Vaqueros MD Early Assurance Program
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) School of Medicine
Program overview
High-achieving South Texas high school juniors with advanced standing or seniors interested in a pre-medicine early assurance pathway to UTRGV School of Medicine.
Eligibility
Must attend/graduate from a South Texas high school, or attend/graduate from an online high school, home school, or boarding school outside South Texas and reside in the South Texas Region; enter UTRGV as incoming first-year student; be accepted/enrolled in Vaqueros MD through Honors College in any major; submit letters of recommendation from high school teachers/counselors/administrators; complete interviews; demonstrate maturity, motivation, leadership, character, and achievement via recommendation letters, personal written statement, video essay, and interviews; score at/above 90th percentile in one sitting on SAT math & critical reading or ACT including science; rank in top 5% of high school class; minimum 3.8 GPA on 4.0 scale and 3.75+ science GPA. · South Texas Region defined as Webb, Zapata, Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron, Willacy, Kenedy, Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kleberg, San Patricio, Aransas, and Nueces counties. Must graduate from a South Texas high school, or attend/graduate from an online high school, home school, or boarding school outside the region and reside in the South Texas Region (permanent/home address).
Key details
- Organization
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) School of Medicine
- Type
- Early Assurance Program (EAP) / Pre-Medicine pipeline
- Location
- UTRGV, Rio Grande Valley/South Texas, Texas
- Eligible grades
- 11th grade (juniors with advanced standing), 12th grade (seniors)
- Application deadline
- March 1, 2027 at 11:59 pm (Application Review & Decision Timeline); page also states March 1, 2026 in the How do I apply section.
- Cost
- No program application fee stated. UTRGV undergraduate costs not stated. UTRGV School of Medicine tuition and fees per year as of 2024-2025: $21,532 in-state; $34,632 out-of-state. FAFSA/TASFA, grants/loans, UTRGV Tuition Advantage, and SOM scholarships may apply.
- Time commitment
- Multi-year pathway: enter UTRGV as an incoming first-year student and receive conditional admission to UTRGV SOM after undergraduate requirements are met; exact duration not stated.
- Application status
- Not explicitly stated; page provides conflicting application dates.
How to apply
Apply on the program's own site. Details here were read from that page and can change — confirm them there before applying.