The Mercer University School of Medicine interview format

Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) interviews on Zoom. According to its interview invitation page, "Each applicant will have a 30-45 minute interview with two interviewers in a Zoom breakout room." One interviewer is an Admissions Committee member who may be a basic science or clinical faculty member or a senior medical student. The AAMC's MSAR interview procedures report for the 2027 entering class describes "one 45-minute interview with two interviewers" followed by a one-hour group session with three second-year medical students, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from about 10:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Item	What Mercer and the AAMC say
Interview	One interview with two interviewers in a Zoom breakout room; Mercer says 30 to 45 minutes, the AAMC entry says 45 minutes
File	Open: both interviewers have your primary application, secondary application and letters
Second-year students	One hour with MUSM Ambassadors, Year II students, who also assess you; the AAMC entry describes a group session with three second-year students
Virtual or in person	All virtual on Zoom for 2026-27
Interview days	Tuesdays and Thursdays, about 10:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (AAMC MSAR)
PREview	Optional

The Ambassador hour matters. Mercer says Ambassadors "submit brief written comments" that go into your packet and are available to the Admissions Committee as it rates and ranks applicants. Unlike interviewers, they "do not generally have access to an applicant's record," so treat lunch as an interview with a student who knows nothing about you. If an encounter seems unfair, Mercer encourages you to tell the Admissions dean before the end of your interview day.

What Mercer doesn't publish: sample questions or a scoring rubric. The Admissions Committee has 35 voting members who see the interviewers' comments.

Mercer's 2026-27 timeline

Early Decision: AMCAS by August 3, 2026, secondary components by September 8, interviews August 18 to September 17, notification September 30.
Early Assurance: interview day October 8, notification November 23.
Regular pool: interviews begin September 24, 2026. AMCAS is due November 2, secondary components by January 12, 2027, the last day to be notified of an interview is January 25, and interviews end February 11, 2027. Mercer reviews on a rolling basis, so earlier is better.
Eligibility: Georgia residency for at least 12 months before matriculation, an MCAT percentile of at least 31, and an MCAT percentile times cumulative BCPM GPA greater than 93 to be invited to the secondary application (graduate degree holders are exempt from the GPA part). Three letters must be in before an interview invitation is considered.

What Mercer looks for

Mercer's admissions process page states its goal: "to identify, attract and enroll not only academically qualified students, but also those with a passion for the well-being of others and a commitment to the healthcare needs of rural and medically underserved areas in Georgia." It adds that residency alone "does not demonstrate a commitment to the School's mission," and that successful applicants "will generally have significant roots (e.g., residential, family, personal, professional) in Georgia." The About page says the school was established in 1982 for that purpose, and that more than 60 percent of graduates practice in Georgia, with over 80 percent of those in rural or medically underserved areas.

The same page describes a problem-based curriculum with early patient care experiences, and four-year campuses in Macon, Savannah and Columbus plus a clinical campus in Valdosta. Those details help you explain what you'd do differently as a Mercer student than at any other school.

How to prepare for Mercer's interview

Prepare your Georgia roots. Mercer asks for them explicitly. Be specific about the places, people and health needs behind your connection.
Be ready for rural and underserved care. Have a real example of seeing, volunteering or working where access to care was limited, and what you took from it.
Remember the interviewers have your file. Don't repeat your resume. Add the thought behind your choices and what you'd do next.
Treat the Ambassador hour as an assessment. Be curious, kind and honest with the second-year students. Ask real questions about problem-based learning.
Prepare for a conversation, not a script. With two interviewers in a breakout room, it is conversational. Practice answering to two people.
Apply early. Mercer says interview spots are limited and files are reviewed as they arrive.

Mercer practice questions (written by us, not Mercer)

Mercer doesn't publish its interview questions. These are ours, shaped around the school's mission. Practice each aloud for about two minutes.

What are your roots in Georgia, and how have they shaped why you want to be a doctor?
What do you think makes it hard for rural communities to keep doctors?
Tell me about a time you saw a patient or person struggle to get care. What was the barrier?
What would you want to do as a physician in a town with one clinic and few specialists?
Why a problem-based curriculum, and how do you learn best when no one tells you the answer?
Describe a time you contributed in a group where you were not the expert.
Tell me about a time you had to be honest about a hard truth.
What has been the hardest part of your path to medicine?
Which of the three Mercer campuses would you choose, and why?
If a second-year student asked you why you chose Mercer, what would you say?

For a wider set, see our interview practice questions with answers.

A drill for the Mercer interview

Pick four prompts: your Georgia roots, rural care, a barrier to care and a teamwork story.
Have two friends play the interviewers on Zoom and answer in two minutes each, speaking to both.
Do one more with a third person playing the Ambassador, with only casual questions. Notice how your tone shifts.
Ask for two follow-ups per answer: "What was your role?" and "What did you learn about the place?"
Write your closing line for "Why Mercer?" in two sentences.

If you don't have a practice partner, Confetto's AI mock interviews ask follow-up questions based on what you actually said and give rubric-based feedback afterward. The question bank has over 500 questions, and you can start with a 7-day free trial.

Mercer interview FAQ

Is the Mercer interview an MMI?

No. Mercer describes one interview with two interviewers, plus a session with second-year students.

How long is the interview?

Mercer's page says 30 to 45 minutes. The AAMC entry says 45 minutes. Plan for the longer time.

Is it virtual?

Yes. Mercer says interviews will be on Zoom for the 2026-27 cycle.

Do I have to be a Georgia resident?

Yes. Applicants need Georgia residency for at least 12 months before matriculation, and an applicant who can't claim Georgia as their legal residence can't designate Mercer in AMCAS.

Is PREview required?

No. Mercer says submitting the AAMC PREview exam is optional.

Applying to other Georgia schools too? See our guides to the University of Georgia, Medical College of Georgia, Emory and Morehouse interviews, or our medical school interview prep page.

Sources: Mercer interview invitation, Admissions process, Application deadlines, About the school, AAMC MSAR interview procedures (2027).

Confetto isn't affiliated with Mercer University. Everything here about the school comes from its public admissions pages and the AAMC MSAR report, checked in October 2026. Formats can change between cycles, so go by your invitation email.