How to Get Into the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC): The Definitive Guide (2024)

If you’re an aspiring medical student living in South Carolina and you’ve been typing “medical schools near me” into the search engines, you must have come across the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Since 1824, MUSC has established itself as a leader in medical innovation through research, training skilled physicians, and serving the people of South Carolina with the best possible healthcare.

Located in Charleston, South Carolina, MUSC boasts of being the only comprehensive academic health system in the state. The clinical health system is manned by around 25,000 medical professionals and team members who treat patients at 14 hospitals and more. The goal is to meet the needs of patients head-on while preparing the next generation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and other health professionals to do the same. This, coupled with the research program, makes the Medical University of South Carolina one of the most popular medical schools in South Carolina for aspiring doctors, so it’s important to really be on top of the application procedure.

The mission at the Medical University of South Carolina is to “preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina and beyond.” They do this by offering the best healthcare and research programs, as well as providing the best possible interprofessional setting for getting the most out of the academic portion of the program and hands-on training. The Medical University of South Carolina offers students programs in six different colleges, which include:

• Dental Medicine
• Graduate Studies
• Health Professions
• Medicine (MD)
• Nursing
• Pharmacy

Applying to a school like the Medical University of SC is no easy task, and the competition to gain acceptance is aggressive. Getting into one of the most recognized and praised medical schools in South Carolina requires a great deal of preparation, attention to detail, a willingness to persevere, and being willing to do whatever it takes to matriculate.

This guide is designed to help you navigate your way through the entire process of meeting admissions requirements, submitting primary and secondary applications, and reviewing school statistics. This gives you the best possible chance to matriculate at the school of your choice. If you have any questions as you read through the guide, feel free to reach out to us for assistance.

Be an Informed Applicant

If you’ve researched medical schools near me and have found the Medical University of South Carolina to be the school that interests you the most, you’re going to want to be as prepared as possible for the application process. The Medical University of South Carolina is a very competitive school to get into, with many applicants not even making it to the interview stage. Attention to detail will be crucial as you fill in your primary and secondary applications, secure your letters of recommendation, and prepare for your interview.

Knowing the inner workings of the medical school admissions process is crucial, and that is why we want to help. Our medical school guides will be an incredible asset to you during this process. This and our other guides are useful in breaking down the process step by step, helping you feel totally secure. That was and is our goal: to aid aspiring physicians in fulfilling their callings to select a school, matriculate, graduate, and go on to be phenomenal medical professionals.

As you read through the guide, we advise you to take notes, highlight areas of interest to you, and be encouraged that the challenge of applying to medical school is made easier with preparation. Our guides will help you be as prepared as possible. We are delighted to provide these medical school guides for many different medical schools in South Carolina as well as other states.

This guide was built specifically for the Medical University of South Carolina and should not be considered a guide for any other medical school.

Topics covered in this guide include:

• Why the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)?
• Medical Programs at the Medical University of South Carolina
• Facilities, Student Organizations, and More
• Selection Factors: What the Medical University of SC Looks for in an Applicant
• Admissions Requirements for the Medical University of SC
• MUSC Acceptance Rate & Admissions Statistics
• MUSC Tuition & Cost of Attendance
• AMCAS Primary Application & MUSC Secondary Application
• MUSC Secondary Application: Essay Prompts, Sample Answers, and Advice
• MUSC Interview Process
• Medical School Admissions Consulting
• Voluntary Healthcare Internships Abroad

Personalized Help

We know that applying to medical school is challenging and can be incredibly stressful. Our medical school admissions consulting program was designed to make this process as easy as possible for you and your family, alleviating the stress and giving you the best chance of making it through the application process triumphantly. Our experts will work with you to complete your applications, provide quality and helpful advice about your essay prompt responses, and prepare you as much as possible for your interview, including running you through mock interviews if you’d like. Contact us here if you have any questions.

Why the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)?

Going to school in a charming city like Charleston, South Carolina, is motivation enough to consider MUSC, but it’s not just the location that recommends this school. Founded in 1824, it is the oldest medical school in the South and has built itself into the only integrated academic health system in South Carolina. Students have access to recognized, honored faculty members, six colleges of study, a top-notch research program, and quality hands-on experience.

More than 3,000 students at any given time are studying at the Medical University of South Carolina on the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. These students are studying both on-campus and virtually via distance education options. Biomedical research is a focus at MUSC to a degree that sets it apart from other medical schools. It’s for these reasons and more that MUSC Health has been named the #1 hospital in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report for many years in a row.

If there’s one main reason to consider the Medical University of South Carolina to be one of the best medical schools in South Carolina, it’s the sheer size of the program. The integrated healthcare system consists of 14 hospitals with around 2,500 beds. More hospitals are being designed and developed. There are also more than 300 telehealth sites and more than 700 care locations throughout South Carolina. Students have all of this potential at their fingertips.

At the Medical University of SC, the goal is to transform lives and train physicians to preserve human life in every way possible. They stand on the principles of innovation, impact, and influence. It is with these goals in mind that they have developed medical programs that prepare students to be patient-centric, research-hungry, and globally-minded medical professionals.

MUSC holds the following strategic goals:

• Create a culture of innovation.
• Become the preeminent model for inclusion and equity, setting a national standard among academic health systems.
• Reimagine the learning experience to optimize educational value.
• Forge innovative partnerships to increase scale, scope, and impact.
• Build a high-performing, integrated academic health system.
• Integrate our research and clinical strengths to transform health care.
• Promote our thought-leadership to build our national presence and shape policies.

The Medical University of South Carolina Ranking

US News and World Report states that the Medical University of SC ranked:

• #6 in Most Graduates Practicing in Medically Underserved Areas
• #56 in Best Medical Schools: Research (tie)
• #65 in Most Diverse Medical Schools (tie)
• #75 in Most Graduates Practicing in Rural Areas (tie)
• $76 in Best Medical Schools: Primary Care (tie)
• #108 in Most Graduates Practicing in Primary Care Fields (tie)

Medical Programs at the Medical University of South Carolina

The Medical University of SC consists of six colleges: Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, and Health Professions. Residency training is also available at the Medical University of South Carolina. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and offers all levels of undergraduate and graduate work.

Doctor of Medicine (MD)

Putting patient care and biomedical research at the forefront of everything they do, the College of Medicine at the Medical University of SC is the oldest academic medical school of its type in the state. The student body is diverse and is challenged and stretched in all ways.

Approximately 172 students are welcomed each year into the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program. The first two years of study will be focused on building a deep, foundational understanding of the science behind practicing medicine. This is a pre-clerkship phase in preparation for the third year of core clinical clerkship instruction and a fourth year of advanced clinical clerkships and clinical elective rotations. After four years of this thorough education, students will emerge with an MD degree and the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience needed to be a quality physician.

Preclerkship (FLEX) Curriculum

This fully integrated curriculum was brought into the MD program at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2009, taking the place of the traditional science courses. This new curriculum merges foundational medical sciences with a focus on problem-solving, more hands-on clinical experience, and an earlier dive into the preclinical phase of the program.

Students at the Medical University of South Carolina will select concentrations that are the best match for their educational goals and plans during this FLEX Phase. They each select between the following pathways: Research Track, Global Health Track, Physician as Teacher Track, or Health Humanities Track. Alternatively, students may decide to follow the accelerated track into earlier residency entry at this point.

Immersion Phase (Year 3)

During the Immersion Phase of year 3, students rotate through 7 core clinical clerkships. The clerkships include family medicine, neurology, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, surgery, and pediatrics.

Enrichment Phase (Year 4)

This final phase is made up of the required advanced clinical rotations. Students have a varied group of electives from which to select, and they also have the Internship 101 Capstone course that was developed to help students make a smooth transition into all that their residencies will demand of them. Graduates can look into residencies such as:

• Medical University of South Carolina Internal Medicine
• Medical University of South Carolina Family Medicine
• Medical University of South Carolina Radiology

…and more.

Core Elements

The following are the core elements of the FLEX curriculum at MUSC:

• Team-Based Learning
• Early Clinical Application
• Ultrasound and Procedures Training
• Health Systems Curriculum
• Patient-Centered Medical Home
• Telehealth
• Advocacy
• Longitudinal Senior Mentor Experience
• Clinical Immersion Experiences
• Careers in Medicine Program

Accelerated 3-Year Option

There is an accelerated track option available to a select number of students who can earn their MD in 3 full-time years, at which time they join one of the Medical University of South Carolina’s partnering residency programs. A similar program at MUSC-AnMed Health Clinical Campus takes a limited number of students through a 3- or 4-year program focused on primary care as well. The curriculums are similar, but the accelerated programs are much more intense with more densely packed semesters.

There are 9 residency programs for students on the accelerated track to participate in, and there are a limited number of positions available in each program. The following are the residency program options for students on the accelerated track:

• Emergency Medicine – 1 Position
• Family Medicine – 1 Position
• Internal Medicine – 3 Positions
• Neurology – 1 Position
• OBGYN – 1 Position
• Pathology – 2 Positions
• Pediatrics – 2 Positions
• Psychiatry – 1 Position
• Surgery – 1 Position

Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD)

The Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) is a dynamic course that is both challenging and flexible. The focus is to provide students with the opportunity to dive into their research interests and goals. The curriculum is designed and approved by each student’s advisory committee, bringing together basic science and clinical rotations with the graduate education and time needed to pursue a research project that culminates in a PhD.Students interested in this path should enroll early in the summer before beginning at the Medical University of South Carolina. While there is a lot of flexibility in the program, it also means an 8-year commitment to graduate with the degrees.

Years 1 & 2

The first 18 months of this program mirror the fully integrated FLEX medical curriculum. Students are brought into the research laboratories during the summer to get the lay of the land at the Medical University of South Carolina. During the second year, students will take the National Board Examination Step 1 and start their second lab rotation upon receiving a passing score.

Years 3 & Beyond

Following the completion of the second lab rotation, students make a decision about whether to take a third lab rotation or start their graduate studies for the PhD. This is when students must focus on doing the research and work required for their dissertation.

The following research concentrations are options for their project:

• Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
• Cell Injury & Repair
• Cell & Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics
• Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences
• Gene Medicine
• Lipidomics
• Microbiology & Immunology
• Molecular & Cellular Biology & Pathobiology
• Neurosciences
• Pathology
• Proteomics
• Regenerative Medicine & Cell Biology
• Structural Biology

Graduate coordinators and mentors help students of the MSTP program choose their elective sections of graduate studies to go alone with the required sections during this phase. These important courses focus on areas such as professional development, learning from literature, techniques of rigorous experimental design, entrepreneurship, principles of grant writing, and the responsible conduct of research. These courses prepare students to be professional medical scientists.

Translational Sciences Clinic

During this part of the program, students will learn how to marry their research interests with the basic science they have learned. For example, they will learn how to discuss a patient’s medical needs from the perspective of a researcher and with literature as the starting point. There will be academic work and clinical experiences.

Medicine, Year 3

The third year of medical school is primarily focused on foundational clinical rotations in the major medical fields, such as internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, family medicine, and neurology.

Medicine, Year 4

This is the final year of medical school, and students will be required to participate in more advanced clinical work. This is a time for students to dive deep into their areas of interest. MSTP students are encouraged to begin applying for internships at top-notch medical universities. Students have the time and flexibility to explore and make the best decisions possible.

Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

The Doctor of Pharmacy degree requires 4 academic years of full-time study. Students in the program will also get some hands-on clinical experiences. To complete the program in 4 years, some summer study will be needed. To qualify for acceptance into the Doctor of Pharmacy program at the Medical University of South Carolina, applicants must have completed 2 years of undergraduate work in pre-pharmacy courses at an accredited school.For a full list of courses and their descriptions, visit the Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy website.

Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)

The goal of the Medical University of South Carolina’s DMD program is to train enthusiastic, innovative, and dedicated dental health professionals to make a huge impact on the lives of South Carolina residents and beyond. The school remains purposefully small, with around 78 students per class. Most graduating students remain in the state to practice dental medicine.

The Dentistry curriculum at MUSC is highly innovative and includes the latest technology in digital dentistry and a CAD/CAM lab with more than 30 scanners. The Medical University of South Carolina is proud to be known as the first dental program in the country to use an interactive Dentaroid robot, which opens the doors to students practicing on simulations.

College of Nursing

The College of Nursing at the Medical University of South Carolina has been recognized as one of the leaders in the country. It is also the second-oldest nursing school in the country. The program is ever-evolving to add new specialties and options so that students can pursue areas of nursing that excites them. Students can apply to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Doctor of Nursing Science (PhD) programs or consider one of the post-graduate certificate programs available.

The Medical University of SC also offers programs for those looking to become Registered Nurses (RN) or Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN), and from there, graduates can go on into any number of nursing fields, such as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA).

CRNAs VS Anesthesiologists

CRNAs are RNs who have gone on to achieve an APRN level and go on to focus on anesthesia care. These skilled medical professionals work alongside anesthesiologists as a team to provide the best care to patients. The Medical University of South Carolina puts these teams to work throughout the integrated care system.

Facilities, Student Organizations, and More

Facilities

The Medical University of SC has come a long way from when it was a small school founded in 1824 to the well-known, six-college university it is today. Being a fully comprehensive academic health center, the school has grown to acquire 80 acres in the city of Charleston, South Carolina, on which they have built incredible facilities for students to enjoy and put to good use.

Ralph H. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center is a tertiary care center that meets the medical needs of over 75,000 veterans throughout the state. It opened in Charleston in 1966. The Medical University of South Carolina partners beautifully with the center and welcomes 76 medical residents in medicine and dental medicine every year.

The following are the clinical sites available:

• MUSC Medical Center
• MUSC Ashley River Tower
• MUSC Rutledge Tower
• MUSC Children’s Health R. Keith Summey Medical Pavilion
• MUSC Health East Cooper Medical Pavilion
• MUSC Health West Ashley Medical Pavilion
• MUSC Hollings Cancer Center – Downtown
• MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital

Student Organizations

• Academy of General Dentistry
• Alliance for DisAbility Advocacy
• Alliance for Hispanic Health
• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry MUSC Student Chapter
• American Association of Public Health Dentistry
• American Association of Women Dentists
• American Dental Education Association
• American Medical Association/South Carolina Medical Association Student Organization
• American Medical Women’s Association
• American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists
• American Physician Scientist Association
• American Sign Language Club
• American Student Dental Association
• Anesthesia Interest Group
• Aprendiendo Juntos
• ASL for ALL
• Association of Women Surgeons
• Behavioral Support and Intervention Team
• Best Buddies
• Better then Netter – Anatomy Student Tutors
• Black Student Union
• Cardiology Student Interest Group
• Cardiothoracic Surgery Interest Group
• Charleston Medical District Greenway
• Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International
• Clinical French Club
• College of Health Professions Student Government Association
• College of Nursing Student Government Association
• College of Pharmacy Student Government Association
• College of Pharmacy – Student Affairs
• COM Dean’s Office for Community Engagement
• Cosmetic Club
• Dental Community Fellowship
• Dental Student Alumni Council
• Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Dermatology Interest Group
• Discussions in Medical Ethics
• Dream Center Neurology Clinic
• Emergency Medicine Interest Group
• Engaging the Aging
• ENT Interest Group
• Family Medicine Interest Group+
• Financial Literacy Interest Group
• Foundation for International Medical Relief or Children
• Global Health Interest Group
• Graduate Student Association
• Heart Health Fit Kids
• High Value Care Interest Group
• Honor Council
• Industry Pharmacists Organization
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement MUSC Chapter of the Lowcountry
• Internal Medicine Interest Group
• International Student Association
• Intramural Sports – MUSC Wellness Center
• Latino Medical Student Association
• Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group
• Master in Health Administration Student Government Association
• Med-Peds Interest Group
• Medical Enrichment for Diverse students
• Medical Humanities Interest Group
• Medical Robotics Interest Group
• Medical Student Alumni Council
• Medical Student Ophthalmology Society
• Medical Students for Choice
• Medical Ultrasound Interest Group
• Medical University of South Carolina AEGD Program
• Medical/Dental Scientist Training Program
• Mental Health First Aid Peer Support Program
• Military Medicine Interest Group
• Mission: Brain Foundation
• Multicultural Student Advisory Board
• MUSC Against Hunger
• MUSC Asian Student Association
• MUSC COTAD Student Chapter
• MUSC Environmental and Sustainability Alliance
• MUSC Global Surgery
• MUSC Gospel Choir
• MUSC Interprofessional Pickleball Club
• MUSIC Interprofessional Surfing Society
• MUSC Running Club
• MUSC Scouting Alumni Association
• MUSC Student Al Hub
• MUSC Student Balint Group
• MUSC Sustainability
• MUSC Tennis Club
• MUSC Urban Farm
• Musicians United for Service in Charleston
• Muslim Student Association
• National Community Pharmacist Association – Student Chapter
• National Student Speech Language Hearing Association
• Neurosurgery Interest Group
• OB/GYN Interest Group
• Oncology Interest Group
• One80 Place Student Clinic
• PATHOS
• Pediatric Interest Group
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Interest Group
• Physician for Human Rights
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Interest Group
• Public Health Interest Group
• Public Health Society
• Radiology Interest Group
• Recreational Golf Club
• Sawbones
• South Carolina AHEC
• Sports Medicine Interest Group
• Student Alliance for Equality
• Student Diversity Leadership Council
• Student Financial Aid
• Student Government Association
• Student Health Service
• Student Innovation Ambassador Program
• Student Interest Group in Neurology
• Student Interprofessional Society
• Student National Dental Association
• Student National Medical Association
• Student National Pharmaceutical Association
• Student Nursing Association
• Student Occupational Therapy Association
• Student Psychiatry Interest Group
• Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy
• Student Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Club
• Student Wellness Advisory Group
• Students for a National Health Program
• Students for Survivors
• Students Teaching Enrichment Mentorship
• Surgery Interest Group
• Title IX
• University Student Ambassadors
• Urology Interest Group
• Vascular Surgery Interest Group
• Vascular/Interventional Radiology Interest Group
• Vertical Integration Grand Rounds
• W.O.L.V.E.S
• Waring Historical Library
• Women’s Health Alliance

Fraternities/Sororities

• Delta Sigma Delta
• Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Inc.
• Phi Chi Medical Fraternity
• Phi Delta Chi
• Phi Lambda Sigma
• Psi Omega
• Rho Chi Society

Selection Factors: What the Medical University of SC Looks for in an Applicant

The Medical University of SC admissions committee aims to make the whole application as stream-lined, smooth, and accessible as possible for all candidates. Consider the staff of the admissions department to be available to you for questions, guidance, and help with whatever you need regarding the application process. If they can’t help you directly, they will get you to the person you need to talk to.

The admissions committee is interested in each candidate as a whole person, and there are several specific aspects of your application they are going to be looking for to assess your eligibility and whether you’re suited for the program. They will also be looking for specific character traits. The following are some of those key aspects:

• Previous Academic Success
• Coursework Completed
• Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Traits Needed in Healthcare Professionals
• Leadership Skills
• Compassion
• Ability to Work in a Team
• Creativity
• Curiosity

The Medical University of South Carolina strives to make diversity, social justice, and equality a priority, and the admissions committee will keep that in mind as they study applications. They have a zero-discrimination policy and will treat all applicants equally regardless of sex, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, or veteran status. All applicants are warmly welcomed.

Applicants should have completed their undergraduate coursework at an accredited college or university; however, there are certain instances in which one of the colleges at the Medical University of SC will consider a non-traditional student from a non-accredited program to apply if the committee determines the candidate’s academic readiness and preparation meet the requirements. It’s important to follow the college’s specific instructions for preparing and applying.

The Medical University of South Carolina is open to out-of-state students from outside South Carolina, as well as international students, but only a limited number will be granted admission. If you are not a South Carolina resident, be aware that you will have to greatly outshine your competition in order to have a decent chance of matriculating at the Medical University of SC.

Minimum Abilities

The Medical University of South Carolina has a list of minimum abilities a candidate must possess to be considered for acceptance. The student must be able to do these on their own but can use prosthetics if needed. Students who declare a disability will be granted reasonable accommodations. While the school does not discriminate against any candidate based on disability, each matriculating student must have the following minimum abilities:

• Ability to make proper assessments and lawful judgments regarding health care.
• Ability to prioritize and carry out interventions.
• Ability to adapt to a variety of patient/client situations, including crises.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to obtain, interpret, and document data. Ability to measure outcomes of patient care.
• Ability to participate in discussions in the classroom, in the clinical arena, and with colleagues/patients/clients/the public.
• Ability to acquire information developed through classroom instruction, clinical experiences, independent learning, and consultation.
• Ability to complete reading assignments and to search and evaluate literature.
• Ability to complete examinations electronically.
• Ability to complete written assignments and maintain written records.
• Ability to solve problems.
• Ability to perform duties while under stress.
• Ability to meet deadlines, to manage time.
• Ability to complete computer-based assignments, and use the computer for searching, recording, storing, and retrieving information.
• Ability to complete assessment examinations.

Before applying, candidates should make sure to have their recent MCAT scores (taken no later than the fall of the previous year) as well as transcripts showing their GPA. They must prove they’ve accomplished a minimum of 3 years of coursework from an accredited college or university totaling at least 90 semester hours. Applicants must have one of the following: 1. a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree or the equivalent; or 2. Be accepted into a joint baccalaureate-MD program at the time of enrollment.

Letters of recommendation will also be collected, so it’s a good idea to get started on the process of securing them as early as possible.

Admissions Requirements for the Medical University of SC

Minimum GPA and MCAT Requirements for the Medical University of SC

Students are required to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). MUSC has a minimum MCAT score of 500 to be eligible to be considered for an interview. The average MCAT score for matriculating students is 511.

There is no minimum GPA for applicants to MUSC, but applicants who have a GPA of less than 3.4 are usually encouraged to earn a graduate degree before applying. The average GPA for matriculating students is 3.7.

Volunteer Service and Clinical Experience

The admissions committee at the Medical University of SC will be looking to see if a candidate has a history of volunteer and/or clinical work. While there is no minimum requirement regarding clinical experience, the admissions committee loves to see any opportunity for clinical and volunteer time in the medical community. Mostly, the committee wants to see that an applicant has used his/her/their time to gain experience that will help on their journey towards becoming a medical professional.

Ways that you might show this to the admissions committee are by showing examples in your past of:

• Leadership Experience
• Volunteer Work
• Clinical Experience
• Shadowing Experiences
• Passion for Medicine

The Medical University of SC Letters of Recommendation

The Medical University of South Carolina requires a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 letters of recommendation to make it to the interview phase. The requirement may be met if your college or university pre-med office prepares a committee letter or packet for you to accompany your application. For those without a pre-med packet, including non-traditional applicants, you will want to submit a minimum of 1 letter from a member of the faculty who has experienced your performance in class and in coursework. It is best if this faculty member is from the science department.

The other 2 letters can be from additional faculty members or individuals who can attest to your dedication to your education, your performance in coursework, your character, and your strengths in the sciences. It’s good to compile a variety of letters from faculty from different phases of your education. Mentors, employers (especially those in medicine), and physicians you have shadowed are great choices.

Letters of recommendation will be submitted with your primary application to the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). This is the only way letters will be accepted, so please don’t send them to the Medical University of South Carolina admissions department.

Required & Recommended Coursework at the Medical University of South Carolina

While the Medical University of South Carolina doesn’t have prerequisites, the following coursework is strongly recommended:

• General Biology with Lab (2 semesters)
• General Inorganic Chemistry with Lab (2 semesters)
• Organic Chemistry with Lab (1-2 semesters)
• Physics with Lab (1—2 semesters)

Other recommended coursework for potential matriculants include:

• Biochemistry
• Anatomy
• Cell Biology
• Embryology
• Genetics
• Physiology
• Immunology
• Statistics
• College Level Mathematics
• Courses with Intensive Writing 

The admissions committee would prefer to see coursework done in a traditional class setting but will accept courses taken online, especially in consideration of COVID-19. Transcripts must be submitted via AMCAS.

Does the Medical University of SC Require the CASPer Exam?

The Medical University of South Carolina does not require the CASPer at this time.

The Medical University of South Carolina Acceptance Rate & Admissions Statistics

For the incoming class of 2022-2023, a total number of 3,955 people applied for acceptance. Out of that number, 180 first-year MD students enrolled in the MD program and 8 students enrolled in the MD/PhD program, for a total of 188 new medical students. That’s an acceptance rate of 4.8%.

In the incoming class, the average student age was 23 years old. 87% of new students were South Carolina residents, and 13% came from other U.S. states. Some 60% of new matriculants identified as female and 40% identified as male.

*The acceptance rate is based on the percentage of applicants who enroll. There are other factors that affect rates.

The Medical University of SC 2023 Class Profile

The following are some statistics regarding the class of 2023:

• Total Enrollment: 188 students
• Men: 40%
• Women: 60%
• Average MCAT – 511
• Average GPA – 3.77

The Medical University of SC Tuition & Cost of Attendance

These tuition and fees are based on the MUSC’s 2022-2023 academic year. Fees are subject to change.

Year 1:

1. $27,551 In-state/ $47,117 Out-of-state Tuition and Fees
2. $3,838 Books and Supplies
3. $2251 Fees
4. $23,364 Room and Board, Travel, and Personal Expenses
5. $2,984 Health Insurance

$57,737 Total for In-state Students/ $77,303 Total for Out-of-state Students

Year 2:

1. $35,259 / $62,108 Out-of-state Tuition and Fees
2. $2,598 Books and Supplies
3. $859 Fees
4. $31,152 Room and Board, Travel, and Personal Expenses
5. $2,984 Health Insurance

$71,993 Total for In-state Students / $98,842 Total for Out-of-state Students

Year 3:

1. $40,746 / $68,213 Out-of-state Tuition and Fees
2. $2,598 Books and Supplies
3. $567 Fees
4. $31,152 Room and Board, Travel, and Personal Expenses
5. $2,984 Health Insurance

$77,467 Total for In-state Students / $104,934 Total for Out-of-state Students

Year 4:

1. $43,436 / $76,281 Out-of-state Tuition and Fees
2. $3,438 Books and Supplies
3. $231 Fees
4. $31,152 Room and Board, Travel, and Personal Expenses
5. $2,984 Health Insurance

$80,882 Total for In-state Students / $113,757 Total for Out-of-state Students

Being knowledgeable can help you navigate this complicated system. For more information on the costs of attending medical school in the United States, visit our Medical School Database where we offer detailed guidance and helpful information.

AMCAS Primary Application & MUSC Secondary Application

Every applicant will need to complete two applications to be considered for acceptance into the Medical University of SC. The primary application is the standard American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) which is the standard application service used by many medical schools in the United States.

The AMCAS is going to gather basic information about you, your educational background, and your goals for medical school. You will want to be as careful as you can to fill this application out accurately. Follow instructions to the best of your ability, and don’t hesitate to get assistance. Be sure to list all medical schools for which you plan to apply, and AMCAS will forward the application to the schools you have listed.

Once the admissions committee at the Medical University of South Carolina receives your primary application from AMCAS, they will contact you to request that you fill out the supplemental application designed specifically for the Medical University of South Carolina. This secondary application dives more into who you are as a unique individual. The admissions committee wants to get to know you personally, so let them see who you really are and try to be as open as you can.

There is a $95 non-refundable fee to complete the supplemental application, although a waiver will be automatically processed if you were already approved for the AAMC FAP program.

MUSC Secondary Application: Essay Prompts, Sample Answers, and Advice

Below are the Medical University of South Carolina’’s secondary essay questions for the 2021-2022 application cycle. All prompts have a 2,000 character limit.

Essay #1

What are your medical practice goals?

Before you attempt to answer this prompt, do a little research into the vision and mission of the Medical University of South Carolina, and then make a list of the goals that you have for your future medical career. When you envision yourself as a doctor or medical professional, what does your practice look like? What are you passionate about? What do you hope to achieve? Would you like to serve the underserved populations of South Carolina? Do you intend to offer a more patient-centric, science-based medical approach to your patients? Line these goals up with the values of MUSC and share how they line up.

Essay #2

If it has been more than six months since you completed your bachelor’s degree, please describe your employment status since that time (part-time, full-time, and dates).

This is an important question because it speaks to your commitment to pursuing a medical career. If you’ve taken a break, explain to the admissions committee exactly how you’ve spent your time. What they’d like to see is that you used your time to learn more about medicine by volunteering or working at a clinic, taking part in a pre-med shadowing study abroad program, or working for a physician in a rural medical office. Be specific.

Essay #3

In what region of the country do you want to practice medicine? Why?

The Medical University of South Carolina is passionate about producing physicians who serve the underserved and rural areas of South Carolina. If you share that passion, this is a great place to present your vision of where you’ll be practicing medicine. Make sure to go deep and personal when you share your “why” and give them a glimpse into your life. Be honest, but don’t forget to stress areas where you and MUSC share similar visions.

Sample Answer

When I was a child, my family and I lived in a tiny town on the outskirts of Charleston. We were less than affluent, and my hard-working parents had little to give us children, but we were always fed, clothed, and safe. We didn’t have much, but we had everything we needed, and we had love, so we never felt poor.

In our rural area, doctors were scarce. We had one little clinic in town that was open three days a week and served the whole community. We ended up frequenting the clinic quite a bit at times in my youth because my little sister struggled with Type 1 Diabetes. Although we had to drive hours for her specialist appointments, we went to the local clinic for regular checkups and whenever one of us fell ill.

I’ll never forget the day my mother threw us in the car and drove at frightening speeds to get us to the clinic. There had been a mistake with my sister’s insulin delivery, and her blood sugars had dropped rapidly. My mother flew through the doors of the clinic with my sister in her arms. The doctor rushed to her aid and was able to take care of her, bringing her blood sugars into a normal range and monitoring her closely until she was out of danger.

As I consider my plans for the future, I think about that day. My passion is to practice medicine in a rural, underserved area of South Carolina, because I want to provide other families with the help my family received at that little clinic all those years ago. In fact, I want to go farther and provide even better medical service to the people who need it the most. If my family wouldn’t have had that clinic, we would have had to drive another 20 miles to the nearest hospital, and I’m not sure my sister would be here today. I see the need and want to meet it. That is my mission and ultimate goal.

Essay #4

What areas of medicine are you interested in at this time, or what areas do you plan to pursue?

The admissions committee wants to get to know you. This is a great opportunity to give them a good look into what makes you tick and why you are going to work incredibly hard to become a quality physician. What area of medicine makes you the most excited? Pediatrics? Internal medicine? Share about what you plan to specialize in, what you’d like to explore in more depth, and why this is the path you’re taking.

Essay #5

Do you have any accomplishments or experiences that make you a unique applicant?

Again, this is a chance to share a little bit about who you are and set yourself apart from the other applicants. You want the admissions committee to remember you and feel inspired by your passion and commitment to your goals. What makes you unique? This could be a challenge you have faced in your life. Perhaps you come from a minority background and are the first in your family to matriculate. You can share why you wanted to become a doctor in the first place. Why do you add diversity to the student body, and how will you help improve the school while you’re there?

The Medical University of South Carolina Interview Process

Applicants who make it through to the interview phase will be taken through three virtual interviews with representatives from the Medical University of South Carolina. Two of the interviews (30 minutes each in length) will be conducted on the Virtual Interview Day, and a third interview will happen at another time.

On the Virtual Interview Day (VID), there will be a general information meeting where representatives from the Office of Admissions and the Group on Diversity Affairs will share details about the interview process, the school’s commitment to diversity, and more pertinent information. This will be followed by the initial two interviews. Applicants will have the opportunity to ask questions of their own.

The whole process is designed to help the admissions committee determine if you are a good fit for this school and if the school is a good fit for you.

Even though the admissions committee strives to conduct interviews that are free from stress and pressure, there’s no doubt they are the most stressful part of the process for most. Often, students find it helpful to receive personalized coaching and even a mock interview through our medical school admissions consulting services.

Medical School Admissions Consulting

Our vision here at International Medical Aid was to create a program that would truly help our next generation of medical students matriculate into the top medical schools in the country. Applying and interviewing for medical schools is challenging and requires a lot of work. We want to relieve the burden on your shoulders and offer the support you need to complete your application and interview with success.

Whether you feel confident about your interview skills or not, our experts can help you prepare thoroughly for one of the most important interviews of your life. We will walk you through the process, offer expert advice, and even conduct mock interviews to make sure you are as ready as possible.

Take a moment to schedule a free consultation with one of our experts here.

Voluntary Healthcare Internships Abroad

One of the greatest learning environments an aspiring physician can experience is shadowing skilled physicians in the trenches of the medical community, spending time with real patients, and getting a taste of what it’s like to work in a hospital or clinic, especially in a foreign environment. If shadowing a physician abroad is something you’ve considered, IMA’s voluntary healthcare internships abroad program is a fantastic choice.

Imagine how much you could learn on pre-medical internships in Peru, Kenya, or Tanzania. This is the type of experience you can’t find anywhere else.

Our pre-med shadowing study abroad program was designed specifically for pre-medical and gap year students with the vision of preparing them more than ever before for their future as a humanistic, global citizen physicians.

Please take a few minutes to explore the benefits of our program on our website and reach out if you have any questions.

Best of Luck!

As you take your first step towards matriculating at the Medical University of South Carolina, we wish you the best of luck and hope that this guide has brightened your path for the journey.

If you’d like to explore our medical school admissions consulting program, please feel free to contact us and we will get you the support you need to feel confident.

Whether you looked for medical schools in a different state or searched for medical schools near me, the Medical University of SC is a wonderful choice. We hope our guide helps you achieve your goal of attending this fine institution.

• Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
• Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) 
• Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM)
• Penn State Medical School
• CUNY School of Medicine
• SUNY Downstate Medical School
• NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine
• NYU Long Island School of Medicine
• TOURO College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Albany Medical College
• Norton College of Medicine at Upstate Medical University
• Jacobs School of Medicine at the University at Buffalo
• Hofstra Zucker School of Medicine
• Weill Medical College of Cornell University 
• University of Rochester Medical School
• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
• Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)
• University of Cincinnati College of Medicine 
• University of Toledo College of Medicine
• Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
• Ohio State University College of Medicine
• Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
• Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (HMSOM)
• Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) 
• Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
• Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU)
• A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Saint Louis University School of Medicine
• University of Missouri Medical School
• Kansas City University (KCU)
• UMKC School of Medicine
• New York Medical College
• University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
• University of Wisconsin Medical School
• VCU School of Medicine
• University of Maryland School of Medicine
• Case Western Medical School
• University of North Carolina Medical School
• University of Florida Medical School
• Emory University School of Medicine
• Boston University College of Medicine
• California University of Science and Medicine
• UC San Diego Medical School
• California Northstate University College of Medicine
• Touro University of California
• CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine
• UC Davis School of Medicine
• Harvard Medical School
• UC Riverside School of Medicine
• USC Keck School of Medicine
• UT Southwestern Medical School
• Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio
• University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
• UT Austin’s Dell Medical School
• UTMB School of Medicine
• McGovern Medical School at UT Health
• Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
• McGovern Medical School at UT Health
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
• UNT Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of Houston College of Medicine
• Texas A&M College of Medicine
• Johns Hopkins Medical School
• Baylor College of Medicine
• George Washington University School of Medicine
• Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
• St. George’s University School of Medicine
• Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (in Pennsylvania)
• Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
• Wake Forest University School of Medicine
• Western University of Health Sciences (in California)
• Drexel University College of Medicine
• Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago
• Georgetown University School of Medicine
• Yale School of Medicine
• Perelman School of Medicine
• UCLA Medical School
• NYU Medical School
• Washington University School of Medicine
• Brown Medical School

Feel free to contact us if you have questions about the application process, our medical guides, our pre-med shadowing study abroad program, or our Medical School Admissions Consulting services.