If you are looking for tips on how to get into Medical schools in Georgia, look no further. You want a complete understanding of how best to apply to your schools of choice, and knowledge about applicant preferences at these schools is an excellent way to give yourself an edge in presenting the best application possible.
If you’re looking for how to make your medical school application stand out, a thorough understanding of any – and every – school you apply to is key. Think of this as reconnaissance. Any military commander seeks knowledge of what to expect and how to surmount obstacles; you should, too. Gaining such a foothold is an important step in how to prepare for your medical school application.
In this article, we will take a close look at each school for their preferences in applicant selection (if any), their academic targets – going beyond mere medical school requirements, we will study the statistics of who actually gets in – and we will cover any other pertinent data for a prospective student to know about applying to these schools.
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A List of the Medical Schools of Georgia
There are four medical schools in Georgia offering MD programs:
- Medical College of Georgia
- Morehouse School of Medicine
- Emory University School of Medicine
- Mercer University School of Medicine
Preferred Applicants
Georgia Residents and Out-of-State Applicants
Georgian residents have an edge over non-residents. Each of the schools give a preference to Georgians. In the case of Mercer University, they will in fact only accept in-state applicants.
Medical College of Georgia gives a boost to local applicants, favoring in-state prospective students over others. This means that a space will be given to a local over another, although they do accept out-of-state applicants. Canadians are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
MSM (Morehouse School of Medicine) allows early decision applications from Georgians, so if you are looking very seriously at Morehouse, you could get in early if you are in-state. This program comes with stipulations, however. The applicant must exclusively apply to Morehouse, and must accept the position, if offered. The advice here is to take a good look at the school, and if you know definitively that you want to go to MSM, work hard, apply early, and get acceptance to secure your spot at the school.
Mercer is completely exclusive to US citizens or residents for its MD program; living in Georgia 12 months prior to matriculation is also required.
International Students
So, if you are an international student, what do you need to do to get in? Overachieve a little bit. There are higher requirements for international applicants in terms of grades.
As a suggestion, if you are applying to one or more of these schools and you are from abroad, even out-of-state, through your medical school secondary essays, you can talk about a connection with Georgia, if you have a direct connection. If you have no direct connection, perhaps you are willing or eager to practice medicine in Georgia? School admission boards in this state will be more likely to accept you if you demonstrate your passion for the same missions and values that they have.
A great way to show your connection to your school of choice is to reference your passion for something they, in particular, are doing. For example, Mercer focuses on rural health sciences – even offering a PhD on this subject – and so if you speak to your interest in rural medicine, perhaps through work or a family background – you can show to them why you are a great fit for their school. If you are applying to Morehouse’s early application program, you need to show why they are the only school for you.
Keep an eye on individual schools’ requirements for international students, as well. For instance, MSM insists that courses go through the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) to approve of them.
Military Partnerships
The Medical College of Georgia and Mercer have partnerships with the US military to help train emergency physicians and to provide military personnel and future military personnel with medical training. If you want to become a military doctor, or have experience in the military, these schools are perfect for you, and you should strongly consider them, even if you are from out-of-state.
Wondering how to get a good MCAT score?
Preferred Academic Achievements
Prerequisite Courses, GPA, and MCAT
Medical schools in Georgia do not require specific majors. Your undergraduate degree can be in whichever field you prefer. We would encourage you to select a major that you enjoy and that fascinates you. The reasoning here is that your grade will matter, and you will do better in courses that you are passionate about and that interest you.
Median GPAs at the schools in Georgia ran from 3.68 to 3.84, so you will need high marks to remain competitive.
While you can take a degree in any subject you choose, you will need certain medical school prerequisites. These vary from school to school, so check the exact courses asked for, but as an overview, all Georgian medical schools ask for biology, chemistry – sometimes with an additional organic chemistry course – and physics. English, including composition, and mathematics at the college level were also frequently required. Many of these courses are required to have a laboratory component.
Medical College of Georgia asked for statistics and specific chemistry courses, but allowed students options on other prerequisites. So, again, double-check the exact requirements to make sure you will meet your school-of-choice's standard.
While selecting courses, Morehouse School of Medicine – or MSM – stated that the goal of the undergraduate work is intellectual talent development, and an overall maturation. They are looking for students to have essential skillsets, but they are also evaluating based on an aptitude for scientific work.
Take this as advice on how to structure your course choices: your transcript is more than just the GPA. It will tell a story to your institution’s admissions committee, and you can shape that narrative to your advantage.
Know your school’s priorities beyond prerequisites.
Example: Mercer emphasizes diversity and inclusion as part of their core values. If you have an elective taken in diversity studies, such as an elective in Black Studies or Feminist Literary Theory, this can benefit your application to that school. You will be able to shine a light on those experiences and on your understanding of the subject, in your interview, for instance.
All four medical schools of Georgia require students to take the MCAT. Median MCAT scores for the schools ranged from 505 to 515.
How to study for the MCAT is important knowledge, and you should start with an MCAT diagnostic test. Remember, it is always better to exceed the GPA and MCAT thresholds of your chosen schools.
Non-academic Achievements and Experiences
What Kind of Doctor Can You Become in Georgia?
Match Rates
Morehouse matched 94.1% of their students with their first or only matches, so Morehouse is clearly an institution capable of finding students their top-choice matches.
MCG matched students with OB/GYN positions at a rate more than double of other schools in the state. If you are looking to specialize as an OB/GYN, MCG might be the right choice for you.
Mercer and Morehouse both had around 40% of their students matched with positions in Georgia, while Emory and MCG matched students to in-state positions 19.5% and 23.5% respectively. If you are looking to practice medicine in Georgia, Mercer is clearly a top choice. If you are looking for a Georgian education, but not necessarily to match within the state, perhaps consider MCG and Emory.
Can you go anywhere in the US to practice? Anywhere in the world?
Not anywhere in the world, no, but you can practice in some countries outside of the United States. There are language barriers to consider in addition to local laws and regulations.
Based on the match rates, MCG and Emory have the best chance of the four to get you into a position outside of Georgia.
Rural
Mercer is focused and committed to rural areas of Georgia. They declare it to be their primary raison d’etre. If you are applying to Mercer, your commitment and passion for rural and remote regions should shine through in your personal statement, AMCAS Work and Activities, and your medical school secondary essays to make maximum impact. Mercer states that a commitment to practice healthcare in underserved areas of the state is one of the factors that the school uses to determine entry.
After acceptance, Mercer provides training in these rural regions, again, emphasizing their mission. You can specifically study Rural Health Sciences, and obtain a PhD on the subject.
Wondering which out-of-state friendly medical schools you can pursue?
Conclusion
Georgia’s medical schools provide options and opportunities for all types of students, but you will find your journey easier if you are local to the region. Mercer is exclusive to Georgian applicants, for instance, but the other three schools have benefits for in-state applicants, as well.
That doesn’t mean Georgia is exclusive. Two schools accept Canadian and international students. But, even though international students can be accepted doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know why you are choosing these schools. Know why you fit with each school you apply to.
FAQs
1. Can I study medicine in Georgia as an international student?
Yes, but not at any of the four schools.
MSM and Emory will take students from Georgia, from other states, and international students.
Medical College of Georgia will take out of state applicants in addition to Georgians. They will consider Canadian applicants on a case-by-case basis.
Mercer is exclusive to in-state applicants, and will only take Georgia residents who have lived there for 12 months prior to application.
2. How expensive is medical school in Georgia?
Emory University School of Medicine has a medical school tuition of $53,184 USD.
Medical College of Georgia’s tuition is only $31,671 USD if you are in-state. For non-Georgian students, however, that number is $60,595 USD.
Mercer’s tuition is $42,586 USD, and takes no out-of-state applicants.
Morehouse School of Medicine has a tuition of $47,711 USD, whether you are an in-state applicant or not.
3. What do I do if my application is late?
Always submit your applications on time. Once you begin setting up your application, one of the first things you should do is check your medical school application timeline and make sure that you can hit all of the deadlines on time, or even early.
4. Should I bother applying if I have low grades or test scores?
It depends on a lot of factors, like exactly why your grades are low, but having a bad report card isn’t necessarily going to end your dreams of being a physician. It might give you more of an uphill battle, though. Nevertheless, there are strategies you can employ.
How to get into medical school with a low GPA isn’t easy, or even possible in all circumstances, but you’ve come a long way, so it’s best not to just give up entirely before at least sussing out the possibilities of a positive outcome.
5. How many schools should I apply to?
We recommend that students apply to between eight and ten medical schools. If you are interested in studying medicine in Georgie, that would mean all four, plus some more in other states. Consider schools from nearby states. If you can’t study in-state, studying in a geographically-adjacent place might wind up being a similar experience, and possibly culturally very close, as well.
6. What if I get a failing grade? How can I be competitive?
There are ways to compensate. First of all, AMCAS gives you a lot of places to explain an anomalous, errant grade or two.
How to get into medical school with a low GPA is something to consider, as there are “damage control” options.
7. If I don’t want to work in Georgia, can I still apply to a Georgian medical school?
Yes, although you should not specifically mention that in your application.
Mercer is very oriented towards serving Georgia, and before applying to that school in-particular, you should ask yourself why you want to study in a place you don’t want to work, or at an institution whose values are so different from your goals.
8. What are my remote learning options?
Limited. With so much emphasis on local, and with hands-on experience – like mandatory physician shadowing, quickly introducing standardized patients into the mix, and finding first-hand placements to give students a top-tier learning experience in their top-tier career.
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