The Honors College of Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine offer an exciting and competitive program designed for academically talented and highly motivated students interested in pursuing a M.D. degree. By meeting the special requirements and deadlines of this joint program, a select group of Honors College entering first year students are guaranteed admission to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine after completion of a bachelor's degree at Texas Tech University. Combined with undergraduate coursework and medical school, the student is looking at 8 years of study.
The primary goal of the Undergraduate to Medical School Initiative (UMSI) is to encourage Honors students to broaden their educational experiences before they enroll in their professional studies. The waiver of the MCAT allows students to become actively involved in the Honors College and to include coursework or other experiences in areas such as languages, the humanities, mathematics, and business, enabling them to become more well-rounded professionals. Please note - UMSI is not an accelerated (6, 7 year or other type of fast-track) program to medical school.
UMSI acceptance is available to a select number high school seniors whose candidacy is judged to be exceptional by the TTUHSC School of Medicine Admissions Committee upon meeting the following qualifications:
Student must apply and be admitted to Texas Tech University and the Honors College as entering First Year before the application process for UMSI is complete.
Processing of submitted application will be completed and student will be informed of their admission status within 4 to 6 weeks. Contact the TTU Undergraduate Admissions for any questions regarding undergraduate degrees.
Two letters of evaluation are required as a part of the UMSI application, which must be submitted within the online application. These letters should address a student's readiness and preparation to pursue medicine and complete both the UMSI and medical school programs.
Additional document that were submitted to Texas Tech University at the time of application (noted in Step 1) will also be reviewed, including: proof of acceptance to TTU and proof of pending application to the Honors College.
After the UMSI application is submitted, TTUHSC School of Medicine admissions officers will review the files and invite a select group of qualified individuals for personal interviews with the UMSI selection committee. Students that submit an application after the deadline will not be considered for an interview.
The following, shared by the School of Medicine Admission office, are qualities searched for in an interview:
| Date: | Event: |
|---|---|
| July 1st | Application to TTU via ApplyTexas and the Common App opens; Honors College application opens |
| October 1st | UMSI application opens |
| December 1st | Deadline for TTU application and Honors College application; Deadline for UMSI application and all supporting documents (see steps 1 & 2 above) |
| February | Interview invitations sent to UMSI applicants by email. |
| March | Time-frame of interviews for select UMSI applicants |
| April | Notification of admission decision to the UMSI program |
The Undergraduate to Medical School Initiative is not an accelerated program. Students are required to attend four academic years at Texas Tech University. The UMSI program does not require applicants to submit an MCAT score for admission to the TTUHSC School of Medicine.
Students must complete all science courses with a grade of B or better and have a minimum science GPA of 3.6 and a minimum overall GPA of at 3.7. Students that receive a grade below "B" in any of the required science courses may retake the course once to maintain eligibility.
A total of at least 53 semester hours of prerequisite coursework is required of all students before matriculation to the School of Medicine. This consists of 8 hours of General Chemistry, 8 hours of Organic Chemistry, 8 hours of Introductory Biology, at least 9 hours of upper-level Biology, and 8 hours of General Physics.
Using Texas Tech course listings, the TTUHSC School of Medicine requires the following courses:
| Course | Course title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 1307/1107 | General Chemistry I & Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 1308/1108 | General Chemistry II & Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 3305/3105 | Organic Chemistry I & Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 3306/3106 | Organic Chemistry II & Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 1403 | Biology I & Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 1404 | Biology II & Lab | 4 |
| PHYS 1403 or PHYS 1408 | Physics I & Lab | 4 |
| PHYS 1404 or PHYS 2401 | Physics II & Lab | 4 |
| MATH 2300 | Statistical Methods | 3 |
| CHEM 3310 | Molecular Biochemistry | 3 |
| Upper-Level BIOL * | 3-4 | |
| Upper-Level BIOL * | 3-4 | |
| Upper-Level BIOL * | 3-4 | |
| ENGL 1301 | English I | 3 |
| ENGL 1302 | English II | 3 |
* Recommended upper division courses (3000 or 4000 level courses) include: Cell Biology Laboratory, Developmental Biology, Human Genetics, Cell Biology, Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, Biological Chemistry, Principles of Microbiology, Physiology of Bacteria, Introduction of Virology, Immunology and Serology, Pathogenic Microbiology, Basic Concepts of Pathophysiology, Animal Histology, Parasitology.
Courses for non-science majors or for health career majors (nursing, pharmacy, allied health sciences, etc.) will not satisfy the required coursework. All required coursework must be applicable towards a traditional science degree.
ALL coursework must be taken at Texas Tech University as a student in the Honors College. Students who have come in with AP, IB, SAT/ACT test-score credit or dual credit for any specific course within the required coursework may take upper-level credit within that specific discipline to avoid retaking the course (or, for students with AP, IB, SAT/ACT test-score credit, they may simply retake the course). For example, a student may take an additional 8 hours of upper-level biology coursework if he or she received college credit for both Introductory Biology courses, with the alternative option of retaking both Introductory Biology courses. NOTE: A limited number of AP or dual credit course may be accepted for coursework only in English.
Credits earned through Texas Tech University and Reciprocal international study programs are allowed (when grades contribute toward to the student's TTU GPA are earned on a TTU transcript and the student is continuously enrolled at TTU). Credits earned through non-affiliated international study programs are not allowed (if grades from these programs do not contribute toward the student's TTU GPA).
Students admitted to UMSI must maintain 100 hours of volunteer and/or shadowing activity per academic year. Students should keep track of their volunteer hours and be prepared to provide them to the TTUHSC School of Medicine annually and on the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) application when it is submitted.
Volunteer, shadowing, and research hours are earned by the academic year: September 1st through August 31st. Hours earned before September 1st of a student's First-year student year (i.e., the summer between graduating high school and attending Texas Tech University) do not count.
NOTE: The School of Medicine prefers the majority of volunteer/shadowing hours be conducted in a health-care setting. As well, no more than 20% of the hours should be dedicated to research activity.
Texas Tech University Honors College
Chad M. Cain
Program Director
chad.cain@ttu.edu // (806) 834-8972
TTUHSC School of Medicine
Louis Perez
Senior Director of Admissions, School of Medicine
louis.perez@ttuhsc.edu // (806) 743-2297
Texas Tech University Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Rex Oliver
Director of Recruitment
rex.oliver@ttu.edu // (806) 742-1480
