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US Medicine · 2027 Entry

SHSU COM (DO) Medical School2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format

Location Conroe, TX, United StatesEstablished 2020Interviews September–FebruaryDecisions Rolling admissions
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How to get into SHSU COM (DO) medicine

Step-by-step: entry requirements, MCAT prep, personal statement, interview format and the key deadlines.

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Interview guide

Prepare for the SHSU COM (DO) interview

Format breakdown, school-specific sample questions, FAQs and prep tips from tutors who interviewed here.

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Overview

About SHSU COM (DO)

Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU COM) is Texas's public DO medical school, located in Conroe, TX (its parent university, Sam Houston State, is in Huntsville), in the Piney Woods region of East Texas. Opened in 2020 as part of Texas's initiative to address physician shortages in rural and underserved areas, SHSU COM is the first medical school at SHSU and uses the Texas-specific TMDSAS application system. The school has a strong mission to train physicians who will serve East Texas and rural Texas communities, which face significant primary care shortages.

What makes it different

TMDSAS application (not AACOMAS) — Texas public schools use TMDSAS, making SHSU COM administratively distinct from most DO programs. Approximately 90% of seats are reserved for Texas residents, making this one of the most in-state-focused DO schools in the country. SHSU COM is one of the newest DO schools in the US (opened 2020), with a developing clinical infrastructure and a strong East Texas community health mission; its entering class is now approximately 160 students.

Course & teaching

Integrated curriculum. 4-year DO curriculum with OMM integrated throughout. As a newer Texas public school, SHSU COM is developing its clinical affiliate network in East Texas. Years 1–2 at the Conroe campus; Years 3–4 rotations at hospitals and community health centers across the East Texas Piney Woods region and broader Texas. The rural East Texas clinical environment is central to the training experience.

Research strengths

SHSU COM (DO) has notable research strength in Rural health in East Texas, Osteopathic manipulative medicine, Primary care, Community health disparities, Agricultural and forest worker health.

Interview

SHSU COM (DO) interviews via Traditional faculty and student interview. SHSU COM conducts traditional interviews at its Conroe campus, typically consisting of faculty and student sessions each approximately 30 minutes. The interview day includes a campus tour, program overview, and financial aid presentation. As a Texas public DO school using TMDSAS, interview questions cover osteopathic philosophy, DO shadowing, commitment to East Texas and underserved rural communities, and the applicant's understanding of Texas's unique healthcare challenges. Strong in-state preference means interviews are predominantly with Texas residents, and interviewers probe commitment to rural and underserved Texas communities.

Intake

Approximately 160–165 students per year.

At a glance

Founded in 2020, based in Conroe, TX. Programmes offered: Rural Medicine, Primary Care, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Family Medicine, East Texas Community Health.

Entry requirements

What you need to apply to SHSU COM (DO)

Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. Texas public DO school — applications via TMDSAS (Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service), not AACOMAS. Very strong in-state preference; approximately 90% of seats filled by Texas residents. Healthcare shadowing with a DO physician strongly recommended. Commitment to rural or underserved East Texas communities highly valued.
MCAT median
506 (range 498–510)
GPA median
3.75 overall / 3.45 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
9.0%
Class size
162
In-state preference
Strong — primarily in-state
In-state matriculants
90%
CASPer
Required
Holistic review emphasis
Osteopathic philosophy, rural East Texas commitment, DO shadowing, Texas residency.
Notes
Texas public DO school using TMDSAS. Estimates from publicly available SHSU COM data; newer school — verify current cycle figures carefully.
Specialities offered
Rural Medicine, Primary Care, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Family Medicine, East Texas Community Health
Interview

How SHSU COM (DO) interviews applicants

Format
Traditional faculty and student interview
Interview window
September–February
Decision date
Rolling admissions
Post-interview chances
Approximately 35–50% post-interview for Texas residents (estimated).
Tutor insight
TMDSAS submission is mandatory for Texas public DO schools — out-of-state applicants are very rarely accepted and should not prioritize this school unless they have Texas residency. For Texas residents, the TMDSAS personal statement (which differs from AACOMAS format) requires specific attention. Research East Texas healthcare: the Piney Woods rural community, the I-45 corridor, and the distinct health challenges of East Texas's aging and rural population. Demonstrating prior East Texas or rural Texas healthcare engagement is a strong differentiator.
Practice

Practise for your SHSU COM (DO) interview

PrometheusQuestion Bank621 medicine questions inside

Interview questions matched to SHSU COM (DO)

Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for SHSU COM (DO)’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.

EasyPanelQ1

AAMC Core Competency: Reliability and Dependability

Your anatomy lab partner consistently comes to sessions unprepared, does not complete the assigned reading, and relies on you to carry the practical component. You have tried dropping hints, but nothing has changed. The midterm practical is in two weeks. How do you handle this situation, and what does reliability mean in a future clinical context?

Likely follow-up · How do you have a direct, constructive conversation with a peer about their underperformance without damaging the relationship?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
EasyPanelQ2

AAMC Core Competency: Reliability and Dependability

The AAMC includes Reliability and Dependability among its Professional (formerly Intrapersonal) competencies, noting that medical students and physicians must consistently follow through on commitments to colleagues, supervisors, and patients. Describe a time when you made a commitment that became significantly harder to keep than you anticipated, and explain what you did and what you learned about yourself.

Likely follow-up · How do you prioritise when multiple genuine commitments conflict and you cannot fully meet all of them?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
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FAQ

SHSU COM (DO) — frequently asked questions

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