Hi premeds! This page serves as a high-yield resource for the University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine (UTSW Medical School), one of the best medical schools in Texas! The information from this page is a GOLDEN resource. We’ve compiled it from the UT Southwestern medical school acceptance rate, the UT Southwestern medical school website, and most importantly, from UT Southwestern medical school students themselves. We’ll give you intel on how to get into UT Southwestern Medical School!
Whether you’re comparing medical schools that you’ve been accepted to, preparing for an interview, or wanting to learn more about UTSW Medical School, keep reading!
Each year, the Cracking Med School Admissions team gets people accepted to UTSW. We can help you get accepted! Contact us today.
Why Choose University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine?
The most common reasons we’ve heard from students:
- UT Southwestern trains excellent clinicians! This starts in the first year when med students receive early clinical exposure through the UT Southwestern Medical Center School of Medicine’s robust simulation program and visits to the hospital wards.
- UTSW is often regarded as the strongest biomedical research institution in Texas with a strong emphasis on transnational research.
- Students benefit from access to a diverse patient population and high patient volume. Further, students are encouraged to engage with underserved communities in Dallas!
- Students love the culture, food scene, and fun things to do while living in Dallas! This setting provides a well-rounded medical school experience with a relatively affordable cost of living for a large city.
Applications
The UT Southwestern Medical School secondary application consists of several longer essays. The UT Southwestern Medical School secondary essay prompts are mostly similar to other medical schools because they ask you to share specific stories that exemplify your motivations and readiness to pursue a career in medicine. UT Southwestern is focused on training excellent clinicians and researchers who are excellent teammates. It is important to read this blog post to gain more insight about University of Texas Southwestern SOM’s unique curriculum and opportunities.
How to get into UT Southwestern medical school tip – For the UT Southwestern medical school secondary application, we want to highlight the importance of doing your research about the factors which affect the health of the UT Southwestern patient population and the diverse opportunities offered to UT Southwestern’s students. Doing your research will make you stand out among other applicants! Given its generalizable questions, we recommend completing this secondary as early as possible. Do not feel pressured to answer the optional questions if they do not apply to you.
We have even more tips about how to answer and how to stand out on your UT Southwestern secondary. Read all our UT Southwestern secondary essay tips here!
University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Prompts:
- Describe a group project or activity that you are most proud of. Consider the following in your response: What aspect makes you most proud? How was it accomplished? How did you deal with disagreement or conflict in the group? How did you get fellow group members to embrace a position or view your perspective? (2,500 characters max)
- Describe a time that you have witnessed someone acting unethically or dishonestly, or an experienced behavior of harassment or discrimination. Consider the following in your response: What did you do? What made the situation difficult for you personally? Describe your reaction and what you might do differently now in retrospect. (2,500 characters max)
- Describe an interaction or experience that has made you more sensitive or appreciative of cultural differences, and/or how you have committed yourself to understanding and aiding in the pursuit of equity and inclusion in your academic, professional or personal life. (2,500 characters max)
- (Optional) Have you engaged in any public service activities for a duration of one year or greater in length (examples: Military, Peace Corps, Teach for America, etc.). Yes or No? If so, please describe the experience and impact on your personal and professional development. (2,500 characters max)
- (Optional) Please explain any academic discrepancies or extenuating circumstances that you feel the Admissions Committee should know. (2,500 characters max)
UT Southwestern Secondary Application Essay: MD/PhD Questions
- Describe the type of research you are currently most interested in pursuing for your PhD training. You can be general or specific (e.g., genetics, biochemistry, Alzheimer’s disease, rational drug design, etc.) (500 characters max)
- Why are you interested in MD/PhD training at UT Southwestern in particular? (500 characters max)
- List names of up to five UT Southwestern faculty whose research is of particular interest to you (faculty must have a laboratory website at Labs). (500 characters max)
- If accepted, would you be able to start with a laboratory rotation by June 28, 2025?
Need Help With Your University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine Secondary Essays?
Get the Cracking Med School Admissions team’s expertise through our secondary essay editing packages. If you have questions, email us at info@crackingmedadmissions.com or contact us.
University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine
Interview Format
To ace your traditional interview, you need to know how to answer common medical school interview questions. It’s important to practice, practice, practice.
Cracking Med Resources for Interviews:
- How to answer “Tell me about yourself” Medical School Interview Question
- How to answer “Why this Medical School?”
- 43 Questions To Ask Your Medical School Interviewers
- Download our Cracking Med School Admissions interview guide below
Contact us if you want to schedule a mock interview with our Cracking Med School Admissions team! Take a look at our interview packages.
download your interview guide
If you are prepared, the interview gives you the perfect opportunity to standout and shine by sharing with people what you are passionate about.
University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine Acceptance Rate
University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine Admissions Statistics:
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Average GPA: 3.94
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Average MCAT: 516
How Did University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine Medical Students Do On Their USMLE Step Exams?
- University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine USMLE Step 1 Percentage Passing Rate: 95%
- Average University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine USMLE Step 2 Score: 255
Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders
We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With
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Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.
Advising students to attend their dream schools
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Residency
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Awards & Scholarships
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Each year, the Cracking Med School Admissions team
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The Insider's View on University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine's
Pre-clinical years
UT Southwestern Medical School Curriculum Overview:
As a UTSW medical school student, your first year and a half are spent as a pre-clinical student. UT Southwestern focuses on team-based learning, splitting the large class (around 239 students) into “Academic Colleges” of six students with faculty preceptors to learn academic and clinical skills together. However, large-group lectures are still incorporated into the preclinical curriculum as well. During the pre-clerkship phase, students are graded on an entirely Pass/Fail basis with an internal ranking used for Alpha Omega Alpha distinction, other awards, and percentiles often reported in residency applications.
Alongside learning in the classroom, students also have the option to pursue research and community service throughout the preclinical phase. UT Southwestern’s Scholarly Concentrations Program which supports students in pursuing a specific area of clinical and/or research interest. Students can choose from options including Care of Older Patients, Clinical Research, Global Health, Medical Education, Medical Innovation, Women’s Health, Planetary Health, and more! The requirements for these paths differ; but, they all allow students to focus more deeply on clinical, research, and service opportunities related to specific areas of interest within medicine.
Sample of pre-clinical courses at UT Southwestern SOM:
- Integrated Medicine: Health to Disease
- Body Structure Foundations
- Fundamentals of Biomedical Sciences
Unique highlights about pre-clinical phase:
- Students love working in small groups throughout the pre-clinical phase at UT Southwestern! During these small group sessions, students also have the opportunity to work intimately with faculty experts in many fields.
- UTSW medical school students have the option to take many non-credit electives for enrichment including Applied Nutrition, Medical Humanities, Global Health, Medical Finance, Medical Spanish, and many more!
- UT Southwestern students report strong faculty mentorship and career advising starting as early as the first year!
Unique dual degree programs offered at University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine:
- MD/MBA
- MD/MPH
How to get into UT Southwestern medical school tip – Be able to discuss research you want to do during your time at UTSW medical school.
What students are saying about University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine
The Insider's View on University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine's
clinical years
How to get into UT Southwestern medical school tip – Discuss in both your UTSW secondary and UTSW interview that you want to get strong clinical training. Strong clinical training is one thing the medical school is proud of!
UT Southwestern Clinical Curriculum:
During the 3rd and 4th years of medical school, students are in clinical rotations. During the summer before clerkship year, students will have 6 weeks of dedicated time to study for and take their Step 1 exam.
The third year curriculum consists of:
- Internal Medicine – 8 weeks
- Surgery – 8 weeks
- Pediatrics – 6 weeks
- Obstetrics/Gynecology – 6 weeks
- Psychiatry – 6 weeks
- Ambulatory Care – 6 weeks
- Neurology – 4 weeks
- Family Medicine – 4 weeks
During the fourth year, UTSW med students have a 12-week period solely devoted to completion of a Scholarly Activity. Students can choose from six research tracks including Basic Research; Clinical Research; Education Research; Global Health; Community Health; and Quality Improvement. Additionally, students take USMLE 2, complete 18 weeks of electives, and pursue other interests including research and global health experiences alongside other requirements including:
- Frontiers in Medicine course
- Physicians and Society course
- Residency Essentials course
Main clinical rotation sites:
- Parkland Memorial Hospital
- William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital
- Children’s Medical Center Dallas
- Zale Lipshy Pavilion – William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital
- Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VA)
- Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
Unique highlights about clinical years:
- Small group meetings continue monthly throughout the clerkship year which facilitates the continuation of faculty and peer-to-peer mentorship!
- Flexibility during fourth year allows students to personalize their medical school experience by pursuing international clinical rotations, focusing on research, and/or exploring other electives!
- 12-weeks of dedicated research time during the Scholarly Activity block!
What students are saying about clinical rotations at University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine
Housing & Social
Social Life:
The social life at UT Southwestern Medical School is dynamic and well-rounded, with students forming strong connections through academic collaboration and a variety of extracurricular activities. Many students participate in student-run organizations and interest groups, such as specialty clubs, cultural associations, and volunteer initiatives, fostering both professional growth and camaraderie.
Outside of academics, students enjoy exploring Dallas’s vibrant social scene, including local restaurants, live music venues, and sports events like Mavericks and Stars games. Outdoor enthusiasts often gather for jogging or cycling on the Katy Trail or kayaking at White Rock Lake. On campus, students frequently connect during wellness events, intramural sports, and casual gatherings, creating a supportive and engaging community that balances the rigors of medical school with fun and relaxation.
Housing:
- Housing for students at UT Southwestern Medical School is convenient and diverse, with many students living in areas close to the campus in Dallas, such as Oak Lawn, Uptown, or Medical District neighborhoods. These areas offer a mix of apartments, townhomes, and condos, catering to a variety of budgets and preferences.
- For those seeking a quieter or more suburban feel, neighborhoods like Lakewood or Midway Hollow are also popular and within a short commute. The variety of housing options ensures students can find accommodations that fit their needs while enjoying the vibrant lifestyle Dallas has to offer.
financing
Cost of Attendance:
- $21,085 – UT Southwestern Medical School in-state tuition fee
- $34,185 – UT Southwestern Medical School Out-of-state tuition fee
- $22,033 – Room and board
- $124,128 – Average indebtedness of UTSW graduates who incurred medical school debt
Source: US News
Cracking Med School Admissions Resources
Here are useful Cracking Med School Admissions resources:
- How To Write A Personal Statement For Medical School
- Download Cracking Med School Admission’s FREE AMCAS Activities Workbook
- Premed Timeline: Planning For Medical School Applications
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