I'm the first in my family to go to grad school — I have no idea where to even start
Being the first in your family to go to grad school just means nobody's handed you the map yet — it doesn't mean you're missing something everyone else has. Nearly everyone who applies to a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) program is learning this process for the first time; there's no insider track you skipped.
Starting Out — And You're Not Behind
Being the first in your family to go to grad school just means nobody's handed you the map yet — it doesn't mean you're missing something everyone else has. Nearly everyone who applies to a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) program is learning this process for the first time; there's no insider track you skipped.
Here's the shape of it, broken into what actually has to happen, in order:
| Step | What it involves |
|---|---|
| 1. Prerequisites | Six undergrad-level courses (Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Psychology) from a regionally-accredited school — can be finished while you start the program, not before |
| 2. Choose a program | Entry-level options are the MAcHM (master's), DAcHM (doctorate, dual-degree with the master's), or DAc/MAc (acupuncture-only) |
| 3. Application | One online form: application, passport photo, statement of purpose, resume, government ID, $100 fee (domestic) |
| 4. Supporting documents | Recommendation letters + transcripts emailed directly by the sender to [email protected] |
| 5. Health clearances | TB test, and either a Hepatitis B record or a signed waiver |
(Steps and requirements above from Five Branches' own admissions pages, last checked 08/2026 — worth confirming current fee/deadline specifics with the office directly, since those can shift term to term.)
The part that isn't in any table: you don't have to figure this out alone or all at once. Admissions offices exist specifically to walk first-time applicants through exactly this — reviewing what you've already got, telling you what's still missing, no judgment either way. San Jose's office can be reached at (408) 260-0208 / [email protected], Santa Cruz at (831) 476-9424 / [email protected].
What's making you pause most right now — the paperwork itself, or something bigger about whether this path is really for you?
Sources
- Five Branches University — Applying To Dtcm Mtcm Or Dac Mac Dual Degree checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — Applying To Five Branches Dac Mac checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — Educational Requirements checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — University Directory Footer checked 2026-08
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