Information for Incoming M.D. Students

Second Look Weekend: March 24-25, 2023

• Register by Friday, March 10 (Invitation by email)

Affording Medical School - Please visit the COM Scholarship & Aid Opportunities for insight into internal, external and contractual scholarships.

• COM Scholarship Application - The COM scholarship application deadline for incoming students is Monday, April 3.
• MUSC Office of Student Financial Aid
• MUSC Office of Financial Literacy

AAMC Choose Your Medical School - April 15, 2023

Applicants must use CYMS through AMCAS to narrow their acceptance offers to three schools, using the Plan to Enroll option. Applicants must notify the MUSC College of Medicine Office of Admissions (COM-Admissions@musc.edu) if they are no longer planning to enroll at MUSC.

AAMC Choose Your Medical School - April 30, 2023

All students can stay in the “Plan to enroll” until the date specified by individual schools and remain on Alternate lists.

“Commit to enroll” becomes available to applicants in the AMCAS Choose your Medical School tool on AMCAS on April 30, 2023. Applicants at this point can use the Commit to Enroll option if they are ready to make their final selection and inform the other schools where they may be holding other offers that they are withdrawing from that school. Using Commit to Enroll does NOT automatically withdraw applicants from other schools. Applicants must notify the MUSC College of Medicine Office of Admissions (COM-Admissions@musc.edu) if they are no longer planning to enroll at MUSC.

AAMC Choose Your Medical School - May 2, 2023

Applicants should narrow their acceptance offers to one, with no limit on the number of alternate list offers they may hold.

MUSC COM Admissions Deposit Refund - May 15, 2023

To receive a full refund of the MUSC College of Medicine deposit, applicants must submit a formal withdrawal request to COM-Admissions@musc.edu no later than May 15, 2023. Withdrawal requests received after this date will forfeit full deposit.

AAMC Choose Your Medical School Commit to Enroll deadline - June 24, 2023

The deadline date is specific for the MUSC College of Medicine and is the date by which applicants offered admission to the MUSC College of Medicine must indicate Commit to Enroll, if they are planning to enroll at MUSC by using the AMCAS Choose Your Medical School tool. Applicants must withdraw from any other schools if they are holding multiple acceptances and inform those schools by email of their withdrawal. Applicants must meet this deadline or may risk having their offer of admission to the MUSC College of Medicine rescinded. Applicants must notify the MUSC College of Medicine Office of Admissions (COM-Admissions@musc.edu) if they are no longer planning to enroll at MUSC.

MUSC NetID/emails - Please make sure you have received the information for your NET ID and MUSC email. An email with this information will be sent in the summer to your personal email account on file. If you do not receive your NetID or have questions, please contact netid-mgr@musc.edu

New Student Info Form -This form will be sent Spring 2023.

MSQ - Please complete the Matriculating Student Questionnaire (MSQ) survey, which is administered annually by the AAMC to all first-year medical students. If you were accepted to an MD program in the U.S. in 2022-23 and have not yet received your MSQ link, email msq@aamc.org.

Student Policy Modules – You will receive an email Summer 2023 confirming your enrollment in the courses “COM Educational Policies for Students” and “MUSC All Students General Mandatory.” Each course is made up of several modules, each containing important policies related to the MUSC University, College of Medicine and your curriculum. You must complete both sets of training before the first day of classes.

MUSC Off-Campus Housing - Please visit the MUSC Off-Campus Housing webpage for assistance with arranging housing. There is also information for students to find roommates, if needed.

• Flood Zones - Charleston is located along the Atlantic Coastal region and is subject to flooding from heavy rains and high tides. When researching off-campus housing options, you're encouraged to verify the flood zone by visiting the Charleston County Flood Zone webpage and check with property managers.

Student Health - Upon receiving your MUSC NetID, please complete the Student Health Packet information. For help with questions about the student health forms or concerns please email studenthealthins@musc.edu.

Deadline: August 1

• Covid-19 Vaccination - Information forthcoming

Student Health Insurance - MUSC requires all students to maintain health insurance as a condition of enrollment. You are encouraged to choose an insurance plan that best meets your needs. Your tuition account will be automatically charged each semester for the new school-sponsored student health insurance plan through BlueCross BlueShield.

Social Events hosted by COM Orientation Team

Humanities Book Discussion - As part of the medical school’s commitment to professional development, professional identify formation, and humanism in medicine, all students participate in a required humanities book discussion during orientation. Details to be announced.

Health Care Disparities Reading for Small Group Discussion to be held in August - Troubling racial health disparities continue to exist locally and nationally.  Starting In the first week of medical school, students and faculty engage in important conversations about the role of disparities in medicine.

Laptop Requirements- All incoming medical students are required to purchase a portable or laptop computer. Campus buildings are wireless-enabled, with access your campus email, student-related information, course materials, and other important web-based resources at any time using your laptop. Please visit the COM Student Technology website for a list of minimum requirements and recommendations.

GIFT Pre-Matriculation Program - Friday July 21
The Getting Integrated and Fully Transitioned (GIFT) into medical school program is designed to support your upcoming transition to the academic and social challenges of medical school while introducing you to key members of the MUSC College of Medicine community. Event details and registration will be shared via email.

Orientation and White Coat Ceremony

• Orientation: August 9-11, 2023
• White Coat Ceremony: Saturday, August 12, North Charleston Performing Arts Center
• The White Coat Ceremony will last approximately one hour with business casual dress.
• Attendance for the ceremony may be limited with tickets required. Details to be announced closer to the time.
• Please visit the MUSC Hotel Discounts and MUSC Campus Travel web pages for assistance.

College of Medicine Technical Standards - Request disability-related accommodations through the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) by filling out the Student Accommodations Request Form and submitting supplemental documentation. It is recommended that you request accommodations as early as possible. To read more about the procedure for requesting accommodations, please visit https://web.musc.edu/about/leadership/institutional-offices/diversity/ada-resources/request-accommodations.

Required Textbooks - All required textbooks for the first two semesters of the preclerkship curriculum are available free to you online through the MUSC Library’s. For reference, please see the FLEX 2026 Resources webpage (to be updated for FLEX27). Though you may wish to buy a copy of Anatomy Atlas later in the fall semester, please wait until the end of Block 1 and the advice from the anatomy faculty before making any purchases. Each of you will also receive a physical diagnosis equipment kit and stethoscope so you do not need to purchase anything at this time.

Transportation - MUSC offers a variety of transportation methods to navigate campus. Please visit the MUSC Transportation website for more information on the following:

• Biking: MUSC and the City of Charleston are very walkable and bikeable. Students living downtown often bike to campus using bike racks conveniently located across campus.
• MUSC Shuttles and CARTA buses: Students are CARTA Buses are free to use for all MUSC students/employees. Simply show your MUSC badge upon boarding. The Charleston Area Regional Transport Authority (CARTA) offers an express (park and ride) bus service, fixed-route services, and a downtown shuttle. Info and schedules on the CARTA website.

Parking - Students can start to sign up for parking on the first day of classes. Parking on campus is limited, and is assigned on a first come, first serve system. For alternative parking options please contact one of the COM-Team Co-Chairs for recommendations.

Academic Coaching Programs (PDF) - Academic Coaches are preclerkship faculty identified based on their understanding of the FLEX curriculum and proven experience and success in guiding students through the rigors of medical school. The assignment of an academic coach to each student is intended to provide an immediate point-of-contact for the student and to ensure that each student is connected to all of the available resources. Our goal is to assist you in reaching your personal goals.

COM Team Peer Mentoring Program (PDF) - The purpose of the COM TEAM Program is to prepare medical students for academic success by integrating peer mentoring for support and guidance. All first year College of Medicine students are assigned to a COM TEAM group, consisting of nine students. Eighty second-year students are selected annually and are known as COM TEAM Leaders. The groups serve as support groups for orientation activities, during the first year and students engaged in team-based learning experiences in the Fundamentals of Patient Care (FPC) Theme, a curriculum requirement for year one.