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✔️Checklist: 9 Items You Need to Prepare for the Upcoming Application Cycle

The Entry Year 2025 Application will open on Wednesday, May 1st at 8 a.m. CST.

Although you cannot fill out your personal information until then, there are a few things you can collect now to ensure that you have everything you need.

☑ Get Official College Transcripts

Transcripts are NOT due at the time you submit your application. Save time and money by sending in transcripts only when requested by TMDSAS.

However, it is recommended that you obtain your own official transcripts to help you enter your courses in the application.

AP Credit

Check for a Course Breakdown

Lump sum credit with no specific course and hour identification must be listed by course and credit hour.

Lump sum credit example: UCLA official transcript lists "Exam Credit: 12 hours".

If your AP credit appears as lump sum credit on your official transcript you will need to have an official letter from your registrar's office listing the breakdown of your AP credit sent to info@tmdsas.com.

Dual Credit

Get Community College Transcripts!

To avoid coursework errors, list dual credit courses under the community college that granted you the credit and list the course breakdown as it appears on the community college transcript, not your main institution.

☑ Build Resumé or Activity Log

Having a resume on hand will be helpful when entering your activities, instead of bogging down your memory!

Check out the Activities section of the Application Guide
Review Categorizing Your Activities in the TMDSAS Application

☑ Contact Your Evaluators

You will only be able to receive your letters once you have completed the [Letters of Evaluation] and [Colleges Attended Questions] sections when the application opens, but it is important that you give them a heads-up now, if you have not done so already.

Have their contact information on hand, and make sure they review Letters of Evaluation Requirements
Not sure who to ask? Review The W’s of Letters

☑ Obtain Test Score Information

DAT or MCAT Scores

3 things you need to enter your score information

Have the following information ready:

D.O.B.
DENT Pin OR AAMC ID number
Test Dates

The information from your exam account (ADA or AAMC) and your application will need to be the same to ensure there is no delay in receiving your scores.

For more information about scores, refer to the Entering Test Scores page in the Application Guide.

SAT/ACT Scores

SAT: Analysis in Science Score

If you took either of these, then you will need to enter your score(s) in the application.

Where to Find Your SAT/ACT Score Information:

Contact your college admissions office
Your high school transcript
Undergraduate transcript
College Board
ACT

Page 3 of the sample SAT Score Report shows the 'Analysis in Science' score under 'Cross-Test Scores'. This is where you can obtain your science score.

Can't obtain your scores? No worries!
If you cannot find your scores, you can certify that you are not able to pull an official record of your scores in your application.

☑ Review Essay Prompts

If you would like to type your responses before entering them into the application, use Text Editor instead of Microsoft Word to avoid the “special characters” error message from popping up in those sections.

Personal Essay

All applicants

5,000 character count including spaces.

Dental Applicants

Explain your motivation to seek a career in DENTISTRY. Discuss your philosophy of the dental profession and indicate your goals relevant to the profession.

Medical and Podiatry Applicants

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.

Veterinary Applicants

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

Personal Characteristics

All applicants

2,500 character count including spaces.

A key aspect of holistic review includes the consideration of applicants' attributes within the context of their experiences and academic metrics.

Describe any personal qualities, characteristics, and/or lived experiences that could enrich the educational experience of others.

Optional Essay - Unique Experience

For dental, medical, and podiatry applicants

2,500 character count including spaces.

This optional 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 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.

Unique Experience

For veterinary applicants

2,500 character count including spaces.

This is an opportunity to provide the admissions committee(s) with a broader picture of who you are as an applicant.

Briefly discuss any unique circumstances or life experiences that are relevant to your application which have not previously been presented.

Additional Dual Degree Program Essays

For dental and medical applicants

5,000 character count including spaces.

Dental Dual Degree Programs

DDS/PhD Essay
- Explain your motivation to seek a dual degree (DDS/PhD).

DDS/PhD Research Essay
- Describe your significant research experiences, research interests and career goals as appropriate for an applicant to dual degree program (DDS/PhD).

Medical Dual Degree Programs

Personal Essay for the JD/MD Application
- Describe your motivation to seek a dual degree (JD/MD). Discuss your interests and career goals as appropriate for an applicant to a dual degree program.

MD or DO/PhD Essay
- Explain your motivation to seek a dual degree (MD/PhD or DO/PhD). Discuss your interests and career goals as appropriate for an applicant to a dual degree program.

MD or DO/PhD Research Essay
- Describe your significant research experiences. Include the name and title of your research mentor as well as your contributions to the project. Also list any publication, awards, or presentations which have resulted from your work.

Reapplicants

In the [Application History] section of the application

If you applied in the last cycle or previous cycles AND your application was transmitted (sent to a school), then you are considered a reapplicant.

Being a reapplicant does not negatively affect you, however you will be given the opportunity to tell the admissions committee(s) why they should consider you.

What have you done to strengthen your application?

Make sure you do not leave this question unanswered.

☑ Get A Professional Headshot

Your photo must be smaller than 100 KB and be in one of the following file formats: jpg, gif, png or bmp.

Review: Is a Picture Worth a Thousand Words? (What Your Application Photo Says About You!)

☑ Collect Documents for Residency

Have documents ready to upload them in the portal after submitting your application.

Review the Proof of Texas Residency and possible documents that may be asked of you

☑ Review TMDSAS Resources

Did you know there are resources available to help you along the way?

Bookmark TMDSAS Resources, follow us on social media, and join our online sessions live on YouTube where you can get answers in real time!

Mark Your Calendars:
TMDSAS Workshops and School Panels

Workshop Schedule:

3/27: Application Overview
4/3: Letters and Test Scores
4/17: Activities
4/24: Understanding Texas Residency
5/1: Entering Coursework
5/8: Submitting Transcripts
Time Management & Preparing for the Application with Dr. Cynthia Perry
Holistic Review Process with Dr. Pierre Banks

Panels with Member Institutions Coming Soon!

Live YouTube sessions every Wednesday at 2 PM CT: https://www.youtube.com/texashealtheducationservice

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to Watch

☑ Questions? Contact TMDSAS Support via the Application Portal

Create your TMDSAS Application Account and get connected to TMDSAS Support to ask questions and make updates to your application when needed.

About the author: The Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) is the centralized application processing service for applicants to the first-year entering classes at all of the public medical, dental, and veterinary schools in the State of Texas.