5/30: Transcripts received by TMDSAS and AMCAS
6/26: Got MCAT scores back. w00t!
6/27: TMDSAS Letters received
7/9: AMCAS Letters received
7/24: Submitted TMDSAS and AMCAS
8/4: TMDSAS certification page received
8/13: TMDSAS verified
8/15: AMCAS verified
8/19: UT Southwestern secondary sent, UTMB invite for 9/26!
8/21: UT Southwestern invite for 10/3!
8/26: Baylor secondary sent
9/2: A&M and Tech secondaries sent
9/8: Add UTSW MSTP to applications at encouragement of the school, move interview to 10/10-10/11 to accommodate.
9/10: UTHSCSA invite for 9/15!
9/11: Tech invite for 9/24!
9/15: UTHSCSA interview (hometown love, huzzah!), El Paso invite for 10/23!
9/17: A&M invite for 10/8!
9/24: Tech interview!
9/25: Reschedule UTMB for 10/17 due to Ike
10/1: Baylor invite for 10/24!
10/3: Houston invite for 10/24, reschedule for 10/31!
10/9: A&M interview!
10/10: UTSW MSTP interview!
10/11: UTSW MD interview!
10/17: UTMB interview!
10/23: El Paso interview!
10/24: Baylor interview!
10/27: Update/LOInterest sent to Baylor.
10/31: Houston interview!
11/14: UTMB and El Paso acceptances.
11/19: Update/LOInterest sent to UTSW.
11/20: Baylor acceptance!!! *cartwheels**backflips*
1/7: Update sent to UTSW MSTP, 2nd update sent to UTSW MD.
1/12: Finally withdrew from A&M and Tech-Lubbock
1/15: Declined Foster's acceptance, held onto UTMB's, entered match list.
1/25: TMDSAS match results apparently leaked. If it's true, I didn't move up from UTMB.
1/30: Officially assuming rejection from Harvard, glitch holds up- matched to UTMB. Apparently everyone at UT-H gets on the waitlist, so I'm considering myself WL'd there for now.
2/2: UTSW waitlist.
2/25: UTHSCSA waitlist.
3/16: Official Harvard rejections going out to everyone but me apparently...
3/17: Oh, there it is.
4/2: Withdrew from UT-H waitlist
4/22: Declined UTMB acceptance
5/19: Accepted from UT Southwestern off of the waitlist!!!
5/29: Declined UTSW acceptance and withdrew from UTHSCSA waitlist-IT'S OVER, I'M GOING TO BAYLOR!
COMMENTS:
11/9- After interviewing at all of the Texas schools, I can honestly say they are all excellent medical schools. Even El Paso, which I've heard a lot of people ragging on since it's new, looks like it's going to have a very unique and impressive program. Harvard was added pretty much strictly because they recruited me (ok, yes I know, all the URMs got that letter, but they ARE looking for URMs, and my numbers are solid, so why not), so if I was lucky enough to get an interview there I'd have to go check them out.
My top two, like most, are probably Southwestern and Baylor, as I really love the TMC and the curriculum at Baylor, but I also really like the research available at Southwestern, plus Parkland is an awesome teaching hospital as well. Not sure if the MSTP or straight MD program is right for me, but I won't worry about it unless it turns out I get to make a decision. Even though those two are probably my top two choices, I really did like all of the schools: Houston also has the TMC, I love San Antonio's atmosphere and (of course) the city, A&M's sim center is top-notch while Scott&White is incredible, El Paso's got a very interesting curriculum and some great funding coming their way, Tech's definitely on the rise and the faculty are very friendly, and UTMB's research programs are also amazing. No matter where I wind up, I know I'll get an excellent education, and so financial aid, if I'm lucky enough to get any, may very well factor in heavily into my decision.
11/15- Alright, well day 1 of pre-match has come and gone. It really feels great to know that I'll never have to go through this process again! Both of the schools I've been accepted to are very good schools, and I'd be happy to go to either one; UTMB has always had a reputation as a great research school, and El Paso has a unique curriculum and an extremely supportive faculty... plus a full ride doesn't hurt! I'd still love to hear from UTSW and keep doing the research I've started there or get into Baylor and take advantage of the TMC, and all of the other Texas schools would get a close look if I was fortunate enough to get in there-especially considering the uncertain future for both UTMB and El Paso-but to even get the opportunity to make ANY kind of choice in this process makes me feel very fortunate indeed :)
11/21- Wow. Just, wow. I had my fingers crossed for Baylor, but I'd kind of resigned myself to not hearing until March/April, if at all. And yet, I'm PRETTY sure that I got a call of acceptance yesterday. It just feels so surreal, I don't think I'm going to truly believe this is for real until I physically have the acceptance in my hand. As good at UTMB and El Paso are, especially with El Paso being so generous with financial aid, as soon as I get the physical letter I will probably be declining their offers and withdrawing my application from all schools except UT Southwestern; I would have done well at those schools, but I hope some of the guys in the Republic of Texas thread can take my acceptances there and put them to good use! I have no idea right now which school I'd choose if I actually got to make the choice between Baylor and UTSW, but I guess we'll see if that comes to pass or not :) I just sent out a letter of interest to UTSW 2 days ago, so I guess we'll see if those things have any actual use after all :)
1/7- Well I updated my profile a bit to include the complete dates at my schools. Today I also sent out a second update to UTSW, letting them know about a new abstract that's been submitted to a national conference; I'm still resolved to not really even think about the BCM/UTSW toss-up unless it becomes a reality, but having choices is always preferable to not having them, I suppose. The MSTP is apparently going to make decisions in the next 2 weeks or so and the match lists will be determined around that time, so now seemed like a good time to send the update. I need to get moving on the FAFSA, but I know it's a complete waste of time given what my family makes; I might as well just apply for the Stafford loans since I know I'm not gonna be eligible for anything else need-based. Similarly, I've done some preliminary looking at housing in Houston, but need to probably actually send out some applications soon... so much to do... As far as the other TMDSAS schools, I'm probably going to keep one of my acceptances and go into the match with UTSW and UTHSCSA ranked above my pre-match offers; UTSW is still in the picture for all of the reasons I've laid out before, and the more I think about it, I'd like to have the option to stay in San Antonio to a certain extent, so it has an outside shot. Harvard, I'm assuming, is lining a birdcage somewhere with my application- whatever, I love Baylor and UTSW anyways :). The rest will probably be withdrawn from in the next week or so- I liked them all, but I just fell in love at BCM's interview.
1/28- Well, the official match is Friday, but it looks like the match was leaked this past weekend (seriously, the TMDSAS website is so buggy...). It looks like I matched to my pre-match of UTMB, but I guess we'll see what happens on Friday. Right now, I'm busy finding all of my financial info and checking my immunization records and all that... oh fun :/
4/22- Got the fin aid email from Baylor today- nada :( Oh well, with that I think I can safely withdraw from UTMB, since i don't think I'd be able to play the 'can you match this offer' game effectively with Baylor at this point. Still contemplating what I would do if I got into UTSW, but more than likely if I pay the deposit at Baylor that's where I'm going.
5/29- Well, this is it. I did get accepted to UTSW off of the waitlist, and it was in impossibly tough choice. I love both schools so much, so it just came down to the fact that I already had housing lined up in Houston and I didn't want to have to go through and fill out all of the paperwork again for UTSW. I want to stress that I don't think the Baylor/UTSW is as clear-cut as people seem to make it out to be in favor of Baylor, but at this point I think Baylor was the right call for me. It's good to be done :)
