Pre-Medical Pathway

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.

The Health Professions Office is here to assist you throughout your pre-medical pathway journey. Review our appointment policies 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.

Combined Degree Options in Medicine

Dual degree programs provide training in both medicine and another discipline, based on the type of degree. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has a brief overview of the combined degree programs for students interested in learning more about the process and length of these programs. See below for the most popular combined degree options in medicine.

MD/PhD

These programs are specifically designed for those who also conduct research in addition to treating and seeing patients. These research physicians, also known as physician-investigators or physician-scientists, can often go on to become faculty at medical schools, universities, and/or 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.

MD/MPH

These programs combine a medical education with a Master of Public Health degree, focusing typically on community health from a variety of different communities, populations, and background. The MD-MPH route equips students with the knowledge of clinical skills and an understanding of health and wellness from the perspective of their patients and the community.

These programs also may give you the option to concentrate on a specific area of public health, such as Child and Family Health, Global Health, or Health Education and Policy. Those who choose this path can find the rewarding work of being a physician with a public health lens, using this knowledge to support careers related to health education, research, and disease prevention.

MD/MBA

An MD-MBA program provides a student with a overarching knowledge of clinical science, as well as business. This program combines a medical degree with a Master of Business Administration, giving you a deeper understanding on the intersection between medicine and business.

Those seeking to own their practice or just have a better understanding of navigating insurance costs, business decisions related to equipment and diagnostic testing, and more can choose this route to better support themselves in this avenues. Those seeking additional leadership opportunities, such as hospital administration or otherwise, may also benefit from this combined program.

MD/JD

These programs focus on the intersection of law and practicing medicine. Those who may be interested in this can choose to seek out MD/JD programs to further understand the legal system, especially the laws that govern the practice of medicine.

This route can be helpful for those interested in legal affairs for physicians, the legal implications of running a private practice, or academia. Additionally, they may also have opportunities in government or a career pursuing the development or reform of health care policy.

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.

Pre-Medical Pathway