Pre-Medical Pathway Overview
Welcome to the Pre-Medical Pathway page! If you are interested in pursuing a career in medicine or attending medical school, the resources provided within this overview and the subsequent pages are available to assist you on your journey. In this overview, see more information about the degree types available in medicine, how to research medical schools, and the current state of admissions statistics in the country and at the University of Texas at Austin.
The Health Professions Office is here to assist you throughout your pre-medical pathway journey, assisting with course planning, application support, personal statement brainstorm, and interview preparation. Visit our services page for information on how to make an appointment with our office to apply what you've learned throughout our website and seek personalized assistance.
Additional Resources
Degree Options in Medicine
There are two types of fully licensed medical doctors in the United States: M.D.s and D.O.s. While the M.D. degree stands for “Doctor of Medicine,” the D.O. degree stands for “Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.” There are also special degree types for future physicians, including combined degrees, such as M.D./Ph.D., M.D./M.B.A., M.D./J.D. programs. In this section, we will highlight the differences between allopathic (M.D.) programs, osteopathic (D.O.) programs, and M.D./Ph.D. programs.
Allopathic Physician (M.D.)
A Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) examines patients, obtain medical histories, order, perform and interpret diagnostic tests, and prescribe and administer treatment for people suffering from injury or disease. They counsel patients about illness, injuries, health conditions and preventive healthcare (diet/fitness, smoking cessation, etc.). They can also conduct medical research, teach and run medical centers. People with medical education are in demand in many areas. To learn more about a career as a Doctor of Medicine, explore the career on the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website or on Explore Health Careers. You can also visit AAMC's website to learn more about what else to consider as you explore a career path as a physician.
Osteopathic Physician (D.O.)
A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) practices osteopathic medicine, which represents a school of medical thought first introduced by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still in 1874. Osteopathic medicine encompasses a unifying philosophy and approach to patient care, as well as a system of Osteopathic hands-on diagnosis and treatment through the use of manipulative medicine. Like their M.D. counterparts, they are fully licensed to diagnose, treat, prescribe medications and perform surgery in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Today, more than 20% of all U.S. medical students are studying at a college of osteopathic medicine. To learn more about a career as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, explore the career on the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) website or on Explore Health Careers. To learn more about the osteopathic medicine philosophy, please visit AACOM's website.
M.D./Ph.D. Dual Degrees
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has great resources that help students interested in M.D./Ph.D. programs explore their options. M.D./Ph.D. programs provide training in both medicine and research. They are specifically designed for those who want to become research physicians, also known as physician-investigators or physician-scientists. Graduates of M.D./Ph.D. programs often go on to become faculty members at medical schools, universities and research institutes.
Regardless of where they eventually work, M.D./Ph.D. candidates are being prepared for careers in which they will spend most of their time doing research, in addition to caring for patients. The M.D./Ph.D. dual career is busy, challenging and rewarding, and it offers opportunities to do good for many people by advancing knowledge, developing new treatments for diseases and pushing back the boundaries of the unknown.
M.D./Ph.D. Resources
- Weighing an M.D./Ph.D.? Read through the highlighted articles on the AAMC M.D./Ph.D. Guide.
- Applying to M.D./Ph.D. Programs
- Resources for M.D./Ph.D. Applicants
Researching Medical Schools
It important to do thorough research to identify medical schools that you would like to apply for and ultimately attend. There are many programs in Texas and out-of-state that provide a variety of degree types that you could be interested in. Finding a medical school that fits with your values and goals is also just as important. In your journey to research these medical schools, you can utilize these resources:
- Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) Participating Schools
- American Medical Colleges Application Service (AMCAS) Participating Schools
- Association of American Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOM) Choose D.O. Explorer
- Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) Database (Subscription Required)
- Considering applying to an international medical school? View our recommendations.
Admissions Statistics
Acceptance and matriculation statistics can be helpful tools to identify target schools and assess your application. Some application services publish general acceptance and matriculation statistics on their website. Statistics information can also be found using the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) database.
- Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) Overall Applicant Statistics
- Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Applicants and Matriculants Data
- American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) Admissions Data (Membership Required)
Longhorn Pre-Medical Pathway Acceptance Statistics
The Health Professions Office also manages pathway statistics for UT Austin students who have received a bachelor's degree from UT Austin and applied or matriculated into medical school. The report is divided into three separate reports by application service: TMDSAS, AMCAS, and AACOMAS. You can review the most recent reports available below:
- TMDSAS (List of Participating TMDSAS Schools)
- AMCAS (List of Participating AMCAS Schools)
- AACOMAS (List of Participating AACOMAS Schools)
For questions regarding these reports, please email hpo@austin.utexas.edu.