Admissions

E-mail: Admissions@unthsc.edu
Phone: 817-735-2204 or 800-535-TCOM
Fax: 817-735-2225
Website: http://www.unthsc.edu

Each year the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine seeks to enroll a diverse class of students who possess both the academic and humanistic qualifications to become skilled osteopathic physicians. The admissions process is selective and uses a holistic approach to evaluate each applicant. 

TCOM is required to enroll at least 90% Texas residents for each entering class. Up to 10% of each entering class may be filled with non-residents. Residency determination is done in accordance to rules and regulations as established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and applicable portions of the Texas Educational Code. Applicants must either be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents at the time of application to be considered for admission.

The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age or disabilities, and religion in its application and admission processes.

Admission Requirements

Academic and Test Score Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree program at TCOM, an applicant must meet the minimum academic and entrance examination requirements.

Academic Course Requirements

A minimum of 3 years of college (90 semester hours or the equivalent number of quarter hours) from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university (or Canadian equivalent) is required. Strong preference will be given to applicants who earn a bachelor’s degree before matriculation. In addition, the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) has established the following minimum prerequisite course requirements for admission. All academic course requirements must be completed prior to matriculation.

Biology: (at least 12 credits of coursework and 2 credits of laboratory course work) Includes all Biology courses applied toward a baccalaureate degree in a traditional science field. Courses for non-science or health career majors (Nursing, Pharmacy or Allied Health) are not acceptable towards the prerequisite requirements. Courses in Human Physiology and Anatomy, Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Microbiology are highly recommended.

Chemistry: (a minimum of 6 credit hours work and 2 credits of laboratory course work) These must be courses that are applied toward a baccalaureate degree in any traditional science field. These courses should provide familiarity with analytic and volumetric techniques. Inorganic courses include: General Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Quantitative Analysis. Courses for non-science or health career majors (Nursing, Pharmacy or Allied Health) are not acceptable towards the prerequisite requirements.

Organic Chemistry: (a minimum of 6 credit hours work and 2 credits of laboratory course work) These must be courses that are applied toward a baccalaureate degree in any traditional science field. The courses that are used to meet this requirement must have “organic” in the course title. Courses for non-science or health-related career majors (Nursing, Pharmacy, or Allied Health) are not acceptable towards the prerequisite requirements.

Physics: (a minimum of 6 credit hours of course work and 2 credits of laboratory course work) This includes all physics courses applied toward a baccalaureate degree in any traditional science field. Courses for non-science or health career majors (Nursing, Pharmacy or Allied Health) are not acceptable toward the prerequisite requirements.

Statistics: (a minimum of 3-semester credit course) Course may be taken in any academic discipline; course content should include descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, sampling techniques, measures of relationship, regression models, and other tests for significance. Course must be completed prior to matriculation.

English: (two 3-credit courses) Any course accredited (approved) by the English Department that fulfills the general education English requirement of a baccalaureate degree will meet this requirement. Remedial or developmental courses or “English as a Second Language” courses are not acceptable.

Applicants who do not meet the credit hour requirement but meet the course content requirements may be considered for admission. Prior life experience(s) or work-related activity cannot be used to meet a course requirement.

Foreign Coursework

Applicants must complete at least 90 undergraduate credit hours at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university (or Canadian equivalent). Transfer credit from a school outside the U.S. or Canada may apply to this requirement only if the individual courses appear on the transcript of an accredited U.S. or Canada college or university - lump-sum credit is not allowed. Transfer credit from a school outside the U.S. or Canada will not apply towards any prerequisite course requirement. 

State law requires that academic work taken at foreign colleges, universities or preparatory schools be excluded from the calculation of the grade point average for students seeking admission to graduate or post-baccalaureate professional school.

Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Requirement

In addition to the academic requirements, all applicants are required to take the MCAT, which is administered throughout the year. 

Admission Procedures

TCOM requires both a primary and secondary application. Only completed applications are considered for admission. Applicants should carefully read all of the information about the process.

Primary Application

TCOM participates in the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) located in Austin, Texas.  Early applications are strongly encouraged. The primary application can be completed and submitted electronically through the TMDSAS web site. The processing of an application may be delayed if either the grades from courses or the MCAT scores are not included at the time of application.

Official transcripts from all prior college-level course work and MCAT scores must also be submitted to the application service. In addition, TMDSAS requires that an applicant’s premedical/health professions advisory committee submit a written evaluation directly to the service. Letters from three (3) people who are familiar with an applicant may satisfy this requirement if no advisory committee is available. The letters should be from faculty members and/or a pre-health advisor who can assess the applicant’s suitability for medical school. Applicants are encouraged to submit a letter of recommendation from an osteopathic physician familiar with the applicant; the physician may submit this recommendation directly to TCOM.

Secondary Application

TCOM requires completion of its own web-based secondary application.

Interviews

Only selected applicants will be invited to interview. Interviews are required for admission. Interviews are typically conducted between August and February of each year.

Applicant Selection

Each year, the Admissions Committee looks for students who demonstrate the greatest promise of becoming skilled osteopathic physicians. Applicants will be evaluated on their personal integrity, compassion, maturity, interpersonal, and communication skills, creativity, motivation for and interest in a medical career, the ability to work cooperatively, and dedication to serving others. These qualities and attributes are evaluated by several means, including letters of recommendation, the scope and nature of extracurricular activities, the breadth of education, and personal interviews. All aspects of the academic record, including trends in scholastic performance, are examined. Personal experiences, job history (if applicable), and motivation to become an osteopathic physician are considered. 

Admissions Committee Evaluation

In accordance with TCOM’s Mission, a holistic review process is used to admit a diverse class with the academic credentials and humanistic qualifications to become skilled osteopathic physicians dedicated to patient care and service to their communities.

Applicants who are recommended for admission by the committee are assigned a score. This score is based on the following criteria:

• Academic performance as an undergraduate student
• Academic performance as a graduate student
• Academic performance while attending high school
• Scores of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
• Interview scores
• Geographic diversity
• Socioeconomic background
• Commitment to the field of study
• Community Activities
• Availability of members of the osteopathic profession while the Applicant attended elementary or secondary school
• First generation to go to college
• Letters of evaluation
• Contributes to the diversity of the class*

*Contributes to the diversity of the class includes race, ethnicity, or any other unique personal life experience(s), including but not limited to experience abroad, foreign language skills, hardships and adversities overcome, community service, or previous career experience, that will enrich the educational environment of the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Applicants who are recommended for admission by the committee are forwarded to the Dean for approval.  The Dean may approve or may place an applicant on hold for future consideration.  Applicants who are held are placed on the wait list but are not offered admission until the hold is released.

Acceptance Notification

TCOM sends acceptance notifications based on procedures agreed upon by the participating medical schools in the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS). This information is posted on the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine website.

Early Decision Program (EDP)

Highly qualified applicants who have a preference to attend the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) may apply through the Early Decision Program (EDP). Applicants must indicate they are applying through this program on their TMDSAS application. Applicants who wish to be considered for EDP are not allowed to apply to any other medical school in the United States (includes TMDSAS, AACOMAS and AMCAS medical schools).  Applicants must complete all academic course and test score requirements prior to their EDP application.

Any applicant that is accepted through the EDP process is obligated to attend TCOM. An applicant that is not accepted through the EDP is free to apply to other schools for regular admission consideration.

Deferment

Any accepted applicant may request a deferment of entry for one academic year. The applicant must make the request prior to June 1, sign a deferment assurance statement, and submit a non-refundable deposit of $1,000.00 to hold a seat in the next class. Requests received after June 1 are considered on a case-by-case basis. Accepted applicants who are placed on deferment cannot apply to any other medical school.

Primary Care Pathway Program (PCPP)

Applicants who are enrolled in the Primary Care Pathway Program (PCPP) may be considered for admission upon completion of their first year of study at their undergraduate institution. Only students who are attending a designated partner institution may apply for PCPP consideration.

University of North Texas-University of North Texas Health Science Center Seven Year Bachelor of Arts/Doctor of Osteopathic (BA/DO) Combined Program

University of North Texas students may apply after their second year of undergraduate study through the combined BA/DO program. Applicants must follow the policies and procedures for the program to be considered. Applicants through this joint program are not required to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

Admission in Advanced Standing (Transfer)

Admission to TCOM as a transfer student is extremely limited. Students currently enrolled in a fully accredited college of osteopathic medicine may be considered for advanced standing admission into the third year of medical studies at TCOM. Prospective transfer students must demonstrate the completion of a medical school curriculum equivalent to the first two years of medical education at TCOM. The prospective transfer student must have valid reasons for transfer, have maintained good academic standing, be qualified for admission in every respect including academic performance, met all other academic course and test score requirements for first-year admission, and be eligible for continuation as a student in good standing. Admission is selective and depends upon space availability at TCOM.

Guidelines for Eligibility

• Prospective transfer students must be in good standing at a Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) approved college of osteopathic medicine (COM). 
• Prospective transfer must be in good standing and currently enrolled at the COM. 
• Prospective transfer students must also meet the academic and test score requirements for first-year admission at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Preliminary Requirements

Before any application for admission in advanced standing is processed, an applicant must first submit the following information:

• A letter explaining their reason(s) for requesting admission into the third year.
• Official transcripts of all medical school coursework.
• The dates and outcome of any previous applications to TCOM.
• Documentation such as a catalog or course syllabi that demonstrates the prospective transfer student will have completed the same first-year and second-year curricular content required of third-year medical students at TCOM, including medical science and osteopathic clinical courses.
• Official transcripts of all prior undergraduate and graduate courses taken as well as scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
• Prospective transfer students must submit documentation that meets the preliminary requirements no later than October 1 of the year prior to matriculation.

 Application Requirements

Selected applicants who meet all preliminary requirements and the stated guidelines for eligibility may be invited to submit the following required materials and information for full consideration as an applicant for admission in advanced standing:

• A completed application for transfer admission obtained from the Assistant Dean for Admissions and a filing fee of $100. The deadline for receipt of applications is January 15 of the year of proposed matriculation. All necessary supporting documents must also be received by January 15. Incomplete applications will be withdrawn from further consideration. No exceptions will be made.
• Official transcripts from all undergraduate colleges, graduate schools, and medical colleges. Transcripts must be sent directly from the institution to TCOM. Copies of transcripts or hand-carried transcripts are not acceptable.
• A letter of evaluation from the dean of students at the medical school the applicant currently attends. This letter must indicate that the dean of the school has given full approval for the application for transfer.
• Scores on all external medical examinations taken (Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-COMLEX, USMLE). Official test results should be sent directly to TCOM from the testing boards. Applicant should indicate when examinations are to be taken if no scores are available.
• A personal statement of reasons for applying for admission in advanced standing. This statement should be addressed to the Admissions Committee.

An on-campus interview. Selected applicants are invited to interview at the discretion of the Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee will consider only applications that are complete on or before January 15.