University of South Carolina-Greenville Secondary Essay Prompts
(If you have updated prompts, please submit them at updatesecondaries.com)
Prompts have been updated April 2023. (Older essays, if available are below)
Prompts:
Academic History
- Question 1b: If you are a re-applicant, what have you engaged in and/or accomplished to strengthen your candidacy? (If not applicable, please write N/A)
- Question 1c: If you applied previously to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, please provide the year(s) of your application(s).
- Question 2: If you are not accepted to medical school for the upcoming academic year, what are your plans?
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- Question 5: Please briefly describe circumstances regarding any courses with a grade less than a B minus, or any course withdrawals. Additionally, please describe the circumstances if you took any required courses as Pass/Fail rather than graded due to COVID-19, including if you had a choice to take as graded or pass/fail and the context of that decision. (If not applicable, please write N/A)
- Question 6: If you are currently participating in an academic program, please outline intended coursework for the academic year. (If not applicable, please write N/A)
- Question 7: If you do not expect to spend this academic year in school, please explain how you intend to use this time. (If not applicable, please write N/A)
- Question 8: Please ensure you have completed the Prerequisite coursework section of the Applicant Gateway. If you need to explain any irregularities regarding your prerequisite courses, please indicate that here. (If not applicable, please write N/A)
Activities, Service, and Research
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Question 1: Please describe any new or additional medically related employment, volunteer activities or observation experiences not included in your AMCAS application. (If not applicable, please write N/A)
- Question 2: Please describe any new or additional community service or volunteer activities not included in your AMCAS application. (If not applicable, please write N/A)
- Question 3: Please describe any new or additional research or leadership experiences not included in your AMCAS application. (If not applicable, please write N/A)
- Question 4: Have you participated in the U of SC School of Medicine Greenville Medical Experience Academy (MedEx)?
Personal Information
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Question 1: Please consider sharing experiences, challenges, family or personal circumstances, interests, etc. that you believe would bring added value and diversity of lived experience to the learning community at UofSC School of Medicine Greenville.
- Question 2: If you are not a South Carolina resident, what relationships, bonds, or other interests or connections do you have to the state? (If not applicable, please write N/A)
- Question 3: Is there any additional information you would like the Admissions Committee to consider that has not been previously addressed? (If not applicable, please write N/A)
- Question 4: Why have you chosen to apply to U of SC School of Medicine Greenville and how do you think your education at UofSCSOM Greenville will prepare you to become a physician in the future?
Essays
Primary Deadline: November 1, 2021
Secondary Deadline: Unknown (Try to turn your secondaries around within two weeks after receiving)
Secondary Fee: $95
FAP Waiver: Full Fee Waived
CASPer Required: No
VITA Required: Yes
Screens Applications: Yes
Accepts Application Updates: Yes/USCGSOM Website
University of South Carolina-Greenville School of Medicine Mission:
We prepare physicians committed to improving the health and wellness of your family and your community through creative teaching, innovative research and quality clinical care.
University of South Carolina-Greenville School of Medicine Vision:
Cultivate a culture of curiosity and commitment to others to transform the health and wellness of communities.
Older Essays:
- If you are not accepted to medical school for the upcoming year, what are your plans (2000 characters)?
- If you are currently participating in an academic program, please project intended coursework for the academic year (2000 characters).
- Describe any additional medically-related volunteering/shadowing experience not included in your AMCAS application (2000 characters).
- Describe any additional community service or volunteer activities not included in your AMCAS application (2000 characters).
- Please describe any additional research or leadership experience not included in your AMCAS application (2000 characters).
- Please provide any information regarding personal challenges/hardships that you have overcome (If not applicable, this question may be left blank) (2000 characters).
- Describe any past achievements, experiences, challenges, family or personal circumstances, interests, etc. that you believe would bring added value and diversity to the learning environment at USCSOM Greenville (2000 characters).
How to Write About Your Obstacles, Challenges, and Problems in your Secondary Essays - What other additional information would you like the Admissions Committee to consider that has not been previously addressed?
If you are not a South Carolina resident, what relationships, bonds, or interests do you have in this state? (If not applicable, this question may be left blank) (2000 characters). - One of the Guiding Principles of the USCSOM Greenville is to “produce physicians competent not only in medical knowledge, technical skills and patient care, but also in compassion, collaborative interpersonal communication, professional responsibility and ethical behavior.” Patients sometimes complain that physicians are “aloof”, “don’t seem to care” or “lack compassion”. How, especially in a busy and often hectic setting, can a physician best demonstrate his or her compassion and genuine concern for a patient? How might compassionate patient-centered care improve patient outcomes (3500 characters)?
Former Prompts (before 23-24 cycle)
- Question 1c: If you are a re-applicant, what have you engaged in and/or accomplished to strengthen your candidacy? (If not applicable, please put N/A) | How to Write About Being a Reapplicant in Secondary Essays
- Question 2: If you are not accepted to medical school for the upcoming academic year, what are your plans?
- Question 3: Are you currently, or have you ever been subject to disciplinary action at a college or professional school that did not result in academic probation or dismissal?
- Question 3a: If you answered ‘Yes’ to Question 3, please provide a brief description (If not applicable, please put N/A):
- Question 4: Have you ever been placed on academic probation at or dismissed from a college or professional school?
- Question 4a: If you answered ‘Yes’ to Question 4, please provide an explanation of the event and final outcome. (If not applicable, please put N/A)
- Question 5: Please briefly describe circumstances regarding any courses with a grade less than a B minus, or any course withdrawals. (If not applicable, please put N/A)
- Question 6: If you are currently participating in an academic program, please outline intended coursework for the academic year (If not applicable, please put N/A)
- Question 7: If you do not expect to spend this academic year in school, please explain how you intend to use this time. (If not applicable, please put N/A)
Activities, Service, Research
- Question 1: Please describe any additional medically related volunteer activities or observation experiences not included in your AMCAS application. (If not applicable, please put N/A)
- Question 2: Please describe any additional community service or volunteer activities not included in your AMCAS application. (If not applicable, please put N/A)
- Question 3: Please describe any additional research or leadership experience not included in your AMCAS application. (If not applicable, please put N/A)
- Question 4: Have you participated in the UofSC School of Medicine-Greenville Medical Experience Academy (MedEx)?
Personal Information
- Question 1: Please provide any information regarding personal hardships that you have overcome. You may wish to include any past achievements, experiences, challenges, family or personal circumstances, interests, etc. that you believe would bring added value and diversity to the learning community at UofSC School of Medicine Greenville? | How to Write About Your Obstacles, Challenges, and Problems in your Secondary Essays
- Question 2: If you are not a South Carolina resident, what relationships, bonds, or other relevant interests or connections do you have to the state? (If not applicable, please put N/A)
- Question 3: Is there any additional information you would like the Admissions Committee to consider that has not been previously addressed? (If not applicable, please put N/A) | How to Write About Red Flags in Your Secondary Essays
Essays
Please address the following questions. Each essay should be 500 words or less (either type or copy and paste into the text box):
- ***Essay Question 1*** Lifestyle medicine is an integral component of the curriculum at UofSC School of Medicine Greenville. Lifestyle factors including nutritional practices, physical activities, recreation and strategies to manage stress are critical determinants of health. Please discuss what you believe to be effective measures by which physicians can address these issues in the care of their patients.
- ***Essay Question 2*** Consider a leader with whom you have a personal and/or professional relationship. Describe the qualities you admire in this person and the similarities and differences you see between yourself and the leader you identified. What leadership qualities do you have that make you a strong candidate for Medical School?
