Reviewed by:
Third-Year Medical Student, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Reviewed: 5/30/24
The Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) is a centralized application processing service for all public dental, veterinary, and medical schools in Texas. Although similar to the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) used by most medical schools throughout the nation, the TMDSAS application is unique as it has its own components, deadlines, and requirements.
This article will outline how to fill out the TMDSAS application, provide tips for making your application stand out, and reveal common mistakes to avoid.
The Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) is a centralized application service for students looking to attend medical, dental, and veterinary schools in Texas. It allows applicants to submit one standardized application, which is then distributed to participating schools.
Texas medical and dental schools stand out for many reasons. Not only are they affordable, but they’re also accessible. Many of them have a preference for Texas residents, which is a good thing for one of the largest states in America.
Texas medical and dental schools offer many diverse clinical training opportunities as Texas is one of the largest states. Students can learn from leading industry experts while also gaining hands-on skills from labs and clinics.
Texas also offers a plethora of medical schools with different program focuses, including MD, DO, and dual-degree programs (e.g., MD/PhD, MD/MPH).
Additionally, several Texas medical schools are affiliated with leading research institutions and hospitals, such as the Texas Medical Center in Houston, one of the world's largest medical complexes. If you’re looking for a medical education in the Lone Star state, you’re in good company.
TMDSAS is a gateway to nearly all public medical and dental schools in Texas and the state's only veterinary program.
The TMDSAS can seem overwhelming, but with the right knowledge, it’s quite easy. Below, we’ll outline all the Texas medical school requirements for those applying through TMDSAS.
Aside from generic personal, demographic, educational, financial, and socioeconomic information, TMDSAS requires applicants to enter information on all academic institutions attended including what classes they took, marks they earned, and credit hours.
The official Texas Medical & Dental Schools website offers a detailed breakdown of all the TMDSAS prerequisites via their course listing page. Be sure to include any planned or future coursework and any violation of conduct or disciplinary action filed against you.
TMDSAS also requires students to submit their academic transcripts. According to the handbook, only one official transcript is required from every regionally accredited U.S., U.S. Territorial, or Canadian college attended.
The handbook also mentions that you can organize them if they are less than one year old and arrive in the official sealed envelope from the school’s registrar. However, requests for transcripts can be submitted via the TMDSAS Transcript Request Form.
TMDSAS applicants are required to input their employment experiences and activities. Multiple categories exist for these:
After selecting the category that best describes your experiences, each entry is limited to 300 characters (including spaces).
If you're unsure which category your experience belongs in, you can mention the unlisted activity or leadership role in the description of another entry. This approach also works for activities that resulted in academic or non-academic recognition, or for any experience that might fit into more than one section.
Specifically regarding healthcare and employment activities, the handbook continues that they “may be listed in both categories if the experience was a paid position; otherwise, do not list experiences in more than one section below.”
To give you an example:
When filling in these fields, the application system automatically develops a 'Chronology of Activities.' The handbook says, "MUST account for all time between high school graduation and August” of the current year.
Only the first fifty characters (including spaces) are copied into this summary document. So, prioritize critical information at the start of each entry so admissions officers are drawn to each of your descriptions, increasing the likelihood they will read them in full.
Writing an essay for any school is an important step in the application process, but even more so for Texas medical and dental schools. We’ll help you understand how to structure every element of your essay to boost your acceptance chances.
As the handbook states, “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.”
Consisting of 5000 characters (including spaces), the personal statement is an excellent opportunity to explain how your experiences, knowledge, and motivations make you an ideal candidate for your preferred medical school. Knowing how to write a personal statement for medical school is difficult, so leave plenty of time to prepare for it and find out how to ace it.
Limited to 2500 characters (including spaces), the personal characteristics essay is an opportunity to “describe your personal characteristics (background, talents, skills, etc.) or experiences that would add to the educational experience of others.
Its purpose is to see how you have reflected upon your own journey to becoming a physician and find out what makes you a unique applicant. This is a great section to explain what others can learn from you.
Although this 2500-character (including spaces) essay is optional, we strongly encourage you to submit one. As the handbook states, it “is an opportunity to provide the admissions committee(s) with a broader picture of who you are as an applicant.”
It's important not to regurgitate what you have said previously – use the optional essay as an opportunity to say something different about you. It can be used to address certain shortcomings in your application, explore family circumstances, or reflect upon your exceptional achievements.
If you decide to apply to MD-PhD, DO-PhD, or DDS-PhD programs, a 5000-character (including spaces) Dual Degree Essay will need to be submitted. This, as the handbook explains, is an opportunity to “discuss your research interests and career goals as an applicant to a dual degree program.”
It is highly recommended that you describe your “significant research experiences” and “include the name and title of your research mentor as well as your contributions to the project." Additionally, if any publications resulting from your work, don't be humble - include them in this section!
According to the TMDSAS website, Texas state law mandates that no more than 10% of the incoming medical and dental school classes can consist of non-Texas residents.
Within your application, you will be classed as either a ‘resident’ or a ‘non-resident’; State residency is determined by either ‘Residency through High School Graduation’ or ‘Residency by Establishing Domicile.’
To qualify for residency based on high school graduation, you must meet the following criteria:
To qualify for residency by establishing a domicile, you must meet the following requirements:
If you are an international applicant, it is essential to do your research as not all programs that use TMDSAS will consider international candidates. If they do, they will require you to submit your Visa stamp in your passport or your Permanent Resident card to TMDSAS.
Yes, a compulsory part of the TMDSAS application is uploading a digital photo of yourself. In terms of formatting, the handbook states that it must be “smaller than 100KB” and must be in either “jpg, gif, png or bmp” file formats.
Most applicants opt for a professional headshot-style photograph. Ms. Castillo, the Senior Academic Evaluator with TMDSAS and the editor-in-chief of the TMDSAS Application Handbook, advises that candidates should “think professional!” Ideally, she says, “Choose an outfit you’d be proud to wear to a job interview or to an event that requires just a little bit of dressing up, like a graduation.”
Crucially, “you are applying to professional school,” she says, “and in the professional world, there are expectations when it comes to dress code."
Be sure to upload your photo in the correct format as Castillo states that if the “technical aspects aren’t met, you might be prevented from submitting your application at the moment you’d like.”
The MCAT is required for admission to all medical schools that use TMDSAS, and the MCAT scores needed to gain access vary between schools, so be sure to do your research. Your scores must be submitted to TMDSAS via the MCAT Testing History Report System as soon as they’re available.
Your results “MUST be reported directly to TMDSAS by [the] AAMC," as offering your scores via your "personal score report will not be accepted,” according to the handbook.
To do this, you must use your 8-digit AAMC ID number given to you by the AAMC. Besides your scores, you must enter the dates you have taken or will take the MCAT between the September of the application year and your application time.
The average MCAT score for TMDSAS applicants is 500.7. This means to submit a competitive score, students should aim for an MCAT score of 501 or above.
Several schools that use TMDSAS also require applicants to take the CASPer test as part of their application processes.
Some Texas medical schools require CASPer as part of their admissions process to gain a better understanding of applicants' interpersonal skills and professionalism.
These schools use CASPer instead of the traditional GPA and MCAT scores. This helps the school judge the applicant’s suitability for a career in medicine based on factors like ethical decision-making. If you’re applying to one of these Texas medical schools, ensure you study hard for the CASPer.
As part of the TMDSAS, medical school applicants must procure “three individual letters of evaluation OR one Health Professions Committee Letter/Packet.” There is also an option for an additional letter to be submitted.
Depending on your preferred program, there are different acceptable letters of recommendation. It is essential to secure strong medical school letters of recommendation as they provide admissions committees with a summary of you as an applicant from a medical professional’s perspective.
Suppose your preferred school accepts individual letters of evaluation. In that case, you'll need to submit a 'letter placeholder' that details the evaluator's name, email address, relationship to you, and an indication of how the letter will be submitted and whether you want to waive your right to view the letters submitted.
According to the handbook, these letters must include:
However, your Health Profession Office can distribute your evaluation if your preferred institution uses a Health Committee Packet.
If this is the case, you must indicate the name of the school that is delivering your packet and answer 'yes' to the question that reads, “Would you like to release your information to the health professions advisor at any school(s)?” on the TMDSAS.
Congratulations! As long as you have paid your application fee and certified your application, you have successfully completed and submitted your TMDSAS. So, what now?
We advise you to continually check the status of your application. Crucially, you’ll be assigned an ‘Applicant Liaison’ who, as the handbook explains, is “an individual who is assigned to work with you throughout the ‘post-submission’ phase.” Make sure to reply to their messages promptly and update your grades at the end of each term you complete.
Several schools also require you to complete a secondary application.
While the TMDSAS application process is similar for both dental and medical school applicants, there are some differences in the steps and requirements for each.
The main difference is that dental school applicants must submit DAT scores instead of MCAT scores. The average DAT score for applicants accepted into dental schools is 21 on a 30-point scale.
Dental students must also write a personal statement explaining why they want to pursue a career in dentistry (up to 4,500 characters). There is an option to complete the "Disadvantaged Essay" if they have experienced educational, social, or economic challenges. They can also submit an optional essay to cover additional information not mentioned elsewhere.
Dental applicants must submit up to four letters of recommendation whereas medical applicants only need one committee letter. This means that dental applicants should have a good understanding of who to ask for the best recommendation.
Dental applicants should also focus their experience on shadowing dentists, dental assisting, or volunteering in dental clinics. This is a juxtaposition to medical students who focus on hospital volunteering, physician shadowing, and other patient-care activities.
The TMDSAS application process for veterinary school applicants shares some similarities with the medical and dental school applications but also has its own set of requirements.
Veterinary applicants must submit GRE scores instead of MCAT or DAT. The average GRE score for successful veterinary school applicants is between 155 and 160 for both the quantitative and verbal sections.
Veterinary applicants must also include a personal statement that explains their motivation for pursuing a career in veterinary medicine (up to 4,500 characters). They may also complete the optional essay and the disadvantaged essay if applicable, similar to other programs.
Like dental school applicants, veterinary applicants can also submit up to four letters of recommendation. This means that choosing the optimal writers for each letter is extremely important.
For experience, veterinary applicants typically highlight working with animals, veterinary shadowing, research, and volunteer work.
As the TMDSAS application handbook states, “we simplify the application process for both the applicants and the participating schools by providing ONE standardized application… The applicants benefit by completing one application at an affordable, flat-rate price. Think: win-win.”
All applicants are subject to a $220 application fee, payable by credit card only. This payment must be made before the end of October to successfully submit your application.
The TMDSAS application timeline is as follows:
11 medical schools use the TMDSAS:
Only four dental schools use TMDSAS in their application process:
The TMDSAS currently includes only one veterinary school:
After submitting the primary application through TMDSAS, you may also need to complete a secondary application for individual schools. These secondary applications provide each medical, dental, or veterinary school with additional information to evaluate your suitability for their program.
Each school has its own secondary application requirements, including essay prompts, questions, or additional forms. These allow schools to assess your qualities to ensure they align with their values.
Secondary applications often include essays that focus on topics such as:
Essay length and topics can vary significantly by school, so applicants should tailor their responses accordingly.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by what to include and how to articulate your interest in medicine, don't worry. Use our tool to see real medical school secondary essay examples that helped students get into their dream schools.
Most schools charge a fee for submitting secondary applications, which ranges from $50 to $100 per school. Fee waivers may be available for qualifying applicants.
Secondary applications typically have deadlines that follow the submission of the primary application. Applicants are encouraged to complete them promptly, ideally within two weeks of receiving the invitation to submit a secondary.
Some schools may request additional letters of recommendation or specific evaluators for the secondary application, supplementing those already submitted through TMDSAS.
Once secondary applications are reviewed, schools may extend interview invitations to selected applicants. These responses can significantly impact interview decisions.
These schools do not require a secondary essay from applicants:
Submitting a competitive TMDSAS application can feel daunting, but we’re here to help. Below, we’ll list the best tips to ensure you stand out from the thousands of other applicants. If you need TMDSAS medical school admissions support, we’re here to help.
As the handbook explains, developing a timeline that considers your submission deadlines is a great way to stay on track, manage your stress levels, and ensure you submit the most robust application possible!
Several vital ideas to research thoroughly and sprinkle throughout your application are the 15 ‘Core Competencies.’ As the AAMC’s website reads, “Many medical schools use holistic review and to help define holistic review further, they use 15 Core Competencies as a tool to evaluate your application.”
These core competencies include:
1. Reliability and Dependability
2. Resilience and Adaptability
3. Capacity for Improvement
4. Social Skills
5. Cultural Competence
6. Service Orientation
7. Oral Communication
8. Ethical Responsibility to Self and Others
9. Teamwork
10. Human Behavior
11. Living Systems
12. Written Communication
13. Critical Thinking
14. Scientific Inquiry
15. Quantitative Reasoning
If you're struggling to include these competencies within your application, the website advises that "the work and activities you are already involved with, and your life experiences, likely demonstrate these competencies.
For example, you can demonstrate the scientific inquiry competency by excelling in scientific research, or illustrate a service orientation competency by leading a service trip.”
To take one example from the website: “Daryl Fields demonstrated Reliability and Dependability by working as a firefighter and EMT in college. His experiences as a firefighter also demonstrate Ethical Responsibility and Resilience and Adaptability.”
Writing your personal statement is one of the most challenging aspects of the application. Luckily, the TMDSAS publication 'Apply' provides several top tips on nailing your personal statement. According to Apply, a great place to start is understanding what medical schools want to learn about you within your personal statement.
Ultimately, Apply states, that medical schools “want to better understand your motivations for seeking admission into their school and entry into the given profession. They also want to know things that you have done to support these motivations, and what meaning you have taken away from those experiences.”
So, organize your ideas and demonstrate how your previous experiences and motivations indicate that you are an exceptional candidate. Apply recommends that you only focus on "a few experiences" and explain what you learned from them.
Additionally, expressing how you envision your career in medicine evolving is highly recommended by Apply as it demonstrates that you've thought about "what you want out of a professional life.”
Finally, the TMDSAS handbook states that “Remember, you are not alone”; their team is “dedicated to providing you with the assistance you need in a timely and friendly manner, and in delivering a world-class experience with TMDSAS,” so if you have any queries or concerns – get in touch!
Cherry Gonzales, the Operations Specialist for TMDSAS, reiterates this message in Apply, where she states applicants should "use all the resources available on our various social media sites. We have a lot of application help for students to use that can help them avoid problems.”
Stressed about your TMDSAS application? We get it. That’s why were here to alleviate the stress off your shoulders by outlining all the mistakes you should avoid.
After completing the primary application stage, make sure that you continually check the status of your application! As the handbook states, “it is your responsibility to verify and ensure that TMDSAS has received all of your official transcripts.”
As mentioned earlier, the automatically generated ‘Chronology of Activities’ only shows the first 50 characters of each activity’s description. So, make sure that you prioritize the first 50 characters of each entry to convey your most exceptional achievements.
Finally, as Cherry Gonzales reiterates, applicants should “submit a photo with their application that is professional.” Every year, Gonzales is “amazed at the number of students who submit photos that are less than professional." So, to ensure that your application is as competitive as possible, treat it as an interview and dress accordingly!
While it's not required, submitting a thoughtful optional essay can strengthen your application by giving the admissions committee a more complete picture of your background and motivations. It allows you to discuss different circumstances, explain gaps in your education, or share experiences that don't fit elsewhere in the application.
Currently, the schools that require CASPer include:
Experiences like working as a nurse, patient care tech, shadowing, volunteering, scribing, conducting clinical research, and observing patient care in a healthcare setting are all accepted.
The medical schools that require you to complete a secondary application include:
To be accepted by TMDSAS, your letters of evaluation must contain the following:
Your evaluators should be familiar enough with you to accurately evaluate you personally and academically. Therefore, current and former professors, supervisors, and physicians are examples of ideal candidates.
So, much like the state that it represents, the TMDSAS application is unique. Although it is a lengthy application that requires a fair bit of time to complete, hopefully, this guide will help you navigate the TMDSAS application with ease. However, if you are stuck at any point, please get in touch with the TMDSAS team, who are more than happy to help you!
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