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Begin Your Journey to Medicine at Mercer
A career in medicine begins with a strong academic foundation, meaningful service, and a commitment to improving the lives of others. Mercer University’s Medical Scholars programs offer high-achieving Georgia students an opportunity to begin that journey as undergraduates while preparing for admission to the Mercer University School of Medicine.
Developed through a partnership between Mercer’s undergraduate programs and the School of Medicine, these selective pathways connect exceptional students with one of Georgia’s leading medical schools while supporting the School of Medicine’s mission to meet the primary care and healthcare needs of rural Georgia. Learn more about the School of Medicine’s mission here.
Whether pursuing a traditional undergraduate experience or an accelerated path to medical school, students benefit from rigorous academics, faculty mentorship, early engagement with the School of Medicine, and a community committed to preparing compassionate physician leaders.
Two Pathways. One Goal.
Mercer offers two distinct pathways to the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. Both programs provide a clear route from undergraduate study to the Mercer University School of Medicine while allowing students to build the academic, clinical, and service experiences essential for a career in medicine.
Mercer Medical Scholars |
Accelerated Mercer Medical Scholars |
|---|---|
| Timeline: 4 years undergraduate + 4 years medical school (8 years total) | Timeline: 3 years undergraduate + 4 years medical school (7 years total) |
| MCAT required for admission to Mercer’s School of Medicine | No MCAT required for students who successfully meet all program requirements |
| Apply to the School of Medicine through the AMCAS Early Decision Program following the junior year | Apply through the AMCAS Early Decision Program following the sophomore year |
| Bachelor’s degree awarded before medical school begins | Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences awarded after successful completion of the first year of medical school. |
Mercer Medical Scholars
The Mercer Medical Scholars Program combines the breadth of a traditional undergraduate experience with a structured pathway toward the Mercer University School of Medicine. Students have the flexibility to pursue an eligible undergraduate major while building the academic preparation, leadership experience, and commitment to service expected of future physicians.
Why Choose Mercer Medical Scholars
- Traditional four-year undergraduate experience
- Complete an eligible bachelor’s degree before entering medical school
- Early engagement with Mercer University School of Medicine
- Faculty mentorship and advising throughout the undergraduate experience
- Interview waived upon successful completion of all program requirements
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Have maintained Georgia residency prior to enrolling at Mercer
- Be admitted for fall enrollment to an eligible undergraduate program on Mercer’s Macon campus
- Submit two confidential letters of recommendation, including one from a science or mathematics teacher and one character reference
Maintaining the Pathway
Students remain eligible by meeting published academic standards, completing required science coursework at Mercer, participating in School of Medicine programming, engaging in meaningful service or community-based research, earning qualifying MCAT scores, and applying through the AMCAS Early Decision Program.
Accelerated Mercer Medical Scholars
The Accelerated Mercer Medical Scholars Program is designed for students ready to pursue an intensive academic pathway to medicine. Participants complete undergraduate requirements in three years before beginning medical school, reducing the time required to earn both degrees while remaining fully engaged in Mercer’s undergraduate community.
Why Choose Accelerated Mercer Medical Scholars
- Complete undergraduate and medical degrees in seven years
- Begin medical school one year earlier
- No MCAT required for students who successfully satisfy program requirements
- Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences awarded after the first year of medical school
- Interview waived upon successful completion of all program requirements
Eligibility
Applicants must:
-
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Have maintained Georgia residency prior to enrolling at Mercer
- Be admitted to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for fall enrollment
- Demonstrate readiness for Calculus I
- Submit two confidential letters of recommendation, including one from a science or mathematics teacher and one character reference
Maintaining the Pathway
Students complete an accelerated undergraduate curriculum while maintaining a 3.5 GPA, fulfilling required service experiences, participating in School of Medicine programming, and applying through the AMCAS Early Decision Program after the second undergraduate year. Students who successfully meet all program requirements apply without submitting an MCAT score.
Application Information
- The application for Mercer’s Medical Scholars Program consists of three parts. In addition to the three-part application, students must also provide two reference letters and an official form of identification.
- Access your Mercer status portal after Early Action decisions have been released to find more details and instructions for submission. The deadline for submitting your complete application is mid-January.
- Incomplete applications will not be considered. Incoming college freshmen who have not gone through this application process before registering for freshman year are not eligible to apply to this program.
- Complete applications submitted by the deadline are subject to screening by the M.D. Program Admissions Committee before a decision to invite applicants to an interview is made. The Admissions Committee invites up to 60 applicants to an interview at Mercer University School of Medicine as a step toward further consideration.
- Applicants invited to an interview will be notified by email at the end of January.
- Interviews will be held at the beginning of February. A successful interview at Mercer University School of Medicine is required for acceptance into the Mercer Medical Scholars Program.
- Applicants who are accepted by the Admissions Committee will be notified the following month. The Admissions Committee typically accepts an additional ten applicants to an alternate (wait) list, and these applicants will also be notified at that time.
Dates are subject to change. For the most up-to-date and accurate dates, be sure to monitor your email inbox. Criteria for admission are reviewed by the Admissions Committee on an annual basis and any revisions will be published on this page reasonably in advance.
Requirements
For program-specific requirements, refer to the course catalog.