MD · Galveston, TX · public · applies through TMDSAS (also AMCAS)
University of Texas Medical Branch John Sealy School of Medicine
Known as UTMB
Prerequisite coursework
Verify with the school| Course | Status | Hours | Lab | Pass/fail | AP credit | Online | Community college | Notes from the school |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomy BIOL | Recommended | 4 | Yes | Case-by-case JSSOM will allow applicants to take any course Pass/ Fail from Spring 2020 (January 2020) through Fall 2021 (December 2 021). | Case-by-case AP and IB coursework are only accepted if the undergraduate institution granting the credit lists the specific course(s) and the number of units granted per course on an official transcript. | Yes | Yes | |
| Biochemistry CHEM | Required | 3 | No | Case-by-case JSSOM will allow applicants to take any course Pass/ Fail from Spring 2020 (January 2020) through Fall 2021 (December 2 021). | Case-by-case AP and IB coursework are only accepted if the undergraduate institution granting the credit lists the specific course(s) and the number of units granted per course on an official transcript. | Yes | Yes | 3 semester hours or 5 quarter hours of biochemistry are required. Any credit or quarter hour deficiency less than or equal to 1 can be waived automatically per applicant request. Excess hours in Biochemistry can be used to fulfill biology or chemistry requirements. |
| Biology BIOL | Required | 14 | Yes | Case-by-case JSSOM will allow applicants to take any course Pass/ Fail from Spring 2020 (January 2020) through Fall 2021 (December 2 021). | Case-by-case AP and IB coursework are only accepted if the undergraduate institution granting the credit lists the specific course(s) and the number of units granted per course on an official transcript. | Yes | Yes | 14 semester hours (12 semester hours of lecture and 2 semester hours of formal lab) or 21 quarter hours (18 quarter lecture hours and 3 quarter lab hours) as required for college science majors. (One semester of Biochemistry can be substituted for one semester of Biology). Any credit or quarter hour deficiency less than or equal to 2 can be waived automatically per applicant request. |
| Cell Biology BIOL | Recommended | 3 | No | Case-by-case | Case-by-case | Yes | Yes | |
| Chemistry CHEM | Required | 16 | Yes | Case-by-case JSSOM will allow applicants to take any course Pass/ Fail from Spring 2020 (January 2020) through Fall 2021 (December 2 021). | Case-by-case AP and IB coursework are only accepted if the undergraduate institution granting the credit lists the specific course(s) and the number of units granted per course on an official transcript. | Yes | Yes | General Chemistry - 8 semester hours (6 semester hours of lecture and 2 semester hours of formal lab) or 12 quarter hours (9 quarter hours of lecture and 3 quarter hours of formal lab) as required for college science majors. Any credit or quarter hour deficiency less than or equal to 1 can be waived automatically per applicant request. Organic Chemistry - 8 semester hours (6 semester hours of lecture and 2 semester hours of formal lab) or 12 quarter hours (9 quarter hours of lecture and 3 quarter hours of formal lab) as required for college science majors. Any credit or quarter hour deficiency less than or equal to 1 can be waived automatically per applicant request. |
| Composition & Rhetoric ENGL | Required | 6 | No | Case-by-case JSSOM will allow applicants to take any course Pass/Fail from Spring 2020 (January 2020) through Fall 2021 (December 2021). | Case-by-case AP and IB coursework are only accepted if the undergraduate institution granting the credit lists the specific course(s) and the number of units granted per course on an official transcript | Yes | Yes | 6 semester hours or 9 quarter hours. Writing intensive courses taught in departments other than the English department are considered case by case. Any credit or quarter hour deficiency less than or equal to 2 can be waived automatically per applicant request. |
| Genetics BIOL | Recommended | 3 | No | Case-by-case JSSOM will allow applicants to take any course Pass/ Fail from Spring 2020 (January 2020) through Fall 2021 (December 2 021). | Case-by-case AP and IB coursework are only accepted if the undergraduate institution granting the credit lists the specific course(s) and the number of units granted per course on an official transcript. | Yes | Yes | |
| Immunology BIOL | Recommended | 3 | No | Case-by-case | Case-by-case | Yes | Yes | |
| Mathematics MATH | Required | 3 | No | Case-by-case JSSOM will allow applicants to take any course Pass/ Fail from Spring 2020 (January 2020) through Fall 2021 (December 2 021). | Case-by-case AP and IB coursework are only accepted if the undergraduate institution granting the credit lists the specific course(s) and the number of units granted per course on an official transcript. | Yes | Yes | 3 semester hours or 5 quarter hours of college Calculus or Statistics. Statistics must be taught in the Math department. Any credit or quarter hour deficiency less than or equal to 1 can be waived automatically per applicant request. |
| Microbiology BIOL | Recommended | 4 | No | Case-by-case | Case-by-case | Yes | Yes | |
| Physics PHYS | Required | 8 | Yes | Case-by-case JSSOM will allow applicants to take any course Pass/ Fail from Spring 2020 (January 2020) through Fall 2021 (December 2 021). | Case-by-case AP and IB coursework are only accepted if the undergraduate institution granting the credit lists the specific course(s) and the number of units granted per course on an official transcript. | Yes | Yes | 8 semester hours (6 semester hours of lecture and 2 semester hours of formal lab) or 12 quarter hours (9 quarter hours of lecture and 3 quarter hours of formal lab) as required for college science majors. Any credit or quarter hour deficiency less than or equal to 1 can be waived automatically per applicant request. |
| Physiology BIOL | Recommended | 4 | Yes | Case-by-case | Case-by-case | Yes | Yes |
Community-college pathways
All community college coursework is accepted, but upper-level science coursework at the university level is strongly encouraged.
Source: MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Premed Course Requirements 2027 (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Admission policies, in the school's words
All applicants must apply online with the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS). Applicants can apply at http://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas . Once applications are transmitted to UTMB, each applicant is invited to submit a secondary application and pay a $70 application fee. Applicants may request to waive the application fee. All applicants applying for admission must also complete the CASPer online assessment. Applicants must meet all the aforementioned requirements prior to the review of an application by the Admissions Committee. Applications and letters of recommendation will be accepted by TMDSAS beginning May 1 and the deadline for receipt of applications is October 1. Interviews will be conducted from August through December. Applicants not accepted during the pre-match offer period (October - January) or the TMDSAS Match will be considered for possible placement in the alternate pool. This pool is not ranked. When positions become available, the Admissions Committee will review all candidates in the pool for acceptance. The University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine MD Program uses Zap Solutions’ Admission Management Program (AMP). AMP is an online system used to manage admissions and communicate with applicants throughout the admission process. After applications are transmitted to UTMB from TMDSAS, each applicant is emailed a link to register in AMP. Applicants are expected to set up an account, complete the secondary application, and pay a $70 secondary application fee in AMP, and submit asynchronous video responses before the admissions committee can review their application. If selected for an interview, applicants will use AMP to choose an interview day.
Source: MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Admission Policies and Information 2027 (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Who can apply
- Out-of-state applicants
- Yes State law restricts public medical schools from exceeding 10% nonTexas residents in each entering class.
- Canadian applicants
- No
- International applicants
- No
- DACA applicants
- No
- Residency preference (school's page)
- The FAQ says no more than 10% of the class comes from out of state, and only applicants who are permanent U.S. residents or American citizens are considered for interview and admission.
Source: (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Interview
- Format
- Multiple Mini Interviews via Kira Talent Platform. Additional information sent to candidates.
- Invitations sent
- July 2026
- Typical interview day
- Applicants must be invited for a virtual interview to be considered for admission. Interviews are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Approximately 56 applicants are interviewed weekly utilizing a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format. The JSSOM MMI will consist of seven 7minute interviews. Applicants receive 3 minutes to read a scenario before each interview. Interviewers consist of faculty, staff, residents, and students. During one of the interviews, applicants have an opportunity to sell themselves, discuss interest in JSSOM, and ask questions of our faculty. Each applicant is required to attend an Interview Orientation. Orientation takes place the Friday prior to the applicant's scheduled interview day. The virtual orientation includes a welcome, curriculum presentation, campus tour, and student panel discussion followed by multiple mini-interviews. The school also hosts inperson campus preview days (Dec-Jan) and a second look program called Spring Peek in March/April.
- Regional interviews
- Regional interviews are not available.
- Video interviews
- Video interviews are the only option.
- School's admissions page says
- Multiple mini interview (MMI) with seven 7-minute interviews, conducted virtually.
Tags are derived from the text above by keyword; read the text before relying on a tag.
Source: MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Interview Procedures 2027 (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Situational-judgment tests and MCAT dates
- Casper
- Required source · secondary lists: MSI required, IMA —
- AAMC PREview
- Not stated source
- Latest MCAT considered
- November 06, 2026
- Oldest MCAT considered
- January 2022
Casper status comes from the school's own admissions page where it states one, otherwise from published requirement lists; PREview from the school's page or the AAMC PREview policies report. Both change between cycles. Verify with the school.
Secondary application
- Required
- Yes
- Fee
- $70
- Fee waiver available
- Yes
- Deadline
- Nov 6, 2026 November 6, 2026
Source: (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Letters of evaluation
- Committee letter
- Accepted
- Letter packet
- Accepted
- Individual letters
- Accepted
Source: (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13). Verify with the school.
Waitlist and deposit
- Typical waitlist positions
- 200-300
- Offers made from the waitlist
- 35
- Procedure
- This number varies greatly depending on the number of withdrawals we receive each year. If and when a position becomes available, the entire pool is reviewed for acceptance.
- Deposit required
- No
Cost of attendance and debt
| In state | Out of state | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $26,993 | $42,159 |
| Health insurance | $3,438 | $3,438 |
| Total cost of attendance, year 1 | $61,825 | $76,991 |
77% of students receive aid. Average indebtedness of indebted graduates: $151,139.
Official AAMC counts, 2025-2026
- Applications
- 5,450 (82.3% in-state)
- Matriculants
- 230 (90% in-state, 10% out-of-state; 48.7% women)
- Applications per seat
- 24
Source: AAMC FACTS Table A-1: Applications and Matriculants by School, State of Legal Residence, and Gender, 2025-2026 (AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13).
Entering class
- MCAT (mean)
- 513
- GPA (mean)
- 3.78
Source: the school's published class profile (page), retrieved 2026-10-13. Statistics describe one entering class and are not cutoffs.
Transfer applications
No
Mission statement
John Sealy School of Medicine at UTMB will strive to create tomorrow's medicine today by discovery and application of new knowledge, and by inspiring lifelong learning and clinical excellence. We will accomplish this mission through innovative leadership and a steadfast commitment to scholarship and service excellence by: 1) Educating and inspiring skilled physicians and scientists who are dedicated to lifelong learning and reflect the diversity of the people whom we serve. 2) Enhancing the well-being of our global community by expanding the frontiers of our basic and applied scientific knowledge and its translation from the bench to the bedside. 3) Improving the health of all individuals by providing outstanding evidence-based, compassionate, culturally fluent patient care, which recognizes the utmost importance of human interest, values, and dignity. 4) Sharing our talents to form partnerships with others — individuals, communities, governments, foundations, schools/universities and industries — in the service of our community, our state and the world
Notes
FAQ: entering class of approximately 230 students per year; average GPA approximately 3.78 and average MCAT 513 (no class year stated; the requirements page cites an average GPA of approximately 3.80). No minimum GPA or MCAT; MCAT no older than five years; Casper mandatory (last accepted test October 20, 2026 for 2027 entry); supplemental application includes essays and asynchronous video responses with a $70 processing fee; prerequisites C or better and 90 semester hours.
Sources for this page
- MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Premed Course Requirements 2027 · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Admission Policies and Information 2027 · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- MSAR Report for Applicants and Advisors: Interview Procedures 2027 · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- School website (class profile and admissions pages)
- tmdsas
- LCME Directory - Accredited Programs
- AAMC FACTS Table A-1: Applications and Matriculants by School, State of Legal Residence, and Gender, 2025-2026 · AAMC, retrieved 2026-10-13
- https://www.utmb.edu/som/admissions-information/ready-to-apply-info/admission-policies-faqs · school website, retrieved 2026-10-13
- https://som.utmb.edu/admissions-information/ready-to-apply-info/admission-requirements · school website, retrieved 2026-10-13
AAMC report data may be reproduced and distributed with attribution for individual, educational and noncommercial purposes. This page is free and carries no advertising.