Weatherford College Pathway Program

TCOM-Rural Osteopathic Medical Education (ROME) Pathway: Weatherford College 

The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and Weatherford College have created a new partnership that provides students an accelerated path to becoming an osteopathic physician. The new Primary Care Pathway Program will provide students at Weatherford College with the opportunity to complete medical school in a seven-year “2+1+4” plan.

The program is designed to address the growing shortage of primary care physicians for rural and medically underserved areas in Texas. The first cohort of students is expected to start at Weatherford College in the fall of 2026.

Students will complete their first two years of undergraduate study at Weatherford College, then transition to their third-year at UNT Health’s College of Biomedical and Transitional Sciences in Fort Worth. After finishing their third year, students will enroll in the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine as first-year medical students. 

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher during their undergraduate studies and complete the course requirements for both Weatherford College and UNT Health before matriculating to TCOM.

The ROME program at UNT Health is an innovative educational program designed to prepare students for life and practice in a rural and underserved community. The curriculum includes academic activities and clinical experiences beginning the second semester of year one and continuing throughout all four years of predoctoral medical education.

To be eligible for initial and continued participation in the TCOM-Rural Osteopathic Medical Education (ROME) Pathway -Weatherford College pathway, a student must meet the following requirements:

Eligibility Requirements
  • be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident by the time of medical school application;
  • be a Texas resident as defined by Rule §21.24 of the Texas Administrative Code;
  • fulfill one of the following pathway residency requirements: (1) have a primary residence within the Weatherford College District Service Area; (2) have a primary residence in a rural area in Texas (as defined by the “Am I Rural?” Tool which is available at ruralhealthinfo.org
  • have been a first-time-in-college student admitted to Weatherford College for the fall term immediately following high school graduation (students who complete dual coursework while in high school prior to their full-time attendance at Weatherford College are eligible for this pathway);
  • have submitted to the Weatherford College Pre-Health Advisor all documents relevant to the Pathway
Course Completion Benchmarks and Requirements
  • complete two years of undergraduate study at Weatherford College as a full-time student (a minimum of 15 credit hours per semester and a minimum of 8 credit hours per summer term);
  • complete a minimum of 16 semester credit hours of biology and 8 hours of chemistry during the first year of undergraduate study (fall, spring, and summer) through courses approved by TCOM
  • complete the third year of undergraduate study at the UNT Health-Fort Worth with no less than 35 semester credit hours of study (or otherwise indicated on the Biomedical Sciences degree plan);
  • earn an Associate of Science Degree from Weatherford College by the end of the first two years of coursework;
  • complete the course prerequisite requirements in English, biology, and inorganic chemistry prior to medical school application
  • complete all undergraduate academic requirements at Weatherford College and the UNT Health-Fort Worth within three academic calendar years
Academic Standards and Admission Test Score Requirements
  • have completed the SAT or ACT no later than the end of the first academic year at Weatherford College.
  • complete all coursework with a grade of “B” or better
  • maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher (GPA is calculated as defined by Rule §5.7 of the Texas Administrative Code) during their undergraduate studies;
  • maintain a GPA of 3.75 or higher in all biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics (BCPM) courses (GPA is calculated as defined by Rule §5.7 of the Texas Administrative Code) during their undergraduate studies;
  • No courses may be repeated or withdrawn
Admissions Requirements
  • submit a completed Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) medical school application by the required deadline during the second semester of enrollment at Weatherford College;
  • participate in the pre-health advising process and submit a health professions advisory committee (HPAC) letter as part of the medical school application process;
  • meet the admissions and matriculation requirements for Weatherford College;
  • meet the admissions and matriculation requirements of UNT Health-Fort Worth;
  • meet eligibility requirements related to background checks and drug screening for the pre-admission pathway requirements.
Weatherford College Primary Care Pathway

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