If you already got your bachelor’s degree and are looking for some options to continue your education in the medical field, Louisiana has a few medical schools that you can apply to! And if you live there, your chances of being admitted are higher because two of the universities are public. However, since there are only three medical schools, admissions are really competitive, so prepare your application very carefully. Let’s see what your options for getting an M.D. degree in Louisiana are.
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Medical Schools in Louisiana
1. The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans (LSUHSC-NO)
Founded in 1931, the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans (LSUHSC-NO) is one of the two medical campuses that belong to the Louisiana State University System.
The M.D. degree curriculum is divided into four years. The first two years consist of foundational coursework in science and anatomy. In order to continue, students must pass Step 1 of the USMLE examination.
The third year consists of mandatory clerkships and the fourth year is a combination of mandatory and elective clerkships. Before graduating, students must pass the Step 2 of the USMLE examination to get their degrees.
Along with clinical clerkships, education at LSUHSC-NO combines lectures, conferences, seminars, diagnostic clinics, and investigation, making it one of the best places in Louisiana to become a medical doctor.
Besides the M.D. degree program, this medical school also offers joint degree programs, which are an M.D./Ph.D program and an integrated OMS/M.D. program. Along with the medical school, LSUHSC-NO has a school of nursing, a school of dentistry, and a school of public health.
LSUHSC-NO has a good number of facilities for clinical training and research. After the Hurricane Katrina, the Charity Hospital and the University Hospital were renovated because they were seriously damaged. However, renovations at Charity Hospital were stopped after a panel decided that more than the half was completely destroyed, and up to this date, it is still abandoned.
There are two learning centers where students will receive classes in small groups and have practices in cadaveric laboratories and in low-fidelity and high-fidelity simulation environments.
As a public medical school in Louisiana, they prioritize prospective students that live in the state. In 2017, the average GPA of admitted students was of 3.51, and the average MCAT score was of 508. In order to apply, you’ll have to follow the same steps as in other medical schools. However, here they have a 32-hour policy that allows applicants to get 32 or more additional hours of post-baccalaureate coursework if the GPA of the student is not competitive enough. Go explore their website to learn more about admissions and programs at LSUHSC-NO.
2. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport (LSU Health Shreveport)
Founded in 1965, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport (LSU Health Shreveport) is the other medical school that belongs to the Louisiana State University System.
Each year, around 800 students receive education at LSU Health Shreveport and 600 residents and fellows receive training. Along with the M.D. degree program, they offer some joint degree programs. These include an M.D. and Ph.D. program, an M.D. and OMS program for dental students that matched in their Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery residency, and an M.D./Ph.D in Medicine and Engineering which is taught in partnership with the Louisiana Tech University.
They are partnered with four affiliated centers where students are trained, which include the University Health, Shriners Children’s Hospital, Willis-Knighton, and the Overton Brooks Veterans Affairs Medical Center. However, clinical rotations may be done in other centers of the region.
Besides joint degree programs, they also offer a few master’s and doctorate’s programs. These include Master’s in Communication Disorders, in Physician Assistance, in Occupational Therapy, and in Public Health. As for Doctorates, these include programs in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, in Microbiology and Immunology, in Physical Therapy, in Cellular Biology and Anatomy, in Molecular and Cellular Physiology, and in Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Neuroscience.
As this is a public medical school, applicants that are Louisiana residents are prioritized. Actually, the only admit up to 10% out-of-state students. The average GPA of accepted students is of 3.7.
The application process is also done through the AMCAS platform and prospective students must take the MCAT, submit recommendation letters and explain any relevant premedical experience. Unlike most medical schools, they accept transfer students from other universities that have already completed the first two years of the program. Visit their website to learn more and decide if this the medical school for you!
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3. Tulane University School of Medicine
Founded in 1834 and located in New Orleans, the Tulane University School of Medicine is the oldest medical school in Louisiana and the 15th oldest in the U.S.
Along with the M.D. degree program, there are dual degree programs, which include an M.D. and MPH program (master’s in Public Health), an M.D. and Ph.D. program, and an M.D. and MBA (master’s in business administration). They also have accelerated program options to finish the MD/MPH program in four years, the MD/MBA in five years, and the TAP-TP program in four years, which is a program that combines a bachelor’s degree with an M.D. degree.
Additionally, they have a rural medical program and offer opportunities to study in other countries.
Tulane University School of Medicine has over 30 centers and institutes for patient care, training, and research. These are specialized in areas like hemophilia, culinary medicine, genetics, mental health, cancer, and much more!
Admissions here are highly competitive because thousands of students apply each year. For the class of 2022, there were 12,102 applicants but only 191 students were accepted.
Students have to follow the same application process that other medical schools have. They must complete the online application through the AMCAS platform, take the MCAT, submit recommendation letters, and include any relevant experiences. If competitive, students will be asked to attend an interview. Around 600 students are asked to go through interviews each year.
Although it is not mandatory, they encourage applicants to take the CASPer test, which evaluates certain personal and professional skills. They warmly welcome international students, and the application process for them is the same as for domestic students. However, they don’t accept transfer students. Visit their Tulane University School of Medicine website to discover much more about their programs and admissions!
We hope that this list of medical schools in Louisiana was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students!
