3 answers
Makiyah
Student
Decatur, Georgia
1
Question
3 answers
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1591
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
It’s no secret Makiyah admission to medical school can be competitive. You’re likely pretty familiar with the basic requirements: Strong GPA; High MCAT Scores; Recommendation Letters and a compelling Personal Statement. But... if you want your medical school application to stand out, I recommend the following 3 additions.
RESEARCH
Research is a great addition to any medical school application. Medical schools value research because it cultivates curiosity while teaching you to ask thoughtful questions and find answers on your own. Therefore, select a research opportunity that would give you the chance to engage in higher level activities such as study design, literature review and data analysis. Any kind of research, whether it is laboratory-based, clinical or in the social sciences is acceptable so long as you are actively engaged in the process of asking questions and finding answers in a systematic and scholarly fashion.
CLINICAL WORK
Extensive exposure to clinical medicine is arguably the most vital element of a medical school application, aside from strong grades and test scores. This can be volunteer work in a clinic or hospital or a paid position as a medical assistant. The medical field is vast and the body of knowledge you need to know to practice medicine cannot be acquired by spending time shadowing a doctor.
LEADERSHIP
Individuals who can take initiative and lead a group of people to solve problems are appealing to medical schools. It is not enough to just have a fancy title like president of a club or director of an organization to show leadership. You actually have to demonstrate that you were involved in activity where you were able to take initiative without somebody telling you, bring together a group of people and work as a team to solve a problem.
When medical school admissions committees review your application Makiyah, they'll want to know you’re an applicant with a high likelihood of success in their program and a future career in medicine. Make you stand out from the competition when applying,
RESEARCH
Research is a great addition to any medical school application. Medical schools value research because it cultivates curiosity while teaching you to ask thoughtful questions and find answers on your own. Therefore, select a research opportunity that would give you the chance to engage in higher level activities such as study design, literature review and data analysis. Any kind of research, whether it is laboratory-based, clinical or in the social sciences is acceptable so long as you are actively engaged in the process of asking questions and finding answers in a systematic and scholarly fashion.
CLINICAL WORK
Extensive exposure to clinical medicine is arguably the most vital element of a medical school application, aside from strong grades and test scores. This can be volunteer work in a clinic or hospital or a paid position as a medical assistant. The medical field is vast and the body of knowledge you need to know to practice medicine cannot be acquired by spending time shadowing a doctor.
LEADERSHIP
Individuals who can take initiative and lead a group of people to solve problems are appealing to medical schools. It is not enough to just have a fancy title like president of a club or director of an organization to show leadership. You actually have to demonstrate that you were involved in activity where you were able to take initiative without somebody telling you, bring together a group of people and work as a team to solve a problem.
When medical school admissions committees review your application Makiyah, they'll want to know you’re an applicant with a high likelihood of success in their program and a future career in medicine. Make you stand out from the competition when applying,
Jofe Mahilum
Transcription
2
Answers
Cagayan de Oro, Northern Mindanao, Philippines
Updated
Jofe’s Answer
Hi Makiyah. The road to medical school is long. Most medical schools are basically great. Be an exceptional candidate by doing better than your peers. Get good grades. Excel in your academics and perform well on your MCAT. You also would need a solid foundation of clinical/volunteering.
Best of luck!
Best of luck!
Rita Chuang
Physician
189
Answers
Henderson, Nevada
Updated
Rita’s Answer
Getting into medical is very difficult and it's getting worse. You need excellent GPA, MCAT scores, extracurricular activities, leadership, research experience, etc.
Medical school and residency training was one of the most difficult things I've done in my life. I was just at a women's physician dinner yesterday and the majority of doctors would not go into medicine again. I myself am on the fence although if you asked me in high school or college, I would say "I'm different." Of course, this is not everyone. I have friends that would go back into medicine.
It's a long process of schooling, lots of studying and long hours, and you put yourself last. When you do go into medicine, your personal life will suffer. I'm not telling you this so that you don't go into medicine. I'm letting you know what you are getting yourself into.
So before the process going to medical school, I would really ask yourself why you want to go into medicine. I recommend every person interested in medicine to shadow a doctor or work as a scribe. A scribe types the notes for the doctors. They pay you, you learn the language of medicine and you can interact with doctors. The medical students that I precepted who worked as scribes just shined because they had the experience. I had one patient's granddaughter follow a doctor for 1 day and decided medicine was not for her.
Good luck!!
Medical school and residency training was one of the most difficult things I've done in my life. I was just at a women's physician dinner yesterday and the majority of doctors would not go into medicine again. I myself am on the fence although if you asked me in high school or college, I would say "I'm different." Of course, this is not everyone. I have friends that would go back into medicine.
It's a long process of schooling, lots of studying and long hours, and you put yourself last. When you do go into medicine, your personal life will suffer. I'm not telling you this so that you don't go into medicine. I'm letting you know what you are getting yourself into.
So before the process going to medical school, I would really ask yourself why you want to go into medicine. I recommend every person interested in medicine to shadow a doctor or work as a scribe. A scribe types the notes for the doctors. They pay you, you learn the language of medicine and you can interact with doctors. The medical students that I precepted who worked as scribes just shined because they had the experience. I had one patient's granddaughter follow a doctor for 1 day and decided medicine was not for her.
Good luck!!
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