Finding The Best Texas Schools For Pre Med
Knowing Your Pre-Med Major Options
When preparing for a career in medicine, selecting a Pre-Med Major can be a very nerve-wracking experience. This is especially true when one considers the abundance of choices available and the perceived importance of the decision. There is nothing wrong with selecting a subject that is further afield, such as English or a foreign language, even though many students who attend the best Texas schools for pre med choose to major in biology or related science.
It is becoming more common for students to major in the humanities as medical schools seek applicants with well-rounded backgrounds. No matter what you decide, you will most likely have two advisors: one from the pre-professional office, who will help you select the appropriate courses for your pre-med program, and another advisor specifically for your major.
You could ask them for assistance organizing your class schedule to put yourself in the best possible position to be accepted into medical school.
Biological Sciences
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), more than half of those who apply to medical school also enroll in one of the various biological science programs offered by medical schools. This makes sense: There is likely to be a high degree of overlap between the requirements for your major and the requirements that you need to fulfill to become a pre-med student in biology-related fields.
In addition, your strong interest in biological sciences suggests that you might one day want to pursue a career in the medical field. Therefore, it is perfectly reasonable for you to want to focus most of your schoolwork on the subject matter that interests you most.
Bear in mind, too, that even within the realm of the biological sciences, you have various other options besides studying biology. Numerous educational institutions allow students to pursue various scientific fields of study, including neuroscience, physiology, medical science, microbiology, zoology, and biotechnology. Any of these will almost certainly be of significant use to you in getting into some of the best Texas schools for pre med.
You will also want to make sure that you take classes outside of your major because the biological sciences place a heavy emphasis on, well, biology. A curriculum solely based on science runs the risk of exhausting its students. In addition, your training in other disciplinary ways of thinking will improve if you take classes in subjects other than science. Courses in fields other than science can frequently fulfill the requirements for core subjects while also allowing students to broaden their academic horizons.
You should also think about getting a minor in a subject that is not related to science. This can provide a way to make your application stand out while also enabling you to concentrate on the aspects of your background most relevant to medical school. A minor in Spanish is a fantastic choice for students.
It is possible to obtain valuable clinical experience by working or volunteering in Spanish-speaking countries, one of the many opportunities available to undergraduate students in community service. In addition, having a working knowledge of Spanish will most likely come in handy for your future practice.
Physical Sciences
Students interested in medical school often choose to study one of the physical sciences as their undergraduate concentration. As is the case with the biological sciences, these provide instruction that is frequently directly applicable to the curriculum of medical schools.
You will be able to satisfy a significant number of the requirements for both your major and your pre-med program all at the same time if you complete the coursework for a major in physics, chemistry, or a related field. Also, similar to a major in biology, it will serve you better if it is accompanied by non-science classes or even a non-science minor field of study. This will allow you to apply what you learn.
Math and Statistics
Even though they only make up a small portion of medical school applicants and matriculants, students who major in mathematics and statistics have been shown to have the highest mean overall MCAT score and mean GPA. Even though it is likely that some of the requirements for your major and your pre-med requirements will overlap, it is also likely that you will need to use a significant number of your electives to fulfill your pre-med requirements.
Social Sciences
Roughly ten percent of students who ultimately enroll in some of the best Texas schools for pre med majored in the social sciences. There is a possibility that some of these have requirements that overlap with those of your pre-med curriculum.
Others, such as anthropology, political science, or sociology, are likely to overlap only a little, so you will probably need to use your electives to ensure you satisfy all of the prerequisites for medical school. Pursuing a minor in natural sciences could provide you with many benefits, including the opportunity to add more advanced science courses to your transcript.
Humanities
Only about three and a half percent of college graduates with humanities degrees enroll in medical school. If you want to differentiate yourself from other students applying to medical school, consider majoring in a humanities field such as literature, philosophy, or modern or classical languages.
Be aware that you must carefully plan out your course schedule to satisfy all of the prerequisites for your major and your pre-med program. Suppose you are considering majoring in the humanities. In that case, you should make it a point to take some science classes at a higher level because admissions committees for some of the best Texas schools for pre med will be looking for those courses on your transcript.
Why study pre-med in Texas
Studying pre-med in Texas can provide students with a high-quality education, exposure to a diverse population, access to a strong medical industry, and opportunities for internships and research. There are several reasons why studying pre-med in Texas may be a good choice:
Quality of education: Texas has several top-ranked universities that offer pre-med programs, including the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and Rice University. These universities provide high-quality education, with experienced faculty and access to state-of-the-art facilities.
Affordability: Texas has some of the most affordable universities in the United States, making it an attractive option for students pursuing pre-med studies without incurring significant debt.
Diverse population: Texas is home to a diverse population, which can expose students to various healthcare issues and challenges. This exposure can help students develop a well-rounded healthcare and medicine perspective.
Strong medical industry: Texas has a strong medical industry, with several renowned hospitals, medical research centers, and biotech companies. This industry provides students with internships, research, and networking opportunities that can enhance their pre-med studies.
Location: Texas is a large state with many cities, including Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio, which are home to major medical centers and research institutions. This makes it easier for students to access clinical and research opportunities in their field of interest.
What are the best pre med schools in Texas
University of Texas at Tyler (Tyler, TX)
At UT Tyler, a public research institution of medium size that has access to funding and resources from the University of Texas system. As such, this is widely considered by many as one of the best pre med schools in Texas.
Although the UT Tyler Pre-Med Academy only opened its doors in 2019, the school has been instructing future medical professionals for a significantly longer period. Aspiring doctors, dentists, podiatrists, veterinarians, optometrists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, and physical therapists are among the academy’s students. Other specialties include physician assistantship, pharmacy, optometry, and chiropractic care.
As one of the best Texas schools for pre med, students interested in pursuing a career in medicine will find that participating in this program improves their chances of being admitted to medical school and better prepares them for the rigorous academic requirements of medical school. The academy organizes outreach workshops specifically for high school students in East Texas who are considering a future in the medical field.
The academy offers specialized advising to enrolled pre-med undergraduate students and exclusive symposia on topics such as altruism and ethics that match students with opportunities for clinical shadowing and research. It delivers these services beginning in the freshman year and continuing until acceptance into med school.
Southwestern University (Georgetown, TX)
First-time applicants to the medical, dental, and veterinary schools at Southwestern University have a 70% chance of being accepted into one of those programs.
In addition to receiving instruction on the MCAT, application materials, and interviewing, students at SU can gain practical experience by participating in internships and research positions at local medical institutions.
Students can get a feel for the fundamentals of patient care at Houston Methodist Hospital, St. David’s Medical Center, and the University of Texas Health Science Center. This gives them the information they need to choose which field within the healthcare industry they wish to pursue.
Because they participate in these extracurricular activities, Southwestern University students have a higher chance of being accepted to the medical school of their choice than the average student across the country, who has a 43% chance of being accepted.
The majority of pre-med students choose to major in the natural sciences. Still, this private research university also offers forty other majors and thirty-six minors for students interested in pursuing other academic fields besides medicine.
Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, TX)
TCU attributes its 80% acceptance rate for med school applicants to rigorous coursework, access to high-impact clinical and volunteer experiences, and personalized advising from mentors in the Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, and Physics and Astronomy departments.
The faculty at this private university advertises an open-door policy, so students are welcome to visit anytime. Faculty can write detailed letters of recommendation for students applying to medical school if they have close relationships with those students.
Being one of the best Texas schools for pre med, students at TCU have easy access to the more than 15 clinical institutions in the Fort Worth area. Students can shadow medical professionals by participating in the Pre-Health Observation Program, which is entirely run by students. Emergency medicine, gynecological oncology, orthopedic surgery, ophthalmic plastic surgery, neonatology, gastroenterology, pathology, and pediatric neurology are some of the specialties found at the current observation sites.
TCU hosts a lecture by a local healthcare professional or admissions dean every other week during the academic year. In addition to that, the school presents seminars such as “Global Health” and “Ethical Traveler.”
Texas Woman’s University (Denton, TX)
Although TWU became a co-ed institution in 1972, the student body is still overwhelmingly composed of women. One thing that has remained the same is that TWU continues to educate women for careers on the cutting edge of innovation in fields such as medicine, teaching, nutrition, business, and the arts and sciences.
TWU provides prospective medical students with specialized degree programs, such as the Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Pre-Health track in Biology, and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Pre-Health track in Biochemistry. It is possible to earn a minor in pre-med for students whose primary concentration is in a field other than the natural sciences.
These programs are intended to assist students in finishing the prerequisite coursework for medical school and maintaining accountability through the application process for medical school.
In addition to this, as one of the best Texas schools for pre med, TWU offers a class called BIOL4903: Medical Career Preparation, designed specifically for students interested in pursuing a career in the medical field. Students are led step-by-step through the application process for medical school by a physician who is also actively practicing medicine.
University of Houston (Houston, TX)
UH developed the Medicine & Society minor to assist pre-med students in better contextualizing healthcare within various historical, economic, and cultural factors.
This interdisciplinary program is available to all undergraduate students at the University of Houston. It makes use of the Texas Medical Center, which is the largest medical complex in the world.
This program allows students to complete internships at the John P. McGovern Historical Collections and Research Center, the University of Houston Center for Public History, and the Texas Medical Center.
In addition, through the school’s partnerships with the Memorial Health System of East Texas (Lufkin), Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Hospital, and the Research Medical Library at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, students can participate in clinical experiences and research projects.
Additionally, UH hosts the annual Medicine and the Arts series, which brings together the worlds of art and medicine. Readings, movies, roundtable discussions, field trips to the theater and museum, and other activities are included.
Trinity University (San Antonio, TX)
A whopping 90 percent of Trinity University students who apply to medical school and have a grade point average of 3.6 are accepted to medical school. Coming from a relatively modest liberal arts college is a significant accomplishment.
In terms of how well it prepares students for the process of applying to medical school and the experience of being in medical school, this statistic places it on par with institutions such as Yale University.
Trinity supports its pre-med students through peer tutors in each required pre-med course and a good student-to-faculty ratio (9:1) to make it easier for students to obtain excellent letters of recommendation. The vast majority of classes have a total enrollment of fewer than 20 pupils.
In addition, the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) chapter at Trinity matches students with opportunities for shadowing, volunteer work, and networking in the medical field.
Health, Illness, and Society, Biomedical Ethics, and Health Economics are three of the most important subjects covered in Trinity’s pre-med courses. These interdisciplinary courses aim to educate future medical professionals about the health and non-health concerns of the patients they will one day treat.
Rice University (Houston, TX)
Rice University, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the state of Texas, is home to various prestigious pre-med programs. The Rice/Baylor Medical Scholars Program is one of them. This program selects six incoming freshmen each year to earn a four-year bachelor’s degree at Rice. Then, after they graduate, they are guaranteed admission to Baylor College of Medicine. After completing their undergraduate education at Rice, these students attend Baylor College of Medicine.
Rice University offers individualized pre-med advising for every student, providing them with the tools and knowledge they need to continue progressing along their pre-med track and successfully gain admission to one of the best Texas schools for pre med.
Programming that is exclusive to pre-med students can be found through the Rice Pre-Medical Society (RPMS). Rice University’s Big Owl/Little Owl Program is a mentoring initiative that brings together Rice undergraduates and current medical students, physicians, residents, and members of the medical school committee.
Students can ask questions and network with physicians and other healthcare leaders during the annual Medical Speaker Conference. The conference features panel discussions with a diverse group of physicians and healthcare leaders.
University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX)
As one of the best Texas schools for pre med, students attending UT who live in Austin can enroll in one of the numerous schools that make up the expansive University of Texas system.
Before enrolling in medical school, pre-med students have access to more than 156 different undergraduate degree programs, allowing them to pursue academic interests unrelated to health care. Being one of 50,000 other students can be intimidating, but the competition pushes students to devise creative ways to differentiate themselves from their peers.
For instance, pre-med students have access to over 25 distinct pre-health student organizations where they can find diverse communities of students who are committed to health professions. These organizations provide students with the opportunity to network with one another.
Students are strongly encouraged to use the school’s connections with local clinics and hospitals in the Austin area, such as the Dell Children’s Medical Center, the Heart Hospital of Austin, the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association, Provident Memory Care, and others. This will allow them to participate in clinical volunteer opportunities.
As you learn more about the best Texas schools for pre med, it is wise that you also prepare for your college admission. If you wish for guidance in your journey, AdmissionSight will help you through the competitive admissions process. With their team of top experts, you can surely get accepted to the top medical schools in the world. Set up an appointment today and get the best help getting into university.
