Baylor College of Medicine

Baylor's preclinical curriculum lasts just a year and a half and is true pass/fail. Michele Cabeza describes recorded morning lectures, anatomy lab, a Critical Thinking and Problem Solving course built on simulated cases in groups of six, and Patient, Physician, and Society, where students learn histories and physical exams before practicing in a preceptor's office.

Justin says the pace, not the difficulty, is the challenge, so daily review matters; students share class-made flashcard decks passed down and updated each year.

Baylor sits in the Texas Medical Center, the world's largest medical center. Students train at Ben Taub Hospital, the county's Level I trauma center next to campus; Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, Baylor's primary private adult teaching hospital; Texas Children's Hospital; and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center.

A Temple campus trains students at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center–Temple and McLane Children's Hospital.

Every student joins a Peer Resource Network, a small group led by second-years with upperclass mentors, and the year starts with an overnight retreat. Classes gather for Coffeehouse talent shows, term-end parties, and mixers with UT McGovern.

Justin calls the class collaborative: people work hard but aren't too hard on themselves, and older students look out for younger ones. Service runs deep, starting with a first-year volunteer day.

Tuition is strikingly low for 2026–27: about $19,700 for Texas residents and $32,800 for non-residents. Justin calls the low tuition "amazing."

Apartments are reasonably priced for a major city, and Hermann Park, the Houston Zoo, and Rice University sit right beside the medical center.