Incoming Students

Welcome to the College of Medicine of the Medical University of South Carolina. As the oldest medical school in the South, MUSC has a long and rich tradition of educating physician leaders for our state, country, and indeed the world. You have already proven yourself to be the kind of person who will become an excellent physician. In four years, you will become one of the world’s most needed and greatest resources — a physician.

It is our intent during your time here at MUSC to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and humility required to serve your fellow man. You need to be prepared to change more than you have in any other educational pursuit. You will grow in many ways, but in none more important than the understanding that your learning will never end as you enter the profession of medicine. Being part of this profession is a tremendous privilege that begins and ends with service to others - this is why you will endure the long hours, the hard work, and the obligations. It is a calling of great personal sacrifice, but of unbelievable reward from helping others.

Things You Must Do

NetID and MUSC email account - Please make sure you have received the information for your NET ID and MUSC email. An email with this information was sent last month to your personal email account on file. If you have not received your NetID or have questions, please contact netid-mgr@musc.edu

New Student Info Form - Fill out this form. Before submitting this form, it would be helpful if you go to the MUSC Bookstore or any uniform shop to try on white coats to get the right size. The deadline was July 12, 2021; please submit soon if you have not already!

Matriculating Student Questionnaire (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 2021 and have not yet received your MSQ link, email msq@aamc.org.

• After completing the survey please email a copy of your survey confirmation to howards@musc.edu. Upon receipt of confirmation, your name will be entered for a chance to win a prize during orientation.

COVID Vaccination Requirement due by August 9th

• The MUSC Health COVID Vaccination is a requirement for all medical students. You must submit by August 9th either (1) confirmation that you are fully vaccinated, or (2) an exemption/declination. Please use this link to submit your documentation or declination request: MUSC Documentation Tracking System. Please refer to the separate email from Admissions for further instructions.

Student Health - Complete Student Health Packet information. For help with questions about the student health forms or concerns please email studenthealthins@musc.edu.
Deadline: August 1.

MyQuest Student Policy Modules – You will receive an email from MyQuest confirming your enrollment in the MyQuest course “2021 COM Educational Policies for Students – FLEX 2025”. This course is made up of four modules, each containing important policies related to the College of Medicine and FLEX25.

Things You Must Know

Humanities Book Discussion - required sign-up for all incoming students by July 19th for the book discussion that will be held on August 12th. 

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. You may choose which book you wish to read from the list below. Please submit your first and last name and indicate your book selection by no later than Monday, July 19th via this link: https://doodle.com/poll/mntwd5u7cqkec6rg?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link. You will not receive confirmation of your submission – please read the book you select on the Doodle poll.

Academic Coaching Programs (PDF)

COM Team Peer Mentoring Program (PDF)

• Meet the COM Team Leaders

Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) & Writing Center Appointment Scheduling System

Beginning August 13, 2021, the CAE and Writing Center will adopt a new platform for scheduling appointments. The new platform is called Bookings and easily syncs with your Outlook calendar. For ALL individual appointments on or after August 13 about writing, learning, studying, and test taking, please use the “schedule an appointment” link at musc.edu/cae, MUSC CAE Writing Center Bookings. If you wish to schedule appointments before August 13, you should use Lifenet.musc.edu. If you have any questions or need assistance, please email hugginsc@musc.edu.

Supplemental Instruction (SI) Sign Up

Academic Charges - Please visit the Student Accounting Webpage for information regarding tuition, student billing, and refunds. 

Orientation and White Coat Ceremony Dates

• Orientation: August 11 - 13, 2021
• White Coat Ceremony: Sunday, August 15, 12 p.m., North Charleston Performing Arts Center
• The White Coat Ceremony will last approximately one hour with business casual dress. Attendance for the ceremony is limited and tickets are required. During the week of Orientation, students will receive 5 guest tickets.

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 of your required textbooks for the first two semesters of the preclerkship curriculum are available free to you online through the MUSC Library at https://musc.libguides.com/comstudents/flex2025. The only book that you may wish to buy later in the fall semester is your own hard copy of an anatomy atlas. You will receive advice from the anatomy faculty and your COM team leaders after Block 1 so we recommend that you wait before purchasing it.  Each of you will also receive a physical diagnosis equipment kit and stethoscope so you do not need to purchase anything.

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.

Housing - If you have not arranged housing, please visit the Off-Campus Housing Webpage. There is also information for students to find roommates, if needed.

Personal Computer - The College of Medicine requires that all incoming medical students have a personal portable or laptop computer. If you plan to purchase a new laptop, tablet, etc. before the start of classes, the MUSC Innovation Station campus store offers a discount and bundle package deal to all MUSC students. For information on laptop standards and hardware/software requirements, please visit the COM Laptop Standards webpage.

Hurricane Preparedness Information

Use of Marijuana and/or CBD Products - Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug and is illegal to purchase in South Carolina. Apart from a narrow and limited scope of codified/documented medical exceptions, it is illegal for individuals to use marijuana/tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in South Carolina. Although cannabidiol (CBD) products may be purchased and used in South Carolina, please be aware that CBD products may contain higher levels of THC than represented on packaging and use of CBD products can result in a positive drug screen for THC/marijuana.  Be aware that current drug testing methods cannot accurately ascertain the origins of THC metabolites (i.e., whether from marijuana or CBD products). Your academic program has the authority to conduct random and/or scheduled drug testing; if your test result is reported as positive for THC metabolites (even if you only used a CBD product), your ability to be accepted into the program, progress in the program, and/or successfully complete the program may be negatively impacted.

Helpful Information

COVID-19 Portal & Student Resources

COM Student Affairs

COM Wellness Program

Center for Academic Excellence

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Behavioral Support Intervention Team (BSIT)

Scholarship Application

Student Resources

Office of Student Programs and Diversity

Wellness Center

Campus Map (PDF)

Use of Marijuana and/or CBD Products

Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug and is illegal to purchase in South Carolina. Apart from a narrow and limited scope of codified/documented medical exceptions, it is illegal for individuals to use marijuana/tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in South Carolina. Although cannabidiol (CBD) products may be purchased and used in South Carolina, please be aware that CBD products may contain higher levels of THC than represented on packaging and use of CBD products can result in a positive drug screen for THC/marijuana.  Be aware that current drug testing methods cannot accurately ascertain the origins of THC metabolites (i.e., whether from marijuana or CBD products). Your academic program has the authority to conduct random and/or scheduled drug testing; if your test result is reported as positive for THC metabolites (even if you only used a CBD product), your ability to be accepted into the program, progress in the program, and/or successfully complete the program may be negatively impacted.