Pre-Medical and Health Professions

How does Trinity advise and support students who may be considering careers in medicine?

Trinity University's Health Professions Advisory Committee holds regular meetings for potential pre-meds, starting with new student orientation. Pre-medical students will be assigned a committee member as their academic adviser. The adviser will help their advisees decide whether this is the best career option and, if so, how to meet academic and other requirements for medical school. We offer orientation for the application process, reviews of essays, and practice interviews. When a student applies, the committee writes a letter of evaluation and assembles a complete packet of materials, which we send to all schools considering the student for admission.

Trinity's Pathways Curriculum offers foundational courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. In addition, students may also take courses addressing the practice of medicine from economic, ethical, and societal perspectives.

Periodically, students are advised about the level of their performance relevant to their career goals, but every effort is made to support all Trinity students in obtaining entrance into the professional schools of their choice.

Two different student groups maintain websites for potential pre-meds. They also plan many events on health-related issues, including readings and discussion of issues in contemporary medicine, study breaks, and meet-the-deansof-admissions gatherings. Students also organize physician shadowing opportunities, some of which are with alumni.

Does Trinity write letters for every student who applies?

This may be the most important question to ask. Trinity University's Health Professions Advisory Committee writes a letter of evaluation for every student who applies. Some schools have an internal selection process and will write letters, give practice interviews, etc., for only the highest-achieving students. Be aware that an extremely high acceptance rate may result from internal selection, so always ask about this.

What will I need to do in order to get into medical school?

Students are almost certainly admitted to medical school, no matter what percentage of applicants from Trinity are admitted, if they:

• Take the required courses and do well in them.
• Study hard for the MCAT and do well on it.
• Have a consistent record of good work in human service internships or volunteer experiences.
• Get some exposure to health care settings while in college.
• Apply in a timely fashion to a reasonable mix of medical schools matching your interests and accomplishments.
• Develop relationships with professors and others that will enable good recommendations.
• Practice interviewing skills until they can interview well.
• Have a clear understanding of motivations for medicine as well as the ability to articulate this in writing and in interviews.

Graduate Outcomes

• Trinity students who complete required courses with a GPA of 3.6 or higher have a success rate of 90%.
• Most Trinity pre-medical students choose to attend a medical school in their home state.
• In recent years, Trinity students have earned merit-based scholarships awarded by both state and private medical schools.
• International students who intend to attend medical school in the United States must speak with an adviser about their options.

Student Opportunities

American Medical Student Association

The Trinity chapter of the American Medical Students Association organizes shadowing programs and community outreach.

Additional Student Experiences 

• Trinity offers a mock interview program and tours of many of the biomedical research and clinical facilities in the San Antonio area. 
• An electronic information system provides information on career choices, enrichment opportunities, application processes and more.
• Research opportunities are available to students on and off campus.  Of special interest to pre-medical students is the clinical research program periodically offered through the emergency department at a nearby medical center. 
• Student "peer-tutors" are available for all required courses for medical school. These students have successfully completed the class for which they tutor, attend lectures for a second time, hold office hours, prepare review materials, hold review sessions, and act as ombudsmen  to keep communication flowing between faculty and students.

Study Abroad

Students are encouraged to supplement their time at Trinity with a study abroad experience. Visit the study abroad website and talk with your adviser for more information.