If you already have a bachelor’s degree and are looking for 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 universities are public. However, since there are only three medical schools, admissions are very competitive, so prepare your application very carefully.
So, read the article carefully, and let’s examine your options for getting a doctor of medicine or M.D. degree in Louisiana.
Top Medical Schools in Louisiana
1. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Founded in 1931, the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans 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. To continue, students must pass Step 1 of the USMLE. After that, the third year consists of mandatory clerkships and the fourth year combines mandatory and elective clerkships. Before graduating, students must pass Step 2 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, including an M.D./Ph.D. program and an integrated OMS/M.D. program. In addition to the medical school, LSUHSC-NO has a School of Nursing, a School of Dentistry, and a School of Public Health. It also has a good number of facilities for clinical training and research.
After 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 half was utterly destroyed, and up to this date, it is still abandoned. There are two learning centers where students will receive classes in small groups and practice in cadaveric laboratories and low-fidelity and high-fidelity simulation environments.
As a public medical school in Louisiana, it prioritizes prospective students living there. In 2017, the average GPA of admitted students was 3.51, and the average MCAT score was 508. You’ll have to follow the same steps as in other medical schools to apply. However, they have a 32-hour policy that allows applicants to get 32 or more hours of post-baccalaureate coursework if the student’s GPA is not competitive enough.
2. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center – Shreveport
Founded in 1965, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport is the other medical school in the Louisiana State University System. Over 1,000 students attend this medical school annually, and more than 600 residents and fellows receive training. It’s partnered with four affiliated centers where students are trained, including 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 in the region.
Along with the M.D. degree program, LSU Health Shreveport offers some joint degree programs. These include an M.D. and Ph.D. program, an M.D. and OMS program for dental students who match their oral and maxillofacial surgery residency, and an M.D./Ph.D. in Medicine and Engineering, taught with Louisiana Tech University. Besides joint degree programs, it also offers a few master’s and doctorate programs.
These include master’s degrees in communication disorders, physician assistance, occupational therapy, and public health. Meanwhile, Ph.D. programs include biochemistry & molecular biology, microbiology and immunology, physical therapy, cellular biology and anatomy, molecular and cellular physiology, pharmacology, toxicology, and neuroscience.
As this is a public institution, applicants who are Louisiana residents are prioritized. Actually, they only admit up to 10% out-of-state students. The average GPA of accepted students is 3.6 to 3.7. The application process is also done through the AMCAS platform. 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 who have already completed the first two years of the program.
3. Tulane University
Founded in 1834 and located in New Orleans, Tulane University’s 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 (Master’s in Public Health) program, an M.D. and Ph.D. program, and an M.D. and MBA (Master’s in Business Administration) program.
They also have accelerated program options to finish the M.D./MPH program in four years, the M.D./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’s 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 2022 class, there were 12,102 applicants, but only 191 students were accepted. Students must follow the same application process as other medical schools.
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 not mandatory, they also encourage applicants to take the CASPer test, which evaluates specific personal and professional skills. They warmly welcome international students, and their application process is the same as that of domestic students. However, they don’t accept transfer students.
Local and international students may expect a well-rounded education in a fast-paced hospital setting while studying medicine in Louisiana. Because of the cutting-edge medical facilities from different schools like Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center or Tulane University, aspiring medical students can obtain practical experience in many other fields, making it an attractive destination for aspiring medical professionals.
We hope this list of medical schools in Louisiana was helpful. Make sure to check out our Study in the USA Page and the Available Programs for International Students in the USA for more information about studying in the United States!
