If you’re a Georgia resident looking into local medical schools and have searched online for “best medical schools near me,” there’s no doubt Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) has populated up high on the results list. There are many valid reasons for considering it as a school of choice. It has long been established as one of the best medical schools in Georgia.
Established in 1982, Mercer University School of Medicine was developed as a tool to train quality physicians and healthcare professionals so that they may go out and serve the people of Georgia, especially those in rural and underserved regions. This has and is the focus of the school, faculty, and the admissions committee. The school is in Macon, Georgia, with additional campuses in Savannah and Columbus.
The curriculum at Mercer Medical School is designed with a problem-based approach to medicine so that students learn to be problem-solvers rather than regurgitators. Early clinical experience with patients is a key aspect of the program. Graduates of Mercer Medical School can walk away with an M.D., the Mercer BS/PhD degree, or they can take part in one of the master’s degree programs, including the very popular PA program.
The Mercer University School of Medicine acceptance rate is quite high compared to the rest of the state and the nation, making it an easier school to get into, but this is indicative of the quality of program it is. It is still important to take the process seriously, because many do not make it to the interview stage and beyond.
International Medical Aid (IMA) was established with the goal of helping aspiring physicians get into the medical school of their dreams. Our mission is to make the process as simple and clear as possible for the applicants we work with and to increase the odds that they will gain acceptance. This was our purpose for developing these medical school guides. The more prepared you are as an applicant, the better your chances of matriculating.
Reading through this guide to Getting into Mercer University School of Medicine will help you enormously, and may have a major impact on the outcome of your application. The information and guidance found here will walk you through the application process. Our medical school guides are available to you free of charge.
If there are several medical schools you’re exploring, be aware that we offer these medical school guides for a variety of other medical programs as well. If you want to apply to a medical school near home, try searching “medical schools near me,” and then check back here to see if we have a guide for that particular school.
This guide was built specifically for Mercer School of Medicine and should not be considered a guide for any other medical school.
There’s no better way to prepare for your application and increase your chances of getting accepted to Mercer School of Medicine than by seeking a little one-on-one, personalized coaching. Our medical school admissions consulting program was developed to meet each applicant’s individual needs every step of the way. No two candidates are the same, so it’s important to have an individualized approach. Our experts are available and here for you. They will be able to offer advice about your essay responses and prepare you for your interview, including running you through mock interviews. Contact us here if you have any questions.
There are many solid reasons for selecting Mercer School of Medicine as your top medical school choice. Mercer Medical School has made it its mission to bring good, quality healthcare to the underserved people of rural Georgia, the state, and the entire country through top-notch medical education. A high percentage of Mercer graduates end up working in primary care fields and remaining in the state of Georgia to practice.
According to their website, Mercer School of Medicine holds the following core values:
Recognizing the challenges of meeting healthcare needs in the far reaches of Georgia, the school has developed ambitious goals that they strive to achieve every day. To learn more about the following specific goals, follow the links to Mercer’s website.
Goal 1 – Lead the state in educating physicians and health professionals who practice in rural areas.
Goal 2 – Provide leadership to help find solutions to the grand challenges in rural health.
Goal 3 – Be a great place to work, learn, and teach.
Goal 4 – Secure resources to enable investment in research, teaching, and community engagement.
Dean of the School of Medicine and a member of the first graduating class Jean R. Sumner, M.D., F.A.C.P., has this to say about Mercer School of Medicine on their website:
“In my opinion, there is no more meaningful, challenging, or rewarding work. The opportunity to change health care in Georgia by becoming a physician or healthcare professional and serving in an area of need requires the best and brightest and those with courage, high intellect, and a servant’s heart. This opportunity exists at Mercer University School of Medicine. If your goal is to make a difference, I hope you will consider joining our student body.”
MUSM has an incredible faculty and administrative staff, which is another good reason to consider this school as a top choice. Just a few of the notable legends that make Mercer Medical School successful include:
US News and World Report states that Mercer Medical School is unranked in:
The MUSM Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program is developed to prepare students for a wide variety of medical specialties and career opportunities. Not only is the goal to train physicians, but to build up leaders, biomedical researchers, and problem-solvers. This four-year program is only open to Georgia residents.
The plan for curriculum flow is that the students spend the first two years learning the core basic sciences needed and basic clinical experience and then put that knowledge to work in core clinical clerkships in the third year. The whole fourth year of the program is dedicated to investigating and fulfilling elective clinical rotations, exploring specialties, and securing residencies. The class sizes are small, the curriculum is problem-based, and the program is student-centered, so it really is a recipe for success.
Mercer developed a Primary Care Accelerated Track (ACT) program in order to combat the problem of Georgia’s serious shortage of primary care doctors in the medically underserved regions of Georgia. Students who can handle the accelerated pathway will complete their coursework in three years instead of four, getting them out into the primary care field quicker and also cutting back on their medical school debt.
Maintaining the same problem-based style of curriculum and clinical work, ACT has developed a curriculum that is creative, logical, and efficient. To take this path, students must already be enrolled in the first year of the M.D. program, be doing well in school, and be committed to working in the primary care sector of rural Georgia. This program is only open to GA residents.
When it comes to the M.D. program technical standards, there are certain physical and cognitive abilities that must be present for a student to be able to complete the program and go on to practice medicine. The ultimate mission of Mercer School of Medicine is to produce knowledgeable doctors and medical professionals who see patients as individuals and practice medicine filled with compassion for all. Therefore, it’s important that students of MUSM be physically and cognitively capable of meeting these technical standards before they can be admitted, educated, and graduated.
There is much help and tools available to students with disabilities, but ultimately a student must be able to meet these standards to be considered. For candidates to meet the technical standards required to pursue the M.D. degree, they must have the ability to thrive in:
The Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Program at MUSM is a two-year course that trains students in the knowledge and skill they need to thrive in a biomedical research career in whichever pathway they choose. The program also prepares students for future education if they feel called to continue forward into the M.D., Ph.D. or other program.
This program brings students and faculty together to mentor through the development of the student’s scientific base of knowledge, build solid research practices, and learn to communicate with others in the medical community. The final semester finishes with an independent research period and a student thesis with a seminar presentation. The focus of this curriculum is to encourage students to be problem-solvers, excellent scientific communicators, and passionate researchers.
The strengths of the M.S. program are:
If you’re the type of person who feels called to help others in a powerful way, earning your Master of Family Therapy (MFT) degree at the Mercer School of Medicine may be the perfect choice for you. The therapy program trains aspiring therapists at the Mercer Family Therapy Centers (MFTC), with campuses in Macon and Atlanta, Georgia. Not only does this provide practical training with real patients, but it meets the need of providing mental healthcare for Georgia residents at affordable costs.
Students of the Therapy program will be taught the academic foundational cores of systemic/relational and biopsychosocial/spiritual aspects of human nature. They will also participate in clinical work, service opportunities and more. It is the goal of the school and faculty to encourage students to provide mental healthcare to those in underserved, often marginalized residents throughout Georgia. There are few medical schools in GA with the passion for serving that MUSM is fueled by.
Some of the highlights that sets this program apart from similar ones at other Georgia medical colleges include:
The Master of Science in Preclinical Sciences Program is one that lasts for 32 weeks and consists of 31 credit hours that prepare students for successful careers in teaching science, laboratory biomedical research, making policies, and more.
In order to graduate from the program, students must be able to prove competency in the foundational scientific knowledge that feeds all medical research and to be able to use critical thinking in problem-solving. Learning how to apply the knowledge and skill you’ve accumulated to real-life medical issues is a huge part of the program. Coursework includes:
Georgia medical colleges are working towards mirroring these kinds of programs, but Mercer Medical School’s Master of Science in Preclinical Sciences Program will prepare students for a variety of medical careers and create sparks of interest in medical research.
Students of the Ph.D. in Rural Health Sciences Program will need to complete 64 hours of coursework. There will be 40 hours of foundational didactics/seminar hours included in that timeframe, as well 6 hours of practicum completed I the field and 18 hours of work towards the final dissertation. This well-rounded program brings many academic focuses into play, including:
One of the most thrilling and life-changing opportunities students of this program will participate in is the summer semester spent deep within a medically underserved region of Georgia. They are asked to work towards developing, implementing, and then analyzing a brand-new health promotion initiative within a rural Georgia community. This is also where the research for their dissertation will take place.
According to their website, the million of the MUSM Ph.D. in Rural Health Sciences program is to, “prepare students for research careers focused on improving the health of rural areas using multidisciplinary approaches.”
There are four campuses that makeup Mercer School of Medicine. The main campus is located in Macon, Georgia, with second and third campuses planted in Savannah, Atlanta, and Columbus. Students will also spend a considerable amount of time in their clinical clerkships at:
The lovely Macon Campus is where the Medical Doctor (M.D.) program and the Rural Health Sciences (Ph.D.) program are based. This is also where graduate degrees in Preclinical Sciences, Family Therapy, and Biomedical Sciences are earned. The campus itself is historically relevant in the community and has a traditional feel.
The Savannah Campus is full of charm, beauty, and stunning oak trees. With the beach not far away, this is a lovely place to be stationed. The Memorial University Medical Center is a teaching campus that is home to the Mercer Medical School Savannah Campus.
With the Chattahoochee River running nearby, the Columbus Campus is a clinical campus that was established as a partnership with Midtown Medical Center of Columbus Regional Health and St. Francis Hospital in 2012. Along with housing classrooms, this campus has office spaces, a vast medical library, an anatomy lab, a high-tech simulation center, research lab, and a vivarium.
Atlanta, Georgia is a busy metropolitan area with an endless sampling of restaurants, theaters, shops, and athletic outlets. The rush of the busy city is quieted a bit by the woods that surround Atlanta Campus, where the Master’s in Family Therapy Program exists. There is a wellness and recreation center for students to utilize.
While test scores and GPAs are important, the admissions committee at Mercer School of Medicine is looking for so much more in a candidate. Very important to the process of moving applications on to the next stage of the process is the letters of recommendation, clinical and volunteer experience in the medical realm, and community involvement. They seek out bright, compassionate, and dedicated individuals who share the school’s mission, goals, and commitment to to medicine.
MUSM is a school that is dedicated to inclusion, tolerance, a celebration of diversity, and a commitment to social justice. The admissions committee will definitely be looking for candidates who share their commitment to these values and add their own color to the student body.
The following are some of the more important factors the admissions committee will look carefully at early on in the process::
Successful applicants to Mercer Medical School must be a citizen or legal permanent resident, have been a resident of the state of Georgia for a minimum of 12 months, have completed all prerequisites at an accredited college or university, and must have taken the MCAT exam and earned a percentile ranking of 24 or more.
The minimum MCAT score at Mercer Medical School is 494, but the average MCAT score is 504.
The minimum GPA is 2.8, but a competitive candidate for the program should be around 3.66.
The Mercer University School of Medicine acceptance rate is higher than many other medical schools in Georgia, but it maintains high standards.
While there is no minimum requirement at MUSM regarding time spent in volunteer service and clinical experience, the admissions committee does put a lot of weight into an applicant’s experience in medical arenas. Volunteering at a health clinic, working in a local doctor’s office, participating in a pre-med shadowing study abroad program, or something local along those lines are all great ways to get this clinical experience for your application.
If you are the type of applicant who is planning for medical school while you’re still working on your undergraduate degree, this is the perfect time to start getting that medical experience. The more you can report to the admissions committee, the better.
One option that looks great on an application is participation in a pre-med shadowing study abroad program where you gain clinical experience and are immersed in some real cultural diversity. IMA runs such a program, and you can learn more about our pre-med shadowing study abroad program here.
Letters of recommendation must be submitted through AMCAS as part of the primary application process. These letters can come in the form of individual letters from faculty of the science department at your college or university or in the form of a letter packet from the school. If an applicant is invited to continue to the secondary application stage, a minimum of three letters of reference must be submitted through AMCAS Letter Writers Service. Applicants will not be invited for an interview without those letters on file.
When selecting individuals to submit these letters, consider that these individuals should be people who know you well and are acquainted with the quality of your coursework. At least one letter should be written by a faculty member from your science department, but others can be written by doctors who know you, a healthcare manager, or a mentor in the healthcare community. All letters must be submitted via AMCAS.
There are certain prerequisite courses that must have been taken for an applicant to be considered seriously for admission. Applicants should have completed one year or two semester-hour laboratory courses in the following classes:
It is acceptable for applicants to have taken a semester of Biochemistry instead of taking the second semester of Organic Chemistry. Students who have taken and passed the AP class may use this to satisfy the requirement for one semester of Physics. It’s important to remember that all courses must be accompanied by their corresponding labs.
Mercer School of Medicine, like several other Georgia medical colleges, require the CASPer exam as part of the admissions process.
As for the 1,515 applicants who applied for the incoming 2023 class, 151 new students matriculated. This makes the Mercer University School of Medicine’s acceptance rate is 9.97%. This means the acceptance rate is much higher than other medical schools in GA and around the country. The national average acceptance rate for medical school is 3.52%. This is an encouraging bit of news for many applicants who are hitting brick walls elsewhere, especially considering how highly-respected the Mercer BS/MD program is.
All the new students for 2023 were from the state of Georgia. The class consists of 39.7% of students identifying as male and 60.3% identifying as female.
*The acceptance rate is based on the percentage of applicants who enroll. There are other factors that affect rates.
The following are some statistics regarding the class of 2023:
These tuition and fees are based on MUSM’s 2022-2023 academic year. Fees are subject to change.
Learning about the inner workings of the financial aspect of medical school is important, as is taking advantage of financial aid support when needed. For more information on the costs of attending medical school in the United States, check out our Medical School Database, where we provide guidance and helpful information.
Mercer Medical School sends all applicants to apply through AMCAS for the primary stage of the process. This is where AMCAS gathers the basic information about the applicant to screen for eligibility. This is also where letters of recommendation are submitted. Applications that are deemed eligible by the service are then forwarded to whichever medical schools the applicant has requested they be sent to, and secondary applications are requested.
Secondary applications through MUSM gives candidates the opportunity to go a little deeper into who they are as an individual, how they will add positively to the student body at Mercer Medical School, and their vision for a career in medicine.
The admissions committee will review the secondary applications and send out invitations to only a select number of candidates offering an interview.
Below are the secondary essay questions for Mercer Medical School for the 2022-2023 application cycle.
Definitely take this opportunity to explain and give reasons why any grades from previous coursework may be low or why there may be false perceptions of your abilities based on your scores. COVID-19 may be one challenge to consider if it affected you. If there aren’t any issues to explain, leave it blank.
Be thoughtful and do some research before answering the question. This is monumentally important for the admissions committee because it shows whether or not you are walking and believing in alignment with the school’s mission, vision, and goals. Explain what practicing medicine in rural areas involves, why it’s different than in other settings, what the challenges are, and why it’s an important issue to tackle.
It is crucial that you share your story and your experience here, especially if you were raised or living in a rural or underserved part of the state. The admissions committee would love to know that you relate to people who are being neglected medically and that you see the need and want to meet the need. Show that you understand what the challenges are and why all people deserve quality healthcare.
Take this opportunity to share a little about your own experiences and how they’ve shaped you into the kind of aspiring physician who wants to make a difference in the lives of the medically underserved populations of the state. While it may seem they are focusing too much on staying in Georgia, the truth is this is their primary goal. They are meeting the needs of the residents of Georgia by providing doctors, so they want those medical professionals to stay in the state. This is why 100% of the 2023 incoming class were Georgia residents.
Diversity is something MUSM is committed to, and this prompt gives you the opportunity to express your own unique experiences with diversity and how they’ve molded you into being a more inclusive, socially aware individual. How will you accelerate inclusion and social justice on the MUSM campuses and in the student body? How will your presence make the school a better place for all students?
I grew up as one of only two non-binary students in my small, rural elementary school. It was challenging, confusing, and oftentimes frightening to be so different in a community that didn’t understand me or care to get to know me. While there were a few kind souls in my path who showed me acceptance from a young age, I quickly found myself to be the ongoing target of jokes, harassment, and bullying.
As someone who is part of a marginalized group and having grown up in a rural region of Georgia, I understand both challenges far too well. I’ve lived it. Sometimes I’ve run from it; other times, I’ve embraced it. What it did was prepare me to be an individual who sees everyone and treats each and every individual as an equal human being, deserving of every right, freedom, and respect. I see each patient as someone who deserves top-quality medical care, no matter where they’ve been, how they got here, or where they’re going next. Each life is valuable, important, and worth saving.
MUSM’s commitment to diversity and to meeting the needs of rural communities in Georgia is what drew me to the school. I believe by joining the student body, I will join in the battle for social equity for all, and stand ready to enter the trenches of the healthcare community, reaching the underserved people of my state. I am ready to become part of the solution and to help others who are both like me and very different.
Take this opportunity to be real, open, and vulnerable. Share about aspects of your application that you really feel highlight your vision, your suitability, and your desire to attend MUSM. Let them see who you truly are and why you’re a good fit for the school.
At MUSM, interviews for the admissions committee are held virtually. Applicants who are invited to interview will take part in two interviews, each lasting 30-45 minutes, through a Zoom breakout room. Applicants will be interviewed by a member of the admissions committee who is part of the science faculty. The second interviewer may be a senior medical student at Mercer University School of Medicine.
These interviewers will have access to all your application documents and will already be well acquainted with your background, but this is an opportunity to really stand out amongst the other applicants and give them a face to go with the name. It’s important to be prepared, be yourself, and be open and honest.
The admissions committee at MUSM is made up of 35 voting members, and together they see all of the comments made by interviewers and application reviewers when they convene to discuss candidates.
There will be specific characteristics about you that the admissions committee will be looking for during the interview. They particularly like to interview a candidate who excels in:
Preparing for an interview can be stressful and overwhelming. Applicants usually find it very helpful to acquire personalized coaching and even a mock interview through our medical school admissions consulting services.
There’s no doubt that applying for medical school is stressful and challenging. This is true no matter who you are or where you come from. The process is daunting, from the first application to the interview process. However, while it’s a stressful undertaking, gaining acceptance to one of the schools of your choice and earning your degree so that you may one-day practice medicine is so worth it.
At International Medical Aid (IMA), we aim to make this process as easy and stress-free as possible. Our medical school admissions consulting program leads you through the whole process from start to finish.
You may be the type of person who interviews well naturally or not. Either way, our experts can and will help you prepare thoroughly for one of the most important interviews of your life. We will walk you through the process, offer expert advice, and even conduct mock interviews to make sure you are as ready as possible.
Take a moment to schedule a free consultation with one of our experts here.
One of IMA’s most popular programs is our pre-med shadowing study abroad program, which takes students around the world in an effort to expose them to healthcare conditions in underserved parts of the world. The experience is priceless, as students come into contact with medical issues that are unique to the living conditions in their country.
Our pre-med shadowing study abroad program was designed specifically for pre-medical and gap year students with the vision of preparing them more than ever before for their future as a humanistic, global citizen physician. There is nothing in the world like participating in one of those pre-medicine internships in Peru or Africa.
Please take a few minutes to explore the benefits of our program on our website and reach out if you have any questions.
We at IMA wish you nothing but the best of luck as you pursue your dream of studying medicine at Mercer University School of Medicine. We hope that our efforts here to help prepare you for the application process will pay off for you and land you an acceptance letter. This guide is a valuable tool to help you navigate the complex system so that you have the best chances possible.
If you’d like to explore our medical school admissions consulting program, please feel free to contact us, and we will get you the support you need to feel confident.
Whether you looked for medical schools outside of Georgia, or searched for medical schools near me, MUSM is a wonderful choice. We hope our guide helps you achieve your goal of attending this fine institution.
Feel free to contact us if you have questions about the application process, our medical guides, our pre-med shadowing study abroad program, or our Medical School Admissions Consulting services.
International Medical Aid provides global internship opportunities for students and clinicians who are looking to broaden their horizons and experience healthcare on an international level. These program participants have the unique opportunity to shadow healthcare providers as they treat individuals who live in remote and underserved areas and who don’t have easy access to medical attention. International Medical Aid also provides medical school admissions consulting to individuals applying to medical school and PA school programs. We review primary and secondary applications, offer guidance for personal statements and essays, and conduct mock interviews to prepare you for the admissions committees that will interview you before accepting you into their programs. IMA is here to provide the tools you need to help further your career and expand your opportunities in healthcare.
