Admissions Process

Only U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents will be considered for admission into the MD program. An applicant who is not a citizen must provide verification of permanent resident status (e.g., copy of Green Card) on the secondary application to complete the application.

Verification of Lawful Presence

All admitted applicants must submit verification of lawful presence. Verification will be collected on the secondary application. Click here for more information.

Required Prerequisites

Below is the list of prerequisite college courses required for admission:

• Biology: One academic year with lab
• Physics: One academic year with lab
• Inorganic chemistry: One academic year with lab
• Organic chemistry: One semester with lab or two quarters with lab
• English: One academic year (e.g., composition, literature). A humanities course may be used to meet one semester of this requirement.
• Humanities: One course (e.g. gender studies, history, philosophy, religion, or similar)
• Statistics/biostatistics: One course

One academic year is two semesters or three quarters. Advanced Placement (AP), pass/fail, or credit/no credit course credits granted by the applicant’s undergraduate institution will be considered acceptable for meeting the above required courses. Courses with an online format will also be considered acceptable, but in-person courses are strongly recommended.

All prerequisite coursework must be completed at a regionally accredited institution in the United States or Canada. International coursework (defined below), including credits earned at foreign institutions, will not be accepted to fulfill prerequisite requirements and will not be included in AMCAS GPA calculations unless accepted as transfer credit and appearing on an official transcript from a U.S. or Canadian institution.

Recommended Coursework

Beyond the required coursework, the following college courses are recommended for prospective applicants. Students are encouraged to complete courses that prepare them for medical school, the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), and broaden their worldview.

• Anatomy & physiology
• Biochemistry
• Cellular biology
• Foreign language (Spanish highly recommended)
• Genetics
• Immunology
• Microbiology
• Social science (e.g., psychology)

Secondary application

A secondary application is required for applicants who meet the screening requirements of a minimum BCPM (biology, chemistry, physics, math) GPA of 3.0 and a minimum MCAT score of 502.

Required exams

• Fall 2026 cycle: MCAT taken anytime in 2023 through January 2026
• CASper and Preview are not required.

All applicants must apply through AMCAS. Upon receipt of the primary application (AMCAS), each applicant who meets the preliminary screening requirements is invited to complete the UGA School of Medicine application. As a state medical school with a mission-aligned admissions process, the UGA School of Medicine prioritizes Georgia residents or those with a tie to Georgia.

Preliminary Screening Requirements for UGA School of Medicine Application

• 3.0 AMCAS BCPM GPA or higher
• 502 MCAT or higher

Tie to Georgia

The Admissions Committee considers any non-resident applicant to have a tie to Georgia if they meet any of the following criteria:

• Applicant is a graduate or will graduate from a Georgia four-year college or university
• Applicant currently resides and works in Georgia
• Parent/guardian resides in Georgia
• Applicant graduated from a Georgia high school

A complete application includes the following:

• AMCAS application
• UGA SOM secondary application with $75 application fee (or fee waiver)
• MCAT exam (taken within the past three years)
• Letters of recommendation (3-5)
• Proof of official permanent residency status, if not a U.S. citizen
• Completion (or imminent completion prior to matriculation) of a baccalaureate degree
• Completion (or imminent completion prior to matriculation) of the required prerequisite courses

When a candidate’s application file is completed, the file is reviewed by the Office of Admissions and the Admissions Committee for a decision on the next step. At that time, applicants may be selected to interview.

Applicants invited to interview will participate in a virtual, closed Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Process. The MMIs will take place via Zoom, and applicants will rotate through six stations. Each station will be eight minutes—two minutes for reviewing the prompt and six minutes for responding to an interviewer.

Preparing for Interviews

• Practice. There are many videos and examples available to watch on MMIs to prepare. Look into scheduling a mock MMI with a pre-med advisor or career consultant. It is highly recommended applicants conduct a mock interview, if possible.
• Attire is business professional.
• Be yourself. We want to get to know you to see if we are a good fit for you and vice versa.
• Take care of yourself. Try to get plenty of rest before your interview and eat something nourishing. Have water on hand during the interview.
• Limit distractions. Have other tabs closed on your computer, your phone on silent, and conduct your interview in a quiet space.
• Familiarize yourself with Zoom. Best practices include:
  • Use a neutral background that does not blend in with what you are wearing.
  • Practice with your camera and audio in advance.
  • Ensure you have a strong internet connection.
  • Ensure you have adequate lighting.

Decisions are made on a rolling basis.

What is a secondary or supplemental application? It is common to see “supplemental” and “secondary” application used interchangeably. The primary application submitted through AMCAS provides schools with important information regarding academics, biographical information, and experiences. While this information is necessary, most schools are interested in understanding why an applicant wants to study medicine with them specifically. The secondary application allows schools to tailor questions to learn more about how an applicant aligns with their mission and community. The secondary application questions for applicants applying for the 2026 cycle are listed below. 

The secondary application is $75 unless using the fee waiver.

The essay questions we will require on the secondary application for the 2026 matriculants’ cycle include:

• Career Celebration (250 words):
  • Imagine you’ve reached the end of a fulfilling and impactful career. A trusted colleague or mentee is delivering a speech in your honor at a celebration of your professional life. What would you want them to say about the kind of work you did, the values you embodied, the relationships you built, and the legacy you left behind? Take this opportunity to reflect on the career you aspire to build and how you want it to be remembered.
• Academic Journey (250 words):
  • Tell us about the decisions and experiences that have defined your academic journey. This space is for you to provide context for any element of your academic history that you believe would help us better understand your path, persistence, and personal growth. For example, you may want to discuss the reasoning behind a significant change in major or a shift in academic interest, provide context for any course withdrawals or changes in your academic performance, or explain a unique academic timeline like attending multiple institutions or taking a gap year. You can also use this opportunity to describe your approach to improving a standardized test score after an initial attempt.
• Application Updates (250 words):
  • Since submitting your AMCAS application, have there been any updates to your activities, achievements, or honors that you would like to share? This may include new roles, activities, research, publications, awards, or other meaningful experiences not previously included. Feel free to elaborate on any accomplishments that reflect your continued growth and commitment to a career in medicine.
• Reflection (500 words):
  • What are the core values that guide you? Describe a time when those values were challenged, either by circumstances or by encountering someone whose perspectives differed from your own. How did you respond, and what did you learn about yourself in the process? In what ways does this experience reflect how you will contribute to the UGA School of Medicine and the profession of medicine?