Georgia Applicants 2009 - MCG, Emory, Morehouse, Mercer, PCOM

[Skymastre]

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Members don't see this ad.

I havent received it yet either. Does it come by mail? I am thinking about calling their office today to ask.

Have you talked to Ms. Putnam before? She is great, and should be very helpful.

 

[MsKrispyKreme]

Does Morehouse even have a secondary application? 😕

 

[Skymastre]

Does Morehouse even have a secondary application? 😕

They do. They use the same service as Mercer (or did)

Nice name, by the way.

 

[MsKrispyKreme]

They do. They use the same service as Mercer (or did)

Nice name, by the way.

😉 Thanks!

Does any one know what the essays will be? I searched and found nothing from past cycles.

 

[Skymastre]

😉 Thanks!

Does any one know what the essays will be? I searched and found nothing from past cycles.

Sometimes changes from year to year. Mercer's are all new.


This is generally coveted information and I'm not sure that you'll find too many people posting, though I remember a thread someplace where someone was trying to put all the questions from the different schools together.

I'm not sure that it is all that ethical to distribute. If someone is verified two months from now etc etc.

PM me

 

[DEdm]

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[Doctor D]

Looks like it will have to wait until Monday. I am sure that they will be going out soon though because it is T minus ~27 days until their deadline.

 

[GeorgianCMV]

Can someone console me? I got an email today from MCG saying that their admissions procesures have changed and that secondaries are completed by invitation only. I thought MCG gave secondaries to everyone. Has anyone other than an EDP applicant received an MCG secondary? Or am I getting screened out.....

 

[fahimaz7]

Can someone console me? I got an email today from MCG saying that their admissions procesures have changed and that secondaries are completed by invitation only. I thought MCG gave secondaries to everyone. Has anyone other than an EDP applicant received an MCG secondary? Or am I getting screened out.....

I received a secondary from MCG. I was completed from AMCAS around the 14th and I didn't get a secondary from them until the 27th. You have 7 days to get it back out. And just a heads up, some of the "new" features don't work and may give you a heart attack. Just use some white out and fix whatever you need to.

PS. It's defiantly not an automatic response like it has been in the past. Normally I would get the secondary before I changed the web page from the AMCAS submit. This year, it was a few weeks.

 

[GeorgianCMV]

I'm confused.

I'm worried that I'm getting screened out. I got a 26 on the MCAT on May 10th and am registered for a retake on Aug 5th. I think I was under the impression that MCG gives most everyone a secondary, especially Georgia residents. My AMCAS was processed on June 5th, and all I got was an email a few days ago from them saying that secondaries are completed by invitation only. Are they waiting until my second MCAT score comes back to give me the secondary??? I have great stats everywhere else except MCAT.

fahimaz, why do I only have 7 days left to get it out?

 

[moose21]

I'm confused.

I'm worried that I'm getting screened out. I got a 26 on the MCAT on May 10th and am registered for a retake on Aug 5th. I think I was under the impression that MCG gives most everyone a secondary, especially Georgia residents. My AMCAS was processed on June 5th, and all I got was an email a few days ago from them saying that secondaries are completed by invitation only. Are they waiting until my second MCAT score comes back to give me the secondary??? I have great stats everywhere else except MCAT.

fahimaz, why do I only have 7 days left to get it out?

When in doubt, call the admissions office. I have never encountered an office that was not willing to answer any and all questions (except Drexel, they were very rude). They are particularly helpful at MCG. Heather usually answers the phone and she can answer most questions. If not, she can direct you to someone who can.

 

[DadofDr2B]

Here's some older Mercer stuff that I have pulled together from the years of applying...

-"10-24-2004, 04:17 PM #6
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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.)"

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My school (Mercer) had a 229 step I average the last I heard. That was with 3 or 4 student scores still unreported. Not sure what the average is now.

Nearly all the students I've spoken with have had scores above average. I'm only aware of one student who took the test and scored below average.

-Unhappy student

I know for a fact our average board scores were 212 this year. First time pass rate: 89%. I think that might be lower than average for Mercer.
I'll also tell you that I was absolutely miserable the first two years. It was like a 2 year panic attack for me. I felt like the basic scientists resented us. There were a few who acted very unprofessionally to me (talked about my grades with random staff members not involved with students whatsover, verbally assaulted me during an oral exam.) If my situation had been different, as far as family, etc., I would not have come to this school. I can't say that even half of my classmates have stories like these, but a lot do. I can think of at least 14 or 15 (out of 65) classmates with whom I've conversations that do feel this way. Even graduates I've talked to almost started to cry when they talked about their first two years.

-Mercer Match list 2006

Baptist Health System Alabama 2 Internal Medicine
University of Alabama-Birmingham Alabama 1 Anesthesiology
Alabama 1 Ob/Gyn
Alabama 2 Pediatrics
U. Alabama School of Med.-Tuscaloosa Alabama 1 Internal Medicine
Alabama 1 Family Medicine


St. Vincent's Medical Center Connecticutt 1 Radiology
1

University of Florida - Shands Florida 1 Psychiatry
Florida 1 Surgery


Atlanta Medical Center Georgia 1 General Surgery
Emory University Georgia 2 Internal Medicine
Georgia 1 Radiology
Georgia 1 Psychiatry
Floyd Medical Center Georgia 2 Family Practice
Medical Center of Central GA Georgia 3 General Surgery
Georgia 4 Pediatrics
Georgia 1 Ob/Gyn
Memorial Health University Med. Center Georgia 1 Ob/Gyn
Georgia 1 Internal Medicine
Mercer University School of Medicine Georgia 3 General Surgery
Georgia 4 Pediatrics
Georgia 1 Ob/Gyn


John's Hopkins Maryland 1 Anesthesiology


Pitt County North Carolina 1 Emergency Med.
Wake Forest North Carolina 1 Internal Medicine


Greenville Hospital South Carolina 3 Internal Medicine
South Carolina 2 Pediatrics
Medical University of South Carolina South Carolina 1 Radiology
Palmetto Health South Carolina 1 Ob/Gyn
South Carolina 1 Emergency Med.
Spartanburg Regional Care South Carolina 1 Family Medicine
Trident Medical Center South Carolina 1 Transitional-MUSC


Baptist Memorial Tennessee 1 Radiology-Diagnostic
East Tennessee State Tennessee 1 Surgery
University of Tennessee-Memphis Tennessee 1 Ob/Gyn
Tennessee 1 Medicine-Preliminary
Tennessee 1 General Surgery
University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Tennessee 3 Surgery-Preliminary
Tennessee 1 Pediatrics
Vanderbilt University Tennessee 1 Anesthesiology
Tennessee 1 Pediatrics


Eastern VA Medical School Virginia 1 Pediatrics
Virginia 1 Otolarnyngology
University of Virginia Virginia 1 Internal Medicine
Virginia Commonwealth Virginia 1 Orthopaedic Surgery

So that's what I know about Mercer in a nut shell.

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Here is the match list from MCG for 2008 from the MCG web site.

http://www.mcg.edu/som/residents08.html

 

[Doctor D]

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Here is the match list from MCG for 2008 from the MCG web site.

http://www.mcg.edu/som/residents08.html

Just glancing over the list and doing a little counting here is something interesting.

Number of Students going to Family Practice: 5
Number of Students going to Surgery(gen.,neuro,ortho) 48

MCG must be a very hypercompetitive school if 25% of their class is going into surgery. I don't think I would fit in there.

 

[DadofDr2B]

Just glancing over the list and doing a little counting here is something interesting.

Number of Students going to Family Practice: 5
Number of Students going to Surgery(gen.,neuro,ortho) 48

MCG must be a very hypercompetitive school if 25% of their class is going into surgery. I don't think I would fit in there.

===========================================
Number of students going to Internal Medicine 30 and others doing transitional year, etc. 170 graduates-26 states and District of Columbia

All positions everywhere are competitive. Some very well qualified graduates from all schools end up "scrambling" for a position. You must fit the hospital's need and you must feel that the hospital fits your needs. Match Day is a tough process on everyone.

 

[Skymastre]

Still new news from Mercer here. I was compete several weeks ago. Anyone get their secondary yet?

 

[DEdm]

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[Skymastre]

I called a while ago and spoke with someone who really didn't seem to know what was going on. I forget if the deadline for EDP is august 1 or the 15th. Either way, it is getting late.

Did you use the letter service offered by AMCAS?

 

[DEdm]

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[GeorgianCMV]

I called MCG yesterday and spoke with someone who seemed sort of clueless. She said that all Georgia residents receive secondaries and that I am not getting screened out. Has anyone else heard that all GA residents receive secondaries from MCG???

 

[Doctor D]

MSAR says aug. 1 is deadline at mercer

 

[ChemGrad08]

I called MCG yesterday and spoke with someone who seemed sort of clueless. She said that all Georgia residents receive secondaries and that I am not getting screened out. Has anyone else heard that all GA residents receive secondaries from MCG???

I'm a non-GA resident and got a special notification from MCG that indicated non-residents do get screened so my guess is that that means GA-residents do not. If that weren't the case they wouldnt send out a different letter to residents and nonresidents.

 

[Skymastre]

I'm a non-GA resident and got a special notification from MCG that indicated non-residents do get screened so my guess is that that means GA-residents do not. If that weren't the case they wouldnt send out a different letter to residents and nonresidents.

Not being a resident will almost certainly put the nail in the coffin. at max mcg can take 10 out of state people. most of these are people who were originally from ga, or who will one day cure cancer

sorry bout that, good luck with the FL schools

 

[ChemGrad08]

Not being a resident will almost certainly put the nail in the coffin. at max mcg can take 10 out of state people. most of these are people who were originally from ga, or who will one day cure cancer

sorry bout that, good luck with the FL schools

My undergrad was in GA and my fiancee is a GA resident, so if accepted I would be a GA resident before matriculating. I have a pretty strong case to make for having ties to the state.

 

[Doctor D]

Still waiting on Mercer secondary... Seems kind of weird because regular applicants are already complete at some schools and I am not as an EDP applicant. 😱

 

[Skymastre]

I think I'll call tomorrow (mercer) if no word by then. I know they are working on a new application process with new secondaries, so perhaps they just haven't put the full thing together yet.

It is getting late though!

 

[fahimaz7]

I'm confused.

I'm worried that I'm getting screened out. I got a 26 on the MCAT on May 10th and am registered for a retake on Aug 5th. I think I was under the impression that MCG gives most everyone a secondary, especially Georgia residents. My AMCAS was processed on June 5th, and all I got was an email a few days ago from them saying that secondaries are completed by invitation only. Are they waiting until my second MCAT score comes back to give me the secondary??? I have great stats everywhere else except MCAT.

fahimaz, why do I only have 7 days left to get it out?

You have 7 days from when you get the secondary to have it completed and in the mail. That's what mine said.. I think... Regular applicants have until November 30th or something like that.

I'm a non-GA resident and got a special notification from MCG that indicated non-residents do get screened so my guess is that that means GA-residents do not. If that weren't the case they wouldnt send out a different letter to residents and nonresidents.

Without a GA drivers license I hear it's a harder case. I did some battling last year over my application and was told that normally you're "out of state" if you don't have a Georgia drivers license.

 

[bodonid]

Unless something has changed between last year and this, MCG sends secondaries to all residents. There is no screening until interview selection.

But alot of things have changed since last year, including interview style. For example: MCGs interviews will be open this year (or so I have heard from those still in the loop), much like interviews at Mercer.

 

[Skymastre]

Unless something has changed between last year and this, MCG sends secondaries to all residents. There is no screening until interview selection.

But alot of things have changed since last year, including interview style. For example: MCGs interviews will be open this year (or so I have heard from those still in the loop), much like interviews at Mercer.

Bodonid-Ever find it ironic that your medical school uses a skull and cross bones as its motto?

good luck in this coming year

 

[bodonid]

Bodonid-Ever find it ironic that your medical school uses a skull and cross bones as its motto?

good luck in this coming year

and you as well. I thought for sure you would be heading to Mercer this fall.

And yes, strictly speaking, that fits the definition of irony, but I still like to think of us as pirate-doctors. Or at least members of a secret society or something.

 

[Skymastre]

and you as well. I thought for sure you would be heading to Mercer this fall.

And yes, strictly speaking, that fits the definition of irony, but I still like to think of us as pirate-doctors. Or at least members of a secret society or something.

I thought I would make it last year as well-here is to the next! Are you going to pop in on the boards every once and a while?

 

[bodonid]

I thought I would make it last year as well-here is to the next! Are you going to pop in on the boards every once and a while?

most certainly. old habits die hard.

 

[Skymastre]

most certainly. old habits die hard.

excellent

Yea, I've been trying to kick crack for years now

 

[MsKrispyKreme]

excellent

Yea, I've been trying to kick crack for years now

Krispy Kreme doughnuts > crack

 

[Skymastre]

Krispy Kreme doughnuts > crack

I'm; trying to lose weight though

 

[MsKrispyKreme]

I'm; trying to lose weight though

Krispy Kreme doughnuts > no longer being bootylicious

 

[Skymastre]

Krispy Kreme doughnuts > no longer being bootylicious

ha ha

 

[fahimaz7]

Lol.. We are so staying on topic here! Personally, I like the blueberry "munchkins" that Dunkin' has. They are delicious.

 

[DEdm]

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[jonathani1]

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[fahimaz7]

Morehouse clearly rejected me based on race.

Mercer places a very high priority on rural Georgian family medicine. People who do not fit very clearly each of those categories are going to have a hard time getting in. I'd lived in Georgia for ten years, but that still made me a foreigner in their book. Worse still I didn't hail from the South, and now lived in the Atlanta metropolitan area rather than a rural county.

If you are a foreign born student, don't bother to apply to Mercer. It's a waste of time and money.

Most come from UGA, located in what is considered a rural Georgian county. Email and mail the school of your choice early and often in the application cycle. Admissions consults with your student to find out what they thought of you.

At the interview be yourself. Make a point of getting to know the other applicants. You're being observed as you sit in the office waiting for interviews. Ask lots of questions, and go out of your way to be personable. Every man/woman with whom you come in contact is a potential interviewer, whether they insist they are or not.

Hey!

I shrunk down your writing and was curious about a few of the statements that you made? The stuff that you said about Mercer seems to be a little over the top. Like most medical schools, I would think that they would be very interested in a minority applicant that could bring diversity to their student body. If you lived in GA for the past 10 years I couldn't imagine them saying that you got rejected b/c you were not "southern" enough and that your ties to the state were not sincere.

As for UGA, I'm not sure that Clarke county is a rural county. As a graduate of UGA and a former student of Georgia Southern, there is a huge difference between Clarke and Bulloch Counties (for examples). Clarke is huge and most of the students at UGA have no idea they are in a rural place considering the size and magnitude of Athens. I know I never tried to claim it as a rural place during my application. There's 40k students at UGA alone. Clarke is 18th our of 159 counties for total population in Georgia (http://factfinder.census.gov/servle...PEP_2007_EST&-_lang=en&-format=ST-2S&-_sse=on)

And finally, about the interview. Doesn't MCG state that you are NOT being evaluated by your host student, the office staff, and your tour students? If they were evaluating you, they would have to meet 20-30 students/week and write an evaluation. Now, if you told them you hated people and wanted to go into a field that could actively euthanize patients, you might have a new flag on your file.

Thanks for your input. As a repeat applicant I just saw things differently at those two schools and wanted to put in my 2-cents. Be yourself and apply where you want to. Be honest in your application essays and your interview!

 

[ashestoashes52]

Morehouse clearly rejected me based on race. I inquired as to the reason for my rejection (without interview) at Mercer. Mercer places a very high priority on rural Georgian family medicine. People who do not fit very clearly each of those categories are going to have a hard time getting in. I'd lived in Georgia for ten years, but that still made me a foreigner in their book. Worse still I didn't hail from the South, and now lived in the Atlanta metropolitan area rather than a rural county.


Check the stats for the school to which you are applying. MCG accepts most of its students early admission. Most come from UGA, located in what is considered a rural Georgian county. Email and mail the school of your choice early and often in the application cycle. They really want to know that you want to attend. A pile of thank yous and inspiring volunteer stories in your file bears weight when the committee has to prioritize students for acceptance letters.

I will be attending Mercer in the fall and have lived in Georgia for 10 years as well, in the Atlanta metropolitan area. You do not have to be from a rural area to be accepted to Mercer. You do have to express interest in working in a rural and/or underserved area of Georgia though. I have heard from several students and faculty that it doesn't matter if you are from a large city, as long as your goal as a physician matches theirs.

As far as Clarke County being rural, according to a demographic map, they are not. They are considered underserved somehow but so is Cobb County of metro Atlanta (where I'm from), so I take that with a grain of salt.

 

[fahimaz7]

As far as Clarke County being rural, according to a demographic map, they are not. They are considered underserved somehow but so is Cobb County of metro Atlanta (where I'm from), so I take that with a grain of salt.

From my understanding, "underserved" is a bit misleading. For instance, the area in Cobb might be underserved, but not in the specialty that you are looking to get in to. For instance, there might be too few ENTs and enough of every other specialty. so, if you're an ENT...great! If not, then you're out of luck for filling the void that is Mercer's mission.

The thing about Mercer is that they are unpredictable. If you have a 3.8 and a 40 with excellent volunteering and you lived in a town without a stop light, you still might not get looked at. They screen students based on what they are wanting for their school and will overlook grades and a MCAT to get the student that they want. They do it great too. Look at their board scores.

 

[godchaser1016]

Some observations from someone who was in your situation this last year...

My MCAT score was above average for Morehouse and Mercer and slightly below MCG's. My GPA was above all schools' averages. I had extensive volunteer experience and good LORs.

I applied to Mercer, Morehouse, and MCG. I was rejected without interviews at Mercer and Morehouse, and waitlisted, and then accepted at MCG (ironically the best school, and by far my first choice).

Morehouse clearly rejected me based on race. I inquired as to the reason for my rejection (without interview) at Mercer. Mercer places a very high priority on rural Georgian family medicine. People who do not fit very clearly each of those categories are going to have a hard time getting in. I'd lived in Georgia for ten years, but that still made me a foreigner in their book. Worse still I didn't hail from the South, and now lived in the Atlanta metropolitan area rather than a rural county.

MCG also is putting increasing priority on rural family medicine. Still, I felt I received a fair hearing there. When you write your secondary essays and interview at Mercer and MCG, if you are honestly able to discuss your interest in rural medicine and the great State of Georgia, do so. Priority: clinical medicine rather than research. If you are a foreign born student, don't bother to apply to Mercer. It's a waste of time and money.
Check the stats for the school to which you are applying. MCG accepts most of its students early admission. Most come from UGA, located in what is considered a rural Georgian county. Email and mail the school of your choice early and often in the application cycle. They really want to know that you want to attend. A pile of thank yous and inspiring volunteer stories in your file bears weight when the committee has to prioritize students for acceptance letters. When you interview at MCG, opt to stay the night with a student. You'll learn a lot more about the school, and the student is able to put in a good word for you. (When you eat that evening, eat out, and insist on paying for his/her meal. Leave a thank you note for the student, and email a thank you when you get home. If you feel you made a good impression, tell the Admissions people (Linda DeVaughn/Bonnie Bush) just how wonderful your student was. Admissions consults with your student to find out what they thought of you. At the interview be yourself. Make a point of getting to know the other applicants. You're being observed as you sit in the office waiting for interviews. Ask lots of questions, and go out of your way to be personable. Every man/woman with whom you come in contact is a potential interviewer, whether they insist they are or not.

Hope that helps. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. Good luck!

HAHA. Not only am I a foreign-born student, but also an immigrant from Korea in my junior year in high school. I applied to Mercer last year and got waitlisted. After I got waitlisted, I spoke to Dr. Clifton and was told that I should get a citizenship. I applied to get my citizenship sometime in May of 2008. Miraculously, I got my citizenship in June!!! (It usually takes at least a year to process.)

I just applied to Mercer EDP this year too.

From my interactions with Mary Putnam and Dr. Clifton, I don't think that Mercer is all about selecting White southerners who grew up in a farm. 🙂

If you can communicate your desire to serve the rural and underserved areas of GA, I believe that you can be accepted.

But, I do understand where Jonathan1 is coming from. If you are not from rural GA, it's that much harder for you to convince the committee that you genuinely care about serving the underserved.

 

[bodonid]

From my understanding, "underserved" is a bit misleading. For instance, the area in Cobb might be underserved, but not in the specialty that you are looking to get in to. For instance, there might be too few ENTs and enough of every other specialty. so, if you're an ENT...great! If not, then you're out of luck for filling the void that is Mercer's mission.

I'm not sure this is what their mission really means...

(Edit- no offense, of course)

 

[fahimaz7]

I'm not sure this is what their mission really means...

(Edit- no offense, of course)

Well, during both of my interviews (07, 08) their dean said that wanting to be in an "underserved" area didn't mean practicing in the smallest town in Georgia. It means that you are willing to go to where your specialty is needed. He brought up instances in which suburbia Atlanta is in need of X and Y and how you could be placed there (this was in response to the "practice to get your loans paid for" opportunity. Now, I have no idea which specialties are needed in which counties.

 

[Whatayear]

Well, during both of my interviews (07, 08) their dean said that wanting to be in an "underserved" area didn't mean practicing in the smallest town in Georgia. It means that you are willing to go to where your specialty is needed. He brought up instances in which suburbia Atlanta is in need of X and Y and how you could be placed there (this was in response to the "practice to get your loans paid for" opportunity. Now, I have no idea which specialties are needed in which counties.

Yeah they pointed out the same thing during my interview. I really think that Mercer just wants you to stay in Georgia. In fact one of my interviewers told me that, he said that the primary care mission was really no longer the main goal but that they want physicians in Georgia. I think that there are a lot of misconceptions about Mercer, many of which I believed in until I actually researched it. Going to Mercer does not mean you are going to wind up in a small southern town as the only doctor diagnosing ear infections and treating tetanus infections because those dang farmers go out in the cow field bare footed again, lol. I even told Mercer that I wanted to specialize in my essay for them. It did not stop me from being accepted a week after my interview. That tells me that either they feel they can convert me to rural medicine, or they just want doctors of any type in Georgia and are much more accepting of specialties than many people think. I really think it is the latter. Anyway that is my two cents on the whole thing, I will hopefully be able to better explain it in a little over a month.

 

[bodonid]

Well, during both of my interviews (07, 08) their dean said that wanting to be in an "underserved" area didn't mean practicing in the smallest town in Georgia. It means that you are willing to go to where your specialty is needed. He brought up instances in which suburbia Atlanta is in need of X and Y and how you could be placed there (this was in response to the "practice to get your loans paid for" opportunity. Now, I have no idea which specialties are needed in which counties.

The chronically underserved areas are the ones I think Mercer's mission is talking about, and they tend to be underserved in everything. They aren't always rural (Savannah is underserved) but many are.

And I don't think specialties come into play either. Mercer is all about improving access to healthcare, and access is the business of primary care physicians. Forgive me if I don't see a problem with the metro ATL county not having enough ENTs. Most places don't have any ENTs.

Sorry if that seems opaque, I can't figure out how to word it correctly. And as whatayear alluded to, there is a discrepancy between their mission and what they are saying. I am just talking about their mission.

 

[bodonid]

Yeah they pointed out the same thing during my interview. I really think that Mercer just wants you to stay in Georgia. In fact one of my interviewers told me that, he said that the primary care mission was really no longer the main goal but that they want physicians in Georgia. I think that there are a lot of misconceptions about Mercer, many of which I believed in until I actually researched it. Going to Mercer does not mean you are going to wind up in a small southern town as the only doctor diagnosing ear infections and treating tetanus infections because those dang farmers go out in the cow field bare footed again, lol. I even told Mercer that I wanted to specialize in my essay for them. It did not stop me from being accepted a week after my interview. That tells me that either they feel they can convert me to rural medicine, or they just want doctors of any type in Georgia and are much more accepting of specialties than many people think. I really think it is the latter. Anyway that is my two cents on the whole thing, I will hopefully be able to better explain it in a little over a month.

Yes, one guy in SAV told me point blank that they needed to change Mercer's mission to "just stay in Georgia and we'll love you forever". Not verbatim, of course 😀 But he seemed irritated when I asked about the line on the acceptance letter that "binds" (in every sense but the legal one, lol) you to one of the primary care specialties.

 

[Whatayear]

Yes, one guy in SAV told me point blank that they needed to change Mercer's mission to "just stay in Georgia and we'll love you forever". Not verbatim, of course 😀 But he seemed irritated when I asked about the line on the acceptance letter that "binds" (in every sense but the legal one, lol) you to one of the primary care specialties.

Well like I said I pretty much went in there waving a banner saying I wanted to specialize. It was literally the vast majority of my essay and they still accepted me. I thought I had blown it, lol. They did make absolute sure though that I wanted to stay in Georgia. Honestly though I would not be surprised if we did not see the mission statement change in the coming years. They may use that same language, lol. Of course who knows, I am sure that some people high up will won't to keep the primary care emphasis, but for me several people went out of there way to ensure it was not about primary care only. Watch Savannah become the specialist campus and ensue in a bitter rivalry with Macon, lol.

 

[DadofDr2B]

Yes, one guy in SAV told me point blank that they needed to change Mercer's mission to "just stay in Georgia and we'll love you forever". Not verbatim, of course 😀 But he seemed irritated when I asked about the line on the acceptance letter that "binds" (in every sense but the legal one, lol) you to one of the primary care specialties.

I find it interesting that of the 170 graduates of MCG there were 26 states and the District of Columbia represented in the match process. If you want more doctors to stay in Georgia there needs to be more resident spaces opened at the teaching hospitals. After medical school you are 26 plus years old and residency years are using some prime years for a doctor to settle into an area with marriage and children coming.

I think the residency programs would be a better place to capture additional doctors. Plus by this time they know if they are going to specialize and in what areas. JMO.

My daughter just graduated from MCG and she and 5 other MCG grads are heading to Wake. 6 doctors leaving the State of Georgia to do residency in North Carolina. It will be interesting to see how many come back to Georgia after residency.