Pre-Health Students

The application process for students applying to a health professions program may vary, depending on your area of interest and on the particular school to which you apply. In general, take the following steps to prepare your application.

Decide which schools you are interested in. Visit their campus or research their program via their website. Find out what courses they require of their applicants, and any other unique application requirements. In general, students applying to medical or dental school find that many medical schools require the following science courses:

• General Chemistry - One year with laboratory
• Organic Chemistry - One year with laboratory
• General Physics - One year with laboratory
• Calculus - One-half year (requirement varies)
• Biology - Two years, one with laboratory

There may be additional course requirements (example biochemistry, microbiology, etc.). Be sure to check the prerequisite course requirements for the school(s) that you are planning to apply to and make sure these course are on your degree plan.

Pay attention to the application deadlines for the schools or application services where you submit your application. For medical and dental school applicants, you should prepare and submit your application as early as possible in the application cycle (May or June if possible) the year before you plan to begin medical or dental school. Many schools in Texas begin interviewing in early to mid-August for entrance the following fall. If you wait until August or later to complete and submit your application, you lower your chances of getting an interview for entrance the following fall. If you don't get an interview, you will not get in! So, complete your application early to maximize your chances. 

In consultation with your faculty advisor, decide what courses you need to take to prepare you for the aptitude exam (MCAT, DAT, etc.) relevant to your area of interest. 

Get to know your professors, especially those on the committee. Let them know your plans. These are the faculty members who will be writing your recommendation letters. 

Many medical schools also prize an applicant's extracurricular activities, such as: 

• Experience in a medical setting (volunteering at a hospital, shadowing a physician on rounds, working in a physician's office, etc.). Some schools require such experience. Baylor College of Dentistry and UT Dental School both require applicants to provide a recommendation letter from a practicing dentist. 
• Involvement in a community organization (serving as an officer, participating in the organization's activities, etc.). Doing community service (coaching a youth soccer team, visiting the sick, involvement in a charity. 
• Participation in a scientific research project.

When requesting letters of recommendation from the HPAC Committee, you should provide:

1. All required forms to be submitted with the letter. This may vary by school or application service. 
2. A list of addresses for the letter's recipients if the letters are to be sent by standard mail. If letters are to be sent by email, or uploaded to an application website, please provide the email address or web address the letter is to be sent/uploaded to. 
   A stamped envelope if the letter is to be sent by mail. 
3. A statement of purpose explaining why you want to pursue a career in health care. A draft of the personal statement you are preparing for your application will suffice. 
4. A summary of your shadowing experiences, including the number of hours you spent at each shadowing venue. 
5. A summary of your community service, including the number of hours you devoted to each service activity. 
6. A summary of organizations you belong to, offices you have held in these organizations, and events you have participated in and helped organize. 
7. A photo of yourself (a clear photocopy of your driver's license photo will suffice).

Please provide the above information to the Committee Chair's office (Suite 3525, office 7) no later than the third Monday in September. If you request a recommendation letter from the committee, you may not also request letters from individual committee members.

Please check the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) website to confirm the accuracy of these dates.

The Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service (TMDSAS) begins accepting applications in early May for admission in the fall of the following year. Applications must be completed by October 1. However, you should bear two things in mind:

The earlier in the application cycle you complete your application the better. It shows the admissions committees that you are plan ahead and are prepared to start the next phase of your education. 

The medical and dental schools in Texas interview applicants starting in August and ending in December. If you wait until October 1 to complete your application you will miss the opportunity to get an interview in August or September and therefore reduce your chances of getting an interview. As was said above, if don't get an interview your will not get in. So, don't put off completing your application until September!

Be sure you know the important dates and deadlines for the application cycle you are applying in. 

Dental School

• American Dental Association
• Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service
• UTHSC at Houston Dental Branch
• UTHSC at San Antonio Dental School
• Texas A&M College of Dentistry

Medical School

• Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service
• MCAT
• American Medical College Application Service
• Association of American Medical Colleges
• Medfools: Medical education from start to finish
• American Osteopathic Association

Nursing School

• Best Nursing Degree
• Discover Nursing
• Texas Nurses Association
• UTMB School of Nursing

Pharmacy School

• UH College of Pharmacy
• TSU College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Physician Assistants School

• American Academy of Physician Assistants
• Central Application Service for Physician Assistants

Physical Therapy School

• American Physical Therapy Association
• Texas Physical Therapy Association

Veterinary School

• Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service
• The American Veterinary Medical Association