Advising FAQ
TWU Pre-Health
I’m pre-med. Why should I come to TWU?
At Texas Woman’s University, we pride ourselves on being the campus with a heart. Our pre-med students value collaboration over competition, so they support and help each other. Students study together and share resources with the goal of having everyone succeed.
What is the best major if I plan to go to medical school?
There is no best major! Medical schools are looking for students with diverse experiences to build their incoming classes each year. The most important thing for you to do is follow your passion and seek out a lot of opportunities for enrichment while you are in college. While there is no best major for pre-meds, our natural sciences departments at TWU offer several specialized degree plans to help pre-med students prepare for the medical school application process. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry for pre-health majors, and the Department of Biology has a pre-medical track in the Bachelor of Science in Biology. For students who intend to pursue majors outside of the natural sciences, we offer a pre-med minor. All of these degree plans will guide you through completing your prerequisite coursework in a timely manner and provide you with a strong foundation for preparing for the MCAT.
Do you have any courses specifically for pre-meds?
Yes! The Department of Biology offers a special career preparation course, BIOL4903: Medical Career Preparation, that is especially for pre-medical students. This course is taught by a practicing physician, and it guides students through the entire medical application process. Students learn professional skills and resume writing, take a practice MCAT, have panel discussions with local physicians, write their personal statements and participate in mock interviews.
What is JAMP? How do I know if I’m eligible, and how can I apply?
The Joint Admission Medical Program is a state of Texas program intended to support students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in achieving their dream of becoming a medical doctor. Undergraduate students are eligible to apply for JAMP if they are Texas residents and their expected family contribution on the FAFSA is below a specified cutoff. Students apply at the end of the freshman year, and they must have completed General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II with a grade of C or better in order to be considered. For more information, visit the JAMP section of TWU’s Pre-Health Resources website.
What if I’m pre-health but not pre-med?
TWU’s pre-health advisors support students planning many different careers in the health professions. In addition to medical school, our students have successfully gone on to dental school, optometry school, PA school, and pharmacy school. We recommend that all pre-health students get in touch with our pre-health advising team early so we can help you create a four-year plan for success.
Do you have any clubs for pre-health students?
Yes! We have many different student organizations for pre-health students. We have two general pre-health organizations, Curatio Club and Women in Healthcare. We also have discipline specific student organizations: a pre-medical branch of the American Medical Women’s Association, a Pre-Dental Club and a Pre-Physician Assistant Club. All of these clubs have active schedules of meetings and events that give their members opportunities to learn more about their chosen professions and gain valuable enrichment experiences.
What should I do during my first year to be successful as a pre-health student?
The first thing you should do is attend a pre-health advising session during your first semester at the university. We will provide you with information and guidance on how to plan your four-year college journey to prepare yourself for your future career. Second, get involved in one of our pre-health student organizations so that you can start building a support network with other students who share your passion for healthcare.
How do I get in touch with you if I have more questions?
We would love to hear from you! Our Pre-Health Resources website can answer many common questions for pre-health students. You can also send us an email at prehealth@twu.edu.
Page last updated 10:28 AM, October 26, 2023