Medical Schools in South Carolina: How to Get In (2024)
/How hard it is to get into South Carolina medical schools? Learn strategies you can use to increase your admissions odds
there are four medical schools in south carolina
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: List of medical schools in South Carolina: 2023 rankings & admissions statistics
Part 3: South Carolina medical school profiles
Part 4: South Carolina medical school admissions strategies
Appendix A: South Carolina medical schools by degree type
Appendix B: South Carolina medical schools by institution type
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Part 1: Introduction
From its rich history and diverse landscape to its low cost of living, there are a number of reasons why South Carolina is an attractive destination for many premed hopefuls. Currently, the Palmetto State has four medical schools, three of which are allopathic.
Read on to learn what’s expected of South Carolina medical school applicants, plus admissions strategies to help you maximize your odds of acceptance.
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Part 2: List of medical schools in South Carolina: 2023 rankings & admissions statistics
We’ve compiled all the information you need to know about South Carolina medical schools before applying.
As you read through the table, you’ll notice the following trends:
Two South Carolina medical schools appear in the 2023 U.S. News Best Medical Schools (Research) ranking.
Tuition and fees to attend South Carolina’s public medical schools are significantly higher for out-of-state students. However, for in-state students, the annual tuition is much lower relative to other medical schools in the US.
Interview rates are significantly higher for South Carolina residents at every school for which data was obtained.
With the exception of VCOM, South Carolina medical schools demonstrate a strong preference for in-state students.
| South Carolina Medical Schools | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical University of South Carolina* | $47,117 OOS |
1.9% OOS |
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| University of South Carolina (Columbia)* | $88,874 OOS |
4.8% OOS |
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| University of South Carolina (Greenville)* | $89,080 OOS |
3.2% OOS |
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| Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine | $46,900 OOS |
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Part 3: South Carolina medical school profiles
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
The Carolinas campus of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) was established in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 2010 in an effort to address the growing shortage of physicians in South Carolina. Many medical students who graduate from this school pursue careers in primary care and residency training in South Carolina.
VCOM students will pursue two years of preclinical education followed by two years of clinical rotations. Third-year medical students will have the opportunity to rotate in community-based hospitals in the Appalachian and Delta regions of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Louisiana, and Alabama. Fourth-year medical students will tailor their education to elective rotations and sites that align with their own career development.
Medical University of South Carolina
The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is part of South Carolina’s only integrated health care system, which affords its medical students the unique opportunity to see a spectrum of academic medicine, research, and community-directed efforts. The school revised its preclinical curriculum in 2009; it is now known as the FLEX curriculum and immerses students in clinical experiences alongside their foundational science coursework.
Moreover, incoming students select a scholarly concentration through which they have dedicated time to focus on an area of study during their preclinical education. These scholarly concentration pathways include the Research Track, Health Humanities Track, Global Health Track, and Physician as Teacher track.
MUSC also allows students the opportunity to complete medical school in three years and enter a conditional residency position at MUSC if students have an identified interest in a specialty upon matriculation.
University of South Carolina (Columbia)
Students at the University of South Carolina Columbia campus will pursue a traditional two-year pre-clinical and two-year clinical rotation curriculum. One unique aspect of the medical school experience at UofSC Columbia is the four-year integrated ultrasound curriculum; students will learn how to use the diagnostic both in simulations and at the bedside.
Moreover, the school places a strong emphasis on primary care and rural health. To achieve this, students are afforded the opportunity to rotate at the Florence Regional Campus in third and fourth year of medical school. Here, they are paired with physicians in the McLeod Family Medicine Residency program, learning how to deliver quality and safe primary care in rural and underserved areas of South Carolina.
University of South Carolina (Greenville)
The University of South Carolina Greenville medical school was established in 2012 and prioritizes student-centered education and innovative approaches to learning. Students will begin medical school with an introduction to core clinical skills in emergency medical technician training so that they can learn applicable skills to be an active member of healthcare teams from the beginning of their training. Students will then progress through pre-clinical organ-based systems courses, during which lessons in behavioral, social and population health, clinical skills, and professionalism are integrated. Students will next pursue their clinical rotations, and each clerkship includes a CAPP (Consolidation, Assessment, and Personal and Professional Development) week in which students participate in interprofessional grand rounds and panel discussions and complete subject exams.
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Part 4: South Carolina medical school admissions strategies
Now that you know what you’re up against, we’ll outline two admissions strategies beyond excelling academically and developing a unique extracurricular profile.
Strategy 1: Take a data-driven approach when deciding which South Carolina medical schools to include on your school list
The three South Carolina MD programs have similar GPA and MCAT averages. This means students who are competitive for one of the MD programs (i.e., have ~3.8 GPA and ~510 MCAT score), will have a strong chance of admission at all three MD programs.
That said, South Carolina medical schools show a strong preference for in-state students, so if you’re an out-of-state applicant, you’ll be facing an uphill battle. Be sure to mention any ties to the state in your application materials so admissions officers understand that you’re serious about attending if admitted.
(Suggested reading: How Many Medical Schools Should I Apply To? Which Ones?)
Strategy 2: Review each South Carolina medical school’s mission statement and communicate fit in essays and interviews
Each South Carolina medical school has unique strengths that they’re proud to highlight.
For example, the University of South Carolina Columbia Medical School’s website states, “Our programs take full advantage of the University of South Carolina's status as a Tier 1 research university.” Therefore, if you have significant research experience, be sure to highlight how your experience will translate into research contributions.
According to the VCOM website, “Spartanburg, South Carolina was selected for the second VCOM location due to a tremendous need for primary care doctors in the county and in the surrounding areas.” From this statement, we can conclude that the VCOM admissions committee will give preference to applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to serving underserved communities.
When attempting to communicate fit, many students make the mistake of discussing how a school’s aspects will benefit them. Instead, you should describe how your experiences align well with the school’s specific mission.
Strategy 3: Anticipate interview day
While you’re knee-deep in writing essays and submitting applications, interviews can seem far off but as you complete each application you’ll be one step closer to the final hurdle to admission to medical school.
That means you need to begin anticipating what will happen on interview day. Will your school conduct traditional or MMI interviews? Open or closed-file? In-person or virtual? All of these variables should be considered to help you navigate the delicate dance that is medical school interviews.
Once fully informed of the format, you’ll need to prepare by working out possible responses to questions you will likely be asked. For instance, how would you answer “Why do you want to become a physician?” While it’s good to highlight your caring nature or your desire to serve, is there something deeper or more meaningful that drives you? Is there a way you can connect your answer to the program you’re applying to or a research question they’re investigating?
As mentioned earlier, VCOM is interested in providing care to underserved communities. Perhaps your path to medicine is rooted in your experiences seeing how underserved communities are affected by lack of access to care. Making this a key part of your answer is sure to make an impact on your interviewer.
Final thoughts
Admission to South Carolina medical schools isn’t easy, but certainly possible if you have the right qualifications. Make sure to craft compelling secondary essays and effectively prepare for interview day so you can maximize your chances of getting in.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.
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Appendix A: South Carolina medical schools by degree type
Allopathic medical schools in South Carolina (MD)
Medical University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina (Columbia)
University of South Carolina (Greenville)
Osteopathic medical schools in South Carolina (DO)
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
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Appendix B: South Carolina medical schools by institution type
Public medical schools in South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina (Columbia)
University of South Carolina (Greenville)
Private medical schools in South Carolina
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
