Medical Schools in Georgia: How to Get In (2024)
/Learn how hard it is to get into the best medical schools in Georgia and strategies to make it happen
THERE ARE CURRENTLY six MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN GEORGIA
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Part 1: Introduction
Georgia medical schools are a great option for applicants who are looking to experience warm weather, enjoy a low cost of living, and treat diverse patient populations. Whether you want to work with rural patient populations and other medically underserved areas of Georgia as a Mercer University trainee or you hope to delve into research in an urban city as a Emory medical student, you will likely find a Georgia school that fits your personalized professional goals.
Our goal for this guide is to outline the various admissions statistics for each of the Georgia medical schools and to highlight what makes each school unique in its own regard. This will help you see what it takes to successfully apply to a Georgia school so that you can receive an acceptance letter in the mail at the end of your application cycle.
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Part 2: List of medical schools in Georgia: 2023 rankings & admissions statistics
We have compiled information on Georgia medical schools’ locations, tuition, 2023 rankings as determined by U.S. News, and other statistics so that you have consolidated information regarding each school, allowing you to compare programs side-by-side. Whether you’re a Georgia resident or an out-of-state applicant, you can use the strategies in this guide to maximize your chances of obtaining admission.
While compiling this information, we noted the following key takeaways:
Most schools in Georgia are private institutions, which means that in-state and out-of-state residents pay the same tuition fees yearly.
The Mercer University School of Medicine only accepts pre-medical applicants who are legal residents of Georgia (i.e., the applicant must have established residency in the state of Georgia for at least 12 months prior to matriculation).
Many Georgia medical schools offer multiple degrees that may be combined with your medical degree; for example, the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University allows for students to pursue MD/PhD, MD/MPH, and MD/MBA joint degrees
Georgia schools have varying degrees of selectivity; Emory School of Medicine is the most competitive program to apply to among the six schools.
Numbers in parentheses reflect each medical school’s national ranking, whereas numbers outside parentheses reflect each Georgia medical school’s relative rank. We use relative ranking to determine which are the “best” medical schools in Georgia.
(Note: We strongly advise you to sign up for MSAR for the most up-to-date and comprehensive data on individual MD programs and to sign up for Choose DO for DO program data.)
| Georgia Medical Schools | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emory University School of Medicine | $53,184 OOS |
4.1% OOS |
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| Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University* | $60,595 OOS |
2.0% OOS |
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| Mercer University School of Medicine | NA OOS |
NA OOS |
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| Morehouse School of Medicine | $47,711 OOS |
5.2% OOS |
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| Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine–Georgia Campus | $59,484 OOS |
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| Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine–South Georgia Campus | $59,484 OOS |
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Part 3: Georgia medical school profiles
Now that you have a better idea of the admissions landscape for Georgia medical schools, we’ll provide you with profiles of each school so you can learn what make them unique, besides their competitiveness and cost. Below, we have detailed key takeaways about each Georgia medical school to give you insight into whether your own goals and learning philosophies align with the various program offerings.
Emory University of School of Medicine
Emory University of School of Medicine is a world-renowned clinical institution with a sprawling medical campus that emphasizes research along with patient-centered care in the heart of Atlanta. Emory aspires to educate the next generation of leaders in healthcare in the South and attracts high-performing medical school candidates from all over the country.
(Related reading: How to Get Into Emory Medical School)
Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University is the only public medical school in Georgia; therefore, in-state applicants will benefit from both an admissions perspective and a tuition-fee lens. Moreover, MCG offers great clinical variety to its students; students will have the opportunity to travel to over 350 clinical sites to experience the full spectrum of healthcare, from acute inpatient care to primary care in rural communities.
Mercer University School of Medicine
Mercer University School of Medicine only accepts applicants who have been legal residents of Georgia for 12 months; thus, if you are a Georgia resident applying to medical school, this school should be on your list given your significant advantage. Additionally, students may study at one of the four campuses throughout Georgia. Moreover, Mercer emphasizes small, problem-based group learning over large lecture style instruction.
Morehouse School of Medicine
Morehouse School of Medicine is a historically Black school; it is committed to ensuring a diverse student population. Morehouse also emphasizes education centered around primary care medicine and community service.
(Related reading: How to Get Into Morehouse School of Medicine)
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (Georgia Campus)
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (Georgia Campus) was founded to respond to the significant need for more physicians required to serve the expanding Georgia population. It is located just 27 miles north of Atlanta; students have the opportunity to treat both urban and rural patient populations. It is designed to educate students about osteopathic principles and practice.
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (South Georgia Campus)
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (South Georgia Campus) was recently founded to meet the healthcare needs of Southwest Georgia. The first class matriculated in the fall of 2020. PCOM South Georgia operates on the same tenets established by the PCOM campuses in Philadelphia and Suwanee.
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Part 4: Georgia medical school admissions strategies
In this section, we will discuss two key strategies that will be critical in your success as an applicant to these programs.
Strategy 1: Take a data-driven approach when deciding which Georgia medical schools to apply to
The data above demonstrate that there is a significant difference between the average GPAs and MCAT scores required to be a competitive candidate at Emory School of Medicine and Medical College of Georgia in comparison to the other four Georgia medical schools.
When applying to programs, it is important to think critically about your own likelihood of admission based on your stats and avoid throwing in programs “just because.” If you do throw in these “just because” applications, you will spend valuable time and energy focusing on completing these secondary applications in lieu of working on applications for schools whose metrics align more with your own data and to which you’re more likely to get in.
(Suggested reading: How Many Medical Schools Should I Apply To? Which Ones?)
Strategy 2: Develop an understanding for the tenets that drive each Georgia medical schools’ mission statements and ensure that your own application demonstrates a good fit
As we detailed in the profiles above, each Georgia medical school stands out among the rest based on its location, the patient population it serves, and the overarching mission statement that drives medical education and patient care.
This information should help you decide which Georgia medical schools to apply to. Next, you’ll want to focus on producing well-written secondary application essays that demonstrate why you would be a good fit for the programs you’ve selected. Students often believe that there is a “one-size-fits-all” approach to writing secondary essays, but the truth is that each secondary essay requires you to take a different angle. The same advice is also true for medical school interviews.
By discussing the experiences that highlight your best personal qualities, you can persuade admissions committees that you’re the best candidate to help the school advance its specific mission.
Strategy 3: Prepare for interviews
If you’ve made it to the interview stage, congratulations! There’s only one last hurdle standing between you and getting into the medical school of your dreams.
However, you don’t want to drop the ball this late in the game. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the interview style at the school you’ve been invited to and think through your answers to common questions such as “Why medicine?” and “Why do you want to attend X school?”
Most schools still employ the traditional interview format, but increasingly schools are adopting the multiple mini interview (MMI) format. You’ll want to be sure of which type of interview you will encounter so that you can prepare accordingly. Whichever style is used at the school you applied to, it’s always beneficial to practice your answers using sample questions with a friend or family member.
Final thoughts
Georgia offers a wide range of medical school programs, and whether you’re an in-state or out-of-state applicant, interested in research or primary care, or yearn to live in a large, urban city or smaller community, you will find a school that fits your interests. By effectively communicating fit, you can maximize your odds of receiving an acceptance to the Georgia medical school of your choice.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.
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Appendix A: Georgia medical schools by degree type
Allopathic medical schools in Georgia (MD)
Emory University of School of Medicine
Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Mercer University School of Medicine
Morehouse School of Medicine
Osteopathic medical schools in Georgia (DO)
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (Georgia Campus)
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (South Georgia Campus)
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Appendix B: Georgia medical schools by institution type
Public medical schools in Georgia
Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Private medical schools in Georgia
Emory University of School of Medicine
Mercer University School of Medicine
Morehouse School of Medicine
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (Georgia Campus)
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (South Georgia Campus)
