Admissions Requirements | Doctor of Medicine

Below you'll find information on requirements for applying to Morehouse School of Medicine Doctor of Medicine program. The section includes a list of required coursework, evaluation of foreign studies, the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), letters of recommendation, and applying as an early decision applicant. If you click the following links, you can also find information on our Admissions process, class data, things to do before you start medical school, FAQs, and our contact us page.

Baccalaureate Degree/Undergraduate Coursework

Completion of the baccalaureate degree or the equivalent from an accredited undergraduate institution in the U.S. is required for admission to the M.D. program.

The education of a physician is lifelong. The years of formal schooling are only preparation for the self-education that a physician must continue throughout his/her professional life. Applicants are encouraged to have a broad educational background; no specific major is deemed superior to another. A major goal of undergraduate college work should be the development of the applicant's intellectual talents and to provide for his/her overall development and maturation. The premedical studies required for admission are set in order to provide the student with a firm grounding in subjects considered essential for the study of medical sciences, while providing the Admissions Committee a means to evaluate aptitude for scientific work, and to determine interest in the sciences.

 The Admissions Committee prefers that the required premedical courses not be taken on a Pass/Fail basis, but that letter grades are received. It is also preferred that course work is taken in a classroom setting. An accepted student is responsible for completing all prerequisite course work prior to matriculation. It is understood that a student accepted by the school will be denied admission if he/she fails to complete all specifically required courses and to maintain a good record of scholastic performance and conduct leading up to matriculation.

The following courses must be included in undergraduate study (Note: No online science courses, however, online math courses and AP courses are accepted only if displayed on your academic transcript from your undergraduate institution.):

  • Biology with laboratory (1 year)
  • General Chemistry with laboratory (1 year)
  • Organic Chemistry with laboratory (1 year)
  • Physics with laboratory (1 year)
  • College-level Mathematics (1 year)
  • English including composition (1 year)

It is imperative that applicants have the experience of shadowing a physician. There is no set designation of time, but having a good understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a physician is extremely important.

Evaluation of Foreign Studies

Applicants who have completed coursework or hold a bachelor's or advanced degree from an institution of higher learning outside the United Stated must have their transcript(s) certified for equivalency to U.S. degrees or coursework by a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Applicants who have completed coursework or hold degrees from, a postsecondary institution in Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, or the United Kingdom will normally not need to have their academic transcripts evaluated and certified for equivalency.

Any applicant seeking transfer of credits from an institution outside the United States into a MSM program must have a course-by-course evaluation of relevant transcripts completed by a member of NACES. Applicants are encouraged to have a broad educational background, yet no specific major is deemed superior to another.

Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) 

All applicants are required to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Applications and information about the test may be obtained from the website http://www.aamc.org/. Students are emailed a secondary application by invitation only. MCAT scores are received from AMCAS along with the application. 

MCAT Scores that are over three years old from entering class will not be considered. Results of the test must be received by MSM before an applicant can be completely be evaluated by the Admissions Committee. Applicants are strongly urged to take the test in the Spring of the calendar year proceeding the year of entrance into medical school, so that the score can be considered earlier and the test can be taken again in the Fall if improvements in performance are desired. 

Letters of Recommendation

If possible, all letters of recommendation for MSM 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 letter writers (two letter from science professors are required).
  • Additional letters of reference may also be provided to AMCAS.

Once all supplementary materials are received and the application is complete, the applicant's admission credentials are reviewed and evaluated. Selected applicants are invited for a personal interview. Following the interview, final decisions are made by the Committee on Admissions.

Early Decision Applicants 

This is an optional program for the applicant whose first-choice school of medicine is MSM and who desires an admission decision based on his/her application no later than October 1st. To receive this special consideration the applicant must:

  1. Apply only to MSM prior to receiving its admission decision.
  2. Applicants must be Georgia residents currently enrolled as seniors or graduates of an accredited regional university or college in the United States. Students must receive a baccalaureate degree before August of the year they are to enter medical school
  3. Present an academic program of a minimum of 90 semester/135 quarter hours that indicates completion, or plans for completion, of all courses required for admission.
  4. Have a superior academic record and correspondingly strong scores on the MCAT. The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) must be taken no later than the spring of the year students are applying.
  5. Submit all required credentials to AMCAS by August 1.
  6. If invited, appear for a personal interview on a mutually convenient date prior to October 1.
  7. Accept a position in the class, if offered one. The AMCAS Application for Admission contains complete instructions regarding Early Decision program.