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Contact Admissions
Juan "Ricky" Gutierrez
Graduate Student Recruiter Medical Education
(956) 665-4058
Cristina De Leon
Assistant Director of Admissions for Medical Education
(956) 882-1914
Creating the Future Physicians of Tomorrow
The Vaqueros DPM Program is for RGV high school students interested in pursuing a future career in medicine. South Texas graduates now have a convenient path to becoming future physicians through admission and completion of the Vaqueros DPM Program.
The Vaqueros DPM Program selects a limited number of high-achieving South Texas students who begin their undergraduate careers and receive conditional admission to the entering class at the UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine upon graduation.
About Us
The UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine uses innovative, competency-based medical education to train the next generation of physicians who are committed to improving the lives and well-being of their communities through innovative research and compassionate, patient-centered care.
Application Review & Decision Timeline
Below you will find a timeline of the review and decision process after you submit your completed application:
| October | October 1st application period opens |
| May | May 31 |
| March – May | Applications will be reviewed by a committee, and top candidates will be selected for an interview |
| June | Applicants will be notified of the admission decision |
| August | Vaqueros' DPM cohort announced |
Additionally, the admissions committee has set a new requirement that applicants must score in the 90th percentile or higher on either the SAT or ACT. This requirement will be taken into consideration during the application review process.
Eligibility Criteria
- Attend and graduate from a South Texas high school, OR:
- Attend and graduate from an online high school, homeschool, or boarding school outside the South Texas Region AND:
- Reside in the South Texas Region (permanent/home address).
- Enter UTRGV as incoming first-year students.
- Are accepted and officially enrolled in Vaqueros DPM within any major.
- Submit letters of recommendation from high school teachers, counselors, or administrators.
- Complete interviews with UTRGV and SOPM faculty and staff.
- Demonstrate maturity, motivation, and other attributes reflecting exceptional leadership, character, and achievement through recommendation letters from school counselors, a personal written statement, a video essay, and interviews.
- Have scored in the 90th percentile or above in one sitting on the SAT (math & critical reading) or the ACT.
- Rank in the top 10% of their high school graduating class and possess a minimum 3.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale and a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA in science courses.
The South Texas Region is defined as the following 13 counties:
Webb, Zapata, Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron, Willacy, Kenedy, Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kleberg, San Patricio, Aransas, and Nueces.
Vaqueros DPM SOPM Matriculation Requirement
Qualifying metrics and requirements are as follows:
- Applications via TMDSAS start on May 1st.
- MCAT minimum score at or above the 30th percentile (495+).
- *Students who score less than the required minimum MCAT score (495) on the first test will have a deadline set by the Committee to retake the MCAT and accomplish the required minimum score.
*NOTE – Two MCAT scores considered; additional scores will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- *Students who score less than the required minimum MCAT score (495) on the first test will have a deadline set by the Committee to retake the MCAT and accomplish the required minimum score.
- GPA overall minimum 3.2
- GPA science minimum 3.25
- All grades must be at or above “C”
- No felony convictions
- Primary application deadline is August 1st.
- Secondary application deadline is August 15th.
- All supporting documents (transcripts, MCAT scores, evaluation letters) must be received by September 15th.
- Other requirements remain the same as regular applicants (please see the requirements section on the website).
*Requirement due dates are updated on a yearly basis.