Info for @want2bedoc
@dblazer : you maybe right about U Miami for sure and may know most of this if you are a TX resident or have researched about or have been working at these schools. But, for the benefit of the future candidates/ families here is some more detailed info.
Besides the fact that TX med schools are all very good- inexpensive, preference for instate and competitive at both med school and job market level, (making practice licensing competitive) there are quiet a few down sides to the specific schools.
UH-3/4 program feeds some BS/ MD students into McGovern and some to UTMB. UH will not stand too strong compared to U Miami as an UG school as of now. I find it ironic saying this. But, it is the fact. The current Chancellor has brought about phenomenal changes (including starting the 3/4 program). Her own children were a part of the U Miami’s BS/ MD program, further instigating her to start one such at UH. Since UH became a tier one institute in 2011 they have been working their way up slowly and may reach the level of other tier one institutes in TX state like UT-Austin or A&M, but it will be a while before that happens. We believe they will get there with a dynamic administration like the present one. Off course being housed in Houston- the energy capital makes it a lot more attractive… yet the growth is not as fast as expected.
McGovern is an average medical school but UTMB is definitely a very good med school with great faculty and staff. But, post hurricane Ike, it has not recovered completely. Research and hospital staff funding has been hit hard and money is also channelled towards rebuilding the institution. The GI and Peds department are downsized and scattered, I assume other departments maybe the same still. The benefit is that their satellite clinics and branches which moved to the suburbs of Houston have picked up better than the main campus in Galveston. The Shriners and John Sealy hospital buildings have been able to re-accommodate most but not all patients/ units completely as yet. Research is also slowly limping back but, it will be a while before it fully recovers as the construction process still continues. Off course, the research at the Center for Biodefense and Infectious diseases still stays as one of the only of its kind and the best.
With UTSA: the school is not a tier 1 UG school and neither is UTHSC- SA med school ranked very high (UT health Science Center- San Antonio). I am positive they are ranked below VCU for residency training, especially more recently with MCV taking over in various areas like Cardio and Nephro and moving up in the ranks (within top 30-40 I guess, although I’m not too sure). However, UTHSC is an inexpensive school with good research (especially as one of sponsors for TX state science fair) and generous scholarships. Obviously, like all BS/ MD programs their FAME students are top notch, but definitely not their UGs. They have a great campus and are very well located. UTHSC’s residency programs are not ranked above VCU even in the recent report released:
http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/virginia-commonwealth-university-04121
As much as I would love to be optimistic about UTSA being better than VCU/ MCV they are still not equal yet.
If you really want top tier institutes in TX with good research- Rice, Baylor, UT-Austin, A&M and UH in order of preference for most. We all know that Rice-Baylor seems miles away for most applicants. Good luck to those awaiting their results.
So, for those who are out of state looking at TX schools- they are still relatively inexpensive. But, choose wisely based on what you want- whether it is great education, less competition, inexpensive, good research, access to home, better residency programs, in state preference or other more personal reasons. I think it is quiet subjective when people rank the BS/MD programs. So, students look at the schools with a critical eye and a big thinking hat on.