Application Process
Admissions Process & Interviews
Requirements for Applicants
- The South Texas Medical Scientist Training Program abides by the same prerequisite coursework and acceptance requirements as the Long School of Medicine. For more information, please visit their website.
- Rigorous research experience is expected
How to Apply
To apply, it is required that you use the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) website.
- Select the “Combined M.D./Ph.D. program” at the “University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio.” FYI, since we received the MSTP award in June of 2018, we were unable to make changes to our AMCAS application name listed. Though listed as “M.D./Ph.D. Program” please be aware that we are a fully designated MSTP.
- The AMCAS application is the only application that you need to complete in order to be considered for admissions into our M.D./Ph.D. program. The deadline is November 1st. We participate in AMCAS Letters service, and thus, there is no need to send additional letters of recommendation beyond those selected in AMCAS.
- Please note that if you want also to be considered for admissions into the M.D. program at UT School of Medicine San Antonio, you must submit an application using the TMDSAS applicationsystem prior to the M.D. program deadline of October 1. In this case, you should check the box that indicates that you also submitted an AMCAS M.D./Ph.D. application.
- There is currently no secondary application.
- After submission of the AMCAS application, applicants may submit additional information of significance such as publications, presentations, awards, or the result of an additional MCAT score. These submissions should be sent electronically to the MSTP Director.
How to be a Competitive Applicant
- The STX-MSTP seeks individuals who have demonstrated a passion for biomedical research. This passion must be described clearly in the M.D./Ph.D. essay.
- Sustained inquiry and investigation within a biomedical laboratory for a minimum of one year is preferred.
- Presentations and/or publications are not necessary but they improve the quality of an application.
- Some clinical shadowing experience is needed to develop an informed reflection that leads to the determination for pursuing a clinical degree.
- MD/PhD programs are very competitive requiring high academic standards.
- Additional resources for the M.D./Ph.D. application can be found on the AMCAS website.
Application Review
The MSTP Admissions Committee, in conjunction with the Long School of Medicine Admissions Committee, will select applicants for interviews starting the review in early August. Applicants will be notified via email. In some cases, the M.D. program determines to invite an applicant that had not been reviewed yet or that was selected for the alternate pool for the M.D./Ph.D. In this particular case, please contact the program director to request an administrative review. Please keep in mind that the application reviewers cannot review applications until they have been verified by AMCAS, which might take as long as six weeks, whereas the M.D. program might review the TMDSAS application sooner. Failure to gain an invitation for interview or acceptance into the MSTP will not jeopardize a decision to invite for interview or extend an acceptance to the M.D. program of the Long School of Medicine.
Interviews
Applicants are invited for interviews between late August and the end of December. Our interviews are a combined effort with the M.D. program of the Long School of Medicine as well as the Ph.D.-program of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in an intensive two day setting on Thursday-Friday. The MSTP Program Manager will reach out to you one week prior to your interview dates to manage your interview itinerary. Please see our Interview Process page for more details.