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Admissions

Application Deadline: November 1 View Application Timeline

UT Southwestern’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) for an M.D./Ph.D. requires a different application through the AMCAS system.

M.D./Ph.D. Admissions

Demographics for the Class of 2025

UT Southwestern accepts students from a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. We value not only excellence in academics but also the diverse set of experiences that each student brings to the class. In doing so, we evaluate candidates in a holistic manner and accept students with a range of scores.

Student demographics chart showing average GPA of 3.83, average MCAT of 517, 90 percent of students are Texas residents, and 54 percent are male and 46 percent are female.
Class of 2024 Profile Demographic image showing standard class size of 230 students, 26.5% underrepresented minorities: 2.6% Multiracial, 6% African American/Black, 17.9% Hispanic; plus 35.7% Asian, 33.6% Caucasian, and 2.6% unreported
 

Class Profile and Statistics Details

Holistic Applicant Evaluation

Applications are thoroughly reviewed by an Admissions Committee appointed by the Dean of the Medical School. The committee is composed of faculty members from both basic science and clinical departments. The Committee evaluates candidates in a holistic manner. The Committee is interested in identifying applicants who possess not only the academic capabilities but also the personal attributes and characteristics inherent in excellent physicians.

Additionally, the Committee will assess the candidate’s motivation to pursue a career in medicine, ensuring alignment with the mission of UT Southwestern Medical School, which emphasizes the importance of training primary-care physicians, educating doctors who will practice in medically underserved areas of Texas, and preparing physician-scientists who seek careers in academic medicine and research.

The Admissions Committee considers all of the following in evaluating each applicant’s acceptability:

  • The rigor of the undergraduate curriculum
  • Personal qualities and individual factors such as leadership, self-appraisal, determination, social and family support, and maturity and coping capabilities
  • Personal integrity and compassion for others
  • The applicant’s motivation for a career in medicine
  • Scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
  • Academic performance in college as reflected in the grade-point average
  • Recommendations from the college premedical committee or faculty
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Socioeconomic background
  • Any time spent in outside employment
  • The ability to communicate in English

CASPer Exam

All applicants applying to UT Southwestern Medical School are required to complete an online assessment (CASPer) to assist with our selection process for the 2023-2024 Application Cycle. CASPer is an online test which assesses non-cognitive skills and interpersonal characteristics that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program, and will complement the other tools that we use for applicant screening.

Interviews

Interview invitations are sent by email to applicants beginning in mid-July. Invitations for interviews are typically sent at least three weeks before the assigned interview date. All candidates will have two back-to-back interviews with UT Southwestern faculty members in a standard interview format. All interviews for the 2023-2024 class will be conducted virtually. If invited to interview, you will receive an email from the Admissions Office. Interviews are by invitation only and take place from August through mid-January.

FAQ

  • Does UT Southwestern have minimum cutoffs for GPA or MCAT?

    UT Southwestern Medical School does not set a minimum GPA or minimum MCAT score for consideration. We admit students with a range of scores and use a holistic evaluation process, taking into account many different factors during our evaluation of candidates. Please visit our class profile page for information on academic average.

  • Do you accept students from out of state?

    Yes. However, we are limited in the number of non-Texas residents we can accept. State law limits our enrollment of non-Texas residents to 10 percent of our overall class.

  • How can I determine if I’m a Texas resident?

    All residency classifications for applicants are done by the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) based on the rules governing Texas residency for higher education as established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

    For more information, please visit TMDSAS website.

  • Do you accept international students?

    It is the goal of UT Southwestern to accept only those students who are guaranteed to complete the full four years of the curriculum based on citizenship or permanent resident status. Therefore, only applicants who are permanent U.S. residents or American citizens will be considered for interview and admission.

  • Do you consider all college majors?

    UT Southwestern accepts students who major in a variety of disciplines. Typically, around 70 percent of students accepted into the Medical School are science majors. The other 30 percent major in a variety of nonscience fields (psychology, business, English, music, etc.).

  • What dual-degree options are there?

    At UT Southwestern, we offer the following dual degree opportunities: M.D./MBA, M.D./M.P.H., and M.D./Ph.D.

  • What is UT Southwestern’s policy for deferred admission?

    Students admitted to UT Southwestern Medical School may request a one-year deferral. Deferrals are not automatic and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Deferral requests must be received prior to June 1 in order to be considered.

    If the deferral is approved, the applicant’s place in the entering class to which he/she was originally admitted will be transferred to the following year’s entering class.

    Only in unusual circumstances will a request for deferring enrollment more than one year be considered.

    Deferral requests are considered within the context of all relevant information, including, but not limited to:

    • Date of deferral request
    • Medical school application information
    • Reason(s) for requesting a deferral. Please provide a detailed response.
    • Number of deferral requests for that application cycle

    Accepted applicants interested in seeking a deferral should download the Medical School deferral application and submit it as soon as possible to the Admissions Office.

  • What is UT Southwestern’s policy for transfer admissions?

    The Medical School is not currently admitting any transfer students into the program. This is because UT Southwestern launched a new curriculum several years ago, and we have been unable to accept transfers since that time due to our clinical rotations being at maximum capacity.

  • I submitted my application. When will I hear something?

    The Admissions Committee reviews and evaluates applications throughout the admissions season. It is not possible to tell you when you will hear from us. If you are selected for an interview, you will be notified by email. We will notify all applicants who are not selected for an interview only after the entire interview process has ended (mid-February).