The importance of undergraduate coursework in student success at South Carolina medical institutions

Abstract

The importance of undergraduate coursework in determining medical school student readiness reaches far beyond preparation to take the standardized Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT®). Since medical schools employ a rigorous and fast-paced learning system to instruct prospective medical students on (A) didactic information in the basic sciences and (B) the critical methodology of clinical practice, it is essential for applicants to be well-equipped for the challenge that this type of scholarship requires. A research study investigated current medical students enrolled at the four medical schools in the State of South Carolina: The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), University of South Carolina College of Medicine Columbia (USCSOM-Columbia), University of South Carolina College of Medicine Greenville (USCSOM-Greenville) and Edward Via College of Medicine Spartanburg (VCOM-Spartanburg). Questionnaires were distributed in the form of Google surveys to all medical institutions in order to distribute them to all students enrolled (M1-M4). The results were received, compiled, and analyzed. The data demonstrated striking similarities in the responses received from medical students representing all four professional schools regarding their evaluation how well they were prepared as undergraduates. The significance of these results is discussed. Key words: Medical education, medical school, South Carolina, MCAT, South Carolina.