Requirements
The Admissions Selection Committee is charged to ensure that every Dell Medical School student possesses the broad range of attributes, experiences, contributions and capabilities necessary to succeed as a student and a physician.
Mission Contribution
Dell Medical School has a unique mission and vision. Every aspect of the application will be evaluated for the presence or absence of qualities that align with the mission.
Personal Attributes and Life Experiences
The personal statements, experiences reported in the application, letters of evaluation, and interview sessions are especially helpful in this evaluation. Applicants are encouraged to view all short essay questions in the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) and the Secondary Application as opportunities to demonstrate personal qualities and strengths to the Admissions Selection Committee.
In addition, applicants are encouraged to meet with those being asked to write letters of evaluation to review strengths in personal attributes and life experiences' domains and encourage them to highlight these.
Academic Ability
Grade point averages (GPAs) in specific coursework, transcripts, and MCAT scores are more mathematically expressed than other assessed areas, and this information will be used to help consider applicants in the evaluation process. However, simple mathematical comparisons do not provide a complete picture. Hence, all the data gathered from these sources will be considered in the context of other attributes, experiences, and qualifications to help provide an overall picture.
Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
Dell Medical School does not set a minimum MCAT score. The MCAT score is evaluated as one indicator among many others and must be considered in light of those other factors. The Admissions Selection Committee will accept MCAT scores from the 2015 version as well as the previous version up to five years prior to the applicant's expected date of matriculation.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
The minimum overall TMDSAS-calculated GPA for consideration is 3.2 on a standard 4 point scale. An applicant’s GPA in prerequisite courses and biology, chemistry, physics, and math courses are also considered, but no minimum has been set. In addition to overall GPA, the Admissions Selection Committee will evaluate grade trends, the rigor of coursework, and advanced science coursework.
Prerequisite Courses
Dell Medical School supports the movement toward competencies. Applicants are free to demonstrate competencies by any means; for most, the easiest method will be through satisfactory performance in appropriately rigorous coursework. Any applicant that believes competency has been established by some alternate means is invited to petition the Admissions Selection Committee (applydellmed@utexas.edu).
Competency is demonstrated by completing the following courses:
- Biology: Eleven semester hours, two of which must be labs (a genetics course is strongly recommended).
- Physics: Eight semester hours, two of which must be labs.
- Chemistry: Twelve semester hours, to be comprised of a combination of:
- Two semesters of organic chemistry and one semester of general inorganic chemistry (for a total of nine semester hours with three semester hours of lab); or
- Two semesters of general inorganic chemistry and one semester of organic chemistry (for a total of nine semester hours with three semester hours of lab).
- Biochemistry: Three semester hours of biochemistry.
- English: Three semester hours of composition-based English.
- Math: Three semester hours of statistics.
These courses must be completed at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university. AP and correspondence courses are acceptable if the official transcript indicates specific course numbers and credits granted. A grade of “C” or higher must be recorded in each of these courses. Any quarter-hour credit equals two-thirds of a semester-hour credit.
Transfer From Other Medical Schools
The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School permits medical students to apply for transfer into the medical education program if:
- Positions are available;
- The transfer applicant is in good standing at a medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education;
- The transfer applicant has successfully passed Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Exam; and
- The transfer applicant demonstrates academic achievements and other attributes comparable to students admitted to the Dell Medical School.
Transfer applicants successfully admitted to the Dell Medical School must start at the beginning of the second year of the medical education program. There will be no transfer applicants considered for entry into the Dell Medical School in the third or fourth years of the education program.
International Applicants
The Dell Medical School is not accepting international applicants at this time.