Uga Pre Med Acceptance Rate

Biology, chemistry, and psychology are common major picks among interested students.

Ga Tech vs. UGA for Pre-Med

Hello,
I’m a high school senior getting close to making my decision for college. I really wish to pursue a career as a doctor by attending Medical College of Georgia. I’m salutatorian and star student of my class, and I recently was accepted into Ga Tech and UGA. I’ve done a fair amount of research on which one to select, but I can’t seem to decide which one is my best option. If I attend Georgia Tech, then I could major in Biomedical Engineering confirming myself as an BMED engineer just in case I don’t receive admission to medical school. This method will allow me to have a back up plan as BMED is my second career choice. Also, Georgia Tech’s website states that 80% of Pre-Med students receive admission into medical school. However, from my research, I’ve found that many students state that getting a high GPA is very difficult at Tech but students tend to do much better on their MCAT. If I attend UGA, I would major in Biology. And, I have found from my research that UGA is more lenient on their grading scale than Tech. My first choice is Medical College of Georgia, but I wouldn’t mind applying elsewhere if I don’t get accepted there. Which college provides me the safer route to medical college? Thank you very much for your time and advice.

I’m No Superman

Crushin’ scones

Joined May 7, 2011 Messages 1,947 Reaction score 395

Which one is cheaper?

The “stats” that you posted do not apply to a single person. You won’t do better on the MCAT because you went to GA-tech. The classes may be more difficult then UGA, but adcoms won’t care. A 4.0 from UGA is better than a 3.6 from Georgia Tech. Also, you probably already know this, but just because you want to be a doctor doesn’t mean that you have to major in Bio/Biomed Engineering. You could major in dance and still go to med school.

Hope this helps.

Edit: I’ve also heard that majoring in engineering tends to kill your gpa. You might do well, but it will involve a lot more work than the guy/girl who majored in biology/business, and the adcoms will not care about the difficulty of your major.

Obnoxious Dad

Full Member

Joined Oct 21, 2007 Messages 1,166 Reaction score 978

Hello,
I’m a high school senior getting close to making my decision for college. I really wish to pursue a career as a doctor by attending Medical College of Georgia. I’m salutatorian and star student of my class, and I recently was accepted into Ga Tech and UGA. I’ve done a fair amount of research on which one to select, but I can’t seem to decide which one is my best option. If I attend Georgia Tech, then I could major in Biomedical Engineering confirming myself as an BMED engineer just in case I don’t receive admission to medical school. This method will allow me to have a back up plan as BMED is my second career choice. Also, Georgia Tech’s website states that 80% of Pre-Med students receive admission into medical school. However, from my research, I’ve found that many students state that getting a high GPA is very difficult at Tech but students tend to do much better on their MCAT. If I attend UGA, I would major in Biology. And, I have found from my research that UGA is more lenient on their grading scale than Tech. My first choice is Medical College of Georgia, but I wouldn’t mind applying elsewhere if I don’t get accepted there. Which college provides me the safer route to medical college? Thank you very much for your time and advice.

Here’s the unvarnished truth. Medical school admissions offices do not normalize transcripts to account for the rigor of the undregraduate college, major or course load. One third of the people admitted to medical school today did not major in the sciences.

Georgia Tech is a great institution but it will inhibit, not facilitate, your efforts to get into medical school. You will end up taking four or five semesters of calculus, calculus based physics and a boat load of other brutal classes. You will be graded by professors who do not understand that you need a 3.6 to get into Mercer let alone a 3.8 to get into MCG.

When you see these statistics about the percentage of applicants who get into medical school from various colleges, the marketing people at the colleges conveniently ignore the number of people who started out as premeds. My daughter started out at a rigorous liberal arts college where approximately 120 freshmen wanted to go to med school but only 15 eventually applied because the other 105 had already given up because their GPAs were trashed. I’m sure the admissions people at her college will happily tell prospective applicants that 90% of all applicants got in, but they won’t tell anybody about the 105 who threw in the towel.

Go to Athens. Stay sober. Major in biology. Flunk your placement exams. Start with introductory math, foreign language, chemistry and biology. Take algebra based physics. Get an “A” in everything. Participate in medically related research and extracurriculars. If you bust your hump, you’ll get into med school.

sirenomelia

Membership Revoked

If you want a superior engineering education than go to GaTech.
If you want to be around smarter caliber students than go to GaTech.
If you want to be in a redneck college town than go to Athens.
The above statements about GPA’s and degrees are FALSE. A GT student with a 3.5 in engineering is a superior candidate to a UGA guy with a 3.7 biology. They know certain degrees are harder and the gpa threshold is lower for them.
Atlanta also has many more opportunities for volunteer or research activity and Emory is right there so GaTech is a better professional option but it will be much more expensive.
Other tangible considerations:
UGA coeds>>>> GT nerd coeds
SEC basketball is laughable but football expereience is unparallel.

SavoirFaire

Full Member

It’s true; ADCOMs seem to not care much about where you went to school if your GPA suffers greatly as a result. A 4.0 at a small, private school translates to lots of med school interviews. Someone with a 2.6 from GA Tech isn’t going anywhere (except for maybe the Caribbean but they might not even get in there, lol).

Since I know many GA Tech students / alumni, I will tell you that the average GPA’s at Tech are LOW. Many 3.9-4.0 students in high school become 2.0 students at GA Tech. It’s not that Tech is “harder”; it’s that they often have poor psychometrics and intentionally try to create “difficulty” in order to create an image of prestige. “Our students are failing, we must be difficult and therefore a good school!!”

You will be tested on things that were not taught, tested in ways that does not make it easy to apply what you have learned, etc. I have seen my friends tests, homework, course outlines, etc. I do not like what goes on at this school, as I have seen intelligent people on academic probation, spending 7 years of their life getting their Bachelor’s degree. Another thing. a lot of Tech students are strange (and socially inept) to say the least. And the ratio of guys to girls is not good at Tech.

I say UGA hands down. Athens is fun, the grading system is normal, and there are a lot of beautiful girls.

Obnoxious Dad

Full Member

Joined Oct 21, 2007 Messages 1,166 Reaction score 978

If you want a superior engineering education than go to GaTech.
If you want to be around smarter caliber students than go to GaTech.
If you want to be in a redneck college town than go to Athens.
The above statements about GPA’s and degrees are FALSE. A GT student with a 3.5 in engineering is a superior candidate to a UGA guy with a 3.7 biology. They know certain degrees are harder and the gpa threshold is lower for them.
Atlanta also has many more opportunities for volunteer or research activity and Emory is right there so GaTech is a better professional option but it will be much more expensive.
Other tangible considerations:
UGA coeds>>>> GT nerd coeds
SEC basketball is laughable but football expereience is unparallel.

Doctor, would it be too much trouble for you to spell correctly?

In the eyes of a few admissions committees, such as Emory’s, you might have a better chance as a engineer from Tech with a 3.5 than you would as a biology major from UGA with a 3.7. However, the likelihood that you’ll have a 3.5 in engineering from Tech is just about zero. On the other hand if you have a 28 or 29 on the ACT or a 2000 on the SAT, a 3.7 from UGA in biology is quite feasible. If you do everything you can to avoid challenges such as honors courses, calculus based physics, etc., it’s almost easy.

The woods are full of failed premeds who thought that a prestigious undergrad would pave the way into med school. They can be found at U of Chicago, MIT, Harvey Mudd and Cal Tech. Don’t be a fool. Take the easy path.

penguinophile

MetalHead

Go wherever you will be happier. Tech is in Atlanta, has lots of nearby attractions. UGA is in Athens, seems more tightly knit (even though a large school). You are what matters, the school doesn’t matter at all. If you can get Hope, you can maintain it at UGA more easily (probably), but no matter what, just be happy. The road is long, rough, and too much of a PITA to not be as happy as possible.

jwk

CAA, ASA-PAC Contributor

Joined Apr 30, 2004 Messages 4,133 Reaction score 1,952

GT cum laude/magna cum laude/summa cum laude = 3.15/3.35/3.55.
At UGA those numbers are 3.5/3.7/3.9.

BMED at GT is one of the most difficult majors, AND will require more than 140 semester hours to complete, because in addition to all the engineering classes, you have to fit in biology, physiology, chem, and organic.

The other biggie – physics at GT is an absolute bitch. The department policy is no curve, and everyone takes the same test regardless of professor and regardless of your professor’s command of the English language or lack thereof. Many engineering majors take physics twice or more just to get the required C to stay in engineering.

UGA is tough to get into, but cake once you get there. Not so with GT, particularly in BMED.

coldfusion34

New Member

I was auto-admitted into UGA’s Honors Program. They have a 96% medical school acceptance rate. Would you guys recommend that over UGA’s normal program or GT as well?

austinblnd

Full Member

Go wherever you will be happier. Tech is in Atlanta, has lots of nearby attractions. UGA is in Athens, seems more tightly knit (even though a large school). You are what matters, the school doesn’t matter at all. If you can get Hope, you can maintain it at UGA more easily (probably), but no matter what, just be happy. The road is long, rough, and too much of a PITA to not be as happy as possible.

Potential GPA should be extremely low on your list of deciding factors. Thinking you will get a 3.5 at a certain college instead of a 3.7 at a different college should not affect your decision. In all reality, you can say you are a “star student” in high school, but you have no idea how you will adjust to college and what your GPA will be. Pick the college you want to go to and do well there. You have the ability to get into medical school from both colleges, it all just depends on the work you are willing to put in.

MCG Graduate

New Member

I read with great interest relative to your article as to whether to go to GA Tech or the University of Georgia if your goal is to go to medical school at GA Health Sciences University (MCG previous name). Incidentally I am a 1978 graduate of MCG’s School of Dentistry.

I can speak with quite a bit of authority on this subject as I hold three (yes 3) degrees from GA Tech. After dental school at MCG I went on for residency training at the University of IL in Chicago.

To begin with GA Tech is Georgia’s flagship University. It is without question the most difficult academic institution in the State of Georgia. The UGA crowd will not agree with me but it is what it is. In my classes at GA Tech the other students usually were just as intelligent as I was and many were more intelligent than I.

My undergraduate in Biology was a 3.4 and my DAT scores were 5 academic and 5 perceptual motor ability. In those days the test scale was -1 to 9. In organic chemistry I made 8/9. Later in graduate school in biology my GPA was 3.1 (I did slack off a little). My area of study was cardiovascular physiology and my Master’s Thesis was in that area of endeavor. When I matriculated at MCG 5 to 10 of us were allowed to take the physiology exemption exam. I was the only one in my class that exempted physiology as I made 70 on the exam!! So, it WAS NOT an easy exam.

My advice is the following:

a) GA Tech will give by far the best education but the grades are very hard to come by. It is light years more difficult than UGA. But, you WILL do better on the MCAT or DAT.

b) It might be better to go to a much easier school because they really don’t give you points for going to GA Tech. And too, there is a lot of prejudice against Tech in the State of Georgia. When I was at MCG I asked a professor of mine where he thought the best students came from? He said Augusta College. I asked him if he had lost his mind as this was ridiculous!!

c) Apply to as many medical schools as you can, go to the easiest school you can find that’s accredited and be sure to say you want to practice in a small town in South Georgia. Most individuals want to go to Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, Macon, or Columbus in reality. Study hard for the MCAT, take the Kaplan Course and generally practice for it as much as you can.

d) Work in a hospital, medical clinic or in health care in general as this is very important.

e) The medical admission process is not necessarily objective. Use any possible pull that you can muster. Also remember that admissions committee members tend to select those that they perceive to be like themselves. Also, keep applying and don’t give up if it takes several years to get in. DO NOT just apply to MCG!!

Best Pre-Med Schools In Georgia (Key Facts and Data) [2022]

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.

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:

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.

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:

1. How motivated you’ll be to study (choose something you’ll enjoy)
2. 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!

If you found this article useful, make sure you check out the rest of our pre-med guides…