JAMP FAQs

A : The first thing to do is look over the JAMP website: www.texasjamp.org. There is a tremendous amount of information under the Prospective Students section of the website. You should also look through the application instructions and log into each section of the application to get an idea of the process.

A : Your cumulative GPA is based on all college-level courses you have completed. This means if you took college coursework in the summers or completed dual enrollment courses while in high school, those grades are included in your cumulative GPA. Your cumulative GPA must be at least 3.25.

Using those same guidelines of all college-level coursework – your BCPM GPA includes all Biology, Chemistry, Math, and Physics coursework. Statistics courses are also included under Math. Your BCPM GPA must also be at least 3.25.

A : Your choice of major does not make a difference in the JAMP program. As long as you are completing the pre-medical science requirements, you can major in anything!

A : Students are eligible to apply to JAMP via two different application tracks. 

1st Track – The JAMP Early Admissions pathway is for Freshman JAMP Applicants if they have >27 credit hours of dual credit or early college high school credit when entering UT Austin.

2nd Track – The JAMP Traditional pathway, applicants can apply between the spring semester of their first year of college and the fall semester of their second year of college. (Actual dates are May 1st – September 30th.) 

All freshmen who are entering in the Fall who are interested in JAMP and have the required 27+ credit hours of dual credit or early college high school credit, including two semesters of general chemistry completed with a "C" or better, will need to meet with our JAMP Director or one of her JAMP Ambassadors as soon as they can upon coming to campus.

A : The official JAMP website serves all institutions that participate in the program. For larger institutions like ours, not all of the program suggestions work from an operations standpoint. UT is the largest institution with the largest number of interested applicants. This means our JAMP Program Coordinator would be booked solid for two weeks out of every month if they met with all interested applicants (along with their time meeting with current participants in the program)! So, given the time constraints and the sheer numbers, we don't incorporate that suggestion here at UT.

Having said that, the purpose of the "monthly meeting suggestion" from JAMP is to help first-year students who may have concerns about their academics or adjusting to their life at UT. If you find yourself in that situation, please make an appointment with JAMP Program Coordinator Lesley Riley through Handshake. She can help assess the situation and connect you with the resources you need.

A : Yes, if you meet the other requirements. You must:

• Have enrolled in college the first fall semester after graduation from high school
• Have completed at least 27 hours during the fall and spring semester of your first year of college (no more than 3 hours of AP credit can count toward that total)
• Have 2 semesters of Chemistry completed including the labs (COVID-19 update: Lab can be completed in Fall)
• Will have both Organic Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry II, and Organic Chemistry Lab completed before summer 
• Have met the GPA requirements of 3.25 (cumulative and BCPM). See FAQ on calculating GPAs listed above.
• Be able to get a letter of evaluation from a faculty member at the institution where you attended your first year.
• Have met with UT Austin's JAMP Director. Please schedule an appointment by emailing hpo@austin.utexas.edu or calling 512-471-3172, and leave a message explaining that you need to set up a Pre-JAMP Transfer appointment.
   

A : A good number of the applicants receive an interview. In other words, the initial review of the application is not used to “whittle” down the applicant pool. If the council feels the applicant would possibly make a good JAMP student, the applicant will receive an interview.

Regarding how many students get selected for the program, there is not a straightforward answer because there are no firm guidelines for the number of places. Each public institution is initially allotted two places, while private institutions are allotted one. UT always received more than two places in the program with numbers ranging from 6 to 36. Sometimes the smaller or more remote universities have a hard time coming up with candidates to fill their places. Those "extra places" get divided out among the larger institutions that have more than enough qualified candidates. Another factor is the number of places in the program statewide. That number is not always consistent. The program grew over the initial few years and peaked at 150 places in the program. Currently, 100 seats are offered across the state.

A : Because the program spans a couple of years, the JAMP council designates alternate candidates. These students replace those who opt out of the program or who fall below the program criteria. Students who are in the alternate position do not receive scholarship money or participate in the summer internships, but they are included in the monthly lunches with the JAMP Faculty Director and are encouraged to participate in Texas JAMP (the student organization which supports members and alternates). These students’ progress is monitored by the JAMP Council through transcript updates. If a place opens up in the program and the alternate still meets program criteria (GPA, MCAT score, graduation in four years), they may be invited into the program.

A : Even though the GPA minimums are 3.25, candidates at UT Austin generally have higher GPAs. The average cumulative GPAs for successful candidates have ranged from 3.5 to 3.9 over the past several years.

A : In addition to your academic performance, you must be able to present a genuine interest in medicine. This interest should be clearly outlined in the application essay. You must be able to answer the question – why do you want to be a doctor? The JAMP Council will also look at work and extracurricular activities to see how you balance your time.

A : This is the best place to start. Read through everything on the Applying to JAMP at UT Austin page. Pay especially close attention to our UT Austin specific deadlines and our application processes.

A : Please direct all inquiries regarding the application to the JAMP Office: info@texasjamp.org.

A : If you get the JAMP Applicant Evaluation Form from our website, the information has already been added to the form. On the official JAMP website, the forms are generic so that applicants from any institution can use them. Either version is fine.

A : This form authorizes us to gather your supporting paperwork: UT transcripts, ACT/SAT scores, high school rank and financial aid information. (The application instructs to submit transcripts (high school and college), SAT/ACT scores, high school rank and financial documentation.) The Notice of Intent is found in the JAMP Pre-Application Survey.

A : At UT Austin, we gather most of your documents for you. This includes your official UT Transcript, copies of any transcripts submitted from other institutions, your high school transcript, your high school rank and SAT/ACT scores. You will access your financial aid information and send it to the Health Professions Office.

Special note: If you attended another institution and decided not to transfer the credit, you will need to send an official transcript from that institution to us.

Due to COVID-19: All transcripts will need to be electronically submitted to JAMP@austin.utexas.edu.

DO NOT MAIL IT. If the only way is mail, you must email JAMP@austin.utexas.edu to confirm where it needs to be mailed.

A : It is okay if your faculty member wants to write a letter, but JAMP will still require the first page of the evaluation form completed. You will have completed the top portion of the form either waiving or retaining the right to see the evaluation. The evaluator will fill in their contact information at the bottom of the form and simply write “see attached letter” at the top of the second page. The form should then be stapled to the letter.

A : Before you give the evaluation form to the faculty member, you need to select one of the options about whether you waive or reserve the right to see the evaluation. We recommend that you waive the right to see the evaluation. This underscores the honesty of the evaluation. (If you retain the right to see the letter, it could mean that the evaluator feels pressured to write a less than honest appraisal of your capabilities.)

A : The JAMP Council will not accept evaluations from high school teachers. They are looking for an evaluation from someone who has seen you perform academically at the college level. Faculty members are used to being approached by students for evaluations and letters of recommendation so don't be shy. It would be helpful to give them information about JAMP so they understand what is on the line—this isn't simply a monetary scholarship; it's the potential for a guaranteed spot in med school.

A : The JAMP Office will distribute your complete application (including the supporting documentation) to (2) JAMP Council Members for review. The JAMP Council is made up of Admissions Representatives from the participating Texas Medical Schools. Each reviewer will rate your application independently. From this, your application will be assigned a composite score.

The JAMP Council meets in the last week of November to review the applicants and select candidates for interview. You will be notified by the end of the first week of December if you are invited to interview. The interviews will take place here (on campus) in the spring, either the week before classes begin or the first week of classes. You will participate in (2) 20-minute interviews, one-on-one, with JAMP Council Members. The interviewers will assign independent scores. Those scores are then averaged to determine rank. The JAMP Council will then select participants and alternate candidates based on ranking.

All candidates will be notified of their status by mid-February.