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What are some things that will look good for medical school applications that I can do as an undergraduate?
I’m an upcoming college freshman going to getting a bachelors of science in nursing, but I want to go to medical school and become a surgeon.
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Midwest’s Answer
Congratulations! You have what sounds to be a very bright future ahead! There are many activities during medical school that you can do to enhance your application to medical school and ultimately becoming a surgeon.
1) Academic excellence - This is extremely important more so for being included in the top group of applicants, rather than making you stand out. It is extremely difficult to stand out based purely on academic achievement, as it is an expectation from medical schools that applicants do well in their classes. This is important to consider as you select your coursework, as you should not pursue the hardest courses at all times and overload yourself with taking too many at once. Your performance in whatever classes you take will be more important than nuanced institutional differences in difficulty, which prospective medical schools won't fully understand
2) Extracurricular activities - This is purposely vague and I would split this into medical related and non medical. Medical related may include shadowing, any research experience, internships, etc. This facet of your application shows that you are genuinely interested in medicine and have taken the time to pursue legitimate experience in these areas. Non medical activities such as hobbies, businesses, activities, etc. are important because they show diversity in your interests and another extremely simple reason: they are interesting! Put yourself in the shoes of individuals reviewing these applications - everyone has good grades, everyone has medical experience, and so the application reviewers will naturally gravitate towards anything/everything which is interesting and different. Did you start a small business as a hobby? Are you a competitive eater or extreme sports fanatic? It really does not matter but serves the important role of becoming an interesting talking point and breaking the monotony of the traditional applications
3) Service - Volunteering kills two birds with one stone by demonstrating your commitment to serving the community while also providing the potential for gaining experience if done in the correct setting.
4) Your story - Think about how all the pieces fit and practice articulating this. How did you journey from a career in nursing to becoming a surgeon? How do all these pieces fit in a compelling way? This will help you with writing and in interviews
Strategically plan your undergraduate curriculum
Determine what medical or non medical endeavor will set you apart
Arrange opportunities for substantive exposure
Brainstorm for potential summer 2024 internships/jobs
1) Academic excellence - This is extremely important more so for being included in the top group of applicants, rather than making you stand out. It is extremely difficult to stand out based purely on academic achievement, as it is an expectation from medical schools that applicants do well in their classes. This is important to consider as you select your coursework, as you should not pursue the hardest courses at all times and overload yourself with taking too many at once. Your performance in whatever classes you take will be more important than nuanced institutional differences in difficulty, which prospective medical schools won't fully understand
2) Extracurricular activities - This is purposely vague and I would split this into medical related and non medical. Medical related may include shadowing, any research experience, internships, etc. This facet of your application shows that you are genuinely interested in medicine and have taken the time to pursue legitimate experience in these areas. Non medical activities such as hobbies, businesses, activities, etc. are important because they show diversity in your interests and another extremely simple reason: they are interesting! Put yourself in the shoes of individuals reviewing these applications - everyone has good grades, everyone has medical experience, and so the application reviewers will naturally gravitate towards anything/everything which is interesting and different. Did you start a small business as a hobby? Are you a competitive eater or extreme sports fanatic? It really does not matter but serves the important role of becoming an interesting talking point and breaking the monotony of the traditional applications
3) Service - Volunteering kills two birds with one stone by demonstrating your commitment to serving the community while also providing the potential for gaining experience if done in the correct setting.
4) Your story - Think about how all the pieces fit and practice articulating this. How did you journey from a career in nursing to becoming a surgeon? How do all these pieces fit in a compelling way? This will help you with writing and in interviews
Midwest recommends the following next steps:
Updated
John’s Answer
While I may not be a doctor myself, I've been fortunate to witness the diverse journeys of my friends who are. Rita hit the nail on the head when she emphasized the importance of showcasing your passion. Medical school demands an enormous amount of commitment and hard work. It's crucial to show that you possess the tenacity and determination, traits that my friends all shared when they embarked on their medical journey.
Let me illustrate with a story of a friend, let's call him Jim. Jim attended a reputable university, majoring in History while minoring in Biology, as he always knew he wanted to be a doctor. He actively participated in his university's student-led EMS team and spent his summers as an Outward Bound instructor. Despite needing an extra year to complete some additional courses and not having the most stellar MCAT score, his extensive experience with the EMS team and leadership skills honed at Outward Bound compensated for his academic shortcomings. His dedication paid off, earning him acceptance into several medical schools where he excelled. Today, he's been a practicing physician for 20 years, working in the ER and contributing to his state's EMS system, a testament to his enduring passion.
The key takeaway here is that your journey to medicine is about more than just grades. Seek out activities you love and immerse yourself in them. This will not only make you stand out but also display the qualities that will carry you through medical school.
Wishing you all the best on your journey.
Let me illustrate with a story of a friend, let's call him Jim. Jim attended a reputable university, majoring in History while minoring in Biology, as he always knew he wanted to be a doctor. He actively participated in his university's student-led EMS team and spent his summers as an Outward Bound instructor. Despite needing an extra year to complete some additional courses and not having the most stellar MCAT score, his extensive experience with the EMS team and leadership skills honed at Outward Bound compensated for his academic shortcomings. His dedication paid off, earning him acceptance into several medical schools where he excelled. Today, he's been a practicing physician for 20 years, working in the ER and contributing to his state's EMS system, a testament to his enduring passion.
The key takeaway here is that your journey to medicine is about more than just grades. Seek out activities you love and immerse yourself in them. This will not only make you stand out but also display the qualities that will carry you through medical school.
Wishing you all the best on your journey.
Updated
Rita’s Answer
This is a hard question to answer as I was not on the admissions committee. First, you need good grades and MCAT scores. Someone once told me they look for someone who excels in something-it does not need to be medicine related. They just want you to be focused and work hard.
I tell everyone interested in medicine to work as a scribe. A medical scribe works as a secretary and types up the notes for the doctors. You get experience, you get paid, you can interact with doctors, and you see first hand what it's like to be a doctor. I would not get a BS in nursing if you want to be a doctor. When I was training medical students, I noticed that students that worked as a scribe were so much better. It's not because they were smarter. It was because they had experience. You may even realize that you don't want to be a doctor. You just saved yourself a lot of time and money.
What I did to get into medical school was volunteer, research, but I feel that everyone does this. I would try to do something that makes you stand out. My friend and her sister both are doctors. My friend made a comment that her sister got into a better school than she did although my friends' grades and scores were better. Her sister won an opera contest in Taiwan. During her interview, they asked her to sing. Do something you enjoy and not something that will get you into med school.
I tell everyone interested in medicine to work as a scribe. A medical scribe works as a secretary and types up the notes for the doctors. You get experience, you get paid, you can interact with doctors, and you see first hand what it's like to be a doctor. I would not get a BS in nursing if you want to be a doctor. When I was training medical students, I noticed that students that worked as a scribe were so much better. It's not because they were smarter. It was because they had experience. You may even realize that you don't want to be a doctor. You just saved yourself a lot of time and money.
What I did to get into medical school was volunteer, research, but I feel that everyone does this. I would try to do something that makes you stand out. My friend and her sister both are doctors. My friend made a comment that her sister got into a better school than she did although my friends' grades and scores were better. Her sister won an opera contest in Taiwan. During her interview, they asked her to sing. Do something you enjoy and not something that will get you into med school.
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Volunteering in some aspect of the medical field, such as volunteering in the hospital, always looks good in an application. Showing extra curricular activities, not just studying to get good grades is always important. Any clubs or committees will make you stand out from the rest of the pack.