TMDSAS activities section examples can help you understand how to present your experiences effectively when applying to medical schools in Texas. The TMDSAS application requires applicants to categorize and describe their activities using strict character limits, making concise and impactful writing essential. In this guide, we’ll explain how the TMDSAS activities section works, break down each category, and provide real TMDSAS activities section examples that demonstrate strong descriptions. You’ll also learn practical strategies for writing compelling entries that highlight your achievements and personal growth.
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What is the TMDSAS Activities Section?
The TMDSAS activities section is part of the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) where applicants list and describe experiences they have participated in since the age of 16. Like most medical school application services, TMDSAS requires applicants to provide standard personal and demographic information, information about their financial status, and educational history. It also asks for extracurricular activities.
While the TMDSAS activities section is reminiscent of AMCAS Work and Activities, it is distinct in several ways.
The key difference between activities sections is their format. The AMCAS Work and Activities section allows for 700 characters for the description of each activity whereas for TMDSAS, you will have either 300 or 500 characters per entry to provide a meaningful description, depending on the category.
It should be noted that there are different regulations depending on the program to which you are applying – Medical, Dental, or Veterinary. You will need to ensure that you are verifying and following the instructions specific to your desired program. Throughout this blog, we will be highlighting the aspects specific to medical school applicants.
The activities section on the TMDSAS application asks medical school applicants to create a chronology of the activities they participated in since graduating from high school. While there is no limit to the number of activities that you can enter, TMDSAS uses nine activity categories to help admissions committees understand the breadth of your extracurriculars for medical school.
These nine categories include:
In addition to the chronological list of activities, you are allowed to choose a maximum of three activities that are most meaningful to you, which TMDSAS refers to as the “top meaningful activities.” For this section, you can select activities that have already been completed or that are still ongoing. You cannot, however, list activities that you plan on participating in. For each of those chosen activities, you will have an additional 500 characters to describe why it meant so much to you and why it stands out among the rest.
How to Write TMDSAS Activity Section Descriptions
You have 300 or 500 characters (including spaces, depending on category) for each of your entries to provide a brief but impactful description of the activity in question. The limited character count means that you can write just 2 to 3 sentences. So, it is imperative that you craft a clear description using precise action verbs and concise language that'll summarize the most pertinent aspects of your experience and showcase the competencies that medical schools care about, such as leadership, collaboration, and curiosity.
One of the best ways to do this is to write specific roles or titles that highlight the key functions of the activity in question. For example, if one of your activities was volunteering at a hospice where you occupied a leadership role, you want to highlight that using the title of your role. So instead of referring to yourself as a "Hospice Volunteer", you would say "Lead Hospice Volunteer and Team Coordinator".
Additionally, the order in which you present information in your description is very important in this application system. TMDSAS automatically generates a "Chronology of Activities" for the information you've entered.
The Chronology of Activities is a summary document that will be included with the other information sent to schools you're applying to. On this document, only the first 50 characters (including spaces) of your activity description are visible. Your chosen medical schools will eventually have access to the full description of each activity in your application, but this summary acts the same way a cover sheet would. The summary is what they will see first, you want to make a good first impression and entice them to encourage a detailed review of your activities.
You want the first 50 characters of your description to be dictated by what you want to emphasize as the most meaningful aspect of the experience, so it helps to follow a clear structure. One effective approach is to organize your description using the following structure:
Role + Action + Impact
Start by briefly identifying your role, then explain what you did, and finish by highlighting either the main outcome or lesson from the experience. It is also important that you write this structure in a way that is still natural and grammatically correct.
Example:
Emergency Department Assistant (Role) – Supported nursing staff (Action) with patient transport and intake procedures while coordinating patient flow during busy weekend shifts (Impact).
This structure ensures that your description communicates your responsibilities, contributions, and the value of the experience. Ultimately, your Chronology of Activities should give a well-rounded impression of your list of extracurriculars, employment, and other experiences; and your full description should provide even more context for them.
Have you started working on your personal statement yet? Check out this infographic for tips:
TMDSAS Activities Section Common Mistakes
Many applicants overlook how their experiences are presented in the TMDSAS application, focusing heavily on what they did in an activity. As a result, the impact of strong experiences can be diluted. By avoiding the following common mistakes, you can ensure that your activities are clear and effective.
1. Listing Responsibilities Without Showing Impact
Admissions committees already understand the typical duties associated with common roles such as volunteering, research assistance, or clinical work. However, listing tasks does not help them understand what you accomplished or what you learned from an experience. Instead, highlight the outcomes of your involvement or the skills you developed.
Weak example:
Volunteered at a hospital and helped nurses with tasks.
Stronger version:
Assisted nursing staff with patient transport and discharge coordination, helping improve patient flow during peak shifts.
2. Including Too Many Similar Activities
Listing multiple activities that read as identical will make your experiences feel repetitive. Admissions committees are interested in how you explored different opportunities and how you went about developing competencies, such as leadership, service, research, and clinical exposure. Prioritize experiences that demonstrate meaningful involvement and personal growth over several experiences for the sake of filling space.
3. Repeating the Same Information Across Different Sections
Because some experiences may fit into multiple categories, applicants may feel inclined to repeat the same description across multiple entries. Repeating descriptions will make your activities list less substantive as a result.
If you find that an activity appears in more than one category, adjust the description so that the entry demonstrates a different aspect of experience.
4. Using the “Most Meaningful” Section to Repeat the Activity Description
The additional space for your most meaningful activities must not repeat what you did in the experience. Use this section to explain why the experience mattered in shaping your motivations to pursue medicine and what essential skills you learned that enhanced your readiness for the medical field.
A strong TMDSAS activities section allows admissions committees to understand what you did and the impact of your experiences. By avoiding vague descriptions, repetitive entries, and missed opportunities to highlight impact, you can ensure that each activity adds meaningful context to your application.
TMDSAS Activities Section Examples
TMDSAS Activities Section Example #1:
Category: Academic Recognition
Award title: Community Service Leadership Award
Date received: May 20xx
City, country, and state: Stars City, Texas USA
Brief description of the award: My involvement in six community organizations on campus earned me this award from X University. The award is given annually to three students who demonstrate strong commitment to community engagement. I directed the $2,500 grant toward the university’s preventable disease outreach program. (296 characters)
Why this Example Works:
This description establishes the scale of involvement, the recognition received, and the impact of the award. It also highlights community engagement, which is a key competency medical schools look for in strong applicants.
TMDSAS Activities Section Example #2:
Category: Non-Academic Recognition
Award title: Silver medal and recognition trophy from the Diabetes Association of StarsCity
Date received: August 20xx
City, country, and state: Stars City, Texas USA
Brief description of the award: I trained for eight months to run a 5 km race to raise awareness and raise funds for the Diabetes Association of StarsCity. As one of the first ten runners to cross the finish line (8th place), I received a silver medal. I also received a recognition award for my other fundraising efforts. (291 characters).
TMDSAS Activities Section Example #3:
Category: Leadership
Role or position title: Founding member and co-chair of Green Initiative at XYZ University
Start and end date: March 20xx – Ongoing
City, country, and state: This city, Texas USA
Brief description of the position: I worked with 3 other students to develop and implement environmentally friendly initiatives and policies throughout the campus. So far, we have helped two faculties reduce their use of paper by over 70%, raised enough money to plant 37 new trees on campus, and started a community garden. (290 characters)
Why this Example Works:
Strong activity descriptions balance responsibility with measurable outcomes. In this example, the applicant demonstrates leadership, initiative, and tangible results such as reducing paper use and expanding environmental initiatives.
TMDSAS Activities Section Example #4:
Category: Employment
Employer: XXYY hospital
Job title: Emergency Department (ED) Assistant
Start date & End date: June 20xx - Ongoing
City, country, and state: Houston City, Texas USA
Hours worked per week: 20 hours
Brief description of the job: Every weekend for the past two years, I have been working as an ED assistant at a local hospital. While this is paid work, it is a learning opportunity for me. I have learned about organization and administration and that every team member contributes to the department's efficiency and success. (296 characters).
TMDSAS Activities Section Example #5:
Category: Research Activities
Research activity name: Diabetes Undergraduate Research Internship at XYZ University
Start & end date: Sept 30 20xx to June 2 20xx
City, country, and state: City, New York USA
Approximate hours worked per week: 20 hours
Total cumulative hours: 640 hours
Brief description of the research: I found that a genome-wide functional genomics approach can be used to uncover genetic determinants of immune phenotypes in type 1 diabetes during the XYZ undergraduate research internship under the supervision of Dr. Smith. My research is currently being peer-reviewed. (271 characters)
Why this Example Works:
This description communicates the focus of the research and the applicant’s involvement in the project. Mentioning supervision and publication status also strengthens the academic relevance of the experience.
TMDSAS Activities Section Example #6:
Category: Healthcare Activities
Activity name: Emergency Department (ED) Assistant
Start & end date: June 20xx - Ongoing
City, country & state: Houston City, Texas USA
Hours worked per week: 20 hours
Total cumulative hours: 960 hours to date
Brief description of the activity: My role allowed me to assist with direct patient care, transport patients to and from the Emergency department safely, and provide observation to assigned medical and psychiatric patients. This challenging role has taught me the importance of patience and compassion when dealing with patients. (294 characters)
Want to learn more about TMDSAS? Check out this video:
TMDSAS Activities Section Example #7:
Category: Community Service
Activity name: X Mobile Clinic volunteer
Start & end date: June 16 20xx to August 23 20xx
City, country & state: That place, Alaska USA
Hours worked per week: 36 hours
Total cumulative hours: 325 hours
Brief description of the activity: I educated over 1,000 patients on preventive care and assisted in providing them with primary and dental care by participating in mobile clinics. This experience taught me the importance of access to a primary care physician and that connecting with patients is a big part of caring for them. (294 characters).
Why this Example Works:
This description demonstrates meaningful service by quantifying the number of patients helped and explaining the applicant’s role in supporting care delivery.
TMDSAS Activities Section Example #8:
Category: Extracurricular & Leisure Activities
Type of activity: Creator & coordinator of XYZ Local Chess Club
Start & end date: May 12 20xx – Ongoing
City, country & state: XYZ, Texas USA
Approximate hours per month: 10 hours
Total cumulative hours: 1440 hours
Brief description of the activity: After winning three chess tournaments in high school, moving to XYZ, and not having a community to play with, I decided to create one. The club now has 46 members, and we have organized chess tournaments with different chess clubs in neighboring towns every summer for the past three years. (291 characters)
TMDSAS Activities Section Example #9:
Category: Planned activities
Activity type: X Mobile Clinic volunteer and volunteer coordinator
Start & planned end date: July 6 20xx - Sept 15 20xx
City, country & state: XX, Port-au-prince Haiti
Total projected hours: 300 hours
Brief description of the activity: I will be leading a team of 12 volunteers in 3 different mobile clinics in Port au Prince, Haiti, this upcoming summer. My role will be to organize their shifts and schedules and ensure they have everything they need to help the doctors provide adequate patient care on the ground. (282 characters).
TMDSAS Activities Section Example #10:
Top meaningful activity description: My experience as a mobile clinic volunteer solidified my interest in medicine. I got a chance to not only interact with patients directly, but also observe and assist physicians as they provided primary care to patients of different ages and backgrounds. I was also exposed to various pathologies and courses of treatment. A big part of my role was to be a calming and helpful aide to the patients, which gave me a chance to improve my active listening and communication skills. (479 characters)
Why this Example Works:
Unlike standard activity descriptions, the most meaningful section allows applicants to reflect on how an experience influenced their interest in pursuing medicine. Rather than repeating responsibilities, this example is focused on how the applicant grew and their insights into patient communication and care.
Have you started thinking about your TMDSAS Personal Characteristics Essay? Check out this video for tips:
Bonus Tips to Help your TMDSAS Activities Section Stand Out
FAQs
1. Why is the TMDSAS activities section important?
Whether applying to a University of Texas Medical School, Texas Tech University, or a different medical school in Texas, the admissions committee wants to know how you choose to spend your free time and what skills you have acquired from those activities over the years. That is what this section of your application tells them.
2. What should you include in the TMDSAS activities section?
Include all meaningful experiences since graduating from high school, including employment, volunteer work, research, leadership roles, and extracurricular activities.
How long should TMDSAS activity descriptions be?
Your activity descriptions should be either 300 or 500 characters depending on the category. Therefore, it is vital that you focus on clear responsibilities, outcomes, and skills developed.
4. How many activities can you put on TMDSAS?
There is no limit to the number of activities you can include, but remember that quality is more important than quantity. So, focus on getting impactful experiences, and don't worry too much about the number of extracurriculars.
5. What are planned activities?
These are the activities you plan to participate in from the time of your application to the date of matriculation. TMDSAS actually gives you the option of including this information on your application.
6. What is the Chronology of Activities for the TMDSAS activities section?
It is essentially a summary of all of your activities that is automatically built based on the information you enter in the other sections of the application. TMDSAS requires you to account for every activity between high school graduation and August of the year you submit your application.
7. How do I make my TMDSAS activities section entries stand out?
Planning and accurate record keeping is key to making this section stand out. Take the time to plan and select your activities carefully, and use your notes to write an impactful description for each activity.
8. How do you choose your TMDSAS top meaningful activities?
Select the experiences that had the greatest impact on your development or motivation to pursue medicine. Use the additional character space to explain what you learned and how the experience shaped your future goals.
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1 Comments
Veronica • 08/05/2022 06:23
So Texas Medical Schools don't use AMCAS just TMDSAS? Am I right?
Reply