Admissions
Admission to the program is selective, and applicants’ prior records are evaluated in the light of the requirements of the program.
Applicants must hold U.S. citizenship or have U.S. permanent resident status.
All applicants must submit the following information for their application to be considered by the program admissions committee:
- A completed online application
- A Statement of Purpose (up to 2500 characters with spaces) that describes your background and motivation for becoming a healthcare professional. Any relevant past activities such as volunteering or shadowing that influenced your decision may be mentioned in this statement.
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. At the time of matriculation into the program, applicants must have a baccalaureate degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. chemistry, physics, psychology, biomedical engineering), one year each of General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physics, with accompanying labs, with a grade “B” or better, and a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 hours of major coursework completed
- A curriculum vitae/resumé documenting educational background, volunteering, and work experience
- One essay (up to 2500 characters with spaces) based on topics stated on the application form
- Three (3) Letters of Recommendation
In addition, competitive applicants will have demonstrated motivation to apply to and attend medical or healthcare professional school evidenced by past activities, e.g. volunteering or shadowing in a health-care-related setting.
The applicant must be willing to submit additional information or other materials about themselves if requested by the program.
On a case-by-case basis, specific admission requirements may be waived by the Graduate Faculty Council.
Application deadlines dates are February 15 (priority) and May 1 (final). All application materials, including official scores and letters of recommendation must be received for evaluation by May 1. Selected candidates will be interviewed by the Program Admissions Committee. After background checks, accepted candidates will be notified by the Dean of the Graduate School.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am in my senior year and will not have my Bachelor’s degree when I apply to the program. Will my application be considered?
Yes, your application will be considered if you will be successfully completing the requirements for a Bachelor’s degree with a final GPA of 3.0 or better before matriculating into the program. However, a final transcript must be submitted to the program upon graduation before you can begin the program.
Do I have to take the MCAT to apply to the program?
No. You do not have to take the MCAT for your application to be considered.
Do I need to send in official test scores and transcripts for the application process?
During the application process, you do not have to submit official documents; unofficial documents will suffice. However, you will need to submit all official scores and transcripts from all Universities/ Colleges attended before matriculating into a program. Note that UT Health San Antonio will only accept transcript evaluations from NACES Members.
My GPA is not on a 4.0 scale, how can I enter it into the application?
Our application will not allow for applicants to enter a number higher than 4.0, therefore if your GPA was measured on a scale higher than 4.0 you will need to have your GPA converted. We recommend using WES iGPA and then uploading the report into your application documents to identify the source of the conversion your GPA came from.
Do I need to submit essays?
Yes, you will need to complete a statement of purpose and an essay (up to 2500 characters each with spaces). At a minimum, the admissions committee will focus on the content, writing style and lack of grammatical and typographical errors. Since essay writing is required as a component of medical school applications and since we provide assistance with essay writing, your essays will provide us with a snapshot of your writing skills.
How important are recommendation letters from my teachers?
Three letters of recommendation from science or math college-level faculty who taught you for at least one semester of undergraduate or graduate level course are required and form a very important part of your application. Your recommenders must be able to judge your academic and professional potential and should have been involved with or at least be aware of your scholarly activities and/or work experiences. The letters must comment on your readiness for graduate level studies. Letters from neighbors or non-academic contacts will not qualify.
Does the program accept international students?
At this time, only US citizens or US permanent residents are eligible to apply to the program.
Where can I send my official scores?
For the application process, most programs request that you upload unofficial documents into your application for the reviewing process. If you are accepted to the program and intend to matriculate, you will need to send all your official documents to either the Office of the Registrar at:
UT Health San Antonio
Office of the Registrar
7703 Floyd Curl Dr, MC 7702 San Antonio, TX 78229-3900If sending materials electronically, please send your scores to 6908, and your transcripts either to the Registrar’s Office at registrars@uthscsa.edu.
How will the admissions committee evaluate my application?
The committee will evaluate the entire application. Your personal statement, essays, letters of recommendation and any hands-on experience volunteering or providing service to the community, shadowing/observing physicians will all be considered. We look for well-rounded applicants with a history of strong academic performance, shadowing or observation hours, service to the community, a strong motivation to enroll in a health profession school, excellent letters of reference, and good interpersonal skills.
UT Health San Antonio
Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, TX 78229
Mail Code: 7762