You don’t come to the University of Houston just to take classes. You come with a goal — and a vision for your future. 

The White Coat Residential College is designed for incoming freshmen who are serious about pursuing careers in health professions, including medicine, pharmacy, optometry, nursing and dentistry. It’s a community for students who want to start strong, stay focused and build momentum from day one. 

This is more than a place to live.  It’s a launchpad.

Built for Students Who Know Where They’re Going

The White Coat Residential College brings together motivated, high-achieving freshmen who share a common ambition: preparing for competitive professional and graduate programs in health sciences. 

Here, you live and learn alongside peers who understand the commitment it takes to succeed. These aren’t just classmates — they become your study partners and support system. You’ll challenge each other to aim higher, work smarter, and stay balanced while navigating the demands of a rigorous academic path.  

The Residential College Advantage

Success in health professions doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built step by step, semester by semester. The White Coat Residential College gives you the structure, access and community to approach your education with purpose. 

As White Coat student, you will:

• Join a cohort model designed to build connection and consistency, including enrollment in shared courses taken with your White Coat peers during your first year
• Map your academic path early, creating a personalized four-year plan with help from dedicated advisors to ensure your journey is aligned with your professional goals and professional school timelines
• Participate in exclusive visits to Houston-area hospitals, clinics and medical providers, offering behind-the-scenes exposure to real health care environments
• Interact directly with health professionals and experts through small-group conversations, panels and fireside chats that bring careers paths to life
• Strengthen your professional profile through structured service opportunities, early exposure to research and expert guidance to support graduate and professional school applications
• Belong to a collaborative peer network, with built-in mentoring, study groups, student organizations and ongoing peer discussion
• Gain early insight into professional pathways, supported by faculty and campus experts who understand what competitive programs expect and how to prepare for them

Your Home Base: Cougar Village

White Coat students will live together in a dedicated residential block in centrally located Cougar Village. 

Living spaces include:

• Two-bedroom suites with two White Coat students per furnished bedroom 
• Private bathroom shared within each suite. 
• Floor kitchens, study spaces and an outdoor living room
• Proximity to Cougar Village Market and Moody Towers Dining Hall

White Coat Eligibility

The White Coat residential college is designed for incoming freshmen who are ready to be intentional about their future in health care. 

To be eligible, students must:

• Be an incoming freshman with a GPA of 3.5 or higher
• Demonstrate a clear interest in health care professions
• Be admitted to an academic pathway that supports preparation for health professional or graduate programs
• Enroll in common section of USS 1301 College Success, which satisfies UH Core Writing in the Discipline requirement

The White Coat Residential College is for students who want to start strong from day one and grow alongside peers who take their goals seriously.

There is no additional cost to participate in the White Coat Residential College beyond standard housing and university fees.

Liaison Contact 

Kialyn Yendell 
Program Director, Health Professions Advising
Email: residentialcollege@uh.edu 

How Do I Apply? 

Visit the myHousing application in AccessUH and select the White Coat Residential College. Applications for this Residential College are due June 30th. Acceptance will be competitive and spaces are limited, so apply early.