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School of Medicine

  • Students in white coats on the State House steps

Admissions

Beginning with the 2020-21 cycle, the Admissions Office is using a new application system called AMP. The 2021 AMCAS application review process is in progress. The 2021 AMCAS application deadline was November 1, 2020. Secondary applications are only sent to applicants who are being considered for interviews. All interviews will be virtual this year, via Zoom, on Wednesday afternoons from September 2020 - March 2021.  Offers of admission will be made on a rolling basis through March 2021 with a waiting list beginning in April 2021.

Due to COVID-19, we are not conducting campus tours or visits. Please do not drop by without an appointment.  You can e-mail admissions@uscmed.sc.edu with any questions or concerns.

COVID-19 Information for 2020-2021 Admissions Cycle:  Please note the following.

  1. Pass/Fail & Online Coursework and Labs:  For students who do not receive standard letter grades or do not elect to receive standard letter grades during the Spring 2020, Summer 2020 and/or Fall 2020 semesters due to school closures and conversion to  online learning, we will accept pass/fail courses and online labs.  Although the School of Medicine Columbia does not have prerequisites, there are strongly recommended courses.
  2. Letters of Evaluation:  During the committee review, the School of Medicine Columbia will remain cognizant of the fact that clinical and observational experience may be more difficult to obtain along with letters accompanying these experiences. 
  3. MCAT:  The School of Medicine Columbia will continue to require a MCAT score for the 2020-21 application cycle.  It has to be taken no later than September 28, 2020 to be considered for the 2020-21 cycle. If you decide to retake the MCAT after submitting your AMCAS application, please login to your AMCAS application and add your new MCAT testing date. We will receive your new score automatically from MCAT, once scores are released. If you add a new MCAT exam date, the Admissions Committee will not make a final decision regarding secondary application and interview invitations until all MCAT scores are received. 

Please do not hesitate to contact our office as needed.  We also encourage prospective students to check our website for updates.  These changes continue to evolve over time, and we will do our best to keep you informed.

Your Background

We're looking for a diverse group of students who are interested in making a big impact on the health of our state.  We use a holistic process to review each application, taking into account your unique academic and professional background.  As a South Carolina based school, we prioritize applicants who have a significant connection to South Carolina. 

Our students are getting hands-on clinical experience, exposure to state-of-the-art technology and the opportunity to explore specialties like rural health.  Are you ready to join them?

Frequently Asked Questions

Visit our FAQs page for additional information.

Exams and Standards 

You should plan to take the MCAT exam before applying.  We also ask each student to review our technical standards to ensure that they are able to meet the physical, emotional and social demands of our program.

Staying on Track

We keep our class sizes small so we can give you the attention you deserve.  That also makes our admissions very competitive, so it's important that you stick to our timelines: (Fall 2021) or (Fall 2022) in order to be considered for admission.  

Getting a Solid Background 

Our school offers a certificate program in biomedical sciences, which is a great way to improve your medical knowledge, grades and test scores before applying to our medical program.

Important Information About Licensure

Programs Leading to Licensure
Each state has its own licensing board with specific medical licensure requirements. The Doctor of Medicine program at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine - Columbia is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).  Graduates are eligible for professional licensure in the state of South Carolina, but must complete the process and requirements for professional licensure in the state of their residency.  For students who are not living and completing residency in South Carolina, please look at this information regarding medical licensure specific to individual states throughout the U.S.

The University of South Carolina maintains a site for Professional Licensure Information for all programs.

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