The pre-medicine guide



This guide serves as a comprehensive overview of the information you’ll need on your pre-medicine journey, while here at the University of Texas, and beyond. Although we sought to include as much information as possible, please be sure to check out the attached links for further advice and assistance. As a disclaimer, this information was compiled by students, and should be weighed along with the advice of advisors and professional resources. As always, understand that there is no clear path to becoming a doctor, your journey is your journey! 

Table of Contents:

Timeline Written by Taylor Carroll

Freshman year:

  • Start creating a general plan for your major and coursework. This is a time to meet with your academic advisor to ensure that you understand what courses are required for application to med school as well as for your major. This is also a time to dip your toes in the water and confirm that your chosen major is what you’d like to move forward with during your undergraduate degree. Make a plan to meet with the Health Professions Office and review their resources.

Sophomore year: 

  • Start looking into opportunities for research, volunteering, and shadowing. There are debates regarding whether research is essential to a competitive med-school application, but if you are passionate about a research lab or topic, now is the time to start looking. The earlier you start seeking out these experiences, the more chances you’ll have to explore things that truly interest you. This is a great time to start building relationships with professors, employers, physicians, and professional mentors. Also, considering making a progress check with the HPO office.

Junior year: 

  • During the fall, start compiling a list of your experiences and drafting a personal statement. If you’re following a typical pre-med timeline, you’ll likely consider taking the MCAT during the spring semester of your junior year. This is a time to start fully delving into the studying process, as well as to start thinking about which professors and physicians you’d like to ask for a letter of recommendation. Consider doing another progress check with an HPO coach. 

The Summer Prior to Senior Year:

  • If you’re not taking a gap year, this is the time you’ll start applying to medical schools. This begins in May and will last through the summer. Deadlines typically fall around September/October, but interviews can start as early as July. Secondaries will also typically start in the summer, and allow medical schools to evaluate your application further before interviews

Senior year: 

  • This time will primarily center around medical school interviews. You will also complete any additional secondary components of your applications. This is the home stretch!

This is just a general timeline. For more detailed steps, check out the links below.

The MCAT Written by Taylor Carroll

To avoid sugarcoating it, the Medical College Admission Test is a beast. It is generally considered to be the hardest post-undergrad entrance exam, and for that reason, it deserves a lot of time and preparation. The exam itself covers general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, psychology, sociology, biochemistry, and CARS (which is critical analysis and reasoning). The actual exam day will last over 8 hours, and it is taken incredibly seriously. So, how does one even begin to approach that? Well, many people recommend taking a baseline practice exam at the beginning of your study process. There are several free practice exams located online, and taking one of these can give you a general idea of where you’re starting from. Don’t let your initial score scare you, it’s simply to give you a comparison as you go. Next, most people generally spend a few months on content review. This can be done using Kaplan review books, Princeton review books, Khan Academy content, or other resources. Basically, you just want to ensure that you’re covering the actual material that will be tested on the exam. The hard part comes next. Practice, practice, practice. So much of your success on the MCAT depends on the amount of time you spend learning the structure and style of the questions. A good score is more likely if you understand how to approach unfamiliar questions, as well as have the stamina to efficiently complete the exam. Practice exams and resources like Anki and UWorld can help you achieve these things. Overall, just continue to remind yourself that the MCAT is difficult for everyone, and that progress isn’t always linear. Studying techniques and approaches are different for every student, and it is important to find a style that works best for you. Your worth and identity will never be defined by an exam. Be sure to check out these general study habits and student testimonials from students who have already taken the MCAT. 

Personal Statements Written by Taylor Carroll

Your personal statement is pretty much what it sounds like, a chance to share your unique story and how you came to pursue medicine, as well as what you’ve done to prepare yourself for the pathway. It’s important to give yourself ample time to write your personal statement, as it’s a large component of your med-school application. For general tips and tricks, you can check out the Princeton Review’s advice, but most important to the writing process is staying true to yourself. This is a chance to share your own take on the pre-med journey, and that can take so many different forms. Some applicants choose to write about their “aha!” moment regarding medicine, or the challenges they faced that led them to pursue this path. Don’t write something just because you think it’ll sound good to admissions, as they’d much rather hear something genuine. And although you’ve likely heard it already, do not write that you simply want to “help people.” There are a million other ways to execute this thought without explicitly stating it. Show, don’t tell! Appointments can be made with the HPO Office, as well as the University Writing Center to help review your draft after it’s completed.

Application Process Written by Avery Self

The first step in this process is the primary application, which for a vast majority of schools, will entail the completion of one of three centralized applications submitted and reviewed online. For MD Applicants, this will be through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS); however, most Texas medical schools utilize the TMDSAS service. For those considering osteopathic medical schools, AACOMAS will be the route through which most of your submitted applications are received and considered. 

Although most schools do not have primary applications due until near the end of the year, it is strongly advised that applicants submit as soon as possible, even as early as late May or early June. This is due to the fact that most considerations are made on a rolling basis. In other words, earlier submissions are reviewed and decided upon first.

The content of this stage is usually college transcripts, MCAT scores, a personal statement, additional essay prompts (with prompts varying from school to school), and letters of recommendation (which may be due at a later stage instead). It’s recommended to have letter writers complete these with ample time before you’d like to submit your primary. If schools you’ve applied to have an interest in you based on all of the information you’ve supplied, they will invite you to complete a secondary application. Some schools automatically send any student who applied a secondary application.

 These secondary applications typically consist of a variety of essays, the prompts being selected by each school individually. This means that those applying to several schools should be prepared to provide sufficient time for quite a bit of writing at this stage. Topics can range from professional experiences, to leadership roles you’ve held, to favorite creative writing pieces, and so much more. It's encouraged to steer away from duplicating what you included on your primary and instead using this as an opportunity to go deeper. Many schools have a fee for their secondary application as well; however, if this is a barrier to you being able to apply, there are often methods to request a fee waiver.

For more general tips and overviews, check out the links below:

  • Dell “How to Apply” front page

https://dellmed.utexas.edu/education/how-to-apply






Interviewing Written by Hezekiah Lasater

The medical school interview is one of the more ‘unstructured’ pieces of the medical school application process. Each school approaches interviews differently; however, they are all generally searching for the same thing: your personality. The interview is set up as a way for the institution in question to find out who you are, why you are interested in medicine, and any information that would fill out your application. So, what should you do to prepare for a medical school interview? There are several resources out there specifically for this issue. The Health Professions Office here on campus has a guide that details exactly how to prepare and what to prepare. They also provide interview prep appointments. Overall, you should focus on timeliness, attitude, and uniqueness. Be prepared to answer questions relating to what led you to medicine, your personality, as well as questions outside of the scope of science and medicine. Many schools will have reviewed your academic record beforehand, if you have any gaps in your resume or failed classes on your transcripts, be prepared to answer questions on these discrepancies. 

What should you bring to the interview? First off, dress appropriately for your interview. The HPO recommends dressing conservatively. Men should wear either a suit or a blazer with dress pants and women should wear a suit or solid color dress. Overall, think business professional attire. Next, read up on the institution that you are interviewing for. You should be well informed about their programs as well as what exactly you are interviewing for. It’s also important to understand the different styles of interviews. These could include group, MMI (multiple mini interviews), traditional, and a few others. Although this interview is about you, be prepared to ask the interviewers questions as well. This will show your interest in the program, as well as keep the interview as a conversation rather than an interrogation. Finally, show up on time. This can’t be stressed enough. An overarching goal of this interview is to show the institution that you are a capable individual, as well as a professional one. Showing up on time, dressing appropriately, and keeping a positive attitude will do more than you can imagine. 

Medical Schools in Texas Written by Brianna Mattis

If you are looking to pursue a medical school in Texas, there are several options to consider when starting your application process. The State of Texas has a total of sixteen medical schools (thirteen allopathic and three osteopathic) with many of them composing the TMC or Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world. 

Allopathic medicine focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions using conventional medical supplies and processes. Allopathic schools in Texas give MD degrees which constitute the title “Doctor of Medicine.” Comparatively, Osteopathic medicine focuses more on a systems-based approach. All parts of the body, mind, and emotions are considered in treatments. Osteopathic schools bestow DO degrees on their students which stands for “Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.” There really is little to no difference between the two types of medicine, besides the fact that osteopathic schools additionally teach osteomanipulative medicine. In fact, osteopathic and allopathic are so much the same, that now, either can be accepted into either type of residency.

 Across Texas’ medical schools, students are given the opportunity to explore research, scholarly pursuits outside of medicine, rural medicine, and many other tiers of learning such as empathy in medicine through the arts, and health disparities. In addition to a world-class education–seriously, Texas schools stand out nationwide and internationally–there are private and public options for students to explore as well.

Fourteen out of sixteen medical schools in Texas streamline their application through Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Services. The two remaining schools, Burnett School of Medicine, and the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine have their own individual application process through different systems. 

Check out Medical Schools in Texas: How to Get In (2022) for more information on current stats for medical schools.

  • * refers to public universities



In-state vs. Out of State Schools Written by Ruhi Mukherjee

It is important to consider the difference between applying to medical schools in-state versus out-of-state. A large number of medical schools do show a preference towards their in-state applicants. Feel free to use this link to see a list of medical schools accompanied by a ranking and percentage that states how large their in-state student preference is. Getting into any school, regardless of in-state/out-of-state status is absolutely possible. Just make sure to do research on how competitiveness for applicants may change based on your status. 

For many students, the appeal to explore a new state and city is quite tempting, but there are many benefits to going to an in-state school. Just as there is a large difference in tuition between in-state and out-of-state schools during undergrad, there is a stark difference in the number for both kinds of medical schools as well. According to the American Medical Association, out-of-state rates of tuition are around 40% higher than in-state, and students who chose to stay local saved a whopping average of $73,000 when it came to their total expenses after four years. Since many students at UT are in-state students for Texas schools, it is important to note that medical schools here have some of the lowest tuition rates in general, but especially if you are an in-state student. The number falls into the $21,000-$25,000 range, which is a relatively (we understand the irony in this) more affordable option since most students pay for graduate school out of their own pocket. 

A list of every accredited medical institution, along with their in-state and out-of-state tuition rates can be found here. Besides tuition, there are other things to consider when choosing where to attend medical school. Although tuition is a big pro to staying in-state, there are pros to attending school out-of-state as well. Where you go to medical school tends to play an effect on where you will attend residency and practice as well. 

At the end of the day, no matter which medical institution you choose to attend, you will receive a stellar education and the chance to learn, accomplish, and practice what you want.

General Statistics Written by Dharsan Selvakumar

This matriculation data, provided by the HPO office, explores the admissions rates for UT students into TMDSAS (Texas Medical Schools). In 2019, out of 609 applications, only 275 were matriculated (45% matriculation rate). This simply means that 275 out of the 609 actually attended Texas medical schools, while the rest may have attended schools out of state or may not have been admitted. 

The three majors with the most matriculants were biology, biochemistry, and neuroscience in order. However, these were also the majors with the most applicants to medical school. There is a correlation between GPA and the number of matriculating students, with 3.91-4.0 having 93 matriculants, 3.81-3.90 having 82 matriculants, and 3.71-3.80 having 47 matriculants. However, more students with higher GPAs applied as compared to students with lower GPAs. 

There was approximately a normal distribution with MCAT scores, and number of applicants/number of matriculants. The mean MCAT score was between 509-511, and this score produced the most applicants as well as the most matriculants. Nationwide statistics for the average GPA and MCAT scores of applicants can be found here. Finally, in both Texas medical schools and nationwide, there tend to be more female applicants than male, and more in-state applicants than out of state.

International Students Written by Brianna Mattis

International applicants face unique challenges when applying to medical schools within the United States and Canada. In spite of this, there have been many doctors who have successfully gone on to earn their medical degrees and practice in North America. Yes! It is possible to apply for a medical school outside of your home country. Here are a few things to keep in mind during your international med journey:

-Get ready for stiff competition. Some, but not all, medical schools will accept a small number of international applicants. It is important to check with your desired institutions for more information, as each school’s policy is different.

-Foreign transcripts are not accepted through AMCAS, the application system used by most medical schools within the U.S., and foreign coursework must be through a U.S., U.S. territorial, or Canadian post-secondary institution.

-You will need to indicate your citizenship/visa status.

-Financial aid is limited. Applicants will need to check with their medical school for financial aid opportunities and consider other forms of payment, such as loans.

-You will need to take the MCAT. The MCAT is offered at specific times each year in the U.S. and in some places abroad. 

-We really encourage meeting with the HPO Office to navigate this process.

Undocumented/DACA Students Written by Brianna Mattis

For Undocumented and DACA-mented students, the medical school application process is not only paved with roadblocks, but there are often invisible barriers in place that prevent students from entering the school of their dreams. Before beginning this process, we again strongly encourage meeting with the HPO Office. While there are no laws in place that prevent undocumented students from attending professional school there are many medical schools across America that either have no policy in regard to undocumented applicants or may only accept students with DACA status. Pre-Health Dreamers is an AAMC-recognized non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing resources for all undocumented students. In 2021, they released a FAQ for Undocumented Students guide with helpful resources and a broad overview of what the journey to medical school may look like for students with undocumented status.  

Pomona University has released an uncomprehensive list of Admission Policies of Medical Schools Open to Undocumented and DACA Applicants. This list should be purely supplemental and it is recommended that all applicants reach out to the admissions office of their desired school for clear information regarding admission policies.

General Overview for Undocumented Students interested in Medicine:

  • You CAN go to medical school as an undocumented applicant, but whether or not you have DACA will play a large role in how broad your options are in attending your desired school.

  • The Undocumented pre-med journey is not one size fits all. The Undocumented community is diverse and complicated. Some schools may not have policies that reflect that diversity so it is important to do your research beforehand.

  • Finances and funding are a big deal. What is already a struggle for other pre-med students will be magnified for you. Federal loans are not available to undocumented students but institutional aid may exist. 

  • There are pros and cons to discussing your status on applications. Proceed with caution and honesty.

  • There may not be too many barriers in going to medical school, but it important to think ahead to Residency. There will be more restrictions in place, especially if you do not have DACA.

  • There are many medical students around the U.S. that are undocumented. Connect with the Pre-Health Dreamer community, trust in your own path and remember your dream.

Scholarships Written by Sahana Ram

Medical school can be expensive. Looking into scholarships of various types is a great idea and can help to lower financial stress. There are several opportunities to receive financial support as a potential medical student, whether it’s achieved through academic excellence, specialty choice, service work, or affiliation with a particular organization. Several family medicine conferences often give money to students for greater attendance and professional support. Smaller scholarships that may be in the hundreds of dollars are still very worthwhile as together they can add up to help with student debt. 

There are several large databases that can serve as a resource for medical school scholarships. For example, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has a loan repayment and scholarship database per state, and the US Department of Education also offers many opportunities. At a local level, contacting the human resources department at nearby hospitals, religious institutions, or foundations and non-profit organizations can be helpful in receiving smaller scholarships. There are also several research scholarships for minority students, particularly through the National Medical Fellowships, Herbert W. Nickens Medical Student Scholarships, and the National Medical Association. 

For Texas-specific schools, the Texas Medical Association (TMA) offers various scholarships including several for Hispanic, Asian, and Black students. This resource also includes opportunities for merit awards for Muslim women, and several more. 

The article “Top Medical School Scholarships to Apply to in 2022” is a great resource for looking into more recently established scholarships. It mentions opportunities for merit-based, minority, and service work (such as working in a rural community with limited access to care) scholarships. However, keep in mind that most often, scholarships are offered as part of the admissions process, and they are school specific.

While applying for scholarships may seem daunting and exhausting with the several essays and documents that must be submitted, the opportunities are endless. It is important to explore scholarship opportunities earlier, as they take time and can ultimately add together to result in a less financially-stressed medical school journey. 

More resources are listed below.

Texas-Specific: 

https://www.texmed.org/Scholarships/, https://www.tmaloanfunds.com/Home/Template/9964 

Other: https://www.aafp.org/students-residents/medical-students/begin-your-medical-education/debt-management/funding-options/scholarships.html 

https://www.boardvitals.com/blog/top-medical-school-scholarships/ 

Reapplying Written by Hezekiah Lasater

According to the AAMC, in 2017 roughly 40% of medical school applicants were accepted. This means that it isn’t uncommon for many students to be rejected, as the medical school application is a competitive experience and process. If you do find yourself in this situation, what is the best approach to take to bounce back from rejection? First off, do not worry! The best recommendation is to stop, take a deep breath, and reevaluate your application in a holistic manner before reapplying for the next application cycle. Once you have processed all of the feelings you have, look at your application objectively and see exactly where you are competitive and where you could use some improvement. If you are confused about how to do this exactly, consider reaching out to a pre-health advisor. Here at UT, any student can set up an appointment with a pre-health advisor to evaluate weak areas and make a plan for reapplying. Once you have reevaluated your application take the time you need to improve upon the areas where you might be lacking. That might mean garnering more medical-related experiences, improving your GPA and MCAT scores, or working on interview performance. Whatever the reason may be, know that it is completely normal. Many medical students, as well as working physicians, did not make it into medical school on their first, or even second try. Taking an objective stance, reevaluating your application, and actively working on those deficiencies is the best approach to bouncing back after rejection from medical school.

Gap Years Written by Hezekiah Lasater

The medical school gap year is something that, if done well, may not only be a chance to take time off from formal education, but also make your medical school application even more competitive. 

What is a gap year? A gap year is when a prospective medical student takes a year or more off from education in between obtaining their bachelor's degree and attending medical school. There are many reasons that students do so, whether that be to strengthen their GPA or MCAT score, work, focus on paying off student loans, or even just take a break from school altogether. Whatever the reason may be, most students use this time to strengthen their medical school applications altogether. 

In fact, more students choose to do this than one might think. According to an AAMC 2020 survey, only 33.7 percent of medical students went directly from their undergraduate degree program into medical school. If you do decide to take a gap year, take this time to make your application more competitive. Medical schools are not dissuaded from applicants that have taken a year or two off from their education, but they do want to see how exactly your gap year has made you a better person and or physician. 

One piece of advice given by the AAMC is to avoid portraying your gap year as “time off” when you are applying and interviewing for medical school. Instead, focus on exactly how the activities you did during your gap year have truly made you a better candidate for medical school. Meet with the HPO Office to help navigate this process. 

Personal Testimonials

Here are some personal reflections, written by former UT students who are currently attending medical school. 

“I think it’s important to contextualize that medical school isn’t so much an end goal as it is part of a much longer journey in medicine. I felt like when I was in undergrad, I would always think to myself that I can do x when I get in, that that’s the light at the end of the tunnel- but in many ways, it's not. Getting into school is an incredible feat and you should celebrate yourself and your achievements. But take a moment before you come in to reflect and really try to figure out what you want out of school and what you see yourself prioritizing in your future career because that is going to determine how you spend your time in school. In that same discussion of a longer journey, try to ignore the pressure to check all the boxes all at once and overload yourself in the process. Burnout is so so real, and it can sneak up on you in a flash. Take things as they come a step at a time and make sure you’re finding balance in your life when you do it.  Perhaps most importantly, undergrad is one of the few times in your life when you have this much academic freedom- don’t shoehorn yourself into one archetype of what a pre-med experience should look like. Explore as many different interests as you possibly can, even if it may feel like it’s detracting from other things that you “should” be doing. In the end, it’ll only help you be a happier, and more well-balanced person.”

-Kavyaa Choudhary, M.D. Candidate at Baylor College of Medicine

“Don’t get too caught up in checking the boxes. There are certain things you need to do (like research, volunteering, and some shadowing), but ultimately those things alone are not going to be what gets you admitted to med school. Take the time to explore your interests and discover your passions whether they are related to medicine or not. Through that, you will better understand the world around you and how you aim to fit in it. At the end of the day, having that understanding is going to help you craft a more compelling application as well. There’s plenty of time to learn the science and spend time in clinical settings, but now is one of the only times when you can dive into unrelated topics and figure out what your passions are.”

-Rohit Prasad, M.D. Candidate at Dell Medical School




Conclusion

The journey that you are embarking on is not easy. Take pride in how far you’ve already come and remind yourself of the reasons you want to be a physician. It’s not always going to be easy, but there is so much beauty to be found along the way. Cling to the people and the things that bring you joy, and never ever be afraid to ask for help. We hope this guide provided you with useful information, and we wish you good luck, future doctor!