Washington D.C.

MD and DO Medical Schools in Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. has 10 accredited MD and DO programs — each with a distinct mission, student profile, and admissions philosophy. Here is what you need to know about every one of them, including the TMDSAS vs AMCAS distinction that catches most applicants off guard.

TMDSAS vs. AMCAS: The Most Important Thing Washington D.C. Pre-Meds Need to Know

Washington D.C. public medical schools use the Washington D.C. Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) — a completely separate application system from AMCAS. If you are applying to UT Southwestern, UTHealth Houston, UT Health San Antonio, DC-area, DC-area, or TCOM, you must apply through TMDSAS. Baylor College of Medicine is the only Washington D.C. MD school that uses AMCAS.

TMDSAS opens May 1 each year. The most competitive applicants submit by June 1 — the earlier you submit, the better your chances. TMDSAS uses a different essay format than AMCAS, with separate prompts for each school. You will need to write school-specific essays in addition to your personal statement.

Washington D.C. residency is a hard requirement for most TMDSAS schools. Over 90% of seats at public Washington D.C. medical schools go to Washington D.C. residents. If you are not a Washington D.C. resident, your chances at public Washington D.C. schools are extremely limited — but Baylor and the DO programs are more open to out-of-state applicants.

Dr. Tomei's Perspective

The TMDSAS vs. AMCAS distinction is the single most important thing Washington D.C. pre-meds need to understand. I have worked with students who spent months perfecting their AMCAS application and then realized in April that they needed an entirely separate application for Washington D.C. public schools. Start both applications simultaneously. The essays are different, the deadlines are different, and the strategy is different.

All Washington D.C. MD and DO Programs

Georgetown University School of Medicine

MDAMCAS

Avg MCAT

~517

Avg GPA

~3.8

Acceptance Rate

~3%

Tuition

Private tuition

Mission Focus: Jesuit values, service, primary care, and research

Georgetown looks for sustained service, ethical reflection, and evidence that you understand the people and communities you hope to serve.

George Washington University School of Medicine

MDAMCAS

Avg MCAT

~516

Avg GPA

~3.8

Acceptance Rate

~3%

Tuition

Private tuition

Mission Focus: Urban medicine, health policy, and research

GWU offers a distinctly urban, policy-aware medical education in downtown Washington and values applicants who can connect experiences to impact.

Howard University College of Medicine

MDAMCAS

Avg MCAT

~508

Avg GPA

~3.5

Acceptance Rate

Mission-driven review

Tuition

Private tuition

Mission Focus: Health equity and training physicians for underserved communities

Howard is an HBCU medical school with a longstanding commitment to underrepresented students and communities that experience health inequities.

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

MDAMCAS

Avg MCAT

Competitive

Avg GPA

Competitive

Acceptance Rate

Highly selective

Tuition

Tuition-free

Mission Focus: Military medicine and federal service

USU students commission into the military, receive tuition support and salary, and commit to service after training. It is appropriate only for applicants ready for that obligation.

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

MDAMCAS

Avg MCAT

Competitive

Avg GPA

Competitive

Acceptance Rate

Regional option

Tuition

Public-school pricing

Mission Focus: Richmond academic medicine and community health

VCU is a meaningful nearby option for DC-metro applicants willing to study in Richmond and should be researched as part of a broader regional list.

University of Maryland School of Medicine

MDAMCAS

Avg MCAT

Competitive

Avg GPA

Competitive

Acceptance Rate

Regional option

Tuition

Public-school pricing

Mission Focus: Baltimore academic medicine, research, and public health

Maryland offers close access to Baltimore clinical and research systems; applicants should understand its mission and residency considerations.

The Washington D.C. In-State Advantage — and Its Limits

Washington D.C. residents applying to Washington D.C. public medical schools have one of the strongest in-state advantages in the country. Over 90% of seats at UT Southwestern, UTHealth Houston, UT Health San Antonio, DC-area, and DC-area go to Washington D.C. residents. If you are a Washington D.C. resident with a competitive application, you should absolutely prioritize Washington D.C. schools.

But in-state status is not a free pass. UT Southwestern's average MCAT of 520 and GPA of 3.9 are among the highest in the country. Being a Washington D.C. resident gets you in the pool — it does not guarantee admission. Your application still needs to be exceptional.

For out-of-state applicants, Baylor College of Medicine is the most accessible Washington D.C. program — it uses AMCAS and does not have the same in-state preference. Baylor is highly competitive nationally, but it evaluates all applicants on the same criteria regardless of state residency.

Dr. Tomei's Perspective

I tell Washington D.C. pre-meds the same thing every cycle: apply to both TMDSAS and AMCAS schools. Use your Washington D.C. residency advantage for the public schools, but don't limit yourself to Washington D.C.. The strongest applications I've seen from Washington D.C. students apply to 15–20 schools total — 8–10 Washington D.C. schools through TMDSAS and 8–10 national schools through AMCAS. That is the right strategy.

Need Help Building Your Washington D.C. School List?

Navigating TMDSAS and AMCAS simultaneously — and knowing how to position yourself for each Washington D.C. program — is one of the highest-leverage decisions in your application cycle. Dr. Tomei can help.

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