :

Provided emotional support and companionship to palliative care patients; managed scheduling for team of 8 part-time volunteers; prioritized patient well-being by providing comfort and conversation, facilitating family visits, and communicating with staff regarding patient needs.\" (280 characters, including spaces) ","label":"TMDSAS Activity Entry Sample","title":"TMDSAS Activity Entry Sample"}]" code="tab3" template="BlogArticle">

FREE WEBCLASS  How To Make Your Med School Application Stand Out And Avoid The Top 5 Reasons That Gets 90% Of Applicants Rejected ","buttonText":"Register Now!","buttonColor":"#ffffff","bannerUnderText":" Limited Spots Available ","trustpilot":false}" :url=""https:\/\/bemoacademicconsulting.com\/med-app-webinar-registration-usa-initial-consult"" code="banner2" background-color="#000066" button-color="#ffffff" banner-image> Dental school applicants

Dental school applicants have two additional categories where they can list experiences specifically related to the practice of dentistry.

• Dental Experience – Includes all experiences where over 50% of your time was spent under the supervision of a dentist. You can include all paid, voluntary or academic experiences, such as dental clinical experience or shadowing. These should be different than any experiences listed under healthcare experience. There is a 300 character limit per entry.
• Manual Dexterity – List any extracurricular, leisure activities, or hobbies you have participated in since graduating from high school involving the development and attunement of manual dexterity. There is a 500 character limit.

Veterinary school applicants

Vet school applicants can list activities from the beginning of high school. The same rules and formatting apply for activity entries, although there are two additional categories for vet school applicants:

• Veterinary supervised experience – includes veterinary clinical experiences, agribusiness, or health science experiences that you have had with veterinarians. Includes voluntary, paid, or academic experiences. There is a 300 character limit.
• Animal experience – Includes pet ownership (over 100 hours), farm and ranch experiences, 4-H membership, animal training, working in a boarding kennel or other similar activities. Only list here if experience was NOT supervised by a veterinarian. There is a 300 character limit per entry.

4. Chronology of Activities

In composing each entry for your employment and activities, it's worth noting that the TMDSAS application system will automatically generate a "Chronology of Activities" as you enter this information. The Chronology of Activities is a summary document that is included with the information sent to schools. Only the first 50 characters (including spaces) of your activity description carry over to this auto-generated document. So, it's important to think strategically about how you structure the information you provide, ensuring you highlight key aspects of your activity description in the first 50 characters.

Schools will be able to access the full description of each activity in your application, but this summary acts as an eye-catching cover sheet of sorts, so you want to entice them as a way of encouraging a detailed review of your activities. You also want to think strategically about which information you give priority in each entry, so that this overview gives a well-rounded impression of your list of activities, employment, and other experiences. 

Remember that you can edit your Chronology of Activities by deleting or editing entries until you are happy with the outline. Once the information from your activities has been imported to the Chronology of Activities, you will be able to view a calendar displaying your timeline. Here you can make note of any gaps in your chronology and add items to fill those gaps. Any gap larger than 3 months should be addressed.

If, on the other hand, I wanted to use this experience to emphasize my managerial skills, ability to lead, and attention to detail, I might begin with, \"Managed scheduling for team of 8 volunteers\u2026\". ","label":"Chronology of Activities Sample","title":"Chronology of Activities Sample"}]" code="tab4" template="BlogArticle">

The type of acceptable medical school recommendation letters are determined by the program to which you are applying, as noted below. In general, however, such letters are written by evaluators (sometimes called “referees”) who know you well and who have the capacity to evaluate you academically and personally. Most evaluators will be professors who can speak to your specific competencies in the discipline, your academic achievements and strengths, your general collegiality, and so on. Each letter of evaluation should be completed on official letterhead, must include the contact information of the evaluator (phone number and/or email address), the signature of the evaluator, the applicant’s name and the date. If any of these criteria are not met, the letter will not be accepted as part of your application. 

Three individual Veterinary Medicine Applicant Evaluation Forms submitted directly to TMDSAS. At least one evaluation must be completed by a veterinarian. Only the Veterinary Medicine Applicant Evaluation Form will be accepted. Letters of evaluation will not be accepted. "}]" code="timeline3">

Letters of evaluation and Health Professions Committee packets can be sent virtually to TMDSAS through Virtual Evals or Interfolio. Applicants can also choose to mail their letters to TMDSAS or upload them directly through the application system. Note that individual letters will be uploaded through the TMDSAS Evaluator Portal, and letter packets need to be uploaded through the TMDSAS Advisor Portal.

Veterinary applicants will input their evaluators’ contact information during their application. Applicants need to let their evaluators know that TMDSAS will send them an email with instructions on accessing the Evaluator Portal, where they will be able to complete the Veterinary Medicine Application Evaluation Form online.

Reapplicants for TMDSAS can reuse both individual letters and letter packets, provided they were written after May 1, 2021. Reapplicants must reupload all their letters through the TMDSAS system or resend them electronically.

6. Test Scores

All of the medical school programs in Texas require you to take the MCAT. Your MCAT score must be from within 5 years to be valid. The exception is if you are applying to the Baylor College of Medicine, which has a 3-year cut-off for MCAT scores. Test scores from within the year of enrollment will NOT be accepted, so plan carefully when to take the MCAT so you can ensure your scores are valid. Check the latest MCAT test and release dates to help you in your planning. Applicants should request to release their scores to TMDSAS as soon as they become available.

The following Texas schools require the CASPer test:

• Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine – Altus Suite ( Snapshot and Duet also required)
• Texas A&M University College of Medicine – Duet also required
• Texas Tech University HSC School of Medicine
• Texas Tech University HSC, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
• UT Southwestern Medical School

The DAT is required for admission to dental schools in Texas. Your DAT score must be no older than 5 years. It is recommended that you take your DAT in the spring or summer prior to applying, to avoid delays in processing your scores, since dental schools begin offers of acceptance in December.

Vet school applicants are not required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), but may choose to submit their scores in this section. Your GRE scores can be released to TMDSAS through the online portal, similar to the MCAT. Scores for your GRE are only considered valid if they are within 5 years.

TMDSAS Essays

The TMDSAS application includes a number of different admission essays you will need to complete. We’ll go through each one of these, and some TMDSAS essay examples so you get a better idea of what to expect:

#1: TMDSAS Personal Statement (5,000 characters, including spaces)

The personal essay asks you to describe opportunities and challenges (veterinary-related and non-veterinary-related) you have experienced and how these have helped to prepare you to enter the veterinary profession. ","label":"Vet School Prompt","title":"Vet School Prompt"}]" code="tab5" template="BlogArticle">

TMDSAS Personal Statement Example

Your personal statement is the most challenging component of your medical school application and therefore it must be your best. Excellent personal essays explain who you are and why do you want to be a doctor , outline your values and motivations, and demonstrate what makes you the perfect candidate for medical school. Remember, it is crucial to show, rather than tell, what experiences prepared you for medical training and practice. Before you sit down to write your personal statement you might want to read some TMDSAS personal statement examples  to get an idea of what’s expected. You can also read medical school personal statement examples  and AACOMAS personal statement examples for DO school applicants, to see the quality of thought and writing that’s required of any medical school applicant.

Your personal essay should be a coherent story of how and why you are motivated to pursue medicine. Much like an academic essay, your personal statement will be composed of an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. 

Your conclusion should not be a dry summary of the essay. You can re-emphasize the most important points of the essay, but the conclusion should also include something new and insightful to leave a lasting impression. Perhaps you can address the relationship between medicine and the human condition or reflect on your journey and purpose to become a medical professional. ","label":"Conclusion","title":"Conclusion"}]" code="tab6" template="BlogArticle">

Here’s some more tips for writing your TMDSAS personal statement and admission essays!

• Revise your essay carefully. Let 2 to 3 qualified people read and comment on your statement, i.e. your former teacher, professor, or a TA. Make sure your statement has good structure, flow, and no grammatical errors. It's important that you don't have too many people review your personal statement as too many differing ideas and thoughts can result in your statement becoming disjointed and confusing. It's always a good idea to have your statement reviewed by a professional who can objectively review your statement and give you personalized feedback.
• Avoid using the passive voice in your statement. Instead of writing “I was taught by my parents to…”, write “My parents taught me to…”
• Make sure to avoid clichés and unsubstantiated statements.
• Be concise and avoid any “fillers” . You do not need to fill the entire character count, so choose quality over quantity.
• Be genuine about your journey , but don’t turn your personal statement into an autobiography.
• You will need to type your essay directly into the provided field on your online TMDSAS application. Don’t copy and paste, and remember to save frequently to preserve your works

Prompt: Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics (background, talents, skills, etc.) or experiences that would add to the educational experience of others. (all applicants)

TMDSAS Personal Characteristics Essay Sample

This prompt for your TMDSAS personal characteristics essay  is meant to investigate whether you would be a valuable addition to your medical school cohort. This is your opportunity to describe some personal attributes that would enrich the educational experience of your med school classmates. This can include personal background and family history, talents, and skills, as well as experiences that shaped you into the person you are today. This essay is meant to specifically address diverse backgrounds, abilities, and experiences, so you can think of it as a diversity essay for medical school  prompt.

For this type of essay, you could discuss your sex, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation and their impact on your life and decision to become a physician. You can write about your family’s socio-economic struggles or successes and how they shaped your work ethic and determination to be a medical professional. Reflect on your unique experiences like military service or immigration, as these are cataclysmic events that alter the course of people’s lives. Additionally, you can discuss challenges of bilingualism, integration (whether post-military or cultural), alienation, and other aspects of your background. Perhaps you will want to address your disadvantaged status and how it affects your career- and life-choices, including your choice to become a doctor. 

The TMDSAS personal characteristics essay is your chance to reflect on your journey and circumstances that make you a unique candidate for medical school specifically. Do not simply tell your story without linking it back to your decision to become a doctor. It provides an additional perspective of your candidacy to the medical school admission committees. Your essay should demonstrate what others can learn from you and what personal experiences can broaden your classmates’ horizons.

#3: TMDSAS Optional Essay (2,500 characters, including spaces)

Prompt:  Briefly discuss any unique circumstances or life experiences that are relevant to your application which have not previously been presented. (All applicants)

 TMDSAS Optional Essay Sample

The TMDSAS optional essay is available to all applicants but is not considered to be a requirement of the TMDSAS application. You do not need to fill in the entire character count, what's most important is that your essay is well structured, in-depth and tells whatever story you wish to tell eloquently. Be sure to focus on quality over quantity, so do not feel that you have to use all the character space. Try reading a TMDSAS optional essay example for some inspiration in writing your own.

Traditionally, the optional essay was not offered to veterinary applicants, but now this type of essay is available to students applying to any of the three programs participating in TMDSAS (medicine, dentistry, and veterinary). It is important to know that the optional essay is not truly optional. Your choice to dismiss this portion of the application may be used against you in the weeding out process. The optional essay is your chance to provide the admissions committee with a deeper understanding of who you are as an applicant and who you are as a person. Many students do not know how to approach this essay, as the prompt is very open-ended and lacks a specific question which the applicants must answer. The beauty and difficulty of the optional essay is that the topic can be anything. This is your time to be creative and impress your admissions committee.

Your optional essay cannot be just a continuation of your personal statement or other application essays. Do not reiterate what you have written previously. This is a chance for you to address any topics or themes that have not been previously covered. Your personal statement and personal characteristics essay have already covered a large portion of your journey to becoming a doctor. You might be wondering what kind of skills and experiences you can bring up in your optional essay. Let’s examine what kind of content your optional essay could include.

Let's recap what you can cover in your TMDSAS Optional Essay:

A select number of students may have achieved success in a particular field at a very high level. For example, were you a national-level athlete or performed on stage to a large audience? These are very unique activities that you may not have thought to include on the rest of your application, but achievements at this level are rare and can be mentioned here. "}]">

2. Describe your significant research experiences, research interests, and career goals as appropriate for an applicant to the DDS\/PhD dual degree program. ","label":"Prompt for DDS-PhD:","title":"Prompt for DDS-PhD:"}]" code="tab7" template="BlogArticle">

If you are applying to DDS-PhD, DO-PhD or MD-PhD programs , you will need to submit an essay detailing your motivation to pursue the combined degree. The content of your essay will outline your research experience, interests, and career goals in relation to your desired program.

If you’re applying to DDS-PhD, your essay should speak to your abilities, experiences, and suitability to pursue dental research. You can check out some dental school personal statement examples to see how your statement should outline your journey to dental school. Your DDS-PhD essay, on the other hand, should demonstrate how your research experiences and patient interactions have led you to apply to the DDS-PhD program.

If you’re applying to the DO-PhD or MD-PhD programs, your essay should answer the question of why you wouldn’t be satisfied with a career that doesn’t involve both medical research and clinical practice. Your essay must explain why you didn’t choose to pursue only an MD or only a PhD. Make sure you do not come off as indecisive and unable to choose between the two. You must show that you understand and appreciate the intricate relationship between medicine and science and that you are willing to dedicate the next 7 to 8 years of your life to medical research. While your personal statement typically focuses on why you want to be a doctor, your MD PhD essay  should demonstrate your experiences and interests that combine scientific research and medical practice. Ideally, you will include 2 to 3 premed research opportunities that can be connected to clinical practice. This does not mean that research experiences you include in the essay have to do with medicine, rather, reflect on what the research experiences taught you that can be used in your future career as a physician-scientist. Just make sure that the experiences you include are meaningful and valuable to your growth as a researcher interested in medicine.

Remember, MD-PhD essays must demonstrate a balance between your research and clinical experiences even though the combined degree does focus on research. You cannot ignore the clinical aspect of the program so make sure to address your suitability for both components of the program in the essay. Remember to review the pros and cons of MD PhD vs MD . It is important to understand the differences and nuances of each program before you apply. 

Check out our tips for writing the best MD-PhD essays:

TMDSAS Residency Status

The state legislature of Texas limits the number of non-residents who can go to each medical school in Texas to 10% . So, at the time of your application, you will be categorized as either a “resident” or “non-resident” of Texas and placed into an applicant pool accordingly.

Percentage of non-resident matriculants allowed at Texas medical schools

Note that not all schools/programs that use TMDSAS will consider international applicants; some will only review and consider applicants who are U.S. citizens or legal Permanent Residents. As well, whether or not you are a resident of the state of Texas will impact your application's consideration and the medical school tuition you will pay, if accepted.

List of schools that accept ONLY US citizens and permanent residents

• UT School of Dentistry at Houston
• UT Dental School at San Antonio
• Texas Tech University Woody L. Hunt School of Dentistry
• John Sealy School of Medicine at UTMB
• McGovern Medical School, UT Health at Houston
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center - Paul L. Foster School of
• Medicine at El Paso
• Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine
• University of North Texas - Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
• UT Austin Dell Medical School
• UT Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
• UT Southwestern Medical School 

State residency is determined by one of two processes:

• Residency through High School Graduation
• Residency by Establishing Domicile

If you have not lived in Texas for long (or have not lived there at all, or have lived there previously, but not recently), you must carefully review the standards for establishing and proving residency. Residency determinations are made at the time of application, and if there is a change in your residency after applying, you are responsible for notifying all schools of such a change. This may result in reclassification of your application, based on each school’s individual regulations and discretion.

Note that, if you are still collecting some supporting documents – specifically, standardized test scores, transcripts, and letters of evaluation/recommendation – you can still submit your application for processing to begin. TMDSAS will begin processing and forwarding your application to schools, and you can submit these documents at a later date, as they become available.

Want our help with your TMDSAS application? Listen to what students have to say about our services:

After submitting your primary TMDSAS, you must submit your medical school secondary essays to each school separately. The fees, supplementary documents, and any other components of the secondary application must be sent directly to the schools, not through TMDSAS. Any questions you have about a specific secondary must be directed to the respective school. Each medical school participating in TMDSAS will have its own procedure for secondary applications. It is important to remember that you are responsible for your secondaries. Some schools will send out emails to invite you to complete the secondary application, while others will give no notification. To submit your secondary application for some of these schools, you will be personally responsible to create your own login account. In this case, do not wait for email invites from schools to submit!

Check out examples of TMDSAS secondaries in our video:

TMDSAS Medical Schools Without Secondary Essays

The following schools do not require students to submit secondary applications:

• The University of Texas Health School of Dentistry Houston

The following list includes medical schools that require secondary applications after you send in the primary TMDSAS application. We’ve also included each school’s prompts from the medical schools secondary essays prompt list.

Applicants will receive an email invitation to complete their secondary application after the initial review of their TMDSAS application. What's unique about Dell Medical School is that if selected, you'll receive an email invitation with details on how to prepare and submit your video answers through a free online portal. The secondary application consists of questions that address specific aspects of the school's mission. In a two-minute response to each question, you should address how your experiences will help you contribute to Dell’s medical program and the medical field in general. You may request to have a written secondary application if you feel that you represent yourselves better in writing. There is no fee for the video secondary application. If you chose the written version of the application, please confirm if there’s a fee.

You will receive an email invitation from the school containing a link and instructions to complete secondary application after McGovern Medical School has received your complete application from TMDSAS. McGovern’s secondary application fee is $50.

You will receive an email invitation from the school to complete the secondary application after your completed primary application has been received from TMDSAS. There is a non-refundable fee of $75 for the secondary application. The secondary application and fee are required to be considered for admission.

You may submit your secondary application after the school receives the primary application from TMDSAS. You will get an email prompting you to create an account to access the secondary application once your primary application is transmitted. There is no fee.

• Describe a group project or activity that you are most proud of. Consider the following in your response: What aspect makes you most proud? How was it accomplished? How did you deal with disagreement or conflict in the group? How did you get fellow group members to embrace a position or view your perspective? (2500 characters)
• Describe a time that you have witnessed someone acting unethically or dishonestly, or an experienced behavior of harassment or discrimination. Consider the following in your response: What did you do? What made the situation difficult for you personally? Describe your reaction and what you might do differently now in retrospect. (2500 characters)
• Describe an interaction or experience that has made you more sensitive or appreciative of cultural differences, and/or how you have committed yourself to understanding and aiding in the pursuit of equity and inclusion in your academic, professional or personal life. (2500 characters)
• (Optional) Have you engaged in any public service activities for a duration of one year or greater in length (examples: Military, Peace Corps, Teach for America, etc.). Yes or No? If so, please describe the experience and impact on your personal and professional development. (2500 characters)
• (Optional) Please explain any academic discrepancies or extenuating circumstances that you feel the Admissions Committee should know. (2500 characters)

You will receive an email invitation from the school to complete your secondary application after the initial review of the TMDSAS application. Once the secondary application is completed and returned, your application will be randomly assigned to an admissions committee member for review and consideration for interview. The secondary application fee is $45.

• The UTRGV SOM educates future physicians with the following values in mind: Patient Advocacy, Community-Focus, Cultural Awareness, Collaborative Leadership Style, Lifelong Problem Solving. Choose TWO (2) of these values and explain their importance to you and how they integrate with each other. Please explain how this integration will impact your medical school education. (300 words)
• Describe how you decide if a person or source is trustworthy. (300 words or less)
• Describe a time when the awareness of your own limitations resulted in a favorable outcome for you or someone close to you. (350 words or less)
• In the event you are accepted to two or more medical schools, what factors would be most important in determining which school would be the "best fit" for you. (150 words max; bullet points are acceptable)
• Briefly describe the community you anticipate practicing medicine in post-residency: (100 words or less)

Part 2: Essays (Optional)

• Is there any personal characteristic, capability, or experience that you believe would be important for us to know in order to assess your potential as a medical student and practicing physician? Note: This must be something you have not covered elsewhere in the primary or secondary application. (optional,150 words or less).
• Do you have any suggestions for improving medical care and access in the community of the Rio Grande Valley? How can the School of Medicine help to improve the situation? (optional, 300 words or less)

Part 2: Video Response (Required)

Submit a 2-minute video that answers one of the two questions below:

• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine has commitments to diversity, inclusion, and health equity. What do these terms mean to you? What is their importance to medical education and practice, as well as to the health of our society in general?
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine's Honor Code requires that medical students live honestly, advance on individual merit, and demonstrate respect for others. UTRGV SOM subscribes to the highest Code of Professional Conduct. Our aim is professional behavior beyond reproach. Briefly explain the relevance of a school of medicine’s honor code to your anticipated development as a future practitioner of medicine.

This medical school does not send email invitations to complete the secondary application. You must create your own account in the school’s Application Processing Portal to receive the secondary application. There is a non-refundable application fee of $60. The secondary application and fee are required to be considered for admission.

• Describe briefly any experiences and/or skills that have made you more sensitive or appreciative of other cultures or the human condition. (3500 characters)
• The Texas A&M College of Medicine embraces the Aggie Core Values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity and Selfless Service. Briefly discuss what activities demonstrate best that you would be a good custodian of these core values. (3500 characters)
• Describe any circumstances indicative of some hardship, such as, but not limited to, financial difficulties, personal or family illness, a medical condition, a death in the immediate family or educational disadvantage not mentioned in your primary application essays; OR describe any key academic, personal, or financial barriers that COVID-19 may have posed on you or your immediate family. (3500 characters)
• (Optional) List the area (or areas) of medicine that appeals to you and briefly explain. (Limit your explanation to 50 words or 250 characters for each area of interest you list.) Do not leave blank. If not applicable, please so indicate (250 characters)

After the school receives completed TMDSAS applications, they will send out email invites to eligible candidates. Secondary application prompts are generally broken down into two main sections: areas of interest and supplemental information. The application fee is $60.

Areas of Interest

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is responsible for providing primary health care to 108 counties of West Texas. We are interested in hearing about the areas of medicine that interest you.

Please indicate the area(s) of medicine you are interested in and briefly describe your significant activities for each respective interest in the available text box (if checked, a box will appear with a 100 word limit)

• Practicing in an underserved area
• Rural health
• Medical Research
• Medical Academics
• Primary Care
• Border Health
• Public Health
• Other (Please describe below)

 ESSAY PROMPTS

The only prompts that are REQUIRED are 2. and 7.

• Have you experienced any road bumps in your academic career? (Low academic performance, dropping, retaking, or failing courses, etc.) (yes or no)
• If so, please explain your circumstance. (250 words or less)
• Please share any lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic that you would like the admissions committee to consider – either regarding yourself or your community – about any or all of the topics below? (300 words or less)
• Disruptions in your academic, volunteer, work, community and or personal life.
• Creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis.
• Hardships you may have faced as a result of isolation, quarantine or illness
• If you are applying to a dual degree program, please briefly describe your motivation to pursue this program and any other pertinent information. (e.g. research interests, steps taken to prepare yourself) (Note that if you select more than one program in this section you will be required to rank them in order of importance. 200 words or less)(note that you get 200 words for each program if you choose more than one) (MD/MBA, MD/MPH, MD/PHD, MD/JD, or NONE)
• Are you applying to our MD & E program? (yes or no)
• Describe your motivation to pursue this program, be sure to include how you expect to benefit from the program. (200 words or less)
• How do you anticipate this program making you a more efficient caregiver? (200 words or less)
• Please list the highest-level math/chemistry/physics course you have taken or are currently taking. (200 words or less)
• What projects have you been involved in that require programming and/or machine languages? What languages do you prefer? ( 200 words or less)
• Are you applying FMAT? (yes or no)
• What motivates you to participate in the FMAT program (200 words or less)?
• What experiences have you had that would prepare you for this intensive program (200 words or less)?
• What, in your opinion, distinguishes Family Medicine from other medical specialties (200 words or less)?
• Have you experienced any hardship or adversity, personally or professionally? (yes or no)
• If so, please share your experience with us. (200 words or less)
• Please tell us about your favorite recreational/leisure activities (200 words or less)
• Do you consider yourself from West Texas or as having West Texas ties? (yes or no)
• If yes, what town or county did you reside in, or what other factors would you cite? (100 words or less)
• Have you participated in any special programs offered by a medical school to help prepare yourself for medical school and a career in medicine? (yes or no)
• If yes, what was the name of the program and where was this program hosted (sponsoring school)? (100 words or less)

This school does not send out email invites to complete secondary applications. You must access secondary application through the admissions portal. Information that you provide in this application will be used in conjunction with your TMDSAS application during the review process. There is no fee for the secondary application.

You will receive an email invite from the school to complete their secondary application after the school receives your completed TMDSAS application. The secondary application fee is $60 and is non-refundable.

• The mission of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Paul L. Foster School of Medicine is to provide an outstanding education and development opportunities for a diverse group of students, residents, faculty, and staff; advance knowledge through innovation and research; and serve the needs of our socially and culturally diverse communities and region.” Recognizing the components of this mission and that PLFSOM is located on the US/Mexico border, please describe why you are interested in applying to our school. (300 words or less)
• The Foster SOM student honor code states “In my capacity as a Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso School of Medicine medical student, I will uphold the dignity of the medical profession. I will, to the best of my ability, avoid actions which might result in harm to my patients. I will protect the dignity of my patients and the deceased and will protect their confidential information in accordance with the prevailing standards of medical practice. I will not lie, cheat, or steal. I will enter into professional relationships with my colleagues, teachers, and other health care professionals in a manner that is respectful and reflective of the high standards and expectations of my profession. I will not tolerate violations of this Code by others and will report such violations to the appropriate authorities.” Please describe past experiences or personal attributes that reflect your affinity with this honor code. (300 words or less)
• Please describe any unique personal experiences or disadvantage (educational, financial or otherwise) and their significance to you in your pursuit of a medical degree. (300 words or less)

You will receive an email invitation to submit a secondary application via email. The email will contain a link to the submission portal along with instructions and additional information. There is no fee for the secondary application.

You will receive an email invitation from UTMB with instructions on how to complete the secondary application once the TMDSAS application has been processed. No applicant will be invited for an interview without the submission of a completed secondary application. The secondary application fee is $70.

Choose 3 of the 7 prompts to respond to (300 word maximum for each)

• Describe a situation where you have sought to enrich and/or improve the life of another individual.
• Describe a time you navigated a challenging circumstance. How will this experience help you succeed in medical school or as a physician?
• John Sealy School of Medicine values inclusion and advocacy. Describe a time when you advocated for someone whose social identity (e.g., race, gender, sex, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, ability status, etc.) differed from yours. Explain the situation and why advocacy was necessary.
• Describe a time you were wrong. Why were you wrong? How did you respond 
• How do you define curiosity? Provide an example in which curiosity helped solve or expand your knowledge and experience outside of the academic environment.
• What attributes do you look for in your physician(s)? Which of these attributes do you need to develop? How will you develop them?
• John Sealy School of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch serves patients throughout Texas, focusing on Galveston County and the Gulf Coast Region. Are there particular characteristics of our school and/or the Galveston area in terms of location, history, or other attributes which make you especially interested in matriculating here?

This school requires the submission of secondaries in addition to the primary application. The secondary application is available for electronic submission on the Texas A&M Health Science Center Application Processing Portal . You can register to log in when you visit the portal.

This school does not send out email invites to complete secondary applications. You must access secondary application through the admissions portal. Application fee is $75.

As should be evident, the TMDSAS application process is long, trenchant, and nuanced. As such, you absolutely MUST start early! Not only is the application itself time-consuming, many schools begin interviewing in July and August of the year prior to anticipated admission, so early applications have a better chance of consideration. The application itself is also multifaceted, and if you’re applying to schools through both AMCAS and TMDSAS (or, possibly even AACOMAS), the components will not carry over or be identical for each application (even if only because of all the varying character limits, as well as the additional essay options for TMDSAS), so attention to detail is key. This is not something that can be done in a couple of days – or even a couple of weeks! – prior to the application deadline. Rather, a strong application can take months to craft.

1. Why do I need to use TMDSAS instead of AMCAS or AACOMAS to apply to medical schools in Texas?

The main reason most schools in Texas do not use AMCAS or AACOMAS is the Texas State Legislature, which limits the number of out-of-state and international students that can attend public medical, dental, and veterinary schools in Texas. The TMDSAS controls the number of out-of-state and international students who apply and are admitted. Only up to 10% of non-Texan residents can be admitted to public schools’ programs. This is done to ensure that Texas residents’ medical education is prioritized.

2. Are there Texas medical schools that do not use the TMDSAS application?

Yes, there are. These include the Texas Christian University the University of North Texas Health Science Center (TCU UNTHSC), which you can apply to through AMCAS, and the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM), which uses the DO school application system AACOMAS. You can apply to them through AMCAS and AACOMAS respectively.

3. Is the TMDSAS application easier than AMCAS or AACOMAS?

No, it is not easier because all three application systems ask for similar components. Additionally, TMDSAS applications ask for two additional essays, the personal characteristics essay and optional essay, which is not really optional. You will still need to submit your work history and extracurriculars for medical school to TMDSAS, as well as your personal statement, medical school recommendation letters, and standardized test scores.

4. Is it more difficult to get into TMDSAS participating schools if I’m not a Texas resident?

Unfortunately, yes, as medical schools in Texas are not the most out of state friendly medical schools . It will be more difficult to get in if you’re an out-of-state applicant. Priority will be given to residents of Texas. Plus, out-of-state students pay higher tuition fees. You may qualify as a Texas resident if you graduated from a Texas high school or received a General Education Development (GED) there. Living in Texas continuously for 12 months right before you apply to med school can also make you eligible. Check with the program of your choice to see how you can qualify as a Texas resident. To prove your residency, you will need to provide supporting documents such as significant gainful employment documents, property ownership, ownership of a business entity, or a marriage certificate showing that you’re married to a Texas resident.

5. What should my personal characteristics essay and optional essay include?

Your personal characteristics essay must demonstrate what personal skills and experiences will contribute to the learning experience of your medical school cohort. You can view it as a diversity secondary essay prompt. Include the experiences that make you unique. Remember to always link your essays to your aspiration to become a healthcare professional.

Your optional essay is another chance to impress the admissions committees. The prompt is very open-ended, so it allows you to write about anything you want. This is your opportunity to cover a topic that you haven’t had the chance to discuss in other parts of the application. You can address your special talents and achievements, personal and family history, and discrepancies in other application components. Check out the optional essay section in this blog to learn more.

6. I am interested in the MD-PhD program. How much research experience should I have to be a competitive applicant?

What matters is the quality of your research experience, rather than quantity. You can be a great addition to the program even if you have one meaningful research experience. In your essay, you can detail your progress in and commitment to a research project. Include the highlights of the experience and significant lessons and skills you learned. Focus on your accomplishments and successes, but do not be afraid to talk about what you learned from mistakes and setbacks. 

7. How long can I take to write my TMDSAS secondary essays?

If the school does not send you any deadline specifications, ideally you will want to submit your medical school secondary essays within two weeks of receiving it. Do not rush and submit subpar essays; always focus on quality over speed. But remember, these schools have rolling admissions, so the earlier you submit your secondary essay the faster you may receive an invitation to an interview. Remember, you will not use TMDSAS to submit the secondary essays but send them directly to the school.

8. Will I have to take the CASPer test?

As I mention above, some Texas medical schools require their applicants to submit CASPer test scores. Check the list of medical schools that require CASPer . To take the test, you must go to the official CASPer website to sign up for the School of Medicine test (CSP-10111 – U.S. Medicine) and reserve a test using your TMDSAS ID and a piece of government-issued photo ID. Choose your testing date and time. 

9. What GPA and MCAT score will I need to have to be a competitive applicant for medical schools in Texas?

According to the latest data, the average GPA of TMDSAS matriculants is 3.68, and the average MCAT score of matriculants is 505. Also, 29% of all TMDSAS medical school matriculants had a GPA between 3.91.

10. How long does it take to process my TMDSAS primary application?

It normally takes 2-4 weeks for application to be processed. You will receive an email when your application has been processed and transmitted to the schools to which you applied. TMDSAS does not wait on transcripts, letters or test scores to process applications. It is your responsibility to ensure that TMDSAS has received all supporting documents by the deadline. If review of your application has found errors or inconsistencies, your application will be placed in the problem section?

11. What causes an application to be placed in the problem section?

An application may be placed in the problem section for a variety of reasons, which will delay the processing. You will be notified immediately via email. It is crucial that you are able to receive TMDSAS emails and that you answer promptly.

12. I forgot to include something in my TMDSAS applications! Can I go back and add it after I have submitted it?

Once you have submitted your application, you can only make edits or changes to the following sections: Contact Info, College Attended, College Coursework, Terms Attended, Planned Enrollment, My Account, and Test Scores.

13. The recommender I listed in my application is not longer able to write my reference, so I had to find new people to write my recommendation letters. What should I do?

You must update TMDSAS of this change immediately. Once you have secured a different writer, please notify TMDSAS of the new referee by sending a message through the internal message system in the application. Include the name of the recommender that needs to be removed and provide the following information for the recommender that should be added:

·      Salutation (i.e. Dr, Prof, Mr., Mrs., etc.)

·      First and last name of the Recommender

·      Suffix (i.e. MD, PhD, etc.)

·      Relationship to you (Academic Advisor, HP Advisor, Professor, Business Associate, Work/Volunteer Supervisor, Other)

·      Letter delivery method (upload directly to TMDSAS, Interfolio or regular mail)

·      Email address of evaluator if he/she will upload directly to TMDSAS

14. Will I have to go to a medical school interview if I apply through TMDSAS?

Yes, you will but they will not be set up through the TMDSAS application system. You will be notified by individual schools if they invite you to interview. Practice with common medical school interview questions  and MMI questions to get ready.

15. Do graduates of Texas medical schools go through the same residency application process as everyone else?

Yes, if you want to apply to American residency programs you will use the ERAS application system just like all the other candidates applying to match to American residencies.

Image credit: Ted Eytan, via the Creative Commons License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode  

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Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions.

Hello, I am interested in the Silver plan for the US medical school application review consulting in the coming week. For the TMDSAS option, does this only cover the personal statement essay review or does it include the personal characteristic essay review and optional essay review?

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Hello Ken! Thanks for your message! Please feel free to reach out to us for a free strategy call to discuss how we can help you with your TMDSAS application and what kind of assistance you will get with our consultants!

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