Established in 2008, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) is a private medical school located in Pennsylvania. With four regional campuses in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Danville, and Sayre, GCSOM offers a community-based education model that puts students in contact with real patients, contributing to and serving society.
GCSOM promotes inclusion, discovery, and innovation however, it is a relatively recent school. How does Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine fare in comparison with older medical schools?
Is Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine a Good Medical School?
Yes, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine is a good medical school. Graduation rates for both the MD and the Master of Biological Sciences programs are around 95%. Students at this school are also known to perform well in the USMLE. In 2018, 97% of students taking the USMLE Step 1 exam passed it and their mean score was above the national average.
In this article, we’ll explain what else this school has to offer. We’ll cover GCSOM’s medical programs, their admission requirements, and tuition. We’ll also go over the school’s match data and available scholarships, and take a look at a few student reviews.
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Medical School Admission Requirements
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine offers a Doctor of Medicine (MD) program and a Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) program. There are currently over 680 students enrolled in this school. Let’s take a closer look at the available programs and their admission requirements.
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
The MD program is based on a Total Health Curriculum. This means that apart from an immersive education in the basic health sciences, students also acquire knowledge in six particular themes:
- Health Equity and Justice
- Health System Citizenship
- Primary Care
- Personal and Professional Development
- Community Immersion
- Population Health
The entire program is divided into three phases. The first one involves the principles of medical science and practice, the second one regards core clinical immersion, and the third one is dedicated to career differentiation and exploration.
To apply for this program, students must complete several premedical course requirements, be a US citizen or permanent resident of the United States at the time of application, and have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited US or Canadian institution. They must also submit their MCAT scores, complete required criminal background checks, and submit to drug screens.
Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS)
The Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) requires the completion of 33 credits. The program prepares students for multiple purposes including continuing graduate studies, attending professional school, and entering a health-related field.
Each student has access to custom advising, a wide variety of electives, several research opportunities, and professional development courses. This program is available on two of the four campuses and online.
Admission requirements for this program include a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited US or Canadian institution, being a US citizen or permanent resident of the United States, and completing the required coursework.
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Acceptance Rate
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine has an acceptance rate of 1.9% in the MD program. The class of 2026 had 5,992 applicants of which only 111 were accepted as new class students. This program is extremely competitive and hard to get into.
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Match Data
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students usually match with competitive residency programs, both locally and across the country. The class of 2022 was able to match specialties like dermatology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, neurosurgery, and plastic surgery. 38% of the class matched into primary care fields and 8% matched into psychiatry.
While nine students matched at Geisinger, others managed to match with highly competitive teaching hospitals like the ones associated with Johns Hopkins, Yale, and Walter Reed. Many students are also matched with leading community-based programs.
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Tuition
The cost of attendance for a year as an MD student at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine is $92,705. This total value is divided into educational expenses ($68,512) and living expenses ($24,193).
Students attending the Master of Biomedical Sciences program are charged $1,345 per credit. As previously mentioned, the program takes 33 credits to complete, which makes the total cost of attendance $44,385. MBS students are also charged a yearly student service fee ($660), a technology fee ($780), and a one-time graduation fee ($220).
Does Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Accept AP Credits?
The Master of Biomedical Sciences program accepts AP credits to fulfill some coursework requirements. Unfortunately, there’s no information regarding the MD program. It is possible that it doesn’t accept AP credits.
Does Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Offer Scholarships?
Yes, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine offers a wide variety of scholarships. Awards range between $10,000 and $60,000 per year and scholarships are usually renewable for up to four years if students maintain a good academic standing. Here are a few GCSOM scholarships:
- Appleseed Foundation Behavioral Health Scholarship. Available for third and fourth-year MD students residing in Luzerne County and interested in a residency in psychiatry.
- Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care Foundation Scholarships. This scholarship was created for students to return to Lackawanna, Luzerne, or Wyoming to practice medicine upon completing their training.
- Wilkes-Barre General Auxiliary Fund Annual Scholarship. Awarded to third-year medical students who successfully passed the USMLE test at the first try. The student also must’ve graduated from a high school in Luzerne County.
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Accreditation
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The Doctor of Medicine program is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
Is Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Good?
Yes, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine is a good school for students who want to pursue successful medical careers. Its Total Health Curriculum prepares students to become both skilled physicians as well as compassionate and caring ones that are capable of providing individualized care for their patients.
According to the US News & World Report, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine currently ranks #60 for having the most graduates practicing in rural areas, out of 161 other schools.
GCSOM is also well-known for its Abigail Geisinger Scholars Program. Each year 45 students are selected for this program. They must commit to a family medicine, internal medicine, medicine-pediatrics, or psychiatry specialization and, in return, the school covers the entire tuition and fees for the entire medical program. Students also receive a $2,000 monthly stipend.
Pros of Studying at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
- High USMLE Step scores
- Abigail Geisinger Scholars Program
- Good Match results
Cons of Studying at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
- Extremely selective
- Far from major cities
Students and Graduate Reviews of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Available student reviews of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine praise the great and supportive faculty, the immersive curriculum and professional preparation, and the comradery between fellow students.
Negative reviews focus on the fact that it is extremely hard getting into the Doctor of Medicine program at this school. GCSOM is also located far from any major cities. This means that there might not be many activities available.
