I got my acceptance to MUSC! Questions?

SCgirl22 · Sep 30, 2008

Hi! I read your questions about using CARTA to get downtown for classes. Unfortunately this is not something I know very much about. When I was in school there I lived on James Island so I was just a hop over the bridge to class.

With that in mind I will tell you though, that clinical days and times can vary a lot semester to semester. I had times where I had clinical on Saturday, some folks had evening clinicals at times, and most often clinicals are very early in the morning (you would have to arrive by 630)

You may also have clinicals at facilities other than MUSC for various classes. It may be better for you if you have your own transportation.

MUSC does have student parking available, it was free to park in Hagood lot (over by the Citadel and Riverdogs stadium) and they would shuttle you in on a bus to the CON/hospital. Garage parking and private parking are options as well if you want to pay for a closer space.

You may also find that as you get to know your fellow classmates there may be others in your class that live in your area and are willing to carpool when possible, at least to classes, though your clinical groups will likely change every semester.

Hope this helps, good luck with the program! Let me know if I can help you with any other questions. :nurse:

live4rachael · Oct 4, 2008

Thanks so much for your response. That's what I needed to know. The schedules posted online don't say a whole lot about the clinical times so I guess I won't know that until classes start.

When should I get a listing of required textbooks for school? What about uniforms? (Is there a required place they have to come from?)

I'm sure I'll be getting more materials soon, I just like to lean forward as much as possible.

Any other tidbits or advice you think about that you could pass on, I'm all ears. Been waiting to start this program for about 2 years (waiting on personal circumstances to line up correctly) so I'm ready and anxious...

SCgirl22 · Oct 5, 2008

Yep you won't know your clinical schedule until they assign you to a group at the start of each semester.

I started in 2006 so I don't know what's changed but they had an information/orientation session prior to the start of the semester where you filled out paperwork, met some of the faculty and they brought a few students in to talk about their experiences.

At that session they also allowed us to order uniforms...however I know for a fact they changed the uniform a bit since I finished (a friend there now showed me hers and its different) so I don't know who supplies the uniforms now. I'm sure they will notify you in advance so you have them in time for clinical.

They sent out a list of textbooks for 1st semester a couple weeks before we started. You can also check with the MUSC bookstore as they probably will have a list closer to the start of the semester. Lots of the students in classes ahead of you may be trying to sell their textbooks also, if you are into used books. I also bought some online from time to time as well to save money.

It will be sometimes hard and scary but fun overall. Enjoy school, its a whole new ballgame when you get out here on your own! Let me know if I can answer any other ??s

live4rachael · Oct 25, 2008

Okay, this is probably a silly question. I got my packet today as far as ordering uniforms. It says I need at least 1 top and at least 1 lab jacket and 2 name badges.

How many tops and lab jackets will I need? I can't imagine getting by with just 1 if something spills/stains/etc.

Annaiya, NP · Oct 26, 2008

I got one lab coat and two tops, but honestly I think 2 lab coats would have been better, since you wear that at least 3 times a week.

They told us in orientation to learn our lab values and practice our dosage calculations before school starts, since you won't have time to work on it too much after school starts. But they failed to tell us which lab values to know. You'll find the "accepted" lab values vary widely, so I would e-mail your patho instructor as soon as you find out who it is and see what values they want you to learn. If you have Dr. Welton, I can tell you which ones he uses.

As for dosage calculations, I found it nearly impossible to start working on that before school started, because again, it can vary widely. I would say just start learning all of your conversion amounts. How many mL in an ounce? How man mL in a teaspoon? How many teaspoons in an onuce? How many lbs. in a kg? How many mcg in a mg, in a g? How many grains in a gram? Stuff like that. If you know all of your conversion factors before you start, that will help a ton.

It is a really wonderful program, congrats on getting in!

live4rachael · Oct 26, 2008

Thank you so much! That's great info to have. When should I expect to find out who the instructors are? The packet we got yesterday had the same spring 2009 schedule in it that's on the website but it doesn't have any names.