The Health Science Scholars program (HSS) offers exceptional students who are interested in the health professions and committed to community service a unique opportunity to enrich their undergraduate education in UT-Austin's College of Natural Sciences. The program introduces them to cutting-edge research, a challenging honors curriculum, and a wide variety of service opportunities, and provides academic advising from the summer prior to the students' first semester to their last. But the greatest asset of HSS is the student community itself, exceptional undergraduates with similar aptitudes, passions, and investments.
The hallmark experience of HSS is a Capstone Project that requires students to create an original body of work through intensive internships, research, community service, or other experiential learning opportunities that relate to their passions in the health professions. Students are guided through the development and execution of this project in a series of HSS-specific seminars. The program challenges students to find the right professional school and career by exploring health-related sciences and professions through faculty and health-care professional-led seminars and workshops.
HSS students have priority access to:
- Dedicated Academic Advising
- Honors Seminars & Select Honors Courses
- The Freshman Research Initiative
Application to HSS is separate from, and in addition to, application to the University. Application materials and information about deadlines are available under the How to Apply menu for prospective students. Students may enter the program as freshmen or as college transfers prior to their fourth long semester.
Factors in the admission decision are the student’s high school and/or college grades, class rank, the rigor of the courses the student has taken, the quality of the required application essays, a strong recommendation from a math or science instructor, standardized test scores, and the student’s interest in science, health and service as demonstrated by extracurricular activities. Admission is highly selective.
The Health Science Scholars program brings together the best of two worlds: the close-knit community of a small college and the ample resources of one of the world’s leading research universities. For a much more in-depth look at HSS, see its Handbook.