Most applicants apply to medical school during the summer before their senior year in college. Some applicants have already graduated. The rule to remember is that applicants must apply one year before expected matriculation. Application season begins May 1.

What else is important besides good grades?

Although there is no set formula for medical school admission success, the one factor that is seen just a vital as coursework and grades would be health care exposure. Good grades are definitely a must, but an applicant without solid health care exposure is at a serious disadvantage when applying.

What is the application timeline?

May 1 - October 1, every year. The earlier you can submit your application, the better off you will be. For applicants applying through the AAMC Early Decision Option, the application period is May

When is the best time to submit my application?

The earlier you submit your application, the better off you will be. Sometimes things can go wrong during the process that can devour your time. Application processing can take up to six weeks before it arrives in the respective admissions offices from TMDSAS. The sooner your application is in the admissions office, the sooner you can possibly be invited for an interview. The "early" period for application submission is May 1 - July 15.

What is TMDSAS?

TMDSAS = Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service. It is the main application service for the state of Texas. All medical schools in Texas use this service for processing of main applications with the exception of Baylor College of Medicine. You must visit their website and fill out their application in order to be eligible for an interview at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. http://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas

Who do I make the application fee check out to?

Make check payable to: TTUHSC

When is the interviewing season?

Interviews begin at Texas Tech in early August and end in late December, just before Christmas.

I have a question concerning the Secondary Application.

Please visit the Secondary Application information and instructions page. If you have additional questions, please E-mail Louis Perez

Do I have to fill out the secondary application?

Yes, The secondary application must be submitted online before your application can be considered for an interview offer. Please note that if you elect to pay the $50 application fee by check/money order, your application will not be considered complete until we receive your payment. The TTUHSC Secondary Application is available May 1 of each year. Unlike most medical schools, you are able to fill out the TTUHSC Secondary Application BEFORE beginning the TMDSAS Application.

Who should I get to write letters of evaluation on my behalf?

Letters from a physician or faculty professor at your educational institutions are preferred. Other health care professionals can be used, as long as your desire for medicine can be described by those individuals. It is important to make sure that the individuals or committee submitting letters on your behalf know you and your desire for pursuing medicine. Visit the TMDSAS (main application) website to find out more. http://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas

Who do I submit my letters of evaluation to?

When applying to medical school through TMDSAS, you must declare who will be submitting your formal letters of evaluation. They will come from either a Health Professions Advisory Committee at your school, or from two independent sources from the faculty or community. Any additional letters you would like to submit should be done so directly to Texas Tech Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Admissions Office.

Where do I send my transcripts?

When applying: Have your college or university submit transcripts to TMDSAS on your behalf when you initially apply, and every time there is an update with your courses and/or GPA.

If Accepted: If you are accepted to medical school at Texas Tech, a final version of your transcripts must be submitted to the TTUHSC Office of the Registrar before your first class day. For further questions on Final Transcripts, please contact the TTUHSC Office of the Registrar that is housed in Student Services: 806.743.2300.

My GPA/MCAT is not so competitive, do I have a chance?

YES! Grades mean a lot when applying to medical school, but they are not everything. If your grades are not as competitive as our averages, (GPA: 3.7; MCAT: 30) then you want to have strong health care exposure, solid letters of evaluation, and an upward grade trend to name a few elements. There is no specific formula for success in the application process, but keep in mind that it is the Dean's goal to look for a specific set of reasons to invite you for an interview, not to eliminate your application.

I'm an "older" student, can I still go to medical school?

There is no age limitation for applying to medical school. The average age of our classes is typically around 24. Many people attend medical school who have already had a career in something else.

Is research required or preferred in medical school applicants to Texas Tech?

Research is not required for medical school. It does not fulfill the requirement for health care exposure in any way. If you do have research experience, it is important that you are familiar with every detail of what your project is about, including its protocol. Common interview questions come from listed research experience.

Should I call about my alternate list status?

No. It can do nothing to improve your chances of being selected from the alternate list by calling asking where you are on the list or reminding admissions officers about your qualifications. If you are placed on the alternate list, you will be notified. An announcement of the Alternate List formulation will placed on our Home page when completed.

Alternate List statuses can be checked via the Secondary Application Account that you first filed when applying. If you are selected from the alternate list, you will also be promptly notified.

Also, applicants are no longer ranked when placed on the alternate list, so where you sit on the list is simply alphabetically, by your last name. Applicants on alternate lists typically look very similar numerically wise, so selection from the alternate list is based very largely on the subjective evaluations (interviewer comments, letters of evaluation).

Who do I contact concerning my immunization records?

Please contact the Office of Student Affairs:
Phone: (806) 743-3005
Fax: (806) 743-4165
Address: 3601 4th Street 2B130
Lubbock, TX 79430

back to top

What if I don't get in the first time I apply?

Being a reapplicant to medical school is not something that is held against applicants to Texas Tech. Being a reapplicant is actually quite common. Getting accepted to a medical school in Texas is quite challenging. For the Entering Class of 2008, approximately 23% of the applications made to Texas medical schools were placed be reapplicants.

For applicants not accepted, it is important to remain active during the year(s) between applications. Although all applicants are different, most people choose to take some post-baccalaureate courses, and / or re-take the MCAT. Applicants are encouraged to contact admissions officers at the various medical school to discover the areas that need improvement immediately after the admissions season ends in February.

When should I take the MCAT?

Applicants to Texas Tech are encouraged to take MCAT administrations in April - July. MCAT reporting to the schools is typically done in 30-35 days after the exam.

Do I need a degree to be accepted to the medical school?

The answer is essentially, yes. Although all of the documentation concerning admissions will indicate that only 90 hours of coursework is required, an applicant would have to have to be an exceptional student in the extreme. An example would be a student with virtually perfect scores and unparalleled healthcare exposure. This is a very, very rare occurrence.

I'm not a science major, is that ok?

Yes. Most people applying to medical school are General Biology majors, but being a science major is definitely not a requirement. If an applicant is a non-science major, then extra upper-division science courses are recommended.

Does Texas Tech accept AP credit?

Yes.

How many people does Texas Tech interview?

Texas Tech School of Medicine interviewed 638 in 2002, 839 in 2003, 776 in 2004, 760 in 2005, 721 in 2006, and 751 in 2007. The goal for the Fall of 2008 is 800. Visit the statistics page.

How many people apply to Texas Tech?

In 2007, Texas Tech School of Medicine had 2958 applicants. This number represents a "leveling-off" of applications that has been occurring on a nation-wide trend. Visit the statistics page.

What is the acceptance rate for Texas Tech?

Texas Tech School of Medicine has been increasing its class size over the past few years. The current class size is 140. Visit the statistics page.

Is ethnicity used in the application process?

The goal of the institution is to recruit a diverse medical class exhibiting the personal experiences and the qualities promising academic success and to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population. To that end, as authorized by the Board of Regents beginning with the academic year 2005-2006 and pending approval by the Chancellor of Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, ethnic background as well as interest in the region will be among the many factors considered in the admissions process.

How long has a medical school been in Lubbock?

The School of Medicine was established in 1969 for the West Texas region. The first accepted classes included 36 Freshmen and 25 Juniors. The first graduating class was in 1974.

How many physicians have been produced by Texas Tech?

Since the first class in the early-seventies, Texas Tech school of Medicine has produced approximately 2600+ physicians.

What is the address to the medical school's admissions office?

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
School of Medicine
Office of Admissions 2B116
3601 4th Street
Lubbock, Texas 79430 back to top

I hear students are not always in Lubbock, is this true?

Yes, Texas Tech is responsible for providing health care to 108 counties in the region. Essentially, the vast area of West Texas falls under the responsibility of the health care providers at Texas Tech. To facilitate this, medical students will attend school at the Lubbock campus for their first 2 years, and then the class will be broken down in thirds (Lubbock, Amarillo, & El Paso), with a slight majority of the 3rd and 4th year medical students going to El Paso. The training is identical at every campus with respect to duration and grading. Due to the fact that each campus is in a completely different region from the other, there will be difference in the emphasis of cases seen for the particular specialties.

What are the first two years like?

The first 2 years at Texas Tech comprise the basic sciences years. However, with the recent curriculum changes, first year medical students are now seeing patients in a limited capacity as early as the the first week of school. These courses can be viewed on the curriculum page by clicking here. There is some patient contact in the first 2 years, however, the coursework is still very traditional (approx. 60%). These courses include mostly lectures.

When does patient contact begin?

Patient contact begins in the first year, although it is very light. Many students shadow physicians in their spare time during the first year which is perfectly acceptable and encouraged. Patient contact becomes virtually exclusive when year 3 begins.

What is the grading system like?

The grading system has gone from numeric to categorical, (Pass, Fail).

What about the MD/MBA program?

The MDMBA program is a combined degree program where students pursue an MD and an MBA in Health Organization Management. For more information , please click here. Applicants accepted through the MD/MBA program are accepted outside of the traditional MD rolling admissions and matching process. We will accept 9-10 students per year in this program.

What is the Summer Premedical Academy (SPA)?

The summer Premedical Academy is an intensive MCAT preparation session. Students live in Lubbock, on the Texas Tech Undergraduate campus, for 6 weeks and i5 practice MCAT exams. Also included are mock interviews, oral/written communication courses, a technical writing course and various community caring events. For for information on SPA, click here.

What is the Undergraduate to Medical School Initiative (UMSI)?

This is a program design for exceptional high school seniors that have the desire to become physicians. The requirements include: admittance to Texas Tech University undergraduate, a minimum 1300 SAT or 29 ACT score, 3.5 GPA, and Texas residency. If accepted in the program, then the student will have the MCAT waived, and will be guaranteed a seat in the medical school class upon graduation. All of the prerequisite courses must be taken, but the program is designed to allow for exceptional and talented students to focus on non-science courses, in order to provide for a more well-rounded education. If interested, the Texas Tech University undergraduate admissions office and the Honor's College must first be contacted. Please do not contact the medical school with any questions until accepted by the undergraduate campus (806-742-3661). For more information on the UMSI, please click here.

What is the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP)?

The Joint Admission Medical Program is a long-term premedical academy for college freshman students who have the desire to become physicians. Students apply in the Spring of their Freshman year and, if accepted, enter the program as college sophomores and participate in 2 major summer internships at various medical schools in Texas. Assignment to the summer programs is based very largely on the number of prerequisite courses that have been completed by the end of the student's Sophomore year. Summer internships are 6-weeks long and always take place in the first half of the summer. JAMP Summer Internships never interfere with the students' ability to enroll in a Summer II academic session at their respective schools.

If these pre-medical enrichment course requirements are met and a GPA of 3.25 is maintained, and the JAMP Council has approved of their performance in the interviewing stage, then the JAMP student is guaranteed admission into one of the medical schools in Texas.

The general program qualifications include the applicant's qualification for a Pell Grant, and the completion of 27 hours of undergraduate coursework with a 3.25 GPA.

JAMP is a state sanctioned and supported program, and has participation by every major public and private college and university in Texas. This program allows for students to receive special mentoring by JAMP Faculty Directors (JFDs). For more information on JAMP from the state web site: http://www.utsystem.edu/jamp

Quick Search

SOM Resources

SOM Admissions

SOM Links

HSC Resources

Admissions

Frequently Asked Questions

General

Application Process

Coursework & MCAT

Admissions Statistics

Evaluation & Interview

Texas Tech Health Sciences Center School of Medicine

Undergraduate Enrichment Program

Answers

When should I start applying to medical schools?