Why TCU

The Pre-Health Professions program at TCU boasts a more than 80% acceptance rate to medical school, more than twice the state and national average, and our acceptance rates to other programs are similarly high. Once accepted to professional programs, our students flourish. So what accounts for the success of our students and makes TCU Pre-Health different from other programs?

Strong Students – Any Pre-Health program is only as good as its students and ours are among the best and the brightest in the nation. Attesting to their quality, over the past decade our students have been admitted to Harvard, Johns Hopkins, NYU, all 18 medical and dental schools in Texas, Columbia University, the Universities of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Chicago and many others. Click here to read more about our students.

Academic Rigor – The Pre-Health curriculum at TCU is challenging by design. Our students are well prepared for admissions tests and for the rigors of professional school. Once they enter professional school, our former students regularly praise the preparation they received at TCU and this sentiment is echoed by the medical and dental school deans that we interact with.

Access to Caring Faculty: The faculty at TCU are committed to the success of our students. At TCU you will be taught and advised by full-time faculty. Faculty at TCU, including Pre-Health advisors, have an open-door policy and students are welcome to visit with faculty at any time. We get to know our students well, which affords us the opportunity to write detailed and informed letters of evaluation.  Almost half of the committee has been advising Pre-Health students for more than a decade.  This longevity translates into a tremendous level of institutional knowledge and great working relationships with many of the Health-Professions programs in the region. Click here to learn more about the TCU’s Pre-Health advisors.

Undergraduate Research – TCU is committed to the teacher-scholar model in which our faculty both teach and conduct scientific research. For our students this means that faculty are experts in their disciplines and bring cutting edge information into the classroom. It also provides students with a unique opportunity to participate in research with faculty. Click here to learn more about undergraduate research opportunities.

Opportunities for Clinical Observations – The TCU Pre-Health Professions Institute is well connected to the health care community in Fort Worth and beyond. Our students administer a health care observation program that provides access to over 15 clinics and hospitals in the area. Click here to learn more about TCU’s clinical observation program. Each semester we host local health-care professionals and Admissions Deans who speak to our students. Click here to learn more about the Health Professions Speaker Series. We offer internships at several venues: a local hospital emergency department, a fetal care center, a cancer institute, and a free clinic for the medically underserved. We also offer seminars like The Practice of Medicine and Ethical Traveler taught by local physicians and our science professors. Finally, our External Advisory Board, composed of over 25 physicians and dentists frequently interacts with our faculty and students.

Student Organizations and Volunteer Opportunities – Our students are close and spend time together in and out of the classroom. The Institute hosts several social activities for our students each year including a tailgate during Family Weekend, white elephant gift exchange and end of the year BBQ. The Pre-Health Suite at TCU provides an ideal place for students to socialize and study together throughout the year. Several health-related clubs and organizations provide students with the opportunity to get to know their classmates, participate in service activities and develop their leadership skills. Click here to learn more about our pre-health clubs and organizations.