The Citadel provides extensive support and resources to pre-health students who are preparing to apply to medical, dental, veterinary, PA or PT school, or any other health-related program. Some resources include pre-professional clubs, service opportunities, personal advising, access to enrichment activities, a summer study abroad trip, and a mentorship program. Dr. Patrice Capers, Dr. Colleen Quaas, Dr. Sarah Imam and Dr. Kimbo Yee are the pre-health advisors at The Citadel. Drs. Capers and Quaas are the faculty advisors for the “Pre-Health Society” club and Drs. Imam and Yee are the advisors for the AED club. Please email us if you have any questions or if you would like to be added to our Canvas resource courses. The Citadel offers many majors that prepare students well, and our students enjoy a very high acceptance rate to medical school, as compared with the national average.
Accelerated Entry to MUSC (3+4) Program: The Citadel Biology Department is excited to announce that we have officially entered into an agreement with MUSC for accelerated entry for Biology majors into medical or dental school.
Pre-Health Advisors
Please scroll down, or choose the following links if you need information concerning becoming an MD physician, becoming a DO physician, veterinary, dental, physician assistant, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, public health, or other health-related professional schools.
Please scroll down, or choose the following links if you need information concerning pre-requisites, applications, choosing a profession, interviews, personal statements, letters of recommendation, volunteer and enrichment opportunities, scholarship opportunities, programs for disadvantaged students, and other resources.
Useful resources:
- Pre-Health Student Information Meeting Handout – Fall 2024, August 27
- Student Timeline for Application to Medical or Dental School
Learn Which Profession is Right for You
- Occupational Outlook for Various Health Professions
- Explore Health Care Career Options
- Learn about Careers in Global Health
- Health Care Job Growth
Science and Math Pre-Requisites to Take Before Applying
Table of common pre-requisite courses for various pre-health programs.
Pre-Vet Pre-Reqs, see p. 6
Recommended Pre-Med Curriculum for Biology Majors
Most medical schools require or recommend the following undergraduate science and math courses: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Organic Chemistry, Calculus, and Biochemistry. Some additional coursework may be required for some medical schools; check with each school to get its exact list of prerequisites.
Some medical schools now require another test, in addition to the MCAT, called a judgement test. There are two popular options: CASPer and PREview. You can learn more at these links: Information about Situational Judgement Exams ; Which MD medical schools require judgement exams? ; Explore Admissions Requirements for DO medical schools: search “CASPer”
Pre-Requisites for the Four SC Medical Schools
MUSC
USC SOM (Columbia)
USC SOM-Greenville
VCOM-Carolinas (This is a DO school in Spartanburg)
–
Prerequisites for other MD Schools
Applications
Centralized Application Services for Various Health Professional Schools
You have done great things; make sure to describe your activities well when you apply. The selection committee needs to know what your awards and positions entailed. Take time to explain your leadership roles. Polish all written responses the way you polished your brass as a knob; make them shine. If you are applying to Uniformed Services University, be sure to emphasize your military experience here at The Citadel, and wear your uniform when you interview there.
Medical School, MD: AMCAS Application Instructions
Medical School, DO: AACOMAS Application Instructions
Medical or Dental School, Texas Schools Only: TMDSAS Instructions
Dental School: Application Manual and AADSAS Instructions
PA School: CASPA Quick Start Guide
Veterinary School: VMCAS
Optometry School: OptomCAS
Applying In-State vs. Out-of-State
Most private schools give no preference to in-state students, but many public schools accept very few from out-of-state. Criteria for in-state classification vary by institution, sometimes even within the same state. If you are not sure what is required by a particular college to be designated with in-state residency, you must consult their web site or contact their “Residency Officer.” Having an in-state driver’s license and voter registration card is a good start.
Additional information is provided in two locations on campus: The third floor corridor of Duckett Hall houses a bookcase full of Pre-Health Information, and the third floor corridor of Bond Hall houses a bulletin board posted with important notifications and information. Apply early; many schools use rolling admissions, meaning that the earlier you apply, the better your chance of being accepted.
Applying to medical or dental school can be overwhelming. White Coat Strategists is a consulting firm that will mentor you through the entire process, so that you can put your best foot forward. Learn more here.
For Re-Applicants
- If you need to boost your science GPA or improve your MCAT scores, many schools now offer one-year Masters in Biomedical Science programs that are designed to help students transition into medical/dental/veterinary school. Just search “masters biomedical science” to find a program suited to you.
- Post-baccalaureate Programs to take missing prereqs and/or improve GPA
- Post-Baccalaureate Programs offer students who were able to complete all prerequisites in college the opportunity to take the required science courses prior to applying to medical school or to other Pre-Health Graduate Programs. Graduates of Post-Baccalaureate Programs typically enjoy high success in Medical School admissions. You can search available programs by various criteria at this AAMC web site: Search Postbac Programs. Be sure to use the drop-down menu to select the correct “Special Program Focus.” Also, if you want to be enlisted in the military, this is a good option: Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program (EMDP2)
Prepare for Interviews
- What is an MMI Style Interview?
- Pre-Med Handbook from Atlantis – has good interview prep advice, see pp. 40-52.
- Interview Preparation for Pre-Medical Students
- Other Interview Resources
- Practice your Interview via the Career Center: Look under Online Resources for “Interview Stream”
- Learn about the interview questions used by various schools. Choose a school, under “Interview Feedback” choose “View Survey Results” then scroll down to the bottom of the survey data and choose “Questions”
Writing a Personal Statement
- For Dental School
- For PA School (tips apply to other applications too)
- For Medical School
- Writing your Personal Statement
- What to Avoid and What to Include
- Tough Love for Your Personal Statement: Advice from a Medical School Dean
Letters of Recommendation
How To Choose Your Referees Wisely
What is a Committee Letter of Recommendation? Is it required?
Pre-Health Professions Committee (PHPC): Requesting Committee Letters from The Citadel PHPC or from other Referees
How to complete a folder for a committee letter of recommendation from The Citadel
Pre-Dental Letters of Recommendation:
—Info for you from ADEA
—ADEA Guidelines for Letter Writers
Pre-Medical Letters of Recommendation:
—Info from AMCAS
–Info from AACOMAS
—Using Interfolio to Submit Letters to TMDSAS
—AAMC Guidelines for Letter Writers
Pre-Optometry Letters of Recommendation
—OptomCAS Recommendation Information
Volunteer and Enrichment Opportunities for now or for a “Gap” year after graduation
- Project Horseshoe Farm – Project Horseshoe Farm is a 501(c)3 community based non-profit organization in Greensboro, Alabama.
- Looking for clinical and shadowing experience? MUSC’s CARE free health clinic in Mt. Pleasant is looking for volunteers. Contact Matt Holt (holtm@musc.edu) for more information.
- Master of Science in Medical Sciences at MUSC – one year program designed to prepare students for Medical, Dental, and other Professional Schools.
- Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences at MUSC – two year program
- How do I shadow a doctor?
- The Citadel Pre-Health Mentorship Program find a health professional to serve as your mentor.
- SCRUBS Healthcare Mentor Program at Roper Hospital in Charleston
- Tips for students who want to shadow doctors
- Link to list of summer enrichment opportunities
- Become a Medical Scribe
- MUSC Hospital
- MUSC Health Links
- MUSC SURP (Summer Undergraduate Research Program)
- Pre-Dental Volunteer for Dental access Day
- Veterans Hospital
- Johns Hopkins Post-Bacc Health Science Intensive One-Year Masters Program
- Dream Center Clinic in North Charleston
- Free Health Clinics in the Charleston Area
- Volunteer at a Dental Clinic
- Local Dental Clinics
- Become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) and Learn more about CMA programs
- Become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or https://www.cnabuzz.com/
- Become an EMT in SC
To find EMT courses, visit the LMS public portal and click the trainings tab. Typically, EMT courses are offered at local community colleges. Students who successfully complete the EMT courses will be eligible to take the National Registry examination. - Biomedical Research at NIH (after graduation)
- The Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) (Formerly SMDEP)
- Biomedical Research in Norfolk, VA
- Pre-Dental Opportunities
- MedEx Academy at Greenville Health System: explore health careers and gain clinical experience.
- Master’s in Medical Humanities Program
- Volunteer for the American Red Cross
- Find a Summer Research Opportunity
- Pre Veterinary Students: Volunteer at Bees Ferry Veterinary Hospital (3422 Shelby Ray Ct. | Charleston, SC 29414). Contact Marshall at 843.769.6784
- Take a Course in CPR and First Aid from the American Heart Association
- Earn a Masters Degree in Medical Science in one year. – this is just one example, other such Masters Programs exist all over the country; to find others, simple do an internet search for “Master in Medical Science” and/or “Master in Biomedical Science.”
Enrichment Opportunities Abroad
Please read the guidelines below before participating in mission trips and health outreach abroad. Pre-Health students are not licensed practitioners, and it is unethical and unsafe for them to practice medicine in another country, even if that country does not restrict medical practice.
- Dental Guidelines for Serving Abroad
- Learning Safely and Ethically While Abroad
- Citadel Study Abroad Experience for Pre-Health Students
- International Dental Volunteer Opportunities
- Unite for Site: Volunteer Abroad with the Global Impact Corps
- Pre-Health Shadowing in Africa
- Project Okurase
- FIMRC
Reading for Enrichment
- Common Sense about Health Care in America
- The Cost Conundrum
- The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
- Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor’s Reflections on Race and Medicine
- Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
- Memoir of a Debulked Woman
- others on p. 42 of this great PDF
Scholarship Opportunities
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
- HPSP Air Force Scholarships for Medical School – More info on Air Force HPSP
- HPSP Army Scholarships: SFC Owens, Cell number: (404) 808-7021, Office number: (843)5777-3425, Email: anthony.d.owens.mil@mail.mil . The MCAT score for automatic acceptance into the HPSP program is currently set at 507
- HPSP Navy Scholarships: Contact Lt. Deskin at 843-412-6721 or 919-835-5820, and she can answer your questions
- National Guard Scholarships
- Sherry R. Arnstein Minority Student Scholarship Osteopathic Medical School Scholarship for African-American; Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian; mainland Puerto Rican, or Hispanic Students
- Indian Health Service Scholarship Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives provides financial support in exchange for a minimum two-year service commitment within an Indian health program in your chosen health professional discipline.
- NHSC Scholarship Program National Health Service Corps scholarships are non-military scholarships for health-professional students who want to go into primary care and are willing to serve in a high-need community. The program pays tuition and fees and provides a living stipend to students enrolled in accredited medical (M.D. or D.O.), dental, nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or physician assistant training.
- NHSC Loan Repayment Program (LRP) offers fully trained primary care physicians (M.D. or D.O.), family nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, physician assistants, dentists, dental hygienists, and certain mental health clinicians $60,000 to repay student loans in exchange for two years serving in a community-based site in a high-need HPSA that has applied to and been approved by the NHSC as a service site.
Scholarship Opportunities for Citadel Pre-Health Students: The Citadel offers several scholarships for pre-health students, please contact The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships for details.
Programs for Disadvantaged Students
- AAMC’s Application and MCAT Fee Assistance Program
- AACOMAS Fee Assistance Program
- ADEA AADSAS Application Fees and Fee Assistance Program
- Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) – increase your chance of acceptance with this free program
- Fossil Energy Research Internships for females and minorities
- UNC School of Medicine’s MED Program
- MUSC’s SM3 Program: Pre-Health Mentors for Minorities
- Student Diversity Programs at MUSC
- Nursing Scholarships at Emory University
- Zucker Pipeline Program
- Gateways to the Laboratory Summer Program in New York City for Pre-MD/PhD Students
For Native Americans
- Native Americans into Medicine (NAM)
- American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
- University of North Dakota School of Medicine accepts a number of Native American students each year
- University of Oklahoma’s College of Medicine accepts a number of Native American students each year
MD-PhD or DO-PhD Programs
Information on MD-PhD Programs from AAMC
To find the various DO-PhD Programs, simple search the web with the keywords “Do PhD Program”
The Gateways to the Laboratory Program is highlighted by the NIH as one of the top ten summer programs for underrepresented and disadvantaged students interested in MD-PhD dual degrees. Applications and more information for the Gateways to the Laboratory Summer Program for Pre-MD-PhD students may be found here.
Pre-Medical Information
The AAMC’s “Pre-med Navigator” is a monthly e-newsletter that includes information, resources, tips, and important dates for pre-meds.
The AAMC’s expectations for medical school applicants are posted here: The Premed Competencies for Entering Medical Students
Average GPA and MCAT scores for MD School Matriculants (accepted students)
The Cost of Applying
Compare the Four SC Medical Schools (compiled Nov. 2018)
Prerequisites for Medical School
Some medical schools now require another test, in addition to the MCAT, called a judgement test. There are two popular options: CASPer and PREview. You can learn more at these links: Information about Situational Judgement Exams ; Which MD medical schools require judgement exams?; Explore Admissions Requirements for DO medical schools: search “CASPer”
Medical School to become an MD physician (Allopathic Medicine)
- Compare MD and DO Programs
- Medical School Admission Requirements Guidebook (MSAR)
- Association of American Medical Colleges (see “Medical Schools” in left hand column for detailed information concerning medical schools in each state)
- American Medical College Application Service
- How to complete the online AMCAS medical school application
- What is the Early Decision Program (EDP)? – choose “Early Decision Program” from the left-hand menu
- Allopathic Medical School Requirements and Statistics (by Nicholas Slater)
Good news for Citadel Cadets: The MUSC College Of Medicine Admissions committee uses the Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges competitiveness rankings of undergraduate schools to adjust applicants’ undergraduate GPA. The Citadel is ranked as a ‘competitive school’ so graduates receive a GPA boost of .19. Graduates of The Citadel Honors College receive a GPA ‘boost’ of .34 to their overall GPA.
Medical School to become a DO physician (Osteopathic Medicine)
- Compare MD and DO Programs
- Important DO Links and Information
- AACOMAS Application Guide
- Free Online Course to Learn About Osteopathic Medicine
- Find a DO to shadow – just fill in your zip code and the system will return a list of DOs to contact
- Guide to Osteopathic Medical Colleges
- American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM)
- American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
- What is Osteopathic Medicine?
- Financial Aid Debt Management Modules for Osteopathic Medical School Students.
International Medical Schools
Generally we do not recommend students attend medical school abroad; however, there are a few International Medical Schools that qualify for Federal Student Aid and have fairly good records for students passing board exams and getting residency placements. When it comes to these schools our advice is “buyer beware.” Do your homework before you apply. A few of the better options are listed below.
- The University of Queensland/Ochsner
- UMHS, St. Kitts
- American University of the Caribbean
- Ross University, School of Medicine
- Saba University School of Medicine
- St George’s University, School of Medicine
Other Medical School Information
Medical School Application guidebook (MSAR)
Mentorship Program for Pre-Med Minority Students and Women
Medical University of South Carolina
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; USUHS presentation; USUHS Programs and Degrees
University of South Carolina Medical School
University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Greenville
MCAT Preparation
- What is on the MCAT Exam?
- When should I take the MCAT?
- U.S. MCAT Calendar, Scheduling Deadlines, and Score Release Dates
- How should I study for the MCAT?
- MCAT (registration information, purchase practice tests, etc.)
- Full-length Practice Tests from AAMC
- Free MCAT Prep from Khan Academy – There are 4 links to various types of practice questions at the top, and below that are links to lectures on the various “Foundational Concepts”
- Informing Future Doctors Free 6-Month Program and Help with Passages
- The WikiPremed MCAT Course
- Kaplan The Citadel now has a contract with Kaplan for big discounts on MCAT prep courses.
- Princeton Review
- AnkiApp (flashcards on your phone)
- ExamKrackers Test Prep
- TestPrepPractice.net
- Tutor the People MCAT Prep
- Next Step MCAT Prep – Now Blueprint
- AdeptPrep
- Free Resources from Chegg
- For $10/month you can rent access to books including Kaplan MCAT prep books
- UWorld MCAT Prep Discount for Citadel Students: “UWorld” is an MCAT Prep company that offers an interactive question bank that has given many students improved MCAT scores. Dr. Imam has negotiated a discount price for Citadel students; the cost will be $279 for 360 days of access. (The normal cost is $319.)
Pre-Dental Information
- ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools contains requirements and stats for all US Dental Schools
- Prerequisites
- Dentist Occupational Outlook
- Dental Application Fee Assistance Program
- Dental Admissions Test, DAT
- AADSAS Application Manual (PDF)
- Helpful Hints for Pre-Dental
- American Dental Education Association (ADEA)
- Pre-dental Student Organization that can help you prepare for dental school – ASDA
- Videos about the Dental School Application Process
MUSC, Student National Dental Association’s Impressions Program is held each summer. Participants will learn about Dental School and the application process; they also participate in dental labs. For more information call Jami Cokley at 843-792-6874 or visit the SNDA Facebook Page.
Veterinary Medicine
- VMSAR: A Guide to Veterinary Medical Education
- The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) provides information and a central application service, the VMCAS. Not all schools use the central application service.
- Veterinarian Occupational Outlook
- Who Gets In?
- Standardized testing: Most veterinary colleges no longer require any standardized test; however, the GRE is still required for 6 colleges. Some colleges require Caspar testing.
- Click here and see p. 6 to learn about what courses to take to prepare for Veterinary School
- List of Colleges of Veterinary Medicine
- Visit the VMCAS Facebook Page for Pre-Veterinary Students
- Volunteer at Bees Ferry Veterinary Hospital (3422 Shelby Ray Ct. | Charleston, SC 29414). Contact Marshall at 843.769.6784
Physician Assistants
- Become a PA
- PA Occupational Outlook
- Free PA Program Directory – Official resource from The Physician Assistant Education Association, contains pertinent information about all PA programs
- The Army’s PA School
- The Applicant Manual of PA Programs
- MUSC’s Physician Assistant Program
- ASPIRE – Pre-PA Students Society: Pre-PA SCAPA, benefits include: admission to “Becoming a PA” panel at our Annual Fall Conference • Quarterly newsletter, announcements, and events, full of information about entering our amazing profession (Download Brochure)
- PA programs often require or recommend at least 1,000 hours of health care experience prior to admission.
- Apply for a shadowing opportunity with a PA mentor.
- Prerequisites for USC SOM PA Program
- CASPA: Centralized Online Application Service for PA Programs. Learn more.
Nursing
The Citadel offers a 4-year BSN for cadets and an evening 2+2 BSN Program for non-cadets.
Paying for Nursing School
The NURSE Corps Scholarship Program – a selective program of the U.S. Government that helps alleviate the critical shortage of nurses currently experienced by certain types of health care facilities located in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Upon graduation, NURSE Corps Scholarship recipients work at these facilities for at least two years, earning the same competitive salary and benefits as any new hire.
ACTIVE NURSE CORPS PROGRAM
American Association of Colleges of Nursing look under the “Students” tab for helpful information
How to become a nurse from Marcia Boynton, Adrian College, Michigan
Standardized Test to enter Nursing School: Here is info about the TEAS V test: http://www.testprepreview.com/teas_practice.htm and http://www.atitesting.com/Solutions/pre-program/TEAS/study-guide.aspx
How to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree after graduating from The Citadel: Accelerated baccalaureate programs offer the quickest route to licensure as a registered nurse (RN) for adults who have already completed a bachelor’s or graduate degree in a non-nursing discipline. Fast-track/accelerated baccalaureate programs take between 11 and 18 months to complete, including prerequisites.
Master’s Level Entry to become a nurse after graduating with a non-nursing degree from The Citadel
- The University of San Francisco School of Nursing. Scroll down to “CNL OPTION FOR THE NON-NURSE WITH A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE”
- Johns Hopkins
- UCLA School of Nursing
- University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing (UIC CON)
- University of Hawai’i at Mānoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene
- Georgia Regents University – Links to Others – Caution with these – avoid all “Online” programs, and make sure any program you choose is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- National Student Nurses Association
- Scholarships for Nursing Students – this for-profit web service has some good links to scholarship information
- Minority Nursing Scholarships at Emory University
- Become a Nurse Practitioner
- Become a Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – after becoming a nurse you may take a fully online program at the University of Southern California
Optometry School
For information about Optometry School, you may visit the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO).
Optometry Programs Admissions Directory
OptomCAS Recommendation Information
Review the admissions requirements for each school or college of optometry to which you are interested in applying to determine if you have fulfilled, or are in the process to fulfill, their prerequisite requirements
Review the recommendation requirements for each school or college of optometry to which you are interested in applying
OptomCAS instructions
Pharmacy
Other Health-Related Professions
- Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions (ASAHP)
- MUSC College of Health Professions: Information Sessions are held every semester in the College of Health Professions at the Medical University of South Carolina. Optional campus tours will begin one hour before the information session. Click here to register for a session.
- Anesthesia for Nurses (CRNA) at MUSC
- Cardiovascular Perfusion at MUSC
- Health Administration at MUSC
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Podiatry
- Audiology
- Public Health
- Genetic Counseling
- Chiropractics
- Be sure to apply to CCE accredited programs – The Council on Chiropractic Education
- Chiropractic Occupational Outlook
- Naturopathic Health Care
- A licensed naturopathic doctor (ND) attends a four-year, graduate-level naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same basic sciences as an MD, but also studies holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the naturopathic physician also studies clinical nutrition, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling. A naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional board exams so that he or she may be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as a primary care general practice physician. Additional information on naturopathic schools can be found on the American Association of Naturopathic Medical Colleges Web site.