The Medical University of South Carolina secondary application has several medium-length essays. Being a public institution, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) prefers medical students who are from South Carolina or from nearby state. Read all our Medical University of South Carolina tips below so you can learn how to stand out question by question!
Submitting a strong secondary application is essential in getting accepted. The MUSC secondary application prompts do not change frequently, so we suggest pre-writing these essays. This way, you can submit this seocndary earlier in the application cycle. Stand out on your MUSC secondary application with our secondary essay editing packages!
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Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application Questions: 2025 – 2026
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application MD Prompts:
- Please discuss your primary interest in attending the Medical University of South Carolina. (2,000 characters max)
- We desire to train students and physicians to work with the diverse patients of our state and nation. Please share any important aspects of your background, identity, and/or experiences that have impacted your ability to relate to and work with diverse communities and patient populations. (3,000 characters max)
- (Optional) If you are a re-applicant, please describe how you have improved or strengthened your candidacy for medical school. Examples may include, but are not limited to, extra-curriculars, experiences, academic preparedness, etc. (2,000 characters max)
- (Optional) Out of State only: Please describe in detail your strong Close Ties to South Carolina. Please include specifics such as time periods/dates, addresses, educational institutions, close familial relationships, employment information, etc. (3,000 characters max)
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application MSTP Prompts:
- Please attached a resume / personal history / CV. For the Resume/Personal History below, provide the following information in resume or curriculum vitae format:
- education with dates
- past employment
- undergraduate or summer research experience(s) including number of hours in each
- publications
- academic honors, awards
- extracurricular/community/professional activities
- membership in professional organizations
2. For the Essay section, write a paragraph that includes discussion of the following:
- Why do you want to come to MUSC
- Research you want to pursue in graduate school
Tips to Answer MUSC Secondary Application Essays
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary application Pre-Writing Guidance: Because the prompts don’t change that often and because this is a long secondary application, we strongly encourage premedical school applicants to pre-write this. This is also a state school application, which means you should submit it earlier in the application cycle. If you are an out-of-state (OOS) applicant to MUSC, we strongly suggest you submit this application to the admissions committee by the end of July. Get all our secondary application essay tips by downloading our Cracking Med School Admissions secondary essay guide.
MUSC Secondary Application Tip #1: Given that Medical University of South Carolina is a public institution, it is extremely important to write your affiliations with South Carolina. If you lived in South Carolina or even visited family in South Carolina, we highly mention that in your application! Additionally, if you’ve done clinical or volunteer experiences in South Carolina, include that in your application. Finally, if you plan to practice in South Carolina, mention it your MUSC secondary application!
MUSC Secondary Application Tip #2: The Medical University of South Carolina secondary application question, “We desire to train students and physicians to work with the diverse patients of our state and nation. Please share any important aspects of your background, identity, and/or experiences that have impacted your ability to relate to and work with diverse communities and patient populations” is similar to a diversity essay. Diversity does not necessarily mean your ethnic diversity, although you can write about your ethnic background if you feel like there is a unique aspect. We recommend students write about their strengths, including exceptional extracurricular activity endeavors.
- Read our tips on how to best answer diversity secondary essays: Medical School Diversity Essay Examples and Tips
Most applicants will first go to writing about their family background – particularly their families’ immigrant background – when they see a diversity prompt. While that is not incorrect, Drs. Rizal and Mediratta ask: Is this the best topic to make you stand out? What topic will best convey your commitment to being an excellent physician?
Don’t forget to answer this long character limit essay with at least one story!
MUSC Secondary Application Tip #3: Our Cracking Med School Admissions team strongly encourages our students to include stories in the MUSC secondary application. Stories can show the reader a lot about you!
Here are examples of stories our students have written:
- A story from your gap year job. Many students scribe, and you can discuss a memorable patient encounter. Other students do research, so we’ve encouraged students to discuss a challenging research problem and how they solved it.
- A patient experience you have encountered and connect it with the region of the country you are interested in.
- Stories with rural patients. Especially for OOS applicants, you have to relate your experiences outside of South Carolina with the rural population of South Carolina.
MUSC Secondary Application Tip #4: Don’t forget to incorporate a little bit about “Why MUSC” throughout the Medical University of South Carolina secondary application responses. Talk about the curriculum and specific volunteer / clinical opportunities you want to do at MUSC.
- Read our blog post why this medical school to gain insights on how to incorporate a strong “Why Medical University of South Carolina.”
MUSC Secondary Application Tip #5: Get our help to edit your Medical University of South Carolina secondary application essays and your other secondary essays. We can help you through our secondary essay packages. Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact Dr. Rachel Rizal and Dr. Rishi Mediratta below.
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Use this essay guide and workbook to write standout secondaries.
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application Questions: 2024 – 2025
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application MD Prompts:
- Please discuss your primary interest in attending the Medical University of South Carolina. (2,000 characters max)
- Please share the type of research you want to pursue in graduate school.
- We desire to train students and physicians to work with the diverse patients of our state and nation. Please share any important aspects of your background, identity, and/or experiences that have impacted your ability to relate to and work with diverse communities and patient populations. (2,000 characters max)
- (Optional) The Admissions Committee strongly encourages you to share personal challenges that you have overcome and that are unique to you. These challenges may include economic disadvantage, limited access to healthcare, adverse life experience(s), disability, and/or the quality of your early educational environment. Please discuss how such challenges have impacted your preparation and goals in your journey to medicine and may help you to uniquely contribute to MUSC College of Medicine. (3,000 characters max)
- (If applicable) For re-applicants- If you are a re-applicant, please describe what you have done since last applying (i.e. your activities, involvement, preparedness, etc.) to strengthen your candidacy for medical school. (2,000 characters max)
- (If applicable) For out-of-state applicants- If you are not a legal resident of South Carolina, please describe in detail your strong Close Ties to South Carolina. Close Ties are defined as: (1) Having lived in SC for multiple years, (2) Parents who currently live full-time in SC, (3) Completed the majority of your education in SC (i.e. enrolled in or graduate of an undergraduate and/or graduate degree from a South Carolina institution), (4) and/or Currently living in and/or working in South Carolina. (3,000 characters max)
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application MSTP Prompts:
- Please attached a resume / personal history / CV. For the Resume/Personal History below, provide the following information in resume or curriculum vitae format:
- education with dates
- past employment
- undergraduate or summer research experience(s) including number of hours in each
- publications
- academic honors, awards
- extracurricular/community/professional activities
- membership in professional organizations
2. For the Essay section, write a paragraph that includes discussion of the following:
- Why do you want to come to MUSC
- Research you want to pursue in graduate school
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application MD Prompts:
- Please discuss your primary interest in attending the Medical University of South Carolina. (2,000 characters max)
- We desire to train students and physicians to work with the diverse patients of our state and nation. Please share any important aspects of your background, identity, and/or experiences that have impacted your ability to relate to and work with diverse communities and patient populations. (2,000 characters max)
- (If applicable) For re-applicants- If you are a re-applicant, please describe what you have done since last applying (i.e. your activities, involvement, preparedness, etc.) to strengthen your candidacy for medical school. (2,000 characters max)
- (If applicable) For out-of-state applicants- If you are not a legal resident of South Carolina, please describe in detail your strong Close Ties to South Carolina. Close Ties are defined as: (1) Having lived in SC for multiple years, (2) Parents who currently live full-time in SC, (3) Completed the majority of your education in SC (i.e. enrolled in or graduate of an undergraduate and/or graduate degree from a South Carolina institution), (4) and/or Currently living in and/or working in South Carolina. (3,000 characters max)
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application MSTP Prompts:
- Please attached a resume / personal history / CV. For the Resume/Personal History below, provide the following information in resume or curriculum vitae format:
- education with dates
- past employment
- undergraduate or summer research experience(s) including number of hours in each
- publications
- academic honors, awards
- extracurricular/community/professional activities
- membership in professional organizations
2. For the Essay section, write a paragraph that includes discussion of the following:
- Why do you want to come to MUSC
- Research you want to pursue in graduate school
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application MD Prompts:
- What are your medical practice goals? (2,000 characters max)
- 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). (2,000 characters max)
- In what region of the country do you want to practice medicine? Why? (2,000 characters max)
- What areas of medicine are you interested in at this time, or what areas do you plan to pursue? (2,000 characters max)
- Do you have any accomplishments or experiences that make you a unique applicant? (2,000 characters max)
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application MSTP Prompts:
- Please attached a resume / personal history / CV. For the Resume/Personal History below, provide the following information in resume or curriculum vitae format:
- education with dates
- past employment
- undergraduate or summer research experience(s) including number of hours in each
- publications
- academic honors, awards
- extracurricular/community/professional activities
- membership in professional organizations
2. For the Essay section, write a paragraph that includes discussion of the following:
- Why do you want to come to MUSC
- Research you want to pursue in graduate school
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022
- What are your medical practice goals? (2,000 characters max)
- 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). (2,000 characters max)
- In what region of the country do you want to practice medicine? Why? (2,000 characters max)
- What areas of medicine are you interested in at this time, or what areas do you plan to pursue? (2,000 characters max)
- Do you have any accomplishments or experiences that make you a unique applicant? (2,000 characters max)
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application Questions: 2020 - 2021
- What are your medical practice goals? (2,000 characters max)
- Does this application represent a career change? If so, please describe your most recent career. (2,000 characters max)
- 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). (2,000 characters max)
- In what region of the country do you want to practice medicine? Why? (2,000 characters max)
- What areas of medicine are you interested in at this time, or what areas do you plan to pursue? (2,000 characters max)
- Do you have any accomplishments or experiences that make you a unique applicant? (2,000 characters max)
- Explain any impact that COVID-19 may have had on your educational, research, volunteering or employment plans. (2,000 characters max)
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020
- What are your medical practice goals? (2,000 characters max)
- 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). (2,000 characters max)
- In what region of the country do you want to practice medicine? Why? (2,000 characters max)
- What areas of medicine are you interested in at this time, or what areas do you plan to pursue? (2,000 characters max)
- Do you have any accomplishments or experiences that make you a unique applicant? (2,000 characters max)
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019
- What are your medical practice goals? (2,000 characters max)
- 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). (2,000 characters max)
- In what region of the country do you want to practice medicine? Why? (2,000 characters max)
- What areas of medicine are you interested in at this time, or what areas do you plan to pursue? (2,000 characters max)
- Do you have any accomplishments or experiences that make you a unique applicant? (2,000 characters max)
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application Questions: 2017 – 2018
- Do you have any relatives who graduated from USC School of Medicine-Columbia? (yes or no) If so, please list any relatives who graduated from USC School of Medicine-Columbia, year of graduation (if known), and their relationship to you. 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).In what region of the country do you want to practice medicine? Why? (2,000 characters max)
- What areas of medicine are you interested in at this time, or what areas do you plan to pursue? (2,000 characters max)
- Do you have any accomplishments or experiences that make you a unique applicant? (2,000 characters max)
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application Questions: 2016 – 2017
- What are your medical practice goals? (1,000 characters max)
- 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). (1,000 characters max)
- In what region of the country do you want to practice medicine? Why? (1,000 characters max)
- What areas of medicine are you interested in at this time, or what areas do you plan to pursue? (1,000 characters max)
- Do you have any accomplishments or experiences that make you a unique applicant? (1,000 characters max)
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application Questions: 2015 – 2016
- What are your medical practice goals? (2,000 characters max)
- Does this application represent a career change? If so, please describe your most recent career. (2,000 characters max)
- 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). (2,000 characters max)
- In what region of the country do you want to practice medicine? Why? (2,000 characters max)
- What areas of medicine are you interested in at this time, or what areas do you plan to pursue? (2,000 characters max)
- Do you have any accomplishments or experiences that make you a unique applicant? (2,000 characters max)
Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Application Questions: 2014 – 2015
- What are your medical practice goals? (2,000 characters max)
- Does this application represent a career change? If so, please describe your most recent career. (2,000 characters max)
- 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). (2,000 characters max)
- In what region of the country do you want to practice medicine? Why? (2,000 characters max)
- What areas of medicine are you interested in at this time, or what areas do you plan to pursue? (2,000 characters max)
- Do you have any accomplishments or experiences that make you a unique applicant? (2,000 characters max)