November 4, 2025
Written By
Michael Minh Le
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Every year, thousands of hopefuls search for one number that seems to dictate their entire future: acceptance rates. If you’re here to learn the LSU Medical School acceptance rate, you're probably asking yourself: how hard is it to actually get in? Am I competitive enough?
In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the LSU Medical School acceptance rate for 2025. You’ll get a campus-by-campus overview, learn what GPA and MCAT you’ll need to be competitive, understand LSU’s unique application expectations, and find out what makes their program stand out. We’ll also guide you through each step of the application process, from personal statements to interviews.
And if you’re really serious about getting into LSU or any med school, you can’t rely on averages and advice from strangers on Reddit. The real game-changer? Seeing full applications that actually worked. At Premed Catalyst, our free Application Database gives you access to 8 real AMCAS applications that earned acceptances to top medical schools. See what worked and reverse engineer it.
Get your free resource here.
Louisiana State University’s medical education system is unique in that it spans two major campuses: LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans and LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport.
Both operate under the LSU system and share a commitment to training physicians for Louisiana and beyond. That said, each campus offers distinct experiences, facilities, and community connections.
While the admissions process is centralized, applicants can express campus preference, and acceptance offers may specify one or both locations.
For the 2024–2025 application cycle, LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans received 3,359 applications. Out of those, just 196 students matriculated.
That puts the LSU Medical School acceptance rate at roughly 5.84%.
Compared to some of the ultra-competitive private med schools, that number might look forgiving. But don’t be fooled. LSU Med is still highly selective, and being an in-state applicant definitely helps. Roughly 90% of matriculants are Louisiana residents, so if you're applying from out of state, know that your odds are pretty slim.
Let’s break down the stats:
Nationally, the average GPA for med school matriculants is around 3.84, and the average MCAT hovers near 511. That means LSU’s accepted students are about on par with national trends.
That being said, LSU doesn’t list any minimum GPA or MCAT cutoffs. But realistically? You’ll want your numbers close to or above those averages. A GPA under 3.5 or an MCAT under 505 will make your path a lot tougher.
To apply to LSU Med, you’ll need to meet these minimum academic prerequisites:
In addition, here’s what else LSU Med expects:
International applicants (non‑U.S./Canadian institutions) are not accepted for this program.
LSU Health Sciences Center offers one of the more affordable paths to becoming a physician, especially for Louisiana residents.
These figures include mandatory fees but exclude the cost of living, books, and equipment.
LSU Health offers a range of need-based and merit-based scholarships, many of which are automatically considered when you apply. Examples include:
Federal financial aid and student loans are also widely used, and students are encouraged to fill out the FAFSA early. The financial aid office also offers budget counseling to help you manage the costs of medical school.
LSU’s medical schools in New Orleans and Shreveport may not always dominate headlines, but they’ve quietly built a reputation for producing competent, compassionate, and community-driven physicians.
Here’s what sets LSU apart:
From day one, LSU students are immersed in hospitals, clinics, and public health initiatives across Louisiana. This isn’t shadowing from the sidelines. It’s real, hands-on responsibility in real communities that need care.
Louisiana faces serious health disparities, especially in rural and underserved urban areas. LSU trains its students to face these challenges head-on. Many graduates go on to serve in areas with physician shortages, not because they have to, but because they’re equipped to make a difference.
Both campuses offer strong research programs, but what makes LSU unique is its emphasis on translational and community-based research. Whether it’s cancer care, infectious disease, or disaster response, LSU students can contribute to projects that directly affect the populations they serve.
At LSU, you’re not spending two years locked in a classroom before seeing your first patient. Clinical exposure starts early, often within the first year, giving students a real-world understanding of medicine and a head start on bedside manner.
While some schools boast big-name matches at top 10 hospitals, LSU’s match list shows strength in primary care, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, and general surgery. These specialties are where the need is high and the impact can be immediate.
Getting into the Louisiana State University School of Medicine is about more than checking off GPA and MCAT boxes. It’s about showing the admissions committee who you are beyond the numbers.
Yes, stats matter, but what really makes you stand out is your story: the obstacles you’ve overcome, the patients who’ve changed you, the mentors who’ve shaped you, and how you’ve taken action to serve your community.
This school participates in the Association of American Medical Colleges’s AMCAS system for MD applicants.
They operate on a rolling basis, which means it’s to your advantage to submit your primary application as early in the cycle as possible.
Here’s more about what you can expect in the application timeline:
Your personal statement is your chance to tie your entire application together. It’s your chance to say, “This is who I am, this is what I care about, and this is the kind of doctor I’m becoming.”
It’s not a place for fluff. It’s a place for proof.
If you say you care about serving the underserved, then show experiences in community clinics and mobile health fairs. If you say mentorship matters to you, then you’d better have taught, tutored, or coached someone.
Secondary essays give insight into your personal values, commitment to their mission, and how you’ll fit into their community. Below are the most recent prompts (and track‑specific ones), followed by advice on how to address each.
1. If you wish, you may attach an essay of reasonable length (500–600 words) using the prompt: “your values.”
This is optional, but if you want to stand out, write it. Focus on values that actually show up in your life, not ones you think AdComs want to hear. Think loyalty, humility, work ethic, or service, and back each one with a quick story or moment that shaped you. Tie it back to medicine and why LSU is a school that aligns with what matters most to you.
2. Please provide specific information about your immediate and extended family that live in rural or underserved communities in Louisiana (relationship, community, occupation, etc.).
They want to know if you really understand these communities. Don’t just list names. Describe the town, what life is like there, and how your connection gives you insight into rural healthcare. Show them you’re not just applying everywhere. You’re applying here because this place is home.
3. List all extracurricular activities during college (volunteer work, clubs, etc.), with the duration and nature of your participation.
Be organized and specific. List what you did, how long you did it, and what role you played. Prioritize depth over breadth. A few long-term commitments beat a laundry list of short-term ones. Don’t just show activity, show purpose.
4. Describe your involvement in your home community prior to and since college/medical school (community groups, volunteer efforts, etc.). Include length of time.
This is about roots. Where are you from? How have you shown up for that community? Talk about long-term service or leadership, like tutoring, organizing health fairs, mentoring, and explain how you stayed connected even after leaving for college. LSU wants people who don’t forget where they came from.
5. What other career possibilities have you considered?
Honesty wins here. If you thought about teaching, engineering, or nursing, then say it. Then explain why medicine pulled ahead. They’re not testing your loyalty to medicine; they’re checking if you’ve reflected deeply and made an intentional choice.
6. List your hobbies and interests.
Be real. This is your chance to show you’re more than a walking MCAT score. Whether it’s lifting weights, cooking Cajun food, or playing jazz piano, share what recharges you. Balanced people make balanced doctors.
7. Describe your personal experiences and knowledge of rural and/or community life.
Talk about the little details, like the 40-minute drive to the nearest hospital, the doctor who covers five parishes, the way people lean on each other. Whether it’s from growing up, shadowing, or volunteering, paint a clear picture of what rural life is really like and how you fit into it.
8. Based on your own experience, observations and insights, describe the roles and responsibilities of a rural or primary care physician.
They want to hear that you get it: rural docs do everything. Talk about broad scope, deep relationships, and being a trusted face in the community. Don’t romanticize. Acknowledge the challenges, too. And then explain why you're still in.
9. Why do you feel you are a suitable candidate for the Rural Scholar Track (RST) and/or the Patrick F. Taylor Primary Care Scholar Program (PFT)?
This is where everything comes together. Connect your values, your background, and your goals to LSU’s mission. Show them you’re not applying to RST/PFT because it sounds nice. You’re applying because you’ve lived the life, seen the gaps, and want to go back and fix them.
10. What medical specialty possibilities have you considered?
Be thoughtful but flexible. If you’re leaning toward primary care, say why, especially if it ties into underserved or rural care. But also show openness to other paths. What matters is that your specialty goals reflect your values and align with LSU’s focus on service.
When you apply to LSU SOM‑New Orleans, your letters of recommendation matter. These letters give the admissions committee insight into how your teachers and referees view you, and they count. Here’s what you should know.
If your college has a pre‑professional/premed advisory committee, they strongly advise you to use it. Your committee can provide a composite or a set of letters.
If you do not use a committee, you must submit three (3) letters from professors/instructors who taught you in didactic classes in science and math.
Letters from one‑hour lab courses or research instructors will not satisfy this requirement.
Additional letters beyond the required three are allowed, but should be limited. Two extra at most are suggested.
The interview for LSU’s medical school is conducted in a traditional one‑on‑one format, not the multiple mini‑interview (MMI) style. According to applicant feedback for the New Orleans campus, nearly all interviews were one‑on‑one. And many interviewees report being interviewed by three people.
Most interviews last about 20–30 minutes, and the interview is open‑file (meaning the interviewer has your application in front of them) in the majority of cases.
The types of questions asked focus on classic themes, like why medicine, why LSU, personal strengths and weaknesses, leadership and teamwork experiences, ethical or conflict‑based scenarios, and often your connection to Louisiana (especially if you’re an out‑of‑state applicant).
Choosing a medical school is about fit just as much as credentials. The right school feels aligned with your values, your preferred environment, and your career goals.
Here’s how to know if LSU Medical School is right for you.
This school is a good fit if…
This school may not be a good fit if…
You can know LSU’s acceptance rate. You can calculate your GPA down to the decimal. But if you’re applying to medical school with only averages and speculation, you’re flying blind.
That’s why we created the Application Database. This free resource gives you access to 8 real, accepted AMCAS applications that earned acceptances to top programs across the country. You’ll see actual essays, activity descriptions, and more. Use this access to know how to create your own competitive application.
Get your free resource here.
