With the move to the block scheduling, does that mean MUSC doesn't have the "hell weeks" anymore where you would have exams in 4 different classes in 4 days or whatever?
What happens every 5 weeks is a week called SDS week, you literally get an entire 4 days of the week to do all of your own studying and put it all together. MUSC isn't broken up into "classes" per se. What happens is, on that Friday you take 2 parts of an exam and a practical for anatomy. Just picture a 150 multiple choice test and then a lab portion. The questions are all assessed and a score is reported. >90% is a High Pass (Honors), >70% is pass and <70% is a fail. At the end of the semester, for transcript and CV purposes you are assessed scores in all of the 4 different themes based on how well you did on those portions of the exams. The monday of that week is your OSCE - or patient skills exam for a brief period (interviews, vitals, etc.) with patients and standardized patients.
I know this sounds extremely complex but it really isn't. You receive a score for each block exam, and also get reported theme scores.
As far as interview tips - they pair you with interviewees who have similar interests - for example, I worked for six months as a GI Tech and performed colonoscopies, and also mentioned on my application that I like working with children, so I interviewed with a Pediatric Gastroenterologist. My major was Experimental Psychology, so I also interviewed with the associate dean of students - who happened to be a psychiatrist.
Just be yourself when you go in, MUSC was one of the school that I went to that I really enjoyed the interview compared to some others where it was simply intimidating. Wherever you interview, however, it is important to look at interview reviews and questions on the SDN sticky - because that will help you prepare a lot, especially if you interview late in the cycle.
The interviews are really laid back and the staff here - as well as the admissions committee is a great group of people who work their tails off to select not only the brightest - but the right people for the job. This years first year class is a testament to that.
Feel free to PM me for more specific questions if you would like.
I'm off to lecture so I can head to Columbia and watch my Gamecocks play tonight! GO COCKS!