Question 1

My essay is 820 words — should I cut it, or is anything under 850 acceptable?

Accepted Answer

820 words falls within the 550–850 limit, so length alone won't lower your score. Reviewers score on Clarity of Motivation, Reflective Depth, and Narrative Cohesion — trim only if cutting tightens those dimensions.

Question 2

I mention shadowing and volunteering — why might I still score low on Clinical Exposure and Insight?

Accepted Answer

The rubric penalizes listing experiences without describing what you observed or learned. Name a specific moment — a difficult prognosis conversation, a language barrier — and show how it reshaped your understanding of physician practice.

Question 3

How specific does my Forward Vision need to be to score well on the 0–5 scale?

Accepted Answer

Vague endings like 'help patients and make a difference' score low. Name a patient population, care setting, or value set and connect it directly to an experience already described — your conclusion should feel inevitable, not generic.

TMDSAS Personal Statement — Texas MD

Evaluation criteria

Focus Themes

Use this rubric for your review

Frequently asked questions