Anyone go to Mercer University?

[snoopy69]

Hey, I was just reading about Mercer Medical School in Georgia since I am a resident, and I was concerned about their methods of teaching. The problem based learning kinda sounds interesting, but I heard that there are a significant amount of students who don't pass their USMLE because they don't have the traditional training. Can anyone that goes to Mercer shed some light on this?

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[pratik7]

i am applying to mercer this year and have actually heard the opposite. Mercer averages are usually in the 220s. The dean said that they do better than MCG and emory

 

[erin682]

The dean said that they do better than MCG and emory

Funny because both Emory and MCG both said that they did better than Mercer. I'm not saying either are lying but you have to take what they say with a grain of salt. They can manipulate those numbers to sound best for them. For example, which year are they talking about or is it overall averages or do they include current trends.
As far as their teaching methods I personally feel that performance on the boards really has very little bearing on clinical performance. As long as you can pass the boards I think problem based learning is a great alternative to the more traditional approach. I wish my school did more of it.

 

[manwhoisthursdy]

Funny because both Emory and MCG both said that they did better than Mercer. I'm not saying either are lying but you have to take what they say with a grain of salt. They can manipulate those numbers to sound best for them. For example, which year are they talking about or is it overall averages or do they include current trends.
As far as their teaching methods I personally feel that performance on the boards really has very little bearing on clinical performance. As long as you can pass the boards I think problem based learning is a great alternative to the more traditional approach. I wish my school did more of it.

There's a point to that, but if you want any sort of competitive residency don't you have to do more than just "pass" the boards?! You have to be very well trained clinically (good third year grades), but you also have to show them a good standardized test score. Med schools, if they want their students to be competitive, really should prepare them for the boards *and* the wards.

 

[erin682]

but if you want any sort of competitive residency don't you have to do more than just "pass" the boards?! You have to be very well trained clinically (good third year grades), but you also have to show them a good standardized test score. Med schools, if they want their students to be competitive, really should prepare them for the boards *and* the wards.

Thats true for people trying to get the most competitive residencies but for most clinical skills are the most important aspect from what I've heard.
Plus my response was probably a little harsher sounding against the more traditional teaching of the boards than I would probably say at another time. We're just in the hardest part of our semester right now and I'm a little cynical. 🙄

 

[Lonestar]

Mercer is a good school. Dean is telling the truth. I am a Mercer grad, so I can say that yeah we had good scores (Avg 227 on Step 1 for class of 2004). If you do well on boards and clinical grades, you can go anywhere for anything (there are always exceptions). If you want competitive residencies such as Radiology, Ophthamology, Anesthesiology, Dermatology, Ortho pedic surgery, Urology, etc. you had better have execellent board scores and clinical grades. Currently doing Anesthesiology residency (with transitional intern year.) 😀

Problem based learning will be the wave of the future. People will always need lectures, but majority of the teaching will be done in systems based approach. I know that MCG is gearing its education towards that more and more every year. As far as learning goes, you get out as much as you put in. I certainly worked very hard in medschool, so Mercer was ideal for me. Every system has its inherent problems, but PBL is ideal for study of medicine. BTW Mercer has one of the sweetest 4th year schedules that I know of. Trust me, after that 3rd year, the only thing you will be thinking about is gearing up for interviews and TIME OFF. Good luck on your future endeavors.

 

[ecranda]

Hi. I am at Mercer right now. I am in the first year. Pm me with any specifics. I would be glad to answer any questions. I am a huge fan of the program. I do have to warn you that it is one of the hardest ways to learn. The amount of reading we do is CRAZY! We read about 1500 pages of material a phase, about 6 weeks. All of which you are responsible for on the exam. It is difficult, but the amount you get out is more than any other method I have tried. I feel that I remember more of the details. And we do have the highest averages in the state. Pretty good considering we have the lowest MCAT averages! The school is full of really great people. I choose to go here because everyone is incredibly friendly. It is hard, but there is plenty of support to get you through it. So, let me know any specifics.

Good Luck,
ecranda

 

[pedisurg]

I graduated mercer a few years ago and I agree with the other mercer grads posts.

The way we learn at mercer IS unique, is much harder, and requires a TON of self discipline. The way tests are taken are VERY similar to the USMLE, and because the tests are more clinically oriented and not broken down into different disclipline (NO seperate bichem test, path test, etc...) you learn to study and apply the basic science to clinical problems.

I think ONLY 2-3 people over the past 4 years have failed step 1 when I was there, and many people did VERY well.

My classes average was around 222 step 1 and 230 step 2, abouve the national average. MANY people got 230-240 and very competative residencies.

Beware, the school is a private school that is state funded. The state gives them $$ for producing PRIMARY care doctors that will serve the state of georgia. They DO NOT want you going into other specialties but primary care....but they do not hold you back if you are in and choose a different path like rads, anesth, ortho, optho, derm, etc.


I am glad I am a mercer grad, and think it prepared me well for residency.

 

[southerndoc]

I'm in a very competitive residency, and many of the attendings and nurses have told me that I'm way ahead of my other interns. I think the training at Mercer is not just the numbers, but quality clinical experiences as well. PBL, and more specifically, the case discussions of real patient scenarios does two things: it lets you apply what you learn to real patient situations, and it allows you to better understand how science relates to patient care.

PM me if you have any questions. Lonestar has already posted my class averages. I can tell you that there were plenty of 240-250's in my class, including a 260 on Step I and a 267 on Step II.

 

[triciatmd]

Hey I Am Trying To Decide Whether I Should Go To Mercer Or Mcg. I Want To Go To The Best Place That Will Help Me In The Long Run With Residency. I Think I Want To Go Into Peds But Am Not Sure And I Hear So Many People Say That Is The Last Thing On Their List Now. I Worry That Mcg's Prestige Is Greater Than Mercer's. Do You Think That Going To Mercer Could Ever Hurt With Respect To Residency?