Preparing yourself as early as possible is key to getting into med school. If you’re based in Texas (or interested in going to school there), choosing one of the best pre-med schools in the state can definitely help.
In this article we’ll cover:
- The best pre-med schools in Texas (based on reputation and alumni)
- How important it is to attend a good pre-med school in the state
- What pre-meds going to school here can do to be more competitive
Being a med student myself, I know how valuable it can be to think about each of these questions. Getting into med school is tough, the right information can help give you a small advantage.
Ready to learn more? Let’s go!
Before we get into the best pre-med schools in Texas, you might be interested in what’s on offer in the surrounding states. Check out our guide; Best Pre-Med Schools in the USA for more information.
6 Best Pre Med Schools In Texas
Baylor University
| Location: | Waco, TX |
| National University Rank: | 76 |
| Average SAT score: | 1200-1350 |
| Acceptance Rate: | 45.3% |
| Tuition: | $47,364 |
| Private/Public | Private |
Baylor University’s Premedicine Program is one of the best in Texas. Although there’s no strict pre-med track, there is support in the form of advising, professional workshops, research opportunities, and student organizations.
The following prehealth organizations are available to participate, lead and help support any med school application:
- Baylor Medical Student Association (BMSA)
- Baylor University Medical Ethics Discussion Society (BU MEDS)
- Christian Pre-Health Fellowship (CPF)
- Multicultural Association of Prehealth Students (MAPS)
- Medical Service Organization (MSO)
- Global Surgery Student Alliance
And a ton more!
Related: Is Baylor A Good Medical School? (Major Pros & Cons)
Founded in 1845, Baylor has a great track for medical school admission, helping over 250 plus students matriculate each year. It comes in at #76 in the National University Rank, according to U.S. News.
Here’s more information on their Baylor’s pre-med and Prehealth support services…
Prehealth workshops available cover leadership, professional statements, interviews, committees and gaining letters of recommendation, and more.
DETAILS
- Name: Baylor University
- Location: 1311 S 5th St, Waco, TX 76706
- Phone: (800) 229-5678
- Website: https://www.baylor.edu/prehealth/
Texas A&M University
| Location: | College Station, TX |
| National University Rank: | 66 |
| Average SAT score: | 1160-1390 |
| Acceptance Rate: | 57.8% |
| Tuition: | $12,445 (in-state)/$39,394 (out-of-state) |
| Private/Public | Public |
TAMU has a well-renowned Prehealth program offering up to 10 Science students guaranteed acceptance into Texas A&M College of Medicine upon completion of their undergraduate degrees.
The college’s Science to Medicine Program is closely linked with the research, shadowing, and clinical experiences available through its medical school. Professional School Advising offers plenty of support.
Many students interested in physician careers at TAMU opt for the Biomedical Science (BIMS) major as it satisfies many of the prereqs needed for med school and the MCAT.
TAMU sends roughly 400 medical school admissions every year.
DETAILS
- Name: Texas A&M University
- Location: 400 Bizzell St, College Station, TX 77843
- Phone: (979) 845-3211
- Website: https://science.tamu.edu/admissions/pre-med-pre-vet-pre-dent-pre-law/
The University of Texas At Austin
| Location: | Austin, TX |
| National University Rank: | 42 |
| Average SAT score: | 1230-1480 |
| Acceptance Rate: | 31.8% |
| Tuition: | $11,106 (in-state)/$39,322 (out-of-state) |
| Private/Public | Public |
The Health Professions Office at UT Austin has years of experience preparing students for med school.
They connect students with valuable community-based volunteer organizations to gain clinical experience and organize regular events including virtual drop-ins, preparation-focused workshops, and more.
Extracurricular participation is available at numerous student organizations, including:
- Health Science Scholars (HSS)
- American Medical Students Association (AMSA)
- Global Medical Brigades
- Global Medical Training (GMT)
- Medically Oriented Volunteer Experiences organization (MOVE)
And more!
UT Austin sends the most successful medical school matriculants of all Texas-based colleges, according to 2019 data.
Check out this student’s review of life as a pre-med at UT Austin…
DETAILS
- Name: The University of Texas At Austin
- Location: Austin, TX 78712
- Phone: (512) 471-3434
- Website: https://cns.utexas.edu/health-professions
The University of Texas At Dallas
| Location: | Dallas, TX |
| National University Rank: | 143 |
| Average SAT score: | 1240-1460 |
| Acceptance Rate: | 78.6% |
| Tuition: | $13,992 (in-state)/$38,970 (out-of-state) |
| Private/Public | Public |
UT Dallas is the #25 medical feeder school in America (and #3 in Texas), according to AMCA’s data.
The school offers support discussing your health career options, requisites, recommended courses, and possible majors. There is also a dedicated pre-health study area, personal advising sessions, and over 17 pre-health student organizations to get involved with.
Previous students have gone on to med schools like Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine (Dartmouth), Dell Medical School (UT Austin) and Stanford University School of Medicine.
Here’s more info from UT Dallas’ Health Professions Advising team…
DETAILS
- Name: The University of Texas At Dallas
- Location: 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX 75080
- Phone: (972) 883-2111
- Website: https://oue.utdallas.edu/pre-health
The University of Houston
| Location: | Houston, TX |
| National University Rank: | 176 |
| Average SAT score: | 1140-1310 |
| Acceptance Rate: | 65% |
| Tuition: | $11,569 (in-state)/$26,839 (out-of-state) |
| Private/Public | Public |
University Houston sends around 200 of its undergraduates to med school each year.
Their pre-health advisory services can coach you in what major to choose, how best to prepare and where to find valuable shadowing and volunteer experience in Houston and beyond.
Their resources section has a detailed list of hospitals offering clinical opportunities, community involvement projects, and shadowing programs. Regular events include application and interview workshops and webinars, Q&A’s and a pre-med series with medical student panels offering advice and best practices on how to make an application stand out.
DETAILS
- Name: The University of Houston
- Location: 7000 Fannin St #1200, Houston, TX 77030
- Phone: (713) 500-4472
- Website: https://uh.edu/pre-health/areas/medicine/
Rice University
| Location: | Houston, TX |
| National University Rank: | 16 |
| Average SAT score: | 1470-1570 |
| Acceptance Rate: | 8.7% |
| Tuition: | $51,107 |
| Private/Public | Private |
Rice University doesn’t offer a “pre-med” major but prepares around 200 students each year for successful admissions into med school.
Their pre-health advising team has a dedicated office to help students prepare for postgraduate programs and puts on a popular Health Professions Advising Orientation event every fall.
The Rice Pre-Medical Society (RPMS) is a great student organization to join and benefit from. You’ll get access to resources, advice, and extracurricular opportunities as well as the chance to participate in the Big Owl/Little Owl Program (BOP). The latter connects Rice undergraduates with current medical students and physician mentors for discussions over medical issues and lifestyle topics.
The college’s close affiliation with Texas Medical Center also provides ample opportunities.
Here’s some extra information from a pre-med at Rice…
DETAILS
- Name: Rice University
- Location: 6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005
- Phone: (713) 348-0000
- Website: https://naturalsciences.rice.edu/pre-health-advising
All admissions data is taken from the American Association of Medical Colleges (Source).
Final Thoughts
There are several options to choose from when it comes to choosing great pre-med schools in Texas.
Whichever major you choose, the connections, experiences, and opportunities at these colleges will give you all you need to help put together a competitive application.
You’ll still have to put in the time of course, but you’ll have lots of support to help you along the way.
Related Questions
Is It Important To Attend A Good Pre Med School In Texas?
Having a reputable school on your med school application can look good. Performing well during undergrad, at any of the colleges recommended above, is a strong indicator you’ll fit in studying medicine.
How much an individual school actually contributes to your chances of becoming a doctor is open for debate, however.
The biggest factor, in terms of competitiveness, are your GPA score, your clinical experience (shadowing, working, etc), and extracurriculars, and how well you present yourself in application essays and interviews.
To say the strength of your candidacy comes solely down to where you studied for pre-med would be a stretch!
What College In Texas Has The Best Medical Program?
The best medical school in Texas, according to U.S. News Ranking (Source), is Baylor College of Medicine. You’ll need an average GPA of 3.9 and an average MCAT of 518 to compete for one of its 186 places.
Other high scoring med schools in the state include:
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
- UT Health Science Center at San Antonio Long School of Medicine
- McGovern Medical School at UT Health Science Center at Houston
How To Improve Your Medicine Application As A Pre Med in School in Texas
A great way to make your med school application as competitive as possible is through extracurriculars.
In Texas, you have a lot of clinically relevant medical/hospital volunteering opportunities to take advantage of.
These positions are organized and very useful for obtaining letters of recommendation (LOR’s), shadowing, and other important networking connections.
Check out our medical volunteering guides for:
You can also look into relevant pre-med jobs like scribing, EMT, and phlebotomy available in the state for extra clinical experience.
Related: 3 Best Paid Jobs For Pre Med Students (That Don’t Require Experience Or Training)
What Is The Hardest/Easiest College In Texas To Get Into?
Based on the data above, The University of Texas At Dallas is probably the easiest pre-med college in Texas to gain admission to as an aspiring doctor. Their admission rate is the highest and their average SAT score is lower than rival colleges.
Rice University is perhaps the most competitive college to matriculate in as a pre-med in Texas.
What Major Should I Choose As A Pre-Med In Texas?
The standard advice is to choose a major you feel you can do well in. Your GPA will be possibly the biggest differentiator between you and other pre-med candidates.
Here’s what you should consider:
- How motivated you’ll be to study (choose something you’ll enjoy)
- How “suitable” you are to the subject (maximize your chance of a high GPA)
If you did well in a particular subject in high school, or find something relatively easy to get good grades in, that could make for a good pick.
Something else to think about is the MCAT. Sometimes life science subjects can be a good fit as they’ll help you in the preparation for this key med school exam. They also may cover many of the prerequisites.
One thing is for sure though; you don’t need to be on a pre-med track at a Texas-based college to get into med school. Your GPA, your MCAT, and your extracurriculars are what count!
If you found this article useful, make sure you check out the rest of our pre-med guides…
- Best Medical Schools In Houston
- Best Pre Med Schools In Georgia (Costs, Extracurriculars & Admission Info)
Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.