McGovern (UTHealth)

McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston Houston, TX · Public · MD

Average MCAT: 512
Average GPA: 3.84
Class size: 240
Tuition: $28,738 (per year, nonresident)
Out-of-state applicants: Limited

Deadlines

AMCAS deadline: Oct. 1, 2026

Essays

Question 1 (1,000 characters)

Why do you feel that McGovern Medical School is the best fit for your medical education? In what way do you see yourself adding to the McGovern community?

Question 2 (1,000 characters)

Describe the most significant experience that has prepared you thus far for life in medical school.

Question 3 (1,000 characters)

Describe a time or situation where you have been unsuccessful or failed. What did you learn from this experience and how have you applied this learning to your work and/or life?

Question 4 (1,000 characters)

What’s one thing a mentor taught you that you still appreciate today?

Question 5 (MD/PhD applicants only) (1,000 characters)

Why would our MD/PhD program be a good fit for your goals?

Editor's notes

Casper decides whether you're even considered for an interview, and McGovern offers limited test dates. Book your Casper as soon as you submit TMDSAS, and select McGovern for distribution before the deadline. A missed Casper date can't be made up later in the cycle.
The interview invitation starts a five-day clock for the KiraTalent video. Practice recorded answers before September so an invitation doesn't catch you mid-exam week.
Service to Texas is written into the criteria: hometown size, shortage areas, the specialties the state needs, language skills. If you're from a small town or plan to practice somewhere underserved, say so plainly in TMDSAS and in the secondaries. It's a listed factor.
Four 1,000-character answers is roughly 320 words in total. Write each one to do a different job, so the four together show fit, preparation, resilience and character without repeating a story.