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How to Get Into Texas A&M College of Medicine: The Definitive Guide (2024)

by internationalmedicalaid

Last Updated May 22, 2021

Part 1: Introduction

Among the finest of medical schools in the state of Texas, Texas A&M College of Medicine has a determination to serve those in need and those who serve our country. Indeed, Texas A&M Medical School has made a name for itself for giving back. The college specializes in providing healthcare to rural populations and the military. 

Texas A&M College of Medicine has five locations: Bryan-College Station, Dallas, Houston, Round Rock and Temple. The college also works with Texas Medical Center and Houston Methodist Hospital. 

If serving veterans and working with underserved populations is your passion, consider applying to Texas A&M Medical School and taking on the title of Aggie. In today’s definitive guide, we’ll be exploring everything this college has to offer prospective medical students. There are an abundance of programs to choose from, tuition is affordable, and the acceptance rate is higher than many other medical schools. Keep reading to learn all about Texas A&M College of Medicine.

Part 2: The Programs Texas A&M Medical School Offers

Texas A&M Medical School offers the following programs.

Not all of these degrees will allow students to earn their MD degree. Some will only result in a master’s degree. Those degrees are linked to their respective pages on the Texas A&M Medical School website. The degrees that will make you a doctor are listed in greater detail below. 

Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program

This first option will have you donning your white coat in the traditional four-year time frame. The pre-clerkship phase at Texas A&M Medical School only lasts for 18 months, in comparison with most programs that have pre-clerkships lasting for a full two years. In comparison, clinical training lasts for two and a half years. Texas A&M’s unique time frames allow for students to have clinical exposure before taking USMLE Step 1. This also allows students to take electives earlier on. In the pre-clerkship phase, students learn by studying patient cases instead of sitting through lectures.

The school’s website doesn’t provide any additional information on the MD curriculum, but they do provide information on what they look for in MD candidates. 

  1. Observation: Strong observational skills are important when treating patients and/or working in a laboratory setting. Without observation skills, the ability to detect problems is limited. 
  2. Communication: The ability to speak, listen, and observe changes in behavior is critical for a medical provider to demonstrate.
  3. Motor: Fine motor skills must be enough to accurately assess a patient’s palpitation, auscultation, percussion, and all other diagnostic maneuvers. 
  4. Intellectual-conceptual: Texas A&M’s website states: “These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis.” 
  5. Integrative and quantitative: Texas A&M’s website states: “The candidate should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures.”
  6. Behavioral and social: It’s essential to have strong mental health in the medical profession. While anyone can have a bad day, you must be able to make sound decisions for your patients.
  7. Ethical: It should go without saying that the highest ethical standards are required of doctors. 

If you have any additional questions on the MD program, reach out to the admissions department at Texas A&M.

Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Science

Students who are enrolled in this program receive the same training as all other MD candidates, as well as extensive training in laboratory settings. 

In addition to the M.D. coursework, students must take the following courses.

  • Contemporary Topics in Advanced Cell Biology (3 credits)
  • Responsible Conduct of Research (1 credit)
  • Statistics (2 credits) 

Students are also required to take nine credit hours of electives. They can choose from the following courses, or they can choose outside coursework approved through the department.

  • Foundations of Biomedical Informatics (3 credits)
  • Life Science Entrepreneurship (3 credits)
  • Current Topics in Cell Signaling (3 credits)
  • Pathogenesis of Human Disease (4 credits)
  • Special Topics in Elements of Research Grantsmanship (3 credits)
  • Special Topics in Clinical Research (3 credits)
  • Experimental Techniques in Cell and Molecular Biology (4 credits)
  • Biostatistics (2 credits)
  • Bioinformatics (2 credits)
  • Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Pathobiology (4 credits)
  • The Lymphatic System (3 credits)
  • Microbial Pathogenesis of Human Disease (3 credits)
  • Immunoregulation (3 credits)
  • Molecular Biology of Animal Viruses (3 credits)
  • Neuropsychopharmacology (4 credits)
  • Gross Anatomy (8 credits)
  • Teaching Medical Histology (3 credits)

Dual Degree Options

The dual-degree options offered at Texas A&M Medical School are categorized as MD Plus, meaning that you’ll be a Doctor of Medicine plus a Master of Science, Education or Engineering. All of the programs require you to complete the M.D. curriculum, along with the additional curriculum to earn the separate master’s degree. Most of these dual degrees can be completed in five years, with one year dedicated to the master’s coursework. Below are the details that Texas A&M Medical School provides for each of the master’s programs.

Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Medicine Dual Degree

This degree is equivalent to the Medical Scientist Training Program that many universities offer. Upon completion, students are crowned Doctors of Philosophy and Doctors of Medicine. The program allows for some flexibility once program requirements are met. Students can pursue any Ph.D. field of study, as long as it relates to biomedicine. If a student can prove that political science somehow relates to biomedicine, they have a good chance of getting that approved for their Ph.D. studies. 

Students can apply to this program at the same as they apply to the M.D. program. Students are required to maintain a 75 average during their first year, a 77.5 average during their second year, and an 80 average their third year on. Once you’ve reached the Ph.D. portion of your program, you’ll be required to take the following credits.

  • 15 credit hours of formal courses
  • 3 credit hours of seminar
  • 46 credit hours of research

Additionally, you must:

  1. Take a test to prove you’re ready to be a Ph.D. candidate.
  2. Begin your research proposal by defending and filing it.
  3. Complete your doctorate research.
  4. Complete your dissertation by writing and defending it.

Doctor of Medicine and Master of Science in Business Administration Dual Degree
On its own, this program usually takes 18 months to complete. But as part of the MD Plus program, it’s condensed into 12 months. To be accepted into the condensed version, students must apply to both programs: MD Plus and the Full-Time MBA Program. 

The program is divided into “mini-mesters,” with fall, spring and summer sessions. 
Fall Semester (20 credit hours)

  • Financial Accounting
  • Business Analytics
  • Finance for the Professional
  • Marketing Management
  • Operations Management
  • Microfoundations of Business Behavior
  • Business Communications

Spring Semester (21 credit hours)

  • Leading People in Organizations
  • International Business Policy
  • Management Accounting & Control
  • Innovation
  • Finance for the Professional II
  • Corporate Strategy
  • Business Communications
  • And two elective courses

Summer Semester (8 credit hours)

  • Professional Study (Capstone)
  • Individual Leadership Development

As you can see, you will have a packed year of study. But it will be worth it to gain the added knowledge. You will have an advantage to working in healthcare administration and in all aspects of healthcare that require business skills, development or leadership.

Students who are applying to the MD Plus MBA program are not required to submit GRE/GMAT scores. There are also scholarships that you’ll be considered for when you’re accepted. 

Doctor of Medicine and Master of Science in Public Health Dual Degree
This dual degree expands your knowledge and skill set in the public health sector. You’ll have increased opportunities to work in clinical and community settings. When you apply for the 12-month version of the program, your MCAT scores will be accepted in place of the GRE/GMAT. You’ll take a total of 45 credits, in which you’ll learn about…

  • The determinants of health
  • Applied methods
  • Epidemiology of diseases
  • Policy and ethics
  • Interventions

Career options include:

  • Occupational Medicine Physician
  • Medical Officer (medical expert) for the FDA
  • Vaccine Researcher for the NIAID
  • Medical Epidemiologist for the CDC
  • Forensic Pathologist
  • Biodefense Researcher
  • Preventive Medicine Officer for the Army

If you’re accepted into the program, you’ll automatically be considered for multiple scholarship opportunities.

Doctor of Medicine and Master of Science Dual Degree
Like the other MD Plus programs that we’ve looked at so far, this program is condensed into 12 months and MCAT scores are accepted in place of GRE scores. While you’re enrolled in the program, you’ll have two mentors: one specializing in basic science, the other in clinical science. Combined with the mentorship and curriculum described below, you’ll be well prepared for a career in medicine.

Curriculum

  • Topics in Clinical Research
  • Responsible Conduct of Research
  • Communication in Science & Engineering
  • Statistics in Research
  • Foundations in Biomedical Informatics
  • Journal Club
  • Electives
  • Thesis Research

Doctor of Medicine and Master of Engineering Dual Degree
Referred to as EnMed by Texas A&M College of Medicine, this unique degree is a result of the college’s partnership with Houston Methodist Hospital. This degree is all about “transformational technology for health care.” 

If you’re interested in this program, you’ll need to have completed your bachelor’s degree in an engineering field. Either that, or you’ll need to prove your interest in engineering and why you want to practice medicine and engineering together. 

More information about this degree can be found on this page dedicated to it. 

Doctor of Medicine and Master of Education for Healthcare Professionals (EDHP)
The EDHP program is completed online and helps prepare doctors to teach medicine in a classroom setting. You’ll work with other students who have the same goals and dreams as you, thus expanding your interpersonal relationships with your colleagues.

Curriculum:

  • Choose between Thesis research courses(32 credit hours) or Non-thesis electives with a guided, scholarly project (36 credit hours)
  • Educational theory courses – Curriculum Design and Teaching Strategies
  • Leadership and interprofessional courses
  • Additional coursework pertaining to selected track

Doctor of Medicine and Master of Science and Technology Journalism
This dual degree gives doctors the opportunity to become medical journalists. Career options include: 

  • Medical reporter
  • Provider of online medical content
  • Medical editor at a magazine or journal
  • Corporate medical writer or editor
  • Book author or editor
  • Medical communication teacher
  • Freelance medical writer or editor

During your time in the program, you’ll learn all about… 

  • Reporting Science and Technology
  • Biomedical Reporting
  • Issues in Science & Technology
  • Journalism
  • Science Editing
  • Risk & Crisis Reporting
  • Research Methods in Science & Technology Journalism
  • Methods of Specialized Journalism
  • Electives
  • Internship or Thesis

If any of these topics interest you enough to make a career out of them, consider applying to this program. MCAT scores are again accepted in place of GRE/GMAT scores, and students will be considered for scholarships from the College of Medicine. 

Now that we’ve looked at all the programs Texas A&M College of Medicine offers, let’s look at how much it costs to attend this school. 

Part 3: Cost of Attendance

Tuition at Texas A&M College of Medicine is very reasonable because it’s subsidized. The school provides a handy calculator to get the exact cost of attendance, down to what semester you’re attending. It’s broken down by Texas resident vs. non-resident, level of education and college within the university. For example, if you begin your education in the College of Medicine as a Texas resident in Spring 2022, your tuition will cost $3,703.20. 

Texas A&M University also has a financial aid website if you’re looking for more specific information. 

Part 4: Requirements to Getting into the MD Program

You can apply to Texas A&M College of Medicine once you have at least 90 credit hours of your undergraduate education under your belt. That’s about three-fourths of the way toward your bachelor’s degree since 120 credits will earn you a four-year degree. You can also apply with your bachelor’s degree in hand. 

Either way, make sure you’ve taken the following courses.

  • General Biology with labs – 8 semester hours or 12 quarter hours
  • Advanced Biological Sciences – 6 semester hours or 9 quarter hours
  • General Chemistry with labs – 8 semester hours or 12 quarter hours
  • Organic Chemistry with labs – 8 semester hours or 12 quarter hours
  • General Physics with labs – 8 semester hours or 12 quarter hours
  • Math-based Statistics – 3 semester hours or 5 quarter hours
  • English – 6 semester hours or 9 quarter hours

For more details on what courses will satisfy these requirements, visit this page. 

Visit this page for requirements for the MD Plus program and this page for the MD/PhD program.

Out of 174 applicants, Texas A&M Medical School accepted 72, putting them at a 41% acceptance rate. With an acceptance rate that high, you have a genuinely good chance of getting in–a much better chance than Brown or Perelman, which both average under 5% acceptance rates.

Students in Texas A&M’s programs have an average 3.87 GPA and a 512 MCAT score. 

Application Timeline

Applications for the 2021-2022 school year have closed, and applications for next year have yet to open. But this is what Texas A&M College of Medicine recommends for future applicants.

  1. Take the MCAT between January and June of the year before you’re applying to medical school. For example, if you want to start med school in 2024, take the MCAT between the months of January and June in 2023.
  2. If you’re a Texas resident, fill out the TMDSAS application as soon as it opens in early May. Again, this should be one year before you hope to matriculate. Applicants who are residents of other states should apply using the AMCAS application.
  3. Applications are continually processed as soon as the application period opens. Texas A&M College of Medicine uses a rolling admissions system.
  4. Complete your secondary application, and send in all supporting documents.
  5. Interviews begin in July and run through February of the following year. 
  6. Letters of acceptance/rejection are sent out until the incoming classes are full.

What is the TMDSAS, you might ask? We’ve linked to our article that covers it comprehensively, but it’s the primary application for Texas residents to use to apply to medical schools within the state of Texas. If you live in Texas and want to attend Texas A&M, apply via TMDSAS. But if you live in Alabama and want to attend Texas A&M, you would use AMCAS instead. 

Part 5: Secondary Essays

Your primary application (TMDSAS or AMCAS) will include your personal statement, the two-ish-page essay that you’ll write to tell admissions committees everywhere about why you want to attend medical school. 

You’ll fill out your secondary essay specifically for Texas A&M Medical School. Where the personal statement allows admissions committees to have a general understanding of you as an individual, your secondary essays give a closer look at you and why you’re a good fit for the school you want to attend. Texas A&M Medical School asks applicants to answer the following questions as part of their secondary application.

Question #1
Briefly describe the experiences and skillsets you’ve gained that have increased your appreciation for cultures other than your own, or for the human condition. (3,500 characters maximum, required)

Texas A&M Medical School is looking for students who have cultural experience and appreciate different perspectives. This is a vital part of a diverse community where everyone can learn from each other. It’s also vital to have a broad cultural understanding as a doctor. 

If you’ve been to another country and experienced someone else’s culture, that would be a great topic for this essay. If you have yet to gain experience like this, consider going on an internship with International Medical Aid. We take students to place like Lima, Peru, and Bogota, Colombia! You’ll have amazing experiences to share.

Another idea is to share an experience that helped you appreciate life more. Maybe you went to an art exhibit where an artist painted her life in the foster care system. Or perhaps your mom is a chef and has made every cuisine that exists. All of those would work for this essay. 

Question #2
“The Texas A&M College of Medicine embraces the Aggie Core Values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity and Selfless Service.” Explain how your involvement in your activities demonstrates your commitment to these Aggie values. (3,500 character maximum, required)

Texas A&M wants to know that its students have the core values necessary to become excellent doctors. While the Aggie core values extend to all of Texas A&M, the College of Medicine places specific importance on these traits. A disrespectful, lazy, selfish doctor who lacked integrity and couldn’t lead a team would not make it very far in the medical field. 

For this essay, we recommend picking the activity that you’re most proud of that demonstrates these character traits. Here’s an example.

From the time I was little, my parents wanted to instill strong values in me. They decided to have me volunteer at a soup kitchen while I was in high school. Their reasoning? We lived in a nice, suburban neighborhood, and they didn’t want me to take what I had for granted. At first, I didn’t want to volunteer at the soup kitchen. My excuses included feeling awkward, not knowing anyone and not wanting to wear a hairnet. My parents acknowledged how I felt, but they told me I wouldn’t be getting out of it. 

So, I went. I remember how I felt my first day. I had “an attitude” (as my mom would put it) on the car ride there, and I was very quiet during my first shift. I expected to see a lot of strange people greedily shoveling down as much food as they could take. But I was very wrong. 

What I saw instead were people who looked just like me. The jeans and t-shirts I wore to school on a regular basis were the same clothes homeless people were wearing. And they weren’t greedy about their food, either. Instead, they were very grateful for the food they received. They ate quickly, but there was nothing greedy about it.

The food that was served was the other inaccurate expectation I had. I imagined everyone eating slop, but instead, enjoyable meals were served. For Thanksgiving, we offered turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce. On Saturdays, we served sandwiches some weeks and soups on other weeks. We didn’t feed them food that looked like it came out of the dumpster!

The only part I can truly complain about was the hairnet. There was no fashionable way to style my hair. But, at the end of the day, I can’t really complain because the hairnet allowed me to safely serve food to thousands of homeless people.

I ended up volunteering at the soup kitchen with Mandy, a fellow sophomore, for the rest of high school. Every Saturday morning we went to the soup kitchen together and helped the hungry fill their stomachs. It was rewarding and fulfilling, and it kept me humble. Whenever I got upset over something I didn’t have, I got over it quickly. All I had to do was think about the food in my refrigerator, the warm blankets on my bed and the family I had who loved me. I didn’t have to wait for a soup kitchen to open to be able to eat. I never wondered or worried about where I would sleep at night. 

My time volunteering at the soup kitchen taught me to respect everyone, to never judge a book by its cover and to serve others without expecting anything in return. I believe that my experience at the soup kitchen was preparing me to be an Aggie long before I knew I wanted to go to school here. I’m prepared to embody the core Aggie values and make Texas A&M College of Medicine proud to have me as one of its alumni.

Question #3
If you’ve experienced any hardships that have limited your ability to prepare for medical school, please share them with us, if you feel comfortable doing so. Examples include financial hardship, illness, medical conditions or death. It is appropriate to include disadvantages brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. (3,500 characters, required)

While COVID-19 is the obvious choice, you can discuss any hardship here. Growing up in poverty, not having transportation, having an autoimmune disease, or having an immediate family member pass away are all significant issues that would impact your ability to prepare for medical school. Texas A&M College of Medicine wants to be fair to all applicants. If you’ve been disadvantaged and feel comfortable telling the admissions committee about it, go for it. If not, it’s okay to not answer this question.

Here’s an example:

My MCAT score is lower than I would like it to be. I first took the exam a week after my grandfather passed away from kidney failure. He passed away too close to the exam date to be able to reschedule it. And if I didn’t take the test, I would not have had a score to apply with. I had studied as hard as I could for the exam, but grieving greatly affected my ability to concentrate while taking the exam. With it being a timed test, I did the best I could, but I knew I wouldn’t score well.

I had planned to take the MCAT again, but testing centers across the nation shut down in response to COVID-19. So, I’m applying with an MCAT score that I’m not proud of. I considered delaying my application by a year so that I could retake the test and improve my score. But after losing my job last year, I decided to not let this pandemic control anymore of my life. 

I’m submitting my application this year because I want to be a medical student at Texas A&M Medical School. I’m not allowing the unfortunate timing of unfortunate life events to delay me from pursuing my dreams. So, when you’re reviewing my application, please know that I’m a strong student. I will make Texas A&M proud to have me as a student. And my future test scores will blow my MCAT score out of the water. Thank you for considering me.

This student’s plight is genuine. He did the best he could, but his best wasn’t what he wanted it to be. He considered delaying his application, but he decided to go for it, and apply. Whether or not Texas A&M Medical School accepts him, we have to applaud him for having the guts to go for it!

Question #4
Explain what areas of medicine you are most interested in. (50 words/250 characters per area of medicine, optional)

While this essay is optional, we highly recommend writing it anyway. It’s good for the admissions committee to know what your areas of interest are. 

Here’s an example:

Gynecology is my first choice of medicine. I want to enable women to confidently be able to care for their bodies. I went to the gynecologist for the first time when I was a teenager, and she helped me learn to become comfortable with my body. 

Oncology is my second choice. I want to reduce my patients’ pain as much as possible and help them maintain their quality of life. I want to provide encouragement and support while helping them understand their reality.

My third choice is the trauma unit of the ER. I want to help people who are in states of crisis and need medical attention fast. Keeping pressure on a femoral artery is my idea of helping others.

For the last two questions, the college clearly states to not leave the fields blank. If you choose not to answer one or both of the questions, state that you have no response instead of leaving the field blank. If you need help with any of these essay prompts, reach out to us. Part of our med school admissions consulting includes helping students with primary and secondary essays. We can help you brainstorm topics, proofread your essays, and provide tips to improve the quality of your essays. After all, these essays are a determining factor when the admissions committee decides whether to interview you. 

Part 6: Interview Day at Texas A&M

The final part of the application process is the interview. Not every applicant is invited to interview, so it’s a big deal if you receive that coveted invitation! An interview doesn’t guarantee your acceptance into Texas A&M College of Medicine, but it does mean that you’ve made a positive first impression, and the committee wants to meet you. They want to see if you’ll be a good fit for the College of Medicine.

All interviews are currently taking place via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews are likely to continue this way until CDC guidelines change. Texas A&M’s foremost priority is the safety of its faculty and current and future students. 

Texas A&M Medical School conducts interviews traditionally. This means that you’ll have two separate interviews, with each one lasting 30 minutes. One of these interviews will be with a member of the admissions committee. The other interview could be with the admissions committee, but it could also be with another Texas A&M faculty member or a current MD candidate. They’ll have access to your application beforehand, so they’ll come into the interview with an understanding of who you are as an applicant. 

The interview goes both ways. This is your opportunity to demonstrate who you are as an MD candidate and why Texas A&M College of Medicine is right for you. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask any questions you might have. After all, you probably have some questions about the schools you want to attend!

Part of our med school admissions consulting includes conducting mock interviews to prepare you for the real deal. If you have an interview scheduled with Texas A&M Medical School, reach out to us. You can easily schedule an appointment on our website to get started.

Throughout the whole application process, you will be evaluated with the following.

  • Community involvement and service activities
  • Leading roles in organizations at school or projects in the community
  • Experiences in clinical or healthcare-related settings
  • Your personal statement
  • Why you want to be a doctor
  • The quality of your letters of evaluation
  • What kind of medicine you want to practice
  • How you’ve overcome hardships or adversity in your life
  • And all factors that have impacted or affected you in your preparations for medical school

Conclusion

Here at IMA, we want to see you succeed. Because of this, we highly recommend applying to multiple schools. Even if Texas A&M Medical School is your dream school, you’ll want to apply broadly to other medical schools. In the best-case scenario, you’ll have multiple offers, and you’ll get to decide where to go!

You might already know where else you want to apply. But if you’re still deciding, check out our list of definitive guides on getting into these medical schools. 

We’re here for you if you need any help throughout the application process. International Medical Aid offers med school admissions consulting for that very purpose. We’re a click away if you need us. We wish you the best as you begin your application journey!

About IMA

International Medical Aid provides global internship opportunities for students and clinicians who are looking to broaden their horizons and experience healthcare on an international level. These program participants have the unique opportunity to shadow healthcare providers as they treat individuals who live in remote and underserved areas and who don’t have easy access to medical attention. International Medical Aid also provides medical school admissions consulting to individuals applying to medical school and PA school programs. We review primary and secondary applications, offer guidance for personal statements and essays, and conduct mock interviews to prepare you for the admissions committees that will interview you before accepting you into their programs. IMA is here to provide the tools you need to help further your career and expand your opportunities in healthcare.