2014-2015 University of South Carolina Application Thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

gettheleadout

MD
Moderator Emeritus
10+ Year Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2010
Messages
11,799
Reaction score
2,808
2000 character limit for each one.

What are your medical practice goals?

Does this application represent a career change? If so, please describe your most recent career.

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).

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

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

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

Good luck to everyone applying! :luck:
 
Last edited:
I'm applying here this cycle. I'm really excited about this school! Are there any current medical students willing to dish out some secondary/interview advice? Especially OOS students?
 
I'm applying here this cycle. I'm really excited about this school! Are there any current medical students willing to dish out some secondary/interview advice? Especially OOS students?
+1
Anyone? :shrug:
 
I thought about applying here for OOS, but isn't the OOS tuition some mind-numbing $80k?
 
I thought about applying here for OOS, but isn't the OOS tuition some mind-numbing $80k?
I'm out of state and got accepted for this fall! The tuition is awful first year but you can establish residency and the tuition goes way down starting second year, so the average for all 4 years isn't too bad.
 
I'm interested in applying here but was wondering-what is the difference between this one University of South Carolina-Greenville? are they two separate applications?
 
Its a doozy of a secondary:

Optional/depends on Applicability questions:
If you are a reapplicant, what have you done to strengthen your candidacy? (May be left blank when answer is NO, 2000 characters)
If you have experienced academic difficulties in college, please briefly explain circumstances regarding any courses with a grade less than a B minus, or any course withdrawals. (If not applicable, this question may be left blank, 2000 characters)
If you are currently participating in an academic program, please project intended coursework for the academic year. (If not applicable, this question may be left blank, 2000 characters)
If you do not expect to spend this academic year in school, please explain how you intend to use this time. (If not applicable, this question may be left blank, 2000 characters)
Please describe any additional medically-related volunteering/shadowing/experience not included in your AMCAS application. (If not applicable, this question may be left blank, 2000 characters)
Please describe any additional community service or volunteer activities not included in your AMCAS application. (If not applicable, this question may be left blank, 2000 characters)
Please describe any additional research, teamwork, accomplishments or leadership experience not included in your AMCAS application. (If not applicable, this question may be left blank, 2000 characters)
Please provide any information regarding personal challenges/hardships that you have overcome not included in your AMCAS application. (If not applicable, this question may be left blank, 2000 characters)
If you are not a South Carolina resident, what relationships, bonds, or interests do you have to this state? (If not applicable, this question may be left blank, 2000 characters)
What other additional information would you like the Admissions Committee to consider that has not been previously addressed? (If not applicable, this question may be left blank, 2000 characters)
Does this application represent a career change, if yes please describe your first career? (it says 32,000 characters but i think this is a typo)
Describe any past achievements, experiences, special family or personal circumstances that you believe make you a unique student, able to bring diversity to the class (32,000 characters same problem as above with the character count)




Required:
If you are not accepted to medical school for the upcoming academic year, what are your plans? (2,000 characters)
What traits, experiences, challenges, interests, etc. make you unique and would bring added value to the learning environment at USCSM-Greenville (2,000 characters)?

One of the Guiding Principles of the USCSM Greenville states that "Students will practice patient-centered care that values the interdependent roles of health care providers and facilities in service to their patients." Describe your understanding of and commitment to patient-centered care and how successful implementation of this principle will help address the medical needs of your future patients and the community that you serve (500 words)

Yeah this one is insane (especially if many of the opitonal essays apply to you) good luck.

Think you might have intended to post this under USC-Greenville's thread.
 
Secondary received and submitted! U.....S.....C.... Go Cocks!
 
How did you all handle the question, "In what region of the country do you want to practice medicine? Why?" I have no idea where I want to work when I'm out of school...
 
How did you all handle the question, "In what region of the country do you want to practice medicine? Why?" I have no idea where I want to work when I'm out of school...
Do you like where you live now? If so, talk about what makes it special to you and why you want to serve the people who live there.
 
Hey all. I am an OOS apply this year and I had a question about the secondary that I hope someone can give me some advice on. It is about questions 1 and 4.

1) What are your medical practice goals? (2000 c/s)
....
4)What area of medicine are you interested in at this time, or what area do you plan to pursue? (2000 c/s)

I am having trouble really understanding the difference between these two questions. In my mind they are both sort of asking what kind of medical career do you want to pursue.... Could anyone give me advice on how they differentiated these questions? Thanks!
 
I would differentiate your medical practice goals by talking about the future, what you hope to accomplish (and in what specialty, if you are rather set on something), and then answer the medical interest question as what area, and probably why.
 
I would differentiate your medical practice goals by talking about the future, what you hope to accomplish (and in what specialty, if you are rather set on something), and then answer the medical interest question as what area, and probably why.

Yep that's kinda what I figured though unfortunately those questions are still pretty similar. Its pretty likely my desired specialty and my medical interests align so I guess I am struggling to see how I am not going to be repetitive, but I see what you are saying. Thanks.
 
Yep that's kinda what I figured though unfortunately those questions are still pretty similar. Its pretty likely my desired specialty and my medical interests align so I guess I am struggling to see how I am not going to be repetitive, but I see what you are saying. Thanks.
To a degree, your essays will be repetitive. Mine were, but I feel like they covered angles of the topic "medical interest", if that makes sense. Good luck!
 
Hey folks. Just moved to Charleston from Syracuse and will be staring work at MUSC soon. Woo. Applying MUSC and my number one choice for this year - wishing everyone luck!
 
Hey guys, would being a North Carolina resident be considered 'close ties' to SC?
 
What constitutes "ties" to the state? Would having family in SC count?

Thanks 🙂
 
Did any of you receive a "complete status" email after submitting the secondary? Thank you 🙂
 
Did any of you receive a "complete status" email after submitting the secondary? Thank you 🙂

I was wondering the same thing. It has been a little over a week since I submitted the secondary and I haven't heard anything at all. On the contrary, USC-Greenville emailed me saying they had everything they needed and would be reviewing my application soon. I submitted both on the same day. So I have no idea. If I find anything out I will let you know.
 
How did you all handle the question, "In what region of the country do you want to practice medicine? Why?" I have no idea where I want to work when I'm out of school...

I spoke with some administrators at another SC medical college and they said the importance of this question is that they want you to stay in the south...it's kind of selfish, I guess, but the guy I talked to basically said that they want to train their students the best and hope that they stay in the general area so "not all good doctors have left to farther away places". It's just a way to ensure the college that the students who learn all of this awesomeness stay close by and use it with and on the people here and not all of these great doctors move to, say, the northeast and the south is stuck hiring new doctors from "lesser" schools, yadda yadda yadda. So in a battle for the last spot, if it comes down to two people with similar credentials and one says "I'd love to stay and work in SC; I'd love to start a life here" versus another who says "I'm originally from Oregon and can't wait to move back", then they are going to give the spot to the SC student in hopes they will stick to their intended plan.
 
Hey all. I am an OOS apply this year and I had a question about the secondary that I hope someone can give me some advice on. It is about questions 1 and 4.

1) What are your medical practice goals? (2000 c/s)
....
4)What area of medicine are you interested in at this time, or what area do you plan to pursue? (2000 c/s)

I am having trouble really understanding the difference between these two questions. In my mind they are both sort of asking what kind of medical career do you want to pursue.... Could anyone give me advice on how they differentiated these questions? Thanks!

Hi everyone! I would like to respond to this question but also let you all know that I am a 4th year at USCSOM and I am completely happy with my choice to go to medical school here. I'm happy to help in any way I can!

What they are looking for -
#1 - medical practice goals - Do you want to practice in a rural vs. urban area? Does private practice appeal to you or do you want to pursue academic medicine? Are you planning to be super specialized or a generalist in your field?

vs. #4 - literally --- are you interested in family vs. surgery vs. ob/gyn vs. pediatrics. It would be totally acceptable to say something like "Since I have volunteered for the past 3 months in the emergency department at X hospital, I have learned that I enjoy performing procedures and interacting with patients. However, I would not rule out any field of medical practice at this time." Or - Since I have volunteered for the past 3 months in the emergency department at X hospital, I have learned that I enjoy performing procedures and interacting with patients. However, I have found myself wondering about several patient outcomes, so I think I would enjoy a field with more continuity of care."

I hope that is helpful. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or ask them here.

Another nugget of info - I am the last class to get to spend 3rd and 4th year at the Greenville clinical campus from Columbia. So I know about both schools and how they compare. Columbia now sends some students out to Florence, SC, as a clinical training site.

BEST OF LUCK!
 
So I may be really dumb... but I just signed into my account, and under status it doesn't say anything. Is this normal? Should I contact admissions and make sure my application is complete?
 
Where do you see a status? On the my.sc.edu site I can't find anything with that header.
 
Where do you see a status? On the my.sc.edu site I can't find anything with that header.

When you go to my.sc.edu you then go to SSC (self-service Carolina) and log in. Then go to student -> admissions. Then click on your completed application (should say "Fall 2015).

So I may be really dumb... but I just signed into my account, and under status it doesn't say anything. Is this normal? Should I contact admissions and make sure my application is complete?

I just emailed admissions and they told me that the only confirmation you get is the page at the end of your application in your browser. So as long as your fee is paid and you saw that you were complete, you should be good. And I wouldn't worry about the status being blank. The application to USC-Greenville is through the same online portal and the status is blank there for me too although they did send a confirmation email.
 
Did anyone get something like this:
"The Admissions Committee has reviewed your application and is inviting you for interviews in the Spring Semester. More information regarding an interview date will be sent to you via email in late November or early December."

Is this normal with USC Columbia? What should I think about this?
 
They've been interviewing pretty steadily on Wednesdays and discussing the applicants the same day after interviews for the past few months, its possible that they've just booked up all their slots for the rest of the year.
 
Did anyone get something like this:
"The Admissions Committee has reviewed your application and is inviting you for interviews in the Spring Semester. More information regarding an interview date will be sent to you via email in late November or early December."

Is this normal with USC Columbia? What should I think about this?

If you're OOS, it's very possible that they are giving priority access to interview spots to IS applicants. I know that MUSC typically does not even begin to evaluate OOS applicants until November.

I'm IS and expecting to hear back from USC pretty soon. I'll update you if I get an II.
 
If you're OOS, it's very possible that they are giving priority access to interview spots to IS applicants. I know that MUSC typically does not even begin to evaluate OOS applicants until November.

I'm IS and expecting to hear back from USC pretty soon. I'll update you if I get an II.
That makes a lot of sense. Thanks, and I hope you get it!
 
That makes a lot of sense. Thanks, and I hope you get it!

So I just got an II today for early-mid December and I'm IS. I was complete mid October. I would venture to say that the reason you got a later interview date would have to do with you being OOS, but might also depend on your stats, how late you were complete, and any close ties. I wonder if any other OOS applicants received a similar email as @DocNextDor or received an II pre-Spring semester.
 
So I just got an II today for early-mid December and I'm IS. I was complete mid October. I would venture to say that the reason you got a later interview date would have to do with you being OOS, but might also depend on your stats, how late you were complete, and any close ties. I wonder if any other OOS applicants received a similar email as @DocNextDor or received an II pre-Spring semester.
congrats on your II! I was complete mid-late september and not much ties really to SC.
Did any other OOS applicant get the same email?
 
II today, IS. Complete a few months ago (staying ambiguous for now on the date, but it's been awhile)
 
Just got a specific date for Spring Interview; OOS.
Does anyone know if its okay to leave after your second interview since I could not get later flights.
Can anyone who already interviewed discuss their experience?
 
I've heard directly from admissions staff that if you bounce early it looks bad.
 
How can one withdraw from this school? I cannot find any link on the secondary or info in the emails. Thank you!
 
Top