2015-2016 Mercer University Application Thread

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can any M1s/people who got interviews/people who interviewed last year comment on their residency in GA? As in, how long they've lived here? I moved to GA a few years ago and I definitely consider it home. But I didn't grow up here, and I know Mercer prefers applicants who have lived their entire lives here. This program is my top choice though, because I want to serve in MUA's. Should I bother applying, or will it be a long shot?
 
I was born here, lived in another state for 8 years and then returned to GA, and I got an interview. So I would say show your dedication to this state and MUAs through you application and I'm sure you would have a great shot.

Edit: I've lived in GA for a total of 14 years.
 
I was born here, lived in another state for 8 years and then returned to GA, and I got an interview. So I would say show your dedication to this state and MUAs through you application and I'm sure you would have a great shot.

Edit: I've lived in GA for a total of 14 years.

Thank you for your input and congrats on the interview! Hoping for the best!
 
can any M1s/people who got interviews/people who interviewed last year comment on their residency in GA? As in, how long they've lived here? I moved to GA a few years ago and I definitely consider it home. But I didn't grow up here, and I know Mercer prefers applicants who have lived their entire lives here. This program is my top choice though, because I want to serve in MUA's. Should I bother applying, or will it be a long shot?

I've lived here my entire life, in a rural area
 
Under my application status, it has a red mark for LORs, but under the document status, it says LORs received. Did anyone else have this issue?

That's the only item keeping my application from being complete.

EDIT: It has been fixed!
 
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Yeah don't hold your breath. I submitted mine around the same time in July, and I haven't heard anything (LizzyM 71)

It's not completely impractical for studentdocftw to hope that. Both times I've applied here, I've gotten an II exactly two weeks after my completion email so maybe studentdocftw will have the same luck. I think it pretty much depends on who looks at your app and whether or not they think you fit their mission and have shown a dedication to serving others and becoming a physician. Here's hoping you get an II soon!
 
It's not completely impractical for studentdocftw to hope that. Both times I've applied here, I've gotten an II exactly two weeks after my completion email so maybe studentdocftw will have the same luck. I think it pretty much depends on who looks at your app and whether or not they think you fit their mission and have shown a dedication to serving others and becoming a physician. Here's hoping you get an II soon!

yeah I interviewed last year..was told my MCAT was too low...but improved to 91% So hope this round goes smoothly.
 
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yeah I interviewed last year..was told my MCAT was too low...but improved to 91% So hope this round goes smoothly.

I'm sure it'll help you if that's what they told you! I wish they could just accept us all. Haha.
 
I'm sure it'll help you if that's what they told you! I wish they could just accept us all. Haha.

Only caveat is last year I was interested in IM..but I've since indicated wanting to go into EM..so not sure how that's gna affect my app...but I went the honest route. haha
 
Only caveat is last year I was interested in IM..but I've since indicated wanting to go into EM..so not sure how that's gna affect my app...but I went the honest route. haha

I gotcha. Hopefully it won't affect you! They have people going into other specialties every year. Last year, I indicated I wanted to go into anesthesia. This year, I've changed my mind on that so I'm hoping that makes a difference. Just be sure you can answer why EM and what your second choice would be in an interview. I got both of those last year!
 
I've been complete since 7/13, so I'm hoping they are just going with high stat RD interviews now. I have a strong interest in peds.
 
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I've been complete since 7/13, so I'm hoping they are just going with high stat RD interviews now. I have a strong interest in peds and want to stay in GA.

They don't start RD interviews until mid-October, and all of November was left earlier when I chose my date so it's still early! I hope you hear some great news soon! Sounds like you fit their mission very well.
 
So on the secondary portal, my file was complete on 8/20, but I just now received a complete email from Mercer. Did anyone else have this long time gap from "portal complete" vs "email complete"? Or did anyone else actually receive a complete email?
 
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I got a complete email, but it was within 3-5 days of the date I submitted my secondary and was complete on the online portal. However this was earlier in the cycle, so they may now have more applications piled up. I wouldn't worry about it too much! I think you should be fine! 🙂
 
if your app is complete before October 1 then are you automatically considered for early assurance? What is the difference between early assurance and regular decision?
 
if your app is complete before October 1 then are you automatically considered for early assurance? What is the difference between early assurance and regular decision?

Not sure what early assurance is..assuming early decision?
 
if your app is complete before October 1 then are you automatically considered for early assurance? What is the difference between early assurance and regular decision?

I could be way off base here, but I know Mercer has a program for their undergrads who maintain a certain GPA and get a certain MCAT. Maybe that's early assurance? I don't think it's the same as early decision though because they have different interview dates.
 
I could be way off base here, but I know Mercer has a program for their undergrads who maintain a certain GPA and get a certain MCAT. Maybe that's early assurance? I don't think it's the same as early decision though because they have different interview dates.


That's what early assurance is
 
Hey you guys
I got an II from here a couple weeks ago, two weeks after my complete date
but my stats are really low (3.0 gpa, ~506 mcat)
i was completely surprised!!
any tips?? interview scheduled for early nov!
 
Congrats on the interview! I haven't heard about Mercer's interview, but keep in mind what their mission is. Also, it seems to be a general consensus that interviews are pretty laid back. Just be yourself and relax! 🙂
 
The interview is conversational, one open and one closed. Keep in mind, Mercer interviews around 46% of all applicants, so unlike some schools, an interview is by no means close to an acceptance.
 
The interviews are both open. However, they may choose not to read your file. My admissions committee interviewer last year, for example, was coming from the hospital and hadn't had time to read my file. As far as acceptance, Dr. Prakash has stated that last year, they received about 1200 applications. About 800 received a secondary. About 400 of those were interviewed, and they have a class size of 100. Keep in mind though that they got about 90 EDP applicants last year, interviewed about 80 of them, and accepted around 45. That's nearly half of their class. Keep in mind also that there is a lot of waitlist movement from Mercer because people get accepted elsewhere so they accept more than the 100 that attend. The chances aren't the best in the world, but you should be proud that you got an interview! It's one step closer and better than about 800 of the people who applied. Also, they are planning to increase their class size to 120 this year, but a few weeks ago, Dr. Prakash said it wasn't final. By now, it might be. Those extra 20 seats are for the Savannah campus so that will increase your chance of acceptance. Interview tips: Be yourself, dress professionally, know their mission backwards and forwards, and look up some current healthcare trends. As far as the ethics questions go, I recently spoke to Dr. Cline (who interviews people), and she said that they really want to see that you can assess all angles of the situation, and that you can make a rational decision based on that. There is no cookie-cutter correct answer. The interview day is mostly laid back, so just relax! They're just trying to get to know you.

Hey you guys
I got an II from here a couple weeks ago, two weeks after my complete date
but my stats are really low (3.0 gpa, ~506 mcat)
i was completely surprised!!
any tips?? interview scheduled for early nov!
 
But I've been submitted since 7/13, should I be concerned that I haven't heard back?
 
But I've been submitted since 7/13, should I be concerned that I haven't heard back?

Could your ECs reflect passion in urban centered research? If so, that is the complete antithesis of Mercer's mission. If your ECs are rural driven, with specific passion for primary care, then lack of feedback is a bit disconcerting.
 
But I've been submitted since 7/13, should I be concerned that I haven't heard back?

I wouldn't be concerned yet. It's still very early, and the person looking at your file might just take longer to read it and make a decision. My boyfriend got an II an entire month after I did last year, and he got in while I didn't. AND he had been complete since mid-July. I was complete early September last year because I didn't realize you had to submit the residency form. So I had a quicker turn-around in terms of getting an II, but he got accepted. While it certainly helps to get an II early, it isn't always dependent on that. Keep your chin up! This process is painfully long.
 
Could your ECs reflect passion in urban centered research? If so, that is the complete antithesis of Mercer's mission. If your ECs are rural driven, with specific passion for primary care, then lack of feedback is a bit disconcerting.
Well I want to do peds and one of my main volunteer activities was involved with underprivileged children in rural communities, so......
 
Well I want to do peds and one of my main volunteer activities was involved with underprivileged children in rural communities, so......
Also, I know this sounds strange. But double check that you put your shadowing and volunteering on your AMCAS. Last year, my friend tailored her app to Mercer and never heard back so she called. Turns out, she had completely forgotten to put her shadowing experiences on her AMCAS so they wouldn't give her an interview. Seems like a simple mistake, but it happens to the best of us.
 
Submitted Sept 1. Interviewed EDP Sept 15. Committee Meeting Sept 23 @5PM for EDP apps. Good luck to those who interviewed.
*Macon Campus
 
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