What do medical schools look for

For example, you can demonstrate the scientific inquiry competency by excelling in scientific research, or illustrate a service orientation competency by leading a service trip. For example:. Check out the Anatomy of an Applicant resource to see more real-life examples of how competencies can be demonstrated on an application. Then find a volunteer activity that helps you fulfill these areas. In other words, tutoring a student in an upscale private school is not the same as tutoring a student in an inner-city school.

And just like your clinical experience, it will have a stronger impact if you stay with it for a year or more. Doing research teaches doctors how to interpret results and look for errors in study design, which you will be doing a lot of in your future medical practice.

Do you love lab research? If so, you may be able to get your name on a paper or poster and a great letter of rec from your lab chair. Look around to see what kinds of projects are out there. Not all research takes place in a lab. The strongest research experience you can get is by doing an independent research project in an area that you find fascinating. Premed students do research on public health outcomes, hospital wait times, clinical therapies, and IT.

Find a professor you like and ask to be assigned to a project. Most importantly, do research that sparks your curiosity and that you will enjoy writing about in your app and talking about in your interview. If you have to work during college, you will have to be even more organized and on top of things to get all of the components of your app together.

However, your work can benefit you in the application process. If possible, find a position that gives you skills such as leadership or interpersonal communication, two very important qualities for physicians to possess. Describe the skills you gained while working. It takes a great deal of time management to work at a job, keep your GPA up, and prepare for med school at the same time. Physicians juggle their responsibilities all the time — be sure you describe your experience clearly.

As a physician, you will be leading a team of health professionals and guiding patients through difficult choices and options. You can start now by gaining the skills you will need to persuade, guide, and lead.

Some lead through teaching, coaching, or motivating others. Use your clinical experience, community volunteering, research, and paid work to hone your leadership skills.

Say yes to leadership roles. Like anything else, practice makes perfect. These areas can show your strengths, including dedication, perseverance, a strong work ethic, and leadership , and can be used to get involved in the community, by coaching, teaching, or fundraising. Be sure to emphasize that while you get great personal satisfaction from participation in these activities , your passion is in using them as vehicles to help the community and to grow as a person. These programs generally fall into two categories: semester abroad or volunteer experience in a developing nation.

Either one will afford you valuable lessons, just by immersing yourself in another culture. A semester abroad will give you college credits and the chance to take interesting courses. Persistence, resilience, and perseverance - Medical school, and medicine generally, can be incredibly frustrating and difficult.

Reliability and accountability - As a physician, patients will literally rely on you to save their lives. Teammates - fellow physicians, nurses, etc. Demonstrating that you are someone who can be relied upon - that you are someone who does what you say you will, and does so competently - is a crucial component in conveying that you will be an outstanding physician.

Medical schools want to accept students who can exercise sound judgment inside the classroom as well as the emergency room. Excellent communication skills - This is a key trait to think about in asking " what do medical schools look for.

In terms of the admissions process, this comes across in both your written communication on your application, as well as your verbal communication during interviews. Excellent listening skills - Medical schools want to know that you can listen to - and more importantly, understand - what you are being told. This includes lectures from faculty, discussions with fellow physicians, and interactions with patients.

Leadership - As a doctor, you will be charged with leading entire teams of medical professionals. Med School Admission Counseling. Check out our complete list of law schools, based on surveys of school administrators and over 14, students. Teach or Tutor for Us. College Readiness. All Rights Reserved. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University. Recently viewed. Find Your Dream School.

By submitting my email address. I certify that I am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from The Princeton Review, and agree to Terms of Use. Highlight Your Clinical Experience The majority of successful applicants have some experience in a hospital, clinic, hospice or other health care setting.

Paid and Volunteer Experiences 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.

Clinical Shadowing For a more in-depth experience in primary care, set up a preceptorship with a willing physician. Book an Admissions Consultant.