Good Morning!
I wanted to introduce myself - I’ve been lurking for a while and wanted to introduce myself.
I’m 31 yo - married and have a beautiful 3 month old son. I have a B.S. in Psychology but an abysmal UG GPA of about 2.5/2.6. I live in Texas and will be returning this fall to get back so I can chase my dream of becoming a doctor.
I’m just trying to decide if I want to take advantage of the Texas Fresh Start option so if anyone has any experience with this, I would love to hear from you!
Anyways, thanks for reading and I’ve enjoyed reading the inspiring stories of so many…
Take care,
Anne
Hello Anne,
We’re in a similar situation (except I don’t have children 
- my undergrad is around a 2.67 or so and I’ll be starting my prerequisites this fall (hopefully). My original degree (never finished) is in information technology.
My university has a “forgiveness degree” program for students whose grades are older than X number of years; however, the pre-med instructor said it wasn’t of much value if the goal is to be accepted into med school. Since the governing body for MD affiliated schools counts all the undergrad credits, regardless of “forgiveness,” he didn’t think it would be of any use - not sure if that’s the same program you’re referring to or not.
Good luck on your journey!
- Brigit
HI 
Well, the Academic Fresh Start is actually part of TX education statute - I haven’t ever heard of anything like this before.
My understanding and what I have discussed with admission offices of a couple of med programs here is that they, if I chose the Fresh Start option, won’t ever see the grades that fall 10 or more years out. The only bummer is that I have to retake everything to earn a degree - from COMP I & II on up.
I just figure with my current GPA it will take 4 years to get to a 3.0 (with nothing lower than an A) so I might as well get the best foot forward and start clean - maybe end up with a 3.6 and give myself some room to breathe…
I’m meeting next week with the pre-health assoc. dean to go over things so we’ll see how it goes.
Take care!
anne
Hello everyone , my name is jennie and I’m 30 yrs old I have a 12 year old and I went to vocational school for clincal medical assisting 10 yrs ago, but that’s it I’ve never stepped foot inside a college classroom I just enrolled into the local jr.college majoring in pre-med I’m hoping ill be done by 45 , does that sound crazy?? Anyone have any success stories about someone WITHOUT a undergrad degree and starting late like myself??
Thanx jen
I don’t think it’s crazy at all. Many different people get to the same place at many different times and by many different routs.
I think I read in another forum that someone got in medical school in their 50s.
I think what’s important is to figure out medical school is the right place for you to go and to go for it once you are sure.
I am actually 39 and going back to school this fall. I will matriculate in 2012 and will be 43.
Good luck to all of us!!
- annbow Said:
HI
Well, the Academic Fresh Start is actually part of TX education statute - I haven't ever heard of anything like this before.
My understanding and what I have discussed with admission offices of a couple of med programs here is that they, if I chose the Fresh Start option, won't ever see the grades that fall 10 or more years out. The only bummer is that I have to retake everything to earn a degree - from COMP I & II on up.
I just figure with my current GPA it will take 4 years to get to a 3.0 (with nothing lower than an A) so I might as well get the best foot forward and start clean - maybe end up with a 3.6 and give myself some room to breathe....
I'm meeting next week with the pre-health assoc. dean to go over things so we'll see how it goes.
Take care!
anne
Well, the Academic Fresh Start is actually part of TX education statute - I haven't ever heard of anything like this before.
My understanding and what I have discussed with admission offices of a couple of med programs here is that they, if I chose the Fresh Start option, won't ever see the grades that fall 10 or more years out. The only bummer is that I have to retake everything to earn a degree - from COMP I & II on up.
I just figure with my current GPA it will take 4 years to get to a 3.0 (with nothing lower than an A) so I might as well get the best foot forward and start clean - maybe end up with a 3.6 and give myself some room to breathe....
I'm meeting next week with the pre-health assoc. dean to go over things so we'll see how it goes.
Take care!
anne
Anne,
That's exactly what my plan is.
I am starting at Texas State University-San Marcos starting this fall because all my coursework is more than 10 years old. I have to come up with 30 transferrable credit to transfer into UT Austin. (My previous GPA was good enough to be admitted to Texas State.)
At least at UT Austin, I understand that Academic Fresh Start can not be invoked after you are admitted. So please be sure to speak to admissions counselor in addition to Dean of Pre-Health Program.
Yeah, the admissions office at UT Dallas told me to “hang on” to my academic fresh start as it only effects my transfer hours and not my admission.
We’ll see what they have to say on Thursday
Best of luck to you!
Anne
I posted something on this a bit back, worth repeating
- In reply to:
For those who may not know (myself included until a few minutes ago) Texas has its own centralized application service for in-state publicly funded medical, dental, and vet schools: the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) (http://www.utsystem.edu/TMDSAS/). This includes 8 medical schools in Texas. It would seem that fresh start only applies to those schools. The final authority on applying or interpreting Texas Education Code 51.931, Right to an Academic Fresh Start is the Director of Admissions at the college or university where you are planning to enroll. Some combined programs listed on the TMDSAS site specifically require AMCAS in addition to TMDSAS.
Definitely need a Texas Medical School Officer's opinion on all this
Definitely need a Texas Medical School Officer's opinion on all this
It should be noted that this applies only to public education institutions. Here is the statue in its entirety
- In reply to:
§ 51.931. RIGHT TO AN ACADEMIC FRESH START. (a) This section applies to any public institution of higher education as defined in Section 61.003 of this code.
(b) Unless otherwise prohibited by law, a resident of this state is entitled to apply for admission to and enroll as an undergraduate student in any public institution of higher education under this section.
(c) If an applicant elects to seek admission under this section, a public institution of higher education, in considering the applicant for admission, shall not consider academic course credits or grades earned by the applicant 10 or more years prior to the starting date of the semester in which the applicant seeks to enroll. An applicant who makes the election to apply under this section and is admitted as a student may not receive any course credit for courses undertaken 10 or more years prior to enrollment under this section.
(d) If a student who enrolls under this section completes a prescribed course of study, earns a baccalaureate degree, and applies for admission to a postgraduate or professional program offered by a public institution of higher education, the institution, in considering the applicant for admission into the postgraduate or professional program, shall consider only the grade point average of the applicant established by the course work completed after enrollment under this section, along with any other criteria the institution uses in evaluating applicants for admission into the postgraduate or professional program.
(e) Nothing in this section prohibits a public institution of higher education from applying standard admissions criteria generally applicable to persons seeking admission to the institution.
Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 724, § 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1993. Renumbered from V.T.C.A., Education Code § 51.929 by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, § 17.01(7), eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
(b) Unless otherwise prohibited by law, a resident of this state is entitled to apply for admission to and enroll as an undergraduate student in any public institution of higher education under this section.
(c) If an applicant elects to seek admission under this section, a public institution of higher education, in considering the applicant for admission, shall not consider academic course credits or grades earned by the applicant 10 or more years prior to the starting date of the semester in which the applicant seeks to enroll. An applicant who makes the election to apply under this section and is admitted as a student may not receive any course credit for courses undertaken 10 or more years prior to enrollment under this section.
(d) If a student who enrolls under this section completes a prescribed course of study, earns a baccalaureate degree, and applies for admission to a postgraduate or professional program offered by a public institution of higher education, the institution, in considering the applicant for admission into the postgraduate or professional program, shall consider only the grade point average of the applicant established by the course work completed after enrollment under this section, along with any other criteria the institution uses in evaluating applicants for admission into the postgraduate or professional program.
(e) Nothing in this section prohibits a public institution of higher education from applying standard admissions criteria generally applicable to persons seeking admission to the institution.
Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 724, § 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1993. Renumbered from V.T.C.A., Education Code § 51.929 by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, § 17.01(7), eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
The TMDSAS specifically puts the below information on their application web site
http://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas/othertopics.htm
- In reply to:
Texas Academic Fresh Start
Texas residents who apply for admission (or re-admission) to a Texas public college or university and enroll as an undergraduate student may be able to begin a new course of study with a clear academic record.
If you are a Texas resident who has credits for college courses taken 10 or more years prior to the planned graduate school enrollment date, the "Academic Fresh Start" law allows you to have those credits ignored for enrollment purposes. (Section 51.931 of the Texas Education Code)
NOTE: THIS IS AN ALL OR NOTHING OPTION. Applicants are not able to pick and choose which courses to ignore and which courses to count. If the applicant applies under the "Academic Fresh Start" option, they will not receive any credit for any courses taken 10 or more years from the date he/she is granted Academic Fresh Start.
Academic Fresh Start Requirements:
The following sequence must occur for an applicant to be eligible to invoke the Academic Fresh Start provision when applying to a post-graduate or professional program.
1. Apply for admission to any undergraduate public institution of higher education under the Academic Fresh Start provision.
2. Be admitted to the institution as an undergraduate student under the Academic Fresh Start provision. Generally a contract or some signed documentation is required.
3. Enroll in the institution under the Academic Fresh Start provision.
4. Complete a course of study. (For TMDSAS purposes, an applicant must complete a minimum of one course in residence during the initial term of enrollment under the Academic Fresh Start provision. This term must be completed before the application deadline.)
5. Earn a baccalaureate degree. (This requirement is waived by applying to Medical, Dental and Veterinary school because a baccalaureate is recommended but not required. A minimum of 90 undergraduate semester hours, including ALL of the required courses, must be earned, after the 10 year cutoff date is established by enrolling under Academic Fresh Start.)
6. Apply for admission to post-graduate or professional school under the Academic Fresh Start provision.
7. TMDSAS must have all transcripts before we can process an Academic Fresh Start applicant.
NOTE: The term in which the applicant was admitted to the undergraduate institution MUST be noted on the institution's transcript. That gives TMDSAS the authority to drop all courses 10 or more years prior to enrollment under Academic Fresh Start in calculating the admission Grade Point Average (GPA). A letter from the institution's Registrar certifying admission and enrollment under Academic Fresh Start is required in lieu of the notation on the institution's transcript.
If more clarification is needed, please contact TMDSAS via email at: TMDSAS@utsystem.edu and include in the subject line: "Academic Fresh Start".
Texas residents who apply for admission (or re-admission) to a Texas public college or university and enroll as an undergraduate student may be able to begin a new course of study with a clear academic record.
If you are a Texas resident who has credits for college courses taken 10 or more years prior to the planned graduate school enrollment date, the "Academic Fresh Start" law allows you to have those credits ignored for enrollment purposes. (Section 51.931 of the Texas Education Code)
NOTE: THIS IS AN ALL OR NOTHING OPTION. Applicants are not able to pick and choose which courses to ignore and which courses to count. If the applicant applies under the "Academic Fresh Start" option, they will not receive any credit for any courses taken 10 or more years from the date he/she is granted Academic Fresh Start.
Academic Fresh Start Requirements:
The following sequence must occur for an applicant to be eligible to invoke the Academic Fresh Start provision when applying to a post-graduate or professional program.
1. Apply for admission to any undergraduate public institution of higher education under the Academic Fresh Start provision.
2. Be admitted to the institution as an undergraduate student under the Academic Fresh Start provision. Generally a contract or some signed documentation is required.
3. Enroll in the institution under the Academic Fresh Start provision.
4. Complete a course of study. (For TMDSAS purposes, an applicant must complete a minimum of one course in residence during the initial term of enrollment under the Academic Fresh Start provision. This term must be completed before the application deadline.)
5. Earn a baccalaureate degree. (This requirement is waived by applying to Medical, Dental and Veterinary school because a baccalaureate is recommended but not required. A minimum of 90 undergraduate semester hours, including ALL of the required courses, must be earned, after the 10 year cutoff date is established by enrolling under Academic Fresh Start.)
6. Apply for admission to post-graduate or professional school under the Academic Fresh Start provision.
7. TMDSAS must have all transcripts before we can process an Academic Fresh Start applicant.
NOTE: The term in which the applicant was admitted to the undergraduate institution MUST be noted on the institution's transcript. That gives TMDSAS the authority to drop all courses 10 or more years prior to enrollment under Academic Fresh Start in calculating the admission Grade Point Average (GPA). A letter from the institution's Registrar certifying admission and enrollment under Academic Fresh Start is required in lieu of the notation on the institution's transcript.
If more clarification is needed, please contact TMDSAS via email at: TMDSAS@utsystem.edu and include in the subject line: "Academic Fresh Start".
I also noticed that at least one of the of the texas medical school's note the statute in their current catalogs
http://www.uth.tmc.edu/med/catalogs/catalog- 2007-0...
Lastly, for anyone who actually makes it this far, the University of Texas Office of General Counsel has a website http://www.utsystem.edu/OGC/checklists/catalo gchkl... which specifically notes that the catalogs must contain language such as this
- In reply to:
Postgraduate/Professional Programs
An applicant who has earned a baccalaureate degree under the "academic fresh start" statute, Texas Education Code, Section 51.931, and applies for admission to a postgraduate or professional program will be evaluated on only the grade point average of the course of work completed for that baccalaureate degree and the other criteria stated herein for admission to the postgraduate or professional program.
An applicant who has earned a baccalaureate degree under the "academic fresh start" statute, Texas Education Code, Section 51.931, and applies for admission to a postgraduate or professional program will be evaluated on only the grade point average of the course of work completed for that baccalaureate degree and the other criteria stated herein for admission to the postgraduate or professional program.
In sum, it would appear that for Texas Residents, the fresh start program is accepted by the public Texas medical schools.
Gonnif,
Appreciate the post.
The Fresh Start is an amazing opportunity for many of us here in TX.
I’ve done a lot of looking into this and have actually talked with a couple of our med schools here - both have entering first year med students that took advantage of Fresh Start.
The only school that is not bound to honor Fresh Start is Baylor as it is a private med school. They can if they want but don’t have to.
If we apply out of state, the schools get all the grades and the combined ugGPA. They will get an explanation of what it is but they are bound to honor it, although they can if they wish.
I go and meet with the dean on Thursday to get more information and see where I’m at - as I’m tad confused about being admitted under Fresh Start v. enrolling under Fresh Start as the statute refers to both and they are quite different terms with different implications.
We’ll see, but it is a very good opportunity for those us who are looking for a new lease on our dreams of practicing medicine.
take care,
Anne
1 Like
It’s never too late to start. A good friend of mine has a resident now who is 54 or 55, think he said.
I’m basically starting over too! There are a lot of others on the same path…and I’m running into more and more every day.
Best wishes,
Anne
- annbow Said:
Gonnif,
Appreciate the post.
The Fresh Start is an amazing opportunity for many of us here in TX.
I've done a lot of looking into this and have actually talked with a couple of our med schools here - both have entering first year med students that took advantage of Fresh Start.
The only school that is not bound to honor Fresh Start is Baylor as it is a private med school. They can if they want but don't have to.
If we apply out of state, the schools get all the grades and the combined ugGPA. They will get an explanation of what it is but they are bound to honor it, although they can if they wish.
I go and meet with the dean on Thursday to get more information and see where I'm at - as I'm tad confused about being admitted under Fresh Start v. enrolling under Fresh Start as the statute refers to both and they are quite different terms with different implications.
We'll see, but it is a very good opportunity for those us who are looking for a new lease on our dreams of practicing medicine.
take care,
Anne
Appreciate the post.
The Fresh Start is an amazing opportunity for many of us here in TX.
I've done a lot of looking into this and have actually talked with a couple of our med schools here - both have entering first year med students that took advantage of Fresh Start.
The only school that is not bound to honor Fresh Start is Baylor as it is a private med school. They can if they want but don't have to.
If we apply out of state, the schools get all the grades and the combined ugGPA. They will get an explanation of what it is but they are bound to honor it, although they can if they wish.
I go and meet with the dean on Thursday to get more information and see where I'm at - as I'm tad confused about being admitted under Fresh Start v. enrolling under Fresh Start as the statute refers to both and they are quite different terms with different implications.
We'll see, but it is a very good opportunity for those us who are looking for a new lease on our dreams of practicing medicine.
take care,
Anne
Fortunately, or Unfortunately, this admission vs. enrollment thing was not an issue for me because my grades were not good enough to get admitted to UT Austin. So I am starting this fall at Texas State University at San Marcos to get at least 30 transferrable credit to apply to UT Austin for next fall under academic fresh start provision.
Anyway, Here are the links to the websites I looked at:
College for Texans Website
UT Dallas Admissions Website,
UT Austin Admissions Website.
I do know two things about Academic Fresh Start.
1. We will have to sign a document with Admissions Office to indicate that we know what we are signing up for.
2. Transcript will indicate that Academic Fresh Start was invoked. This allows TMDSAS to remove all credits for college courses taken 10 or more years prior to the enrollment date. So public post-graduate or professional program will not see them at all according to a woman at TMDSAS during my phone conversation with her.
Finally, on a side note, I will say life in Texas is good!! I am not a native Texan. But I am certainly happy to be here!!
Actually Here’s the Website for UT Austin Website that I meant to link.
I think where it gets sticky is that when you want an academic fresh start AND you qualify for admission at that school you are applying to.
As I indicated in my previous post, I did not have to deal with this particular problem since I didn’t qualify for admission at UT Austin. But most people don’t understand or know why you would want to throw away all those credits.
Out of their care and concern, people will try to tell us that we wouldn’t want to lose all those credit we earned, not understanding our ultimate goal. For us, this is where we have sacrifice something to get something.
I have had a lady on the phone from UT Austin Admissions Office who is not an admissions counselor tell me that exact thing.
Anyway, I am off my soap box now. Good luck to everyone!!
1 Like
Here’s a twist. I have a BA from Baylor (1994) with a 3.15 and a JD from UH cum laude (1998). I have reactivated my admission status at Baylor (no issue at all qualifying for admission, obviously) and am planning to start a BIO course on Monday (I have no science prereqs at all – my degree is in French).
My question is this…I know that a private med school does not have to accept Fresh Start but what about Baylor? Can I apply to med school under Fresh Start and have them disregard my undergrad courses from 90-94? I am so confused. Just when I think I have things figured out… 
- annbow Said:
The only school that is not bound to honor Fresh Start is Baylor as it is a private med school. They can if they want but don't have to.
I’m sorry, I wasn’t clear (it was late!) – I meant Baylor undergrad, not Baylor med. I know Baylor med would not have to honor Fresh Start if, say, I had gone to UT and reapplied to UT under Fresh Start for my prereqs, etc. But my question is, what is the effect of the fact that Baylor University (where I got my undergrad) is private? Does this render me unable to use Fresh Start since Baylor (undergrad) does not use the program because only public universities are bound by it. If I apply to public med school under Fresh Start (per the process outlined here – http://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas/othertopics.htm#Tex… will adcom disregard my Baylor University grades from my undergrad?).
I figured out last night that I can raise my GPA to 3.5 by taking about 70 hours. Would there be anything wrong with taking the non-prereqs at community college?
The only close to definitive answer to this would have to be provided by both the UG institution and the medical school. While I, like everyone else here is going to medicine, my reading of the info on this is only public universities in Texas have to give you a fresh start and only public schools have to accept it.
So for example, if your UG gives you a fresh start and you apply to a non-public medical school, they would most likely want to see your ENTIRE under graduate record. There is no statute that forces them to do otherwise.
Again you would have to contact the school and see what their specific policy is. But since Baylor is not a public medical school nor do they use the TMDSAS but rather use AMCAS, I would think that Baylor does NOT accept fresh start.
Now I know we have some lawyers out there, opinions?
I’m not applying to Baylor med school. I’m applying to public schools who would accept Fresh Start. The problem is that Baylor University undergrad will not admit me under Fresh Start because they do not have the program.
I am having an email convo with someone at TMDSAS right now where we’re sorting this out. She said I can be admitted to Fresh Start at the community college where I took a couple classes in the summer during undergrad and then apply to public med schools under Fresh Start. BUT my question is, what happens to my Baylor UG grades? Do the public med schools look at them because I wasn’t readmitted to Baylor under Fresh Start? Do they disregard them because MCC admitted me under Fresh Start and only consider any grades earned at any instituion post-Fresh Start? What if I take my science prereqs at Baylor undergrad??? Will adcom only look at those grades since they were post-Fresh Start? (I am already readmitted to Baylor undergrad at all – I don’t need Fresh Start to be admitted.)
This is starting to sound like a law school exam!
Just got a reply from TMDSAS:
“The fresh start provision would eliminate all course work taken 10 years prior to the date you were admitted under the provision. For example, if you were granted Fresh Start for Fall 2008, then all course work taken at any institution prior to Fall 1998 would be deleted from your application. Only course work taken after Fall 1998 would be included in your application and used to calculate your GPA.”
Sounds like this may be the way to go.
- heartoftexas Said:
Here's a twist. I have a BA from Baylor (1994) with a 3.15 and a JD from UH cum laude (1998). I have reactivated my admission status at Baylor (no issue at all qualifying for admission, obviously) and am planning to start a BIO course on Monday (I have no science prereqs at all -- my degree is in French).
My question is this...I know that a private med school does not have to accept Fresh Start but what about Baylor? Can I apply to med school under Fresh Start and have them disregard my undergrad courses from 90-94? I am so confused. Just when I think I have things figured out....
My question is this...I know that a private med school does not have to accept Fresh Start but what about Baylor? Can I apply to med school under Fresh Start and have them disregard my undergrad courses from 90-94? I am so confused. Just when I think I have things figured out....
Wait a second...you're the one with the law degree! (shows you how closely I read the post originally). I think it is pretty clear:
a)Baylor UG (original, not new) would be wiped away with fresh start but so would your JD. The statute is clear on it being an ALL OR NOTHING proposition.
b) Baylor UG (new admit, not old BA) is current, not 10 years old as required by statute
c) Baylor UG (new admit, not old BA) is not a public institution thus not covered by fresh start
d) If you go to Baylor now and the CC, BOTH sets of grades MUST be reported to the Public Texas Medical Schools. And I would think Baylor would then report the old grades as they are NOT covered by Fresh Start
So if you want to use fresh start, you would have to use only the CC.
HOWEVER, If you use Fresh Start, your JD disappears. I think that your background, particularly with a BA and JD isn't that bad
I know you have to decide now as the new Baylor semester is starting, but I would seriously consider going with what you have. You had a life, a career, you are going to take new courses now, I think you would make a stronger, more "real" candidate with your real background.
Suppose that at an interview they ask what have you been doing? If you mention the JD in your application and send in grades for that and not your original UG, I would think a big red flag would come up in the collective mind of the adcom. What do you talk about? You weren't an alien who dropped out of the sky with no educational background. Do you hide your skeletons in the closet or as a non-trad, do you take them out and dance with them?
You got a lot of thinking to do in the next 48 hours. Counselor, the jury is still out but I think you present your case to the fullest and NOT "plea bargain" via Fresh Start. I think you lose more than you gain. Your gonna have to take the stand with med school interview sooner or later. Get up there and tell your story.
I rest my case!
(OK Perry Mason I ain't)
Academic Fresh start can be envoked regardless of where you earned your undergrad/graduate degree (mine is from Oklahoma).
Obviously you need to do what is best for you, but I would caution you on envoking this in your situation. This is ALL OR NOTHING, you can’t have them not look at your 90-94 coursework but count your JD coursework (since it too was completed more than 10 years ago) - it would all go (depending on when you finished your JD in '98 - you may have a semester of grades that would count).
So, in essence, you would start from scratch as far as the public TX med schools were concerned - they would look at it as if you had no degree whatsoever.
Once you apply to a school (not the medical school but the school where you plan to take your prereq’s) under Fresh Start, you cannot undo it - you sign a contract indicating you are aware you’re giving up all credit towards a degree program 10 or more years old. This would count for your UG degree and your JD.
Your GPA is not bad - it is actually pretty great compared to mine I would seriously go and sit down with an advisor who has experience advising premeds and hash all this out with them…in my opinion you would be giving up so much to get just a little…
Everything I have heard advises against taking prereq’s at community college. If you do decide to wipe the slate clean, I wouldn’t think there would be a problem with taking things like Comp I & II, US History, etc. at a community college. Things like anatomy, genetics, chem, biochem, would need to be taken at a 4 year…my humble opinion.
Hope that helps - like I said earlier, even with my cruddy GPA I wasn’t willing to give up my degree - even though they say you can apply with 90 completed hours if they have you with no degree, 90 hours, and 3.7 and another applicant with a degree and a 3.4 I think they’d interview the one with the degree…
About as clear as mud, huh.
Take care,
Anne