Your Path to a Career in Medicine
Becoming a physician takes hard work, dedication and a commitment to tackling academic challenges. Yet few careers offer more meaningful work than those in the healthcare professions.
Admission to medical school is competitive, and medical schools review a candidate’s eligibility on multiple factors such as GPA, MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) scores, and service and volunteer experience.
Pre-Med is considered an area of interest, in addition to your chosen major. Medical schools accept a variety of majors (for example, Biology, Chemistry, Behavioral Neuroscience or Kinesiology), as long as a student fulfills all requirements for admission.
St. Edward’s also offers a Bachelor of Science in Biology Health Professions Track designed for students who intend to pursue further education in medicine and other careers in the health professions such as veterinary medicine, physician assistant, dentistry, physical therapy, public health or nursing. Review the degree plan for this track.
Career Opportunities
A postgraduate medical degree prepares you for any number of rewarding career paths in the medical field. You can choose from a wide range of specialty areas.
- Physician
- Physician-Scientist (MD-PhD)
- Public Health
- Politician/Policy Advocate
- Journalism
- Teaching
- Research
- Health Care Administration
- Medical Examiner
Explore Details About Pre-Medical
View the statistics for the entering class from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
View the statistics for the entering class from the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS)
Students applying to one of the twelve public Texas Medical Schools should review the education requirements set by the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS).
Learn more about the AAMC medical school admission requirements.
Physicians and other healthcare professionals are expected to perform community service while in school. Career and Professional Development can assist you in researching service and volunteer opportunities; following are local opportunities.
- Austin Volunteer Match
- Austin Volunteer Healthcare Clinic
- CommUnityCare Health Centers
- Dell Children’s Medical Center
- Heart Hospital of Austin
- Hospice Austin
- St. David’s Medical Center
- St. David’s South Austin Medical Center
- St. David’s Georgetown Hospital
- St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center
- People’s Community Clinic
- Provident Memory Care
- Seton Medical Center Austin
- Seton Medical Center Hays (Located in Kyle)
- Seton Northwest Hospital
- Seton Shoal Creek (Psychiatric)
- Seton Southwest Hospital
- Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas
Biology, Chemistry and Behavioral Neuroscience majors have the ability to participate in research with their professors over the summer and during the school year. By working on projects with faculty, you’ll learn about the process of research and develop your lab skills.
Many students participate in summer programs in research and health professions. Some examples include the Summer Medical and Research Training (SMART) Program at Baylor College of Medicine and the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP)
The American Medical Student Association matches freshmen with upperclassman mentors in the same major. Together, members learn from guest speakers — like physicians and Peace Corps Volunteers — and complete volunteer projects.
Qualified students work with the Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC).
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is a standardized, multiple-choice examination designed to help medical school admissions offices assess your problem solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of medicine.
Typically, students take the MCAT in the spring of their junior year so their scores are submitted in time for the opening date for medical school applications. It is imperative that students take all of the requisite pre-med coursework prior to taking the MCAT, otherwise they will be at a severe disadvantage. It is recommended that students take some form of MCAT prep course the semester leading up to the exam. Never take the MCAT for practice. For further information on the MCAT, visit the AAMC.
In April 2015, the AAMC launched a new version of the MCAT exam. Scores are reported in four sections:
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
Students applying to one of the many Texas Medical Schools should review the application handbook provided by TMDSAS.
Those applying to any private medical schools in Texas, or schools outside of Texas should review the application process and requirements provided by the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS).
Students applying to U.S. colleges of osteopathic medicine should review the application instructions and general admission requirements provided by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM).