Preparing yourself as early as possible is key to getting into med school. If you’re based in Georgia (or interested in going to school there), choosing one of the best pre-med schools in the state can definitely help.
In this article we’ll cover:
- The best pre-med schools in Georgia (based on reputation and alumni)
- How important it is to attend a good pre-med school in the state
- What pre-meds going to school here can do to be more competitive
Being a med student myself, I know how valuable it can be to think about each of these questions. Getting into med school is tough, the right information can help give you a small advantage.
Ready to learn more? Let’s go!
Before we get into the best pre-med schools in Georgia, you might be interested in what’s on offer in the surrounding states. Check out our guide; Best Pre-Med Schools in the USA for more information.
Best Pre Med Schools In Georgia
University of Georgia
| Location: | Athens, GA |
| National University Rank: | 15 |
| Average SAT score: | 1310-1460 |
| Acceptance Rate: | 45.3% |
| Tuition: | $12,080 (in-state)/$31,120 (out-of-state) |
| Private/Public: | Public |
| Student-faculty ratio: | 17:1 |
Pre-med isn’t a specific major at the University of Georgia but their Pre-Health Program is well established and designed to work with juniors and seniors going through the admission process.
Opportunities offered include resources for volunteering and shadowing, research opportunities, and other community-based projects designed to help students develop their skills and interests.
Founded in 1785, UG produced 445 MD applicants in the years 2017-2018 and still acts as one of the primary feeder institutions for med schools around the country.
The school’s American Students Medical Association (AMSA) Chapter is particularly active, running various volunteer and community-based events; including blood drives, financing med school workshops, and other charitable initiatives.
DETAILS
- Name: University of Georgia
- Location: Administration Building, Athens, GA 30602
- Phone: (706) 542-3000
- Website: ppao.uga.edu/pre-medical/
Emory University
| Location: | Atlanta, GA |
| National University Rank: | 21 |
| Average SAT score: | 1360-1530 |
| Acceptance Rate: | 16% |
| Tuition: | $53,868 |
| Private/Public: | Private |
| Student-faculty ratio: | 9:1 |
Emory University offers some of the best pre-med support available in the state, largely thanks to its good standing in the countries’ medical school rankings list (#22 in research and #36 in primary care, according to U.S. News).
The schools’ Pre-Health Advising supports students with pre-health events and workshops, one-on-one and group advising sessions, and preparation and practice for graduate school interviews.
The aim of the team at Emory is to connect students to specific resource and research opportunities, assist students to explore healthcare careers via clinical experience arrangements, and get them set up in community and leadership roles.
The Emory Premedical Readiness Engagement Program (EmPREP) is another support group. Designed to educate and cultivate future generations of physicians historically underrepresented in medicine, EmPREP provides tips, tools, resources, and simulations designed to demystify the admissions process.
The resources are excellent for pre-health and anyone remotely involved in STEM. It is just up to students to access them when needed, but Emory’s resources are REALLY robust in comparison to some peer schools many prospective students consider.
(Source)
DETAILS
- Name: Emory University
- Location: 201 Dowman Dr, Atlanta, GA 30322
- Phone: (404) 727-6123
- Website: prehealth.emory.edu
Mercer University
| Location: | Macon, GA |
| National University Rank: | 160 |
| Average SAT score: | 1170-1340 |
| Acceptance Rate: | 74.2% |
| Tuition: | $37,808 |
| Private/Public: | Private |
| Student-faculty ratio: | 13:1 |
Aspiring doctors can join the pre-medical track at Mercer where they’re free to pursue any major but will be guided in their completion of admission prerequisites.
57% of Mercer graduates (between 2002-2019) were accepted by at least one allopathic medical school, 76% with their first application (Source).
Successful candidates went on to schools like the University of Miami Miller, Case Western Reserve, Creighton and Tulane SOM’s and more. Historically, biology majors make up the majority of the school’s accepted medical admissions, with chemistry, psychology, and humanities majors also succeeding.
Mercer is one of the oldest private colleges in Georgia and ranks #160 in National Universities. Located an hour south of Atlanta, in the quieter city of Macon, interested pre-meds will be completing their coursework on the main Macon Campus.
DETAILS
- Name: Mercer University
- Location: 1501 Mercer University Dr, Macon, GA 31207
- Phone: (800) 637-2378
- Website: aas.mercer.edu/pre-professional-tracks
Georgia State University
| Location: | Atlanta, GA |
| National University Rank: | 206 |
| Average SAT score: | 1060-1250 |
| Acceptance Rate: | 76.1% |
| Tuition: | $11,076 (in-state)/$30,114 (out-of-state) |
| Private/Public: | Public |
| Student-faculty ratio: | 26:1 |
Pre-medical is not a program at Georgia State but it has a very reputable tracking service for students wishing to apply to medical, dental, pharmacy, optometry, veterinary, and other professional medical programs.
Biology, chemistry, and psychology are common major picks among interested students.
GSU ranks #206 in National Universities. Its in-state tuition fees stand around $11,000. Its urban setting is home to just under 28,000 undergraduates.
The school offers all the required pre-medical science courses and offers to guide students through the application process.
The pre-med team offers workshops/seminars, an Annual Health Professions Fair, Fall Med Fest, and more.
DETAILS
- Name: Georgia State University
- Location: Atlanta, GA 30302
- Phone: (404) 962-3050
- Website: cas.gsu.edu/pre-medical-programs
All admissions data is taken from the American Association of Medical Colleges (Source). Ranking data is taken from U.S. News.
Final Thoughts
There are several options to choose from when it comes to choosing great pre-med schools in Georgia.
Whichever major you choose, the connections, experiences, and opportunities at these colleges will give you all you need to help put together a competitive application.
You’ll still have to put in the time of course, but you’ll have lots of support to help you along the way.
Related Questions
Is It Important To Attend A Good Pre Med School In Georgia?
Having a reputable school on your med school application can be an edge. Performing well during undergrad, at any of the colleges recommended above, is a strong indicator you’ll fit in studying medicine.
How much an individual school actually contributes to your chances of becoming a doctor is open for debate, however.
The biggest factor, in terms of competitiveness, are your GPA score, your clinical experience (shadowing, working, etc), and extracurriculars, and how well you present yourself in application essays and interviews.
To say the strength of your candidacy comes squarely down to where you studied for pre-med would be inaccurate.
How to Choose a Great Pre-Med School
In my selections above I’ve attempted to present what I feel (as a current medical student) are possibly the most important stats.
Good pre-med schools should have solid Pre-Health advising, good extracurricular opportunities, a good National University Ranking, and a small student-to-faculty ratio.
That last one helps with obtaining great letters of recommendation.
What College In Georgia Has The Best Medical Program?
The best medical school in Georgia, according to U.S. News Ranking (Source), is Emory University School of Medicine.
You’ll need an average GPA of 3.7 and an average MCAT of 514 to compete for one of its 139 places.
Other high scoring med schools in the state include:
- Augusta University – Medical College of Georgia
- Mercer University School of Medicine
- Morehouse School of Medicine
How To Improve Your Medicine Application As A Pre-Med in School in Georgia
A great way to make your med school application as competitive as possible is through extracurriculars.
In Georgia, you have a lot of clinically relevant medical/hospital volunteering opportunities to take advantage of.
These positions are organized and very useful for LOR’s, shadowing, and other important networking connections.
Check out our medical volunteering guides for Atlanta.
You can also look into relevant pre-med jobs like scribing, EMT, and phlebotomy available in the state for extra clinical experience.
Related: 3 Best Paid Jobs For Pre Med Students (That Don’t Require Experience Or Training)
What Is The Hardest/Easiest College In Georgia To Get Into?
Based on the data above, Georgia State University is probably the easiest college in Georgia to gain admission to as an aspiring doctor.
Their admission rate is the highest and their average SAT score is lower than rival colleges.
Emory is the most competitive.
What Major Should I Choose As A Pre-Med In Georgia?
The standard advice is to choose a major you feel you can do well in.
Your GPA will be possibly the biggest differentiator between you and other pre-med candidates.
Here’s what you should consider:
- How motivated you’ll be to study (choose something you’ll enjoy)
- How “suitable” you are to the subject (yo maximize your chance of a high GPA)
Something else to think about is the MCAT. Sometimes science majors can be a good fit as they’ll help you in preparation for this key med school entrance exam.
One thing is for sure though; you don’t need to be on a premed track at a Georgia-based college to get into med school.
Your GPA, your MCAT, and your extracurriculars are what really count!
Related: Why Is The MCAT So Hard? (Important Questions Answered!)
If you found this article useful, make sure you check out the rest of our pre-med guides…
Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.