Emory Hospital's Unique Approach To Medical Education

The Emory University School of Medicine is a prestigious medical school located in Atlanta, Georgia, with a history that predates the Civil War. With a competitive admissions process, Emory seeks applicants with strong academic credentials, MCAT scores, and unique personal experiences. The school offers a full-time Doctor of Medicine degree program, Masters programs in Anesthesiology and Genetic Counseling, and degrees in Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant training. Emory's curriculum emphasizes clinical exposure from the first week of classes, with rotations in outpatient clinics and community centers. The school also provides scholarships and financial aid to support its students.

Application process

The Emory School of Medicine is a competitive school, with only 138 spots for new first-year medical students in their MD program. The application process is rigorous and comprehensive, assessing applicants on a range of criteria to ensure they meet the school's high standards. Here is a detailed overview of the application process:

Application Requirements:

To initiate the application process, applicants must submit their applications through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). The application season typically begins in early May, with a deadline of October 15 for submission. It is advantageous to apply as early as possible, as it increases the chances of being invited for an interview.

Academic Prerequisites:

Emory School of Medicine requires applicants to have completed certain undergraduate prerequisites. These include specific math and science courses, such as biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics, with labs. Applicants are expected to have a strong academic record, with a minimum GPA of 3.7, and a competitive MCAT score (a recent average of 515). International applicants must complete their science requirements at accredited universities in the US or Canada.

Standardized Tests:

All applicants are required to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and meet a minimum score requirement. For the 2025-2026 application cycle, Emory has specified an overall MCAT score requirement of 502 or higher, with a minimum score of 124 on each section. Additionally, applicants must meet the minimum score requirements on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Clinical Experience:

Emory values clinical experience, and applicants are encouraged to pursue patient interaction through volunteer or paid work. This can include physical therapy experience or patient care in a supportive counselling role. For certain programs, such as the master's in public health, applicants must submit letters of reference, a resume, and a personal statement.

Interviews:

The interview season typically runs from September through late February. Selected applicants will be invited for interviews, which are a critical part of the process. Interviews are conducted virtually via Zoom, and applicants participate in both group and one-on-one interviews with Emory faculty members. During the interview, applicants are assessed on various personal characteristics, including communication skills, empathy, critical thinking, and maturity.

Acceptance:

Following the interviews, the Admissions Committee meets monthly from October to February to review applications. If accepted, applicants are notified via regular mail and are given two weeks to confirm their spot in the incoming class.

The Emory School of Medicine takes a holistic approach to admissions, considering applicants' academic records, test scores, clinical experience, and personal characteristics. The application process is designed to identify candidates who demonstrate a well-rounded set of skills and a strong fit with the school's values and standards.

Tuition fees and scholarships

The tuition fees for the Physician Assistant Studies Program at Emory & Henry vary depending on the year of the program. For example, the total tuition fee for the first year of the MPAS program (3 semesters) is $41,100, while the total tuition for the second year is also $41,100. The third year of the program, consisting of 1 semester, costs $13,700, bringing the total tuition for the entire 27-month MPAS program to $95,900. In addition to tuition, students are required to pay a technology fee, parking fee, activity fee, and various insurance fees.

Students at Emory & Henry can expect to pay an average of $417.95 in monthly health insurance expenses, though this can range from $0 to $3,000. Additionally, students are required to have their own Windows or MacOS X laptop, with an estimated cost of $800. They must also purchase navy blue scrubs and a long white lab coat for skills labs and anatomy labs.

Emory School of Medicine offers various forms of financial aid to its students, including scholarships and loans. All accepted students, regardless of citizenship or DACA status, are eligible for merit-based scholarships, and PhD students can apply for Woodruff Fellowships, which cover full tuition and provide a stipend for a four-year study period. Emory also offers its own loan programs, such as the Emory Clinic Medical Loan and the Medical School Dean’s Loan, and encourages students to explore institutional and federal aid options before turning to private loans.

Furthermore, Emory medical students and recent MD graduates who choose a primary care career in Georgia may be eligible for The Kathelen and Dan Amos Medical Student Loan Forgiveness Program, which offers annual awards of up to $40,000, with a maximum award of $160,000. The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) also provides scholarships and loan repayment opportunities to physician assistants, physicians, and other healthcare professionals committed to serving underserved communities.

Interview requirements

A personal interview is required for acceptance into Emory School of Medicine. Due to the high volume of applications received from exceptional candidates each year, not all qualified applicants will be offered an interview. Emory School of Medicine conducts interviews from September through February, with invitations extended from August until late February. The order in which applicants are interviewed is largely based on how early the application is completed.

Interviews generally take place on the Zoom platform and aim to assess candidates in several areas, including their personal characteristics, motivations, and suitability for the profession of medicine. Competitive applicants will present a superb level of scholarship and strong MCAT scores.

Interview questions may include:

• How do you plan to take care of your emotional/personal needs with such strenuous demands while pursuing medicine?
• If aliens came to Earth and you could only take them to one place to show them why they should spare the Earth from destruction, where would you take them?
• In your opinion, how will the next election change the healthcare system and health insurance for all Americans?
• Describe a time you have shadowed a doctor or came in contact with patients.
• How will you build a sense of community with patients who don’t share your background?

Additionally, candidates may be asked to walk the interviewer through their formal post-secondary education and any on-the-job training. They may also be asked about their expectations regarding compensation. Emory Healthcare places a strict emphasis on cost-saving measures to serve their patients better and fulfil their mission. Thus, candidates may be asked about their involvement in any cost-saving initiatives and their daily measures to ensure that cost and resources are a priority in their work.

Curriculum and clinical rotations

The Emory University School of Medicine offers a full-time Doctor of Medicine degree program, as well as Masters programs in Anesthesiology and Genetic Counseling, degrees in Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant training, joint degree programs with other Emory graduate divisions, graduate medical education, and continuing medical education. The school has a unique curriculum that incorporates a five-week-long shadowing experience called the "Week on the Wards", where students gain clinical exposure in outpatient clinics and community centers from the first week of classes.

During the second year of medical school, students continue their longitudinal clerkships alongside their clinical rotations. In their third year, students undertake a scholarly project after finishing one year of rotations. Emory has partnerships with dozens of community-based organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with which several students are involved in projects related to infectious diseases.

In the fourth year of medical school, students have several weeks of clinical electives, a required Emergency Medicine elective, a mandatory four-week sub-internship, and four weeks of critical care. All students then spend four weeks in a capstone course, which prepares them for residency.

Emory Medical School students are taught to see medicine as a means to address social justice issues and promote the well-being of patients and their families. The school's many scientific partnerships have allowed it to train physicians who can detect, treat, and prevent diseases in local and global communities.

History and rankings

The Emory University School of Medicine is the graduate medical school of Emory University. The school is located on the university's main campus in the Druid Hills neighbourhood of Atlanta, Georgia. The school was established in 1915 after the Atlanta Medical College (founded 1854), the Southern Medical College (1878), and the Atlanta School of Medicine (founded 1905) merged. The history of the school predates the Civil War, and it has put Atlanta on the map as a place for medical innovation and discovery.

The school offers a full-time Doctor of Medicine degree program, Masters programs in Anesthesiology and Genetic Counseling, degrees in Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant training, joint degree programs with other Emory graduate divisions, graduate medical education, and continuing medical education. The school has many scientific partnerships, including one with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and has trained physicians to detect, treat, and prevent diseases in local and global communities. Emory also has partnerships with dozens of community-based organisations.

The Emory Medical School rankings—Tier 1 in Research and Tier 3 in Primary Care by U.S. News and World Report—make it the best medical school in Georgia. Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed the School of Medicine at #32 in the world for Clinical/Pre-clinical and Health in its 2019 rankings list. For the 2024–2025 academic year, tuition at Emory Medical School is $55,700 per year. Room, board, transportation, supplies, and additional indirect costs bring the total cost of attendance to approximately $104,300. Emory offers nearly 70 institutional scholarships to its students, some based on financial need and others on merit and community service.

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