How to Get Into Meharry Medical College: Requirements and Strategies
/How hard is it to get into the Meharry Medical College? Learn about the school’s acceptance rate, admissions requirements, and strategies for tackling Meharry secondary application essays
meharry medical college is one of four tennessee medical schools
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Part 1: Introduction
Meharry Medical College, one of four historically Black medical schools in the United States, is located in Nashville, Tennessee and affiliated with the United States Methodist Church. Founded in 1876, it has a long-standing history of fostering a community of healthcare professionals and trainees that is focused on eliminating healthcare disparities plaguing disadvantaged patient populations. Specifically, the institution pledges to offer clinical education to a diverse student body and places an emphasis on training the next generation of African American physician leaders.
As a Meharry medical student, you will benefit from treating patients in Nashville, a cultural epicenter. You’ll have the opportunity to rotate at a variety of clinical sites, which include the state-of-the-art Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital, the Elam Mental Health Center, and the Vanderbilt Medical Center. Additionally, there will be an abundance of research opportunities that examine various factors that contribute to poor health outcomes in underserved patient populations.
Given the school’s very specific mission, your job as an applicant is to convince the admissions committee that you are the right fit for their program. Read on to learn more about Meharry’s requirements and admissions statistics, plus secondary essay strategies that you can use to help your application stand out.
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Part 2: Meharry Medical College School of Medicine MD programs
As a Meharry student there are a variety of programs available to you, all of which ultimately guide you to an MD degree. Most students will select the traditional four-year program that is separated into a two-year preclinical education, during which students will learn the principles of basic sciences, and a two-year clinical rotation curriculum through which students will see and learn from patients in various clinical settings.
In addition to this program, Meharry also offers a BS/MD program and an MD/PhD program.
BS/MD program: This is an eight-year program through which enrolled students will first complete a four-year undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree at one of ten historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), then link into the four-year MD program at Meharry if they complete the necessary requirements and meet the appropriate benchmarks.
MD/PhD program: Students interested in a graduate medical education and a graduate research education should consider applying to the MD/PhD program, which is achieved by a partnership between the Medical College and the School of Graduate Studies and Research. These students must meet the separate requirements for both the MD and PhD programs and will apply to the program jointly.
Meharry Medical College tuition and scholarships
For 2022–2023, tuition and fees at Meharry Medical College cost $63,688. When taking into account additional costs such as room and board, academic materials, and personal expenses, the total cost of attendance is estimated at $92,134 for the first year. Given that Meharry is a private institution, in-state and out-of-state residents pay the same tuition.
Approximately 90 percent of Meharry Medical College students qualify for financial assistance through either financial aid or institutional scholarships. The Office of Student Financial Aid has an integral role in helping students apply for and receive financial aid.
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Part 3: How hard is it to get into Meharry Medical College?
Meharry Medical College admissions statistics
In order to best understand how likely it is for you to receive an acceptance letter from Meharry Medical College, it’s important to look at the admissions data. Meharry does not currently publish its acceptance or interview figures, but based on its high number of applicants, we can estimate its acceptance rate to be quite low, somewhere in the range of 3–4 percent. Here are some numbers for the class of 2027 from the AAMC:
Applications: 7,520
Matriculants: 116 (18.1% in-state)
While Meharry does not make available the GPA and MCAT scores of its most recent successful applicants, in recent years matriculants have had the following statistics:
Median GPA: 3.47
Median MCAT: 501
Additionally, Meharry Medical College seeks to select patients from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, given that it is a historically Black medical school. The breakdown of race and ethnicity admissions statistics for the entering class of 2019 is included below:
White: 13%
Black or African American: 86%
Asian: 10%
Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin: 5%
Other: 4%
(Suggested reading: Average GPA and MCAT Score for Every Medical School)
Meharry Medical College requirements
The admissions selection committee at Meharry Medical College will evaluate candidates across a host of criteria including intelligence, preparedness, motivation, and aptitude. Of note is that students who have been dismissed from other medical schools will not be considered for admission. International applicants will be considered only if they have a permanent resident visa; however, Canadian applicants will receive special consideration.
To apply to Meharry, you must complete the below list of requirements and achieve an average GPA of at least 3.5 in these required courses in order to be considered a competitive applicant. This will demonstrate that you have a strong premedical foundation that will lead to your likely success as a medical student and future physician.
General biology or zoology: 8 semester hours or 12 quarter hours with lab
Inorganic chemistry with qualitative analysis: 8 semester hours or 12 quarter hours with lab
Organic chemistry: 8 semester hours or 12 quarter hours with lab
General physics: 8 semester hours or 12 quarter hours with lab
English composition: 6 semester hours or 9 quarter hours
Biochemistry : 3 semester hours or 5 quarter hours
You will also be required to take the Casper test prior to your interview at Meharry. The Casper test is a 90-minute situational judgment test that’s administered electronically. You can find more information about how to prepare for the Casper test by reading our guide How to Prepare for the Casper Test to Get Into Medical School.
Meharry has specific parameters around MCAT testing for applicants. MCAT scores must be no older than three years and taken no more recently than August 1st of the year prior to the year you plan to matriculate. In the 2024–2025 application cycle, the MCAT must be taken by August 1st, 2024.
Furthermore, applicants must have a science GPA of 3.5 or higher and an MCAT score of at least 498.
(Suggested reading: Medical School Requirements: The Definitive Guide)
Unwritten requirements: Making sure you stand out among many applicants
We’ve mentioned Meharry’s mission earlier in this guide but they state their mission as, “a global academic health sciences center advancing health equity through innovative research, transformative education, exceptional and compassionate health services and policy-influencing thought leadership. True to its legacy, Meharry empowers diverse populations to improve the well-being of humankind.”
Keywords like “health equity,” “innovative research,” and “policy-influencing thought leadership” all point to areas where you should attempt to stand out in your application through your extracurricular activities. These unwritten requirements are the kind of candidate Meharry is looking for.
Well-rounded applicants who demonstrate a genuine commitment to serving underserved populations and addressing healthcare disparities are likely to have a greater chance of an interview invitation. Below, we’ve listed some advice for achieving this type of well-roundedness that you may consider during your undergraduate years.
Community Service: Seek opportunities that involve direct engagement with underserved communities. This could include volunteering at free clinics, homeless shelters, or health outreach programs that provide services to marginalized populations.
Leadership Roles: Take on leadership positions in healthcare-related clubs or organizations. This demonstrates initiative, responsibility, and teamwork—all important qualities for a physician. Furthermore, you could join a student organization focused on influencing social policy in your community or city. This will show your awareness of the issues and inclination toward “policy-influencing thought leadership.”
Shadowing and Clinical Experience: Shadow physicians in settings that focus on underserved communities. This exposes you to the realities of healthcare disparities and strengthens your application.
Research: Participate in research projects that address health issues prevalent in underserved or minority populations. This shows your commitment to improving “health equity” and healthcare access. Engaging in any research can be beneficial to your application, but participating in a project that aligns with Meharry’s mission can make you a stand-out candidate.
Meharry Medical School application timeline
You will apply to Meharry Medical School using the AMCAS application. To do so, you can plan your application around the following timeline:
May 1, 2024: AMCAS application opens
May 28, 2024: AMCAS application can be submitted
June 2024: Application review begins
August 1, 2024: AMCAS application deadline for Early Decision
September 2024–April 2025: Interviews conducted
October 1, 2024: Early Decision candidates notified
December 15th, 2024: AMCAS application deadline
April 30, 2025: Deadline to commit to only one school
While Meharry doesn’t list deadlines specific to their secondary application, anecdotal evidence suggests that secondary applications are sent to eligible applicants relatively quickly, beginning in late June. Plan to submit both your primary AMCAS application and your secondary application on the early side so you can be among the candidates reviewed by the admissions committee in August.
(Suggested reading: The Ideal Medical School Application Timeline)
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Part 4: Meharry Medical College secondary application essays (examples included)
The Meharry Medical College secondary application contains just two questions, each with unlimited space for your response. Take care in writing these essays as they provide the best opportunity (along with your personal statement) to differentiate yourself from the applicant pool and provide evidence of strong fit between you and Meharry.
Below we’ve provided example essays and detailed why they are successful. For further guidance on crafting excellent responses to these questions, read through our guide to secondary essays, particularly the sections on the “Why us?” prompt and the adversity essay.
Question 1: Why do you wish to attend Meharry Medical College School of Medicine?
Example:
I recall accompanying my Popa, my paternal grandfather, to see a primary care doctor for the first time in several months despite his elderly age and chronic conditions. He suffered from diabetes and more recently, he was having trouble seeing clearly and suffering from a tingling discomfort in his toes despite taking his metformin regularly. Upon further investigation, we learned that his sugars were through the roof and his diabetes was uncontrolled, despite his compliance with his medication. His doctor explained to him that he would require insulin to control his sugars. My Popa did not have health insurance and our family had been able to afford his metformin because our doctor had told us about Walmart’s $4 list; we could purchase a 30-day supply of metformin for only four dollars. Now, we faced paying upwards of $1,200 for his monthly insulin supply. The cost discrepancy was outstanding.
As the first person to attend college in my family, I have always been motivated to succeed so that our future generations can benefit from my hard work. My family’s experience accessing healthcare services and facing the high costs of various treatments propelled me on a quest to deconstruct these disparities through research and clinical exposure. Specifically, as an undergraduate student in Philadelphia, I performed healthcare disparities research at the Penn Institute of Health Economics. My main study focused on addressing the racial-ethnic inequalities in young adults with obesity. Here, I recognized that Black young adults in particular are at a higher risk for becoming obese because of limited access to healthy foods, lack of information, and minimal support mechanisms. I worked with my team to create a free educational platform that highlighted healthier choices through direct comparisons; for example, we provided recommendations for alternatives for sugary drinks such as juice and soda. This experience taught me the importance of looking closely at the systemic factors that affect healthcare outcomes and then applying these insights to drive meaningful change in underserved communities.
As a future physician, I aim to inform my medical decision making with an understanding of how socioeconomic and racial-ethnic disparities affect health outcomes of individuals. For this reason, I believe that Meharry Medical College School of Medicine is the best fit for me. The mission statement of Meharry empowers its students to focus on disparities and think systematically about how these factors influence the well being of others. At Meharry, I would look forward to continuing my exploration of these topics through research at the Health Disparities Research Center for Excellence and through reading articles published by the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. Additionally, I would love the opportunity to volunteer at the Saltwagon Clinic to connect patients with necessary primary care services. The wealth of clinical, research, and community resources at Meharry would allow me to emerge as a well rounded, informed physician who can embark on a path to treating patients with an understanding of their community similar to how my grandfather’s physician did for him.
Why does it work?
This essay comprehensively and succinctly tells the admissions committee several reasons why she would thrive in the Meharry Medical College School of Medicine environment. Her story about her grandfather’s lack of access to affordable medications is an example of how healthcare disparities have affected and motivated her on a personal level.
Moreover, she demonstrates a clear curiosity for learning more about these issues through her former research experience. She connects her clinical and research interests to the mission and offerings of Meharry to demonstrate why she would be an excellent fit at the medical school.
Importantly, she also highlights specific opportunities at Meharry such as the Health Disparities Research Center for Excellence and the Saltwagon Clinic to demonstrate she has done research and identified experiences that she would participate in while a medical student.
Question 2: Please describe a personal situation of failure, significant challenge or a major obstacle that you have overcome. Include a description of your coping skills and lessons you learned about yourself from that situation.
Gain instant access to med school secondary essay examples for every single prompt required by every medical school in the United States and Canada. Subscribe today to lock in the current investments, which will be increasing after May 31 for new subscribers.
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Part 5: Meharry Medical College interview
If you are invited for an interview at Meharry, you will have two one-on-one traditional interviews that are typically thirty minutes in length.
In addition to preparing answers for common questions such as “Why medicine?,” “What are you doing to better yourself?,” and “What is something that stands out about you?,” you should also have answers to Meharry-specific questions. For example, you should be able to respond to why you specifically want to attend Meharry, what attracts you to the city of Nashville, and how the School of Medicine’s mission statement resonates with you.
Our research has shown that many of the following questions have been asked in Meharry interviews recently:
Can you teach kindness?
What area of medicine could you see yourself in and why?
Why Meharry Medical College?
What do you want out of your career in medicine?
What would you have the professor do so you could perform better in that class?
What was your favorite class at your undergraduate institution?
Describe yourself in one word.
Do you know Meharry's mission? How can you relate to it?
While coming up with answers to questions like “Why Meharry Medical College?” and “Do you know Meharry’s mission?” can be pretty straightforward, you might struggle to quickly formulate a response to “Describe yourself in one word” on the spot. Practicing answers to common questions as well as edge cases can do wonders for your nerves and performance on interview day.
(Suggested reading: How to Ace Your Medical School Interviews)
Final thoughts
Nestled in the heart of Nashville, the Meharry Medical College offers students the opportunity to train in a multitude of clinical settings in addition to the chance to explore topics in healthcare disparities. By communicating how your experiences align with the school’s mission through secondary essays and your interview, you can maximize your odds of admission to Meharry Medical College.
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.