Admissions and Outreach

Pass/Fail Courses:                                                                                        

• TCOM will accept courses taken during the Spring 2020 semester graded pass/fail including required prerequisite courses.
• TCOM will accept courses taken during the Summer 2020 term graded pass/fail including required prerequisite courses.
• TCOM will accept courses taken during the Fall 2020 term graded pass/fail including required prerequisite courses.
• TCOM will accept courses taken during the Spring 2021 term graded pass/fail including required prerequisite courses.
• While TCOM will accept pass/fail credit towards requirements, the admissions committee prefers graded courses.

Online Courses:                                                                                             

• TCOM has always accepted online courses for credit completed from a regionally accredited college or university.

Make sure to carefully read the policies and procedures for both the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) and the Office of Admissions and Outreach.

Please note there will be a $50 Application Processing Fee for all applications.

Required Applications and Documents

Pre-match offers begin October 15th

Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) Online Application

(2024 Application Due November 1, 2023 by 5:00 p.m. CT)
All applicants are required to complete the TMDSAS online application for medical schools, which is available on their web site at http://www.tmdsas.com/ In addition, applicants are required to submit official transcripts of all prior college-level course work, scores from the Medical College Admission Test (see below), evaluations from either the health professions advisory committee of the college the applicant attended or from three individuals, photographs and any other documentation that may be required to expedite your application.

TCOM Secondary Application

(2024 Application Due November 15, 2023 by 5:00 p.m. CT)
In addition to the TMDSAS application, all applicants are required to submit a Secondary Application directly to TCOM. The Secondary Application is available through the admissions portal.

Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Scores

Scores from the MCAT must be submitted to the TMDSAS from MCAT.  Applicants must request all scores be sent to TMDSAS.  TCOM will only accept MCAT scores since 2019 and no later than September, 2023 for 2024 admission.

In accordance to its mission, the Texas College of Osteopathic seeks to enroll a diverse student body with the academic and humanistic qualifications to become accomplished osteopathic physicians dedicated to patient care and the diverse communities they will serve. Applicants who complete the interview process are forwarded to an admissions selection team for review. The team evaluates applicants holistically based on the criteria below.

• Academic Qualifications (Metrics): The academic qualifications domain assesses the applicant’s record of academic and scholarly activity completed to prepare for the curriculum offered at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. In addition to course work and test scores, the committee evaluates the applicant’s ability to develop competency in scientific, social science and health care systems concepts, manage significant demands both in and out of the classroom, and the capacity for improvement.

• Personal (Humanistic) Development: The personal development domain assesses the applicant’s activities, and interests in preparation for a career as an osteopathic physician. Activities should demonstrate a consistent and sincere interest in serving others in a career in medicine. The applicant should be able to explain how these experiences have enhanced one’s ability to understand the nature of medical practice. Personal development also refers to the extent the applicant expresses self-awareness and recognizes the socioemotional dynamics of the doctor-patient relationship. As a part of this domain, the applicant is also assessed on those behaviors that reflect the values of the University of North Texas System.

• Diverse Experiences: The diverse experiences domain examines the applicant’s path to osteopathic medicine and how it relates to TCOM’s mission to enroll a diverse class These experiences include circumstances where an applicant has demonstrated the ability to overcome challenges or engage in experiential learning through socially diverse opportunities. Experiences may also indicate acquired qualities that will prove to be beneficial in medical training such as resilience and cultural competence. This domain also examines how these experiences will enhance the learning of others.

Applicants approved by a selection team are assigned a score based on these criteria. All scored applicants are reviewed by the Dean. Applicants who are approved by both the selection team and the Dean are placed on a rank list based on the selection team’s score. The rank list from each team is standardized using z scores and collated from highest score to lowest. Applicants are admitted in rank order until all seats in the class are filled.

Applicants only applying to TCOM can take advantage of the Early Decision Program (EDP). 

Why choose to apply through the Early Decision Program?
By applying for an early decision you can avoid the high costs associated with applying to a number of different medical schools. Also, if osteopathic medicine is your first choice, this may be a viable option for you to consider since we send decisions out to Early Decision applicants before the regular match.

EDP Applicants Important Dates:

• TMDSAS Application Opens                May 1
• Submissions Allowed                           May 15
• EDP Application Due                           August 1
• Secondary App, MCAT & Docs Due    August 15

Review additional guidelines to the EDP process.

While it is disappointing to not be admitted to medical school, there have been a number of applicants who have been successful in gaining admission as reapplicants. However, those who have been admitted as reapplicants typically made improvements to their application and demonstrated their preparedness for a career in osteopathic medicine.  Below are admissions statistics for reapplicants from the year for 2017-2019.

There are a number of areas applicants can make improvements on during the reapplication process. While some of the information presented on these pages may be useful to you, it is not to be used as a ‘checklist’ that will eventually lead to an offer of admission. It is for informational purposes only and it is the responsibility of the applicant to identify and address any weaknesses in their application before reapplying.

HSC has established scholarship opportunities to assist TCOM students who qualify. A list of all available scholarships for TCOM students can be found using the link below. The General Scholarship Application is used for internal scholarships and is typically open for a two to three-month period. HSC Scholarship Opportunities for TCOM Students

Here are answers to some of the more frequently asked questions by prospective TCOM students:

How many students does TCOM admit each year?
We usually plan to have approximately 230 first-year students. Since we’re a state-supported medical school, we’re required to fill at least 90% of our seats in each incoming class for Texas residents. The remaining 10% are open to non-residents.

What’s TCOM’s minimum GPA for admission? What about MCAT scores?
We don’t use a minimum cutoff score in these two categories. Grade point averages and MCAT scores are only two of the factors we use in evaluating our applicants. However, we do expect applicants to have better than a B average in their prerequisite course work. The most recent entering class statistics are available here.

When will I be notified about a decision on my application?
Notification is typically sent in accordance to a schedule agreed upon by the state-supported medical schools through the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service. A schedule for admission notifications is available on this web site.

Does TCOM have an Early Decision Program?
Yes, we offer early admission to applicants who have outstanding credentials. You must apply only to TCOM. You must submit your completed application by August 1. Decisions will be sent by October 1. Information for Early Decision is available here.

What if this a second career for me? Can I still go into medicine?
Absolutely. We have always accepted qualified non-traditional students. We think their attitudes and life experiences enhance and strengthen the medical school experience for everyone. You aren’t required to have a degree in any premedical field, but you must have completed the appropriate course prerequisite requirements for admission.

How does an osteopathic (D.O.) school differ from an allopathic (M.D.) school?
The key distinction is in a philosophical approach to medicine that “takes care of people, not just symptoms.” Osteopathic medical students are trained to not only to treat illness, but examine a number of different aspects of a patient’s life, including lifestyle and environment. In addition, America’s osteopathic medical schools instruct students on the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment.

In general, the medical sciences portions of an osteopathic medical school and an allopathic medical school do not differ in terms of content.

How do TCOM students perform on national board exams?
TCOM students are required pass the  Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA) Levels 1 and 2 to graduate.  Overall, students perform extremely well on this exam.  Data of our pass rates are available online here.

Are there research opportunities for TCOM students?
Yes, students have a number of options available to them to conduct research while attending TCOM.  During the summer between the first and second year, a summer research program is available with a number of faculty mentors here on campus.  Students who have an interest in pediatrics have the opportunity to complete a research program with Cook Children’s Medical Center located in Fort Worth.  Also, an honors research elective is offered to medical students during their second year of study.

Students who have an interest in pursuing a research-oriented career path may have an interest in completing the dual DO/PhD program which takes approximately six to seven years to complete.

What core clinical rotations do TCOM students complete?
TCOM students are required to complete the following clinical rotations:

• Introduction to Core Clerkships – 2 weeks
• Family Medicine – 8 weeks
• Internal Medicine – 8 weeks
• Surgery – 6 weeks
• Obstetrics & Gynecology – 4 weeks
• Pediatrics – 4 weeks
• Manipulative Medicine – 4 weeks
• Psychiatry – 4 weeks
• Emergency Medicine – 4 weeks
• Geriatrics – 4 weeks
• Patient Safety – 2 weeks
• Professional Identity and Health Systems Practice – Year Long Course

In addition, students have the opportunity to complete nine (9) elective rotations for 36 weeks. Rural scholars have different requirements.

Where do TCOM students complete their clinical rotations?
TCOM uses a statewide network of hospitals and clinics to complete core rotations.  Below is a list of our affiliated sites and satellite campuses for third year clinical rotations.

Affiliated Sites (Location):

• Cook Children’s Medical Center (Fort Worth)
• Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital (Fort Worth)
• John Peter Smith (JPS) Health Network (Fort Worth and Tarrant County)
• Methodist Dallas Medical Center (Dallas)
• Medical City Fort Worth (Fort Worth)
• Driscoll Children’s Hospital (Corpus Christi)

Satellite Campuses (Location):

• Conroe Regional Medical Center (Conroe)
• Corpus Christi Medical Center Bay Area (Corpus Christi)
• Christus Good Shepherd Health (Longview)
• Weatherford Regional Medical Center (Weatherford)

How do TCOM students perform in the residency match programs?
TCOM graduates have done extremely well in residency match process with the majority of graduates staying in Texas to complete their training.

Approximately 60% of any given class will enter a primary care residency (family medicine, internal medicine obstetrics & gynecology or pediatrics) while nearly 40% choose to enter a specialty residency program.  Such specialties have included anesthesiology, emergency medicine, pathology, psychiatry, radiology, surgery to name a few.

A summary of our match data by specialty is available here: TCOM Residency Placement Data

How is TCOM’s curriculum formatted?
TCOM uses a modified integrated systems approach. The curriculum is divided into systems. During year one, each system’s anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and other basic sciences are taught together to help students develop a more integrated understanding of its function. At the same time, students work individually and in groups on clinical topics relating to the system. Osteopathic clinical courses are also taught throughout the first two years.

During year two, students are taught primarily through patient presentations.  There are over 100 patient presentations used to study approximately 1,000 different diseases.  Through this approach, students are able to integrate basic medical knowledge through a more clinically relevant approach.

The last two years are devoted primarily to clinical rotations. Students complete a number of core clinical rotations in different specialties including family medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, internal medicine, obstetrics & gynecology, emergency medicine, and geriatrics. Most core rotations are completed in one of our affiliated hospitals and clinics.  Students also have the opportunity to complete elective rotations in hospitals and clinics located throughout the United States.

Can students complete international rotations?
Yes, students can currently complete an elective rotations in Malawi, Thailand or Russia.  Others clinical rotations are also available through various organizations outside of the school.

What kind of support programs are offered to assist TCOM students?
There are a number of academic, counseling, professional development and social outlets available to promote student success at TCOM. The Center for Academic Performance (CAP) provides tutoring and other academic support functions.  Each entering student is assigned to one of six advisory colleges.  The advisory colleges offer a network and faculty-student and student-student mentoring covering a wide range of wellness and professional development topics.

If you have any questions about the application process or any other admissions-related topics, please e-mail Admissions Office: admissions@unthsc.edu.