The Admissions Committee has the responsibility of recommending individuals from a large number of applicants who have intellectual ability, motivation for service, specific interest in the Houston program, and whose personal attributes are considered by the committee to be particularly qualified for, and suited to, the study and practice of medicine. Particular interest is taken in candidates with a broad educational background. The committee emphasizes attempting to fill the needs of Texas for primary and rural care practitioners as well as those who will practice in other shortage areas or among needy populations. To the extent provided by applicable law, no person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under, any program or activity sponsored or conducted by The University of Texas System or any of its institutions, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability, in accordance with The University of Texas System Board of Regents Rules and Regulations, Series 10701.

Admission Requirements

Students should plan college course work with an emphasis on obtaining a broad educational background. Knowledge is an end in itself. It is important that evidence of scholarly interest and achievement in some branch of academic endeavor be demonstrated. The study of medicine is based upon science, so the medical student must be a capable student of science. Therefore, majors in the scientific disciplines, such as, but not limited to, chemistry, biology, and physics are satisfactory.

A liberal arts education is an excellent basis for a medical career. Accordingly, applicants may have majored in such areas as classics, languages, history, English literature, belles letters, music, or philosophy, provided the specific scientific requirements listed below are fulfilled. All applicants are expected to be well educated and able to demonstrate the intellectual interests associated with entry into a learned profession. Technological, vocational (e.g., pharmacy), engineering, or business courses of study are not viewed as favorably as those providing a broad educational background.

Students must complete at least 90 undergraduate credit hours at a United States or Canadian university. The specific pre-medical credits listed as follows must be taken at a United States or Canadian university. Courses that do not conform to this requirement will not be accepted, even though credit has been given for them by a United States or Canadian university. No specified admissions requirements are waived. Graduate courses do not satisfy this requirement.

English - one year of college English.

Biology - two years, as required for science majors. One year may be completed by advanced placement. The other year must be completed in residence at a college and must include formal laboratory work.

Mathematics - one-half year of college calculus. This course should be given by the mathematics department.

Physics - one year, as required for science majors, and must include laboratory experience.

Chemistry - two years: one year of general chemistry and one year of organic chemistry as required for science majors and include the corresponding laboratory experience.

Although the minimum requirement for admission is 90 undergraduate semester hours at a United States or Canadian university, preference is given to students who obtain a baccalaureate degree prior to admission to medical school.

The Medical and Dental Schools of The University of Texas System are authorized to accept only a limited number of non-residents for enrollment in an entering class. Non-resident students should have outstanding qualifications. Students who have been dismissed or who have withdrawn from a medical school are not encouraged to apply.

The results of an applicant’s performance on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) must be received by the Medical School before a firm commitment of a place in the first-year class can be made. The test is administered twice a year. It is to the applicant’s advantage to take the test in the spring rather than the fall of the year in which the application is to be submitted. Information on the MCAT may be obtained from college premedical advisers or by writing to:

The American College Testing Program
P. O. Box 414
Iowa City, Iowa 52240

Admissions Criteria

The UT Medical School, in conformity with the purpose assigned it by the Texas Legislature and its mission statement, selects the best qualified students for its entering class who demonstrate a potential to become competent and caring physicians and who will serve the identified needs of the state of Texas. To that end, the Admissions Committee considers the totality of each application and gives importance to the factors enumerated below.

1. Intellectual capacity: Each student who is accepted must have the intellectual ability to successfully complete medical school and master the essentials of the practice of medicine. Considered are: undergraduate and graduate records; standardized test scores; academic awards and honors, e.g. Phi Beta Kappa, National Merit etc.; research accomplishments; degree of difficulty of undergraduate academic program; pre-professional evaluations; personal interview; and, any other relevant data submitted.

2. Interpersonal and communication skills: The practice of medicine demands a high level of interpersonal skills and a compassionate attitude. Ability to communicate is essential for these qualities. Considered are: community or charitable service, e.g., volunteering to help the less fortunate; extracurricular activities and organizations; leadership positions; employment history; recognition for humanitarian service; awareness and direct knowledge of cultural elements as they may have an impact on health care; evidence of being well written and articulate exemplified by standardized test scores in verbal abilities, the MCAT score on the written essay, the application, the personal interview; and, other relevant considerations which the student or his or her pre-professional advisers may present.

3. Breadth and depth of pre-medical educational experience: The modern practice of medicine requires a strong scientific background and also an ability to understand the complex non-scientific problems facing physicians and patients, e.g., ethical or socioeconomic problems. The bare completion of the pre-medical requirements is a base on which to build further knowledge and prepare physicians for a lifetime of study so that they will remain the best possible practitioners of medicine. Considered are undergraduates’ core curriculum of course selection; participation in the intellectual life of the university, e.g., belonging to discipline organizations, such as chemistry or philosophy club; extent of reading; papers written or published; knowledge displayed at the interview; honors program; pre-professional evaluations; and, any other relevant indications of scholarly accomplishment.

4. Potential for service to the state of Texas: A state medical school must have as a primary concern producing practitioners who will serve the state in ways which are identified as needed, and applicants must be evaluated accordingly. Considered are: Texas residency; applicant’s goals for the future; size and location of hometown; whether applicant resides in a Health Professions Shortage Area; potential for future provision of health services to underserved areas or needed specialties; race and ethnicity (effective 2006/2007 entering class); and linguistic skills appropriate to the Health Profession Shortage Area the applicant wishes to serve.

5. Motivation: A physician must be prepared for a lifetime of dedicated intense service to her or his patients. This requires a high level of selfless motivation. Considered are success in overcoming adverse economic or educational conditions, employment history occurring simultaneously with undergraduate academic preparation; participation in activities requiring time management skills, e.g., varsity athletics, campus symphony; constantly improving undergraduate record; veteran status; and, experience in health-related activities.

6. Integrity: A physician, because of the public trust given to members of the medical profession, must have qualities of integrity beyond reproach. Considered are pre-professional evaluations; any academic integrity violation; conduct or disciplinary problems in college, e.g., cheating; conviction of a crime; any other relevant background relating either positively or negatively to applicant’s standard of integrity (e.g., Honorable Discharge or Discharge under Honorable Conditions).

Technical Standards

All individuals, without exception, who apply for admission to the UT Medical School must be able to perform specific essential functions. Essential functions are the basic activities that a student must be able to perform to complete the generalist Medical School curriculum. An applicant who cannot perform the Medical School’s essential functions - either with or without reasonable accommodations - will not be considered for admission. A candidate for the M.D. degree at the Medical School must be able to perform these technical standards:

1. Observation: Candidates must be able to accurately observe demonstrations and patients close up and at a distance to learn skills and to gather patient data (e.g., observe a patient’s gait, appearance, posture, etc.). Candidates also must possess functional use of the senses of smell, vision and somatic sensation.

2. Communication: Candidates must be able to communicate orally and in writing with patients and members of the health-care team. Candidates also must be able to read and comprehend written material.

3. Psychomotor Skills: Candidates must have sufficient motor function to obtain data from patients using tactile, auditory, and visual maneuvers. Candidates must be able to execute motor movements to provide general care and emergency treatment that are reasonably required of physicians.

4. Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities: Candidates must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, synthesize, integrate, and apply information. Problem-solving, a clinical skill required of physicians, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, candidates must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationship of structures.

5. Behavioral and Social Attributes: Candidates must possess the emotional health required to use their intellectual abilities fully, such as exercising good judgment; promptly completing all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients; and developing mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients. Candidates must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. Candidates must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the presence of many patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities that will be assessed during the admissions and educational process.

6. Chronic Conditions: Any chronic or recurrent illnesses, including infectious, psychiatric, or substance abuse problems that can interfere with patient care or safety are not compatible with medical practice or training.

7. Ethical Standards: A candidate must demonstrate professional demeanor and behavior and must perform in an ethical manner in all dealings with peers, faculty, staff, and patients.

For more information on the Technical Standards, contact:
Office of Admissions
The University of Texas Medical School at Houston
6431 Fannin
Houston, Texas 77030

For information about accommodations, contact:
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
The University of Texas Medical School at Houston
6431 Fannin
Houston, Texas 77030

Application Procedure

Application for admission to The UT Medical School is made through the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service. Applications for entry are accepted between May 1 and Nov. 1 of the preceding year. Early application is encouraged and is of advantage to applicants. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible, certainly by Oct. 1. Because the above dates are subject to change, applicants should contact the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service for more current information. Application information is available from The Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service’s Web site: www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas

Questions may be directed to:
Texas Medical and Dental Schools
Application Service
702 Colorado, #6.400
Austin, Texas 78701
Telephone 512-499-4785

A non-refundable filing fee is required to accompany completed application forms when they are submitted to the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service. For Texas residents, the cost of submitting an application is $55 for one school and $10 for each additional school. For non-residents, the cost of submitting an application is $100 for one school and $10 for each additional school to which the application is made. These fees are subject to change.

After applications have been processed by the application service, they are forwarded to the UT Medical School, where they are reviewed and evaluated.

Applicants who give evidence of being well-qualified candidates for admission are invited to come to Houston for personal interviews on a specified date. The invitation for interview is for the specified date only. All applicants are welcome to visit the UT Medical School at anytime, but formal interviews must, of necessity, be arranged by, and at the initiative of, the Office of Admissions.

Following each interview, applicants may rank their medical school preferences via the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service’s Web site. Final preferences must be made prior to Jan. 15 (subject to change). The Admissions Committee ranks each applicant and sends a rank-ordered list to the Central Application Service for “matching” with the applicant’s medical school preferences. Letters of acceptance are sent following the Feb. 1 match.

Accepted applicants are required to indicate their decision in writing within two weeks of notification. An applicant who later decides to accept a position in another institution should give prompt notice in writing of withdrawal from the UT Medical School.

The Medical School is cognizant of the procedures recommended by the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Entering medical students will be expected to authorize and pay for a criminal background check by an entity designated by the Medical School. Failure to comply with the above shall be cause for withdrawal of acceptance.

“Academic Fresh Start” Statute

An applicant for undergraduate admission, who is a Texas resident, may seek to enter this institution pursuant to the “academic fresh start” statute, Texas Education Code, Section 51.931. When the applicant informs the admissions office (see Application Procedure, page 44) in writing of the election, the institution will not consider in the admissions decision any 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 statute may not receive any course credit for courses taken 10 or more years prior to enrollment under academic fresh start.

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 post graduate 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.

  UTHSC-H General .pdf