Applications received at TMDSAS for Entry Year 2025 have revealed interesting trends for aspiring professionals in medical, dental, veterinary, and podiatric fields.
While some areas show significant growth, others are working up to meet the totals from previous cycles. Let’s dive into what these trends mean for applicants and advisors alike.
Medical School Applications: A Steady Climb
Medical school applications continue to rise, with a 0.9% increase from 2023 to 2024 to 5697 total applications, followed by a more pronounced 7.53% growth from 2024 to 2025 with 6126 applications so far this cycle. This steady increase reflects the sustained interest in the medical field, driven by a variety of factors, including the increasing demand for doctors and aspiring physicians answering the call to the profession.
Dental School: A Sharp Increase in Interest
Applications to dental schools are showing even greater growth. From 2023 to 2024,
the field saw an 11.65% jump in applications to 939 total applications, followed by an 8.95% increase from 2024 to 2025 so far this cycle with 1023 applications. This trend suggests
a rising interest in dentistry, likely influenced by the growing recognition of oral
health as a critical component of overall well-being.
Veterinary School: Steadying Applications
The veterinary field shows stability, with a modest 1.20% increase in applications from 2023 to 2024 to 1353 total applications. However, the numbers dip slightly by -0.89% from 2024 to 2025 to 1341 total applications, indicating that the number of aspiring veterinarians is leveling off.
Podiatry: Mid-Cycle Check
Where the application cycle for other health professions is starting to wind down, the podiatry cycle is still in high gear. As the UTRGV SOPM continues to recruit applicants, we continue to see fluctuations in applications. Numbers dropped by -40% from 2023 to 2024, but at the mid-way point of the cycle, there are already half of the applications received in EY 2024 (58 total applications).
What’s Next for Applicants and Schools?
As the application numbers reveal, interest in health professions is shifting. For prospective students, these trends are essential to understand, as they can provide insight into the competitiveness of different fields. For educational institutions, these data points can help guide recruitment efforts and shape future programs.
The medical and dental fields are on the rise, signaling strong growth in healthcare demand. Veterinary programs remain stable, while the podiatry school applications are at a mid-point in the application cycle.
For more insights and updates on health education, stay tuned to the Inside Health Education newsroom as we continue to track trends and developments in the world of health professions.
About the author: The Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) is the centralized application processing service for applicants to the first-year entering classes at all of the public medical, dental, and veterinary schools in the State of Texas.
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