Anesthesiologist | Cardiologist | Dermatologist | Emergency Medicine | Family Practice | Gasteroenterologist | Gynecologist | Neurologist | Oncologist | Ophthalmologist | Pediatrician | Physician | Psychiatrist | Surgeon | Sports Medicine | Urologist | and more!
Students preparing for a career in medicine are classified as Pre-Medical. To qualify for medical school admission, students must take the necessary prerequisites for each school; a bachelor's degree is also expected and strongly preferred.
Allopathic or Osteopathic Physician
In order to become a doctor, an individual must earn a medical degree and become board certified in either Allopathic Medicine (M.D.) or Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) The primary difference between an M.D. and D.O. is the philosophy of delivering medicine. Allopathic medicine uses a science-based practice focused on diagnosing and treating medical conditions. Osteopathic medicine, while similar, takes a more holistic approach, with added focus on prevention, and the integration of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, OMM. The only public D.O. program in Texas is offered at Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at the UNT Health Sciences Center. UNTHSC has also partnered with TCU to open the UNTHSC-TCU School of Allopathic Medicine.
In addition to a medical degree, passing state-licensure exams and participating in residency programs are required to be licensed as a doctor.
Joint Admission Medical Program, JAMP
JAMP, the Joint Admission Medical Program, is a Texas state-wide program that helps students coming from an underserved or low socio-economic background become physicians. If a student is selected to be a JAMPer and maintains all eligibility requirements, an interview will be extended to the student by each Texas medical school, with a direct entry into one of the medical schools. For more information about JAMP, please visit their website. For current students who would like to learn more about the process of applying to JAMP, please send an email to our JAMP Faculty Director, Todd.Lang@unt.edu
FAQs
Which major should I select at UNT for a pre-medical path?
Popular majors among pre-medical students at UNT include the following.
- Bachelor of Arts in Biology, College of Science
- Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry, College of Science
- Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, College of Science
- Option III would be the best fit for pre-health students
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
- Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology—Allied Health Track or General Track, College of Education
- Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Integrative Studies, College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
- Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Studies, College of Health & Public Service
- Bachelor of Science in Public Health, College of Health & Public Service
Note: Medical schools do not require a particular degree. If you choose a major outside of the sciences, we recommend taking extra courses in biology, in addition to all of the required prerequisites.
For more information about each major, please visit the UNT Catalog and select 'majors, minors, certificates' that is found beneath the link to ‘Catalog Home’.
What courses do I need for medical school?
Please refer to our Pre-Medical Packet for a list of Texas medical school prerequisites. To review prerequisites for medical programs outside of Texas, please refer to each individual school's website.
Timeline: When do I apply to medical school?
Students must apply to medical schools one year before entering a program. On the traditional four-year path, students will apply during the summer after their junior year of college, complete their bachelor's degree at the end of their senior year, and enter medical school the following fall semester.
This timeline will show you an example of the traditional four-year path to medical school.
Note: Each student's timeline is different. Your UNT academic advisor/counselor is committed to creating a plan that accommodates your individual goals and circumstances.
What makes a competitive application to medical school?
Admission to medical school is very competitive and students should create a strategic plan well in advance. Below you will find typical categories of a competitive application. Please contact our advisors in the UNT Office of Health Professions to further explore each competitive characteristic and to create your pre-medical plan.
Call, click or come by for more information!
Office of Health Professions: 940-369-7500 | HealthCareers@unt.edu | Hickory Hall, Room 256
| CATEGORY | COMPETITIVE |
|---|---|
| GPA | 3.74, Texas avg. admitted |
| MCAT Score | 510, Texas avg. admitted |
| Shadowing | 100+ Hours |
| Medical Volunteering | 100+ Hours |
| Non-Medical Volunteering | 100+ Hours |
What is the MCAT?
The Medical College Admission Test, MCAT, is the entrance exam that must be taken before applying to medical school. The score range for the MCAT is 472 to 528. We strongly recommend that you not take the MCAT until after all prerequisites have been completed. This includes coursework from the following areas: biology, chemistry, statistics, physics, biochemistry, and psychology/sociology. For more information about the MCAT, please visit the official webpage on AAMC.
How do I apply to medical school?
Medical schools in the United States use three application services to obtain your information: TMDSAS, AMCAS and AACOMAS.
Texas Medical & Dental Application Service, TMDSAS
Schools using TMDSAS
Baylor College of Medicine
Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio
McGovern Medical School at UT Health Houston
Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Texas A&M College of Medicine
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at El Paso
Texas Tech University Health Science Center School of Medicine at Lubbock
University of Houston College of Medicine
University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
American Medical College Application Service, AMCAS
Schools using AMCAS
TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine
M.D. Programs Outside of Texas
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, AACOMAS
Schools using AACOMAS
University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM)
D.O. programs outside of Texas
Are there any scholarships available to pre-medical students?
Yes! The following scholarships are specifically available to pre-medical students:
Dr. Glenn Mitchell Memorial Scholarship:
To be considered, a student must be a pre-medical student, should have completed 60 hours of pre-medical coursework, must demonstrate academic excellence, must be competitive for admission to a medical school, and have 1 year of Biology | Physics | Organic Chemistry credit. The scholarship is awarded for the following fall or spring semesters. For more information about this scholarship, please contact Todd Lang.
Dr. Leslie Parks Memorial Scholarship
To be considered, a student must be a pre-health student and should have completed 60 hours college coursework.
Rafes Pre-Medical Scholarship:
To be considered, a student must be a full-time UNT pre-medical student, should currently be enrolled as a freshman, and demonstrate scholastic excellence. The scholarship application is awarded for the following fall or spring semesters. For more information about this scholarship, please contact Todd Lang.
Dr. Burl G. Rogers Academic Excellence Award
To be considered, applicants must have graduated from the university with a degree in Chemistry, met the minimum academic performance standards of the Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) of the College of Science, and be admitted to and registered at an accredited medical school. For more information about this scholarship, please contact Todd Lang.
The following scholarship is available to pre-health students:
The Dr. Charles D. and Vernil Mitchell Endowed Scholarship
To be considered, a student must enroll as a full-time undergraduate student in any degree-granting major in the College of Science and be a graduate of any high school in Dallas ISD. For more information about this scholarship, please contact Todd Lang.
These are not only scholarships available to students interested in going to medical school. General scholarships are also offered through each department and college across campus. Below you will find scholarship webpages for some of the popular majors listed above:
- Biology and Biochemistry Major Scholarships
College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences:
- Psychology Major Scholarships
- Integrative Studies majors should click on the 'College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences' link for more information.
- Kinesiology majors should click on the 'College of Education' link for more information.
If you do not see your major listed under one of the three colleges listed above, please visit the scholarship website of the college that houses your major.
How can I get to know other pre-health students?
HERE you will find a list of health-related student organizations at UNT.
Professional Organizations and Resources
American Medical Association (AMA)
American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
Who can help me create a plan for this career path?
If you are a current student, please visit unt.navigate.eab.com to schedule an appointment.
For general questions email: HealthCareers@unt.edu
To view contact information for individual pre-health advisors, visit this site. On the left, under "Office of Health Professions Pre-Health Advising" you will find all of the pre-health advisors' emails.
If you are a current student, join our canvas course to receive important announcements and view resources related to your pre-medical journey.