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University of South Carolina – Acceptance Rate, GPA, and Requirements

Located in South Carolina’s capital city of Columbia, the University of South Carolina is one of the top 60 public institutions in the country. 

In addition to having an outstanding business school, UofSC’s nursing and engineering programs have also received top accolades.

More than 30,000 students enjoy a challenging academic environment, notable athletic scene, and fun college town experience. 

Outdoor enthusiasts can visit the nearby Congaree National Park for free, sunbathe and fish at Lake Murray, or exercise at various city parks.

Museums and concert venues are abundant, as well as the Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden. 

Undergraduate students often take weekend jaunts to coastal cities like Charleston and Myrtle Beach or mountain retreats like Greenville. 

Of course, the University of South Carolina has so much more to offer than a stimulating environment. Read ahead to learn about the school’s acceptance rate, admitted student statistics, admissions process, tuition, and exceptional programs.

University of South Carolina Acceptance Rate

The UofSC has an acceptance rate of 68 %. 

Exceeding 8,000 new undergraduate students, the most recent incoming class of 2021 represented the second-largest group of new enrollments in the school’s history. 

Of this cohort, 53% came from the state of South Carolina.

University of South Carolina Out-of-State Acceptance Rate

The University of South Carolina’s most recent first-year class had an out-of-state population of over 40% . 

According to the S.C. Commission on Higher Education, out-of-state students only made up 19% of the UofSC student body in 1997, while in 2016, that number had reached 42%.

What makes UofSC such a welcoming choice for non-South Carolina residents? 

The institution uses a sliding scale to calculate out-of-state tuition. Some admitted students invest over $16,000 per year, while high-achieving out-of-state admits can pay at discounted rates that parallel what South Carolina residents pay.

Along with a rise in out-of-state student enrollment, UofSC has also observed an increase in the diversity of its overall student body. 

African-American enrollment has grown by 85% since 2016 and Hispanic enrollment has increased 53% in the same time frame.

For the incoming class of 2021 , 75 new admits were high school valedictorians and over 16% were first-generation college students

GPA for University of South Carolina

UofSC’s incoming class of 2021 averaged an impressive 4.4 GPA – a record for academic excellence. 

Of this cohort, 596 students enrolled in the Honors College with an average GPA of 4.9, and 1,400 additional first-year students enrolled in the Capstone Scholars Program with a 4.55 average GPA.

While UofSC does not stipulate a minimum GPA for admittance, applicants should expect to submit a competitive GPA. 

When analyzing the middle 50% of the University of South Carolina’s recent freshmen class, admitted students maintained a GPA between 4.1 and 4.7 and ranked in the top 7 to 28% of their senior classes. 

Within that middle 50% range, Honors College students held a GPA between 4.5 and 5.0 and ranked in the top 1 to 5% of their senior classes. 

Additionally, Capstone Scholars maintained a 4.2 to 4.8 GPA and ranked among the top 4 to 18% of their graduating class groups.

SAT & ACT Requirements 

After testing disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of South Carolina campus at Columbia no longer requires first-year applicants to submit their SAT or ACT scores – this policy will hold until at least the fall 2022 term. 

Still, many applicants choose to offer their standardized score results.

Let’s look first at the middle 50% of scores for South Carolina residents versus out-of-state residents. 

For the incoming class of 2021, SC admits scored between 1100 and 1300 on the SAT and 23-30 on the ACT. Nonresidents’ scores were notably higher, with an SAT window of 1250-1380 and an ACT composite score ranging between 28-32.

We can also break down SAT and ACT averages by special programs. The middle 50% of Capstone Scholars, for instance, scored between 1340 and 1420 on the SAT and a 29-32 on the ACT. 

Honors College admits within the same 50% window were the most high-achieving, with SAT Superscores between 1430 to 1520 and an ACT score of 32-34.

Other Requirements and Admission Tips

Candidates seeking admission to the University of South Carolina are expected to meet the minimum college preparatory high school course curriculum designated by the S. C. Commission on Higher Education. 

These classes include four English units, four mathematics units, three laboratory science units, three social studies units, two foreign language units, one fine art unit, and two academic electives. 

Eligible students may then submit four components : a Common App or Coalition App (including a completed essays and activities section), a school report form (submitted by a high school guidance counselor), an unofficial high school transcript, and a $65 fee (or fee waiver).

For regular decision applicants , the application deadline is December 1, with all credentials provided by January 15. Typically, this cohort of applicants can expect to receive their admissions decisions by mid-March. 

Those interested in applying to the S. C. Honors College or Top Scholars program are advised to submit their materials by October 15, the early action deadline. 

In addition to the general application materials, these students should also complete the Honors College/Top Scholars application, which prompts the applicant to complete two essay prompts and one short-answer question (more on those in the following section). 

Additionally, these students should coordinate with their high school guidance counselor(s) to submit two letters of recommendation.

Honors College applicants should anticipate an admission decision by mid-February, while Top Scholars candidates will be invited to participate in a mandatory interview weekend (usually hosted in late January). 

Students who are awarded merit scholarships can expect to receive them around mid-March.

Essays for University of South Carolina

Applicants may submit one of three items to meet the supplemental material requirement : (1) SAT or ACT scores, (2) three alternative exam scores from a list of approved exams , or (3) a graded writing assignment. 

Those who choose to submit a writing assignment should make sure to include their full name, the date the paper was turned in, the grade received, and any available teacher comments. 

The paper should have been written during the applicant’s junior or senior year in high school, and UofSC recommends that students submit an English/social studies paper, essay exam, or research paper written in English.

Students wishing to share more information about what makes them stand out from other candidates need not despair – there is a separate essay section that affords students space to share more information about themselves. 

The Office of Admissions advises students to reflect on an experience, tell a story, and allow their personalities to shine through.

Is the University of South Carolina Right for You?

As previously mentioned, the University of South Carolina is an appealing option for SC and non-SC residents. 

Many tout their affordable tuition scale as one of their deciding facts for applying to the university.

97% of UofSC first-year students received some form of financial aid in the 2020-2021 academic year. 

The following price tags for tuition and technology fees are not necessarily set and do not take into account the financial awards that most students receive, which significantly lower their school attendance costs.

Without financial assistance, SC residents can expect to pay $12,688 per year for tuition and technology, while out-of-state residents contribute $33,928. 

When housing, meals, books, and supplies are factored in, the SC resident cost increases to $26,822 annually, while the non-resident costs jump to $48,062.

Regardless of tuition cost, the value of a University of South Carolina education seems to be worth the expense. 

UofSC has held the number 1 ranking for international business for 23 consecutive years ! The most recent graduating class of the Darla Moore School of Business earned an average starting salary of $58,251 and a 90% job placement rate.

According to the U.S. News and World Report, UofSC also offers the top first-year student experience of any public college in the country. 

Indeed this guarantee of support is a decisive factor that attracts incoming students from all over the state and country. University 101 is a first-year seminar experience that is designed to help freshmen transition to college life. 

Students enrolled in University 101 experience a higher first-to-second year retention rate . Syllabus topics include fostering academic success, connecting with the university, and promoting personal development, wellbeing, and social responsibility.

The University of South Carolina is an excellent choice for students looking to attend an elite Honors program housed in a diverse, best-value school– future entrepreneurs are especially advised to look more into UofSC’s business programs.

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Senior Thesis

One element that sets the Honors College apart from the rest of the university and other honors colleges is our thesis requirement. Your senior thesis allows you to complete a substantial academic project, applying knowledge you've acquired in your course of study. You'll be able to demonstrate a practical command of research techniques and writing skills and showcase your ability to work independently.

Follow Your Passion

In order to graduate from the Honors College, students are required to complete and successfully defend a senior thesis paper or project. Honors students consult with a faculty mentor and the Honors College Thesis Coordinator to plan a thesis project based on their academic and creative interests, not necessarily their major. Options include an analysis of a controversial social issue, research in an academic discipline, scientific research, a service-learning or pro bono project, and a creative project such as a play or series of short stories.

You will build up your thesis throughout your years in the Honors College by completing coursework in our diverse curriculum, participating in research, engaging with faculty and narrowing your areas of academic and professional interest. By the end of your junior year, you will have a well-developed thesis plan that you can implement in your senior year.  

Sample Honors Thesis Topics

Many students spend their college years searching vainly for a passion without fully discovering one until much later in life. Not Samantha Crandall. The Honors College senior found not only one passion, but two early in her college years: homelessness and music.

Crandall, a soprano, combined her passions to create a unique joint senior thesis and senior recital project. “Giving Voice to the Unheard,” a recital she gave in February, included a mixture of music and lecture that presented an emotional journey of homelessness.

For those drawn to literary puzzles, 18th century Scottish poet Robert Burns offers a wealth of riddles. While he’s famous for his poems about love and friendship, a current debate in academic circles involves his beliefs about slavery. Was he or wasn’t he an abolitionist?

Joseph DuRant, a 2015 English Honors graduate, found himself intrigued by the question during his three-year research work with Patrick Scott, distinguished professor of English emeritus and editor of Studies in Scottish Literature. In 2012, DuRant began researching and editing letters written to Burns — about 500 of them, from 1779 until his death in 1796 — stored in the G. Ross Roy collection in the Thomas Cooper Library. While some were fragments and others pertained to the everyday business of farm upkeep and payment for work, the letters show a more complete side of the internationally loved poet, honored by more than 700 Burns clubs in the world.

Zach Miller knew two things about his senior thesis: He didn’t want to write a paper, and he wanted it to help someone else. To decide, all he needed was to feel his own pain.

“I had torn my hip flexors, my adductors on both sides of the groin, and my right hamstring three times,” the 2014 graduate recounted, and kept on going. “I partially tore two ligaments in my left shoulder and I broke my left arm.” A devoted lacrosse player, Miller had so many injuries several doctors told him to be happy to walk without limping.

Determined to keep playing, he found one doctor in Charlotte with a little more optimism. Dr. Nevin Markel, a chiropractor and physical therapist with expertise in nutrition, lifting and rehabilitation, studied Miller’s body mechanics and encouraged him to train with weight sleds. For Miller, 6’3” and not limping, the training worked. And the accounting/finance major found the inspiration for his thesis.

“The Diesel,” a Prowler-type weight sled Miller built with 4 x 4 railroad ties, provided some of the carpentry skills he wanted. It also gave him a mental break from academic work, something he wanted from his thesis. Most importantly, it allowed him to give Markel a thank-you gift for helping him continue being active. Named for his lacrosse nickname and painted garnet and black, The Diesel is at Markel’s gym in Charlotte, where Miller now works as an investment banker.

“I figure I’ll use it there,” he said. “Why can’t I share it with others?” 

Miller spent four months building The Diesel, first attempting to weld a metal version. Finding that too difficult, he followed a plan using the railroad ties, making countless trips to the hardware store and having his roommate help.

“My neighbors were ready to kill me because of all the noise I made with power saws,” he said, confessing a new respect for carpenters. “It was tough but cool to do.”

After surveying more than 1,000 USC students about their use and misuse of stimulant medications, Kari Benson learned two important things: These “smart drugs” are more common on campus than people think, and there’s nothing smart about them.

“Most students claim they use them for academic reasons, but misusers have significantly lower GPAs and experience more difficulties with attention,” Benson said of her three-year research as an Honors experimental psychology major. “I also found how common misuse of stimulant medication is. Students talk about how they use it or ask other students for it casually on campus, as if it is completely normal and okay.”

While it’s okay for students diagnosed with ADHD and other attention disorders to take Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin and Vyvanse as prescribed, it’s not okay for them to misuse them or give them to their friends. Benson learned many students misuse those drugs to improve focus or stay awake to study or complete an assignment, and a smaller number take them recreationally. They’ll crush and snort them, or mix them with other drugs, including alcohol. Snorting them results in a cocaine-like high; mixing them makes the high last longer. Benson, who knew of one student who had to be helicoptered from the Carolina Cup to a hospital after mixing alcohol with Adderall, found 23 percent of USC’s student population misused the drugs last year. “Chances are everyone knows someone who has misused stimulant medication.”

Her research brought an invitation for publication as first author in Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review. It also earned her the first William A. Mould Outstanding Senior Thesis Award, which recognizes a graduating Honors senior whose work would make “a significant impact in their field of study and on their larger community.” Named for the late USC French professor and cofounding dean of the Honors College, the award, which includes a $1,000 cash prize, is given by Mould’s family.

Associate Professor Kate Flory nominated her student researcher for the award. “Kari is the most talented undergraduate researcher I have worked with in my 10 years at USC,” she wrote in her recommendation letter to the Senior Thesis Award Committee. “Her Senior Thesis and related program of research is exceptional.”

Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” has been adapted for film more than 50 times since 1900, Wikipedia reports. But it’s not likely any of them did what Alexander Jones did for his Honors senior thesis. In “Hamlet from Stage to Screen,” Jones took the famous tragedy and turned it inside out, letting its many other characters more clearly expose one of the playwright’s themes. That theme is the danger of revenge — how it backfires on those pursuing it — and harms others in its path.

“I think it’s a very important message, and I think a lot of people don’t really get it,” said Jones, ’16 English. His adaptation, 130 pages long, with production notes and a critical detailed analysis of each character, won the 2016 William A. Mould Outstanding Senior Thesis Award. Given annually by the family of the late Mould, one of the Honors College’s founding deans, the award includes $1,000, and is considered by judges to make a significant impact on the student’s field of study and larger community. 

After two sports-related injuries in six months, former USC soccer captain Kevin Stam had to accept that his dream of playing five years of professional ball wasn’t coming true. But he’s lucky, he says, to have played six months on a professional team in Sweden, and to have other dreams. Two of them are becoming an international mediator and teaching people how to resolve conflict. His years as an Honors student in the College of Social Work, plus the leadership and collaborative skills honed on the field, should serve him well.

“Resolving conflict is a universal skill,” he said. “Conflicts happen all the time. They come in all shapes and sizes, all levels of intensity.”

For his Honors thesis, Stam created an hour-long online conflict resolution course for college students. College, he says, is often the first time people need to resolve conflicts.

“It’s a totally new living and learning environment. There are conflicts with roommates, professors, advisors. They’ve been at home where an adult has resolved conflicts, and sometimes students don’t have the skills. They have to learn to take matters into their own hands and stand up for themselves and resolve conflicts in a non-aggressive, non-avoidant manner.”

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

South Carolina Honors College At a Glance

The South Carolina Honors College experience is first rate. Choose from more than 600 challenging courses taught by top faculty or define a unique major that’s tailored to your interests. When the stellar academics join with the college’s highly collaborative culture, it’s easy to see why the Honors College has been the nation’s top honors program since 2012.

The Honors College is a place where high achieving students enjoy an engaging college experience that connects them with research, study abroad, service learning and internships.  Plus, Honors College advisors and unparalleled staff support help students take their education to new heights.

Academic Rigor and Community Spirit

Led by a distinguished university-wide faculty, our 600 honors courses feature average class sizes of just 16 students to support individualized attention and spark engagement. It’s also a college where students can design a major or fast-track their pre-professional undergraduate education to prepare for a career in health, law or medicine.

Baccalaureus Artium et Scientiae

The university’s most selective undergraduate degree program gives students the opportunity to curate an in-depth curriculum that’s tailored to their specific interests and career goals.

Campus Within a Campus

The Honors College is a living-learning community with academic, support service and dining amenities. It’s ideal for students who want to be part of a community of peers who take their education and academic success seriously and support the accomplishments of their fellow classmates. Honors students experience the benefits of a top-tier research university in a setting that feels like a small liberal arts college.

Latest News

Be in the know. Get the latest news, stories, highlights and more from the South Carolina Honors College. 

USC has 3 Goldwater scholars in 2024

Three University of South Carolina students were awarded prestigious Goldwater scholarships Friday. They are: Caroline Rucker, a junior biomedical engineering major from Powhatan, Virginia; Jeremiah Tobin, a junior biomedical engineering major from Greenville; and Katelyn Wyandt, a junior computer science major from Summerville, South Carolina. All three are Honors College students studying in the College of Engineering and Computing.

Aspiring teacher embraces history's role in guiding future generations

Gracie Vess’ eyes light up at the mere mention of history. But the South Carolina Honors College senior and McNair scholarship recipient doesn’t dream of chronicling the past. Instead, she hopes to shape the future by becoming a high school history teacher. “I want every student to realize their significance in shaping history," says Vess. “I want to teach my students that history is crafted by the collective actions of many people, which is why being an active citizen is so important.”

Student body president turned OB-GYN brings public health mindset to patient care

Since graduating from medical school, former student body president turned OB-GYN Ross Lordo has been making meaningful connections with patients in Greenville.

Alumni couple use 'complementary skillset' to create thriving taproom

Brian and Nicole Cendrowski spent more than a decade dreaming of opening their own brewery before settling on a plan and a location. Their Fireforge Brewery & Taproom in downtown Greenville weathered the pandemic and is now a thriving member of the Upstate community they call home.

One-of-a-Kind Lessons

Students share community-building experiences that include the freshman Flotilla, a graduation Revocation, the Semester at the Coast for sciences environmental or health students and the Waverly After-School Program, which provides after school and academic enrichment for underserved students in the Columbia community.

Home is Here

The university’s home — Columbia, South Carolina — is a metropolitan capital city that affords abundant opportunities for internships, research, service learning and just plain fun. Live and learn close to the great Southern coastal or mountain outdoors, a cultural mecca of film, art and theatre, and so much more.

Achieve Beyond the Classroom

Join a college where students are among the best in the state and the country, consistently earning Hollings, Marshall and Goldwater scholar awards. Where 100 percent of students receive scholarships, including Top Scholar Awards. Where a focused faculty and support system help students achieve in areas such as undergrad research, senior thesis and national fellowships.

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How to Write the Clemson University Essays 2020-2021

Academics and activism combine at Clemson, one of South Carolina’s top universities. Founded in 1889, Clemson University is passionate about building a robust student body that’s dedicated to serving the larger community. Students have the opportunity to work with volunteer organizations like the Women’s Leadership Council and the Giving Tree Project. And with 80 undergraduate majors and hundreds of student clubs and organizations, there’s plenty to do both in and out of the classroom. As a bonus, more than 92% of Clemson seniors say they would choose this school all over again. 

Clemson, which is ranked #70 by US News , has a general acceptance rate of 47%. Its Calhoun Honors College accepts just under 10% of applicants. The Honors College offers its students specialized coursework with Clemson’s top professors, opportunities for independent research, exciting study abroad programs, access to the Honors Academic Activities Center, and much more! 

Want to know your chances at Clemson? Calculate your chances for free right now.

Want to learn what Clemson will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering Clemson and the Calhoun Honors College needs to know.

Calhoun Honors College Supplemental Essay Prompts

While the standard application to Clemson University does not have applicants write supplemental essays, the Honors College does. The Honors College application is separate from Common App. Let’s take a look at the essay prompts.

The essays constitute a critical part of your Honors College application. Thoughtfully and originally responding to the following essays will provide the selection committee key insights into your accomplishments, intellectual curiosity, and vision.

Prompt 1: Tell us ─ as best you can at this point ─ about your academic and professional goals. What experiences, talents, accomplishments, and/or personal qualities make you think you’d be happy and successful in the Honors College and in your future career? (500 words or fewer)

Prompt 2: What is something you thought you knew that you turned out to be wrong about? Why was this realization important? (500 words or fewer)

Prompt 3: Please use this space to share any special circumstances affecting your application that warrant consideration by the selection committee. (250 words or fewer)

Honors Applicants, Prompt 1 (required)

Tell us ─ as best you can at this point ─ about your academic and professional goals. what experiences, talents, accomplishments, and/or personal qualities make you think you’d be happy and successful in the honors college and in your future career (500 words or fewer).

This prompt is asking you about your life direction so far and how the Honors College could fit into it. You’ll want to approach the essay as a classic “ Why This Major? ” essay while focusing more heavily on explaining your future career goals. 

For your first paragraph, tell the story of how you came to develop the academic and professional goals you have today while linking the two together. For example, if your academic goal is to study marine biology and your professional one is to break into the aquaculture industry to make it more eco-friendly, you could introduce your essay with a personal anecdote. The start of such an essay could look like this:

“I first became interested in fish while watching tiny fries swim around in a small pond right outside the school playground. It was a ritual for my friends and I to visit the ‘PokéPond,’ observe how the fish were growing, and try feeding them on occasion. That all changed when the school groundskeepers accidentally tipped over a bag of fertilizer into the pond, and the fish were no more. 

After seeing the effects of pollution on the puddle, I became interested in the fish I had nostalgia for in a more scientific way. I read books on ichthyology and asked myself how I could recreate the PokéPond and its fries. I learned that aquaculture was the solution, and eventually came to dream of starting a sustainable and efficient aquafarm as my future career. 

To make my idea a reality, I will need to develop an in-depth understanding of osmosis and fish gills to take care of practical matters such as sanitizing fish tanks. That is where the Calhoun Honors College, with its innovative learning and individualized research opportunities, comes in.”

Start the second paragraph with a sentence that ties your academic and professional goals to the Honors College ─ something akin to the following statement would do the trick: 

“The Calhoun Honors College offers unparalleled resources, such as the EUREKA! 2.0 research program and Educational Enrichment Travel Grants, which would allow me to explore my passion for marine biology in new depth and take my aquaculture career to new heights.”

Continue down this vein to fully explain how the Honors College is the right fit for you. Specific details are crucial ─ take a look at the Honors College website and find programs and opportunities that would enhance your existing talents, accomplishments, personal qualities. Explain how you know that these programs are ideal for you because of your previous life experiences, e.g. studying fish in the puddle with your own microscope taught you the value of experiential learning, a goal which the Calhoun Honors College also holds dear. Avoid making this paragraph a laundry list ─ after you mention any resource at the Honors College, show how it would benefit you personally more than an equivalent resource at another university. 

Remember the wording of the prompt as you write ─ Clemson wants to know how you would be happy and successful at the Honors College and the future career it can open up to you. A good way to wrap up the essay would be to write a third paragraph about what success and happiness mean to you, and how the Honors College could help you achieve both. Start off this part with your definitions, and be sure to define success and happiness as something larger than yourself. For example, success could mean reducing pollution from aquafarms, while happiness could mean satiating your intellectual curiosity in an environment of diverse individuals. Explain how the Honors College, with its shared values of X and unique educational opportunities of Y, would allow you to achieve your version of happiness and success.

Honors Applicants, Prompt 2 (required)

What is something you thought you knew that you turned out to be wrong about why was this realization important (500 words or fewer).

This essay is all about telling a story and taking the admissions readers through your thoughts. A quirky or unique and serious subject that has a philosophical lesson would be ideal ─ for example, the story of how you thought you knew that you could dig to the center of the Earth as a child, but quickly hit rock as you were digging and realized the importance of learning by doing. 

Begin the essay by explaining how you came to know your chosen piece of knowledge. Why were you confident that it was correct? In a new paragraph, explain how you realized that you were wrong and what feelings the realization came with. If you felt embarrassed or defensive, doubling down on your original ideas as you were proven wrong, describe how you finally gained the courage and humility to admit to your mistake. Though other people may have been instrumental in helping you see things in a different way, focus mostly on your internal thoughts and feelings rather than heated debates. 

Conclude with the realization of how being wrong was important not only for yourself, but for humanity. Ask yourself what lesson your story could teach others. For example, a student entrepreneur who started a single wheel skateboard company could write the following essay about learning the value of making bold change:

At that moment, as I walked out of the office, I threw my hands in the air. I had realized that I was wrong ─ not rocking the boat is not the way to live life ─ and I had raised my first round of angel investment for OneBlades as a result. My realization was so much bigger than myself. My example proved not only myself wrong, but all of the doubters in my life and all of the people in my shoes who doubt themselves everyday. I can now say that we must rock the boat, and rock it until it capsizes. Only then can we build something bigger.

Honors Applicants, Prompt 3 (optional)

Please use this space to share any special circumstances affecting your application that warrant consideration by the selection committee. (250 words or fewer).

Unlike for the other essays, we recommend answering this question directly and matter-of-factly rather than with an anecdote. Be sure to explain your circumstance in as much detail as needed, plus the subtle and obvious ways in which it affected you. Unlike other essays, there’s no need to take up the entire word count if not necessary.

This essay is truly optional in that not answering it will not show a lack of motivation on your part ─ the prompt exists for explaining circumstances outside of your control that affected your personal, academic, and professional development. Some of the circumstances that would fall into this category would be the following:

• Since both of your parents had to work, you spent much of your time outside the classroom caring for your younger siblings instead of doing extracurricular activities
• One of your family members had a long battle with cancer, and you spent lots of mental energy worrying about them
• Your mental health suffered after a traumatic experience, and that caused your grades to fall
• You were diagnosed with ADHD at 16
• As a low-income student, preparing for the SAT was a challenge

If you did not have an unavoidable experience that came crashing into your life during your high school career, it would be best to not answer this prompt. You can provide additional details about your academics and extracurricular activities in other sections of the Calhoun Honors College application, as the application gives ample room to describe them. 

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Honors Program Essay Prompts

Since I have not seen these posted, here are the honors essay prompts (for applicants looking to also apply to SCU honors)

Write one from each of the two category of prompts

Choose one (300 words): How would you like to change Santa Clara University during your time here?

What gives you hope for the future, and how does the University Honors Program fit in with it?

By joining the University Honors Program you join a new community of people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and stories. What is it about your background, experience, and story that will enrich the University Honors Program community?

Choose one (300 words): In your opinion, what are some marks of an educated mind?

If you gave a presentation to University Honors Program students about anything of your choosing, what would you talk about and why?

What word in common usage is the most versatile and why?

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College of Charleston (South Carolina)’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Why this college essay.

Many students apply to the College of Charleston based on our location, size, reputation, beautiful campus, and nice climate. While these are all important considerations in choosing a college, why is the College of Charleston a particularly good match for you?

Extenuating Circumstances Essay

Are there any anomalies or extenuating circumstances that you’d like us to consider when we review your application?

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Medical University of South Carolina Secondary Essay Prompts

These are the secondary application essay prompts for Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Medicine. To put your best foot forward and maximize your chance of an interview invitation, visit our secondary application editing page .

about Medical University of South Carolina 

Secondary Deadline : December 15, 2023 Secondary Fee : $95 FAP Waiver : Case by Case Basis CASPer Required : No Screens Applications : No Accepts Application Updates : Yes/MUSC Website

The College of Medicine, as an integral part of the Medical University of South Carolina, is dedicated to the University’s education, research and service missions. In doing so, the College is committed to maintaining an educational environment for all students that prepares them for a career of excellence in the practice of medicine and in the service to their communities. We recognize the need to engender and support life-long learning to sustain and expand competence and performance throughout the physician’s career and we acknowledge the importance of interdisciplinary and interprofessional education in the provision of accessible, high-quality health services. To support these educational goals, the College is committed to the continued development and expansion of biomedical research to extend the boundaries of health care for all people. Further, we support enhancement of research directed to improving access, enhancing quality and controlling costs of health care. These commitments are manifest through active participation in a medical center with broad capabilities and responsibility for the provision of primary, as well as tertiary/quaternary health services for citizens in the state. We continue to nurture strong programs in primary health care to support current and future educational, research and service requirements. We believe that these objectives are best obtained through ensuring optimal opportunities for all constituents-students, faculty and administration, including all backgrounds and levels of diversity, to achieve full potential. Additionally, the College is committed to the development and prudent use of resources to achieve its mission. ​

Apparently there are no essay questions to write for the MUSC MD secondary process. When you get an email from them, click on a link in that email called either “Cost to Apply” or “Start your Application” and you should see what you need to do.

OOS applicants are asked to complete the: Close Ties Declaration Form

MSTP Applicant instructions: The resume/CV should be a file attachment, and the essay portion has no defined char/word limit.

1. For the Resume/Personal History below, provide the following information in resume or curriculum vitae format:

• education with dates
• past employment
• undergraduate or summer research experience(s) including number of hours in each publication
• academic honors, awards
• extracurricular/community/professional activities
• membership in professional organizations

2. For the Essay section, write a paragraph that includes discussion of the following:

• why do you want to come to MUSC – MUST RESPOND TO THIS
• research you want to pursue in graduate school

There were no secondary application essay prompts for this application cycle.

Disclaimer: The information on this page was shared by students and/or can be found on the medical school’s website. Med School Insiders does not guarantee the accuracy of the information on this page.

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