![]() ![]() Admissions committees want to know if you can commit to something over a long period of time. Medical school is lengthy, challenging, and physically strenuous. Since most medical school applicants have strong GPAs and MCAT scores, schools need additional ways to distinguish among candidates. So the minor in art, the years on the cross-country team, and the short stories you published are all valuable on your application But they also want to recruit individuals who will bring a wide range of skills and interests to the med school class. ![]() Obviously, medical schools admit students who have displayed a strong aptitude for science. The extracurricular activities you choose for your application are opportunities to show off leadership skills, unique interests, and aspects of your character. Demonstrate the Value of Your Extracurricular Activities Teaching or tutoring experience is always an asset to a medical school application because it suggests an ability to communicate clearly and confidently. Mission trips, volunteer spring break experiences, and semesters abroad all go a long way in developing empathy, an understanding of cultures, and the ability to navigate the world outside of your comfort zone. Read More: 6 Ways for Pre-Meds to Gain Research Experience Study Abroad So, 100 hours shadowing doctors in different specialties is stronger than 500 hours with an orthopedist. When it comes to clinical shadowing, diversity of experiences over quantity is most important. You'll have the opportunity to observe the physician's activities, often in a number of different healthcare environments: office, hospital, community and occasional field trips to conventions. In a preceptorship, motivated pre-meds shadow a doctor as they go about their day. Clinical Shadowingįor a more in-depth experience in primary care, set up a preceptorship with a willing physician. You will be able to speak far more effectively about why you want to become a physician, and you will know what the practice (rather than just the study) of medicine is actually like. You should aim to hold a volunteer or paid position for at least six months. Some volunteer with hospices or indigent care clinics. Some pre-meds find part-time paid positions as emergency medical technicians (EMTs), medical scribes, or as certified nursing assistants (CNAs) while other nontraditional applicants may have had full-time careers in health care. The majority of successful applicants have some experience in a hospital, clinic, hospice or other health care setting. Here's how you can make your med school application stand out from the crowd. It also requires convincing a committee of professionals that you have the personal qualities and work ethic that would make you both happy and productive in medicine.Īs you prepare to fill out the the AMCAS application or to write your secondary essays, think about the work experience, extracurricular activities, awards, honors, or publications that you would like to bring to the attention of your medical schools. Getting into medical school is about more than earning a great GPA and beating the average MCAT scores. COVID-19 Update: To help students through this crisis, The Princeton Review will continue our "Enroll with Confidence" refund policies. ![]()
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