Applying to medical school is an intensive process with multiple components, and the HPO wants to help you by breaking the information down. In this section, we cover researching medical schools, the application timeline, application services, letters of recommendation, exams, personal statements and more.
Ready to apply?
Follow the Application Timeline
- Application Timeline and Steps to take by month
- TMDSAS Pre-Match / Match (Presentation)
Learn About the Application Services
TMDSAS
Texas public medical schools, including TCOM and Baylor College of Medicine, use TMDSAS (Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service).
- TMDSAS Application Guide
AMCAS
TCU Burnett School of Medicine and most out-of-state allopathic medical schools (M.D.) use AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service).
- AMCAS Application Guide
- AMCAS FAQs
AACOMAS
Out-of-state and some private Texas osteopathic medical schools use AACOMAS (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service). (TCOM, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, uses TMDSAS.)
- AACOMAS Quick Start Guide
Request Letters of Evaluation
Letters of evaluation are key pieces to your medical school application. Each application has its own way of collecting letters and number and type of letters vary from school to school. Check with the application service you are using for additional details. We recommend you look into using Interfolio to collect your letters of recommendation.
Write Your Personal Statement
The personal statement is a critical component of your application to Medical school, as the personal statement can either significantly help or harm your chances for success, it is important to take it seriously. The statement must be personal. This is your chance to let the Admissions Committee hear from you and understand who you are. Take advantage of the opportunity to express your commitments, motivations and values.
Schedule and Take CASPer and DUET!
What is CASPer?
CASPer is a form of situational judgement test. Situational judgement tests (SJTs) are a type of psychological test which present the test-taker with realistic, hypothetical scenarios and may ask the individual what they would do in the dilemma and why they would do it..
Situational judgement tests tend to determine behavioral tendencies, assessing how an individual will behave in a certain situation, and knowledge instruction, which evaluates the effectiveness of possible responses.
- CASPer Guide - created by the HPO Office
The following Texas Medical Schools Now Require CASPer:
- Texas A&M Health Science Center
- UTMB
- Long School of Medicine
Complete Your Secondary Applications
Some health professions schools require secondary applications to be completed in addition to the primary application through TMDSAS, AMCAS, and other application services.
- Applications are not considered complete until the secondary application is submitted!
- Most secondary applications require an additional fee and the majority of secondary application fees are non-refundable.
- Some secondary applications are available and should be completed very soon after you submit your primary application. Other secondary applications are by invite only.
- If a schools secondary application is by invite only they will notify you and ask you to complete their own specific secondary application only after they have reviewed your primary application.
- Please check with the schools on the secondary policies, availability & application fees. Application fees range from $0 - $100+.
Any questions relating to a secondary application should be directed to the respective school.
Prepare for Your Interview
It is important to professionally and properly represent yourself to an admissions committee, from what to wear to anticipating what questions might be asked.