UGA

University of Georgia School of Medicine Athens, GA · Public · MD

Average MCAT: 514
Average GPA: 3.85
Class size: 64
Tuition: $63,912 (per year, nonresident)
Out-of-state applicants: Limited

Deadlines

AMCAS deadline: Oct. 15, 2026
Early Decision Program: Aug. 3, 2026
Secondary deadline: Nov. 15, 2026

Essays

Why UGA (300 words)

What draws you to the University of Georgia School of Medicine, and in what ways have your experiences prepared you to contribute to and serve communities across Georgia?

Career celebration (300 words)

Imagine you’ve reached the end of a fulfilling and impactful career. A trusted colleague or mentee is delivering a speech in your honor at a celebration of your professional life. What would you want them to say about the kind of work you did, the values you embodied, the relationships you built, and the legacy you left behind? Take this opportunity to reflect on the career you aspire to build and how you want it to be remembered.

Academic journey (300 words)

Tell us about the decisions and experiences that have defined your academic journey. This space is for you to provide context for any element of your academic history that you believe would help us better understand your path, persistence, and personal growth. For example, you may want to discuss the reasoning behind a significant change in major or a shift in academic interest, provide context for any course withdrawals or changes in your academic performance, or explain a unique academic timeline like attending multiple institutions or taking a gap year. You can also use this opportunity to describe your approach to improving a standardized test score after an initial attempt.

Reflection (300 words)

What are the core values that guide you? Describe a time when those values were challenged, either by circumstances or by encountering someone whose perspectives differed from your own. How did you respond, and what did you learn about yourself in the process? In what ways does this experience reflect how you will contribute to the UGA School of Medicine and the profession of medicine?

Reapplicant (300 words)

[REAPPLICANTS ONLY]: If you are a reapplicant, use this space to highlight aspects of your application that have changed since your last application.

Editor's notes

Be honest about where you stand on residency. Ninety-five percent of the first class came from Georgia, and the school says competitive out-of-state applicants usually bring a 511 or higher. A Georgia tie counts, and the school defines it narrowly: a Georgia college or high school, living and working in the state, or a parent there. If you have one, make it visible in the Why UGA essay.
The interview is closed. Your MMI interviewers won't have your file, so the stories in your secondary don't carry into the room. Go in ready to tell your best examples again, in about six minutes each, over Zoom.
Admissions are rolling, and the school asks for AMCAS by Sept. 1 even though the deadline is Oct. 15. For a new school with 64 seats, that early window matters. Early decision is a real option only if UGA is truly your first choice and you're near the 512 MCAT and 3.7 BCPM the school suggests.
This is a brand-new school, which cuts both ways. There's no match list and no graduates yet. You'd also be in one of its first classes, founding student groups and working with a small faculty. If that appeals to you, the essays are the place to say so.

UGA