How to Apply

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
  AMCAS APPLICATION
  EMORY SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION
  PAYMENT FORM
  LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
  MCAT TESTING
  MCAT AND GPA AVERAGES
  COURSE REQUIREMENTS
  CLINICAL EXPOSURE TO PATIENTS
  PERSONAL INTERVIEW
  TECHNICAL STANDARDS

AMCAS APPLICATION

All applicants to Emory School of Medicine must first apply through the American Medical College Application Services (AMCAS) at www.aamc.org . All information submitted on the AMCAS application will be verified and sent to all the medical schools you select. The deadline to apply through AMCAS is October 15 (one year prior to the fall semester of matriculation). It is extremely rare that deadline extensions are granted.

EMORY SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION

If you select Emory University School of Medicine on your AMCAS application, you will automatically receive information, via email, about completing the online Emory Supplemental Application. (after your AMCAS application is completed and verified). The deadline to submit the supplemental application is December 1 (prior to the fall semester of matriculation).

APPLICATION FEE

A non-refundable $100 (USD) application fee must also be included with the Emory Supplemental Application. Payment can be submitted by credit card, cashier's check, or money order. Payment of the application fee must be processed or postmarked on or before December 1. Applicants who receive a fee waiver from AMCAS will be able to select this option for the Emory Supplemental Application fee.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

If possible, all letters of recommendation for Emory medical school applicants should be sent directly to AMCAS (instructions for submitting letters to AMCAS are provided within the AMCAS application).

Applicants must submit one of the following:

• Letters and/or composite letter of recommendation from a Pre-Health advisor or Committee; OR,
• Three letters of recommendation from individual letters writers (two of which must be written by individuals who work in the sciences).

All letters of recommendation must be postmarked on or before December 1. You may send additional letters of reference, within reason, but we ask that you limit additional letters to just a few. Due to the large number of applications received each year, the Admissions Committee may not be able to read an excessive number of recommendation letters.

MCAT TESTING

All applicants must complete the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) within four years of the matriculation year AND no later than September of the year prior to the matriculation year (ex: for application to fall 2009, the MCAT must be completed between 2005 and September 2008).

MCAT score reports do not need to be sent to Emory. Your MCAT scores will be verified by AMCAS and reported to Emory.

MCAT AND GPA AVERAGES

The average cumulative GPA for enrolled students is 3.7. The average MCAT score is a 34, with at least a 11 in each of the science subtests.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants are required to complete at least 90 semester hours (or 135 quarter hours) of a balanced undergraduate education from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or Canada . Completion of the baccalaureate degree is highly preferred.

Minimum course requirements include:

Physical Science                     8 semester hours (with lab)
Biology                                    8 semester hours (with lab)
Chemistry                                8 semester hours (with lab)
Organic Chemistry                    8 semester hours (with lab)
English                                    6 semester hours
Humanities/Social Sciences     18 semester hours

Science course requirements are intended to demonstrate a sound knowledge in each of the basic science areas. We expect medical school students to have a strong foundation in these areas, prior to attending medical school. An applicant’s GPA in the sciences is carefully considered, although not weighted.

The English requirement is intended to demonstrate competency in grammar and composition at the college level. Literature courses may be used to fill the English requirement if the course was writing-intensive.

Examples of Humanities/Social Sciences courses include:

Anthropology
Art / Art History
Black Studies / African American Studies
Classical Studies
Foreign Languages
History
Journalism
Literature
Music / Music Appreciation
Philosophy
Political Science
Psychology
Religion
Sociology
Theater / Film Studies
Women’s Studies

Emory will accept some Advanced Placement (A/P) credit, as long as the credits appear on a college transcript. If you have A/P credit in any of the science areas, it is recommended that you complete an upper level course to keep your knowledge in that area strong.

If you do not plan to meet any portion of the course requirements prior to matriculation to medical school, you will be given an opportunity in the Emory Supplemental Application to explain why. Exceptions are made. They are rare, but they are made for individuals with very high grades or for those who demonstrate an exceptional aptitude in the sciences and in other areas (strong MCAT scores, published research, etc.).

The Office of Admissions is unable to grant course requirement exceptions. Exceptions to the course requirements can only be granted by the Admissions Committee and will be determined only when a completed application is submitted.

CLINICAL EXPOSURE TO PATIENTS

A strong application file will include exposure to patients and physicians in a clinical setting. Examples would include volunteering at a local hospital, clinical volunteer work abroad, or shadowing a physician. The Admissions Committee is most interested in applicants who have face-to-face experience with the patient-doctor relationship.

PERSONAL INTERVIEW

Top applicants will be invited to the Emory University campus in Atlanta for a day-long interview with members of the Admissions Committee. Interviews will include a one-on-one interview with a practicing physician, as well as a group interview that will include three applicants, two physicians, and one third or fourth year medical student.

Not all applicants are invited for an interview. It is impossible to interview all qualified applicants (approximately 12% of all applicants are invited to interview); consequently, failure to be invited for an interview should not be viewed as an indication that an applicant is unsuited for a medical career.

TECHNICAL STANDARDS

Technical Standards for Admission to and Completion of the Doctor of Medicine Degree at Emory University School of Medicine*

For successful completion of the course of study for the Doctor of Medicine degree at Emory University , the student must have certain technical and intellectual skills. In order to maintain an acceptable level of performance, the student must:

I. Be able to develop the ability to obtain a medical history and perform a thorough physical examination. These activities require that the student:

A. Communicate effectively with the patient and the patient’s family in order to obtain an adequate medical history.

B. Review records that relate to the patient’s medical history and be able to develop a medical record for the current episode that will be useful to others who care for the patient.

C. Perform the essential functions of the medical school curriculum such as performing a thorough physical examination by using the appropriate instruments and manual techniques required.

II. Be able to participate in and demonstrate an understanding of all phases of the educational program, including lectures, laboratory activities, teaching conferences, hospital rounds, and clinical duties.

III. Be able to demonstrate characteristics that suggest that the student has the ability to function in complex social, professional, and personal roles.

IV. Be able to function in delicate interpersonal relationships and manifest honesty, reliability, genuineness, warmth, and empathy.

V. Be able to control impulses and maintain good judgment even under physically and emotionally exhausting conditions.

*Developed in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.